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Penhale Wood
If it's the last thing she ever does, Iris will find Sophie's Killer and make her pay.
On a cold December night in Cornwall, nanny Karen Peterson disappeared with three-year-old Sophie Flynn. The next day, the child's body was found on a riverbank in Penhale Wood.
A year later, Sophie's mother, Iris Flynn, appears on the doorstep of investigating officer Rob McIntyre, determined to make him reopen her daughter's case. McIntyre has his own personal demons, but Iris hijacks his life in order to find the woman she thinks is responsible for Sophie's death. Following the slimmest of leads, they are soon confronting ghosts from the past and a chameleon-like killer who will do anything to stay hidden.
On a cold December night in Cornwall, nanny Karen Peterson disappeared with three-year-old Sophie Flynn. The next day, the child's body was found on a riverbank in Penhale Wood.
A year later, Sophie's mother, Iris Flynn, appears on the doorstep of investigating officer Rob McIntyre, determined to make him reopen her daughter's case. McIntyre has his own personal demons, but Iris hijacks his life in order to find the woman she thinks is responsible for Sophie's death. Following the slimmest of leads, they are soon confronting ghosts from the past and a chameleon-like killer who will do anything to stay hidden.
306 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2017
8 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Julia Thomas
2 books57 followersJulia Thomas is the author of The English Boys, 2016, a Library Journal Debut of the Month novel, and Penhale Wood, 2017, which earned starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal. She is married to Will Thomas who writes the Barker and Llewelyn Victorian mystery series. Thomas is an alumna of the Yale Writer's Workshop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 14, 2017
Rob McIntyre thought he was going to have the family vacation that he so desperately needed after his girlfriend of ten years had left him however when Rob arrives he finds his brother and his family needed to leave due to an emergency. Finding himself alone and away from home Rob is surprised when the doorbell rings and he finds Iris Flynn on the doorstep.
Iris is the mother of Sophie Flynn, a three year old that was murdered the year before and Rob had been a detective on the case. It was believed that their nanny at the time, Karen Peterson, was responsible for the death having left with the children that night and disappearing. In the past year there hadn't been any luck locating the mysterious Karen though and now Iris wants Rob to reopen the case.
Penhale Wood had the promise to be a completely gripping thriller but unfortunately I found it fell a bit short of that mark while reading. My first complaint really would be some of the actions of the characters really did read as realistic to me with the situation going on in the story making me a bit disconnected with the story afterwards.
Also, while we knew from the beginning of the book who was suspected of murdering the little girl what the reader didn't know was what had happened to her. Now to me there didn't seem to be enough twists to really throw my suspicions off in this one although I'm happy to say I wasn't quite right. But that led me to my last though which was I would have liked more of an explanation on the how and why at the end. Overall the story just ended on a kind of average and possibly forgettable note for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Iris is the mother of Sophie Flynn, a three year old that was murdered the year before and Rob had been a detective on the case. It was believed that their nanny at the time, Karen Peterson, was responsible for the death having left with the children that night and disappearing. In the past year there hadn't been any luck locating the mysterious Karen though and now Iris wants Rob to reopen the case.
Penhale Wood had the promise to be a completely gripping thriller but unfortunately I found it fell a bit short of that mark while reading. My first complaint really would be some of the actions of the characters really did read as realistic to me with the situation going on in the story making me a bit disconnected with the story afterwards.
Also, while we knew from the beginning of the book who was suspected of murdering the little girl what the reader didn't know was what had happened to her. Now to me there didn't seem to be enough twists to really throw my suspicions off in this one although I'm happy to say I wasn't quite right. But that led me to my last though which was I would have liked more of an explanation on the how and why at the end. Overall the story just ended on a kind of average and possibly forgettable note for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 11, 2017
Oh boy, where to begin..... I’ll start with the positive: Julia Thomas is a good writer. She can craft a sentence well and her prose flows together fairly seamlessly. She has the mechanics down. It’s just her plot and characterization that need work.
Inspector McIntyre, our lead detective, is an odd combination of the cliched tough-as-nails copper mixed with a melodramatic 13-year-old. Seriously, in any passage concerning his ex-girlfriend I half-expected to read of him driving to her house and holding a boombox outside her window, Peter Gabriel blasting moodily from the speakers. When he’s not behaving in one of the aforementioned states, he’s just….blah. The combination of about 10 previously written literary detectives. He has no defining qualities or spark that make him able to lead a series (if that’s what Ms. Thomas plans for the future). And to make matters worse, his frequent scene partner, Iris, mother of the dead child, is similarly yawn inducing.
The saving grace of the novel were the Madeline and Alison passages. They were far more absorbing than anything directly involving the case or our lead detective. Alison (I believe intentionally) came off as rather unlikable. She’s pretentious, smug, shallow, and cold, but at least she was interesting.
As for the plot, holy suspension of disbelief, Batman. Now I’m usually really, really good at going with the narrative flow. I can suspend disbelief better than most. I don’t need tons of logic, but goodness gracious. You gotta give me something. I’m not going to print an exhaustive list of things that made me go ‘hmmm?’ Spoilers and all that. But I will mention a couple of early points. So the book takes place a YEAR after the child (Sophie) has died. Since that point Iris, the child’s mother, and her family, have moved from England to AUSTRALIA. Iris returns on her OWN, two days before CHRISTMAS and ends up on the doorstep of the lead detective’s (McIntyre’s) brother’s home begging him to reopen the case. She has no reason or rationale for doing so. There’s been no new information released. She has nothing to share. Just randomly pops over. From Australia. WHAT THE EVER-LIVING F*CK??!!
I understand Iris being distraught and wanting to stop at nothing to bring her daughter’s killer to justice. I get that. THEN WHY MOVE TO AUSTRALIA??? And if you’ve had a character move halfway across the globe, then there better be a damn good reason why she’s ended up on a detective’s doorstep 2 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Especially when she has 2 kids under 10 at home. A key memory. Letter from the presumed killer. Spotting of the killer. ANYTHING. “Just ‘cause” doesn’t cut it..
