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Crazy Amy #1
Concealment
“Guaranteed to hold you captive…” (Best Thrillers)Amy Robinson seems to have it all - the high-flying job, the designer wardrobe, a beautiful home. But beneath the successful façade, Amy has secrets she’d rather her bully-boy boss Ed didn’t discover - like her troubled past and the little voice she hears in her head.
When a junior colleague is murdered, Amy’s fragile equilibrium is shattered. She suspects a client’s fraud links Ed to the killing, but is her paranoia working overtime?
As Ed tries to discredit her, Amy fears for her job, her sanity and her life. But she’s a tough professional, not a quitter, and somehow she must find a way to fight back...
Winner in the Mystery and Thriller section of the 2015 Rosie Amber Book Awards, Concealment is a compelling psychological thriller like you never read before. At its heart, it is the story of one woman's struggle against her own weaknesses and self-doubt - a universal theme.
Scroll up now and grab your copy of Concealment, Book1 in the addictive Crazy Amy series.
When a junior colleague is murdered, Amy’s fragile equilibrium is shattered. She suspects a client’s fraud links Ed to the killing, but is her paranoia working overtime?
As Ed tries to discredit her, Amy fears for her job, her sanity and her life. But she’s a tough professional, not a quitter, and somehow she must find a way to fight back...
Winner in the Mystery and Thriller section of the 2015 Rosie Amber Book Awards, Concealment is a compelling psychological thriller like you never read before. At its heart, it is the story of one woman's struggle against her own weaknesses and self-doubt - a universal theme.
Scroll up now and grab your copy of Concealment, Book1 in the addictive Crazy Amy series.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2015
370 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
About the author
Rose Edmunds
4 books74 followersFor more than 20 years, Rose Edmunds almost passed as normal, working undercover in in several well-known financial firms in London while quietly gathering material for her novels.
Since jumping off the corporate hamster wheel Rose now writes thrillers with a strong ethical theme. Her writing draws heavily on her considerable insight into business world and in particular the uncomfortable conflict between capitalism and humanity.
Rose’s debut thriller, Never Say Sorry, was about a Big Pharma conspiracy to suppress a cancer cure. Since then, she has been working on the Crazy Amy thriller series—an ambitious project which will follow the brilliant but unstable Amy Robinson on her journey from senior finance executive to who knows where…
You can find out more by checking out Rose’s website at www.roseedmunds.co.uk or on Facebook at Rose Edmunds – Author Page. Via the website, you can also join the Crazy Amy VIP Fan Club, for exclusive access to free bonus Crazy Amy short stories and other exciting offers. There is also a closed Facebook group for club members.
Rose lives in Brighton with her husband David.
Since jumping off the corporate hamster wheel Rose now writes thrillers with a strong ethical theme. Her writing draws heavily on her considerable insight into business world and in particular the uncomfortable conflict between capitalism and humanity.
Rose’s debut thriller, Never Say Sorry, was about a Big Pharma conspiracy to suppress a cancer cure. Since then, she has been working on the Crazy Amy thriller series—an ambitious project which will follow the brilliant but unstable Amy Robinson on her journey from senior finance executive to who knows where…
You can find out more by checking out Rose’s website at www.roseedmunds.co.uk or on Facebook at Rose Edmunds – Author Page. Via the website, you can also join the Crazy Amy VIP Fan Club, for exclusive access to free bonus Crazy Amy short stories and other exciting offers. There is also a closed Facebook group for club members.
Rose lives in Brighton with her husband David.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 29, 2015
This is an excellent novel for so many reasons. As a thriller alone it would get my vote - the writing is flawless with a cleverly constructed plot and great characterisation. However, this novel has an added dimension as it explores the insecurities that people hide behind while presenting a bold façade. The protagonist's decent into mental breakdown is well portrayed as is the insight into the effects of hoarding. The decision to write this book in first person was a wise choice because it adds an emotional depth allowing the reader to empathise with Amy's situation.
The book moves along at a cracking pace, the suspense is maintained throughout and the denouement is extremely gratifying.
The book moves along at a cracking pace, the suspense is maintained throughout and the denouement is extremely gratifying.
May 4, 2015
4.5 out of 5 stars
When I was about 20% of the way through this novel I described it to someone else as 'immaculate', which is an odd way to describe a book, but it seemed fitting, and still does. Concealment is flawlessly presented, so well structured, formatted and edited; not so much as a spare half sentence, anywhere. As someone who hates wading through waffle, I so appreciated that.
Now, I have no knowledge of or interest in high finance, so please note my high star rating and understand that, therefore, it must be extremely good! It is. In the first 7% there is a fair bit of explanation about tax shenanigans, and I feared that, despite the fact that it's so sharp and well written, I might not enjoy it so much, simply because I would have to concentrate very hard to understand it. But if you're a financial dum-dum like me, please don't be put off - it still begins at a cracking pace and soon delves further into the action, the people, the motivations.
This is a murder whodunnit, and protagonist Amy Robinson is determined to find out the answers. Along the way, though, she has to deal with the repercussions of her psychologically damaging childhood, and a complex tangle of conspiracy amongst colleagues, clients and people she thought she could trust. It seems that everyone is against her, and worse, but is she just being paranoid? I loved the way the suspense was built up - nothing like reading that someone will be dead in a few days to keep you reading!
I thought the relationships throughout the book were expertly, and often amusingly, painted. The characters are all well defined and clear and the writing style made me connect with Amy immediately and root for her throughout, especially as the other characters were all so delightfully unlikeable - some wonderful baddies! Rose Edmunds has portrayed the slimy boss Ed Smithies, the self-serving best friend Lisa (I hated her!), the two-faced ex-husband Greg and troubled, chauvinistic Ryan so well. Amy's own descent into psychological hell is fabulously well done, and I found the parts that looked back into her childhood absolutely fascinating.
If you are particularly fond of financial thrillers you will LOVE this, and if like me, you don't know your share options from your allocations of divisional overheads (I haven't got a clue what any of that means), you will still enjoy it very much—I read it over a period of two days because (cliché alert!).... I couldn't put it down!
When I was about 20% of the way through this novel I described it to someone else as 'immaculate', which is an odd way to describe a book, but it seemed fitting, and still does. Concealment is flawlessly presented, so well structured, formatted and edited; not so much as a spare half sentence, anywhere. As someone who hates wading through waffle, I so appreciated that.
Now, I have no knowledge of or interest in high finance, so please note my high star rating and understand that, therefore, it must be extremely good! It is. In the first 7% there is a fair bit of explanation about tax shenanigans, and I feared that, despite the fact that it's so sharp and well written, I might not enjoy it so much, simply because I would have to concentrate very hard to understand it. But if you're a financial dum-dum like me, please don't be put off - it still begins at a cracking pace and soon delves further into the action, the people, the motivations.
