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Keep You Close
Convinced a longtime friend's death was not accidental, Rowan confronts difficult realities to uncover the truth in her friend's professional art circles, where she meets three grieving men and reunites with her friend's family.
567 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2016
142 people are currently reading
3962 people want to read
About the author
Lucie Whitehouse
17 books395 followersLucie Whitehouse was born in the Cotswolds in 1975 and grew up in Warwickshire. She studied Classics at Oxford University and then began a career in publishing while spending evenings, weekends and holidays working on the book that would eventually become THE HOUSE AT MIDNIGHT.
Having married in 2011, she now divides her time between the UK and Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband. She writes full time and has contributed features to the Times, the Sunday Times, the Independent, Elle and Red Magazine.
Having married in 2011, she now divides her time between the UK and Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband. She writes full time and has contributed features to the Times, the Sunday Times, the Independent, Elle and Red Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
September 2, 2018
i have now read four books by lucie whitehouse, and given three of them four stars. (ack, no one said there would be math!!!) to contextualize the four stars given to this book, i liked it more than Before We Met but not as much as my memory of The House at Midnight.
no more numbers, i promise.
this is a solid psychological thriller with big dollops of romantic suspense to sauce it up.
it's not trashy - in fact, the actual sex is elided so much that there were a couple of times i didn't even realize the characters had had sex until it was referenced later. one time i thought to myself - "why is he so rudely leaving the sexxytime bed to get a glass of water??," only to realize we had skimmed right over the main event and this was post-coital hydration.
but there are definitely romantic suspense elements in play - everyone is attractive, some are wealthy, some are attractive and wealthy and famous, there's all sorts of potential love-triangles and squares and what have you's teasing through the tale, and there's a central character, recently deceased, of blinding charisma and all the aforementioned wealth/fame/beauty romanticized into someone too perfect for this world & etc:
In those days, though, she would never have spent the night in a guestroom; she'd slept on an airbed in Marianne's room so they could talk in the dark. On clear nights, they'd left the blinds open so that the moon shone in and picked out the shapes of the furniture, their hands and faces, with its ethereal white light. Marianne's idea, of course: she'd had a gift for that kind of alchemy, for transforming the everyday into something memorable, otherworldly.
there are also examples of those writerly observations that exist only in novels of this kind - where fleeting glimpses of another character's expressions are observed, accurately interpreted, and acted on in the blink of an eye and about half a page of text, where even painted expressions convey more than they possibly could without a little authorial padding:
…in her face, he had captured a mix of hunger, drive and desperate need.
but it's a fun read, for sure, and i got "gotchad" by the book TWO TIMES,* which is always always welcome. in fact the first turn came so unexpectedly in the middle of a paragraph - hell, in the middle of a sentence, that i thought i'd missed something and i'd already started rereading the page before i realized that i hadn't missed anything at all; i'd just been gone girled. which i have just officially coined as a verb to denote a sudden reveal or unexpected plot twist.
the pleasure's a little guilty, but it's pleasure nonetheless.
*sorry, i know i said no more numbers
come to my blog!
no more numbers, i promise.
this is a solid psychological thriller with big dollops of romantic suspense to sauce it up.
it's not trashy - in fact, the actual sex is elided so much that there were a couple of times i didn't even realize the characters had had sex until it was referenced later. one time i thought to myself - "why is he so rudely leaving the sexxytime bed to get a glass of water??," only to realize we had skimmed right over the main event and this was post-coital hydration.
but there are definitely romantic suspense elements in play - everyone is attractive, some are wealthy, some are attractive and wealthy and famous, there's all sorts of potential love-triangles and squares and what have you's teasing through the tale, and there's a central character, recently deceased, of blinding charisma and all the aforementioned wealth/fame/beauty romanticized into someone too perfect for this world & etc:
In those days, though, she would never have spent the night in a guestroom; she'd slept on an airbed in Marianne's room so they could talk in the dark. On clear nights, they'd left the blinds open so that the moon shone in and picked out the shapes of the furniture, their hands and faces, with its ethereal white light. Marianne's idea, of course: she'd had a gift for that kind of alchemy, for transforming the everyday into something memorable, otherworldly.
there are also examples of those writerly observations that exist only in novels of this kind - where fleeting glimpses of another character's expressions are observed, accurately interpreted, and acted on in the blink of an eye and about half a page of text, where even painted expressions convey more than they possibly could without a little authorial padding:
…in her face, he had captured a mix of hunger, drive and desperate need.
but it's a fun read, for sure, and i got "gotchad" by the book TWO TIMES,* which is always always welcome. in fact the first turn came so unexpectedly in the middle of a paragraph - hell, in the middle of a sentence, that i thought i'd missed something and i'd already started rereading the page before i realized that i hadn't missed anything at all; i'd just been gone girled. which i have just officially coined as a verb to denote a sudden reveal or unexpected plot twist.
the pleasure's a little guilty, but it's pleasure nonetheless.
*sorry, i know i said no more numbers
come to my blog!
May 29, 2016
3 ½ stars. Rowan returns to Oxford after a ten year absence following her friend Marianne’s death. Rowan and Marianne had been estranged for the previous ten years. Told entirely from Rowan’s perspective, the circumstances of the estrangement and Marianne’s death slowly unfold. I will say nothing more to avoid spoilers. At the beginning, I found it hard to get into Keep You Close – really hard. But this is one of those books for which persistence paid off. It took me a while to sort out who the characters were and how they were all linked to each other – this is not a usual complaint for me. And I found the narration to be an odd combination of flat, claustrophobic and overwrought. But -- as I was getting ready to do some heavy skimming -- momentum built and I got into the groove of the story and the way it was told – what felt flat turned into an almost theatre like closeness – seeing things from a very limited point of view turned out to serve its own purpose. And then there’s a pretty head spinning twist, and a few more twists after that. I won’t say more, but in the end I’m glad I took the ride. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me access to an advance copy.
March 26, 2016
The ending saved this book for me...
My rating would have been lower, but the last 20% of the book was really solid and made me wish that it had read this way from the start!
The first chapter came out strong and I thought I was in for a pretty suspenseful read. But shortly after that the book fell flat for me. I think there was just too much backstory and too many characters introduced and I found my mind wandering. I even fast forwarded through some of the chapters. I had some trouble connecting with the main character as well.
This is my first read by Ms. Whitehouse, and based on some other reviews from her previous work, I think I need to give this author another shot.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My rating would have been lower, but the last 20% of the book was really solid and made me wish that it had read this way from the start!
The first chapter came out strong and I thought I was in for a pretty suspenseful read. But shortly after that the book fell flat for me. I think there was just too much backstory and too many characters introduced and I found my mind wandering. I even fast forwarded through some of the chapters. I had some trouble connecting with the main character as well.
