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Death Comes First
A taut compelling thriller from a masterful storyteller
Joyce Mildmay's life is torn apart when her husband Charlie is killed in a tragic yachting accident. Though financially secure, Joyce is left to raise their three children by herself within Tarrant Park, a secluded gated development set in the rural countryside outside of Bristol. Six months later a mysterious letter arrives on her doorstep which turns her shattered world upside down. The letter is from Charlie, delivered belatedly in the event of his death, and contains a sinister warning that Joyce's father, Henry Tanner, and the family business is not as it seems. For their children to be safe, her husbad pleads, she must leave their home and never look back. Confused and alarmed by this message from beyond the grave, Joyce decides instead to stay and unearth the truth. But what she learns reveals a trail of intrigue and deceptiont that stretches back though the years. It seems that death is only the beginning.
Joyce Mildmay's life is torn apart when her husband Charlie is killed in a tragic yachting accident. Though financially secure, Joyce is left to raise their three children by herself within Tarrant Park, a secluded gated development set in the rural countryside outside of Bristol. Six months later a mysterious letter arrives on her doorstep which turns her shattered world upside down. The letter is from Charlie, delivered belatedly in the event of his death, and contains a sinister warning that Joyce's father, Henry Tanner, and the family business is not as it seems. For their children to be safe, her husbad pleads, she must leave their home and never look back. Confused and alarmed by this message from beyond the grave, Joyce decides instead to stay and unearth the truth. But what she learns reveals a trail of intrigue and deceptiont that stretches back though the years. It seems that death is only the beginning.
- GenresFiction
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2015
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Bonner
36 books30 followersHilary Bonner is an English crime novelist, best known for her psychological thrillers.
Almost all Bonner’s novels are inspired by real life events, often drawing on her journalistic past with The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, and Daily Mirror. The Times described her as ‘keeping on the public agenda the stories our masters would prefer buried.’
She shares her life with her partner, the actress Amanda Barrie, and, with their dog Coco. She divides her time between her house in rural Somerset and her flat at the heart of Covent Garden.
Almost all Bonner’s novels are inspired by real life events, often drawing on her journalistic past with The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, and Daily Mirror. The Times described her as ‘keeping on the public agenda the stories our masters would prefer buried.’
She shares her life with her partner, the actress Amanda Barrie, and, with their dog Coco. She divides her time between her house in rural Somerset and her flat at the heart of Covent Garden.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 5, 2019
I thought this was seriously good twisty and kept me on a knife edge throughout. Detective Inspector David Vogel has a large part in this story. I loved Detective Superintendent Nobby Clarke too and hope to see again in future books. Some of it was a bit far fetched but did I care …no…it was top notch Recommended
December 31, 2020
Brilliant
Read
February 20, 2016Novel set BRISTOL (Who can you trust?)
Six months ago Joyce’s husband died whilst out sailing. Now she has received a letter from him, written before his death, which turns her life upside down. He writes that she should take the children and run away from everything and everybody – but doesn’t explain why, or how she is going to get her teenager to agree to that.
After this dramatic start, the book follows Joyce as she tries to make sense of the letter, and continue looking after her family – at a time when everyone is still struggling with the grief of losing a father/husband. As her distrust of everyone around her grows, more drama happens and things get worse and worse, until the police become involved – but can Joyce trust the police? I can say no more without giving the plot away.
This book is all about who can you trust, and whether you really know the people you think you can trust. How much goes on in the lives of those that you love, those that you see every day, that you have no idea about?
Most of the events are seen from Joyce’s point of view; there are occasional forays into the thoughts of other characters. Tension builds as Joyce struggles to ensure the safety of her children and wonders who can she turn to?
This is a clever psychological thriller – not a scary book that will make you leave the light on at night. The tension builds up slowly, and I became as intrigued as Joyce as to what was going on. A page turner as the thrills and twists develop, and suddenly there is a whole new level of mystery and interest added.
The characters are well drawn and interesting, and the plot – set in Bristol, is easy to follow. Joyce lives in a gated housing estate, with her family close by. A wonderful place to live, or a gilded cage?
There are plenty of twists and turns in this thriller, and just as I thought I had worked out the mystery, new developments showed me to be wrong.
I really enjoyed this book, and was drawn into Joyce’s life and worries. A great read; my first by this author.
This review first appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...
Six months ago Joyce’s husband died whilst out sailing. Now she has received a letter from him, written before his death, which turns her life upside down. He writes that she should take the children and run away from everything and everybody – but doesn’t explain why, or how she is going to get her teenager to agree to that.
After this dramatic start, the book follows Joyce as she tries to make sense of the letter, and continue looking after her family – at a time when everyone is still struggling with the grief of losing a father/husband. As her distrust of everyone around her grows, more drama happens and things get worse and worse, until the police become involved – but can Joyce trust the police? I can say no more without giving the plot away.
This book is all about who can you trust, and whether you really know the people you think you can trust. How much goes on in the lives of those that you love, those that you see every day, that you have no idea about?
Most of the events are seen from Joyce’s point of view; there are occasional forays into the thoughts of other characters. Tension builds as Joyce struggles to ensure the safety of her children and wonders who can she turn to?
This is a clever psychological thriller – not a scary book that will make you leave the light on at night. The tension builds up slowly, and I became as intrigued as Joyce as to what was going on. A page turner as the thrills and twists develop, and suddenly there is a whole new level of mystery and interest added.
The characters are well drawn and interesting, and the plot – set in Bristol, is easy to follow. Joyce lives in a gated housing estate, with her family close by. A wonderful place to live, or a gilded cage?
There are plenty of twists and turns in this thriller, and just as I thought I had worked out the mystery, new developments showed me to be wrong.
I really enjoyed this book, and was drawn into Joyce’s life and worries. A great read; my first by this author.
This review first appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...
September 27, 2018
I've read all Bonner's books and think this one and Death Comes First are the vest.
January 12, 2022
This book definitely kept you guessing, but I did find it a little slow.
February 7, 2024
A bit repetitive in narrative at times but quite fast paced and a few twists and turns along the way.
April 10, 2024
Loved it. So many plot twists. Definitely didn't see the ending coming. Well written.
February 6, 2017
A good brit police procedural but don't read this if you need a happy ending to your mysteries.
February 9, 2017
I thought it was a load of poo. No idea why I perservered through it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews