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What She Never Told Me
What do you do when you find out that your whole life could be a lie?
'I talked to my mother the night she died, losing myself in memories of when we were happiest together. But I held one memory back, and it surfaces now, unbidden. I see a green postbox and a small hand stretching up to its oblong mouth. I am never sure whether that small hand is mine. But if not mine, whose?'
Louise Redmond left Ireland for London before she was twenty. Now, more than two decades later, her heart already breaking from a failing marriage, she is summoned home. Her mother is on her deathbed, and it is Louise's last chance to learn the whereabouts of a father she never knew.
Stubborn to the end, Marjorie refuses to fill in the pieces of her daughter's fragmented past. Then Louise unexpectedly finds a lead. A man called David Prescott . . . but is he really the father she's been trying to find? And who is the mysterious little girl who appears so often in her dreams? As each new piece of the puzzle leads to another question, Louise begins to suspect that the memories she most treasures could be a delicate web of lies.
'I talked to my mother the night she died, losing myself in memories of when we were happiest together. But I held one memory back, and it surfaces now, unbidden. I see a green postbox and a small hand stretching up to its oblong mouth. I am never sure whether that small hand is mine. But if not mine, whose?'
Louise Redmond left Ireland for London before she was twenty. Now, more than two decades later, her heart already breaking from a failing marriage, she is summoned home. Her mother is on her deathbed, and it is Louise's last chance to learn the whereabouts of a father she never knew.
Stubborn to the end, Marjorie refuses to fill in the pieces of her daughter's fragmented past. Then Louise unexpectedly finds a lead. A man called David Prescott . . . but is he really the father she's been trying to find? And who is the mysterious little girl who appears so often in her dreams? As each new piece of the puzzle leads to another question, Louise begins to suspect that the memories she most treasures could be a delicate web of lies.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 30, 2016
4.5 stars for What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile. I found the premise of this book intriguing, but it was a better read than even I had anticipated.
We all grow up accepting that our parents, whether we like them or not, are our parents. We accept that when we ask about our families, what our parents tell us is the truth, or at the very worst, a part-truth.
It has always been just Louise and her mother. She has never had a father and her mother would never talk about him. Now her mother is on her deathbed, and Louise hopes that at last her mother will reveal all. But she is to be bitterly disappointed.
Still reeling from the break-up of her own marriage, childless and haunted by a strange dream, Louise resolves to track down the father she has never known.
Kate McQuaile is a new author to me. Her characterisation is magnificent. The people on her pages are so very realistic, with their quirks and faults, their little idiosyncrasies, their complex interpersonal relationships. Never, at any point, did I know where this book was going. I would think I knew the answer, but I didn't. I devoured this book, an excellent debut novel. I am looking forward to reading her next offering.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
We all grow up accepting that our parents, whether we like them or not, are our parents. We accept that when we ask about our families, what our parents tell us is the truth, or at the very worst, a part-truth.
It has always been just Louise and her mother. She has never had a father and her mother would never talk about him. Now her mother is on her deathbed, and Louise hopes that at last her mother will reveal all. But she is to be bitterly disappointed.
Still reeling from the break-up of her own marriage, childless and haunted by a strange dream, Louise resolves to track down the father she has never known.
Kate McQuaile is a new author to me. Her characterisation is magnificent. The people on her pages are so very realistic, with their quirks and faults, their little idiosyncrasies, their complex interpersonal relationships. Never, at any point, did I know where this book was going. I would think I knew the answer, but I didn't. I devoured this book, an excellent debut novel. I am looking forward to reading her next offering.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
September 19, 2017
Louise Redmond is returning home to watch over her mother, Marjorie, who is dying of cancer. She has always wondered about her the identity of her father, but all her mother told her when she was young was his name; David Prescott and that she didn't know where he is and that he never knew about Louse. But, is this really true? But, Marjorie dies and Louise is left to try to find out the truth by herself. Will she find her father and what about the memory she has of a girl trying to post a letter? She decided to try to locate David Prescott, but that's easier said than done and what if David Prescott is not her father, what is she to do then?
I'm writing this review just after finishing the book and part of me is still trying to get to grip with the ending. I love reading books about someone trying to find out the truth about themselves. And, this one turned out to be a gem. I started this book last night and I thought I would read about 150 pages (I usually set reading goals when I read a book), but I kept on reading until around 180 page because I just couldn't stop reading. The story was really interesting and it was an easy and fast read. I love those kinds of books where I just relax and breeze through the book.
Louise is an interesting character, she has just lost her mother and she and her husband are estranged. And, now she is searching for her father. But it's not an easy search and the more she looks the more confused she gets over the result of her search. At the same time, is she also trying to mend her marriage which gets complicated when she learned the truth of why her husband wanted a break and the run-in with an ex-boyfriend of hers. All this makes the book really compelling to read because I can feel and understand her situation. Everything she does, the decisions have consequences and she also has secrets from her husband that affects their marriage. And, her search for her father takes unexpected turns through the book.
I must admit that I was surprised by the ending, not so much about the truth, but by how emotional I would be over it. Sure, I was not prepared for that revelation, but up until then I had enjoyed the book in a reasonable way, but I was totally taken by the truth and the ramifications of it. I was gutted, to be honest.
This is a very strong debut book. I think that Kate McQuaile has written a truly terrific book and I look forward to reading whatever else she will write in the future.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
I'm writing this review just after finishing the book and part of me is still trying to get to grip with the ending. I love reading books about someone trying to find out the truth about themselves. And, this one turned out to be a gem. I started this book last night and I thought I would read about 150 pages (I usually set reading goals when I read a book), but I kept on reading until around 180 page because I just couldn't stop reading. The story was really interesting and it was an easy and fast read. I love those kinds of books where I just relax and breeze through the book.
Louise is an interesting character, she has just lost her mother and she and her husband are estranged. And, now she is searching for her father. But it's not an easy search and the more she looks the more confused she gets over the result of her search. At the same time, is she also trying to mend her marriage which gets complicated when she learned the truth of why her husband wanted a break and the run-in with an ex-boyfriend of hers. All this makes the book really compelling to read because I can feel and understand her situation. Everything she does, the decisions have consequences and she also has secrets from her husband that affects their marriage. And, her search for her father takes unexpected turns through the book.
I must admit that I was surprised by the ending, not so much about the truth, but by how emotional I would be over it. Sure, I was not prepared for that revelation, but up until then I had enjoyed the book in a reasonable way, but I was totally taken by the truth and the ramifications of it. I was gutted, to be honest.
This is a very strong debut book. I think that Kate McQuaile has written a truly terrific book and I look forward to reading whatever else she will write in the future.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
September 11, 2018
Loved it, loved it.
The writing sits so comfortably with me, flows so nicely and the people are real......aren’t they? Well they were to me.
Another mother and daughter relationship. Third one this month and all so very different.
Secrets
Lies or half truths
Or nothing said or explained at all.
This daughter is left in such a quandary I really felt for her lack of knowledge that she seeks to complete her.
Quercus books are one of my favourite and this read I requested from net galley
The writing sits so comfortably with me, flows so nicely and the people are real......aren’t they? Well they were to me.
Another mother and daughter relationship. Third one this month and all so very different.
Secrets
Lies or half truths
Or nothing said or explained at all.