This is a murder whodunnit, and protagonist Amy Robinson is determined to find out the answers. Along the way, though, she has to deal with the repercussions of her psychologically damaging childhood, and a complex tangle of conspiracy amongst colleagues, clients and people she thought she could trust. It seems that everyone is against her, and worse, but is she just being paranoid? I loved the way the suspense was built up - nothing like reading that someone will be dead in a few days to keep you reading!
I thought the relationships throughout the book were expertly, and often amusingly, painted. The characters are all well defined and clear and the writing style made me connect with Amy immediately and root for her throughout, especially as the other characters were all so delightfully unlikeable - some wonderful baddies! Rose Edmunds has portrayed the slimy boss Ed Smithies, the self-serving best friend Lisa (I hated her!), the two-faced ex-husband Greg and troubled, chauvinistic Ryan so well. Amy's own descent into psychological hell is fabulously well done, and I found the parts that looked back into her childhood absolutely fascinating.
If you are particularly fond of financial thrillers you will LOVE this, and if like me, you don't know your share options from your allocations of divisional overheads (I haven't got a clue what any of that means), you will still enjoy it very much—I read it over a period of two days because (cliché alert!).... I couldn't put it down!
April 1, 2015
This is a thoroughly engaging thriller set in the world of big business and finance. It centres around the proposed acquisition of a large company in the construction business by another, even larger, FTSE-listed company. All seems to be going well, until the tax authorities, suspecting some irregularity in the target company’s tax position propose an investigation. The company rolls over (too easily) and concedes. It later emerges that, in fact, their tax position was sound, so why didn’t they fight their corner? Did they have something more serious to hide?
Before long we witness murder, suicide, lies, and deception as the various parties involved pursue their various dark agendas.
Amy Robinson, a high-flying city executive, fights to untangle the mystery, all the time undermined by those around her who have vested interests in making sure the truth is not uncovered. Amy’s character is brilliantly portrayed: she is gutsy, determined, and has a healthy disregard for corporate bullshit. Yet underneath, she is insecure – scarred by her childhood experiences. As the pressure on her racks up, she experiences disturbing mental aberrations and begins to doubt her own sanity.
We are kept guessing right through the book as to exactly what skulduggery has taken place. I confess I didn’t work it out until almost the end.
The icing on the cake of this superb book is that the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax are virtually faultless – sadly, a rarity in many of today’s books.
Before long we witness murder, suicide, lies, and deception as the various parties involved pursue their various dark agendas.
Amy Robinson, a high-flying city executive, fights to untangle the mystery, all the time undermined by those around her who have vested interests in making sure the truth is not uncovered. Amy’s character is brilliantly portrayed: she is gutsy, determined, and has a healthy disregard for corporate bullshit. Yet underneath, she is insecure – scarred by her childhood experiences. As the pressure on her racks up, she experiences disturbing mental aberrations and begins to doubt her own sanity.
We are kept guessing right through the book as to exactly what skulduggery has taken place. I confess I didn’t work it out until almost the end.
The icing on the cake of this superb book is that the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax are virtually faultless – sadly, a rarity in many of today’s books.
September 4, 2015
From the first paragraph you know you’re in for something a little different.
Amy is a remarkable and unusual character, with some remarkable flaws which make for a particularly intriguing narrative. You’re never quite sure who’s telling the truth – friends, acquaintances, colleagues, even the narrator herself, nobody is above suspicion. There’s a tendency in this genre for the technical to dominate, but here it blends perfectly with the thrills to give an exciting, well-paced read, a book you can’t put down because you’re desperate to find out what happens next. Thoroughly recommended.
Amy is a remarkable and unusual character, with some remarkable flaws which make for a particularly intriguing narrative. You’re never quite sure who’s telling the truth – friends, acquaintances, colleagues, even the narrator herself, nobody is above suspicion. There’s a tendency in this genre for the technical to dominate, but here it blends perfectly with the thrills to give an exciting, well-paced read, a book you can’t put down because you’re desperate to find out what happens next. Thoroughly recommended.
April 21, 2015
Concealment is quite a twisted mystery and unique in that it takes place in the arena of big business and finance. Amy, an executive in the company overseeing the financial aspects of a merger of a construction company with another, larger company, has risen through the ranks by dint of ambition and hard work. Another less determined person might not have achieved her position, given the fact she is the daughter of a pathological hoarder who made Amy’s childhood miserable and who is currently bringing misery to her life again. She survives by keeping her past a secret, a delicate balancing act.
The story begins with the discovery by the tax division of Amy’s company of some irregularities in the financials of the smaller of the two companies, irregularities which are later found not to be the problem initially thought. The one problem I had with this book is that the financial and business information was over my head, and I did not understand exactly what was going on; nevertheless, I managed to get a general idea.
Then Amy’s young colleague, a thorough investigator of the tax conundrum, is murdered, and Amy’s new boss Ed displays obnoxious behavior that she interprets as a desire to trash her career and boot her from the company.
As the mystery of her colleague’s death unwinds under Amy’s reluctant but intelligent investigation, the pressure on her exerted by the smarmy Ed inexorably increases. He undermines her authority, gets friends to spy on her, and discredits her at every turn. Amy becomes convinced he is the killer and increasingly uses alcohol to calm her distress. Her tight control of herself and her life starts to crack, and as her paranoia increases, even the reader becomes worried that Amy is mentally unbalanced. Is there no one she can trust?
Amy gradually discovers that various parties to the merger are pursuing illegal agendas, which leads to a suicide and attempts on her life. To top it off, a nosy and imperious neighbor manipulates her mother to apply even further pressure on Amy’s already precarious mental balance. The reader is kept guessing to the very end and I found myself reading as quickly as possible to discover who was at the bottom of everything. Most satisfying is how Amy exacts her revenge.
A good read for just about everyone.
The story begins with the discovery by the tax division of Amy’s company of some irregularities in the financials of the smaller of the two companies, irregularities which are later found not to be the problem initially thought. The one problem I had with this book is that the financial and business information was over my head, and I did not understand exactly what was going on; nevertheless, I managed to get a general idea.
Then Amy’s young colleague, a thorough investigator of the tax conundrum, is murdered, and Amy’s new boss Ed displays obnoxious behavior that she interprets as a desire to trash her career and boot her from the company.
As the mystery of her colleague’s death unwinds under Amy’s reluctant but intelligent investigation, the pressure on her exerted by the smarmy Ed inexorably increases. He undermines her authority, gets friends to spy on her, and discredits her at every turn. Amy becomes convinced he is the killer and increasingly uses alcohol to calm her distress. Her tight control of herself and her life starts to crack, and as her paranoia increases, even the reader becomes worried that Amy is mentally unbalanced. Is there no one she can trust?