And then there’s the painful relationship between McIntyre and his ex-girlfriend Alison. The book takes place a year post-split. They were together ten years and lived with each other for at least some of that period. One day, Alison randomly up and moves out. No notice, letter, call, text. Nothing. Yet he never asks her about this? Ever? Never thinks to inquire why his girlfriend of TEN YEARS left him? Really?! This is a police detective!!! Their job is based around solving mysteries and discovering essential truths. It doesn’t compute and it’s contradictory to McIntyre’s character. Just….UGH.
Despite my negative feelings about Penhale Wood, I’d actually give Julia Thomas another shot. As I said in the beginning, she’s a good enough writer. In future, I’d like to see if with practice she’s able to improve upon her more plot and character-based issues. If so, I think Ms. Thomas might have promise.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for my complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Inspector McIntyre, our lead detective, is an odd combination of the cliched tough-as-nails copper mixed with a melodramatic 13-year-old. Seriously, in any passage concerning his ex-girlfriend I half-expected to read of him driving to her house and holding a boombox outside her window, Peter Gabriel blasting moodily from the speakers. When he’s not behaving in one of the aforementioned states, he’s just….blah. The combination of about 10 previously written literary detectives. He has no defining qualities or spark that make him able to lead a series (if that’s what Ms. Thomas plans for the future). And to make matters worse, his frequent scene partner, Iris, mother of the dead child, is similarly yawn inducing.
The saving grace of the novel were the Madeline and Alison passages. They were far more absorbing than anything directly involving the case or our lead detective. Alison (I believe intentionally) came off as rather unlikable. She’s pretentious, smug, shallow, and cold, but at least she was interesting.
As for the plot, holy suspension of disbelief, Batman. Now I’m usually really, really good at going with the narrative flow. I can suspend disbelief better than most. I don’t need tons of logic, but goodness gracious. You gotta give me something. I’m not going to print an exhaustive list of things that made me go ‘hmmm?’ Spoilers and all that. But I will mention a couple of early points. So the book takes place a YEAR after the child (Sophie) has died. Since that point Iris, the child’s mother, and her family, have moved from England to AUSTRALIA. Iris returns on her OWN, two days before CHRISTMAS and ends up on the doorstep of the lead detective’s (McIntyre’s) brother’s home begging him to reopen the case. She has no reason or rationale for doing so. There’s been no new information released. She has nothing to share. Just randomly pops over. From Australia. WHAT THE EVER-LIVING F*CK??!!
I understand Iris being distraught and wanting to stop at nothing to bring her daughter’s killer to justice. I get that. THEN WHY MOVE TO AUSTRALIA??? And if you’ve had a character move halfway across the globe, then there better be a damn good reason why she’s ended up on a detective’s doorstep 2 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Especially when she has 2 kids under 10 at home. A key memory. Letter from the presumed killer. Spotting of the killer. ANYTHING. “Just ‘cause” doesn’t cut it..
And then there’s the painful relationship between McIntyre and his ex-girlfriend Alison. The book takes place a year post-split. They were together ten years and lived with each other for at least some of that period. One day, Alison randomly up and moves out. No notice, letter, call, text. Nothing. Yet he never asks her about this? Ever? Never thinks to inquire why his girlfriend of TEN YEARS left him? Really?! This is a police detective!!! Their job is based around solving mysteries and discovering essential truths. It doesn’t compute and it’s contradictory to McIntyre’s character. Just….UGH.
Despite my negative feelings about Penhale Wood, I’d actually give Julia Thomas another shot. As I said in the beginning, she’s a good enough writer. In future, I’d like to see if with practice she’s able to improve upon her more plot and character-based issues. If so, I think Ms. Thomas might have promise.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for my complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2017
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this thriller. It was a good fast read, some really nice character development.
June 4, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Penhale Wood was a quick and not challenging read. It is the story of a mother's quest for the truth as she tries to uncover the story of what happened to her three-year-old daughter a year before this novel opens. Sophie was with her nanny, Karen, when she disappeared but her body was later found on the banks of Penhale Wood.
Iris Flynn enlists the help of the original investigating officer, Rob McIntyre, arriving back at the scene of the crime in England from her new home in Australia. Although the murderer was never found and the case closed, the nanny was and remains the prime suspect.
While this book didn't grab me immediately, I was eager to find out why the killer murdered this little girl. However, the pace wasn't quite as fluid as I had hoped and, for me, the story lagged a little. I didn't engage with any of the characters, if I am honest. In fact, I found the characters of Iris and Rob to be a little irritating. I was intrigued by the story of Rob's previous girlfriend, a crime writer, and thought it worked well alongside the plot.
Overall, I felt unsatisfied when I finished Penhale Wood: when the killer is unmasked we are still left in the dark as to why they did what they did. I needed more.
Penhale Wood was a quick and not challenging read. It is the story of a mother's quest for the truth as she tries to uncover the story of what happened to her three-year-old daughter a year before this novel opens. Sophie was with her nanny, Karen, when she disappeared but her body was later found on the banks of Penhale Wood.
Iris Flynn enlists the help of the original investigating officer, Rob McIntyre, arriving back at the scene of the crime in England from her new home in Australia. Although the murderer was never found and the case closed, the nanny was and remains the prime suspect.
While this book didn't grab me immediately, I was eager to find out why the killer murdered this little girl. However, the pace wasn't quite as fluid as I had hoped and, for me, the story lagged a little. I didn't engage with any of the characters, if I am honest. In fact, I found the characters of Iris and Rob to be a little irritating. I was intrigued by the story of Rob's previous girlfriend, a crime writer, and thought it worked well alongside the plot.
Overall, I felt unsatisfied when I finished Penhale Wood: when the killer is unmasked we are still left in the dark as to why they did what they did. I needed more.
October 16, 2017
A year before the book starts, little Sophie Flynn was abducted by her nanny and found murdered in Penhale Wood.
Her parents and sisters then moved to Australia and DCI Rob McIntyre, who was in charge of the case, hasn't had any new leads. The nanny was never found and the case has gone cold.
A year after, two days before Christmas, her mother lands on McIntyre's doorstep and demands the case be opened again.
So far, so good. But the problem is that after a year of nothing happening, everything starts going so fast it's kind of unbelievable. Once Iris Flynn is back in the UK, the case is hot again: suspects appear, things get sorted out and the case is finally solved.
