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The Accident
A tragic accident, an unbearable loss and a marriage in crisis – but who can she trust or is she all alone? A gripping, debut psychological thriller that will keep you hooked. Perfect for the fans of Paula Hawkins and S.J. Watson.
Veronica Pullman's comfortable suburban life comes to a shuddering halt when her young daughter, Grace, tragically dies in a car accident.
Months later, unable to come to terms with her daughter's death, detached from her husband and alienated from her friends and family, a chance encounter on a rainy street pushes her into an unlikely new friendship.
Scarlet is everything Veronica could've been: feisty, adventurous, unpredictable. But as she approaches what would have been Grace's 10th birthday, it becomes clear to Veronica that the friendship she thought was saving her life could be costing her everything.
Consumed by grief and left questioning her own sanity, is there anyone she can really trust or is someone out to torment her as part of their twisted game?
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2017
2163 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 206 reviews
August 12, 2018
THE ACCIDENT is the debut psychological thriller by author Dawn Goodwin. This is an excellent well-written novel with engaging characters. I was totally engrossed in this novel from beginning to end…wanting to know how it would end. I loved this book, and I know it will be well-received by those readers that enjoy reading psychological thrillers. A talented author to keep on the radar!
A tragic accident, an unbearable loss and a marriage in crisis – but who can she trust or is she all alone? A gripping, debut psychological thriller that will keep you hooked.
Veronica Pullman's comfortable suburban life comes to a shuddering halt when her young daughter, Grace, tragically dies in a car accident.
Veronica is unable to move on with her life, or come to terms with her daughter's death. She has isolated herself from her husband, a doctor, their marriage and her friends, and refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is dead…killed in a tragic car accident. She rarely leaves her house.
But then one day, Veronica meets Scarlet at her daughter’s school, where she goes a few times a week to relive the past. Scarlet is the complete opposite of Veronica, adventurous, wild, unpredictable, but Veronica feels comfortable talking to her…and Scarlet listens to her. They soon become best friends and Scarlet becomes a very bad influence on Veronica what with shopping, drinking during day, shoplifting. Veronica’s husband, Tom is worried about his wife’s rapid change in behaviour.
But then strange things begin to happen, and Veronica doesn’t know who to trust or what to believe.
I won’t disclose any more details for risk of spoilers.
Did I figure out the ending…part of it, but there was a real twisted surprise ending I didn’t suspect. An easy 5 Star rating from me. Can’t wait to read her next novel.
Many thanks to Dawn Goodwin, Aria Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
A tragic accident, an unbearable loss and a marriage in crisis – but who can she trust or is she all alone? A gripping, debut psychological thriller that will keep you hooked.
Veronica Pullman's comfortable suburban life comes to a shuddering halt when her young daughter, Grace, tragically dies in a car accident.
Veronica is unable to move on with her life, or come to terms with her daughter's death. She has isolated herself from her husband, a doctor, their marriage and her friends, and refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is dead…killed in a tragic car accident. She rarely leaves her house.
But then one day, Veronica meets Scarlet at her daughter’s school, where she goes a few times a week to relive the past. Scarlet is the complete opposite of Veronica, adventurous, wild, unpredictable, but Veronica feels comfortable talking to her…and Scarlet listens to her. They soon become best friends and Scarlet becomes a very bad influence on Veronica what with shopping, drinking during day, shoplifting. Veronica’s husband, Tom is worried about his wife’s rapid change in behaviour.
But then strange things begin to happen, and Veronica doesn’t know who to trust or what to believe.
I won’t disclose any more details for risk of spoilers.
Did I figure out the ending…part of it, but there was a real twisted surprise ending I didn’t suspect. An easy 5 Star rating from me. Can’t wait to read her next novel.
Many thanks to Dawn Goodwin, Aria Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
October 1, 2017
EXCERPT: 'Seeing her like that was a bit of a shock. Her dark hair was lank and scraped back in a messy ponytail - not the charmingly messy kind; rather, the kind that looks like you slept in it. The circles under her eyes made her look haunted and her skin had the grey tone of someone who has been indoors too long.
Not so perfect now, are we? '
THE BLURB: A tragic accident, an unbearable loss and a marriage in crisis – but who can she trust or is she all alone? A gripping, debut psychological thriller that will keep you hooked. Perfect for the fans of Paula Hawkins and S.J. Watson.
Veronica Pullman's comfortable suburban life comes to a shuddering halt when her young daughter, Grace, tragically dies in a car accident.
