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The Sick Rose
'You kept my secret. I know yours now. That makes us even.'A claustrophobic psychological thriller that doesn't let go. 'A tense and twisting novel of dark secrets and dangerous desires.' - GraziaPaul has been led into a life of crime by his schoolyard protector, Daniel - but one night what started as petty theft escalates fatally. Now, at nineteen, Paul must bear witness against his friend to avoid imprisonment. Louisa has her own dark secrets. Having fled from them many years ago she now spends her days steeped in history, renovating the grounds of a crumbling Elizabethan mansion. But the her fragile peace is shattered when she meets Paul; he's the image of the one person she never thought she'd see again.A relationship develops between them, and Louisa starts to believe she can experience the happiness she had given up on; but it soon becomes apparent that neither of them can outrun their violent past . . .STONE MOTHERS, the new novel by Erin Kelly, is available to buy now!
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
106 people are currently reading
3064 people want to read
About the author
Erin Kelly
57 books1,613 followersErin Kelly was born in London in 1976 and grew up in Essex. She read English at Warwick University and has been working as a journalist since 1998.
She has written for newspapers including the The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Express and magazines including Red, Psychologies, Marie Claire, Elle and Cosmopolitan.
She has written for newspapers including the The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Express and magazines including Red, Psychologies, Marie Claire, Elle and Cosmopolitan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
April 24, 2020
this is a book about two damaged people finding comfort in each other, as their pasts crouch in the shadows and say "not so fast, guys..."
it is a breezy and tragic story that will creep up on you with its questions and solutions. its action bounces two characters back and forth in time: a teenager's dangerous obsession with her philandering rock star boyfriend in the late-eighties, and her life "now" as a thirty-nine-year-old, living an isolated life restoring historic gardens and giving in to equally-obsessive mourning rituals for her lost love AND HER SEEEECRETS. our other character saw his father die gruesomely in front of him as a young boy, and now, at eighteen, is running from a dangerous situation straight into the arms of our lonely gardener. oddly enough, he looks just like her rock star boyfriend, so she gets to pick up right where she left off/never really left in her heart.
there are many wonderfully tiny details that please the reader, and it is a fairly satisfying, if a little too convenient, mystery/suspense novel.it is always nice to have two characters whose every wrong turn is so darn obvious, and you can only shake your head and say, "oh no - don't do that!!!" if only it were so obvious in real life...
i am grappling with my star ratings here, because i gave her other book, The Poison Tree, four stars, but i think this is probably a better-written book. i think i will give them both a 3.5 in my heart and leave it at that. something in my brain is preventing me from writing a better review right now, and i apologize. i am in need of someone to point out my wrong turns, i think.
come to my blog!
August 7, 2014
I've got to stop reading so many books by authors I've already read. But when I saw this was being released, just a couple of months after I read The Poison Tree, I couldn't resist it. Erin Kelly's debut was a book with enormous promise which was almost ruined by the inclusion of some rather pedestrian thriller content, and I was curious to see which element of her writing this follow-up would build on - the talent evident in her brilliant evocation of late-90s nostalgia, or the more commercial thriller-for-chick-lit-readers aspect that seems to be so popular at the moment? Well, neither of them really, as it turns out... or maybe I mean both of them. This is completely recognisable as the work of the same author, don't get me wrong, and the format is similar, but the storyline is fresh, the characters original, and thankfully there aren't any pointless children in this one and it seems much less like a book written for the 'every mother's nightmare' demographic (for which I am truly grateful).
The Sick Rose has two main characters. 39-year-old Louisa is a botanical expert working on the restoration of the gardens of a crumbling country house. 19-year-old Paul is a petty criminal sentenced to community service at the site, the job literally a get-out-of-jail-free card in exchange for helping to put away his dangerous friend Daniel. Both protagonists, inevitably, are troubled, and they each get their own flashbacks: Louisa's take place twenty years before and describe her first serious relationship with wannabe rockstar Adam, whose death at 18 still haunts her; Paul's jump back seven years and cover the traumatic loss of his father and the start of his criminal career as Daniel's accomplice. As the story begins, a meeting between the protagonists triggers a violent reaction in Louisa, who thinks Paul is the spitting image of Adam.
The truth about the past is carefully unfolded, and as Louisa and Paul get to know one another and a tentative relationship develops between them, the flashbacks slowly reveal that Adam was in fact volatile and potentially unfaithful, and Daniel a possessive bully who conspired to make Paul's life hell for his own amusement. Paul is terrified that Daniel will catch up with him, while Louisa also seems to have something to hide and begins to imply that she was involved in Adam's death. Told in short, punchy chapters, the story zips along at a good pace. The writing isn't always what you'd call superb, and Kelly is often guilty of unnecessarily heavy description, but the plot is compelling and the switches between past and present do a great job of holding your interest. Sometimes there's a cliffhanger in one of the past sections and the following chapter returns to the present, leaving the reader desperate to find out what happened next. As you'd expect in a thriller like this, there are plenty of twists and turns, but I genuinely didn't see most of them coming. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone thinking of reading the book, but it absolutely wasn't what I expected and the epilogue is perfect.
Thinking now about particular moments in the book that stood out to me, one relatively minor incident, in which Paul accidentally catches Daniel playing out a fantasy of being able to read, looms large in my memory - so subtle and well-executed. This sort of completely believable and excruciatingly human detail is what makes me think Kelly has true literary talent. But then, some other parts are so heavy-handed - the fact that Louisa has the 'ritual' of wearing the old dress and heavy makeup to mourn Adam doesn't really make sense, and just seems like a way to make her eventual coupling with Paul seem more palatable; same thing with the excessive mentions of how young she looks for her age. The author is excellent at writing about teenagers while still retaining an adult tone, capturing that mixture of nostalgia, embarassment and sadness you feel when looking back on your youth (even if that 'youth' is only a few years past). But, as with The Poison Tree, her adult characters aren't as successful. Perhaps it's partly because her age is constantly played down, but Louisa doesn't read like a convincing 39-year-old woman, though the younger verson of the character is totally believable.
I really think Erin Kelly is an author with a lot of promise. This and The Poison Tree are unlikely to be hailed as literary masterpieces, but there's something about her writing that makes me think she may well go on to greater things. Time will tell whether I'm right about this. In the meantime, I'm pretty sure I'll be reading anything else she writes.
The Sick Rose has two main characters. 39-year-old Louisa is a botanical expert working on the restoration of the gardens of a crumbling country house. 19-year-old Paul is a petty criminal sentenced to community service at the site, the job literally a get-out-of-jail-free card in exchange for helping to put away his dangerous friend Daniel. Both protagonists, inevitably, are troubled, and they each get their own flashbacks: Louisa's take place twenty years before and describe her first serious relationship with wannabe rockstar Adam, whose death at 18 still haunts her; Paul's jump back seven years and cover the traumatic loss of his father and the start of his criminal career as Daniel's accomplice. As the story begins, a meeting between the protagonists triggers a violent reaction in Louisa, who thinks Paul is the spitting image of Adam.
The truth about the past is carefully unfolded, and as Louisa and Paul get to know one another and a tentative relationship develops between them, the flashbacks slowly reveal that Adam was in fact volatile and potentially unfaithful, and Daniel a possessive bully who conspired to make Paul's life hell for his own amusement. Paul is terrified that Daniel will catch up with him, while Louisa also seems to have something to hide and begins to imply that she was involved in Adam's death. Told in short, punchy chapters, the story zips along at a good pace. The writing isn't always what you'd call superb, and Kelly is often guilty of unnecessarily heavy description, but the plot is compelling and the switches between past and present do a great job of holding your interest. Sometimes there's a cliffhanger in one of the past sections and the following chapter returns to the present, leaving the reader desperate to find out what happened next. As you'd expect in a thriller like this, there are plenty of twists and turns, but I genuinely didn't see most of them coming. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone thinking of reading the book, but it absolutely wasn't what I expected and the epilogue is perfect.
Thinking now about particular moments in the book that stood out to me, one relatively minor incident, in which Paul accidentally catches Daniel playing out a fantasy of being able to read, looms large in my memory - so subtle and well-executed. This sort of completely believable and excruciatingly human detail is what makes me think Kelly has true literary talent. But then, some other parts are so heavy-handed - the fact that Louisa has the 'ritual' of wearing the old dress and heavy makeup to mourn Adam doesn't really make sense, and just seems like a way to make her eventual coupling with Paul seem more palatable; same thing with the excessive mentions of how young she looks for her age. The author is excellent at writing about teenagers while still retaining an adult tone, capturing that mixture of nostalgia, embarassment and sadness you feel when looking back on your youth (even if that 'youth' is only a few years past). But, as with The Poison Tree, her adult characters aren't as successful. Perhaps it's partly because her age is constantly played down, but Louisa doesn't read like a convincing 39-year-old woman, though the younger verson of the character is totally believable.