Regarding the characters, Iris Flynn is very interesting and well described. McIntyre is kind of washed out. The rest are either uninteresting or plain unlikeable, such as Alison (McIntyre's ex and Madeline Roy).
On the plus side, Miss Thomas can certainly write and I did enjoy reading the book, even if it was so far fetched.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Her parents and sisters then moved to Australia and DCI Rob McIntyre, who was in charge of the case, hasn't had any new leads. The nanny was never found and the case has gone cold.
A year after, two days before Christmas, her mother lands on McIntyre's doorstep and demands the case be opened again.
So far, so good. But the problem is that after a year of nothing happening, everything starts going so fast it's kind of unbelievable. Once Iris Flynn is back in the UK, the case is hot again: suspects appear, things get sorted out and the case is finally solved.
Regarding the characters, Iris Flynn is very interesting and well described. McIntyre is kind of washed out. The rest are either uninteresting or plain unlikeable, such as Alison (McIntyre's ex and Madeline Roy).
On the plus side, Miss Thomas can certainly write and I did enjoy reading the book, even if it was so far fetched.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2017
Kirkus gave PENHALE WOOD a starred review on May 1st, 2017! Here are two of the quotes they shared: "A cold case turns hot enough to burn lives to the ground," and "The elegant writing, complex characters, and surprising conclusion all add up to a fine mystery that will appeal to readers of Catriona McPherson's psychological thrillers." This was an exciting book to write, and you can see how much I love creating interesting characters. I hope you will enjoy it, too.
March 13, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Penhale Wood begins with Iris Flynn, a grieving mother whose daughter was murdered a year before (and the killer never found), arriving back at the scene of the crime (England) from her new home in Australia for a last ditch effort at finding out why this happened to Sophie, with the help of Rob McIntyre - the original police detective.
The children's nanny Karen Peterson was the last person with the deceased Sophie and vanished the night of the murder - Karen is the prime suspect.
Whilst this story was intriguing and I was itching to find out why the killer murdered this little girl, the characters of Iris and Rob were just that little bit unlikeable and the story lagged a little. The side by side story of Alison Kendall, Rob's previous girlfriend and crime writer was a nice touch alongside the original mystery but all in all I felt a bit cheated as once the killer is unmasked, we never actually find out WHY they did what they did.
Not too challenging a read but a bit of a slow burn for me with an unsatisfying ending.
Penhale Wood begins with Iris Flynn, a grieving mother whose daughter was murdered a year before (and the killer never found), arriving back at the scene of the crime (England) from her new home in Australia for a last ditch effort at finding out why this happened to Sophie, with the help of Rob McIntyre - the original police detective.
The children's nanny Karen Peterson was the last person with the deceased Sophie and vanished the night of the murder - Karen is the prime suspect.
Whilst this story was intriguing and I was itching to find out why the killer murdered this little girl, the characters of Iris and Rob were just that little bit unlikeable and the story lagged a little. The side by side story of Alison Kendall, Rob's previous girlfriend and crime writer was a nice touch alongside the original mystery but all in all I felt a bit cheated as once the killer is unmasked, we never actually find out WHY they did what they did.
Not too challenging a read but a bit of a slow burn for me with an unsatisfying ending.
July 23, 2017
I enjoyed the writing style of this book, and the characters were interesting and quirky. I was a little disappointed by the ending, the reason that the nanny kidnapped and killed Sophie just didn't seem right. I would recommend this book for fans of British police procedurals.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 8, 2017
I loved the characters in this one. They were rich and intricately drawn. I didn't think the logic of sequence was there at the end. It felt that in order for a big twist, facts were invented to help the twist rather than make for a tight story. But I definitely would read more by this author especially with this protagonist.
June 7, 2017
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an arc copy of Penhale Wood in exchange for an honest review.
Penhale Wood is the story of a grieving mother on a quest for answers. Iris Flynn is a broken, grieving woman after her three-year-old daughter Sophie Flynn was kidnapped and later found dead in the river Penhale Wood. The prime suspect was the nanny Karen Peterson but Peterson had disappeared the night of Sophie Flynn's murder. With little evidence to go on, the case was eventually closed. A year later Iris Flynn tracks down the original investigating officer, Rob McIntyre, who had been on the case of her daughter's murder. Iris enlists the help of McIntyre in hopes of a last ditch effort in finding her daughter's murderer. While enlisting McIntyre in the chase of solving this case, McIntyre is attempting to cope with his own personal problems.
To be honest, Penhale Wood was a challenging read for me. Every now and then I take a step out of my comfort zone and read a book I wouldn't normally read. Penhale Wood was exactly that for me. I wanted to find out who had killed Sophie Flynn and why almost just as much as her mother. While I was able to sympathize with both Iris and McIntyre and the personal struggles they were enduring, I was unable to connect with them on a closer level. Sometime's I struggled to fully understand what was going on. Overall, Penhale Wood was an interesting book that kept me rooting for Iris and McIntyre to solve the case.
Penhale Wood is the story of a grieving mother on a quest for answers. Iris Flynn is a broken, grieving woman after her three-year-old daughter Sophie Flynn was kidnapped and later found dead in the river Penhale Wood. The prime suspect was the nanny Karen Peterson but Peterson had disappeared the night of Sophie Flynn's murder. With little evidence to go on, the case was eventually closed. A year later Iris Flynn tracks down the original investigating officer, Rob McIntyre, who had been on the case of her daughter's murder. Iris enlists the help of McIntyre in hopes of a last ditch effort in finding her daughter's murderer. While enlisting McIntyre in the chase of solving this case, McIntyre is attempting to cope with his own personal problems.
To be honest, Penhale Wood was a challenging read for me. Every now and then I take a step out of my comfort zone and read a book I wouldn't normally read. Penhale Wood was exactly that for me. I wanted to find out who had killed Sophie Flynn and why almost just as much as her mother. While I was able to sympathize with both Iris and McIntyre and the personal struggles they were enduring, I was unable to connect with them on a closer level. Sometime's I struggled to fully understand what was going on. Overall, Penhale Wood was an interesting book that kept me rooting for Iris and McIntyre to solve the case.
November 21, 2019
I wasn’t sure what to expect with one as I had hadn’t heard about the book or the author. I took a chance and found this one to be a gripping mystery.
