Au-dessus de tout soupçon

by Declan Hughes

Vous aimez Linwood Barclay ? Vous allez adorer Declan Hughes, le nouveau roi du suspense diabolique !

Et si un jour toute votre vie disparaissait ?
Plus un meuble. Aucune trace de ses filles. Pas le moindre message de son mari. C'est la vision cauchemardesque qui attend Claire à son retour de voyage. Où est sa famille ?
Il y a 35 ans, un soir d'Halloween, quatre petits garçons jouent avec le feu. Une famille est décimée, les coupables jamais arrêtés. Et quelqu'un a décidé de déterrer le passé...
Une famille en danger, des secrets et quelques cadavres... Un polar à l'humour grinçant où les rebondissements se succèdent sans répit !

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Horror, Crime, Suspense, Book Club

Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Declan Hughes has worked for more than twenty years in the theater in Dublin as director and playwright. In 1984, he cofounded Rough Magic, Ireland's leading independent theater company. He has been writer in association with the Abbey Theatre and remains an artistic associate of Rough Magic. He lives in Dublin, Ireland.

Series:
* Ed Loy Mystery

Reviews

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine coming home to your house expecting to be greeted by your husband and your children. Instead, the house is empty, no family no furniture’s and the dog lies dead in the garden. That is what Claire Taylor finds when she comes home after a week in Chicago. Suddenly her life has turned upside done, but that is just the start.

Something happened thirty-five years ago, that changed four boys and a little girls’ life, something bad. And the past that the boys tried to forget will not be forgotten so much longer.

This book by Declan Hughes made me think about books by Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay in the way everything wasn’t the way one expected and because of all the twist and turns in the story. It was an interesting story with an explosive ending, but in the end, the twist and turning weren't all that surprising. Nothing in the book made me go all “what the hell did that come from” when something was reviled it was more of a feeling of “of course”. I would have liked a story more complex, so complex that you can’t stop reading to find out what happens next. Not that the book is boring, it was a good read. I just never really got that “I-can’t-put-the-book-away-feeling”…

There was one other thing that bothered me with the books; the unknown narrator. Suddenly in the book the narrator turn from one of the character to an unknown person and it really irked me. It really destroyed the flow of the story.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

[Ionia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you love those books that give you that creepy kind of "I should keep looking over my shoulder feeling?" If you do, and you enjoy super suspenseful novels, then you can't miss this one.

This is a book that it is impossible to figure out until you are at the very end. There are a lot of different things going on in this story simultaneously, yet the author manages to draw them all together like puzzle pieces making for a complete picture. Although there are a lot of different story lines, it was never confusing.

I was impressed by the sense of place that you get when you read this story. From the beginning the story makes you feel as if you are there witnessing the events.

This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I am now looking forward to reading more of his work.

Overall this was a very enjoyable way to spend a day and I'm happy I had the chance to read it. I'd recommend it to those who like a good mystery with unexpected plot twists.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked. A fabulous suspense plot that kept me wanting to turn pages. This is the first Declan Hughes book I have read but certainly won't be the last.

[Nattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would be good, and I did enjoy the fall weather descriptions, but what I read was a rambling mess. I have no desire to even make a decent attempt at finishing it.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot wasn't bad but too unbelievable. It needed some editing, also.

[Wulfwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading this author. It was a library book.

I chose this book thinking it would be a spooky read for Halloween and the readathons. It was set at Halloween, both past and present. I liked Claire and Danny, even when I was unsure about who and what they really were. I even liked Donna and Charlie, maybe because they were, at least, honest and accepting of who they were. The plot was fairly twisty with lots of potential suspects and nobody to truly trust. Then came the explosions. Those I didn’t see even though I had the off kilter feelings. I’m not saying more, though I want to, because anything else will give you no reason to read the book. I think you should read it. I was devouring the last third of the book. Why then 4 Stars? I wanted to know more about someone though if the author chose to make a guess true, I would have felt like punching him in the nose. But to me, that’s a pretty good thing. It means the author did his job. For me, the best books are those that invite me in to the story, make me forget reality and make me feel. You don’t punch people, even in fantasy, unless you are feeling. Deeply feeling. He lost a star because I’ll be forever wondering. It’s almost like a punch. Read the book.