This is my first read by Ms. Whitehouse, and based on some other reviews from her previous work, I think I need to give this author another shot.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2016
*I was provided a copy by Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity!*
4.5 stars!
Wow! I've got to say, I read Before We Met way back when and I just wasn't overly impressed. It felt very lukewarm to me and forgettable during all the "Gone Girl hysteria". I'm really glad I gave this one a try because it was monumentally better! Well done!
We find ourselves following Rowan at the beginning of this story; she has just learned that her school friend Marianne has died- we aren't exactly sure how. Is it an accident? Was it a suicide? Either way, Rowan is disturbed and feels the police should be looking into a more sinister motive as she finds a puzzling message from Marianne. Rowan decides in true female fashion to investigate herself as the Glass family was and is near and dear to her. As we read, we are also trying to learn what was going on with the women's friendship and why they had not spoken in a decade.
I picked this book up last night and hated to put it down as my eyes were closing. I was so engrossed that I actually set my alarm so that I could wake up early this morning and finish it! While it did seem to drag in a few areas, it was well thought out and kept me hooked until the end. The twists were much better in this one than her previous novel and the characters I felt had more development. Maybe this is due to a more lengthy book and more opportunity to do so? If you enjoy a good mystery with flawed characters I believe this is the book for you. I'm back on the Lucie Whitehouse train and look forward to more from her in the future!
4.5 stars!
Wow! I've got to say, I read Before We Met way back when and I just wasn't overly impressed. It felt very lukewarm to me and forgettable during all the "Gone Girl hysteria". I'm really glad I gave this one a try because it was monumentally better! Well done!
We find ourselves following Rowan at the beginning of this story; she has just learned that her school friend Marianne has died- we aren't exactly sure how. Is it an accident? Was it a suicide? Either way, Rowan is disturbed and feels the police should be looking into a more sinister motive as she finds a puzzling message from Marianne. Rowan decides in true female fashion to investigate herself as the Glass family was and is near and dear to her. As we read, we are also trying to learn what was going on with the women's friendship and why they had not spoken in a decade.
I picked this book up last night and hated to put it down as my eyes were closing. I was so engrossed that I actually set my alarm so that I could wake up early this morning and finish it! While it did seem to drag in a few areas, it was well thought out and kept me hooked until the end. The twists were much better in this one than her previous novel and the characters I felt had more development. Maybe this is due to a more lengthy book and more opportunity to do so? If you enjoy a good mystery with flawed characters I believe this is the book for you. I'm back on the Lucie Whitehouse train and look forward to more from her in the future!
January 10, 2016
Flashback to late 2013, when Lucie Whitehouse, an author whose first two books I had adored, published a third novel titled Before We Met. Before We Met came out in the post-
Gone Girl
scramble to find the next bestselling entry in a then-new genre, the domestic thriller, and was a bit of a departure from her previous novels, both in terms of style - it was very stripped-down where her others were florid - and the way it was presented and marketed. I think enough time has passed that I can admit I didn't particularly like Before We Met and felt pressured into being more positive about it than I felt. In fact, at the time I was worried that my review praised the book too much, although reading back over it now, I think my doubts show very clearly.
I wasn't actually going to bother reading Keep You Close. I felt it would be very much along the same lines as its predecessor, and although I was aware it was coming out, I didn't pay much attention to it when considering the books I wanted to read in 2016. I only decided to give it a go when I received an email offering me early access to the review copy available on NetGalley. I'm really glad I did, because this is a huge improvement on Before We Met, more engaging in every way. It has enough of the hallmarks of a domestic thriller that it will appeal to fans of that genre, but it also brings back a lot of what I liked so much about the author's writing in the first place. The result is a readable and thoroughly absorbing story that succeeds at everything that matters in a book like this: creating characters you care about, building up atmosphere, and keeping you guessing until the end is near.
Keep You Close focuses on Rowan, who learns at the beginning of the book that her old schoolfriend, Marianne Glass, has died in what appears to be either an accident or suicide, having fallen from the roof of her home. Knowing that Marianne suffered from vertigo, Rowan is convinced there is more to her death than the police appear to have concluded, and when she finds that Marianne posted her a cryptic note shortly before she died, she embarks on her own investigation, seeking answers from Marianne's family, friends and colleagues. But there are also questions around Rowan and Marianne's friendship; why haven't they spoken in ten years, having spent their teens and early twenties as close as sisters? What is the terrible thing Marianne did that Rowan alludes to, and why did it impact their relationship in such a way?
The story that unfolds portrays Rowan as a rather lonely character whose youth was defined by her obsession with the Glass family. And you can see why: the story is insistent about their charm and appeal, and it's difficult not to be drawn in yourself by their effortless perfection, their lives an amalgamation of everything a person like Rowan (and probably many readers) might aspire to, from intellectual brilliance and professional success to beauty and wealth to tight, blissfully happy family bonds. It's also so evocative and persuasive about Oxford that it could probably be sold as a tourist guide to the city. I was very glad to see this kind of vivid description back in Whitehouse's writing after the coldness of Before We Met.
So, is it a domestic thriller? It's clearly packaged as one, with that cover design and a title that could slot into any number of thriller authors' back catalogues (I'm not 100% on this, but I don't think the phrase 'keep you close' even appears in the book, nor does it particularly make sense when applied to the plot). For much of the first two-thirds it plays out as what I have come to think of as more of an old-fashioned mystery, one in which the protagonist digs for clues and finds more questions at every turn; there's a single (potential?) crime and a number of suspects, ranging from members of Marianne's family to a famous artist who was painting her portrait. It all reminded me strongly of the novels of my favourite crime writer, Erin Kelly - specifically a cross between The Poison Tree and The Burning Air (the heady student nostalgia of the former, the themes of envy and greed from the latter, and both stories' focus on characters who idealise/idolise others and their families).
But in true thriller style, there is A Big Twist. And I have to say, I really didn't see it coming. No further comments on that, lest I spoil it for anyone else.
This was a great first book of 2016. Enjoyable, unpredictable, a story I could get properly absorbed in. If, like me, you weren't exactly enchanted by Before You Met, but you often enjoy stuff in this genre (and especially if you like Erin Kelly's work), I'd urge you to give Keep You Close a try.
I received an advance review copy of Keep You Close from the publisher through NetGalley.
I wasn't actually going to bother reading Keep You Close. I felt it would be very much along the same lines as its predecessor, and although I was aware it was coming out, I didn't pay much attention to it when considering the books I wanted to read in 2016. I only decided to give it a go when I received an email offering me early access to the review copy available on NetGalley. I'm really glad I did, because this is a huge improvement on Before We Met, more engaging in every way. It has enough of the hallmarks of a domestic thriller that it will appeal to fans of that genre, but it also brings back a lot of what I liked so much about the author's writing in the first place. The result is a readable and thoroughly absorbing story that succeeds at everything that matters in a book like this: creating characters you care about, building up atmosphere, and keeping you guessing until the end is near.