Here’s what’s going on. A year after her daughter’s murder, Iris Flynn is back in the U.K. and determined to find her child’s killer. Unrelenting in her pursuit, she’ll do everything in her power to force Rob McIntyre to reopen the case. Rob has his own problems; a relationship that crumbled, a life nowhere near what he imagined, and a case he hasn’t been able to solve. He knows he doesn’t need Iris in his life but when they stumble upon a new lead, there’s no way he can let Iris down or let Sophie’s killer go free.
This one was a bit different from the normal mysteries that I’ve been reading. Yes, it was mystery, a solid one at that, but there was a different layer to this one. It was also about the characters discovering who they were and what they wanted.
My heart hurt for Iris. She’s lost a child, she has a husband who never really cared about anything but himself, she’s estranged from her mother and siblings, and she’s been living a Gypsy life for so many years she not sure what it’s like to establish roots. She had to leave her two remaining children behind in Australia to return to the U.K. in order to press the police into reopening her daughter’s case. She failed Sophie before and she’s determined not to fail her again.
Rob, while he has his work life under control, his personal life is in a bit of a tailspin. He’s attempting to get over his breakup but there’s a part of him that’s holding on to his ex, and that was a bit trying at times given his ex could care less. He’s also seeing the life his brother has and wanting that sense of family. While he’s reluctant to let Iris in, there’s something about her that makes him want to protect her. He’s also ready to tear everything apart in order to find her daughter’s killer.
While I liked both Rob and Iris, they both had their flaws. I couldn’t understand why Iris was so willing to stay with a worthless husband or why she made her kids live a vagabond life. Rob was an arse at the start. He was constantly going on about the woman who left him and how inconvenienced he was at having to tote Iris around. Thankfully, his character did a 180 and I ended up liking him. They both needed each other to heal and to become whole. While there was no cheating, there was definitely a bond that was formed between them and it changed both of their lives for the better.
The mystery in this one isn’t going to be for everybody. It was a heavier mystery yet not gruesome. There were things that I questioned such as why a mother would agree to bring a woman into their home that she didn’t know and why would she let her young children go with this woman. I also questioned some of the policing in this one. Like why wasn’t CCTV consulted as soon as the nanny vanished? Why did it take a year for visas to be checked out?
Even though the murderer was known from the start of the book, this was one twisty mystery. There were a few things that I had figured out early on yet some of the others caught me off guard. There were also a few questions I had that were either partially answered or unanswered.
This was my first time listening to Ana Clements and I found her to be enjoyable. She was brilliant with the narrations and bringing the characters to life. While I did enjoy her narration, I think this one should have had a male narrator as well. I think I’ve just grown accustomed to dual narration and miss it when it’s not there.
Overall, I do wish that some of the aspects would have been expanded on a bit and the ending could have been little lengthier but it was still a brilliant mystery. If you’re a fan of British crime dramas/mysteries you’ll want to pick this one up.
Here’s what’s going on. A year after her daughter’s murder, Iris Flynn is back in the U.K. and determined to find her child’s killer. Unrelenting in her pursuit, she’ll do everything in her power to force Rob McIntyre to reopen the case. Rob has his own problems; a relationship that crumbled, a life nowhere near what he imagined, and a case he hasn’t been able to solve. He knows he doesn’t need Iris in his life but when they stumble upon a new lead, there’s no way he can let Iris down or let Sophie’s killer go free.
This one was a bit different from the normal mysteries that I’ve been reading. Yes, it was mystery, a solid one at that, but there was a different layer to this one. It was also about the characters discovering who they were and what they wanted.
My heart hurt for Iris. She’s lost a child, she has a husband who never really cared about anything but himself, she’s estranged from her mother and siblings, and she’s been living a Gypsy life for so many years she not sure what it’s like to establish roots. She had to leave her two remaining children behind in Australia to return to the U.K. in order to press the police into reopening her daughter’s case. She failed Sophie before and she’s determined not to fail her again.
Rob, while he has his work life under control, his personal life is in a bit of a tailspin. He’s attempting to get over his breakup but there’s a part of him that’s holding on to his ex, and that was a bit trying at times given his ex could care less. He’s also seeing the life his brother has and wanting that sense of family. While he’s reluctant to let Iris in, there’s something about her that makes him want to protect her. He’s also ready to tear everything apart in order to find her daughter’s killer.
While I liked both Rob and Iris, they both had their flaws. I couldn’t understand why Iris was so willing to stay with a worthless husband or why she made her kids live a vagabond life. Rob was an arse at the start. He was constantly going on about the woman who left him and how inconvenienced he was at having to tote Iris around. Thankfully, his character did a 180 and I ended up liking him. They both needed each other to heal and to become whole. While there was no cheating, there was definitely a bond that was formed between them and it changed both of their lives for the better.
The mystery in this one isn’t going to be for everybody. It was a heavier mystery yet not gruesome. There were things that I questioned such as why a mother would agree to bring a woman into their home that she didn’t know and why would she let her young children go with this woman. I also questioned some of the policing in this one. Like why wasn’t CCTV consulted as soon as the nanny vanished? Why did it take a year for visas to be checked out?
Even though the murderer was known from the start of the book, this was one twisty mystery. There were a few things that I had figured out early on yet some of the others caught me off guard. There were also a few questions I had that were either partially answered or unanswered.
This was my first time listening to Ana Clements and I found her to be enjoyable. She was brilliant with the narrations and bringing the characters to life. While I did enjoy her narration, I think this one should have had a male narrator as well. I think I’ve just grown accustomed to dual narration and miss it when it’s not there.
Overall, I do wish that some of the aspects would have been expanded on a bit and the ending could have been little lengthier but it was still a brilliant mystery. If you’re a fan of British crime dramas/mysteries you’ll want to pick this one up.
March 1, 2017
3.5 stars
Penhale Wood
A grieving mother seeks help in finding the nanny who killed her youngest daughter and disappeared. The police investigation a year earlier had been unable to locate Karen Peterson, but Iris is determined to find the woman who killed three-year-old Sophie and pleads with Rob McIntyre to reopen the case.
McIntyre has his own demons and does not believe that he would do any better now in finding Karen Peterson that during the original investigation a year earlier. He agrees, reluctantly, to examine the case again, and the two discover a few more faint leads.