Amy gradually discovers that various parties to the merger are pursuing illegal agendas, which leads to a suicide and attempts on her life. To top it off, a nosy and imperious neighbor manipulates her mother to apply even further pressure on Amy’s already precarious mental balance. The reader is kept guessing to the very end and I found myself reading as quickly as possible to discover who was at the bottom of everything. Most satisfying is how Amy exacts her revenge.
A good read for just about everyone.
April 22, 2015
There are two genres that I really enjoy; family sagas and crime thrillers. Rose Edmund’s Concealment belongs to the latter and fulfilled all my expectations.
Initially it was a bit of a slow burner for me but this was probably a lack of insight to the intrigues of corporate finance and shenanigans (I must admit at soon as the word ‘tax’ came on the page I shivered, having once worked in HMRC and hated it)
I don’t normally include spoilers in my reviews and won’t do here. I’ll just concentrate on the technicalities of this well-written novel that so impressed me.
The plot builds at a flawlessly steady pace and is well written to portray the world of big business and finance. This is cleverly interwoven with sub-plots which include the deceptions of the various antagonists, murder, suicide and the gradual mental breakdown of the protagonist, Amy Robinson, a high-flying executive of a large company. A company that is hiding many illegal anomalies.
The settings for all the story lines are well described and give a great sense of place
One of the great strengths of the novel, I thought, was that it was told from the first person point of view of the protagonist and the tension builds slowly, both emotionally for Amy and thematically for the plot. The author shows the depths and many facets of the character through constant internal dialogue and reveals the dangers to her, from both the criminal underworld she discovers, and from the exposure of a personal secret she has hidden for many years. And, while I was willing her to succeed, I was also made aware of her many personal weaknesses. This is what made the character come alive for me.
And this was the same for all the characters; through the author’s descriptions of them , through their actions and through the dialogue, they are all rounded and believable.
The denouement was a great surprise but also very satisfying. All in all a brilliant read. I can thoroughly recommend Rose Edmund’s Concealment
Initially it was a bit of a slow burner for me but this was probably a lack of insight to the intrigues of corporate finance and shenanigans (I must admit at soon as the word ‘tax’ came on the page I shivered, having once worked in HMRC and hated it)
I don’t normally include spoilers in my reviews and won’t do here. I’ll just concentrate on the technicalities of this well-written novel that so impressed me.
The plot builds at a flawlessly steady pace and is well written to portray the world of big business and finance. This is cleverly interwoven with sub-plots which include the deceptions of the various antagonists, murder, suicide and the gradual mental breakdown of the protagonist, Amy Robinson, a high-flying executive of a large company. A company that is hiding many illegal anomalies.
The settings for all the story lines are well described and give a great sense of place
One of the great strengths of the novel, I thought, was that it was told from the first person point of view of the protagonist and the tension builds slowly, both emotionally for Amy and thematically for the plot. The author shows the depths and many facets of the character through constant internal dialogue and reveals the dangers to her, from both the criminal underworld she discovers, and from the exposure of a personal secret she has hidden for many years. And, while I was willing her to succeed, I was also made aware of her many personal weaknesses. This is what made the character come alive for me.
And this was the same for all the characters; through the author’s descriptions of them , through their actions and through the dialogue, they are all rounded and believable.
The denouement was a great surprise but also very satisfying. All in all a brilliant read. I can thoroughly recommend Rose Edmund’s Concealment
February 21, 2021
I am lucky to know the authoress personally and have had the honor to be given the book by her. I had read her first book (Never Say Sorry), but Crazy Amy was a new heroine for me.
I have enjoyed the book, especially the idea of Little Amy (not to put any more spoilers in here). I have the feeling this is the kind of crime story where the crime itself is not the most important part of it, that the authoress wants to deliver a message about the enviroment in which it is set. The writing and the plot are not always smooth and flowing (but it may be my non- native English speaking here), and in the end I got more interested in Amy herself than in the outcome of the crime. I am adding one more star for a brave and honest treatment of a specific psychological problem. Let us see what Amy is up to in the next installment!
I have enjoyed the book, especially the idea of Little Amy (not to put any more spoilers in here). I have the feeling this is the kind of crime story where the crime itself is not the most important part of it, that the authoress wants to deliver a message about the enviroment in which it is set. The writing and the plot are not always smooth and flowing (but it may be my non- native English speaking here), and in the end I got more interested in Amy herself than in the outcome of the crime. I am adding one more star for a brave and honest treatment of a specific psychological problem. Let us see what Amy is up to in the next installment!
March 14, 2017
I read this gripping book in two sittings. It’s that kind of read. So if corporate fraud is your thing, you’ll love this story. If it’s not, you’ll certainly learn a lot about it through this well written book.
Amy’s vulnerabilities, even though she rakes in a cool half a mil each year, mean you simply can’t help but like her, while disliking the sleazy Ed as much as she does.
Amy chooses to keep a young colleague’s secret hoping he is keeping hers.
But by doing this is she breaking the law? Is it worth it? Is he worth it? Or has he somehow implicated her in a murder/fraud that is bigger than both of them?
Set against the backdrop of a prominent corporate world of bankers, auditors, big investment and crime, the high flyers soon become apparent. Money truly does buy anything.
With the murder of another staff member who holds too much information to stay alive, Amy knows who the players are. But how to substantiate her instincts, when they are like quicksand.
She could back off but Amy becomes increasingly more involved. With a close friend turning against her, who can she turn to? The police? Colleagues? The voice that constantly whispers at her shoulder?
Amy’s unraveling culminates in a most unexpected and excellent ending.
Dry humor on every page and some shock-didn’t-see-that-coming moments.
A definite 5 stars for this author.
Amy’s vulnerabilities, even though she rakes in a cool half a mil each year, mean you simply can’t help but like her, while disliking the sleazy Ed as much as she does.
Amy chooses to keep a young colleague’s secret hoping he is keeping hers.
But by doing this is she breaking the law? Is it worth it? Is he worth it? Or has he somehow implicated her in a murder/fraud that is bigger than both of them?
Set against the backdrop of a prominent corporate world of bankers, auditors, big investment and crime, the high flyers soon become apparent. Money truly does buy anything.
With the murder of another staff member who holds too much information to stay alive, Amy knows who the players are. But how to substantiate her instincts, when they are like quicksand.
She could back off but Amy becomes increasingly more involved. With a close friend turning against her, who can she turn to? The police? Colleagues? The voice that constantly whispers at her shoulder?
Amy’s unraveling culminates in a most unexpected and excellent ending.
Dry humor on every page and some shock-didn’t-see-that-coming moments.
A definite 5 stars for this author.
June 20, 2020
This is the first of Edmunds “Crazy Amy Series.” Meet Amy Robinson, a senior finance executive that is brilliant and emotionally unstable at the same time. Her life is perfect, that is until a colleague is murdered. Amy’s suspicion: It was her bullying boss. And Amy fears for herself too. Thus, she turns amateur sleuth and investigates on her own, only to discover a trove of uncomfortable truths. About herself, her company, and the business world as such.