Keep You Close focuses on Rowan, who learns at the beginning of the book that her old schoolfriend, Marianne Glass, has died in what appears to be either an accident or suicide, having fallen from the roof of her home. Knowing that Marianne suffered from vertigo, Rowan is convinced there is more to her death than the police appear to have concluded, and when she finds that Marianne posted her a cryptic note shortly before she died, she embarks on her own investigation, seeking answers from Marianne's family, friends and colleagues. But there are also questions around Rowan and Marianne's friendship; why haven't they spoken in ten years, having spent their teens and early twenties as close as sisters? What is the terrible thing Marianne did that Rowan alludes to, and why did it impact their relationship in such a way?
The story that unfolds portrays Rowan as a rather lonely character whose youth was defined by her obsession with the Glass family. And you can see why: the story is insistent about their charm and appeal, and it's difficult not to be drawn in yourself by their effortless perfection, their lives an amalgamation of everything a person like Rowan (and probably many readers) might aspire to, from intellectual brilliance and professional success to beauty and wealth to tight, blissfully happy family bonds. It's also so evocative and persuasive about Oxford that it could probably be sold as a tourist guide to the city. I was very glad to see this kind of vivid description back in Whitehouse's writing after the coldness of Before We Met.
So, is it a domestic thriller? It's clearly packaged as one, with that cover design and a title that could slot into any number of thriller authors' back catalogues (I'm not 100% on this, but I don't think the phrase 'keep you close' even appears in the book, nor does it particularly make sense when applied to the plot). For much of the first two-thirds it plays out as what I have come to think of as more of an old-fashioned mystery, one in which the protagonist digs for clues and finds more questions at every turn; there's a single (potential?) crime and a number of suspects, ranging from members of Marianne's family to a famous artist who was painting her portrait. It all reminded me strongly of the novels of my favourite crime writer, Erin Kelly - specifically a cross between The Poison Tree and The Burning Air (the heady student nostalgia of the former, the themes of envy and greed from the latter, and both stories' focus on characters who idealise/idolise others and their families).
But in true thriller style, there is A Big Twist. And I have to say, I really didn't see it coming. No further comments on that, lest I spoil it for anyone else.
This was a great first book of 2016. Enjoyable, unpredictable, a story I could get properly absorbed in. If, like me, you weren't exactly enchanted by Before You Met, but you often enjoy stuff in this genre (and especially if you like Erin Kelly's work), I'd urge you to give Keep You Close a try.
I received an advance review copy of Keep You Close from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 5, 2016
I'd rate this 4.5 stars.
Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for making it available!
Lucie Whitehouse knows how to write a thriller. I really enjoyed her last book, Before We Met , and her newest book, Keep You Close , scheduled to be released in May, ratcheted up the excitement and surprises even more.
Rowan Winter gets a surprising call one day and learns that Marianne Glass, once her closest friend, has died in a tragic accident. It has been 10 years since Rowan and Marianne have spoken despite Rowan's attempts to reconnect, but the pain of Marianne's loss is very real for her. They were once inseparable, and for a young girl with an absent father and a dead mother, Marianne's family and her friendship meant everything to Rowan. But Marianne became a successful artist, and all that Rowan knew of her life was what she read in the newspapers.
"But you were similar, too — I could see why you were so close. Marianne had her talent and you had your brain and you were both...driven. You sparked off each other."
Even after all of these years apart, Rowan cannot believe that Marianne fell from the roof of her home, because she remembers the paralyzing vertigo she suffered from. She can't believe that Marianne would have tried to take her own life, even if she was apparently suffering from depression again. And the day after her death, when Rowan receives a card from Marianne saying, "I need to talk to you," she knows it's a sign that someone else is responsible for Marianne's fall.
Returning to the town where Marianne lived and they once spent all of their time, Rowan is determined to look into the events of her death. It's not long before she finds herself caught up in the memories of their youth—the good times and the slights, the friends Rowan lost when her friendship with Marianne ended, and times when Marianne's perfect family didn't quite seem so perfect. And she also starts to rekindle a romance that never quite got off the ground all those years ago.
But the more Rowan learns and the more she suspects, the more her paranoia grows. Is there anyone she can really trust? Are Marianne's so-called friends really who they say they are? Does Rowan have anything to fear if she uncovers the truth?
I've commented before that it's hard for me to read mysteries because I often find myself figuring things out before the characters do, or suspecting everyone and everything. While I certainly had my theories while reading Keep You Close , and worried Whitehouse might take the easy way out, she definitely kept the surprises coming and had me guessing. It's a familiar-enough story, but she kept it fresh, and many of the supporting characters were equally fascinating.
If you like this genre of books, definitely introduce yourself to Lucie Whitehouse. I can definitely see this becoming the "beach read" of summer 2016—I definitely hope so, because she deserves some recognition!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for making it available!
Lucie Whitehouse knows how to write a thriller. I really enjoyed her last book, Before We Met , and her newest book, Keep You Close , scheduled to be released in May, ratcheted up the excitement and surprises even more.
Rowan Winter gets a surprising call one day and learns that Marianne Glass, once her closest friend, has died in a tragic accident. It has been 10 years since Rowan and Marianne have spoken despite Rowan's attempts to reconnect, but the pain of Marianne's loss is very real for her. They were once inseparable, and for a young girl with an absent father and a dead mother, Marianne's family and her friendship meant everything to Rowan. But Marianne became a successful artist, and all that Rowan knew of her life was what she read in the newspapers.
"But you were similar, too — I could see why you were so close. Marianne had her talent and you had your brain and you were both...driven. You sparked off each other."
Even after all of these years apart, Rowan cannot believe that Marianne fell from the roof of her home, because she remembers the paralyzing vertigo she suffered from. She can't believe that Marianne would have tried to take her own life, even if she was apparently suffering from depression again. And the day after her death, when Rowan receives a card from Marianne saying, "I need to talk to you," she knows it's a sign that someone else is responsible for Marianne's fall.
Returning to the town where Marianne lived and they once spent all of their time, Rowan is determined to look into the events of her death. It's not long before she finds herself caught up in the memories of their youth—the good times and the slights, the friends Rowan lost when her friendship with Marianne ended, and times when Marianne's perfect family didn't quite seem so perfect. And she also starts to rekindle a romance that never quite got off the ground all those years ago.
But the more Rowan learns and the more she suspects, the more her paranoia grows. Is there anyone she can really trust? Are Marianne's so-called friends really who they say they are? Does Rowan have anything to fear if she uncovers the truth?