This daughter is left in such a quandary I really felt for her lack of knowledge that she seeks to complete her.
Quercus books are one of my favourite and this read I requested from net galley
March 7, 2017
I bought my own copy of this book.
A story set in Ireland and London.
Louise Redmond mother dies from cancer. Her her mother kept so many secrets from Louise. Marjorie, Louise's mother never filled her in with the information of who her father was and where exactly he lived. After Louise's mother died Louise struggles to find her real father. Although I know how hard it is to write a novel, I'm afraid I did struggle myself getting through this book. I'm also really sorry to be honest here but I wouldn't say that What She Never Told Me is a must buy, must read. It's just an ok read. Although I didn't like this story to the extent of my usual high flying reviews, I am definitely going to read Kate McQuaile's new book.
A story set in Ireland and London.
Louise Redmond mother dies from cancer. Her her mother kept so many secrets from Louise. Marjorie, Louise's mother never filled her in with the information of who her father was and where exactly he lived. After Louise's mother died Louise struggles to find her real father. Although I know how hard it is to write a novel, I'm afraid I did struggle myself getting through this book. I'm also really sorry to be honest here but I wouldn't say that What She Never Told Me is a must buy, must read. It's just an ok read. Although I didn't like this story to the extent of my usual high flying reviews, I am definitely going to read Kate McQuaile's new book.
March 3, 2016
This is an intelligent, suspense driven debut by a talented author. It centres on questions of identity, and the lies, secrets and silence that can underpin families. It is a character driven mystery that asks what it is to be a mother and the grief and loss that haunts this particular family. There is also the issue of memory and how far it is possible for it to be reliable.
Louise comes home to Ireland after spending a considerable number of years away. Her mother is dying and Louise wants some answers about her father. However, her mother remains stubborn to the last and dies without satisfying Louise's need to know. An encounter with a family member she has never met previously drives Louise to find out the missing pieces in her family history. The story goes back to an Ireland riddled by religion and a traditional culture. It also highlights the precarious and powerless positions women held.
In a story with twists and turns the author proves to be adept at handling fraught family dynamics. The characters are flawed, complex and realistic human beings. Kate McQuaile keenly understands the human emotions, particularly grief and loss. There is a maturity and depth in the writing of this well constructed story. A book I thoroughly recommend. Many thanks to Quercus, the publishers for a copy of this book via netgalley.
Louise comes home to Ireland after spending a considerable number of years away. Her mother is dying and Louise wants some answers about her father. However, her mother remains stubborn to the last and dies without satisfying Louise's need to know. An encounter with a family member she has never met previously drives Louise to find out the missing pieces in her family history. The story goes back to an Ireland riddled by religion and a traditional culture. It also highlights the precarious and powerless positions women held.
In a story with twists and turns the author proves to be adept at handling fraught family dynamics. The characters are flawed, complex and realistic human beings. Kate McQuaile keenly understands the human emotions, particularly grief and loss. There is a maturity and depth in the writing of this well constructed story. A book I thoroughly recommend. Many thanks to Quercus, the publishers for a copy of this book via netgalley.
March 16, 2016
Extraordinarily readable (meaning I banged through it in grasshopper on acid fashion) and beautifully written family drama here with “What She Never Told Me” which follows Louise as she unravels her past in order to secure her future. Some well drawn characters and an atmospheric story with a distinct sense of place made this a really enjoyable, engaging and terrific book.
Sometimes you just get fully immersed in a novel, in the lives of those you meet between the pages – that was definitely true with this story, I was hugely sympathetic to Louise who just wants the truth and equally to those around her who are caught up in her obsession. The narrative digs deep into the personalities, whilst hovering over everything is a woman who can no longer speak for herself – Marjorie, an enigma in death as well as in life.
As Louise slowly uncovers the trail that goes back into a haunting past, What She Never Told Me is a real treat to read, revealing layer by layer a life built on lies, which doesnt necessarily mean that life was a bad one. I loved the exploration of some tangled relationships, the grey areas morally speaking and Kate McQuaile has a real eye for plot building, scene setting and genuinely intriguing character study, the mix of all three is what makes this great.
I will admit to predicting the resolution but to be honest this is not a book that I read expecting some huge twist in the tale – for me it was the story of mothers and daughters, lovers, friends, even those people you meet rarely but affect you utterly – it is, in essence, about those things that are never said but none the less have a huge impact on entire lives. I loved it.
Highly Recommended
Sometimes you just get fully immersed in a novel, in the lives of those you meet between the pages – that was definitely true with this story, I was hugely sympathetic to Louise who just wants the truth and equally to those around her who are caught up in her obsession. The narrative digs deep into the personalities, whilst hovering over everything is a woman who can no longer speak for herself – Marjorie, an enigma in death as well as in life.
As Louise slowly uncovers the trail that goes back into a haunting past, What She Never Told Me is a real treat to read, revealing layer by layer a life built on lies, which doesnt necessarily mean that life was a bad one. I loved the exploration of some tangled relationships, the grey areas morally speaking and Kate McQuaile has a real eye for plot building, scene setting and genuinely intriguing character study, the mix of all three is what makes this great.
I will admit to predicting the resolution but to be honest this is not a book that I read expecting some huge twist in the tale – for me it was the story of mothers and daughters, lovers, friends, even those people you meet rarely but affect you utterly – it is, in essence, about those things that are never said but none the less have a huge impact on entire lives. I loved it.
Highly Recommended
February 27, 2016
My View:
This was a very intense mystery that speaks to the themes of motherhood, family, memory, loss and grief.
So many secrets and lies… so much sadness. The author slowly reveals clues or bits of information or red herrings that have you plotting and planning and trying to solve the mystery, I doubt that you will or at least not till the very end.
The author has excelled in drawing the reader into the world of her characters. The opening pages are full of mystery and the images in these pages repeat themselves throughout the novel building the anticipation and expectation of a resolution of the mystery.
As you read you will find yourself sighing with sadness at the many disappointments, revelations and lies that fill these lives and pages. Life has thrown many challenges in the path of the main characters, good choices have not always been made, and lives can be changed in an instant.
You are transported back into the time and places (Ireland 1960’s) when religion and fear dictated women’s choices regarding their sexuality and fertility. The settings, the social structure of society are clear and visual, the characters and their relationships are realistic but always there is a hint of the unreliable narrator that throws questions and misdirection’s in your path.
A heartbreaking but enjoyable family drama and mystery. A great debut novel.
This was a very intense mystery that speaks to the themes of motherhood, family, memory, loss and grief.
So many secrets and lies… so much sadness. The author slowly reveals clues or bits of information or red herrings that have you plotting and planning and trying to solve the mystery, I doubt that you will or at least not till the very end.
The author has excelled in drawing the reader into the world of her characters. The opening pages are full of mystery and the images in these pages repeat themselves throughout the novel building the anticipation and expectation of a resolution of the mystery.
As you read you will find yourself sighing with sadness at the many disappointments, revelations and lies that fill these lives and pages. Life has thrown many challenges in the path of the main characters, good choices have not always been made, and lives can be changed in an instant.
You are transported back into the time and places (Ireland 1960’s) when religion and fear dictated women’s choices regarding their sexuality and fertility. The settings, the social structure of society are clear and visual, the characters and their relationships are realistic but always there is a hint of the unreliable narrator that throws questions and misdirection’s in your path.