I really think Erin Kelly is an author with a lot of promise. This and The Poison Tree are unlikely to be hailed as literary masterpieces, but there's something about her writing that makes me think she may well go on to greater things. Time will tell whether I'm right about this. In the meantime, I'm pretty sure I'll be reading anything else she writes.
August 29, 2017
2.5 stars
This was my third book by Erin Kelly, and in my opinion, the weakest. BURNING AIR, I felt, was the most engaging, despite POISON TREE getting all the accolades.
In any case, the plot of THE DARK ROSE was interesting and I was pulled in quickly, however, it stagnated after a while, and I felt things were getting repeated again and again. That aside, my real issue was with the main characters. I have found that Erin Kelly generally writes protagonists I do not like. I don't know if this is necessarily intentional, because they're not evil or awful, they're just unsympathetic. Obviously, this is only my opinion, and others may find them fascinating and wonderful.
I do think Kelly is a talented writer, which is why I've read three of her books. I just wish her characters were a little more likeable, or at least a little more fleshed out, not so formulaic in their vulnerability, or distress. The endings, of her books are also kind of predictable. I am not saying I wouldn't read one of them again, but maybe three, one after the other, was just not the best idea to get the most out of them, without starting to sense a pattern.
Not a bad book, but it could have been much better.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
This was my third book by Erin Kelly, and in my opinion, the weakest. BURNING AIR, I felt, was the most engaging, despite POISON TREE getting all the accolades.
In any case, the plot of THE DARK ROSE was interesting and I was pulled in quickly, however, it stagnated after a while, and I felt things were getting repeated again and again. That aside, my real issue was with the main characters. I have found that Erin Kelly generally writes protagonists I do not like. I don't know if this is necessarily intentional, because they're not evil or awful, they're just unsympathetic. Obviously, this is only my opinion, and others may find them fascinating and wonderful.
I do think Kelly is a talented writer, which is why I've read three of her books. I just wish her characters were a little more likeable, or at least a little more fleshed out, not so formulaic in their vulnerability, or distress. The endings, of her books are also kind of predictable. I am not saying I wouldn't read one of them again, but maybe three, one after the other, was just not the best idea to get the most out of them, without starting to sense a pattern.
Not a bad book, but it could have been much better.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
March 9, 2017
This book had SUCH potential, and I found myself really getting into it, but unfortunately it just ended with me scratching my head and saying, "...Really?" I can't tell whether Erin Kelly just didn't know what she really had here or if she thought she could throw in one huge twist and that not following through with what should have been the rational choices was what...another twist? No, I don't buy it.
I actually got really excited for this story when we found out that Adam Glasslake (Alan Murray) was still alive. Then I got even more excited when he went missing. I thought for sure that we were going to find out that he was Paul's father all along; Paul is mistaken for Adam on numerous occasions, and also renaming himself yet again seemed extremely plausible as he's already done it once before. GlassLAKE to SEAforth? Definitely would've been an acceptable pattern. The timeline might have needed some tweaking then (perhaps if he disappeared sooner rather than 5 years later) but it would have brought in a whole new layer of maturation for Adam's character. The drama that would ensue between Paul and Louisa would've been palpable not only because of her shagging her love's son from another woman but also because he would be carrying the extra baggage of being the sole witness to his gruesome (and this time true) death.
I don't believe in the fifteen year gap where Adam goes missing. He's not hiding from anyone other than his mother (and subsequently his childhood) at this point. He's obviously listed as a missing person under Alan, and we find out he's got a family now...and he's still called Alan. Did he change his last name too, and is that why techno-savvy Paul or Missing Persons couldn't just find him on Facebook or whatever? He didn't remember anything from his sixteenth birthday, so he obviously doesn't remember Louisa either. As he only remembers her name at the end when he reads her memorial, I guess we can assume that the band either didn't meat up with him after (not very plausible, if they knew his real name and read the newspaper) or they never told him about Louisa. So why hide, why run away? What's his motivation? Did he really have any?
As for the ending, well, I just felt like I was reading from a different writer's perspective of the characters at that point. Having them decide to murder a man who's threatening them (but felt that it was cool to just let them hang out for the weekend so Louisa could get her money in a few days, as if there's nothing wrong with that logic, even for a dumbass like him), and not really caring when Louisa's been a wreck for 20 years for believing she accidentally killed someone and Paul can't stand the sight of ANY blood...nope. Just nope. There's no plausibility in their simple resolve. They just didn't develop enough psychologically to overcome those issues. And I thought it was a little strange that Carl would've even allowed Hash to hang around long enough to feel like a committed member of their "family." Daniel kicked him to the curb after one night. I don't believe that Hash could do much on his own; he needs a leader. With no one to lead him in the type of thievery Daniel and Paul were in to, there would be no scraps to take to the yard, and then no sweatshirt to find, no receipt to find, and no connection to Carl. So...while I could see him being a dumbass and blowing up the caravan, I don't think he was developed enough for me to believe his involvement in the first place.
Last thing - title should've been kept as "The Sick Rose." Makes FAR more sense given the context in which it was used in the story. "The Dark Rose" just feels generic and emo.
I obviously have more questions than answers at the end of this book, and not in a good way. I'm dissatisfied with how the characters at the end of the book do not match up with who they were in the beginning, and it's not a matter of them developing naturally. It just doesn't make sense. It felt as if Erin Kelly had a great beginning concept, but then at the very end either just didn't care or was rushed to finish the story.
I actually got really excited for this story when we found out that Adam Glasslake (Alan Murray) was still alive. Then I got even more excited when he went missing. I thought for sure that we were going to find out that he was Paul's father all along; Paul is mistaken for Adam on numerous occasions, and also renaming himself yet again seemed extremely plausible as he's already done it once before. GlassLAKE to SEAforth? Definitely would've been an acceptable pattern. The timeline might have needed some tweaking then (perhaps if he disappeared sooner rather than 5 years later) but it would have brought in a whole new layer of maturation for Adam's character. The drama that would ensue between Paul and Louisa would've been palpable not only because of her shagging her love's son from another woman but also because he would be carrying the extra baggage of being the sole witness to his gruesome (and this time true) death.
I don't believe in the fifteen year gap where Adam goes missing. He's not hiding from anyone other than his mother (and subsequently his childhood) at this point. He's obviously listed as a missing person under Alan, and we find out he's got a family now...and he's still called Alan. Did he change his last name too, and is that why techno-savvy Paul or Missing Persons couldn't just find him on Facebook or whatever? He didn't remember anything from his sixteenth birthday, so he obviously doesn't remember Louisa either. As he only remembers her name at the end when he reads her memorial, I guess we can assume that the band either didn't meat up with him after (not very plausible, if they knew his real name and read the newspaper) or they never told him about Louisa. So why hide, why run away? What's his motivation? Did he really have any?
As for the ending, well, I just felt like I was reading from a different writer's perspective of the characters at that point. Having them decide to murder a man who's threatening them (but felt that it was cool to just let them hang out for the weekend so Louisa could get her money in a few days, as if there's nothing wrong with that logic, even for a dumbass like him), and not really caring when Louisa's been a wreck for 20 years for believing she accidentally killed someone and Paul can't stand the sight of ANY blood...nope. Just nope. There's no plausibility in their simple resolve. They just didn't develop enough psychologically to overcome those issues. And I thought it was a little strange that Carl would've even allowed Hash to hang around long enough to feel like a committed member of their "family." Daniel kicked him to the curb after one night. I don't believe that Hash could do much on his own; he needs a leader. With no one to lead him in the type of thievery Daniel and Paul were in to, there would be no scraps to take to the yard, and then no sweatshirt to find, no receipt to find, and no connection to Carl. So...while I could see him being a dumbass and blowing up the caravan, I don't think he was developed enough for me to believe his involvement in the first place.
Last thing - title should've been kept as "The Sick Rose." Makes FAR more sense given the context in which it was used in the story. "The Dark Rose" just feels generic and emo.
I obviously have more questions than answers at the end of this book, and not in a good way. I'm dissatisfied with how the characters at the end of the book do not match up with who they were in the beginning, and it's not a matter of them developing naturally. It just doesn't make sense. It felt as if Erin Kelly had a great beginning concept, but then at the very end either just didn't care or was rushed to finish the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2012
I finished this book while I was at the Laundromat, and as I read the last chapter, I snorted. I think I said, "Oh, come on!" out loud. THEN, I read the Epilogue, and I *know* I said out loud, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever read!"