Months later, unable to come to terms with her daughter's death, detached from her husband and alienated from her friends and family, a chance encounter on a rainy street pushes her into an unlikely new friendship.
Scarlet is everything Veronica could've been: feisty, adventurous, unpredictable. But as she approaches what would have been Grace's 10th birthday, it becomes clear to Veronica that the friendship she thought was saving her life could be costing her everything.
Consumed by grief and left questioning her own sanity, is there anyone she can really trust or is someone out to torment her as part of their twisted game?
MY THOUGHTS: I have lain awake half the night thinking about The Accident, a debut novel by Dawn Goodwin. It made me think about friends, and the mostly random way we become them. We have different friends for different periods of our lives. There are our school friends, some of these we keep for life, others drop to the wayside as we, or they, move on. Our workmates, usually fleeting relationships that change with our jobs. The friends we make as mothers, our children encouraged to bond. And our neighbours, who sometimes also fit into one or more of the categories above.
If we are really lucky, we have one incredible friend. A friend that, if you don't see her for months, it doesn't matter, because you just pick up where you left off and it is like you have never been apart. Veronica Pullman doesn't have a friend like that. She has a group of acquaintances, other mothers who meet for coffee and who vie to be the thinnest, have the newest kitchen, the fanciest SUV, the brightest most talented children.
When Veronica's life falls apart following the accident, although her friends make the right noises and
numerous casseroles, they are all secretly glad that it didn't happen to them. Tom, her husband, is coping with his grief in his own way and has his work to sustain him. Only Veronica is isolated in her grief, which leaves her vulnerable.
You will recognize a lot of Goodwin's characters. You've probably had one or two of them in your life. You may even have been, or be, one.
Dawn Goodwin has written an excellent first novel. It is like a slow burning fuse; the explosion at the end, devastating. This is an author whose career I will be following with great interest.
Thank you to Aria via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Accident by Dawn Goodwin for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
Not so perfect now, are we? '
THE BLURB: A tragic accident, an unbearable loss and a marriage in crisis – but who can she trust or is she all alone? A gripping, debut psychological thriller that will keep you hooked. Perfect for the fans of Paula Hawkins and S.J. Watson.
Veronica Pullman's comfortable suburban life comes to a shuddering halt when her young daughter, Grace, tragically dies in a car accident.
Months later, unable to come to terms with her daughter's death, detached from her husband and alienated from her friends and family, a chance encounter on a rainy street pushes her into an unlikely new friendship.
Scarlet is everything Veronica could've been: feisty, adventurous, unpredictable. But as she approaches what would have been Grace's 10th birthday, it becomes clear to Veronica that the friendship she thought was saving her life could be costing her everything.
Consumed by grief and left questioning her own sanity, is there anyone she can really trust or is someone out to torment her as part of their twisted game?
MY THOUGHTS: I have lain awake half the night thinking about The Accident, a debut novel by Dawn Goodwin. It made me think about friends, and the mostly random way we become them. We have different friends for different periods of our lives. There are our school friends, some of these we keep for life, others drop to the wayside as we, or they, move on. Our workmates, usually fleeting relationships that change with our jobs. The friends we make as mothers, our children encouraged to bond. And our neighbours, who sometimes also fit into one or more of the categories above.
If we are really lucky, we have one incredible friend. A friend that, if you don't see her for months, it doesn't matter, because you just pick up where you left off and it is like you have never been apart. Veronica Pullman doesn't have a friend like that. She has a group of acquaintances, other mothers who meet for coffee and who vie to be the thinnest, have the newest kitchen, the fanciest SUV, the brightest most talented children.
When Veronica's life falls apart following the accident, although her friends make the right noises and
numerous casseroles, they are all secretly glad that it didn't happen to them. Tom, her husband, is coping with his grief in his own way and has his work to sustain him. Only Veronica is isolated in her grief, which leaves her vulnerable.
You will recognize a lot of Goodwin's characters. You've probably had one or two of them in your life. You may even have been, or be, one.
Dawn Goodwin has written an excellent first novel. It is like a slow burning fuse; the explosion at the end, devastating. This is an author whose career I will be following with great interest.
Thank you to Aria via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Accident by Dawn Goodwin for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
September 6, 2017
Veronica Pullman has been shut off from her friends and pulling away from her husband for months since a tragic accident took the life of their only child, Grace. With everyone pressuring her to overcome her grief Veronica slowly tries to get herself together and try to resume normal daily tasks. When out of the house Veronica runs into a lady that is new to town and someone an unlikely friendship is formed between the two.