A number of too neat coincidences, but an entertaining mystery. I liked Thomas' The English Boys better, but Penhale Wood kept me engaged throughout.
Read in February; blog review scheduled for June 9, 2017.
NetGalley/Midnight Ink
Mystery/Suspense. July 8, 2017.
Penhale Wood
A grieving mother seeks help in finding the nanny who killed her youngest daughter and disappeared. The police investigation a year earlier had been unable to locate Karen Peterson, but Iris is determined to find the woman who killed three-year-old Sophie and pleads with Rob McIntyre to reopen the case.
McIntyre has his own demons and does not believe that he would do any better now in finding Karen Peterson that during the original investigation a year earlier. He agrees, reluctantly, to examine the case again, and the two discover a few more faint leads.
A number of too neat coincidences, but an entertaining mystery. I liked Thomas' The English Boys better, but Penhale Wood kept me engaged throughout.
Read in February; blog review scheduled for June 9, 2017.
NetGalley/Midnight Ink
Mystery/Suspense. July 8, 2017.
February 23, 2017
Penhale Wood was a solid middle of the road thriller. I was not blown away, but I was not struggling too much to get through it. The characters were all just a bit too blurry around the edges, the plot a little too predictable at times. Not terrible, as I said. A worthy airplane read, or a lounging on the beach book.
October 11, 2017
I enjoyed my read of Penhale Wood by Julia Thomas. With both this book and her debut novel English Boys, I find her writing exceptional. I easily settled in with her prose because it was written with a confident hand while I also became comfortable with her distinctive voice. The mystery here is a good one, capturing my interest as I wanted to understand the child’s fate and keeping me engaged throughout. I like the protagonist McIntyre.
May 4, 2017
"All roads lead back to Penhale Wood."
"Penhale Wood" opens with Iris Flynn, a grieving mother whose daughter was murdered a year before. (The killer has yet to be found). Arriving back at the scene of the crime in England from her new home in Australia for one last effort to find out why this happened to her daughter Sophie, with the help of Rob McIntyre- the original police detective.
McIntyre has his own demons and does not believe that he would do any better now in finding Karen Peterson (Nanny) during the original investigation a year earlier. He agrees, reluctantly, to examine the case again, and discovers a few more leads.
This was an "out of the blue" crime novel. The plot was interesting and kept me wanting to read more, but it was too overdone and not original.
I wanted to like this novel but there were certain aspects that bugged me:
The murderer is somehow presented as an intelligent, sex crazed, sociopath, who has managed to hide from the police for over a year. Yet, the crime she committed is so inexplicable that the two sides of her personality do not match up. The novel seems like it has quickly passed over the murder of a child.
I was also disappointed because the women in the novel could have been very interesting. The questions of motherhood, sexuality, and career aspirations are inspired in the story but the author seemed to completely ignore them. The characters also behave in CRAZY ways.
This novel was an entertaining mystery, with way too many coincidences.
Special thanks to NetGalley & the Publisher for the copy!
I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars.
"Penhale Wood" opens with Iris Flynn, a grieving mother whose daughter was murdered a year before. (The killer has yet to be found). Arriving back at the scene of the crime in England from her new home in Australia for one last effort to find out why this happened to her daughter Sophie, with the help of Rob McIntyre- the original police detective.
McIntyre has his own demons and does not believe that he would do any better now in finding Karen Peterson (Nanny) during the original investigation a year earlier. He agrees, reluctantly, to examine the case again, and discovers a few more leads.
This was an "out of the blue" crime novel. The plot was interesting and kept me wanting to read more, but it was too overdone and not original.
I wanted to like this novel but there were certain aspects that bugged me:
The murderer is somehow presented as an intelligent, sex crazed, sociopath, who has managed to hide from the police for over a year. Yet, the crime she committed is so inexplicable that the two sides of her personality do not match up. The novel seems like it has quickly passed over the murder of a child.
I was also disappointed because the women in the novel could have been very interesting. The questions of motherhood, sexuality, and career aspirations are inspired in the story but the author seemed to completely ignore them. The characters also behave in CRAZY ways.
This novel was an entertaining mystery, with way too many coincidences.
Special thanks to NetGalley & the Publisher for the copy!
I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars.
November 30, 2019
Now, everything about this synopsis was enough to draw me in. A crime thriller that sounded a bit spooky...whats not to like? Well unfortunately, quite a bit as it turned out.
The author herself clearly has a talent for writing. There is no question in her ability to put a well constructed sentence together. I just so wish this had translated into the content as well. I couldn't connect with any of the main characters, in fact most were just down right dislikeable.
I have read in recent years, some excellent well developed lead investigators in other novels, real stand out qualities and personalities, this however, i couldn't tell you a thing about our protagonist, a bit of a wet blanket really with no direction. Half of his time was spent (wasted) mooning over his ex girlfriend of 10 years. The other half, he just plods along.
I'm afraid, the other characters faired no better.
As a reader of all things fiction, i am well versed in going with the flow when it comes to the story, usually any reservations whilst reading (even small ones) can be overlooked if the rest holds it together. I'm afraid, this wasn't one of those times. i was almost shaking my head in places whilst reading it.
Its such a shame as i so wanted to like it. I'm sorry this one just did not hit the spot.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher & the author for allowing me to read a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The author herself clearly has a talent for writing. There is no question in her ability to put a well constructed sentence together. I just so wish this had translated into the content as well. I couldn't connect with any of the main characters, in fact most were just down right dislikeable.
I have read in recent years, some excellent well developed lead investigators in other novels, real stand out qualities and personalities, this however, i couldn't tell you a thing about our protagonist, a bit of a wet blanket really with no direction. Half of his time was spent (wasted) mooning over his ex girlfriend of 10 years. The other half, he just plods along.
I'm afraid, the other characters faired no better.
As a reader of all things fiction, i am well versed in going with the flow when it comes to the story, usually any reservations whilst reading (even small ones) can be overlooked if the rest holds it together. I'm afraid, this wasn't one of those times. i was almost shaking my head in places whilst reading it.
Its such a shame as i so wanted to like it. I'm sorry this one just did not hit the spot.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher & the author for allowing me to read a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 5, 2017
I'm afraid it never got beyond ok for me.
I felt there was no real depth to the characters,and ultimately felt a little frustrated the murder wasn't explained properly.