I rooted for these exasperating, drama queen characters through thick and thin, only to have them end up in such a bucket of hogwash? Shame on thee, Erin Kelly. Thine ending beist neither Shakespearean nor Hollywoodian, only boneheaded.
It's a shame. She has eye for details and is good at having those details add up toward a character. She weaved four plotlines -- two main characters, a past and present for each -- with really skilled timing. I would not recommend this book to anyone -- unless perhaps they were researching gloomy English goth kids -- but would be willing to try a different book by this author.
I rooted for these exasperating, drama queen characters through thick and thin, only to have them end up in such a bucket of hogwash? Shame on thee, Erin Kelly. Thine ending beist neither Shakespearean nor Hollywoodian, only boneheaded.
It's a shame. She has eye for details and is good at having those details add up toward a character. She weaved four plotlines -- two main characters, a past and present for each -- with really skilled timing. I would not recommend this book to anyone -- unless perhaps they were researching gloomy English goth kids -- but would be willing to try a different book by this author.
August 14, 2013
This is a dark and compelling read about Louisa a 39 year old woman who is hiding from her past and working on restoring an Elizabethan garden in Kelstice in Warwickshire. We meet her at the start of th1e book dressing up in the same clothes as she wore as a 19 year old in 1989 when she was in a relationship with Adam Glasslake. Paul, 19 years old, is sent to the same garden project for his own protection as he is a witness in a murder trial.
With both Louisa and Paul hiding from the past they form a relationship but how much of their former lives are they willing to reveal to each other and who is out there looking for them?
The plot is good, most of the relationships are well represented from adolescent friendships and loves to those between a father and son. The only one that didn't ring true to me was that between Paul and his mother. The intensity builds throughout the book with plenty of twists and turns as the past is slowly revealed. It was nice to read a book where the ending was totally unexpected, Erin Kelly is a writer to look out for.
With both Louisa and Paul hiding from the past they form a relationship but how much of their former lives are they willing to reveal to each other and who is out there looking for them?
The plot is good, most of the relationships are well represented from adolescent friendships and loves to those between a father and son. The only one that didn't ring true to me was that between Paul and his mother. The intensity builds throughout the book with plenty of twists and turns as the past is slowly revealed. It was nice to read a book where the ending was totally unexpected, Erin Kelly is a writer to look out for.
March 31, 2014
I gave 5 stars to Erin Kelly's wonderfully atmospheric first book The Poison Tree, and had been really looking forward to her second, The Sick Rose. What a let down. Where was the dark intrigue of The Poison Tree? Where were the compelling characters driving the plot forward? Where was the tension? I'm massively disappointed.
March 5, 2020
3 stars--I liked the book. I always enjoy Erin Kelly novels; she writes well. I thought this one was awkwardly plotted (things were either too convenient or not followed up on), but the characterization was stellar, and I read it eagerly to see what would happen.
January 16, 2025
This book presents a peculiar experience. While Kelly's writing is undeniably captivating and showcases her remarkable talent, I found the characters to be disappointingly weak and somewhat tedious. I particularly struggled with the relationship dynamics between Louisa and Paul; their interaction often felt uncomfortable and even unsettling, bordering on the realm of child abuse, especially given Paul's vulnerability. This made it challenging to empathize with either character. Additionally, the ending left much to be desired—it felt rushed and unsatisfying, failing to provide the resolution or depth that the story warranted. Overall, I was left feeling disheartened by the potential of the narrative that ultimately fell flat.
May 29, 2018
This is the third book I've read by Erin Kelly and it was by far the weakest. The story jumps about from past to present and can get a little confusing and that ending - I was speechless, but not in a good way.
Despite the above, the book was readable and I liked Louisa and Paul, but Erin Kelly has written better.
Despite the above, the book was readable and I liked Louisa and Paul, but Erin Kelly has written better.
August 14, 2016
This book was all over the place both in character writing and plot. I read The Poison Tree, Kelly's debut novel and thought I would be reading something on the same level. One at least something close to it!! But this was a dud. First, there was no part of the story that I would call "psychological thriller". I felt like the book was more of a mystery/drama then anything. The absolute worst part of the book was the end. I didn't even feel like it was the same author who wrote the ending. It had a totally different voice. The characters had changed so dramatically, and not by way of plot growth, it just seemed like Kelly decided to end the book any way she could even if that meant having the characters do things so unlike themselves as previously told all throughout the story. When I closed the book I just thought "Huh?". It was all so confusing and convoluted I could barely keep my interest up. I hardly ever absolutely have to read a book when I'm not tired, but this was one of them because every time I started reading, I would lose interest AGAIN and either fall asleep or read only a few pages.
No, I would not recommend this book. I have a book shelf labeled "not-good" and of all of the books I have read there were 20 on that shelf. This is now the 21st and it has to be really bad to put on that shelf! So save yourself some time and read another book! 1 generous star.
No, I would not recommend this book. I have a book shelf labeled "not-good" and of all of the books I have read there were 20 on that shelf. This is now the 21st and it has to be really bad to put on that shelf! So save yourself some time and read another book! 1 generous star.
June 19, 2020
Pretty good until the crap end.
Two damaged people come together, their stories slowly teased out in alternating glimpses into the past, the tension mounts, and then it's what the heck? Seriously? That's the end? It just didn't track and I will say no more because spoilers. Star and a half deducted just for the ending. Cannot recommend.
Two damaged people come together, their stories slowly teased out in alternating glimpses into the past, the tension mounts, and then it's what the heck? Seriously? That's the end? It just didn't track and I will say no more because spoilers. Star and a half deducted just for the ending. Cannot recommend.
December 6, 2016
Not quite a mystery, maybe a soft thriller? This filled the Tana French yearning for me even though the authors' styles are very different and the moods are different. It was an undemanding but engrossing read and that is exactly what I wanted.
August 21, 2017
The ending and epilogue were so disappointing. I felt the time I'd invested reading about these characters was wasted. Up until that point I thought the book was pretty good.
July 8, 2020
The Sick Rose
By Erin Kelly
Okay. I don't usually like rating any book bad, but I have to make an exception for this one.
What was this book even about? 🤕
Did I miss something? I mean, really!
Let's start from beginning. Paul and Louisa have their own past. Louisa likes a guy named Adam Glasslake, and that guy is basically her everything even though he acts all mysterious sometimes without even giving any valid reason why.
He gets defensive when she tried to pry into his life, and STILL expects her to be goody two shoes girlfriend, why?
I don't know.
Coming to Paul and his past. His beginning started very depressing. He witnessed his father's shocking death which leaves him to be like a kid who's not social enough and a even a tiny sight of blood makes him go nauseous and makes him lose self control. And then there are these psychotic inhumane classmates of his who bully him for being a fatherless child.
I mean, what?!
I don't get these kids from schools. How can you get the satisfaction from bullying a kid for witnessing his father's death? For being without his father? Are you even human? (>.<)
Anyway. Such behavior makes them move to a different place, where he was treated like a normal student, but not for long. The bullying started again soon by some nasty students, but then Paul makes a friend called Daniel.
Daniel is quiet. Without any friends. And Paul soon realises Daniel has knowledge but he is an illiterate. He can't read or write. So they make a deal. Paul will be helping him manage his life being an illiterate, and Daniel will be his bodyguard, watching out for him whenever he is in trouble.
We all knew Daniel from the snippet of this plot anyway. What surprised me was that Daniel.. seemed like a nice guy. When he saved Paul for the first time, he shouted at those guys asking the very same questions which I wanted to ask, "Why do you go around bullying innocent people?!"
So, he's nice, isn't he? What made him go wrong? How did he turn out to be a criminal?
After turning few pages, we realized this Daniel has temper issues. If someone hits a nerve at the wrong place, they might as well be dead by Daniel's hands. And that's what happened that one fine day.
So we come to the present. Knowing just that Paul is treated as a witness and not as an accomplice to the murder, which murder you ask, yes, I'll get to that. And he'll be getting sent to some place in the meantime until the Trial starts, and that place is where Louisa works, and also hides herself from the world.
Why is she hiding? Or more like WHAT is she hiding? We don't know. She has this weird ritual now and then, where she gets herself drunk and watches Adam's videos and listens to his songs and cries. Clearly he's dead, but why is she doing all of this? We don't know.
And we won't know any of it, what Louisa is hiding or how/why did the murder happen to which Paul was a witness, until half of the book. And the half was all about Paul and Louisa meeting and getting to know each other. And also having a relationship!
And the entire time I was thinking and processing, what could this book even be about? Simply just about what happened in their past, is that it? I came to know.. That WAS it.
Sometime later in the book, when Paul gets paranoid about Carl's calls, when he's about to confess to Louisa about what his "crime" was in the first place, Louisa confesses hers, and tells she has killed Adam Glasslake.