Scarlet is everything that Veronica is not, outgoing and feisty and never caring what anyone thinks. Veronica finds herself pulling out of her shell as the two do everything from day drinking to shoplifting. As the two get together more and more Veronica slowly starts to feel she can face what had happened to her daughter and finally uncover the truth of just what had happened that day.
The Accident by Dawn Goodwin was a well written page turner of a psychological thriller that was easily to become engrossed in while reading. The point of view is mostly Veronica's but it does switch here and there along with some flashing back to tell the story but it was all easy to follow along as the story unfolded.
The one thing that brought this one down a tad bit for me is again I believe I just read too much and immediately figured out where the story was heading. I don't know that it would overly obvious to the average reader though and still enjoyed reading so I didn't take off too much in my rating for this since it was still an engaging read. In the end I think this was a solid read that fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Scarlet is everything that Veronica is not, outgoing and feisty and never caring what anyone thinks. Veronica finds herself pulling out of her shell as the two do everything from day drinking to shoplifting. As the two get together more and more Veronica slowly starts to feel she can face what had happened to her daughter and finally uncover the truth of just what had happened that day.
The Accident by Dawn Goodwin was a well written page turner of a psychological thriller that was easily to become engrossed in while reading. The point of view is mostly Veronica's but it does switch here and there along with some flashing back to tell the story but it was all easy to follow along as the story unfolded.
The one thing that brought this one down a tad bit for me is again I believe I just read too much and immediately figured out where the story was heading. I don't know that it would overly obvious to the average reader though and still enjoyed reading so I didn't take off too much in my rating for this since it was still an engaging read. In the end I think this was a solid read that fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 27, 2023
One that will keep you guessing...
I love a book that has reveals you don't guess at all. As I read this novel I had a gut feeling that I'd be surprised by the ending and indeed I was!
The book has a strong steady pave throughout and the plot centres around Veronica. A woman who is hurting badly and struggling to keep her head above water. A new friendship gives her a new, invigorated sense of self and we journey with her as she stretches her boundaries.
But...
Old, established friendships don't seem to mix with the new. Something has to give and indeed it does! I was taken by surprise once all the cards were on the table.
Its an interesting book that has real strengths with its cast of flawed characters and an underlying current of questions it offers. I happily got stuck into this book. I bet you'll not guess the ending!
A great insight into personal relationships, trust issues and what can happen when one moment changes your life irreversibly forever. A solid 4 stars from me for this one.
Just how much can Veronica trust her friends?
I love a book that has reveals you don't guess at all. As I read this novel I had a gut feeling that I'd be surprised by the ending and indeed I was!
The book has a strong steady pave throughout and the plot centres around Veronica. A woman who is hurting badly and struggling to keep her head above water. A new friendship gives her a new, invigorated sense of self and we journey with her as she stretches her boundaries.
But...
Old, established friendships don't seem to mix with the new. Something has to give and indeed it does! I was taken by surprise once all the cards were on the table.
Its an interesting book that has real strengths with its cast of flawed characters and an underlying current of questions it offers. I happily got stuck into this book. I bet you'll not guess the ending!
A great insight into personal relationships, trust issues and what can happen when one moment changes your life irreversibly forever. A solid 4 stars from me for this one.
Just how much can Veronica trust her friends?
September 12, 2017
Veronica Pullman has had a heck of a bad year. An accident involving her daughter, the overpowering loss, and her marriage is in tatters. She's become a reclusive, rarely leaving her house, has ignored all her friends, and having nothing but silence between her and her husband. She refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is dead and won't hear anyone else say it.
She knows she needs help, but she's unable or unwilling to do something about it. She goes to her daughter's school 2 or 3 times a week, just imagining what it was like for her daughter. The other moms have grown used to her, and knowing her story, they just leave her alone. She only stays for a moment.
But today is different. Today she meets Scarlet, a woman who is to become her best friend. With Scarlet, it's easy to talk to her .. she doesn't judge, she just wants to help Veronica be the best she can be... to lighten up, to be fun again.
But Scarlet's fun isn't always innocent. First there's the drinking, especially the tequila. The there's the bar hopping, the dancing, the laughing... and then there's the shoplifting, the anger that comes to the forefront, allowing Veronica to say what she wants, when she wants.
Veronica's husband is worried .. a lot. He doesn't know who Scarlet is but she seems to be helping. He can't remember the last time he heard his wife laugh .. let alone go out on the town.