Concealement is definitively not digestible for everyone. It is not the black-and white financial thriller you often get. Instead, Edmunds merges all the fascinating financial details with the, sometimes uncomfortable, emotional depth of a psychological thriller. This is a very rare but powerful combination. Another rare feature is that a financial novel is told form a female perspective, a refreshing angle of the book.
I also loved the book because it shines an ethical spotlight on the corporate world, a theme that has fueled my own business fiction.
Concealement is definitively not digestible for everyone. It is not the black-and white financial thriller you often get. Instead, Edmunds merges all the fascinating financial details with the, sometimes uncomfortable, emotional depth of a psychological thriller. This is a very rare but powerful combination. Another rare feature is that a financial novel is told form a female perspective, a refreshing angle of the book.
I also loved the book because it shines an ethical spotlight on the corporate world, a theme that has fueled my own business fiction.
May 8, 2017
There were some issues I had in reading this, not being from Europe or understanding some of the terms familiar to that area. For a large part of the first half of the book I had to skim past the terms I didn't understand and had never heard of before. Other than the language, I felt this was a very good book. It was well-written and followed the rules of good writing in that anything that can go wrong to the main character should and did go wrong. It was intriguing on different levels. I was particularly surprised to find out how well-written the topic of abuse was; the verbal and emotional manipulation, the mind games, making the victim feel like the bad guy and questioning their own sanity. It was so spot-on I am prone to believe the author has dealt very closely with this form of abuse herself. Reading it was frustrating and also liberating as someone who has dealt with more than one person like Amy has. I found it surprisingly therapeutic, as well as entertaining. It was a good reminder to remove myself from any and all toxic situations no matter how luring the people are. It's only another manipulation tactic. Surprisingly, Crazy Amy helped me to do with the craziness in my own life. Well done Miss Edmunds!
June 15, 2015
Concealment is a thriller based in the financial world of a large accounting firm called Pearson Malone and is written in the first person. Amy Robinson is a partner in this firm and right from the start of this story she believes she is living a lie due to the upbringing she endured in her childhood home life, the knock on effects of which are coming out now that she is under a lot of stress.
At the beginning this setting reminded me of my time working in an office and the politics that are the undercurrent of such an environment. Such politics can make for an unpleasant work life and they are one of the reasons I choose to work alone. However at Pearson Malone they are taken to another level altogether and what starts off as mild manipulation and blatant, if suspicious, favouritism grows into something much, much worse as a member of staff is murdered and a culture of blackmail, threats and cover ups is revealed all in order to allow a big and extremely lucrative deal to go through.
This is a very tidy, well written book, the prose spare and efficient which I liked and I felt very much depicted Amy at her most organised. The character descriptions were vivid and very real; I could absolutely see these people, and most of them were terrible. Smithies made me shudder, the very worst kind of patronising bully, Lisa...well...let’s just say I’m not a fan.
Amy drinks too much and because of her actions gets caught up in the murder enquiries. When her suspicions are raised she reluctantly starts investigating the possible reasons behind the murder and discovers more than it is safe for her to. This leads to attacks being made on her life...and this is where I had a bit of a problem. Edmunds is very talented at building consistent and believable characters. She also did an extremely good job of the build up of the paranoia in Amy’s mind as she comes to believe everyone around her is involved in fraud and covering up for each other. But I would have liked there to have been more made of the attacks themselves and of Amy’s reaction to them as those parts of the story passed very quickly and she seems to brush them off when one in particular is not something that happens to you every day on a British street.
Amy not only has problems at work but also a situation arises with her mother which again Edmunds deals with extremely well showing a consistency of thought throughout the story which is totally believable.
Amy starts to hear a familiar voice right from the very first page, (I really liked this) and this manifests into her seeing a figment and eventually as she nears the edge of her own sanity and is close to a breakdown she finds herself acting on the figments instructions.
I’m not that keen on being told very obviously at the end of a chapter of the fate that lies in wait for a character but that is a personal thing and I can see it builds tension and I’m sure other readers will like it. I have to say that I loved the ending, the way Amy, and Edmunds, dealt with that last meeting...brilliant!!
If accountancy isn’t your idea of the ideal basis for an exciting thriller then think again and don’t be concerned about having to deal with the intricacies of tax fraud you don’t need to be all over that to enjoy this very well thought out story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At the beginning this setting reminded me of my time working in an office and the politics that are the undercurrent of such an environment. Such politics can make for an unpleasant work life and they are one of the reasons I choose to work alone. However at Pearson Malone they are taken to another level altogether and what starts off as mild manipulation and blatant, if suspicious, favouritism grows into something much, much worse as a member of staff is murdered and a culture of blackmail, threats and cover ups is revealed all in order to allow a big and extremely lucrative deal to go through.
This is a very tidy, well written book, the prose spare and efficient which I liked and I felt very much depicted Amy at her most organised. The character descriptions were vivid and very real; I could absolutely see these people, and most of them were terrible. Smithies made me shudder, the very worst kind of patronising bully, Lisa...well...let’s just say I’m not a fan.
Amy drinks too much and because of her actions gets caught up in the murder enquiries. When her suspicions are raised she reluctantly starts investigating the possible reasons behind the murder and discovers more than it is safe for her to. This leads to attacks being made on her life...and this is where I had a bit of a problem. Edmunds is very talented at building consistent and believable characters. She also did an extremely good job of the build up of the paranoia in Amy’s mind as she comes to believe everyone around her is involved in fraud and covering up for each other. But I would have liked there to have been more made of the attacks themselves and of Amy’s reaction to them as those parts of the story passed very quickly and she seems to brush them off when one in particular is not something that happens to you every day on a British street.
Amy not only has problems at work but also a situation arises with her mother which again Edmunds deals with extremely well showing a consistency of thought throughout the story which is totally believable.
Amy starts to hear a familiar voice right from the very first page, (I really liked this) and this manifests into her seeing a figment and eventually as she nears the edge of her own sanity and is close to a breakdown she finds herself acting on the figments instructions.
I’m not that keen on being told very obviously at the end of a chapter of the fate that lies in wait for a character but that is a personal thing and I can see it builds tension and I’m sure other readers will like it. I have to say that I loved the ending, the way Amy, and Edmunds, dealt with that last meeting...brilliant!!
If accountancy isn’t your idea of the ideal basis for an exciting thriller then think again and don’t be concerned about having to deal with the intricacies of tax fraud you don’t need to be all over that to enjoy this very well thought out story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2017
Great read!!
This book really points just how individuals can stick together to hide the corruption going on in any corporation. Very suspenseful and intriguing friends m start to finish!!!