Till that point it was pretty much clear she might have been Adam's murderer. But the why and how were the mystery which gets solved.
Louisa became this possessive girlfriend, where the idea of Adam cheating on her haunted her dreams. And that's fair, but she should have known what kinda guy Adam was before getting into all of this. I mean, he WAS seeing a girl when she met him, remember? He dumped that girl for Louisa, who's to say he won't dump her for someone else?
We come to know it wasn't any girl he was cheating her with, but with that guy Ciaran himself whom he keeps fighting with all the time.
She was relieved and hurt at the same time. But this time the hurt was more. And she was done. Done with him.
And she wanted to know she was done by pushing him away when he tried to forcefully kiss her, but it was unfortunate that the direction where she was pushing him towards, there was a car passing by just a short distance away, getting driven by a drunk person that too. Both of them realized what is going to happen. Horror was shown on both their faces. Adam gives out his hand to her and she almost takes it to pull him back, but he had got this smirk on his face which expressed, "Of course you'll save me.", which apparently Louisa didn't like?
And she doesn't try any harder to retrieve his hand to pull him back.
So he falls. He gets hit. He's terribly injured.
And Louisa hides in the shadows while the nearby residents come out, shout out names and numbers and checks his pulse, only to pronounce him dead.
Louisa goes home believing that. Hides in her home waiting for the cops to come, but they don't. Waiting for Adam's band mates to barge in accusing her of his murder, but they don't.
She waits, but none of that happens, and life goes on.
In present, soon it's new years. Louisa had gone to her sister's place while Paul was snooping around trying to find information on Adam. There's news! Paul comes to know Adam didn't die after all. He was saved and lost his 2 years memory. Didn't remember any people except for his mother. And there's another news, Adam was his band name, his actual name was Alan Murray, and Louisa wasn't aware of even that. So much for being a girlfriend?
Anyway. When Paul informs her with all this information, hoping that Louisa will be super happy knowing she isn't a murderer after all. Knowing she won't have to hide anymore...
But that doesn't happen. Louisa was more upset than be happy. Upset and scared, that he might be searching her for some revenge? And also that she spent 20 years of her life crying about someone who had been alive all this time.
Paul thought this information will bring them closer, but it did just the opposite. She became distant, and cranky.
And when that one fine day, she opens up about all her frustration, someone else overhears it too, none other than Carl Scatlock, father of Daniel.
He came to threaten Paul into taking his statement back, but he didn't need to. He got this juicy information already. All he needed was to blackmail Lousia with this and asking Louisa to hand him her entire savings.
Louisa readily agrees. Anything to save her life, and to save the secret she has been hiding all these years. But as soon as Carl left, they sat and thought through it. Who's to say he'll stop at this. Who's to say he won't return to end their life once he got what he always wanted?
What do they do? These two stupids decide to be murderers officially and devise a plan to kill Carl himself.
And funny part is, they took this seriously. Thought about all pros and cons. Practised tripping and hitting him at some place they planned. Apart from the guilt feeling gnawing at them, they were all set to get this plan into action.
But there was one thing which Paul said which pissed me off to a great extent.
He said, he would rather watch his father die again than be in this predicament.
REALLY? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I hope you are.
What kinda son says that?
If I were you, I'd simply hand over myself to the police. Heck, Adam didn't even die! What could the police have even done to me? I could pretend I left him on the pavement minutes before the accident, where's the evidence which can put me in trouble?
And these two idiots set off to commit a freaking murder for that.
As if one wasn't enough for each.
Yes, coming to the murder for which Paul is a witness for the trial now. What happens? Even this wasn't a surprise. Daniel and Paul were committing another burglary, but this time they get caught by a caretaker of the area, an old man names Ken Hillyard. He has already called the cops, and tells Daniel that there are secret cameras around recording his every move, couldn't he read? Yep, that was the question.
Daniel, asked him to repeat the question, which he did.
"Can't you read?"
And like we all guessed, that hits the nerve, it was as good as the person handing himself over to him in a silver platter.
But, he didn't know he was doing that. He didn't know in another second, with just a stroke, he would lose his life by a weatherpane which the guy in front of him was holding. The old man, Ken Hillyard, dies. Just like that.
And all this time Paul was simply gaping at him, didn't try stopping him fearing he'd get caught in the camera.
What do they do? Make a run for it. Hoping one of them goes free. They get to Daniel first. And eventually Paul the next day. And we know what happens next.
Coming to the present, Paul and Louisa are all ready to do their good deed. But lucky for them, on the way they get blocked by a traffic jam, as the cops are redirecting the route because an accident has occured. And while rerouting they realize, the accident which occured and the person who passes away in that is none other than Carl Scatlock.
Wow. So lucky.
They rejoice and recoil. Former as they don't have to commit their good deed anymore. And recoiling at the harsh reality of the former. That they were ABOUT to be murderers. How sick.
Well, happy realization.
So, what else now? Everything is sunshine and rainbows from here. Nobody to threaten them anymore. And even the organization planning to film the garden cancels their plan to shoot and simply decide to visit the garden instead. Louisa is ecstatic. As she didn't want to be filmed and get exposed to the outer world anyway. All is well and good.
So what happens next? Of course. Let's kill the two main protagonists as we got nothing to do x))
Sorry for the spoiler. Anyway this whole review is a spoiler.
How do they die?
Hear me out.
So there's this guy called Hash who got adopted by Carl as some temporary son. After losing both Daniel and Carl he loses his sanity, and wants to kill Paul. He leaks the gas near the caravan where he thought Paul is living, which he is, with Louisa, and this was his payback for a sweet revenge.
What can Paul even do, run for his (and Louisa's) life as fast as he could and make sure Louisa survives the impending explosion. He makes it. She's alive. Or at least till that point.
On the other hand, as soon as Louisa sees Paul returning she panics, as there are Adam's stuff lying around and she doesn't want Paul to see them and realize that Louisa loved him due to his resemblance with Adam. What does Louisa do, collect them at one place and burn that down.
Little did she know she's about to burn not just that but the entire place down. Taking hers and Paul's life along with it.
So, yes. They die.
The End.
Or.. Is it? Wait. There's more.
There's an epilogue too.
Apparently a family of four visit the garden to have a family time. It is from the father's perspective. It doesn't take a brain to guess who it might be.
Alan Murray of course.
But it isn't revealed until the last page, where he sees an inscription on a fountain which says it's dedicated to Paul Seaforth and Louisa Trevelyan for their contribution to the garden, as they are no more in this world after passing away from a tragic accident.
Louisa.. Louisa.. Alan recollects the name. Memories starts coming to him. His already existing headache worsens tenfold when he starts remembering everything and.. He screams.
THE END.
Yep, the end.
Now, I.. Have questions. Obviously.
What is the meaning of this? What is the entire plot even about? Louisa and Paul die? Just like that?
What about Daniel's trial? What about Paul's poor mother? She's already expecting, how did she feel she's about give birth to a new life knowing her first born is no more?
And what about Hash? He gets to get away from this horrific murder so easily? When the entire book was almost about how scared Paul and Louisa are for their lives for the murder they were part of when they didn't want to?
And Alan/Adam, whatever you wanna call him.
Where was he all these years? Started a family, has two kids too and his mother there is waiting for him to return?
His memory worsened that he forgot his mother too?
And what was the meaning of his scream?
Did he scream in anguish, knowing after recollecting who Louisa is, she isn't alive anymore? Or knowing she isn't alive for him to kill her again with his own hands? As, you know, she WAS the reason he lost all his memories and has had this terrible headache all these years.
So, yeah. You see my frustration?
That's my point.
-sigh-
Never mind.
Quote from the book:
When a new rose is planted on the same spot as an old one, you get a sick rose; it doesn't bloom and it'll probably die. No one really knows why, but it's not worth replanting.
By Erin Kelly
Okay. I don't usually like rating any book bad, but I have to make an exception for this one.
What was this book even about? 🤕
Did I miss something? I mean, really!
Let's start from beginning. Paul and Louisa have their own past. Louisa likes a guy named Adam Glasslake, and that guy is basically her everything even though he acts all mysterious sometimes without even giving any valid reason why.
He gets defensive when she tried to pry into his life, and STILL expects her to be goody two shoes girlfriend, why?
I don't know.
Coming to Paul and his past. His beginning started very depressing. He witnessed his father's shocking death which leaves him to be like a kid who's not social enough and a even a tiny sight of blood makes him go nauseous and makes him lose self control. And then there are these psychotic inhumane classmates of his who bully him for being a fatherless child.
I mean, what?!
I don't get these kids from schools. How can you get the satisfaction from bullying a kid for witnessing his father's death? For being without his father? Are you even human? (>.<)
Anyway. Such behavior makes them move to a different place, where he was treated like a normal student, but not for long. The bullying started again soon by some nasty students, but then Paul makes a friend called Daniel.