A heartbreaking but enjoyable family drama and mystery. A great debut novel.
June 7, 2016
Louise has returned to Ireland as he mother is dying. Unanswered questions about her father are foremost in her mind, but her mother sheds no light. A small discovery unearths a pathway to her past and she abandons her London life to delve further into the unknown. Her marriage has disintegrated and her Irish past is calling her. Recurring dreams unsettle her and she wonders just how real they actually are. What has her mother neglected to tell her? Does she really want to know?
This debut from Irish author, Kate McQuaile, is neither 'thriller' nor 'female fiction'. It has been referred to as 'Grip-Lit', in recent newspaper articles. I'm not a huge fan of this label as it implies that is only for female readers. It is more a study of character and how one responds to secrets. How many of us have discovered something that sheds a completely new light on our past and maybe even our future? Can we presume that we have been given the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? In the days before google and social media, it was not all that hard to keep a secret. It is really only one generation back that we can spot inconsistent recollections of relatives, friends and neighbours. In this novel the protagonist, Louise, has already been driven a hard blow by her failed marriage and now has to say goodbye to her mother. Although she had a wonderful family life, her biological father was never mentioned and she is uncertain of her mother's honesty. When she begins to renovate the Drogheda home she has inherited, she finds some cards which make no sense. Here begins her search for answers. Flying back and forth between London and the Co. Louth bungalow, she realises she needs to find her roots. Both in her past and in her, now uncertain, future.
As I live in Co. Louth, with my small village only ten minutes from the historic town of Drogheda, I felt as if the book was written with me in mind. There were strolls on Bettystown Beach, mentions of St. Oliver Plunkett's Head on display in St. Peter's church, descriptions of the north and south side of the River Boyne and of the hilly streets of the walled town. Most Irish novels are based in Dublin, Cork, Galway or in the rural villages that are scattered all over our island. It was an absolute pleasure to read one that is situated in an area within walking distance (well, a long walk). However, this novel encompasses two main locations and two main narratives; London, Louth and the lives of Louise and her mother, Marjorie. The story unfolds at a steady pace, until the last part where everything comes together in a sudden spurt. The writing is delicate and descriptive and definitely holds the readers attention. I did foresee the ending quite early on in the novel, but as I'm a voracious reader, I wouldn't be put off by this. Kate McQuaile deserves a chance. She is a talented writer of contemporary fiction who should appeal to readers of Louise Candlish and Dorothy Koomson. There is more story than suspense, which shows her ability to use words rather than ideas.
This is a strong debut and I'm delighted to see Co. Louth in fiction.
This debut from Irish author, Kate McQuaile, is neither 'thriller' nor 'female fiction'. It has been referred to as 'Grip-Lit', in recent newspaper articles. I'm not a huge fan of this label as it implies that is only for female readers. It is more a study of character and how one responds to secrets. How many of us have discovered something that sheds a completely new light on our past and maybe even our future? Can we presume that we have been given the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? In the days before google and social media, it was not all that hard to keep a secret. It is really only one generation back that we can spot inconsistent recollections of relatives, friends and neighbours. In this novel the protagonist, Louise, has already been driven a hard blow by her failed marriage and now has to say goodbye to her mother. Although she had a wonderful family life, her biological father was never mentioned and she is uncertain of her mother's honesty. When she begins to renovate the Drogheda home she has inherited, she finds some cards which make no sense. Here begins her search for answers. Flying back and forth between London and the Co. Louth bungalow, she realises she needs to find her roots. Both in her past and in her, now uncertain, future.
As I live in Co. Louth, with my small village only ten minutes from the historic town of Drogheda, I felt as if the book was written with me in mind. There were strolls on Bettystown Beach, mentions of St. Oliver Plunkett's Head on display in St. Peter's church, descriptions of the north and south side of the River Boyne and of the hilly streets of the walled town. Most Irish novels are based in Dublin, Cork, Galway or in the rural villages that are scattered all over our island. It was an absolute pleasure to read one that is situated in an area within walking distance (well, a long walk). However, this novel encompasses two main locations and two main narratives; London, Louth and the lives of Louise and her mother, Marjorie. The story unfolds at a steady pace, until the last part where everything comes together in a sudden spurt. The writing is delicate and descriptive and definitely holds the readers attention. I did foresee the ending quite early on in the novel, but as I'm a voracious reader, I wouldn't be put off by this. Kate McQuaile deserves a chance. She is a talented writer of contemporary fiction who should appeal to readers of Louise Candlish and Dorothy Koomson. There is more story than suspense, which shows her ability to use words rather than ideas.
This is a strong debut and I'm delighted to see Co. Louth in fiction.
September 24, 2016
I received a copy of this via the publishers, Quercus Books, in return for a fair and honest review.
Knew very little of this book going into reading it, and once i'd started reading it I really struggled to put it down as I was desperate to get to the bottom of the mystery that was plaguing the main character, Louise Redmond!
She always knew very little about her father, and when her mother passed away through illness it looked like Louise would always be unable to find out anymore. All she has is a recurring memory/nightmare about a green postbox and a hand reaching up to post a letter, but this has always confused her and never gets her any closer to finding out more.
There are many sub-plots involved in this story and they all combine together to add to the suspense and just illuminate how devastating a web of lies spun by one person can have such an effect on so many other people.
Really connected with Louise as a character as she was just so desperate to find out more about where she came from and who she was as a person, and the flashbacks she sometimes had never added up to the childhood she remembered and she finds herself on a journey between London and Ireland as she tries to put the pieces together of the jigsaw puzzle that her life had become.
Had me gripped from start to finish as the author cleverly added different characters to the story with their own take on her theories and new discoveries as she cleared her mothers' house, and the ending was particularly clever and really well written so I am definitely going to be looking out for more from this author in the future as it is a highly impressive debut!
Knew very little of this book going into reading it, and once i'd started reading it I really struggled to put it down as I was desperate to get to the bottom of the mystery that was plaguing the main character, Louise Redmond!
She always knew very little about her father, and when her mother passed away through illness it looked like Louise would always be unable to find out anymore. All she has is a recurring memory/nightmare about a green postbox and a hand reaching up to post a letter, but this has always confused her and never gets her any closer to finding out more.
There are many sub-plots involved in this story and they all combine together to add to the suspense and just illuminate how devastating a web of lies spun by one person can have such an effect on so many other people.
Really connected with Louise as a character as she was just so desperate to find out more about where she came from and who she was as a person, and the flashbacks she sometimes had never added up to the childhood she remembered and she finds herself on a journey between London and Ireland as she tries to put the pieces together of the jigsaw puzzle that her life had become.
Had me gripped from start to finish as the author cleverly added different characters to the story with their own take on her theories and new discoveries as she cleared her mothers' house, and the ending was particularly clever and really well written so I am definitely going to be looking out for more from this author in the future as it is a highly impressive debut!
March 4, 2016
This review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]Green Giants is my feature where I share some of my favourite books by Irish Authors. I’m passionate about Irish Authors, they supply us with a great and exciting mix of books, hopefully you will find something new to try. Up today as part of a blog tour is my review for a début novel What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile.