This book really points just how individuals can stick together to hide the corruption going on in any corporation. Very suspenseful and intriguing friends m start to finish!!!
April 8, 2015
This terrific thriller features reluctant sleuth Amy, a corporate hot shot who slowly starts to fall apart when a colleague is murdered. Amy suspects her new boss is a ruthless killer. She has no proof, just suspicions built slowly over time. He fires her best friend and protégé and questions Amy’s every move, slyly stabbing her in the back at any opportunity. He even takes pains to set her up to look foolish in front of company bigwigs and co-workers.
Amy’s too intelligent to go down without a fight and she’s determined to hold steady under his unnerving campaign to foist her from her coveted position as partner. What Amy doesn’t know is that in her climb up the corporate ladder, she’s made a few enemies. Someone is out to discredit her and tear apart the fragile identity she has built up. It may or may not be her evil boss. Amy has been keeping secrets about her past for so long that she has perfected the art of concealment. Why then does her boss seem to know her every thought, her every action? To her eyes, he is diabolical, covering his backstabbing acts with oily kindness and trumped up concern.
As Amy takes slow steps to expose a corporate cover-up, she starts to understand that she’s found the real reason for the death of her young co-worker. Her relentless work ethic leads her to revelations that will expose a murderer.
What makes this novel special is the way the author illuminates Amy’s deteriorating mindset. Everything Amy thinks she knows, personal and professional, turns out to be untrue, and eventually, this begins to confound her. As she stubbornly follows a trail of crumbling clues, her tendency to unwind with a bit too much alcohol takes its toll, and Amy finds herself in serious trouble. Of course, she tells herself, the murderer would love to see her locked away, appear to be insane or alcoholic or both, because that would mean all the evidence she’s found could be buried.
This part of Amy’s story—her psyche as she starts to lose it, is especially powerful and unique. Amy’s trashed youth becomes a character all its own, offering opinions and advice, making adult Amy question everything. Has her boss made her paranoid, or is she truly insane? Readers will wonder what is going on with Amy, and indeed who the real culprit is, until the chilling final pages of this deeply insightful, delightfully twisty mystery.
April 7, 2015
In “Concealment” we meet high flying achiever, Amy Robinson, Head of the Entrepreneurs’ Tax Advising Group in a large finance company. But “nothing is but what is not.” Amy hides a secret from her youth and she is determined to appear normal, despite the voice in her head.
If that were not enough, Amy has to refuse bonuses and deny promotions at the bid of her boss Ed Smithers, earning the enmity of staff in her department. Next day, after an unpleasant experience with Ryan Kelly, her ex brother-in-law she learns that his girlfriend, Isabelle, an employee from her department has suddenly disappeared. Amy’s suspicions move from one colleague to another, following on from Ryan’s words that Isabelle had found discrepancies in the accounting of a slate quarry which is about to be acquired.
Amy takes over preparations for the acquisition, which means she has to speak to Greg, her ex-husband, who is leader of the Corporate Finance team. She wonders if Isabelle’s rapid promotion by Ed Smithers was because of a liaison or to keep her quiet. As Smithers increasingly undermines Amy’s authority she is glad to have the sympathetic ear of her only friend Lisa, who also has reason to distrust Smithers.
But Amy’s behaviour seems to be becoming increasingly odd. The voice in her head now has substance in the figure of her younger self, who berates her for not managing her childhood more effectively. As murder is followed by a suicide, is Amy suffering from paranoia or is she really in danger?
The novel moves rapidly, as Amy stumbles from one disaster to another revealing the source of the mystery. Does she have the strength to extract herself from an impossible situation and prove to Detective Chief Inspector Dave Carmody that she is telling the truth? There is treachery and confusion in a story I couldn’t put down!
If that were not enough, Amy has to refuse bonuses and deny promotions at the bid of her boss Ed Smithers, earning the enmity of staff in her department. Next day, after an unpleasant experience with Ryan Kelly, her ex brother-in-law she learns that his girlfriend, Isabelle, an employee from her department has suddenly disappeared. Amy’s suspicions move from one colleague to another, following on from Ryan’s words that Isabelle had found discrepancies in the accounting of a slate quarry which is about to be acquired.
Amy takes over preparations for the acquisition, which means she has to speak to Greg, her ex-husband, who is leader of the Corporate Finance team. She wonders if Isabelle’s rapid promotion by Ed Smithers was because of a liaison or to keep her quiet. As Smithers increasingly undermines Amy’s authority she is glad to have the sympathetic ear of her only friend Lisa, who also has reason to distrust Smithers.
But Amy’s behaviour seems to be becoming increasingly odd. The voice in her head now has substance in the figure of her younger self, who berates her for not managing her childhood more effectively. As murder is followed by a suicide, is Amy suffering from paranoia or is she really in danger?
The novel moves rapidly, as Amy stumbles from one disaster to another revealing the source of the mystery. Does she have the strength to extract herself from an impossible situation and prove to Detective Chief Inspector Dave Carmody that she is telling the truth? There is treachery and confusion in a story I couldn’t put down!
April 14, 2015
I got in contact with the author, Rose Edmunds, and I was given the book in exchange of an honest review.
Amy was a woman that carried herself with posh and professionalism. She was a high-achiever and always seemed to prioritize her work. This attitude of hers was a persona that she created to protect herself. ‘Young Amy’ was her intuition that guided her from the beginning as it helped her with making tough decisions. The story seemed to get intriguing after the death of her young colleague. Amy’s ex brother in law, Ryan Kelly, was arrested for murder and left her in shock. She had received clues from an associate and something doesn’t add up to the arrest. She began to uncover proof and ‘Young Amy’ prompted her to discover the truth to justify the suicide of Ryan. She was caught up in finding the truth that it had endangered her life. She was being followed, almost being murdered and lost her sanity in the process of justification.
Amy who was always posh in the beginning of the book made her character seemed to be pretentious. Her attitudes and the way she carried herself made the reader to be irritated as she seemed sly. The lack of her back story and the voices made her difficult to figure her identity. As the story progress, the readers were able to understand her ways and the facade she put up. Her traumatic childhood with lack of parenting figure mould her into the person she was.
The book is fast-paced from the start with great flow of events. The writing catches the attention of readers and left them on their toes. It is very well written psychological thriller that left the readers wanting more. There was not a dull moment and the unexpected turn of events was mind-blowing. I am proud to say that I was unable to put it down and completed it in a day time.
Amy was a woman that carried herself with posh and professionalism. She was a high-achiever and always seemed to prioritize her work. This attitude of hers was a persona that she created to protect herself. ‘Young Amy’ was her intuition that guided her from the beginning as it helped her with making tough decisions. The story seemed to get intriguing after the death of her young colleague. Amy’s ex brother in law, Ryan Kelly, was arrested for murder and left her in shock. She had received clues from an associate and something doesn’t add up to the arrest. She began to uncover proof and ‘Young Amy’ prompted her to discover the truth to justify the suicide of Ryan. She was caught up in finding the truth that it had endangered her life. She was being followed, almost being murdered and lost her sanity in the process of justification.