Daniel is quiet. Without any friends. And Paul soon realises Daniel has knowledge but he is an illiterate. He can't read or write. So they make a deal. Paul will be helping him manage his life being an illiterate, and Daniel will be his bodyguard, watching out for him whenever he is in trouble.
We all knew Daniel from the snippet of this plot anyway. What surprised me was that Daniel.. seemed like a nice guy. When he saved Paul for the first time, he shouted at those guys asking the very same questions which I wanted to ask, "Why do you go around bullying innocent people?!"
So, he's nice, isn't he? What made him go wrong? How did he turn out to be a criminal?
After turning few pages, we realized this Daniel has temper issues. If someone hits a nerve at the wrong place, they might as well be dead by Daniel's hands. And that's what happened that one fine day.
So we come to the present. Knowing just that Paul is treated as a witness and not as an accomplice to the murder, which murder you ask, yes, I'll get to that. And he'll be getting sent to some place in the meantime until the Trial starts, and that place is where Louisa works, and also hides herself from the world.
Why is she hiding? Or more like WHAT is she hiding? We don't know. She has this weird ritual now and then, where she gets herself drunk and watches Adam's videos and listens to his songs and cries. Clearly he's dead, but why is she doing all of this? We don't know.
And we won't know any of it, what Louisa is hiding or how/why did the murder happen to which Paul was a witness, until half of the book. And the half was all about Paul and Louisa meeting and getting to know each other. And also having a relationship!
And the entire time I was thinking and processing, what could this book even be about? Simply just about what happened in their past, is that it? I came to know.. That WAS it.
Sometime later in the book, when Paul gets paranoid about Carl's calls, when he's about to confess to Louisa about what his "crime" was in the first place, Louisa confesses hers, and tells she has killed Adam Glasslake.
Till that point it was pretty much clear she might have been Adam's murderer. But the why and how were the mystery which gets solved.
Louisa became this possessive girlfriend, where the idea of Adam cheating on her haunted her dreams. And that's fair, but she should have known what kinda guy Adam was before getting into all of this. I mean, he WAS seeing a girl when she met him, remember? He dumped that girl for Louisa, who's to say he won't dump her for someone else?
We come to know it wasn't any girl he was cheating her with, but with that guy Ciaran himself whom he keeps fighting with all the time.
She was relieved and hurt at the same time. But this time the hurt was more. And she was done. Done with him.
And she wanted to know she was done by pushing him away when he tried to forcefully kiss her, but it was unfortunate that the direction where she was pushing him towards, there was a car passing by just a short distance away, getting driven by a drunk person that too. Both of them realized what is going to happen. Horror was shown on both their faces. Adam gives out his hand to her and she almost takes it to pull him back, but he had got this smirk on his face which expressed, "Of course you'll save me.", which apparently Louisa didn't like?
And she doesn't try any harder to retrieve his hand to pull him back.
So he falls. He gets hit. He's terribly injured.
And Louisa hides in the shadows while the nearby residents come out, shout out names and numbers and checks his pulse, only to pronounce him dead.
Louisa goes home believing that. Hides in her home waiting for the cops to come, but they don't. Waiting for Adam's band mates to barge in accusing her of his murder, but they don't.
She waits, but none of that happens, and life goes on.
In present, soon it's new years. Louisa had gone to her sister's place while Paul was snooping around trying to find information on Adam. There's news! Paul comes to know Adam didn't die after all. He was saved and lost his 2 years memory. Didn't remember any people except for his mother. And there's another news, Adam was his band name, his actual name was Alan Murray, and Louisa wasn't aware of even that. So much for being a girlfriend?
Anyway. When Paul informs her with all this information, hoping that Louisa will be super happy knowing she isn't a murderer after all. Knowing she won't have to hide anymore...
But that doesn't happen. Louisa was more upset than be happy. Upset and scared, that he might be searching her for some revenge? And also that she spent 20 years of her life crying about someone who had been alive all this time.
Paul thought this information will bring them closer, but it did just the opposite. She became distant, and cranky.
And when that one fine day, she opens up about all her frustration, someone else overhears it too, none other than Carl Scatlock, father of Daniel.
He came to threaten Paul into taking his statement back, but he didn't need to. He got this juicy information already. All he needed was to blackmail Lousia with this and asking Louisa to hand him her entire savings.
Louisa readily agrees. Anything to save her life, and to save the secret she has been hiding all these years. But as soon as Carl left, they sat and thought through it. Who's to say he'll stop at this. Who's to say he won't return to end their life once he got what he always wanted?
What do they do? These two stupids decide to be murderers officially and devise a plan to kill Carl himself.
And funny part is, they took this seriously. Thought about all pros and cons. Practised tripping and hitting him at some place they planned. Apart from the guilt feeling gnawing at them, they were all set to get this plan into action.
But there was one thing which Paul said which pissed me off to a great extent.
He said, he would rather watch his father die again than be in this predicament.
REALLY? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I hope you are.
What kinda son says that?
If I were you, I'd simply hand over myself to the police. Heck, Adam didn't even die! What could the police have even done to me? I could pretend I left him on the pavement minutes before the accident, where's the evidence which can put me in trouble?
And these two idiots set off to commit a freaking murder for that.
As if one wasn't enough for each.
Yes, coming to the murder for which Paul is a witness for the trial now. What happens? Even this wasn't a surprise. Daniel and Paul were committing another burglary, but this time they get caught by a caretaker of the area, an old man names Ken Hillyard. He has already called the cops, and tells Daniel that there are secret cameras around recording his every move, couldn't he read? Yep, that was the question.
Daniel, asked him to repeat the question, which he did.
"Can't you read?"
And like we all guessed, that hits the nerve, it was as good as the person handing himself over to him in a silver platter.
But, he didn't know he was doing that. He didn't know in another second, with just a stroke, he would lose his life by a weatherpane which the guy in front of him was holding. The old man, Ken Hillyard, dies. Just like that.
And all this time Paul was simply gaping at him, didn't try stopping him fearing he'd get caught in the camera.
What do they do? Make a run for it. Hoping one of them goes free. They get to Daniel first. And eventually Paul the next day. And we know what happens next.
Coming to the present, Paul and Louisa are all ready to do their good deed. But lucky for them, on the way they get blocked by a traffic jam, as the cops are redirecting the route because an accident has occured. And while rerouting they realize, the accident which occured and the person who passes away in that is none other than Carl Scatlock.
Wow. So lucky.
They rejoice and recoil. Former as they don't have to commit their good deed anymore. And recoiling at the harsh reality of the former. That they were ABOUT to be murderers. How sick.
Well, happy realization.
So, what else now? Everything is sunshine and rainbows from here. Nobody to threaten them anymore. And even the organization planning to film the garden cancels their plan to shoot and simply decide to visit the garden instead. Louisa is ecstatic. As she didn't want to be filmed and get exposed to the outer world anyway. All is well and good.
So what happens next? Of course. Let's kill the two main protagonists as we got nothing to do x))
Sorry for the spoiler. Anyway this whole review is a spoiler.
How do they die?
Hear me out.
So there's this guy called Hash who got adopted by Carl as some temporary son. After losing both Daniel and Carl he loses his sanity, and wants to kill Paul. He leaks the gas near the caravan where he thought Paul is living, which he is, with Louisa, and this was his payback for a sweet revenge.
What can Paul even do, run for his (and Louisa's) life as fast as he could and make sure Louisa survives the impending explosion. He makes it. She's alive. Or at least till that point.
On the other hand, as soon as Louisa sees Paul returning she panics, as there are Adam's stuff lying around and she doesn't want Paul to see them and realize that Louisa loved him due to his resemblance with Adam. What does Louisa do, collect them at one place and burn that down.
Little did she know she's about to burn not just that but the entire place down. Taking hers and Paul's life along with it.
So, yes. They die.
The End.
Or.. Is it? Wait. There's more.
There's an epilogue too.
Apparently a family of four visit the garden to have a family time. It is from the father's perspective. It doesn't take a brain to guess who it might be.
Alan Murray of course.
But it isn't revealed until the last page, where he sees an inscription on a fountain which says it's dedicated to Paul Seaforth and Louisa Trevelyan for their contribution to the garden, as they are no more in this world after passing away from a tragic accident.
Louisa.. Louisa.. Alan recollects the name. Memories starts coming to him. His already existing headache worsens tenfold when he starts remembering everything and.. He screams.
THE END.
Yep, the end.
Now, I.. Have questions. Obviously.
What is the meaning of this? What is the entire plot even about? Louisa and Paul die? Just like that?