I ADORE books about secrets, they always lure me and I’m not happy until we have uncovered every sordid secret and lie. And this book was no different, it intrigued me and hooked me right from the very start.
First Line of What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile:
My Thoughts on What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile:
What She Never Told Me is very much a character driven book which is always a great fit for me. The main character Louise is an interesting woman that I enjoyed spending time with. She doesn’t have her life all figured out but during the course of the book, she finds out that she is more lost than she ever dreamt possible. Her life is so off course that she is off the charts.
The book setting hops around from Dublin to London to Dundalk to Kerry and all were perfectly described and made it sound like you were there yourself. So between the characters and the setting, this book really hooked me in. And that’s even before we got started on unwrapping all the layers of just what happened in the past.
It was a book that I just flew through as I felt thoroughly entertained while reading it. I did find it a little aggravating that no one seemed to guess the obvious answer as to what had happened in the past but I just let that minor annoyance float over my head as there was so much other good stuff going on.
There was lots of sub plots going on but all delve from the main plot of Louise trying to discover just who she really is. And I felt the ways that she went to investigate were authentic and relatable. We discover just what a web of lies her mother spun her but the sensitive issues are revealed with a delicate hand and we do understand just why they happened.
I felt very emotional at all the right places during the book and that is always a huge thumbs up from me. It just confirms that I have formed attachments while reading and that I believe in the characters and care for them. For the duration of the book, I was part of their lives and I felt all the confusion that they did.
Overall a very promising début and I look forward to more from Kate in the future.
Who should read What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile?
I’d recommend this to you if you enjoy Irish settings, books about family secrets and books that feature lively, interesting characters. Fans of authors such as Liane Morriarty, Melissa Hill and Tina Seskis should also enjoy this one.
Thanks to Quercus books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. And why not check out some of the other tour stops for this book, all are listed in the graphic below.
I ADORE books about secrets, they always lure me and I’m not happy until we have uncovered every sordid secret and lie. And this book was no different, it intrigued me and hooked me right from the very start.
First Line of What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile:
"The little girl is underdressed for the cold night."
My Thoughts on What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile:
What She Never Told Me is very much a character driven book which is always a great fit for me. The main character Louise is an interesting woman that I enjoyed spending time with. She doesn’t have her life all figured out but during the course of the book, she finds out that she is more lost than she ever dreamt possible. Her life is so off course that she is off the charts.
The book setting hops around from Dublin to London to Dundalk to Kerry and all were perfectly described and made it sound like you were there yourself. So between the characters and the setting, this book really hooked me in. And that’s even before we got started on unwrapping all the layers of just what happened in the past.
It was a book that I just flew through as I felt thoroughly entertained while reading it. I did find it a little aggravating that no one seemed to guess the obvious answer as to what had happened in the past but I just let that minor annoyance float over my head as there was so much other good stuff going on.
There was lots of sub plots going on but all delve from the main plot of Louise trying to discover just who she really is. And I felt the ways that she went to investigate were authentic and relatable. We discover just what a web of lies her mother spun her but the sensitive issues are revealed with a delicate hand and we do understand just why they happened.
I felt very emotional at all the right places during the book and that is always a huge thumbs up from me. It just confirms that I have formed attachments while reading and that I believe in the characters and care for them. For the duration of the book, I was part of their lives and I felt all the confusion that they did.
Overall a very promising début and I look forward to more from Kate in the future.
Who should read What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile?
I’d recommend this to you if you enjoy Irish settings, books about family secrets and books that feature lively, interesting characters. Fans of authors such as Liane Morriarty, Melissa Hill and Tina Seskis should also enjoy this one.
Thanks to Quercus books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. And why not check out some of the other tour stops for this book, all are listed in the graphic below.
May 8, 2016
I found this to be a very enjoyable, full bodied story with good, bad and complex characters. Set between Ireland and London (and lots of flights between the two) I found myself reading with a soft southern Irish accent in my head. This isn't a book of shocking twists and turns but it is fairly obvious from the start that 'something' happened early in Louise's life, and when it does, it's quite appalling.
Louise may not be the most likeable of characters but there are underlying reasons for this. As a child, she was never told anything of her father. When she asked her mother who her dad was she was always fobbed off, told to shut up, so therefore started her life with questions unanswered, not knowing her parentage, not exactly lies but truths untold. This would have played on a young girl's mind and lead to a complex young woman. Complex people are often coulourful, central key people, zesty and great to be with. They also can be moody, unpleasant, have fits of weirdness, and we see both the good and not so good personalities in Louise. At the beginning of the book I had great sympathy for her immediate present day grief and sadness surrounding the death of her mother and also coping with her husband walking out on her – no spoilers, this all happens in the first chapters. I didn't have so much sympathy for some of her actions and reactions. She didn't always behave as a balanced, well rounded person would or should have behaved but she has her background reasons.
I thought the book was well written and kept the reader interested the whole way through, and was at times was very gripping. The descriptions of places and people was beautifully told and in just the right amounts to give colour to the picture without distracting from moving through the story. I enjoyed it very much and will certainly pick up books by the same author – 4.5 stars.
Louise may not be the most likeable of characters but there are underlying reasons for this. As a child, she was never told anything of her father. When she asked her mother who her dad was she was always fobbed off, told to shut up, so therefore started her life with questions unanswered, not knowing her parentage, not exactly lies but truths untold. This would have played on a young girl's mind and lead to a complex young woman. Complex people are often coulourful, central key people, zesty and great to be with. They also can be moody, unpleasant, have fits of weirdness, and we see both the good and not so good personalities in Louise. At the beginning of the book I had great sympathy for her immediate present day grief and sadness surrounding the death of her mother and also coping with her husband walking out on her – no spoilers, this all happens in the first chapters. I didn't have so much sympathy for some of her actions and reactions. She didn't always behave as a balanced, well rounded person would or should have behaved but she has her background reasons.
I thought the book was well written and kept the reader interested the whole way through, and was at times was very gripping. The descriptions of places and people was beautifully told and in just the right amounts to give colour to the picture without distracting from moving through the story. I enjoyed it very much and will certainly pick up books by the same author – 4.5 stars.
October 11, 2018
Louise Redmond has returned to Ireland as her mother is dying. She has questions she wants answering about the father she knows nothing about ✨ I really enjoyed following Louise’s journey between London and Ireland to find out the truth. It was an easy and fast read. I felt I was so invested with the characters that I shed a tear when she finds out the truth about where she belongs. I felt sorry for the memories that Louise had lost in learning the truth. Highly recommend. 3.5 ⭐️
March 11, 2016
3.5
After the sudden death of her vivacious and somewhat eccentric mother, Louise Redmond fears that she may never discover the answer to the secret which had stood between them for most of her adult life – the identity of her biological father. Born an illegitimate child in Ireland in the 1960’s, the topic has never been open for discussion and has been the cause of much pain and longing for Louise. Now the only hope left is that she may find some clues amongst her mother’s paperwork, or from her mother’s estranged family. Burdened by her raw feelings of loss and grief there is also the breakdown of her marriage to deal with, as well as some strange flash-backs to a small girl and a green mail-box which trigger panic attacks every time Louise thinks about them. What is it about the child that would cause such an intense emotional reaction? Even tracking down her estranged uncle cannot shed light on the mystery. Then Louise makes a discovery which may threaten the reality she has come to believe – even her own identity.