I've commented before that it's hard for me to read mysteries because I often find myself figuring things out before the characters do, or suspecting everyone and everything. While I certainly had my theories while reading Keep You Close , and worried Whitehouse might take the easy way out, she definitely kept the surprises coming and had me guessing. It's a familiar-enough story, but she kept it fresh, and many of the supporting characters were equally fascinating.
If you like this genre of books, definitely introduce yourself to Lucie Whitehouse. I can definitely see this becoming the "beach read" of summer 2016—I definitely hope so, because she deserves some recognition!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
April 13, 2016
3.5 Rowan was once part of the Glass family or as close as she could get without family blood. Best friends with their daughter Marianne, though they hadn't seen nor been close to each other foremen years. When she learns that Marianne has been found dead, after falling off her roof, Rowan doesn't believe it. Marianne had always suffered from severe vertigo.
Although this didn't immediately draw me in, I was intrigued enough by the characters and the story to continue reading. The last half of the book pulled me in big time, it was suspenseful, constant revelations and missteps, and turned into a very good thriller. Fooled me too, which is the hallmark of a good story. Some very strange occurrences happen in this book, which keeps the plot moving. Good story.
ARC from Netgalley.
Although this didn't immediately draw me in, I was intrigued enough by the characters and the story to continue reading. The last half of the book pulled me in big time, it was suspenseful, constant revelations and missteps, and turned into a very good thriller. Fooled me too, which is the hallmark of a good story. Some very strange occurrences happen in this book, which keeps the plot moving. Good story.
ARC from Netgalley.
July 14, 2019
Easy read. Just did not have the depth in characterizations that I expect in this genre. IMHO, lots of detail and most copy of the middle was extraneous. The surprise of the end! I wish the underlying motives were as examined, perhaps with specific context for intrigue of the "why" instead of numerous red herrings with such an abrupt finish. It just didn't engage me as a woman to woman friendship based in real congenial connection from the beginning of this story.
February 6, 2016
Lucie Whitehouse has written an atmospheric and compelling thriller. It is well plotted with a fast paced narrative that keeps you on tenterhooks with the twists and turns in the story. At its heart is the nature of relationships and how they can change through the years. The mystery of the death of Marianne Glass is seen through the prism of the past and how the network of people in the artist's life ended up in the present. The author has a keen eye for detail and descriptions. I particularly loved and appreciated the descriptions of Oxford as I live there. A shadow hangs over the story as we aren't clear about what broke Rowan and Marianne's friendship ten years ago. Secrets, intrigue and mystery abounds.
Rowan Winter is ideally placed to investigate how her friend died, she used to be Marianne's best friend. She is convinced that Marianne would never have ventured to the edge of the roof as she suffered from terrible vertigo. Rowan is a solitary person now and it is fascinating to see how involved she used to be with the Glass family and she is walking back into the memories. The family drew the young Rowan like a moth to a flame. They were charismatic, intelligent, successful and wealthy people. Rowan looks for answers from the family, boyfriend, friends and colleagues. I did not see the surprising and unexpected twist that comes.
Rowan misses Marianne deeply. The author has created flawed characters with depth and you want to know about them and how they evolve. The chaotic nature of relationship is well delineated as are the emotions that go with them like jealousy, love etc. I found the story absorbing and beautifully constructed. A book to savour and enjoy. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for a copy of the book via netgalley.
Rowan Winter is ideally placed to investigate how her friend died, she used to be Marianne's best friend. She is convinced that Marianne would never have ventured to the edge of the roof as she suffered from terrible vertigo. Rowan is a solitary person now and it is fascinating to see how involved she used to be with the Glass family and she is walking back into the memories. The family drew the young Rowan like a moth to a flame. They were charismatic, intelligent, successful and wealthy people. Rowan looks for answers from the family, boyfriend, friends and colleagues. I did not see the surprising and unexpected twist that comes.
Rowan misses Marianne deeply. The author has created flawed characters with depth and you want to know about them and how they evolve. The chaotic nature of relationship is well delineated as are the emotions that go with them like jealousy, love etc. I found the story absorbing and beautifully constructed. A book to savour and enjoy. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for a copy of the book via netgalley.
June 22, 2018
Esperava mais deste livro, especialmente mais ação. Algumas partes têm demasiada descrição desnecessária. Tirando isso, o conteúdo foi mais ou menos. Um livro que fala de segredos entre amizades que levam a uma separação temporária ou permanente (neste caso) e a força de uma amizade para perceber o que se passou por detrás da morte da amiga.
April 2, 2016
Keep you Close - another twisty psychological thriller from the pen of Lucie Whitehouse, whose previous novel "Before We Met" I absolutely loved. When it came to Keep You Close I had a slightly love/hate relationship with it, in that it had a totally superb opening and a banging ending but I felt it dipped a bit in the middle.
It uses a past/present construction which I always love, seeing things unfold behind the current events is always a great way to present a mystery as it allows for some beautiful layers and in that, the author has done brilliantly once again. Telling the tale of a friendship lost and leading into a tragedy where all is not as it seems, creatively speaking Lucie Whitehouse has a deft touch, a storytellers eye and a beautiful atmospheric sense. I'm a fan of how she uses language to engage and embrace the reader into the world of her characters.
The only slight thing was I felt the backstory dragged a little in the central part of the novel, over egging the pudding so to speak so I did have a few moments where I lost interest for small periods of time. Having said that, it then picks up and heads towards a terrific and unexpected ending, more of what I like from this author and overall I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Bugbears aside, Keep you Close is a classic example of a psychological thriller and if you like that sort of thing (which I most definitely do when done well) you will love this and I am really looking forward to what the author comes up with next. Character driven and often intense this was for the most part expertly executed and addictive.
It uses a past/present construction which I always love, seeing things unfold behind the current events is always a great way to present a mystery as it allows for some beautiful layers and in that, the author has done brilliantly once again. Telling the tale of a friendship lost and leading into a tragedy where all is not as it seems, creatively speaking Lucie Whitehouse has a deft touch, a storytellers eye and a beautiful atmospheric sense. I'm a fan of how she uses language to engage and embrace the reader into the world of her characters.
The only slight thing was I felt the backstory dragged a little in the central part of the novel, over egging the pudding so to speak so I did have a few moments where I lost interest for small periods of time. Having said that, it then picks up and heads towards a terrific and unexpected ending, more of what I like from this author and overall I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Bugbears aside, Keep you Close is a classic example of a psychological thriller and if you like that sort of thing (which I most definitely do when done well) you will love this and I am really looking forward to what the author comes up with next. Character driven and often intense this was for the most part expertly executed and addictive.