[Jean Doll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Convoluted plot.

[Ynwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Je commence par une petite anecdote: j'ai lu ce livre sans m'intéresser à savoir qui était l'auteur. Tout du long j'ai cru que c'était une femme, ce n'est qu'à la fin que j'ai vu la photo de l'auteur qui est en fait: un homme.

L'intrigue de ce livre à savoir: où sont passées Danny et ses filles, et pourquoi la maison est-elle vide quand Claire rentre de son séjour?, était superbe, j'ai été charmé par l'idée et j'ai eu envie de me procurer un exemplaire.

J'ai vite déchanté:
•On passe d'un personnage à l'autre sans réelle indication du changement. Vu le nombre de personnages c'est un peu la misère.
•Je ne me suis accrochée à aucun des personnages principaux.
•Dans ce livre quasiment tous les personnages ont un passé d'alcoolique; de drogué, et c'est traité comme si c'était normal et banal au final puisque tous l'étaient.
•De même que le fait d'aller batifoler à gauche et à droite alors que tu es en couple. Chacun fait ce qu'il veut mais quand même.
•L'animal tué sans raison. C'est non pour moi .
•Et certains passages sont d'une vulgarité qui selon moi n'est absolument pas nécessaire. Je cite: "ils ont baisé comme deux ados en rut - mieux que ça, comme des ados en rut qui savaient ce qu'ils faisaient.". Je trouve ça très limite quand même. Autant balancer un "merde" ou un "putain" de temps en temps ça me dérange pas, je suis la première à dire des gros-mots, autant là ça devenait lourd.

Quelques que points positifs malgré tout:
•Le livre se lit relativement vite.
•J'ai bien aimé les personnages des deux petites.
•Le dénouement de l'histoire, quoiqu'un peu trop invraisemblable et "facile" à la fois m'a bien plu.

[Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Hughes' Ed Loy PI series so I was disappointed in this "thriller" effort.

The basic plot holds promise: who seeks revenge from the events of Halloween night 35 years ago. And the dynamics of a stagnant suburban marriage are presented well.

But the twists and turns and keeping score became too much after awhile.

And points off for so many "britishisms" in a book that takes place in Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago; surprisingly sloppy.

I will look forward to Hughes getting back to what he does best.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not normally give more than 2 stars to any book that kills and mutilates a dog in the first chapter, which was totally unnecessary to the story or plot. However, I was forewarned in the pre-release press and cover flap and everywhere else, so it's my own fault. Other than that, it was well done, suspenseful and unfortunately like that last book I read, not all that hard to figure out.

[Billy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out pretty slow, but by the end I couldn't put it down as I wanted to see how it played out. It had a bunch of twists and turns and walked you through the story in the eyes of a number of the characters in the book.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book I've read by Declan Hughes, and his writing was good enough that I will go back for more, even though in some ways I found this book unsatisfactory. The book is part mystery, part thriller, and almost horror-like in tone.

Hughes is wonderfully skilled with his language, so there are some gorgeous sentences here. His portrayal of a marriage gone stale and the POV of the main characters is really spot-on. And the book begins with an opening scene that absolutely grabs the imagination.

The plot keeps you guessing, but the many red herrings slow down the pace, although they do up the suspense and tip the book towards being a thriller. These plot twists also stretch credibility in a way that doesn't quite mesh with the down-to-earth character portraits of the protagonists To keep the action going, all the characters make some very strange choices, and the behavior and motivations of the "villains" doesn't quite add up. (Granted, it's hard to explain true evil.) Hughes comes close but doesn't quite capture the feel of its American setting. By the end, I felt as though I'd wallowed in a horror tale rather than a mystery.

