5 Stars from me
Literally blitzed through this book, and had a million theories buzzing around my brain as I read.
Gabi was a wonderful character, I loved her determination, tenacity and humanity, it was nice to read about a journo in a book like this who isn’t simply portrayed as a gore thirsty monster. Her interactions with the family, the children in particular, were startlingly compassionate and touching.
The story of Leona going missing had uncomfortable similarities with a recent headline news case (I won’t spell that out any further, I’m sure readers will rapidly work it out) and that added a deeply unsettling layer to the story and the impact on the family and local community.
Focus soon turns to her husband, Matthew, as a crime writer he his search history makes for uncomfortable reading, and detectives soon find out that his wife’s disappearance bears an uncanny resemblance to one of his ‘best sellers’…
I found this book hard to put down and raced through it – this is definitely one I recommend to psychological thriller fans. My thanks to the author, NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Blurb:
2019. Leona Walsh, a 34-year-old wife and mother vanishes on a bitterly cold afternoon while out jogging on the edge of Exmoor. It’s a mystery which captures public interest and ignites wild speculation. The police have a prime suspect: Leona’s husband, Matthew, a renowned crime writer. He can plot the perfect crime. But is he capable of committing the perfect murder?
Despite extensive searches, the police find no trace of Leona and her disappearance remains shrouded in mystery. As public interest dwindles, Matthew returns to raising their two daughters, aware the cloud of suspicion is never far away.
2024. Some human bones are discovered in a garden. Could they be Leona’s remains? And if so, is there enough evidence to find out what really happened five years ago?
Journalist Gabriela Conti covered the news story back in 2019. The police may have stopped watching Matthew, but Gabriela hasn’t forgotten him. And she is determined this case will define her career… even if that means getting close to a murderer.
Read and Rated 