March 18, 2016
Originally reviewed for Bookaholic Confessions
When Marianne Glass falls to her death in what appears to be a tragic accident, one of her former closest friends can’t help but think there is more to her untimely death than would first appear. For starters Marianne suffered from vertigo; so there is no way that she would have been near the edge of a high roof-top in the first place. Although the two haven’t been in touch for some years, Rowan won’t rest until she finds out what really happened to her friend, especially when she receives a message from Marianne which was written just a few days before she died. However it quickly transpires that the more Rowan discovers, the darker the whole mystery becomes. What really happened to lead Marianne to plunge to her death? What exactly caused Marianne and Rowan’s close friendship to come to an abrupt ending all those years ago? And are some secrets best left undiscovered? Mystery, intrigue and drama quickly follow in this unputdownable thriller…
I have been desperate for more from Lucie Whitehouse the minute I turned the last page of Before We Met. As soon as I read the amazing synopsis for Lucie’s latest offering I just KNEW that this was going to be a good ‘un…And BOY OH BOY it was!
The story kicks off with a hugely intriguing prologue. We’re on a roof-top and the characters present are referred to only as ‘she’ and ‘he’. I was immediately filled with all the what/why/how/who questions; Who are they? What exactly is going on? etc and I had a sneaky suspicion that I wasn’t going to be putting this book down any time soon…
When the story then begins were are introduced to Rowan just as she is learning about her former friend’s death. The main thing I wanted to know was why Rowan and Marianne hadn’t been in contact for some years. We are given a detailed backstory of the relationship between the two friends, so where did it all go wrong?
The way in which the novel is set out mixes events from the past with those of the current day which works really well. Via various flashbacks, I love how we are given an in depth history to the characters and I feel as though I really got to know them (or at least I thought I did…!) They certainly are a fascinating bunch too; flawed, full of depth and frighteningly realistic. I was genuinely interested in the characters in this story, particularly in the case of Rowan. Whilst Rowan is a narrator of sorts, it’s more a case of the story being told from her thoughts, yet it’s written in the third person. Rowan starts off as an ordinary enough character, but the more you learn the more intrigued you will become, especially as she tries to reacquaint herself with the people she used to know so well in her bid to discover what really happened to Marianne.
I loved the many themes that were running through this novel, too. The art side of things was fascinating and so well executed, along with examining the complexities of relationships, friendships & secrets.
Lucie is such a clever writer and the way that this story is crafted is top notch. I am really conscious of giving too much away in my review but I will say that they way in which the story played out and worked up towards THAT ENDING was phenomenal.
Keep You Close is one of those all-consuming novels that will integrate itself into your life in every way possible. I found myself thinking about this novel when I should have been a)Working b)Sleeping c)Functioning like a normal human being. In other words it is completely consuming.
If twisty, turny, psychological, sleep-depriving thrillers are your thing then this is a must-read.
When Marianne Glass falls to her death in what appears to be a tragic accident, one of her former closest friends can’t help but think there is more to her untimely death than would first appear. For starters Marianne suffered from vertigo; so there is no way that she would have been near the edge of a high roof-top in the first place. Although the two haven’t been in touch for some years, Rowan won’t rest until she finds out what really happened to her friend, especially when she receives a message from Marianne which was written just a few days before she died. However it quickly transpires that the more Rowan discovers, the darker the whole mystery becomes. What really happened to lead Marianne to plunge to her death? What exactly caused Marianne and Rowan’s close friendship to come to an abrupt ending all those years ago? And are some secrets best left undiscovered? Mystery, intrigue and drama quickly follow in this unputdownable thriller…
I have been desperate for more from Lucie Whitehouse the minute I turned the last page of Before We Met. As soon as I read the amazing synopsis for Lucie’s latest offering I just KNEW that this was going to be a good ‘un…And BOY OH BOY it was!
The story kicks off with a hugely intriguing prologue. We’re on a roof-top and the characters present are referred to only as ‘she’ and ‘he’. I was immediately filled with all the what/why/how/who questions; Who are they? What exactly is going on? etc and I had a sneaky suspicion that I wasn’t going to be putting this book down any time soon…
When the story then begins were are introduced to Rowan just as she is learning about her former friend’s death. The main thing I wanted to know was why Rowan and Marianne hadn’t been in contact for some years. We are given a detailed backstory of the relationship between the two friends, so where did it all go wrong?
The way in which the novel is set out mixes events from the past with those of the current day which works really well. Via various flashbacks, I love how we are given an in depth history to the characters and I feel as though I really got to know them (or at least I thought I did…!) They certainly are a fascinating bunch too; flawed, full of depth and frighteningly realistic. I was genuinely interested in the characters in this story, particularly in the case of Rowan. Whilst Rowan is a narrator of sorts, it’s more a case of the story being told from her thoughts, yet it’s written in the third person. Rowan starts off as an ordinary enough character, but the more you learn the more intrigued you will become, especially as she tries to reacquaint herself with the people she used to know so well in her bid to discover what really happened to Marianne.
I loved the many themes that were running through this novel, too. The art side of things was fascinating and so well executed, along with examining the complexities of relationships, friendships & secrets.
Lucie is such a clever writer and the way that this story is crafted is top notch. I am really conscious of giving too much away in my review but I will say that they way in which the story played out and worked up towards THAT ENDING was phenomenal.
Keep You Close is one of those all-consuming novels that will integrate itself into your life in every way possible. I found myself thinking about this novel when I should have been a)Working b)Sleeping c)Functioning like a normal human being. In other words it is completely consuming.
If twisty, turny, psychological, sleep-depriving thrillers are your thing then this is a must-read.
March 29, 2016
Rowan Winter and Marianne Glass were best friends since they first met as teenagers. Rowan was so hurt when after several years, Marianne cuts Rowan out of her life. This not only deprived Rowan of Marianne's love, but that of Marianne's family, as well.
Ten years later, Rowan gets a phone call .. Marianne is dead. They have deemed this an accident or a suicide. But Rowan knows that Marianne had a fear of heights and a severe case of vertigo ... there is no way she ever would have even been that close to the edge of a roof.
Rowan is determined to search for the truth. And what she finds are secrets, lies, and coverups with surprises at every turn. And the deeper she digs, the more dangerous everything seems. A truth from the past only Rowan knows makes her worry about her own fate . ..
Interesting take on family dynamics ... both the good and the bad. I enjoyed the foray into an artist's world and its inhabitants.
Characters are well drawn and most of them have deep dark secrets they don't want to see the light of day. It's a steady paced thriller ... actually, a little slow in places where Rowan is recounting her earlier days with Marianne. It does pick up speed as it goes, but its more like a trot than a gallop.
This was my first book by this author, but it won't be the last.
My thanks to the author / Bloomsbury USA / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Ten years later, Rowan gets a phone call .. Marianne is dead. They have deemed this an accident or a suicide. But Rowan knows that Marianne had a fear of heights and a severe case of vertigo ... there is no way she ever would have even been that close to the edge of a roof.
