Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "domestic-thriller"

Echo Burning by Lee Child

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Jack Reacher returns in another gripping thriller, the lawless drifter finding himself caught in a tangled web of prejudice, corruption and violence.

Under the heat of the Texas sun, a boy and two men watch a house, tracking and recording the movements of its occupants. Meanwhile, a team of professional assassins - a woman and two men – are beginning a mission. Alone and adrift, Jack Reacher chooses to avoid a confrontation with an angry Texas cop with whom he had an altercation in a bar the previous evening. Thumbing for a lift, he is surprised when a young woman pulls over. But Carmen Greer has an ulterior motive and Reacher is exactly the sort of person she’s been looking for. Her abusive husband is due to be released from prison. Terrified at the prospect of his release and desperate for a new life with their young daughter, she has a proposal – she wants Reacher to kill her husband.

But Reacher is not a cold-blooded assassin. Yet he is sympathetic to her plight and agrees to do what he can to help, claiming to her husband’s family that he is simply looking for work on the ranch. Only he soon realises that his agreement to warn off an abusive bully only scratches the surface of what lies rotten and decaying under the intense heat and the situation is about to become far more complicated.

Fast-paced and action-packed with a character-driven heart, ‘Echo Burning’ is a fantastic entry in the Reacher series, which goes from strength to strength. I particularly liked the relationship Reacher developed with Carmen’s young daughter, Ellie; while the determined and hard-working young lawyer, Alice, is a refreshing female character in a genre that is often male-dominated. In fact, the whole concept of ‘Echo Burning’ – exploring spousal abuse and racial prejudice, and featuring several strong female characters – makes the novel stand out from the crowd.

Aside from references to Reacher’s girlfriend Jodie (who featured in the two previous novels, ‘Tripwire’ and ‘The Visitor’), this is very much a standalone entry in the series and can easily be read independently or out-of-sequence. Jack Reacher is such a brilliant character to go on a journey with – a tough loner driven by a strong moral code, never afraid to question authority and the perceived ‘normal’ in the pursuit of justice. Reacher’s situation allows for different formulas to be explored in each novel – ‘Echo Burning’ is part action thriller, part domestic thriller, with a touch of social legal drama.

Building to a storming finale, ‘Echo Burning’ delivers another untangled mystery, merciless retribution and crumbling of injustice, with Reacher walking out into the heat once again adrift, doubtless on his way to get caught up in his next adventure.



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Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A sharp blend of domestic and legal thriller, with a dash of dangerous eroticism.

Barrister Alison is set to defend her first murder case, her instructing solicitor’s client a woman accused of the brutal murder of her husband. There is no question she committed the act, but Alison is determined to put together a legal defence that may mitigate for a lesser charge.

Yet her brief isn’t the only challenge she has to contend with. Her ongoing affair with solicitor Patrick adds a layer of complication to their professional relationship, one that is as potentially dangerous as it is obsessive; while, at home, Alison’s marriage to husband Carl is slowly deteriorating.

Alison struggles to carry the guilt that comes with her career, her affair and her marital problems, fearing the impact they may have on her daughter. Juggling so many stresses inevitably leads Alison’s life to begin spiralling out of control and, with it, beginning to crack at the seams. Yet it is through these cracks that the truth may finally bleed.

Harriet Tyce’s debut novel is a fast-paced, twisted journey into the lives behind the masks of domestic and professional relationships. Its exploration of themes of domestic abuse and sexual violence is both sensitive and vitally important. Alison may not always be the most sympathetic of characters, but this is part of the strength in the telling of this story and also a realistic development of her character in the context of the plot. Alison’s men, Carl and Patrick, display increasingly concerning behaviour, though, with Alison’s narration, Tyce very cleverly has you questioning both reliability and responsibility throughout. The most endearing and sympathetic character, for me, was Alison and Carl’s young daughter, Matilda, as Tyce also explores how the decisions and behaviour of the adults can ultimately impact on a child.

While I anticipated several of the twists, there is a killer of a twist that clicks into place just before Alison’s realisation and is beautifully done, building to a final climatic moment that deserves a gasp. The thread of moral, as well as legal, justice runs throughout, and, in the end, the reader can decide if either has truly been done.

Gripping from beginning to end, ‘Blood Orange’ is a superb thriller by Harriet Tyce; I will absolutely be devouring more of her work in the future.



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Those People by Louise Candlish

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gripping domestic thriller that explores an escalating crisis of neighbours from Hell.

Lowland Way might just be the most idyllic neighbourhood in which to live. Beautiful properties and gardens, friendly neighbours, a popular B&B at one end of the street, a weekly initiative to ensure the children are able to play in the street safe from the dangers of traffic; this is the sort of community that seems to have been lost to time.

But all of this tranquility is abruptly disrupted with the arrival of new neighbours Darren and Jodie. Fond of loud heavy-metal music and home improvements, whilst building a collection of ramshackle vehicles to fill the street to begin a potentially illegal used-car business, they make a sour first impression and care little for the community established by their neighbours.

As tensions escalate, a group of neighbours become determined to do whatever it takes to rid themselves of those people. When a tragic accident rocks the street, the general consensus is clear that this was bound to happen. Only, the police suspect malicious intent and are intent to uncover the truth that lurks behind the doors and windows of Lowland Way.