What about Daniel's trial? What about Paul's poor mother? She's already expecting, how did she feel she's about give birth to a new life knowing her first born is no more?
And what about Hash? He gets to get away from this horrific murder so easily? When the entire book was almost about how scared Paul and Louisa are for their lives for the murder they were part of when they didn't want to?
And Alan/Adam, whatever you wanna call him.
Where was he all these years? Started a family, has two kids too and his mother there is waiting for him to return?
His memory worsened that he forgot his mother too?
And what was the meaning of his scream?
Did he scream in anguish, knowing after recollecting who Louisa is, she isn't alive anymore? Or knowing she isn't alive for him to kill her again with his own hands? As, you know, she WAS the reason he lost all his memories and has had this terrible headache all these years.
So, yeah. You see my frustration?
That's my point.
-sigh-
Never mind.
Quote from the book:
When a new rose is planted on the same spot as an old one, you get a sick rose; it doesn't bloom and it'll probably die. No one really knows why, but it's not worth replanting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2018
#2018ReadingChallenge #PopSugar
14. A book involving a heist
Rời rạc, rề rà và phi lí, đọc mãi mới xong.
Đã đọc Hai số phận, Bạch dạ hành... nên tôi cũng chả lạ gì cái kiểu kể chuyện đan xen giữa số phận hai con người tưởng như chẳng có gì giao nhau này nữa. Vấn đề là cả nội dung và cách viết đều không có gì lôi cuốn hối thúc tôi tìm hiểu về quá khứ của Louisa và Paul cả. 2/3 đầu đọc chán nản và buồn ngủ không thể tả.
Cho đến lúc hai người gặp nhau, nhất là đoạn về sau đến hết, thì câu chuyện đúng hoàn toàn trở nên điên khùng luôn. Một lô xích xông những sự "ngẫu nhiên" nối đuôi nhau xuất hiện, bao gồm Mắc mệt luôn á. Nó làm cho tình thế có vẻ như tác giả đã lâm vào cái cục rối nùi do chính tay mình nặn ra, chẳng còn cách giải quyết nào êm thấm hơn là nhờ vào bàn tay số phận. Mà ác một cái là quý ngài Số Phận này thật biết trêu ngươi, một tay bad boy chơi bời thứ thiệt. Nhìn cái đống tan nát sau cùng mà tôi thật chả biết làm gì hơn là thở hắt một cái, thôi thì mừng vì cuối cùng cũng đọc xong rồi.
Thêm một chút lấn cấn nữa là không hiểu sao tôi thấy bản dịch này có cái gì đó không được tự nhiên cho lắm. Có lẽ là do cách chọn đại từ xưng hô cho nhân vật.
14. A book involving a heist
Rời rạc, rề rà và phi lí, đọc mãi mới xong.
Đã đọc Hai số phận, Bạch dạ hành... nên tôi cũng chả lạ gì cái kiểu kể chuyện đan xen giữa số phận hai con người tưởng như chẳng có gì giao nhau này nữa. Vấn đề là cả nội dung và cách viết đều không có gì lôi cuốn hối thúc tôi tìm hiểu về quá khứ của Louisa và Paul cả. 2/3 đầu đọc chán nản và buồn ngủ không thể tả.
Cho đến lúc hai người gặp nhau, nhất là đoạn về sau đến hết, thì câu chuyện đúng hoàn toàn trở nên điên khùng luôn. Một lô xích xông những sự "ngẫu nhiên" nối đuôi nhau xuất hiện, bao gồm Mắc mệt luôn á. Nó làm cho tình thế có vẻ như tác giả đã lâm vào cái cục rối nùi do chính tay mình nặn ra, chẳng còn cách giải quyết nào êm thấm hơn là nhờ vào bàn tay số phận. Mà ác một cái là quý ngài Số Phận này thật biết trêu ngươi, một tay bad boy chơi bời thứ thiệt. Nhìn cái đống tan nát sau cùng mà tôi thật chả biết làm gì hơn là thở hắt một cái, thôi thì mừng vì cuối cùng cũng đọc xong rồi.
Thêm một chút lấn cấn nữa là không hiểu sao tôi thấy bản dịch này có cái gì đó không được tự nhiên cho lắm. Có lẽ là do cách chọn đại từ xưng hô cho nhân vật.
February 26, 2019
Plus
+ A fast, easy read
+ Good build up of tension
+ I got really pulled into Paul and Louisa's heads. Even though objectively I knew what they were doing was wrong, I could understand why they were doing it and was rooting for them
+ A good depiction of how toxic relationships develop and escalate
+ Didn't see that ending coming
Minus
- The pacing was a little bit off sometimes. Some parts felt like they were being rushed to get into the next part and I kept losing track of time and setting
- Paul's breakup with his ex is always framed in the narrative as something that was entirely Daniel's fault and Paul had been innocent. It takes away Paul's agency in the act and it's never really called out
CW: Toxic relationships
+ A fast, easy read
+ Good build up of tension
+ I got really pulled into Paul and Louisa's heads. Even though objectively I knew what they were doing was wrong, I could understand why they were doing it and was rooting for them
+ A good depiction of how toxic relationships develop and escalate
+ Didn't see that ending coming
Minus
- The pacing was a little bit off sometimes. Some parts felt like they were being rushed to get into the next part and I kept losing track of time and setting
- Paul's breakup with his ex is always framed in the narrative as something that was entirely Daniel's fault and Paul had been innocent. It takes away Paul's agency in the act and it's never really called out
CW: Toxic relationships
December 9, 2019
Tetszik Erin Kelly stílusa és gondolkodása. Ügyesen vegyíti és bontakoztatja ki a múltbéli titkokat, terhelt múltú karaktereket és a jelenben zajló drámai folyamatokat.
Valahogy a The Poison Tree mégis jobban tetszett egy fokkal.
Valahogy a The Poison Tree mégis jobban tetszett egy fokkal.
September 6, 2017
This is the third by Erin Kelly I have now read and can say they are consistently good. Loved most of this and the characters well drawn and the story kept you intrigued right up to the end.
May 14, 2018
It took awhile to get into it, and I hated the ending. Also, the characters frustrated me.
July 1, 2024
3.5⭐
Sterk verhaal, personages worden straf weergegeven. Het boek nam me snel mee in het verhaal en liet me niet meer los.
Sterk verhaal, personages worden straf weergegeven. Het boek nam me snel mee in het verhaal en liet me niet meer los.
July 14, 2019
I liked this book. Just when I was sure I had the plot figured out, the author went in a different direction. An absorbing read.
January 13, 2014
Time taken to read - 3 days
Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton
Blurb from Goodreads
Paul was led into a life of crime by his boyhood protector, a bully named Daniel; but one night, what started as a petty theft turned into a grisly murder. Now, at nineteen, Paul must bear witness against his friend to avoid prison. Louisa's own dark secrets led her to flee a desperate infatuation gone wrong many years before. Now she spends her days steeped in history, renovating the grounds of a crumbling Elizabethan garden. But her fragile peace is shattered when she meets Paul; he's the spitting image of the one person she never thought she'd see again.
These two, scarred and solitary, begin a secret affair. Louisa starts to believe she can again find the happiness she had given up on. But neither of them can outrun his violent past.
A story of secrets and guilt set among the ruins of a sixteenth- century English garden, The Dark Rose explores the extremes of obsessive love and loyalty, devotion and desperation. Like Kelly's critically acclaimed debut novel, The Poison Tree, this fantastically creepy, atmospheric novel thrills until the final shocking moments.
My Review
Paul is in trouble with the police and he is going down for it, unless he reveals what happened and gives up his accomplice. After becoming the one thing you never do in a rough estate Paul is under protection and relocated where he meets Louisa. Louisa has a big secret in her past and keeps herself reserved, low key and interaction minimal, until Paul arrives. Paul reminds her of a past she would rather forget, they both have big secrets to hide however it could be the one thing that brings them together or puts them both at risk.
I quite liked the story, it splits into chapters between each of them and skips between time periods of present and back to the past that led to their secret past. The jumps in time periods as well as characters took a bit of getting used to. The suspense and mystery that surrounds what happened in their past was drawn out just a bit too long for me.
I liked the contrast of Louisa then and Louisa now and the story unraveling to show what happened to make her the way she is. The end was unexpected and I think it will be loved or hated, no in between. I quite liked it however I felt there was a few unanswered questions left and a few things happened really fast after a fairly sedate pace. Despite a few issues I did quite like the story and would dance with this author again, 3/5 for me.
Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton
Blurb from Goodreads
Paul was led into a life of crime by his boyhood protector, a bully named Daniel; but one night, what started as a petty theft turned into a grisly murder. Now, at nineteen, Paul must bear witness against his friend to avoid prison. Louisa's own dark secrets led her to flee a desperate infatuation gone wrong many years before. Now she spends her days steeped in history, renovating the grounds of a crumbling Elizabethan garden. But her fragile peace is shattered when she meets Paul; he's the spitting image of the one person she never thought she'd see again.