Amy who was always posh in the beginning of the book made her character seemed to be pretentious. Her attitudes and the way she carried herself made the reader to be irritated as she seemed sly. The lack of her back story and the voices made her difficult to figure her identity. As the story progress, the readers were able to understand her ways and the facade she put up. Her traumatic childhood with lack of parenting figure mould her into the person she was.
The book is fast-paced from the start with great flow of events. The writing catches the attention of readers and left them on their toes. It is very well written psychological thriller that left the readers wanting more. There was not a dull moment and the unexpected turn of events was mind-blowing. I am proud to say that I was unable to put it down and completed it in a day time.
July 9, 2015
Having recently read this author's debut novel I was keen to download this book and my expectations were high. Initially I didn't warm to the central character Amy, I didn't understand the implications of the tax anomalies and I was worried the book was based within the world of finance (a world I know nothing about.) But by the time I was 10% of the way into the book I was hooked and from there on the read just got better and better. As my favourite genre I read a lot of crime thrillers both by the big best sellers and the lesser-known authors and I put this book way up there with the big names.
I won't re-tell the story but it has tight writing, solid characterization and an intriguing plot.
A lot of thrillers call themselves "psychological thrillers" but "Concealment" has a genuine claim to the term. I was a little unsure at first of the technique used to create this edge to the story but it worked very well. For the most of the read there was this nagging voice in my head - is this real or the paranoia of a woman suffering a complete breakdown? In addition the atmosphere of fear and mistrust created within the highly competitive field of finance was tangible.
I couldn't finish my review without mentioning the underlying childhood experiences which made up Amy's character. Although I previously had little knowledge of the condition, the sense of shame and the building and sustaining of a false image was something I could relate to. The gulf between how we see ourselves versus the way we portray ourselves to others is a mine field of hazards waiting to trip us up. This aspect gave added depth to the story and made the title "Concealment" doubly-apt.
Great read. Highly recommend.
I won't re-tell the story but it has tight writing, solid characterization and an intriguing plot.
A lot of thrillers call themselves "psychological thrillers" but "Concealment" has a genuine claim to the term. I was a little unsure at first of the technique used to create this edge to the story but it worked very well. For the most of the read there was this nagging voice in my head - is this real or the paranoia of a woman suffering a complete breakdown? In addition the atmosphere of fear and mistrust created within the highly competitive field of finance was tangible.
I couldn't finish my review without mentioning the underlying childhood experiences which made up Amy's character. Although I previously had little knowledge of the condition, the sense of shame and the building and sustaining of a false image was something I could relate to. The gulf between how we see ourselves versus the way we portray ourselves to others is a mine field of hazards waiting to trip us up. This aspect gave added depth to the story and made the title "Concealment" doubly-apt.
Great read. Highly recommend.
December 15, 2015
I do not normally read thrillers and only read "Concealment" because I know the author. I expected at best to admire it as an example of the genre but not to be engaged by it. In fact, I was totally engrossed by it and read it straight through at a single sitting, a very rare occurrence for me. Why was this?
On one level, this is a conventional "whodunnit" - it's signalled early on that there is going to be a murder, a prime suspect is identified, some tantalising false leads are thrown in your way, and it is not till near the end that you find out who actually committed the crime. So far, so good, and so conventional. But this is only the sub-plot. The real question is not "who?" but "why?" and was the hero of the book - Amy - right to suspect a conspiracy, or is her significantly disturbed and paranoid state of mind leading her to make up a conspiracy where none exists. Given that this is a book about the financial sector and peopled with a high proportion of extremely unpleasant characters operating in a brutal culture, the presumption of most readers would be that Amy is right. She is, however, so unbalanced herself as a result of a very painful childhood, and so many gobbets of evidence against the conspiracy keep appearing, that you change your mind every few pages. Amy's mental state deteriorates and the plausibility of the explanation that the prime suspect "dunnit" continues to grow, that it is not till right near the end that the truth begins to emerge.
So, even if you don't normally read thrillers and are not interested in or enamoured of the world of finance, you will find this book really gripping and thought-provoking. I cannot recommend it too highly.
On one level, this is a conventional "whodunnit" - it's signalled early on that there is going to be a murder, a prime suspect is identified, some tantalising false leads are thrown in your way, and it is not till near the end that you find out who actually committed the crime. So far, so good, and so conventional. But this is only the sub-plot. The real question is not "who?" but "why?" and was the hero of the book - Amy - right to suspect a conspiracy, or is her significantly disturbed and paranoid state of mind leading her to make up a conspiracy where none exists. Given that this is a book about the financial sector and peopled with a high proportion of extremely unpleasant characters operating in a brutal culture, the presumption of most readers would be that Amy is right. She is, however, so unbalanced herself as a result of a very painful childhood, and so many gobbets of evidence against the conspiracy keep appearing, that you change your mind every few pages. Amy's mental state deteriorates and the plausibility of the explanation that the prime suspect "dunnit" continues to grow, that it is not till right near the end that the truth begins to emerge.
So, even if you don't normally read thrillers and are not interested in or enamoured of the world of finance, you will find this book really gripping and thought-provoking. I cannot recommend it too highly.
October 7, 2015
This well written novel eloquently portrays the cut-throat world of a corporate finance company: work place bullying, belittlement designed to shred self esteems, egos competing with bigger egos... It is a story written from the heart and one woman’s struggle in an aggressive environment. The principal character is likeable and tough yet struggles with her inner demons. I like the way the author depicts her and you do really get inside her head. It is not just insecurities at work but the suspicion that foul play is afoot when a colleague ends up dead.
At the same time, she is blighted by childhood memories. This book gives an incredible insight into the mind of a child who has grown up with a hoarder; hoarding being something I’ve never really thought about - never mind a house so crammed with junk, she can barely tunnel through the maze. These are the experiences Amy has endured to make her the person she is.
Parts of the story are possibly a little confusing for me at times but it has some great twists. I reached a point where I was unsure if the stuff Amy was experiencing was real or delusional as she attempts to solve the mystery but it is a psychological thriller that grips you right up until the end. I really enjoyed it.
At the same time, she is blighted by childhood memories. This book gives an incredible insight into the mind of a child who has grown up with a hoarder; hoarding being something I’ve never really thought about - never mind a house so crammed with junk, she can barely tunnel through the maze. These are the experiences Amy has endured to make her the person she is.
Parts of the story are possibly a little confusing for me at times but it has some great twists. I reached a point where I was unsure if the stuff Amy was experiencing was real or delusional as she attempts to solve the mystery but it is a psychological thriller that grips you right up until the end. I really enjoyed it.