I'm not a horror fan, so this isn't what I was looking for. However, the reviews lead me to believe that Hughes' other books have more character development, and the writing was interesting enough that I'll definitely give Hughes another shot.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first only my appreciation of the setting (Wisconsin in late October -- which is when I should have read this -- and a family home nestled within a university arboretum) kept me going, but pretty soon I was maddeningly sucked in and had to stay up until midnight to see what the big climax was going to be. I expected something otherworldly from the setup, curses or maybe alternate dimensions, and it turned out the answer was actually just sociopaths, but sociopaths + SUPER DEADLY HOUSE FIRE from the past = lots of thrills. Also murders.

It never even occurred to me that Claire Bradberry and Claire Taylor might not be not one and the same -- but how that reveal came about was super cool. I'm so glad neither spouse was revealed to be terrible after all (I shipped them a lot), and that it had as happy an ending as possible when your children have seen their beloved aunt murdered in front of them.

[Anaïs Desjardins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honnêtement très déçu de se livre, ça m’a pris vraiment longtemps à comprendre et embarquer dans l’histoire même que je n’ai jamais vraiment accrocher à celle ci, le début était beaucoup trop long et je ne comprenais pas tout de l’histoire ce n’était pas nécessaire, quelque trucs m’ont surpris auxquels je ne m’attendais pas mais la majorité du temps je n’ai pas été surprise par les révélations, il se passait trop de chose donc c’était vraiment trop mélangeant j’étais perdu dans l’histoire, de plus je n’ai pas aimer le style d’écriture de l’auteur, trop de sorte de phrase compliqué et pas nécessaire du tout je n’ai pas accrocher à l’histoire du tout , quelques bouts dan l’histoire m’ont tout de même surprise et étonner mais ce n’était pas suffisant

[Audréanne Forget · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot seemed very interesting. However, the writing style killed it for me. The sentences are way too long and complex by moments. There are a lot of descriptions that throws off the plot and got me lost more than a couple of times.
There are multiples POV, which usually i don't mind. The thing with this book, is that the switch between POVs don't necessarily make the story go forward. You often have to wait for the other POV to catch up to the new informations, and it makes it feel like you are reading the same thing over and over.
There are a lot of elements that are very confusing, that got me lost also.
I'm disapointed because when i read the synopsis, i felt the story had a lot of potential.

[Sibylle Seys smets · Rating 1 out of 5]

Assez prévisible et pas très intéressant, ça tourne vite en rond et même pas envie de le terminer

[Diana Maslowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ending picked up and made me glad I finished it

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good page turner...

[Bruce Rogie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish noir in Madison WI and Hughes writing internal dialogue with the best of them!

[Shorty6904 · Rating 1 out of 5]

First chapter was great and I thought wow this one's gonna have me hooked but what a disappointment. I ended up reading only half the book as it was so boring.

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made it halfway. Couldn't finish.

[Beckie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative, good plot, solid characters. Some parts were a little slow but the suspense kept me going.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

How far would you go to avenge a childhood wrong? And how far would you go to protect the ones you love? Lots of narrative twists and also Halloween infernos in this mystery set in Madison, WI.

[Barbara Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story premise was good, but the storyline was choppy and needed some editing. It might've been more enjoyable if the story was more polished.