According to Veronica, she is the domesticated, house trained wife .. much like a family pet. Scarlet is a stray who has wandered free and has only herself to please.
Things begin to happen. A picture of her daughter comes to appear out of nowhere. A music teacher calls to schedule her daughter for her first lesson .. only Veronica never called them. A delivery man shows up with lots of packages... full of presents for her daughter's birthday.
Is she doing these things without knowing? Is she being gaslighted by her new friend? Or could it be the neighbor who would like nothing more than to have a go at Veronica's husband? Is Scarlet really a friend ... or something a lot more sinister?
This is an excellent debut of an engaging and suspenseful psychological thriller. Well-written with credible characters. Twists and turns with a surprising ending.
Many thanks to the author / Aria Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She knows she needs help, but she's unable or unwilling to do something about it. She goes to her daughter's school 2 or 3 times a week, just imagining what it was like for her daughter. The other moms have grown used to her, and knowing her story, they just leave her alone. She only stays for a moment.
But today is different. Today she meets Scarlet, a woman who is to become her best friend. With Scarlet, it's easy to talk to her .. she doesn't judge, she just wants to help Veronica be the best she can be... to lighten up, to be fun again.
But Scarlet's fun isn't always innocent. First there's the drinking, especially the tequila. The there's the bar hopping, the dancing, the laughing... and then there's the shoplifting, the anger that comes to the forefront, allowing Veronica to say what she wants, when she wants.
Veronica's husband is worried .. a lot. He doesn't know who Scarlet is but she seems to be helping. He can't remember the last time he heard his wife laugh .. let alone go out on the town.
According to Veronica, she is the domesticated, house trained wife .. much like a family pet. Scarlet is a stray who has wandered free and has only herself to please.
Things begin to happen. A picture of her daughter comes to appear out of nowhere. A music teacher calls to schedule her daughter for her first lesson .. only Veronica never called them. A delivery man shows up with lots of packages... full of presents for her daughter's birthday.
Is she doing these things without knowing? Is she being gaslighted by her new friend? Or could it be the neighbor who would like nothing more than to have a go at Veronica's husband? Is Scarlet really a friend ... or something a lot more sinister?
This is an excellent debut of an engaging and suspenseful psychological thriller. Well-written with credible characters. Twists and turns with a surprising ending.
Many thanks to the author / Aria Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 12, 2017
A fantastic debut novel from this new author Dawn Goodwin.
What an engrossing story a great psychological thriller that gripped me from beginning to end.
The characters were totally believable, well rounded.
Veronica has a good settled life, wants for nothing, good husband. Daughter, Grace.
But when something happens to Grace, Veronica's life tips upside down, she can't cope and is suffering from clinical depression for sure. As time goes on we realise that its affected her in many ways, many unusual ways that made me question her sanity, but then again I could see that this was a woman holding onto what she knew, the life with Grace was easier to keep hold of than life without Grace which she couldn't accept.
This leaves her marriage in a crisis. She hardly ever ventures outside the home.
Then once she meets a woman named Scarlet they become quite close. They say that 'opposites attract' and this is surely the case with Veronica and Scarlet.
Pre the loss of Grace a neighbour across the road was her buddy, but now Veronica has reason to not need this other friend, we see why as time unfolds.
Scarlet
Is she a good influence on Veronica or not.
I'll leave you to make your mind up about that.
It certainly changes things.
The ending was fab, a totally superb easy to engage in, read. Highly recommended.
My thanks to aria for my copy from Net Galley.
What an engrossing story a great psychological thriller that gripped me from beginning to end.
The characters were totally believable, well rounded.
Veronica has a good settled life, wants for nothing, good husband. Daughter, Grace.
But when something happens to Grace, Veronica's life tips upside down, she can't cope and is suffering from clinical depression for sure. As time goes on we realise that its affected her in many ways, many unusual ways that made me question her sanity, but then again I could see that this was a woman holding onto what she knew, the life with Grace was easier to keep hold of than life without Grace which she couldn't accept.
This leaves her marriage in a crisis. She hardly ever ventures outside the home.
Then once she meets a woman named Scarlet they become quite close. They say that 'opposites attract' and this is surely the case with Veronica and Scarlet.
Pre the loss of Grace a neighbour across the road was her buddy, but now Veronica has reason to not need this other friend, we see why as time unfolds.
Scarlet
Is she a good influence on Veronica or not.
I'll leave you to make your mind up about that.
It certainly changes things.
The ending was fab, a totally superb easy to engage in, read. Highly recommended.
My thanks to aria for my copy from Net Galley.