September 8, 2015
This mystery suspense thriller is about a career woman who has a high pressured financial job in London who has had a turbulent childhood and is trying to deal with the contempt and bullying of her immediate boss. When one of her team disappears and is found murdered, she finds herself in a position where she needs to find out if a murder was committed in relation to anomalies in a client's records. To complicate matters her ex-brother-in-law freshly disappointed by missing out on a promotion, blames her for his misfortune and is in a relationship with the deceased.
I found the start of this book a little hard to get into as I have very little background knowledge of financial institutions, their personnel and how they function but by the time I was 25% into the book I was hooked. I needed to find out what childhood secret was responsible for Amy's estrangement with her mother. This is the sort of book where you root for the protagonist as she battles adversity and things begin to look progressively bleak for her, but is she losing the plot or are they really out to get her. A superb thriller read.
I found the start of this book a little hard to get into as I have very little background knowledge of financial institutions, their personnel and how they function but by the time I was 25% into the book I was hooked. I needed to find out what childhood secret was responsible for Amy's estrangement with her mother. This is the sort of book where you root for the protagonist as she battles adversity and things begin to look progressively bleak for her, but is she losing the plot or are they really out to get her. A superb thriller read.
April 8, 2015
Amy is being manipulated from all sides, and nearly suffers a permanent breakdown. Fortunately, her background, painful as it was, has given her ample strength and resources to deal with lies and manipulation! Amy, like me, is an adult Child of a Hoarder.
We're trained to present a perfect persona to the world; to cover up our Hoarder Parent's dirt and secrets, and in the process we sometimes loose track of the manipulation and secrets foist upon us by others around us. This is Amy's dilemma - can she sort through the deceit and lies to discover the truth and see justice done? Will Amy be able to come to terms with her own past in order to live fully and at peace in the present?
A dilemma faced by all CoH, and extremely well presented by Rose Edmunds in a fictional setting. Besides, it's a ripping good mystery which kept me guessing as to 'Whodunit" up to the very last pages!
We're trained to present a perfect persona to the world; to cover up our Hoarder Parent's dirt and secrets, and in the process we sometimes loose track of the manipulation and secrets foist upon us by others around us. This is Amy's dilemma - can she sort through the deceit and lies to discover the truth and see justice done? Will Amy be able to come to terms with her own past in order to live fully and at peace in the present?
A dilemma faced by all CoH, and extremely well presented by Rose Edmunds in a fictional setting. Besides, it's a ripping good mystery which kept me guessing as to 'Whodunit" up to the very last pages!
July 6, 2015
This fast paced thriller is set in the world of professional services and corporate finance. As someone whose worked in this environment I found the story and characters very believable. There are plenty of twists to the plot and a number of surprises some of which are at times trailed at the end of chapters. Amy, the protagonist, is on the face of it a highly successful, confident tax partner. But as the story unfolds the secret that she hides from everyone about her upbringing becomes clear, with revealing insights into the deep psychological impact that her childhood environment and relationship with her mother has had. Rose Edmunds cleverly uses the device of a childhood voice to prompt, guide and torment Amy, and it is not until the end of the book that the reader is really sure of the truth. Highly recommended.
March 31, 2017
This book was a little bit different to my normal reads. This book is set in the financial world which is something I would normally stay away from. I had just started a different book when I decided to buy this but wanted to just read a few pages of this just to make sure that it was for me. Before I knew it I was 30% through the book and the one that I had started the previous day was temporarily abandoned. This book centres on Amy, a partner in a financial company called Pearson Malone. One of her colleagues whom she did not particularly like is murdered. Amy suspects her boss has murdered her. Suddenly her work life becomes very difficult. This book touches on the subjects of hoarding and also mental health. Despite the financial setting I really enjoyed this book. The only reason that I knocked a star off was because I did not feel very satisfied with the ending.
March 13, 2017
The blurb:
Amy is at the top of her game as a finance professional despite a traumatic childhood. But the higher she climbs, the greater her fear of falling.
Her new boss Ed sniffs out insecurity like a shark smelling blood. He’s trashed dozens of careers on a whim and has Amy lined up as his next victim.
When a young colleague is murdered, Amy’s fragile equilibrium is shattered. A client’s fraud may be linked to the killing, but no one seems to care.
Caught in a tangle of business and personal connections, and fighting for her sanity, can Amy find the moral courage to uncover the truth?
Amy has problems at home and at work. At first I wondered whether Amy was 'all there' but, oh boy, did the tension mount? Of course it did. I read this book in two sittings and can't wait to read the next in the series. A very good 4* from me
Amy is at the top of her game as a finance professional despite a traumatic childhood. But the higher she climbs, the greater her fear of falling.
Her new boss Ed sniffs out insecurity like a shark smelling blood. He’s trashed dozens of careers on a whim and has Amy lined up as his next victim.
When a young colleague is murdered, Amy’s fragile equilibrium is shattered. A client’s fraud may be linked to the killing, but no one seems to care.
Caught in a tangle of business and personal connections, and fighting for her sanity, can Amy find the moral courage to uncover the truth?
Amy has problems at home and at work. At first I wondered whether Amy was 'all there' but, oh boy, did the tension mount? Of course it did. I read this book in two sittings and can't wait to read the next in the series. A very good 4* from me
May 5, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book-- read it in one day because I was so invested in figuring out who did it, understanding the resolution for the main character, Amy! The inner and outer conflict in this book are equally strong, there's serious suspense related to both. It's really smartly written and the perspective of Amy is raw, honest, and real. I think my favorite part of this book was the window we get into Amy's thinking and feelings. All the characters are complex and interesting, but it's Amy's interactions and interpretations of everything that make this book stand out as especially good. The story feels real because there's nothing simple and straightforward about the plot or anyone in it!
April 10, 2019
I just couldn't finish this book ,the writing style seemed very chaotic and rushed, the POV was not understandable to me either. I guess it's a case of it me not you type of reading but I couldnt find any interest to continue , the synopsis made it seeem like a real thrilller but the Main character just went on and on about her pig of a boss and the hapless drones of people who follow him.
October 3, 2018
Whodunit meets psychology
I think the author did a great job at keeping me intrigued throughout the entire book. There wasn’t any point where I felt like I absolutely knew “whodunit.” I think the way the author intertwined the facts of the murder and Amy’s psychological problem helped to distract me from figuring out the conclusion too soon.
I think the author did a great job at keeping me intrigued throughout the entire book. There wasn’t any point where I felt like I absolutely knew “whodunit.” I think the way the author intertwined the facts of the murder and Amy’s psychological problem helped to distract me from figuring out the conclusion too soon.
Want to read
July 5, 2018Not for me ! !