Rowan is determined to search for the truth. And what she finds are secrets, lies, and coverups with surprises at every turn. And the deeper she digs, the more dangerous everything seems. A truth from the past only Rowan knows makes her worry about her own fate . ..
Interesting take on family dynamics ... both the good and the bad. I enjoyed the foray into an artist's world and its inhabitants.
Characters are well drawn and most of them have deep dark secrets they don't want to see the light of day. It's a steady paced thriller ... actually, a little slow in places where Rowan is recounting her earlier days with Marianne. It does pick up speed as it goes, but its more like a trot than a gallop.
This was my first book by this author, but it won't be the last.
My thanks to the author / Bloomsbury USA / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
June 13, 2016
This is one of those books that is slyly written and then comes together at the end. You may even think it is too slow but trust me, the pay off is there. Whitehouse is a smart writer and she can describe a piece of artwork where you feel like you are standing in front of it, absorbing emotions from the fictional artist. Clues are dropped carefully like breadcrumbs and if you miss one, you lose your way. Pay attention, take your time and enjoy this smart mystery/thriller.
Provided by TLC Book Tours and the Publisher
Provided by TLC Book Tours and the Publisher
February 23, 2016
This was going to be two stars, but she surprised me with the ending. Well done, Whitehouse! I should have had more faith in you. I'll hopefully write a review soon.
August 22, 2020
Meh, it was ok, but I didn't love it. I know a lot of people have raved about this one, but for me it was just a bit too much filler going on and not enough action.
Rowan and Marianne have been estranged for over a decade when Rowan gets the news of her old friends death. Marianne has fallen from a roof top at her house and it has been ruled a suicide.
There are a lot of characters to get your head around at the beginning of this book, and I found that a bit confusing. Rowan is sure that Marianne didn't fall from the rooftop and so tries to find out how she really died. She knows that her old friend wouldn't have dared venture so close to the edge of the smoking platform and therefore something else must have happened.
The descriptions of Oxford are well done and the main characters are all fleshed out satisfactorily, but in my opinion there was a lot of unnecessary... waffle is too strong a word... unnecessary fluff?! It just could've have been written without it. There is a surprising twist at the end though so that was a plus.
I feel bad writing this one because I was hoping for so much more. Hopefully when I read another Whitehouse book I will like it much more.
I would personally not recommend this one :/ sorry.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
Rowan and Marianne have been estranged for over a decade when Rowan gets the news of her old friends death. Marianne has fallen from a roof top at her house and it has been ruled a suicide.
There are a lot of characters to get your head around at the beginning of this book, and I found that a bit confusing. Rowan is sure that Marianne didn't fall from the rooftop and so tries to find out how she really died. She knows that her old friend wouldn't have dared venture so close to the edge of the smoking platform and therefore something else must have happened.
The descriptions of Oxford are well done and the main characters are all fleshed out satisfactorily, but in my opinion there was a lot of unnecessary... waffle is too strong a word... unnecessary fluff?! It just could've have been written without it. There is a surprising twist at the end though so that was a plus.
I feel bad writing this one because I was hoping for so much more. Hopefully when I read another Whitehouse book I will like it much more.
I would personally not recommend this one :/ sorry.
https://thebeautifulbookbreak.com
February 16, 2016
Firstly my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
I thought long and hard about how to review this book without offending the author. I will be totally honest and say I just didn't enjoy this book. I tried my best to get on with it but it just didn't do anything for me. If I was to say was there any good parts it wasn't until the last 20% it was slightly more interesting. Having read reviews online it appears I am in a minority as it has got some very good reviews.
I thought long and hard about how to review this book without offending the author. I will be totally honest and say I just didn't enjoy this book. I tried my best to get on with it but it just didn't do anything for me. If I was to say was there any good parts it wasn't until the last 20% it was slightly more interesting. Having read reviews online it appears I am in a minority as it has got some very good reviews.
January 10, 2016
By Chapter 4 I had already looked up half a dozen words which meant that the story did not flow smoothly for me. I would like to think that I have a varied vocabulary but at times it seemed that the author was using a thesaurus just for the sake of it.
At least half of the book was regarding the backstory when all I wanted to do was get to the mystery of Marianne's death.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and was looking forward to reading it. I'm sure others will like it but it was not my cup of tea, sorry.
At least half of the book was regarding the backstory when all I wanted to do was get to the mystery of Marianne's death.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and was looking forward to reading it. I'm sure others will like it but it was not my cup of tea, sorry.
January 12, 2016
This book is very readable and I did enjoy it to a certain extent. This is largely due to the fact that the mystery kept me hooked throughout.
That said as the mystery unfolded it made me change how I saw the characters and made me like the book as a whole less. I can't really say why in much depth without spoiling it.
That said as the mystery unfolded it made me change how I saw the characters and made me like the book as a whole less. I can't really say why in much depth without spoiling it.
September 19, 2016
An artist beloved by family and friends jumps off her roof to her death. People are stunned but none more than her long lost best friend Rowan. THey have not spoken for 10 years when she gets the call. AND a note from the deceased arrives a day after her death "I need to speak to you" is all it says.
Great story and unbelievable ending
Great story and unbelievable ending
January 20, 2016
I really enjoyed Before We Met a couple of years ago so I was quite excited to read Keep You Close.
I was hit by a gripping start in the prologue: no names just she and he. Who are he and she? Was she pushed or did she fall?
The main character Rowan spends a lot of time reminiscing about her adolescence with her surrogate family re living the days before everything went sour with her best friend Marianne. This meant the story was a little disjointed in places but as time went on, things became clearer and the reminiscing started to complete the jigsaw of Rowan and Marianne's friendship.
Personally I don't think it is a good as Before We Met but it's still a good read (3.5-4 stars out of 5).
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Circus for giving me this ebook to read and review honestly.
I was hit by a gripping start in the prologue: no names just she and he. Who are he and she? Was she pushed or did she fall?
The main character Rowan spends a lot of time reminiscing about her adolescence with her surrogate family re living the days before everything went sour with her best friend Marianne. This meant the story was a little disjointed in places but as time went on, things became clearer and the reminiscing started to complete the jigsaw of Rowan and Marianne's friendship.
Personally I don't think it is a good as Before We Met but it's still a good read (3.5-4 stars out of 5).
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Circus for giving me this ebook to read and review honestly.
July 10, 2016
I had such a hard time getting into this book. The novel starts off with esteemed artist Marianne Glass being surprised in her home studio. So when you find out she has died from a fall you naturally suspect foul play. When her estranged friend Rowan Winter expresses her doubts about Marianne's "accident" you wait with baited breath for her to solve the crime. And you wait and you wait. The funeral scene goes on for nearly fifty pages. Albeit to introduce you to all the cast of characters and would be suspects. Yet the narrative seems to linger here for what seems an eternity. Even as Whitehouse reveals what should be a delicious plot twist, something that should wet your appetite it still feels anticlimactic. Overall I thought it was a good plot but I just felt she took to long getting there.