October 6, 2017
Veronica Pullman suffers from severe depression after her daughter Grace is killed in a tragic accident. She shuts herself from her friends and her marriage is on the verge of collapse. One day on her way back home she makes a new friend Scarlet. Scarlet is completely different from Veronica , fun loving and outgoing with care a damn attitude. Scarlet though ends up being a bad influence on Veronica getting drunk at odd hours , shoplifting etc. Veronica’s husband and her close friends start getting worried seeing these changes in her. But when strange occurrences start happening in Veronica’s life she starts fearing her sanity or is there something sinister in play ?
I felt The Accident by Dawn Goodwin is an excellent , debut psychological thriller with an unexpected ending . An engaging read that kept me turning the pages till the end
Many thanks to Aria & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
I felt The Accident by Dawn Goodwin is an excellent , debut psychological thriller with an unexpected ending . An engaging read that kept me turning the pages till the end
Many thanks to Aria & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
September 17, 2017
What happens to a mother when she loses her daughter? it is an awful thing to even think about so I sympathized with Veronica. things start to happen to make her question herself and those around her. Secrets and lies are exposed ... this book has it all. thank you to Aria via Netgalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review
December 17, 2017
Months after her young daughter Grace was tragically killed in a car accident,Veronica Pullman is still struggling to come to terms with her daughter's death.
Detached from her husband Tom and alienated from her friends and family,a chance encounter on a rainy street pushes her in a unlikely new friendship with feisty,unpredictable Scarlet.
But as she approaches what would have been Grace`s 10th birthday,it becomes clear to Veronica that the friendship she thought was saving her life could be costing her everything.
Consumed by grief and left questioning her own sanity,is there anyone she can really trust or is someone out to torment her as part of their twisted game?
This gripping drama is voiced be Veronica,her husband Tom,her best friend and neighbour Felicity and also one chapter that is voiced by young Grace.Interspersed throughout the story are italicized chapters that are voiced by the person who is tormenting Veronica.Hardly anyone in this twisted tale are very likeable but that also adds a human element to their characters.Throughout the book my feelings and sympathy for Veronica changed a number of times as the story unfolded.I know I was meant to feel sympathy for her because of her grief and suffering due to the death of her daughter but I struggled at times to understand some of her actions.Then something was revealed and some of her actions and behaviour made sense.Some situations can put a lot of stress on a couple's relashionship,some couples pull together and work through things as a team while others are pushed apart.Is Veronica and Tom`s relashionship strong enough to survive once hidden secrets and the whole truth about what happened on the day of their daughter's tragic death is finally revealed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this emotional story of grief,relashionship,friendships,jealousy,mental illness,blame and forgiveness.Although I did guess quite early on in the story the truth about a couple of characters,it's didn't spoil my enjoyment of this well written,debut thriller and I would happily read more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Aria for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Detached from her husband Tom and alienated from her friends and family,a chance encounter on a rainy street pushes her in a unlikely new friendship with feisty,unpredictable Scarlet.
But as she approaches what would have been Grace`s 10th birthday,it becomes clear to Veronica that the friendship she thought was saving her life could be costing her everything.
Consumed by grief and left questioning her own sanity,is there anyone she can really trust or is someone out to torment her as part of their twisted game?
This gripping drama is voiced be Veronica,her husband Tom,her best friend and neighbour Felicity and also one chapter that is voiced by young Grace.Interspersed throughout the story are italicized chapters that are voiced by the person who is tormenting Veronica.Hardly anyone in this twisted tale are very likeable but that also adds a human element to their characters.Throughout the book my feelings and sympathy for Veronica changed a number of times as the story unfolded.I know I was meant to feel sympathy for her because of her grief and suffering due to the death of her daughter but I struggled at times to understand some of her actions.Then something was revealed and some of her actions and behaviour made sense.Some situations can put a lot of stress on a couple's relashionship,some couples pull together and work through things as a team while others are pushed apart.Is Veronica and Tom`s relashionship strong enough to survive once hidden secrets and the whole truth about what happened on the day of their daughter's tragic death is finally revealed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this emotional story of grief,relashionship,friendships,jealousy,mental illness,blame and forgiveness.Although I did guess quite early on in the story the truth about a couple of characters,it's didn't spoil my enjoyment of this well written,debut thriller and I would happily read more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Aria for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
October 25, 2017
I received a free ecopy of this book from Aria Publishing via Netgalley for an honest review. This was a very enjoyable suspenseful book. The main character, Veronica, is unable to get her life back on track after the tragic death of her daughter. Veronica is mired in grief and depression and it is affecting all facets of her life. She has lost contact with her friends and her marriage is falling apart. A new person comes into her life and Veronica starts to act very erratically. Her new friend Scarlett encourages her to get out and start living life again. The problem is, many of the decisions Veronica makes from here on are so out of character and at times dangerous. There is a twist in the book which you suspect early on but it is still a very good book that keeps your interest. I would recommend this book for readers that enjoy a good suspense story.
