4 Stars from me
This is a definite case of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, or title for that matter, as the innocuously named Black Thorn gives little away.
But this self effacing little books sure has spikes as it tips the lives of the central characters upside down and takes them from what they thought would be life long peace, luxury and happiness, to fear, accusations, disharmony and suspicion.
The Gale family are at the heart of everything and moving to Blackthorn was mean to be the salvation for their dysfunctional family, but overnight their new start becomes the literal stuff of nightmares that threatens the very fabric of their family.
There is an absolute melting pot of emotions and motivations bubbling away just below the surface and it is hard to know who to trust – for just who is responsible for everything that went wrong, why, and how far will they go to cover their tracks?
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Blurb:Blackthorn Ashes was meant to be their forever home. For the first six families moving into the exclusive new housing development, it was a chance to live a peaceful life on the cliffs overlooking the Cornish sea, safe in the knowledge that it had been created just for them.
But six weeks later, paradise is lost. Six people are dead. And Blackthorn Ashes is left abandoned and unfinished, its dark shadows hiding all manner of secrets.
One of its surviving residents, Agnes Gale, is determined to find out the truth about what happened. Even if that truth is deadlier than she could have ever believed possible . . .
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