‘Those People’ hinges on a largely universal experience – no doubt, the vast majority of people will encounter the problem of nightmarish neighbours during their lifetime, if not in their own homes, but in the homes of family or friends – thus making the concept immediately relatable from the beginning. The everyday experiences of ordinary people no doubt drive the popular appeal of the domestic thriller and this novel is a fine example of the sub-genre.

Told from the perspective of several of the established group of Lowland Way, this is a twisty thriller that compels you to keep on reading to find out what happens next. The full extent of the central tragedy is slowly revealed throughout each of the character’s narratives. Each of them not entirely reliable narrators, often coming across as a little entitled and at times pompous, they may not be the most endearing group, but this is perfectly juxtaposed with just how dreadful the new neighbours are – loud, obnoxious, selfish and disruptive.

There are moments of black humour throughout as we can also experience with the luxury of being an observer of such a situation; these hilarious moments jutted up against the true tragedy that unfolds as the plot uncoils and culminates in a neat conclusion.

Gripping, fast-paced and humourous, ‘Those People’ is an entertaining read that peels away the veneer of respectable, middle-class neighbourhoods.



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Keep You Safe by Rona Halsall

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gripping, fast-paced thriller that follows a woman’s quest to find her young son.

Recently released from prison, Natalie has dedicated herself to a sole purpose – to be reunited with her son and ensure his safety. Having broken her parole conditions, she has only a limited time to find him and escape.

Travelling to the Isle of Man, she enlists the help of both a stranger and an old friend, hoping they may be able to help her track down her husband, who spirited their son away following her arrest. Having recently received threats against her and her family’s lives, she fears she is being pursued by someone who means them harm.

As her fears are realised, Natalie races to find her son, on the run from the authorities, a dangerous enemy and her own demons.

‘Keep You Safe’ is Rona Halsall’s debut novel, a psychological thriller that captures you from the first page and keeps you in suspense throughout, expertly written to keep the plot’s secrets obscured for as long as possible.

Central character Natalie is broken, scarred and flawed, but has developed an admirable strength and determination throughout her time in prison. Throughout you are rooting for her and hope she will be vindicated of the crimes and transgressions of which she’s been wrongfully accused. I liked her relationship with Jack, the stranger whom she meets and seeks to help her, and the burgeoning potential of it. From their first meeting, I hoped it would be possible for her to find future happiness with him by her side.

Also punctuated by fleeting glimpses of Natalie’s pursuer, the novel hurtles through to its conclusion as it navigates twists and turns, jumping backwards and forwards in time as flashbacks reveal what has led Natalie to this point of desperation, keeping you guessing as each chapter concludes, culminating in a final major twist that turns the entire plot on its head.

Part prison drama, part race-against-time thriller, ‘Keep You Safe’ is a gripping and hugely enjoyable read. This is the first of Rona Halsall’s books I have read, and it certainly won’t be the last.



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A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A smouldering psychological thriller.

A murder of Daniel Sutherland on his houseboat rocks the community of a London suburb.

As speculation runs rife and the police conduct their investigation, it becomes clear that more than one person had a reason to harm Daniel.

For trauma runs deep and festers, never without the threat it will one day combust into vengeance.

‘A Slow Fire Burning’ is Paula Hawkins’ third novel, exploring the circumstances surrounding a brutal murder and the lives of several people tangled with the victim's own, excavating their traumatic history. A finely orchestrated psychological thriller, blending elements of its close cousins the domestic thriller and police procedural, this is a superbly written novel, the story told from multiple perspectives, delving into the past, moving back and forth along the timeline to reveal resentment, deception and betrayal. Everyone has something to hide, the threat of their secrets bubbling to the surface a constant anxiety.

Primarily, the novel focuses on the experiences of three women – Laura, still suffering as the result of a head injury she sustained as a child and struggling to function, who hooked up with the victim prior to his death; Clara, the victim’s aunt, whose son died tragically when he was still a child; and Miriam, the victim’s neighbour, kidnapped as a teenager along with her friend. Also sharing the lead on the narrative are Clara’s husband, Theo, who authored a novel which appears to mirror Miriam’s experience, and Irene, who becomes drawn into the unfolding events from several angles. Each of these characters is impeccably developed, backstories and relationships with the victim entwined to create a complex character-driven plot. I particularly warmed to Irene's character, who channels a little of Miss Marple and tackles many of society’s assumptions about the elderly.

At its heart, the novel is a classic whodunnit, unpeeling the layers of the motivations of many characters and peering into the murkiness surrounding their opportunities to kill. Simmering with suspense, the plot perfectly balances its lightning pace with emotional depth. It deals with some heavy themes – including the loss of a child, kidnap and sexual violence, mental health issues and the deep impact of trauma. In Paula Hawkins’ work, we meet potentially unreliable narrators, whose memories may not be as accurate as they seem, nevertheless developing much empathy for them, and this novel is once again a shining example of that.

Atmospheric and gripping, ‘A Slow Fire Burning’ is a tightly-coiled crime thriller with a quiet yet searing intensity.



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