I loved the premise of the story – if well executed, family secrets make great material for mystery and suspense. And initially the book hit it off well for me – Louise, the narrator of the story, is a likeable and interesting woman in search of her own identity. It is obvious from the start that there are skeletons in the family closet which will throw Louise’s world into turmoil, and I looked forward to the slow unravelling of the clues. Unfortunately a few parts of the story did not work for me. I found Louise’s constant angst about her failing marriage distracting, whilst parts of the mystery, which could have been explored in more detail, were summarised almost too quickly in order to move the story along. Whilst her failing marriage was an integral part of Louise’s emotional state at the time, I got a bit irritated about the couple’s on again – off again relationship, when the real focus of the novel should have been the family secret she set out to explore. With a bit of tweaking and editing, the story could have made a great psychological thriller, but I felt that a lot of elements of suspense were lost along the way. Despite the message of practising forgiveness to save a relationship (even a betrayal that I felt was almost unforgivable), I found myself wishing that Louise would move on, find an inner strength she never knew she had and solve the mystery on her own as the independent strong woman she could have been.
All in all, a light and enjoyable read with a lovely Irish setting and some interesting characters – just not the psychological thriller I had hoped for.
After the sudden death of her vivacious and somewhat eccentric mother, Louise Redmond fears that she may never discover the answer to the secret which had stood between them for most of her adult life – the identity of her biological father. Born an illegitimate child in Ireland in the 1960’s, the topic has never been open for discussion and has been the cause of much pain and longing for Louise. Now the only hope left is that she may find some clues amongst her mother’s paperwork, or from her mother’s estranged family. Burdened by her raw feelings of loss and grief there is also the breakdown of her marriage to deal with, as well as some strange flash-backs to a small girl and a green mail-box which trigger panic attacks every time Louise thinks about them. What is it about the child that would cause such an intense emotional reaction? Even tracking down her estranged uncle cannot shed light on the mystery. Then Louise makes a discovery which may threaten the reality she has come to believe – even her own identity.
I loved the premise of the story – if well executed, family secrets make great material for mystery and suspense. And initially the book hit it off well for me – Louise, the narrator of the story, is a likeable and interesting woman in search of her own identity. It is obvious from the start that there are skeletons in the family closet which will throw Louise’s world into turmoil, and I looked forward to the slow unravelling of the clues. Unfortunately a few parts of the story did not work for me. I found Louise’s constant angst about her failing marriage distracting, whilst parts of the mystery, which could have been explored in more detail, were summarised almost too quickly in order to move the story along. Whilst her failing marriage was an integral part of Louise’s emotional state at the time, I got a bit irritated about the couple’s on again – off again relationship, when the real focus of the novel should have been the family secret she set out to explore. With a bit of tweaking and editing, the story could have made a great psychological thriller, but I felt that a lot of elements of suspense were lost along the way. Despite the message of practising forgiveness to save a relationship (even a betrayal that I felt was almost unforgivable), I found myself wishing that Louise would move on, find an inner strength she never knew she had and solve the mystery on her own as the independent strong woman she could have been.
All in all, a light and enjoyable read with a lovely Irish setting and some interesting characters – just not the psychological thriller I had hoped for.
June 11, 2017
The author has managed to write a novel I fear the most to read: one that takes over my day such that I cannot put it down until I've finished reading it, and at the same time, one that I dread finishing because my escape from reality will end if I do. By the time I got to the climax, at which point I burst into tears, I feel like I've made several trips to Ireland from London.
This needs to be made into a movie. In the meantime, I can't wait for McQuaile's second novel to come out.
My review: http://www.anneku.com/2017/06/11/nove...
This needs to be made into a movie. In the meantime, I can't wait for McQuaile's second novel to come out.
My review: http://www.anneku.com/2017/06/11/nove...
February 5, 2017
The truth is obvious and the lies are plenty, but the sense of grief, loss, identity and belonging makes this an engrossing and emotive read.
March 5, 2016
Originally reviewed on Becca's Books.
When I was first contacted about What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile, the title was enough to intrigue me. What, exactly, had Louise Redmond not been told? I wondered repeatedly after reading the blurb. Immediately, a million and one scenarios began firing through my mind. I love it when reading merely a book's title can do that to you as the reader. It's exciting, thrilling and, quite simply, I couldn't wait to begin.
And when I did begin, man was I blown away. Kate McQuaile unravels Louise's story slowly but surely, teasing the reader into this huge mystery that's simmering in the air around her right the way through the book. Curious as to the identity of her real father, Louise always wondered about him but found her mother to be unwilling to share anything with her. Instantly, this fact caught my attention and I couldn't let it go. It was as if my senses suddenly became heightened and I wanted to dig deeper into Louise's mother's reluctance. So, when she passes away and Louise suddenly has no one left who can answer her questions for her, she decides to head back to Ireland to find the missing pieces for herself. What she finds, at the end of a tricky, intricate road to discovery, rocks her, and the reader, to their very core.
First thing's first. The characters. I absolutely loved Louise, and found myself connecting to her on a much deeper level when it came to wanting to know about her father. I myself was in this position once upon a time, although luckily for me, my answers were provided. The complete opposite happens for Louise, and I felt immense frustration on her behalf. There is nothing worse than wanting to have some answers when there's no one there to provide them, and when Louise found herself in this position, I could have screamed. For me, I could understand Louise's need to find her father. I really can. I believe it's only natural to want to know where you came from, and this is all Louise wanted, so I was unsure as to why her mother wouldn't share the details. Of course, this all becomes clear much later on into the novel, and trust me when I say that the wait is oh-so-worth it. Besides the urge to find her father, Louise was a well-developed character who I found incredibly interesting. There were so many layers to this woman, so many different aspects of her to investigate. But the one thing I couldn't leave alone was the recurring dream and memories Louise experienced of a small girl posting a letter through a letterbox, outside in the cold. As the story progresses, it taunts Louise, as if begging her to pay a little more attention to it, and pay attention she does. There's something she can't quite put her finger on about the memory, and when it begins returning more and more, she's sure that it's trying to tell her something. Is she right? Or is it all just part of her imagination? It was a delicious mystery, all wrapped up with a teasing, tangling bow.
I found this novel addictive from beginning to end. In fact, I didn't dare to put it down for fear of missing something. As new characters were introduced to the plot, new facts and new destinations, I was pulled further and further into this new avenue of Louise's life that she'd never even known existed. Kate McQuaile ensured my interest didn't wane once. There was twists and turns aplenty, red herrings and false alarms. It was enough to drive me wild. I couldn't get enough of Louise's discoveries and hoped against hope that before I turned the final page, all would be revealed and that I wouldn't be left hanging. I'm not sure I would have been able to cope with that in this instance. To my relief, Kate McQuaile ties up this story absolutely flawlessly, leaving me with no choice but to sit in silence for a good few minutes afterwards to gather my thoughts.
Exceptionally written with a stunning twist, and exploring themes alongside this like Louise's failing marriage, this was a novel to truly get my teeth into. Packed with mystery, secrets and the desire to keep on turning those pages, I loved What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile. To me, this story had it all and then some. I was captivated from page to page and completely wrapped around the author's finger as her storytelling took hold of me. It was fantastic.