These two, scarred and solitary, begin a secret affair. Louisa starts to believe she can again find the happiness she had given up on. But neither of them can outrun his violent past.
A story of secrets and guilt set among the ruins of a sixteenth- century English garden, The Dark Rose explores the extremes of obsessive love and loyalty, devotion and desperation. Like Kelly's critically acclaimed debut novel, The Poison Tree, this fantastically creepy, atmospheric novel thrills until the final shocking moments.
My Review
Paul is in trouble with the police and he is going down for it, unless he reveals what happened and gives up his accomplice. After becoming the one thing you never do in a rough estate Paul is under protection and relocated where he meets Louisa. Louisa has a big secret in her past and keeps herself reserved, low key and interaction minimal, until Paul arrives. Paul reminds her of a past she would rather forget, they both have big secrets to hide however it could be the one thing that brings them together or puts them both at risk.
I quite liked the story, it splits into chapters between each of them and skips between time periods of present and back to the past that led to their secret past. The jumps in time periods as well as characters took a bit of getting used to. The suspense and mystery that surrounds what happened in their past was drawn out just a bit too long for me.
I liked the contrast of Louisa then and Louisa now and the story unraveling to show what happened to make her the way she is. The end was unexpected and I think it will be loved or hated, no in between. I quite liked it however I felt there was a few unanswered questions left and a few things happened really fast after a fairly sedate pace. Despite a few issues I did quite like the story and would dance with this author again, 3/5 for me.
April 28, 2014
This proved to be another highly effective psychological thriller from Erin Kelly in which a woman is haunted by a difficult relationship from her late teenage years that still impacts upon the present some twenty years later. Then she meets Paul, who comes to work on the garden restoration project that she is overseeing while he is waiting to testify in a murder trial. Their relationship develops quite organically as both are outsiders and troubled by the secrets they hold.
I enjoyed Erin's slow reveal of the events of the past moving between Louisa in 1989 and Paul earlier in 2009 as well as how the chemistry between Louisa and Paul sparked changes for them. I don't want to say too much about how it ended except that Erin Kelly delivered a double whammy. In addition to a strong plot and complex characters, Erin Kelly infuses her novels with a strong sense of place; whether it be Warwickshire, Essex or the streets of London in the late 1980s. I know from attending her talks that she does walk the streets of her locations and then brings them to life via her rich descriptions. Kensington Market, now sadly demolished, was a highlight for me as it evoked memories of my time in London during the 1970-80s when this was such a major centre of alternative culture.
This was a library reading group selection and there was a mixed reaction, as indeed there often is. Still this difference in opinions resulted in a lively discussion about the motivations of the characters and various plot points. One key issue was whether the age and class difference between the characters was a barrier to accepting them as a couple. Was it a case of arrested development for her? For myself, the fact that Louisa was somewhat frozen in time since the events of 1989, did explain aspects of the attraction.
Quite a few members chose to borrow her next novel which suggests that they wanted more and there was also interest shown in her first novel The Poison Tree, which I have read a couple of times and rate very highly.
In the USA this was published as The Dark Rose, which struck me as an odd choice as it abandons the William Blake reference as well as an aspect of rose gardening that Louisa makes in the course of the novel that proves an important metaphor for her relationships.
I enjoyed Erin's slow reveal of the events of the past moving between Louisa in 1989 and Paul earlier in 2009 as well as how the chemistry between Louisa and Paul sparked changes for them. I don't want to say too much about how it ended except that Erin Kelly delivered a double whammy. In addition to a strong plot and complex characters, Erin Kelly infuses her novels with a strong sense of place; whether it be Warwickshire, Essex or the streets of London in the late 1980s. I know from attending her talks that she does walk the streets of her locations and then brings them to life via her rich descriptions. Kensington Market, now sadly demolished, was a highlight for me as it evoked memories of my time in London during the 1970-80s when this was such a major centre of alternative culture.
This was a library reading group selection and there was a mixed reaction, as indeed there often is. Still this difference in opinions resulted in a lively discussion about the motivations of the characters and various plot points. One key issue was whether the age and class difference between the characters was a barrier to accepting them as a couple. Was it a case of arrested development for her? For myself, the fact that Louisa was somewhat frozen in time since the events of 1989, did explain aspects of the attraction.
Quite a few members chose to borrow her next novel which suggests that they wanted more and there was also interest shown in her first novel The Poison Tree, which I have read a couple of times and rate very highly.
In the USA this was published as The Dark Rose, which struck me as an odd choice as it abandons the William Blake reference as well as an aspect of rose gardening that Louisa makes in the course of the novel that proves an important metaphor for her relationships.
February 26, 2012
Reminiscent of the beautifully written suspense novels by Daphne du Maurier, Erin Kelly has delivered a stunning look at human desperation, loyalty, and absolute terror. Like Daphne, she has found a way to wrap a chilling tale inside a tranquil setting.
In this story, an Elizabethan garden is being replanted by a group of horticulture and botany volunteers in the English countryside. Louisa Trevelyan—a main character who you will fall in love with quickly—loves her work, as she discovers ‘aged’ items that were part of the original garden.
Paul Seaforth is a man fighting with the concepts of loyalty when he is sent to Kelstice Lodge to volunteer in the garden until his friend’s murder trial begins, and he must take the stand as the “star witness.”
Paul reminds Louisa of a man she knew long ago. Although they are twenty years apart in age, each recognizes that they’ve lived very similar lives. Both are solitary individuals, each losing a parent and becoming dependent on other people to make their lives happier. Paul’s friend Daniel protected him from bullies when they were younger, and when Paul discovers a weakness in his friend, he feels the need to protect him in return. Louisa was obsessed with a man she simply can’t get out of her mind, and when this incredible author blends these two storylines together, the reader can not only see the fireworks, but can feel them, as well.
The climax of a book always tells the real tale of how good the writing is, and the fast-pace certainly takes the reader on a monumental ride. But what stands out, and lingers on in the memory after the final page is read, are always the characters. Ms. Kelly knows her “creations,” proving with every paragraph the depth of feeling they have that has led both of them to walk down a path of utter destruction. First-class writing that is absolutely captivating! This is one that should be nominated for awards!
Reviewed by Amy Lignor, author of “Tallent & Lowery - 13” for Suspense Magazine
In this story, an Elizabethan garden is being replanted by a group of horticulture and botany volunteers in the English countryside. Louisa Trevelyan—a main character who you will fall in love with quickly—loves her work, as she discovers ‘aged’ items that were part of the original garden.
Paul Seaforth is a man fighting with the concepts of loyalty when he is sent to Kelstice Lodge to volunteer in the garden until his friend’s murder trial begins, and he must take the stand as the “star witness.”
Paul reminds Louisa of a man she knew long ago. Although they are twenty years apart in age, each recognizes that they’ve lived very similar lives. Both are solitary individuals, each losing a parent and becoming dependent on other people to make their lives happier. Paul’s friend Daniel protected him from bullies when they were younger, and when Paul discovers a weakness in his friend, he feels the need to protect him in return. Louisa was obsessed with a man she simply can’t get out of her mind, and when this incredible author blends these two storylines together, the reader can not only see the fireworks, but can feel them, as well.
The climax of a book always tells the real tale of how good the writing is, and the fast-pace certainly takes the reader on a monumental ride. But what stands out, and lingers on in the memory after the final page is read, are always the characters. Ms. Kelly knows her “creations,” proving with every paragraph the depth of feeling they have that has led both of them to walk down a path of utter destruction. First-class writing that is absolutely captivating! This is one that should be nominated for awards!
Reviewed by Amy Lignor, author of “Tallent & Lowery - 13” for Suspense Magazine
January 14, 2012
I won "The Dark Rose" by Erin Kelly through the Goodreads Giveaway.
The Dark Rose evolves around two characters, Paul and Louisa working on the restoration of an Elizabethan garden in the English countryside. Through both characters and flashbacks you gradually learn about each character and what has led each of them to this garden project. Paul has come to the garden because it provides a safe haven while he is awaiting a court day where he will be a witness against his closest friend from childhood, Daniel. Louisa is part of the garden project because it is her career. What draws Louisa and Paul together initially is Paul's resemblance to Louisa's boyfriend from her youth, Adam. Eventually, Louisa and Paul begin an affair and confess their past to one another that seems to bring some relief to both of them; however, complications arise when Daniel's father finds and confronts Paul about his testifying at Daniel's trial.