We knew who,but why?
I felt there was no real depth to the characters,and ultimately felt a little frustrated the murder wasn't explained properly.
We knew who,but why?
March 17, 2021
Recently, I wrote in this blog about going to my library for the curbside delivery. When Kelly, the librarian, answered, I asked her to choose a mystery for me. She brought me Penhale Wood by Julia Thomas, Tulsa author. Kelly had recommended Thomas’s books earlier, so I was pleased to get the book. And continued to be pleased as I read and the mystery came to a satisfactory ending.
As the story opens, it is a year since officer Rob Mcintyre investigated the terrible murder of young Sophie Flynn on a cold December night. Sophie’s body was found on the riverbank at Penhale Wood , a dark and lonely place. Unfortunately, Mcintyre and his fellow officers have been unable to solve the heinous murder, so the case has gone cold. The case continues to haunt Mcintyre.
Another December has rolled around and Mcintyre has gone to London from his home in Cornwall to spend a few days with his brother and his family. When Mcintyre arrives at his brother’s home, he lets himself in with a key his brother had given him. Then he discovers his brother and family have gone to his wife’s mother’s home because the mother-in-law is ill.
Mcintyre looks for something to eat and plans to settle down and spend a quiet evening when the doorbell rings. Iris Flynn, Sophie’s mother, stands on the doorstep. Mcintyre is more than surprised to see her since she, her husband and two remaining daughters had left England for Australia when the police could not solve Sophie’s murder.
Naturally, Mcintyre asks how Iris has found him since he is not at home. Iris explains that she told an officer in Mcintyre’s building that she is his sister, so the officer tells her the address where Mcintyre is staying in London. This issue could be a sticky wicket because if she is Mcintyre’s sister, then she should know the other brother’s address, but I can overlook that little glitch.
Mcintyre and Iris Flynn are both convinced that Karen, a young woman who had been staying with the Flynns, has killed Sophie and fled. Motives are unclear since Karen appeared to love all three of the children. She had taken all three of the girls out that evening, but she left the older and the younger sitting by themselves in the dark and took only the middle girl, Sophie, with her.
Karen disappeared without a trace. Iris has come back to England from Australia wracked with pain and determined to find Sophie’s killer. Mcintyre is certainly sympathetic and wants nothing more than to discover the killer as well, but the leads have all dried up.
What breaks in the case will help Mcintyre find new clues? Going back through all the files, Mcintyre recreates his original investigation with Iris continually pressing him onward. The big break occurs when Iris discovers an image of Karen at a train station. They capture the image which they can now show others.
Clearly, Mcintyre needs much than a photo in order to solve a year-old murder. Along with solving this cold case, Mcintyre and Iris must also face other difficulties in their respective personal lives.
Iris and her husband Nick have been vagabonds, moving from place-to-place around the world: America, England, and Australia. Nick works only so long in one place before he feels the wanderlust take hold of him. Obviously, this lack of work ethic affects his family in adverse ways.
Mcintyre’s live-in girlfriend has left him and published her first novel, a mystery. The book is getting a great deal of acclaim while Mcintyre wonders if he could have done something differently in order to keep Allison with him. As readers may expect, Allison also figures in solving Sophie’s murder even if peripherally.
No spoilers here, though, so readers must dip into Penhale Wood in order to see the intricacies of the puzzle and how it finally fits together. Often, we use words like twists and turns to describe what happens in a mystery. Readers will find many unexpected winding paths in Penhale Wood; they all lead Mcintyre to the conclusion: Finding Sophie’s murderer and the explanation for that evil murder.
So, thanks to Kelly at South Broken Arrow Library, I discovered a satisfying story in Penhale Wood.
As the story opens, it is a year since officer Rob Mcintyre investigated the terrible murder of young Sophie Flynn on a cold December night. Sophie’s body was found on the riverbank at Penhale Wood , a dark and lonely place. Unfortunately, Mcintyre and his fellow officers have been unable to solve the heinous murder, so the case has gone cold. The case continues to haunt Mcintyre.
Another December has rolled around and Mcintyre has gone to London from his home in Cornwall to spend a few days with his brother and his family. When Mcintyre arrives at his brother’s home, he lets himself in with a key his brother had given him. Then he discovers his brother and family have gone to his wife’s mother’s home because the mother-in-law is ill.
Mcintyre looks for something to eat and plans to settle down and spend a quiet evening when the doorbell rings. Iris Flynn, Sophie’s mother, stands on the doorstep. Mcintyre is more than surprised to see her since she, her husband and two remaining daughters had left England for Australia when the police could not solve Sophie’s murder.
Naturally, Mcintyre asks how Iris has found him since he is not at home. Iris explains that she told an officer in Mcintyre’s building that she is his sister, so the officer tells her the address where Mcintyre is staying in London. This issue could be a sticky wicket because if she is Mcintyre’s sister, then she should know the other brother’s address, but I can overlook that little glitch.
Mcintyre and Iris Flynn are both convinced that Karen, a young woman who had been staying with the Flynns, has killed Sophie and fled. Motives are unclear since Karen appeared to love all three of the children. She had taken all three of the girls out that evening, but she left the older and the younger sitting by themselves in the dark and took only the middle girl, Sophie, with her.
Karen disappeared without a trace. Iris has come back to England from Australia wracked with pain and determined to find Sophie’s killer. Mcintyre is certainly sympathetic and wants nothing more than to discover the killer as well, but the leads have all dried up.
What breaks in the case will help Mcintyre find new clues? Going back through all the files, Mcintyre recreates his original investigation with Iris continually pressing him onward. The big break occurs when Iris discovers an image of Karen at a train station. They capture the image which they can now show others.
Clearly, Mcintyre needs much than a photo in order to solve a year-old murder. Along with solving this cold case, Mcintyre and Iris must also face other difficulties in their respective personal lives.
Iris and her husband Nick have been vagabonds, moving from place-to-place around the world: America, England, and Australia. Nick works only so long in one place before he feels the wanderlust take hold of him. Obviously, this lack of work ethic affects his family in adverse ways.
Mcintyre’s live-in girlfriend has left him and published her first novel, a mystery. The book is getting a great deal of acclaim while Mcintyre wonders if he could have done something differently in order to keep Allison with him. As readers may expect, Allison also figures in solving Sophie’s murder even if peripherally.