March 4, 2021
Non so a chi imputare la mancanza degli spazi per il cambio di scena. Intendo all'autrice o alla Newton Compton fatto sta che è una cosa fastidiosa a prescindere. In particolare quando si passa dal presente al passato.
Comunque per tutto il tempo sono stata indecisa sul voto. Era partito bene ma la lentezza con cui andava avanti era così ... non so dire nemmeno io. Per buona parte del tempo pensavo se dare 3☆ o 4☆ ma la lentezza la faceva da padrone. Forse preferisco che ci sia azione. Forse ancora una volta è il titolo. Keep You Close dice abbastanza ma Morte sospetta ... mi aspettavo investigazioni fin dall'inizio. Probabilmente non era quello che mi aspettavo appunto.
Alla fine ho deciso per un 3☆ giusto per non buttarlo del tutto.
E ho proprio sfiga quest'anno in libri. Per fortuna costavano tutti €0,99. Questo mi salva un po'.
Comunque per tutto il tempo sono stata indecisa sul voto. Era partito bene ma la lentezza con cui andava avanti era così ... non so dire nemmeno io. Per buona parte del tempo pensavo se dare 3☆ o 4☆ ma la lentezza la faceva da padrone. Forse preferisco che ci sia azione. Forse ancora una volta è il titolo. Keep You Close dice abbastanza ma Morte sospetta ... mi aspettavo investigazioni fin dall'inizio. Probabilmente non era quello che mi aspettavo appunto.
Alla fine ho deciso per un 3☆ giusto per non buttarlo del tutto.
E ho proprio sfiga quest'anno in libri. Per fortuna costavano tutti €0,99. Questo mi salva un po'.
March 15, 2018
Listened to in audio format.
I have found this book very difficult to rate. I found the storyline boring and there were too many characters to keep track of. I did not like or care about Rowan, Marianne or any of the other characters so I did not have the need to listen when ever I had a spare moment.
However there was something about the storyline that made me continue listening and not give up. For me the story improved during the second half of the book when we found out Rowan was not what she appeared to be. But then the finale was ruined by the abrupt ending.
Although I did not enjoy this book I give it three stars for the cleverly crafted storyline.
I have found this book very difficult to rate. I found the storyline boring and there were too many characters to keep track of. I did not like or care about Rowan, Marianne or any of the other characters so I did not have the need to listen when ever I had a spare moment.
However there was something about the storyline that made me continue listening and not give up. For me the story improved during the second half of the book when we found out Rowan was not what she appeared to be. But then the finale was ruined by the abrupt ending.
Although I did not enjoy this book I give it three stars for the cleverly crafted storyline.
May 12, 2016
Ugh......................sounded so very good and was just so very boring!
December 26, 2019
Keep You Close is a psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes. Brilliant painter Marianne Glass found dead in her garden and the law enforce called a tragic accident. However, her friend Rowan Winter did not believe that Marianne would go so close to the edge because she has vertigo. Rowan decided to investigate. The readers of Keep You Close will continue to follow Rowan investigation to find out what happened to Marianne.
Keep You Close is an enjoyable book to read. I was surprised by the conclusion of Keep You Close. I love Lucie Whitehouse portrayal of her characters and the way they interacted with each other made me engage with the plot of this book. Keep You Close is well written and researched by Lucie Whitehouse. I like the description of the settings of Keep You Close.
The readers of Keep You Close will learn about Vertigo and how it affects the suffers. Also, the readers of Keep You Close will learn about the importance of forgiveness.
I recommend this book.
Keep You Close is an enjoyable book to read. I was surprised by the conclusion of Keep You Close. I love Lucie Whitehouse portrayal of her characters and the way they interacted with each other made me engage with the plot of this book. Keep You Close is well written and researched by Lucie Whitehouse. I like the description of the settings of Keep You Close.
The readers of Keep You Close will learn about Vertigo and how it affects the suffers. Also, the readers of Keep You Close will learn about the importance of forgiveness.
I recommend this book.
October 29, 2024
Think I'm falling out of love with thrillers. So much of this story made me roll my eyes. For example - so many plotholes it was like a moth had got ahold of the manuscript 👀
May 5, 2016
Keep You Close is a taught and twisting story of obsession, buried secrets and the burning desire to belong.
I first encountered Lucie Whitehouse back in 2008 when I read her debut novel, The House at Midnight. At the time, I was in the early days of my Ph.D., which I wrote on what I would come to term ‘campus clique crime novels’, and eagerly reading anything involving sinister goings on between university friends. I loved The House at Midnight, in which a tight-knit group of friends gather at a secluded country house in Oxfordshire and, over the course of a summer, hidden truths come to light and tensions begin to rise. It’s sinister, Gothic and claustrophobic: exactly my kind of book. In the interim, Whitehouse has penned two other titles, The Bed I Made (2010) and Before We Met (2014), which I haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading. However, with my thesis now firmly in the rearview mirror, I’ve once again begun seeking out dark and cloistered stories of youthful paradises gained and lost, in which the repressed threatens to return at every juncture and nothing is quite so idyllic as it first appears. So I was thrilled to discover Whitehouse had a new novel that promised to fit the bill.
Keep You Close is a beautifully crafted narrative. In the early chapters, Whitehouse whisks the reader from the drizzled grey of London to romantic Oxford with its tree-lined streets, cosy university pubs and cafes and rarified collegiate air. Being back in the Glass house prompts Rowan to reminisce about her school and university days: Sunday afternoons browsing in bookshops, sleepovers and debating art and current affairs with Marianne and her family around the crowded kitchen table. But shadows rise at the corners of these nostalgic scenes as Whitehouse begins dropping hints about another untimely death in the family, Marianne’s subsequent breakdown and the ten-year silence between supposed best friends. Even as Rowan searches for answers about the woman Marianne became after graduation, she’s aware that she too has become a subject of scrutiny and feels unsafe in the house she once thought of as home.
The story hinges on small but clever twists so that the big picture is constantly shifting and nothing is quite as it first appears. Even if the reader guesses where the story is going, there’s a good deal of suspense in seeing how all the pieces come together to drive the story towards its thrilling conclusion.
Rowan is my kind of protagonist. She’s ambitious, savvy and plays her cards close to her chest. But she’s also vulnerable and fragile: a lonely young woman yearning to return to a lost world. The story is narrated in the third person limited from her perspective, and Whitehouse plays out the story as Rohan would have the reader experience it, showing off her memories from their best angles and glossing over the unsavoury and inconvenient until necessity demands.
The minor players are also well-drawn, each with their own secrets and failings so that, for much of the story, it’s not clear whose side anyone is on and which characters know more than they’re telling.