I enjoyed reading The Dark Rose, it was very different from what I generally read. The story was very involving and realistic, and the way that Kelly releases parts of each character's stories keeps the interest in finding out exactly what happened in each of their pasts that lead them to their current positions. Kelly provides these selections of the past through flashbacks that continue through the entire novel.
I would classify this novel as a mystery/romance as the main drive of the novel was in finding out the central mysteries of the characters, namely what Daniel had done to cause Paul to have to testify, and why exactly Louisa is afraid of being spotted in certain areas of London. This book would also be good for those that like a character-driven plot.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend others to read this novel.
The Dark Rose evolves around two characters, Paul and Louisa working on the restoration of an Elizabethan garden in the English countryside. Through both characters and flashbacks you gradually learn about each character and what has led each of them to this garden project. Paul has come to the garden because it provides a safe haven while he is awaiting a court day where he will be a witness against his closest friend from childhood, Daniel. Louisa is part of the garden project because it is her career. What draws Louisa and Paul together initially is Paul's resemblance to Louisa's boyfriend from her youth, Adam. Eventually, Louisa and Paul begin an affair and confess their past to one another that seems to bring some relief to both of them; however, complications arise when Daniel's father finds and confronts Paul about his testifying at Daniel's trial.
I enjoyed reading The Dark Rose, it was very different from what I generally read. The story was very involving and realistic, and the way that Kelly releases parts of each character's stories keeps the interest in finding out exactly what happened in each of their pasts that lead them to their current positions. Kelly provides these selections of the past through flashbacks that continue through the entire novel.
I would classify this novel as a mystery/romance as the main drive of the novel was in finding out the central mysteries of the characters, namely what Daniel had done to cause Paul to have to testify, and why exactly Louisa is afraid of being spotted in certain areas of London. This book would also be good for those that like a character-driven plot.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend others to read this novel.
January 9, 2013
In Erin Kelly’s The Dark Rose, Louisa Trevelyan is living a smaller life than the one she had as a rebellious but privileged teen growing up on the outskirts of London. Then she was prone dramatics, random dabbling in esoteric sciences and brief love affairs, but twenty years later she is still hiding out from the aftermath of an affair with a passionate young musician, and a secret so dangerous that she spends her life channeling her energy and talents into garden and estate restoration. Working on a project at Kelstice Lodge, she meets Paul Seaforth, a young man taking part in a rehabilitation program for youthful offenders and waiting to give testimony as the star witness for the prosecution in the murder trial where he will he testify against the man who bullied him his entire life, his best friend. Louisa and Paul bond and start a relationship, each finding a need satisfied in the other, but their time together is threatened by both their pasts, which can’t stay hidden or forgotten for long.
I loved Erin Kelly’s debut novel, The Poison Tree, and I was even more impressed here with her ability to create atmosphere and tension as she reveals the lives of her damaged, needy and long suffering characters- each of whom is well-drawn, complex and with secrets begging to be uncovered. The Dark Rose is a quiet novel, and Kelly slowly unravels Paul and Louisa. The events that have formed them are revealed in a jumble of flashbacks that become clearer and more horrific as pieces of the puzzle fall into place. I like that you get to know their families and friendships, and have a rich sense of who they were because it makes their approach and relationship to and with each other understandable, and eventually beautiful. I usually can see the twists and turns coming, but even I was in shock by the way Kelly wrapped this one up. Highly recommended.
I loved Erin Kelly’s debut novel, The Poison Tree, and I was even more impressed here with her ability to create atmosphere and tension as she reveals the lives of her damaged, needy and long suffering characters- each of whom is well-drawn, complex and with secrets begging to be uncovered. The Dark Rose is a quiet novel, and Kelly slowly unravels Paul and Louisa. The events that have formed them are revealed in a jumble of flashbacks that become clearer and more horrific as pieces of the puzzle fall into place. I like that you get to know their families and friendships, and have a rich sense of who they were because it makes their approach and relationship to and with each other understandable, and eventually beautiful. I usually can see the twists and turns coming, but even I was in shock by the way Kelly wrapped this one up. Highly recommended.
May 18, 2012
Firstly, I don't understand why this book seems to be called The Dark Rose in some places and The Sick Rose in others, when it's the same book? Maybe it's an American/English thing but I still don't understand the need to change the title. Anyway, the one I read was called The Sick Rose.
I didn't get into this book very quickly to be honest. I'm sick to death of fractured narrative books, and this one didn't make it easy to follow. I couldn't engage with Louisa's character at all, I found her to be a moaney teenager who turned into a moaney adult who needed to man up a little bit.
I liked Paul, I loved his story and I'd have actually preferred the book if it was just a more detailed story of him. He was engaging and honest and I really felt for him in his plight. It could have been expanded on so more and I felt let down by that.
All in all, it wasn't the best story I've ever read, not by a long shot. I'm going to stop reading books that Stephen King rates highly because they all end up being crap. He wishes he'd written this book? Don't bother Stephen, even your worst books top this. I did enjoy this book, I can't say I didn't, but it didn't grab me and I did have to stop myself from just skipping bits at times. I wouldn't bother reading it again and won't be rushing out to buy any more by this author. I'd give this a 2.5 star rating if I could but I can't so I'll have to give it a 3.
I didn't get into this book very quickly to be honest. I'm sick to death of fractured narrative books, and this one didn't make it easy to follow. I couldn't engage with Louisa's character at all, I found her to be a moaney teenager who turned into a moaney adult who needed to man up a little bit.
I liked Paul, I loved his story and I'd have actually preferred the book if it was just a more detailed story of him. He was engaging and honest and I really felt for him in his plight. It could have been expanded on so more and I felt let down by that.
All in all, it wasn't the best story I've ever read, not by a long shot. I'm going to stop reading books that Stephen King rates highly because they all end up being crap. He wishes he'd written this book? Don't bother Stephen, even your worst books top this. I did enjoy this book, I can't say I didn't, but it didn't grab me and I did have to stop myself from just skipping bits at times. I wouldn't bother reading it again and won't be rushing out to buy any more by this author. I'd give this a 2.5 star rating if I could but I can't so I'll have to give it a 3.
May 10, 2012
I was so excited to see this new release from Erin Kelly. Her first book, The Poisoned Tree, was SO twisted that it was a "knock your socks off" type of read! One that left me even saying "WTH??" In my humble opinion this one fell flat to me though.
I felt her characters fell flat, which seemed to be a strength for this author, and I didn't connect with them. I thought, for the book being a psychological thriller, they main characters were kind of "meh"
Also, I didn't feel that the was a "psychological" build up for the "genre" that this book was placed in was as strong as either her last book or what I would expect from the genre. Also, her timing fell flat to me. It just really seemed to "stumble" around. Not only did characters jump around, but the timeline did as well. This can work, and I have read numerous books where the author has done this type of format masterfully, but this one did not work.
On a positive note, I still stand firm in my belief that this author is a bright star that we will still see excellent books out of. There is NO way that someone can write such a strong debut as THE POISONED TREE and then drop off the face of the literary world!
I felt her characters fell flat, which seemed to be a strength for this author, and I didn't connect with them. I thought, for the book being a psychological thriller, they main characters were kind of "meh"
Also, I didn't feel that the was a "psychological" build up for the "genre" that this book was placed in was as strong as either her last book or what I would expect from the genre. Also, her timing fell flat to me. It just really seemed to "stumble" around. Not only did characters jump around, but the timeline did as well. This can work, and I have read numerous books where the author has done this type of format masterfully, but this one did not work.
On a positive note, I still stand firm in my belief that this author is a bright star that we will still see excellent books out of. There is NO way that someone can write such a strong debut as THE POISONED TREE and then drop off the face of the literary world!
December 9, 2012
Another riveting psychological thriller from the author of "The Poison Tree." This one I didn't think was quite as good, but it was still a gripping read. The author still has the same talent of leaving you with a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter, thirsty for more.
This book is the story of two somewhat disturbed and emotionally shaky people. You sympathize with them somewhat, but not enough to agree with a lot of their actions and decisions. Both were victims of verbal abuse and emotional manipulation by a particular person in their pasts, and their responses are those of the weakened and the damaged. The author was very good at getting into these two characters' heads and making you at least partially see where they are coming from. It had the effect of making you debate moral questions in the sense of "what would I do." Gripping plot and rich (but very flawed) characters.
This book is the story of two somewhat disturbed and emotionally shaky people. You sympathize with them somewhat, but not enough to agree with a lot of their actions and decisions. Both were victims of verbal abuse and emotional manipulation by a particular person in their pasts, and their responses are those of the weakened and the damaged. The author was very good at getting into these two characters' heads and making you at least partially see where they are coming from. It had the effect of making you debate moral questions in the sense of "what would I do." Gripping plot and rich (but very flawed) characters.
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