Becca's Books is awarding What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile with five of my bookish stars. I can't wait for the next offering from this new-to-me author. Kate McQuaile has such style to her gripping storyline, I can only wait patiently for her next book. Special thanks to Quercus for providing me with a review copy of What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile.
When I was first contacted about What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile, the title was enough to intrigue me. What, exactly, had Louise Redmond not been told? I wondered repeatedly after reading the blurb. Immediately, a million and one scenarios began firing through my mind. I love it when reading merely a book's title can do that to you as the reader. It's exciting, thrilling and, quite simply, I couldn't wait to begin.
And when I did begin, man was I blown away. Kate McQuaile unravels Louise's story slowly but surely, teasing the reader into this huge mystery that's simmering in the air around her right the way through the book. Curious as to the identity of her real father, Louise always wondered about him but found her mother to be unwilling to share anything with her. Instantly, this fact caught my attention and I couldn't let it go. It was as if my senses suddenly became heightened and I wanted to dig deeper into Louise's mother's reluctance. So, when she passes away and Louise suddenly has no one left who can answer her questions for her, she decides to head back to Ireland to find the missing pieces for herself. What she finds, at the end of a tricky, intricate road to discovery, rocks her, and the reader, to their very core.
First thing's first. The characters. I absolutely loved Louise, and found myself connecting to her on a much deeper level when it came to wanting to know about her father. I myself was in this position once upon a time, although luckily for me, my answers were provided. The complete opposite happens for Louise, and I felt immense frustration on her behalf. There is nothing worse than wanting to have some answers when there's no one there to provide them, and when Louise found herself in this position, I could have screamed. For me, I could understand Louise's need to find her father. I really can. I believe it's only natural to want to know where you came from, and this is all Louise wanted, so I was unsure as to why her mother wouldn't share the details. Of course, this all becomes clear much later on into the novel, and trust me when I say that the wait is oh-so-worth it. Besides the urge to find her father, Louise was a well-developed character who I found incredibly interesting. There were so many layers to this woman, so many different aspects of her to investigate. But the one thing I couldn't leave alone was the recurring dream and memories Louise experienced of a small girl posting a letter through a letterbox, outside in the cold. As the story progresses, it taunts Louise, as if begging her to pay a little more attention to it, and pay attention she does. There's something she can't quite put her finger on about the memory, and when it begins returning more and more, she's sure that it's trying to tell her something. Is she right? Or is it all just part of her imagination? It was a delicious mystery, all wrapped up with a teasing, tangling bow.
I found this novel addictive from beginning to end. In fact, I didn't dare to put it down for fear of missing something. As new characters were introduced to the plot, new facts and new destinations, I was pulled further and further into this new avenue of Louise's life that she'd never even known existed. Kate McQuaile ensured my interest didn't wane once. There was twists and turns aplenty, red herrings and false alarms. It was enough to drive me wild. I couldn't get enough of Louise's discoveries and hoped against hope that before I turned the final page, all would be revealed and that I wouldn't be left hanging. I'm not sure I would have been able to cope with that in this instance. To my relief, Kate McQuaile ties up this story absolutely flawlessly, leaving me with no choice but to sit in silence for a good few minutes afterwards to gather my thoughts.
Exceptionally written with a stunning twist, and exploring themes alongside this like Louise's failing marriage, this was a novel to truly get my teeth into. Packed with mystery, secrets and the desire to keep on turning those pages, I loved What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile. To me, this story had it all and then some. I was captivated from page to page and completely wrapped around the author's finger as her storytelling took hold of me. It was fantastic.
Becca's Books is awarding What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile with five of my bookish stars. I can't wait for the next offering from this new-to-me author. Kate McQuaile has such style to her gripping storyline, I can only wait patiently for her next book. Special thanks to Quercus for providing me with a review copy of What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile.
March 19, 2016
Louise is 43 yrs old, her marriage is broken and her mother has just died after a short illness.
She has always known that her mother was a single parent in her younger years and Louise has always wanted to know who her father was. Her mother's funeral brings her in to contact with an uncle she never knew she had. Hoping to find answers amongst her mothers possessions, especially about a distressing memory she has of a young girl posting a letter, she is instead thrown into a world of lies and regrets.
I loved this book, once I started reading I really felt resentful of the time I was away from it. I could understand Louise's frustration at not knowing her past, especially when her mother evaded all questions. And she also has a lot to deal with her husband Sandy wanting to come back into the marriage, while she didn't know the reason he left in the first place.
This book had lots of twists and turns that had me thinking about what happened and while I had an inkling, it did keep me guessing.
A thoroughly enjoyable debut novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
She has always known that her mother was a single parent in her younger years and Louise has always wanted to know who her father was. Her mother's funeral brings her in to contact with an uncle she never knew she had. Hoping to find answers amongst her mothers possessions, especially about a distressing memory she has of a young girl posting a letter, she is instead thrown into a world of lies and regrets.
I loved this book, once I started reading I really felt resentful of the time I was away from it. I could understand Louise's frustration at not knowing her past, especially when her mother evaded all questions. And she also has a lot to deal with her husband Sandy wanting to come back into the marriage, while she didn't know the reason he left in the first place.
This book had lots of twists and turns that had me thinking about what happened and while I had an inkling, it did keep me guessing.
A thoroughly enjoyable debut novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
February 22, 2016
What would you do when you find out that your whole life could be a lie?
"I talked to my mother the night she died. losing myself in the memories of when we were happiest together. But I held one memory back, and it surfaces now, unbidden. I see a green postbox and a small hand stretching up to its oblong mouth. I am never sure whether that small hand is mine. But if not mine, whose?"
Kate McQuaile's debut novel will have you hooked from the very first word.
A psychological suspense full of twists and turns that will have you reading until the mystery unfolds.
Prepare to be captivated as you step into another world and help Louise Redmond find the answers to her unanswered questions. This book is full of mystery and secrets.
McQualie writes with such empathy and makes you feel all of the emotions that her Characters feel. Brilliantly written and well worth the read.
Kate McQuaile is definitely somebody to keep on your radar.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review which I have been more then happy to give.
"I talked to my mother the night she died. losing myself in the memories of when we were happiest together. But I held one memory back, and it surfaces now, unbidden. I see a green postbox and a small hand stretching up to its oblong mouth. I am never sure whether that small hand is mine. But if not mine, whose?"
Kate McQuaile's debut novel will have you hooked from the very first word.
A psychological suspense full of twists and turns that will have you reading until the mystery unfolds.
Prepare to be captivated as you step into another world and help Louise Redmond find the answers to her unanswered questions. This book is full of mystery and secrets.
McQualie writes with such empathy and makes you feel all of the emotions that her Characters feel. Brilliantly written and well worth the read.
Kate McQuaile is definitely somebody to keep on your radar.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review which I have been more then happy to give.
February 4, 2016
I know the year is only a month old, and I've only read 15 books so far, but this really is the best I've read so far, and it will be hard to beat. You know what happens when a book grabs you, and you seize every opportunity to read a few more pages?
Written in the first person, this novel gets you in right from the first word. There are little puzzles for the reader to solve as we try to fill in the story of Louise's life. At her mother's funeral she meets an uncle whom she can't remember ever meeting before. He has some photographs he would like to give her and she promises to visit him. But the solicitor who holds the will can't answer the most desperate question Louise has: how to find her father. She knows his name but nothing else.