[Sonia Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

un peu long avant d'embarquer mais une fois fait... j'ai passé un très bon moment

[Lya · Rating 4 out of 5]

440

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 1 out of 5]

is it the goal of adult fiction authors to make you paranoid about marriage

[Cynthia Raleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening drew me into the story right away with the type of bewilderment and confusion none of us would ever want to encounter. The story kept me in suspense and wanting to return to the book. By the time I was on the last few chapters, I think I was grumbling, "I'm reading the end here...." to family members if they tried to talk to me. Many of the author's references were to things from my own period of growing up: mentions of television shows, music, very subtle "insider" jokes that someone of a different age would mostly likely miss entirely. As an Irish writer, I feel he was quite successful writing about Midwestern people in Midwestern locales. The story provided a mystery with twists all tangled up in an old crime, a new crime, and the creeping threat that there is more to come. His characters were substantial whose feelings and actions most of us have had or done in the past. Flawed and learning to live with it. His characters also have had to endure a lifetime of guilt and horror at a childhood prank gone wrong, and which rears up and begins wreaking havoc in the present day lives of those involved. I identified strongly with the description of looking back at your group of childhood friends, the ones you never forget and were closer to than most friends you will ever have again. They feel more like family you were born and grew up with than just other kids you met at school. Those relationships can last a long time, and can have strange turns to them. Something that niggled at me about the book was not due to the author. There are enough sentences with extra words or, most often, words left out, to be irritating. It is usually clear what is meant, but a couple of times it was not. Also, having worked in Ophthalmology for many years, it was a little annoying that the word was misspelled as "Opthalmology." It is a common mistake, but not one which should appear in a printed book. The proofreader, if there was one, missed these. The typos and misspellings did not affect the story itself, it simply would have been nice for them not to be there. I enjoyed the book and would like to read more from Declan Hughes.

[Judy Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under normal circumstances this novel should have been one that I would not have chosen or, indeed, even liked. First, the description of the book felt as if it had given away the entire plot. Second, once I began reading I found the style was that of an unnamed narrator, which definitely is not a favorite literary style for me. Initial impressions can be deceiving, though; in this case they definitely were. The description of the book does give quite a bit of the plot away and yet there is so much more to discover after Clair Taylor finds the horribly mutilated body of her family’s dog in the back yard of her unbelievably empty home in Madison, Wisconsin when she returns from a week-long trip to Chicago. Clair then discovers that the body of the dog is gone, but the body of a man is definitely there instead.

I still don’t especially enjoy the narration style in which the novel is written, but I became so engrossed in the suspense of what was happening to Clair that I stopped making the style my main focus. The novel takes the reader back into the youth of these characters to see how incidents happened which led to the present situation. Clair’s husband, two daughters, and household belongings vanish without her receiving any indication of why or how this could happen. The police presence in the novel is almost miniscule, with Claire being the primary one who investigates the case with some help from her best friend. This author doesn’t wait until the last few pages to reveal what the solution to the mystery is, but I was never sure until the very end that there wouldn’t be one more twist in the story, one more rabbit to jump out of the magician’s hat. This was an enjoyable, well written, and well plotted novel. I will certainly have to look into reading more of Mr. Declan Hughes' novels.

I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Militant Recommender Book Review Blog: http://militantrecommender.blogspot.com/
Danny Brogan was eleven when he and his three friends burned down the house of a kid, Jackie Bradberry, who had been bullying him. It seemed like the perfect Halloween prank, setting some fires on the lawn of their home, to scare him and his older brothers. Somehow, things went horribly wrong... or did they? The whole family, the brothers, parents and two little kids who watched from the window as the fires got out of hand and then consumed them all. The four friends swore never to tell.
Years later, Claire Brogan, Danny's wife and the mother of their two daughters, comes home from a trip to Chicago. She was revisiting the city where she tried to make it as an actress. And seeing the former love of her life. But nothing happened between them, did it? Now, she's ready to go back to her life as a housewife and Mom in the huge old house in Madison, Wisconsin, that had been in Danny's family for generations. But something's odd. There's a chain on the gate. And stranger, still, no Danny, no girls... and no furniture! While searching the property for clues as to what might have happened, as no one is answering her phone calls, she stumbles over the eviscerated body of the beloved family dog. What happened to Claire's husband and children? How do the past and the lies affect the future of this family? Well, you'll just have to see for yourself! Declan Hughes All the Things You Are is a great mystery that will grab your attention and not let go till you find out just what the heck is going on!