No spoilers here, though, so readers must dip into Penhale Wood in order to see the intricacies of the puzzle and how it finally fits together. Often, we use words like twists and turns to describe what happens in a mystery. Readers will find many unexpected winding paths in Penhale Wood; they all lead Mcintyre to the conclusion: Finding Sophie’s murderer and the explanation for that evil murder.
So, thanks to Kelly at South Broken Arrow Library, I discovered a satisfying story in Penhale Wood.
July 5, 2017
Actually 3.5 stars.
I really wanted to enjoy this story and, in a strange way, I did enjoy parts of it. Others I did find a bit implausible and a little illogical so the ending never really convinced me as the story didn't really flow nicely and occasionally came across as a tad contrived.
The story starts a year in the past with the abduction/murder of three year old Sophie. It has always been suspected that her nanny was responsible but she has never been caught. Fast forward a year and Sophie's mother Iris is back. She turns up one night at the doorstep of the investigating officer Rob McIntyre's brother where he is staying for the holidays and literally bullies him into helping her, insisting she tags along for the ride. They then follow tenuous link after clutched straw to eventually come to a somewhat bizarre and not wholly satisfying ending.
I think one of the main reasons I didn't get on brilliantly with this book is that I failed to engage with the characters enough. I didn't get on with either of the main two and there was not enough connection there for me at all on any level with any of the others. This could however be a me thing rather than the author's fault but sadly, it did mar my enjoyment somewhat.
There were also a few plot anomalies along the way. There were times when the characters avoided what I would call "the bleeding obvious" for no apparent reason other than I guess to drag it out a bit. I'd love to qualify this statement with examples but they would all be a bit spoilery. Well, either that or the characters were being a bit dense momentarily! Either way, it irked me a tad on occasion.
I did get to the end so there must have been something keeping me going but, again sadly, that wasn't really as good as it could have been. I know that not everything in life is tied up with a neat bow and I am happy to embrace endings that are a wee bit ambiguous but for me there was too much left unexplained and I wasn't left satisfied. Either that or I missed something, which is perfectly possible.
So, we are left with the eternal question... would I read this author again? I would have to answer that yes, I probably would but I would pay attention to the reviews before taking the plunge.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I really wanted to enjoy this story and, in a strange way, I did enjoy parts of it. Others I did find a bit implausible and a little illogical so the ending never really convinced me as the story didn't really flow nicely and occasionally came across as a tad contrived.
The story starts a year in the past with the abduction/murder of three year old Sophie. It has always been suspected that her nanny was responsible but she has never been caught. Fast forward a year and Sophie's mother Iris is back. She turns up one night at the doorstep of the investigating officer Rob McIntyre's brother where he is staying for the holidays and literally bullies him into helping her, insisting she tags along for the ride. They then follow tenuous link after clutched straw to eventually come to a somewhat bizarre and not wholly satisfying ending.
I think one of the main reasons I didn't get on brilliantly with this book is that I failed to engage with the characters enough. I didn't get on with either of the main two and there was not enough connection there for me at all on any level with any of the others. This could however be a me thing rather than the author's fault but sadly, it did mar my enjoyment somewhat.
There were also a few plot anomalies along the way. There were times when the characters avoided what I would call "the bleeding obvious" for no apparent reason other than I guess to drag it out a bit. I'd love to qualify this statement with examples but they would all be a bit spoilery. Well, either that or the characters were being a bit dense momentarily! Either way, it irked me a tad on occasion.
I did get to the end so there must have been something keeping me going but, again sadly, that wasn't really as good as it could have been. I know that not everything in life is tied up with a neat bow and I am happy to embrace endings that are a wee bit ambiguous but for me there was too much left unexplained and I wasn't left satisfied. Either that or I missed something, which is perfectly possible.
So, we are left with the eternal question... would I read this author again? I would have to answer that yes, I probably would but I would pay attention to the reviews before taking the plunge.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
September 5, 2017
This may not be the most well thought out mystery novel.... but this was one of my favorite mysteries to read! There is something about this author's style of writing that is just absolutely addictive and I really could not stop myself from finishing the story, even as I questioned discrepancies and problems with the plot. The first problem was with Inspector Rob McIntyre. His character was very bland and just made up of mismatched cliches; it made for a very disjointed and unlikeable character. The other characters were a lot more interesting, and the author really kept the interest of the reader by switching up perspectives throughout the story. The plot, however, really lacked credibility on all fronts. For one thing, why did the mother wait one year before pursuing this with such eagerness? It made no sense. From the beginning, the author told us who the suspect was... so then why did the police have absolutely nothing in terms of leads? The way Iris and McIntyre went about looking for clues really didn't add up and the final solving of the mystery was just very lackluster. However, despite all of these drawbacks, I couldn't pull myself away from this story. That's why I'm willing to read more by this author and why I am giving this novel a 3/5 stars.
I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2017
An evocative title and cover whet the reader’s appetite for a tale as dark and chilling as a twisted path through a winter forest. The tragic disappearance and murder of three-year-old Sophie Flynn has investigators stalled for answers, and the case has become as cold as the winter nights in the novel’s Cornwall setting. Sophie’s mother, Iris, has spent a year in the depths of grief. The events surrounding her daughter’s death don’t add up, and she is determined to find justice, no matter the cost. She risks her ties to family and her own safety to return to the scene of the crime and demand her daughter’s case be re-examined. Iris is unrelenting as she persuades DCI Rob McIntyre to use unconventional means to find the truth about Sophie’s death. McIntyre is vulnerable from his own complicated and solitary life when Iris turns up on a lonely Christmas Eve to implore him to help her. Together they go down the rabbit hole to find answers in a plot packed with breathtaking twists and turns. The conclusion of this taut psychological thriller is satisfying, yet leaves room for the reader to ponder future outcomes. Detective McIntyre and his on-the-spot colleague, DS Dugan, make a solid sleuthing pair. Readers can hope for another case featuring these engaging characters.
July 7, 2017
I liked this book. I had trouble getting into it, but the plot turned interesting and the pace picked up about a 1/3 of the way through the book. After that I was invested in the ending, which was a surprise.