A great read, with lots of twists and turns, believable characters and scenarios.
Written in the first person, this novel gets you in right from the first word. There are little puzzles for the reader to solve as we try to fill in the story of Louise's life. At her mother's funeral she meets an uncle whom she can't remember ever meeting before. He has some photographs he would like to give her and she promises to visit him. But the solicitor who holds the will can't answer the most desperate question Louise has: how to find her father. She knows his name but nothing else.
A great read, with lots of twists and turns, believable characters and scenarios.
March 26, 2016
Louise Redmond has always wondered who her father was. She's asked her mother, who has given her a name and very little information. So when her mother dies she hopes more information will be revealed. This isn't the case, so she decides to finally find out about him.
Traveling between Ireland and the UK she tries to decode her past, trying at the same time to fix her broken marriage.
This was a light, fast and pleasant read (in a good sense), but a few parts of the story didn't feel right to me, for example, Louise's relationship with her husband and the uncle that knew (or didn't know) the whole story. I felt these were very good and complex parts of the plot that somehow were resolved too easily.
The end, in contrast, was mind bending and completely unexpected!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Traveling between Ireland and the UK she tries to decode her past, trying at the same time to fix her broken marriage.
This was a light, fast and pleasant read (in a good sense), but a few parts of the story didn't feel right to me, for example, Louise's relationship with her husband and the uncle that knew (or didn't know) the whole story. I felt these were very good and complex parts of the plot that somehow were resolved too easily.
The end, in contrast, was mind bending and completely unexpected!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2018
Enjoyed this - especially the Irish setting. Lovely writing.
March 25, 2016
Despite my steadfast resolution to avoid crime fiction of the more domestic variety, I was hearing good things about this one, and so am happy to break my self-imposed resolution. In the spirit of honesty, which I appear to be known for, I did have some issues with this one, but here are my thoughts…
What I really liked about this book was the central premise of the story itself revolving around familial bonds and how memory can be such a deceptive but powerful driving force in how our sense of self is formed. I thought McQuaile captured perfectly the mother/daughter bond between Louise and Marjorie, and the inherent differences in their character which are slowly revealed as the book progresses. As Louise seeks to fill in the gaps in her family background, with her unknown father, and a mother singularly reticent to answer her questions, even as her own mortality catches up with her, I found their relationship totally believable, and striking a few emotional chords with my own background. I thought the gradual unfurling of the truth behind Louise’s identity was perfectly weighted throughout, with a denouement that was both plausible and clever, forcing Louise to completely reassess who she was. Another interesting conundrum McQuaile examines is how easy it is to do the wrong thing, but with the overriding sense that it is for the right reasons, however twisted the logic is behind these actions, and this was painfully brought to the fore when the truth about Marjorie is exposed. Also McQuaile manipulates the truthfulness of memory, and how half-remembered incidents, sensual indicators, and locations impact so strongly on our perception of past events, and the emotions these produce in us.
Less successful for my enjoyment of the book was the personal life of Louise, the relationship with her husband Sandy, an ill thought out dalliance, and a verging on Fatal Attraction storyline that to me seemed slightly unnecessary in the wake of such a strong central storyline. Obviously, to avoid spoilers I can’t go into too much detail, but I felt that aside from Louise’s regret and reasons for not having her own family, the marital woes she experiences would have been easily remedied without the amount of naval gazing, and emotional to and fro that afflict her as the book progresses. As I was enjoying the spirit of detection she exhibits in tracking down her father, I found myself side-tracked by the marital shenanigans, and was champing at the bit to see where her next line of enquiry would take her. Although I did like Louise as a character, her sometimes swift descent into extreme wooliness was slightly frustrating.
To bring this back to the initially positive vibe, there was a strong location of place throughout the book, and I enjoyed the way that McQuaile gave us snapshots of the way that the locations of Ireland and London seemed to surreptitiously shape the behaviour of Louise herself. There was a good contrast between both the city and rural locations as the book progressed, and an intervention of the authorial voice to bring a real sense of colour and life to each location. We clearly see how Louise perceives her former life in Ireland, set against her current residence in London, the sharp differences between the two, and how they subtly impact on her emotions and actions.
All in all I’m rather glad to have put my head above the parapet and broken my domestic noir resolution, as I found this debut by and large both intriguing and enjoyable. Recommended.
What I really liked about this book was the central premise of the story itself revolving around familial bonds and how memory can be such a deceptive but powerful driving force in how our sense of self is formed. I thought McQuaile captured perfectly the mother/daughter bond between Louise and Marjorie, and the inherent differences in their character which are slowly revealed as the book progresses. As Louise seeks to fill in the gaps in her family background, with her unknown father, and a mother singularly reticent to answer her questions, even as her own mortality catches up with her, I found their relationship totally believable, and striking a few emotional chords with my own background. I thought the gradual unfurling of the truth behind Louise’s identity was perfectly weighted throughout, with a denouement that was both plausible and clever, forcing Louise to completely reassess who she was. Another interesting conundrum McQuaile examines is how easy it is to do the wrong thing, but with the overriding sense that it is for the right reasons, however twisted the logic is behind these actions, and this was painfully brought to the fore when the truth about Marjorie is exposed. Also McQuaile manipulates the truthfulness of memory, and how half-remembered incidents, sensual indicators, and locations impact so strongly on our perception of past events, and the emotions these produce in us.
Less successful for my enjoyment of the book was the personal life of Louise, the relationship with her husband Sandy, an ill thought out dalliance, and a verging on Fatal Attraction storyline that to me seemed slightly unnecessary in the wake of such a strong central storyline. Obviously, to avoid spoilers I can’t go into too much detail, but I felt that aside from Louise’s regret and reasons for not having her own family, the marital woes she experiences would have been easily remedied without the amount of naval gazing, and emotional to and fro that afflict her as the book progresses. As I was enjoying the spirit of detection she exhibits in tracking down her father, I found myself side-tracked by the marital shenanigans, and was champing at the bit to see where her next line of enquiry would take her. Although I did like Louise as a character, her sometimes swift descent into extreme wooliness was slightly frustrating.
To bring this back to the initially positive vibe, there was a strong location of place throughout the book, and I enjoyed the way that McQuaile gave us snapshots of the way that the locations of Ireland and London seemed to surreptitiously shape the behaviour of Louise herself. There was a good contrast between both the city and rural locations as the book progressed, and an intervention of the authorial voice to bring a real sense of colour and life to each location. We clearly see how Louise perceives her former life in Ireland, set against her current residence in London, the sharp differences between the two, and how they subtly impact on her emotions and actions.
All in all I’m rather glad to have put my head above the parapet and broken my domestic noir resolution, as I found this debut by and large both intriguing and enjoyable. Recommended.
March 21, 2016
Imagine growing up not knowing who you really are, having a memory and not knowing if it's real or not. This is the life of Louise, the main character in What She Never Told Me.
I liked Louise, she was a realistic character and believable. Louise is taken on quite a rollercoaster ride through out this story and I couldn't help but feel for her as I too as the reader joined the rollercoaster.