My main criticism of this book is it it BORING, I ploughed through it in the hope that some inkling of a story might appear but was sadly disappointed and what on earth was the point of 'little amy'
My main criticism of this book is it it BORING, I ploughed through it in the hope that some inkling of a story might appear but was sadly disappointed and what on earth was the point of 'little amy'
October 10, 2018
Amy is a part of the Blue Skies Brainstorming Group at Pearson Malone, whose focus is on tax law. This company is currently brokering a big sale for one of the firm's major clients. In the beginning of Concealment by Rose Edmunds, a lot of tax jargon was present. The explanations of certain tax law are relevant clues to the plot. I, unfortunately, realized early that this did not hold my attention. It was difficult for me to push my way through it to the action.
A member of Amy's advisory group is soon found murdered. Through an unlucky chain of events, Amy becomes entangled in the investigation. At one point she even becomes a suspect. This murder creates a massive upheaval in Amy's life.
The reveal of Amy's psychological condition seemed to take a while, so long that not knowing became an annoyance for me. Amy is clearly delusional. She sees, and often converses with, a manifestation of her teenage self. Learning, finally, that her mother is a hoarder, I had the thought that it could not be as traumatic as she leads it out to be. When the character soon references derision from others that mirrors my own thoughts, it gave me pause. Amy's mother blames her for the urges she fights. The suffering from that alone would likely leave Amy with severe self-esteem issues if nothing else. Amy inwardly berates herself about her weirdness. She considers herself masquerading as someone she is not, lending credibility to that theory.
The stress on Amy increases, due to the murder investigation and her responsibilities to her firm's client, and she experiences a mental break. Here, I found myself reevaluating the plot thus far, and I began to suspect Amy was an unreliable narrator. The people disagreeing with her explanation of events seemed reasonable. Amy's scenario, suddenly, appeared to be ludicrous. I don't know if this was intentional on the author's part, but Amy's instability gave an extra layer of suspense to the action.
My indecision regarding Amy continued until I convinced myself she was completely irrational. While deciding if Amy was seeing and concluding things correctly, or if her delusions got the better of her, it was an intriguing inner battle to experience. One I enjoyed as much as I became frustrated by it. The bonus came when a plot twist vindicates Amy.
I have mixed feelings about Concealment. The mystery aspect held my attention. I did not see the resolution coming which is a significant allure to me. Admittedly though, I did not like Amy. She was not a sympathetic character to me at all. Arguably that doesn't matter. In the end, her detachment to those around her is explainable. My focus on her journey was how her mental abuse hindered healthy adult relationships in her life.
A member of Amy's advisory group is soon found murdered. Through an unlucky chain of events, Amy becomes entangled in the investigation. At one point she even becomes a suspect. This murder creates a massive upheaval in Amy's life.
The reveal of Amy's psychological condition seemed to take a while, so long that not knowing became an annoyance for me. Amy is clearly delusional. She sees, and often converses with, a manifestation of her teenage self. Learning, finally, that her mother is a hoarder, I had the thought that it could not be as traumatic as she leads it out to be. When the character soon references derision from others that mirrors my own thoughts, it gave me pause. Amy's mother blames her for the urges she fights. The suffering from that alone would likely leave Amy with severe self-esteem issues if nothing else. Amy inwardly berates herself about her weirdness. She considers herself masquerading as someone she is not, lending credibility to that theory.
The stress on Amy increases, due to the murder investigation and her responsibilities to her firm's client, and she experiences a mental break. Here, I found myself reevaluating the plot thus far, and I began to suspect Amy was an unreliable narrator. The people disagreeing with her explanation of events seemed reasonable. Amy's scenario, suddenly, appeared to be ludicrous. I don't know if this was intentional on the author's part, but Amy's instability gave an extra layer of suspense to the action.
My indecision regarding Amy continued until I convinced myself she was completely irrational. While deciding if Amy was seeing and concluding things correctly, or if her delusions got the better of her, it was an intriguing inner battle to experience. One I enjoyed as much as I became frustrated by it. The bonus came when a plot twist vindicates Amy.
I have mixed feelings about Concealment. The mystery aspect held my attention. I did not see the resolution coming which is a significant allure to me. Admittedly though, I did not like Amy. She was not a sympathetic character to me at all. Arguably that doesn't matter. In the end, her detachment to those around her is explainable. My focus on her journey was how her mental abuse hindered healthy adult relationships in her life.
September 9, 2018
The author did an outstanding job in building the paranoia in Amy's mind as she comes to believe everyone around her is out to get her. They all seem to be involved in the fraud and covering up for each other. Throughout the novel, it is difficult to decide if she is going crazy or if there is indeed a murderous conspiracy going on.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars because I found it very slow going and drawn out. For being a high-level partner in a prestigious firm, I was disappointed that Amy did not have more backbone and was portrayed as somewhat weak. I did not care for the spoilers inferring that someone was going to die soon, and the author's continued use of the term "Egg-Zackly" was annoying, to say the least. I think the technical accounting jargon and occasional use of British vocabulary may put some readers off, but I do think the premise of the story would be interesting to readers who enjoy corporate thrillers.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars because I found it very slow going and drawn out. For being a high-level partner in a prestigious firm, I was disappointed that Amy did not have more backbone and was portrayed as somewhat weak. I did not care for the spoilers inferring that someone was going to die soon, and the author's continued use of the term "Egg-Zackly" was annoying, to say the least. I think the technical accounting jargon and occasional use of British vocabulary may put some readers off, but I do think the premise of the story would be interesting to readers who enjoy corporate thrillers.
April 28, 2020
Corporate mystery and intrigue in the Crazy Amy Series.
This is a pleasantly different kind of mystery and thriller which takes place in the corporate world of London and involves a plot with plenty of intricate subtleties and unexpected convolutions to its diabolical structure. The atmosphere is strongly reminiscent of the glamourous office suites and ostentatious buildings of the financial industry, but there is a lurking menace which Amy has to unravel while she also battles her own demon and the rivalry of her colleagues. To make matters worse, her boss also appears to have ulterior motives as well, and the truth appears to remain well concealed despite all of Amy's best efforts. Then there is also the problem that life becomes very dangerous for young ladies who do not want the deceptions to remain that way.
This is a pleasantly different kind of mystery and thriller which takes place in the corporate world of London and involves a plot with plenty of intricate subtleties and unexpected convolutions to its diabolical structure. The atmosphere is strongly reminiscent of the glamourous office suites and ostentatious buildings of the financial industry, but there is a lurking menace which Amy has to unravel while she also battles her own demon and the rivalry of her colleagues. To make matters worse, her boss also appears to have ulterior motives as well, and the truth appears to remain well concealed despite all of Amy's best efforts. Then there is also the problem that life becomes very dangerous for young ladies who do not want the deceptions to remain that way.
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