But the thing I love most about Keep You Close is the primal theme that runs throughout, the need to find and protect our tribe. It’s ultimately a story about the desire to belong, to be loved and accepted at all costs. It also pivots around what, to me, seems a very female form of friendship: the childhood besties who will do anything for each other and share a bond stronger even than blood.
Overall, Keep You Close is an intense and tightly-worked story that makes for a dark and gripping read.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing a copy of Keep You Close in exchange for an honest review.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
I first encountered Lucie Whitehouse back in 2008 when I read her debut novel, The House at Midnight. At the time, I was in the early days of my Ph.D., which I wrote on what I would come to term ‘campus clique crime novels’, and eagerly reading anything involving sinister goings on between university friends. I loved The House at Midnight, in which a tight-knit group of friends gather at a secluded country house in Oxfordshire and, over the course of a summer, hidden truths come to light and tensions begin to rise. It’s sinister, Gothic and claustrophobic: exactly my kind of book. In the interim, Whitehouse has penned two other titles, The Bed I Made (2010) and Before We Met (2014), which I haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading. However, with my thesis now firmly in the rearview mirror, I’ve once again begun seeking out dark and cloistered stories of youthful paradises gained and lost, in which the repressed threatens to return at every juncture and nothing is quite so idyllic as it first appears. So I was thrilled to discover Whitehouse had a new novel that promised to fit the bill.
Keep You Close is a beautifully crafted narrative. In the early chapters, Whitehouse whisks the reader from the drizzled grey of London to romantic Oxford with its tree-lined streets, cosy university pubs and cafes and rarified collegiate air. Being back in the Glass house prompts Rowan to reminisce about her school and university days: Sunday afternoons browsing in bookshops, sleepovers and debating art and current affairs with Marianne and her family around the crowded kitchen table. But shadows rise at the corners of these nostalgic scenes as Whitehouse begins dropping hints about another untimely death in the family, Marianne’s subsequent breakdown and the ten-year silence between supposed best friends. Even as Rowan searches for answers about the woman Marianne became after graduation, she’s aware that she too has become a subject of scrutiny and feels unsafe in the house she once thought of as home.
The story hinges on small but clever twists so that the big picture is constantly shifting and nothing is quite as it first appears. Even if the reader guesses where the story is going, there’s a good deal of suspense in seeing how all the pieces come together to drive the story towards its thrilling conclusion.
Rowan is my kind of protagonist. She’s ambitious, savvy and plays her cards close to her chest. But she’s also vulnerable and fragile: a lonely young woman yearning to return to a lost world. The story is narrated in the third person limited from her perspective, and Whitehouse plays out the story as Rohan would have the reader experience it, showing off her memories from their best angles and glossing over the unsavoury and inconvenient until necessity demands.
The minor players are also well-drawn, each with their own secrets and failings so that, for much of the story, it’s not clear whose side anyone is on and which characters know more than they’re telling.
But the thing I love most about Keep You Close is the primal theme that runs throughout, the need to find and protect our tribe. It’s ultimately a story about the desire to belong, to be loved and accepted at all costs. It also pivots around what, to me, seems a very female form of friendship: the childhood besties who will do anything for each other and share a bond stronger even than blood.
Overall, Keep You Close is an intense and tightly-worked story that makes for a dark and gripping read.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing a copy of Keep You Close in exchange for an honest review.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
April 27, 2016
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
This is the first book I've read by Lucie Whitehouse- I have heard a lot about Before We Met but haven't yet had the chance to read it. So, when I got the chance to review Keep You Close I jumped at it!
This is exactly the sort of novel- psychological thrillers- that are so 'in vogue' right now, and I love- but they tend to either be a bit samey and bland, or they're amazing! Happily, I feel like this fell into the latter category!
The story isn't particularly fast moving; instead Whitehouse focuses on defining the characters so we feel like we're really getting to know Maron and the Glasses family (and Marianne too, but posthumously, mainly through memories as from the very start of the novel she's dead). Because of the information we learn about the characters, the 'action', so to speak, happens quite slowly, but I enjoyed the way it unfolds as you continue reading.
It's one of those stories where you're never quite sure who is as they appear, which I love. I also really enjoy novels which switch from the present to the past and back again; I know plenty of readers who really hate this style but personally I enjoy this way of discovering more and more detail as the novel goes on, with some things in the current narrative incomprehensible until we go back into the past to find explanations. Many characters seem to have their own agenda, and this all adds to the mystery surrounding Marianne's death and the consequent 'incidents'.
There are surprises and twists which kept me eagerly reading on until the last page, when I put down the book in satisfaction.
Definitely recommended for fans of this genre- or anyone looking for a enigmatic, absorbing read- I'll certainly be reading more by this author!
*Many thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.*
This is the first book I've read by Lucie Whitehouse- I have heard a lot about Before We Met but haven't yet had the chance to read it. So, when I got the chance to review Keep You Close I jumped at it!
This is exactly the sort of novel- psychological thrillers- that are so 'in vogue' right now, and I love- but they tend to either be a bit samey and bland, or they're amazing! Happily, I feel like this fell into the latter category!
The story isn't particularly fast moving; instead Whitehouse focuses on defining the characters so we feel like we're really getting to know Maron and the Glasses family (and Marianne too, but posthumously, mainly through memories as from the very start of the novel she's dead). Because of the information we learn about the characters, the 'action', so to speak, happens quite slowly, but I enjoyed the way it unfolds as you continue reading.
It's one of those stories where you're never quite sure who is as they appear, which I love. I also really enjoy novels which switch from the present to the past and back again; I know plenty of readers who really hate this style but personally I enjoy this way of discovering more and more detail as the novel goes on, with some things in the current narrative incomprehensible until we go back into the past to find explanations. Many characters seem to have their own agenda, and this all adds to the mystery surrounding Marianne's death and the consequent 'incidents'.
There are surprises and twists which kept me eagerly reading on until the last page, when I put down the book in satisfaction.
Definitely recommended for fans of this genre- or anyone looking for a enigmatic, absorbing read- I'll certainly be reading more by this author!
*Many thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.*
December 19, 2017
This was one of those books that started out very promising but I ended up not liking as much as I thought.
Once I finished the book and thought it over I decided to that I do like the actual story line, I was just not a huge fan of how it was written out.
While the book was actually suspenseful it was hard to see while reading it because there was simply too much going on and by too much I mean back story, there seemed to be so much crammed in there that the suspends was gone by the time we got around back to the original point The same goes with characters, there were way to many people to keep up with and also certain things were just dragged out and could have been more enjoyable if it would have been shorter.
Overall, I enjoyed the story but I think in this case less is more would have been even better. If you enjoy extremely well and long detailed backgrounds and worlds and characters you will enjoy this book.
I rate this book 2 ★
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