Sue McQuaile has written an exceptionally good story, packed with twists, many secrets and with such wonderful detail this is a book I just didn't want to put down. It kept me gripped from page to page and although I had an inkling of where the story was going I was still captivated and couldn't wait to see how it ended.
This was a heart breaking but thoroughly enjoyable debut novel and I'm so looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for supplying this copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked Louise, she was a realistic character and believable. Louise is taken on quite a rollercoaster ride through out this story and I couldn't help but feel for her as I too as the reader joined the rollercoaster.
Sue McQuaile has written an exceptionally good story, packed with twists, many secrets and with such wonderful detail this is a book I just didn't want to put down. It kept me gripped from page to page and although I had an inkling of where the story was going I was still captivated and couldn't wait to see how it ended.
This was a heart breaking but thoroughly enjoyable debut novel and I'm so looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for supplying this copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2016
I'm not quite sure what drew me to this book, maybe it was because it was mostly set in Ireland, maybe just the blurb. Whatever it was I'm glad it did. I was soon drawn in to the Louise's world. The death of her mother left her with so many questions she wished she had asked her. Who was her father? And why did the memory of posting a letter to Santa fill her with such fear?
The mystery deepens as Louise finds clues to her past and makes her wonder if this is something she would be better not knowing.
I really enjoyed Kate McQuaile's style. She really draws the reader in. Although I did guess what had happened it didn't spoil anything for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
The mystery deepens as Louise finds clues to her past and makes her wonder if this is something she would be better not knowing.
I really enjoyed Kate McQuaile's style. She really draws the reader in. Although I did guess what had happened it didn't spoil anything for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
January 22, 2016
I don't generally like books written in the first person, but this could not be written any other way. Full of suspense, twist and turns that it will keep you reading till the mystery unfolds. Right through the book I followed Louise journey to find out her mother's secret. Kate McQuaile lets you become part of the story, searching and reaching various conclusions along the way, feeling the pain, the disappointment and the final answer, one step at a time. This is a brilliant book by a brilliant writer.
February 4, 2017
While I think the idea for the book is good it is far too predictable. Every single thing I thought would happen, happened. Disappointed.
November 26, 2017
Looking at all the glowing reviews for this novel, I seem to be in a minority of one here, but I really did not like this book. The story is fair enough; Louisa, a recently-bereaved woman goes on a search for herself in her native Ireland. There are lots of clues seeded throughout the narrative – too many clues really, making the end less of a surprise than it might have been and the story is so slowly drawn out with such a maddening plethora of irrelevant detail (I do not care what Louisa wore and ate and drank and read and watched on TV as she self-obsesses and navel gazes to the point where I wanted to hurl the book down the nearest lavatory). But it wasn’t the frustrating slowness of the plot that I hated so much as Louisa herself, amazed that a woman could be both so thoroughly dislikeable while also being so very dull and so childish. I didn’t like the first person style at all and wonder if I would have preferred it had it been in 3rd person, when we might have got a better feel for the other characters in the tale. Told in Louisa’s irritating voice, I found most of the characters to be equally unpleasant (only David Prescott and the Kerry family came across as in any way likeable). I had no patience or empathy for her husband, friends or family who all seemed equally despicable and unsympathetic. To me, it read like the very worst examples of a teenage diary. It read like it hadn’t been edited at all.
The tale is interesting beneath the murk of all the extraneous detail and the horribly annoying character herself, but the telling is tedious beyond belief. I really did lose patience with it at the half-way point but waded through to the end to see if I was right about the outcome (I was), but I had long since stopped caring about any of these dreadful people and it is really hard to be positive about a book when you don’t care a jot about any of them.
The tale is interesting beneath the murk of all the extraneous detail and the horribly annoying character herself, but the telling is tedious beyond belief. I really did lose patience with it at the half-way point but waded through to the end to see if I was right about the outcome (I was), but I had long since stopped caring about any of these dreadful people and it is really hard to be positive about a book when you don’t care a jot about any of them.
March 1, 2016
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FACEBOOK: The Reader's Domain
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this. Wow, this was full of twists and turns. Louise falls apart when her mother passes away. During the process of grieving, funerals and sorting through her mother's papers/legal documents, Louise starts to discover details that she never knew about her childhood/past. Her curiosity is peaked when she meets her uncle whom is part of a family Louise has had very little to do with as her mother always maintained the stance that they excluded her from the family when she had a baby out of wedlock.
Louise can't help but taking a liking to her uncle and so begins a journey of discovery about her past. I don't believe in giving spoilers in my reviews so I shall leave it at this, however, I will say that this books has plenty of suspense and the characters were well developed allowing the reader to empathise with each one.
This would be a good book club book as there are plenty of controversial aspects to the novel that would encourage plenty of discussion.
Well worth the read.
FACEBOOK: The Reader's Domain
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this. Wow, this was full of twists and turns. Louise falls apart when her mother passes away. During the process of grieving, funerals and sorting through her mother's papers/legal documents, Louise starts to discover details that she never knew about her childhood/past. Her curiosity is peaked when she meets her uncle whom is part of a family Louise has had very little to do with as her mother always maintained the stance that they excluded her from the family when she had a baby out of wedlock.
Louise can't help but taking a liking to her uncle and so begins a journey of discovery about her past. I don't believe in giving spoilers in my reviews so I shall leave it at this, however, I will say that this books has plenty of suspense and the characters were well developed allowing the reader to empathise with each one.
This would be a good book club book as there are plenty of controversial aspects to the novel that would encourage plenty of discussion.
Well worth the read.
April 24, 2016
3 and half stars.
It took me a while to decide on the rating of this book. I knew it was a 3 and half stars, but I couldn't figure if it was leaning into 3 or 4 stars. I ended choosing 3 because of its predictability. The book is good, don't get me wrong, reading it was a nice experience but being able to figure out almost every twist and turn almost as soon as they're presented stopped me from giving it a higher rating.
The main character, Louise, is interesting and human, she makes mistakes, she hurts and she is hurt. There are other few characters well developed, others not so much.
One thing I really loved was the descriptions of the places Louise visits. They are rich and made me wish to visit them.
All in all, this was a good read, an enjoyable one perfect for a lazy weekend.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and author Kate McQuaile for providing me with a copy of What She Never Told Me in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2016
Louise Redmond, singing teacher and wife to Sandy has a good life. Visits to Ireland to see her mother are good if occasionally tense and as her mother is lying in a hospital bed dying of Cancer she tries to speak to Louise but all she can hear is 'shh'. What is her mother trying to tell her?
In the weeks that follow Louise's life seems to unravel before her eyes, everything she thought she knew was falling apart. She has to go back to the past to discover where her future lies.
A deeply thought provoking book I felt, what as a mother would you be prepared to do for your child and would you be able to divulge the secrets that gave them the keys to unlocking the truth?
I was guessing all the way through and anticipating what would happen next, it made me think a lot about motherhood and family.
In the weeks that follow Louise's life seems to unravel before her eyes, everything she thought she knew was falling apart. She has to go back to the past to discover where her future lies.
A deeply thought provoking book I felt, what as a mother would you be prepared to do for your child and would you be able to divulge the secrets that gave them the keys to unlocking the truth?
I was guessing all the way through and anticipating what would happen next, it made me think a lot about motherhood and family.
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