Penhale Wood tells the story of a mother named Iris Flynn looking for justice for her murdered daughter. She can't move on with her life until the case is solved. She knows the nanny, Karen Peterson, killed Sophie, but Karen disappeared over a year ago and the case has gone cold. The original detective, Rob McIntyre, is frustrated that he never closed the case but there are no leads to follow.
Iris returns to England from Australia and tracks down Rob McIntyre over the Christmas holidays. She convinces him to take another look at the case, and they find a new lead.
The plot was well conceived and the writing was good, even though the book took a while to get going. The characters were interesting but a little shallow. I liked the ending.
I recommend this book. It was a good read, and I hope the author writes more mysteries.
Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Penhale Wood tells the story of a mother named Iris Flynn looking for justice for her murdered daughter. She can't move on with her life until the case is solved. She knows the nanny, Karen Peterson, killed Sophie, but Karen disappeared over a year ago and the case has gone cold. The original detective, Rob McIntyre, is frustrated that he never closed the case but there are no leads to follow.
Iris returns to England from Australia and tracks down Rob McIntyre over the Christmas holidays. She convinces him to take another look at the case, and they find a new lead.
The plot was well conceived and the writing was good, even though the book took a while to get going. The characters were interesting but a little shallow. I liked the ending.
I recommend this book. It was a good read, and I hope the author writes more mysteries.
Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2017
I really wasn't too sure about this book in the beginning. It was rather slow and I found the main character Rob McIntyre rather whiny. That changed however somewhere around the middle of the book. McIntyre started to grow on me probably because he decided to focus on someone other than himself. I think that what really kept me going was Iris. She is an interesting character who when she sets her mind to something, she is incredibly strong. She practically had to drag McIntyre kicking and screaming into re-investigating the murder of her daughter.
Ms. Thomas is a good writer and every word is perfect. I just found the pacing a bit slow which means that if I hadn't been reading this book for a review, it would have gone in that dreaded 'couldn't finish' pile. However this book would be perfect for anyone that enjoys a slower pace especially as it has such a wonderful conclusion. It is a great look at being a policeman in a smaller town in Britain and I am sure that some of my readers would really enjoy PENHALE WOOD.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
Ms. Thomas is a good writer and every word is perfect. I just found the pacing a bit slow which means that if I hadn't been reading this book for a review, it would have gone in that dreaded 'couldn't finish' pile. However this book would be perfect for anyone that enjoys a slower pace especially as it has such a wonderful conclusion. It is a great look at being a policeman in a smaller town in Britain and I am sure that some of my readers would really enjoy PENHALE WOOD.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
July 2, 2017
I had a little trouble getting into this book at first, but after the first 40 pages I got really hooked. It has a lot of good twists and turns. I'm giving it four stars instead of five because there's one thing about the ending that I felt was too much of a coincidence that I felt wasn't explained that well (I hate giving spoilers in reviews, so I know this is vague but explaining it would give too much away).
One thing I will point out, although maybe I'm just dumb -- there is a Boston in England. I was so confused about how these characters were getting back and forth between the U.S. and England -- they weren't! Ha ha.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It's a good read.
One thing I will point out, although maybe I'm just dumb -- there is a Boston in England. I was so confused about how these characters were getting back and forth between the U.S. and England -- they weren't! Ha ha.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It's a good read.
March 1, 2021
Ug I have such mixed feelings with this book.
My main problem is that none of the characters are likeable. They’re all so downtrodden and miserable. The detective’s brother was the only character that was a breath of fresh air but he’s such a minor character that the feeling is gone in an instant.
Thomas isn’t a bad writer but I have so many issues with the plot here. The whole first 3/4 of the story just drags on. I guessed who the killer was very early on and wasn’t really surprised by anything in this book.
I will say I enjoyed the ending pages. It was nice to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
My main problem is that none of the characters are likeable. They’re all so downtrodden and miserable. The detective’s brother was the only character that was a breath of fresh air but he’s such a minor character that the feeling is gone in an instant.
Thomas isn’t a bad writer but I have so many issues with the plot here. The whole first 3/4 of the story just drags on. I guessed who the killer was very early on and wasn’t really surprised by anything in this book.
I will say I enjoyed the ending pages. It was nice to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
February 18, 2024
Her debut, The English Boys, was an unexpected 5-star for me, largely because of outstanding characters. No such luck here; I didn't like any of them (especially trying is the weird "does this make me a lesbian?" subplot with the ex). Though the mystery intrigued me enough to keep reading rather than just skipping to the end, when I got there I found the reveal of the killer unsatisfying, and the explanation for their motive too convoluted.
July 6, 2017
Penhale Wood depicts every parent's worst nightmare - the loss of a child at the hands of a trusted carer. Who can one trust? How does one know if that trust is well placed? This is a riveting book which draws the reader into all of the emotions evoked by the loss of a child - devastating sadness, hopelessness and, not least, an overwhelming guilt. The plot with its surprising twists keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. The characters are well portrayed and I hope that DCI Rob McIntyre makes an appearance in future books. Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for the ARC.
August 7, 2017
Decently written, location (Cornwall) evocative, crime OK, but the unfolding of unintended consequences well done. The primary characters, Detective Rob McIntyre and Iris Flynn--so at odds, are linked by just plain human decency, which compels them to behave, to make choices that are at odds with their individual desires. I wonder if the same story, written by an American, set in America might be impossible. At any rate these folk while honest about their intimate desires, still behave well. Well, mostly.
Would be happy to read another of Thomas's novels.
Would be happy to read another of Thomas's novels.
October 17, 2017
Truly a riveting book with many unexpected twists and turns. I was fascinated by the fact that seemingly unrelated characters were woven into the story line and played an important part in the conclusion of this book. Masterfully plotted and intricately created storyline and characters created a book that was gobbled up in one sitting.
Highly recommended to all fans of British suspense and thrillers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
Highly recommended to all fans of British suspense and thrillers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 8, 2018
Though the case was interesting, the characters were not. Iris, maybe, but the rest just didn’t make a lot of sense. And the clues were too obvious. Suddenly everyone had seen what happened that night but McIntyre couldn’t figure it out. His questioning seemed weak. I will maybe read another book by this author to see if this one was just not my taste. The writing and the premise was good enough to give her another try.
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