August 22, 2017
Solid 3-star read. I don't really have a lot to say about it - I guessed what Scarlet was up to as soon as she arrived in Veronica's life and I guessed who was behind all those italicised pieces of writing, so it kind of took some of the surprise out of things. Pretty gripping, though.
September 1, 2017
It took me a little while to get into this book as it flits between the perspective of several different characters, and it took some time before I could differentiate between them all. Once that hurdle had passed thought, I found the storyline very gripping. The main character, Veronica, I found that at times I felt a real fondness for, and at other times I just wanted to shake some sense into her. Other characters were much less likeable.
The premise is that there is a tragic accident, hence the title of the book, and this has serious knock-on effects to Veronica's relationships with both her husband and her friends. However she soon meets a new friend who appears to be trying to help her, but perhaps all isn't as it seems. I really didn't see the ending coming, and with each couple of chapters I changed my mind as to what I thought was happening. It's very hard to give much of a review without giving away key parts of the storyline, but all I will say is that this is a 5-star read and will keep you hooked until the very last page. If you can persevere past the confusing first few chapters, hopefully you'll love this book as much as I did.
(Thanks NetGalley for this copy).
The premise is that there is a tragic accident, hence the title of the book, and this has serious knock-on effects to Veronica's relationships with both her husband and her friends. However she soon meets a new friend who appears to be trying to help her, but perhaps all isn't as it seems. I really didn't see the ending coming, and with each couple of chapters I changed my mind as to what I thought was happening. It's very hard to give much of a review without giving away key parts of the storyline, but all I will say is that this is a 5-star read and will keep you hooked until the very last page. If you can persevere past the confusing first few chapters, hopefully you'll love this book as much as I did.
(Thanks NetGalley for this copy).
January 5, 2021
Great read! Really enjoyed it.
Clever twist that I didn't spot.
Will read more by this author.
Clever twist that I didn't spot.
Will read more by this author.
December 17, 2017
Months after her young daughter Grace was tragically killed in a car accident,Veronica Pullman is still struggling to come to terms with her daughter's death.
Detached from her husband Tom and alienated from her friends and family,a chance encounter on a rainy street pushes her in a unlikely new friendship with feisty,unpredictable Scarlet.
But as she approaches what would have been Grace`s 10th birthday,it becomes clear to Veronica that the friendship she thought was saving her life could be costing her everything.
Consumed by grief and left questioning her own sanity,is there anyone she can really trust or is someone out to torment her as part of their twisted game?
This gripping drama is voiced be Veronica,her husband Tom,her best friend and neighbour Felicity and also one chapter that is voiced by young Grace.Interspersed throughout the story are italicized chapters that are voiced by the person who is tormenting Veronica.Hardly anyone in this twisted tale are very likeable but that also adds a human element to their characters.Throughout the book my feelings and sympathy for Veronica changed a number of times as the story unfolded.I know I was meant to feel sympathy for her because of her grief and suffering due to the death of her daughter but I struggled at times to understand some of her actions.Then something was revealed and some of her actions and behaviour made sense.Some situations can put a lot of stress on a couple's relashionship,some couples pull together and work through things as a team while others are pushed apart.Is Veronica and Tom`s relashionship strong enough to survive once hidden secrets and the whole truth about what happened on the day of their daughter's tragic death is finally revealed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this emotional story of grief,relashionship,friendships,jealousy,mental illness,blame and forgiveness.Although I did guess quite early on in the story the truth about a couple of characters,it's didn't spoil my enjoyment of this well written,debut thriller and I would happily read more books by this author in the future.
Detached from her husband Tom and alienated from her friends and family,a chance encounter on a rainy street pushes her in a unlikely new friendship with feisty,unpredictable Scarlet.
But as she approaches what would have been Grace`s 10th birthday,it becomes clear to Veronica that the friendship she thought was saving her life could be costing her everything.
Consumed by grief and left questioning her own sanity,is there anyone she can really trust or is someone out to torment her as part of their twisted game?
This gripping drama is voiced be Veronica,her husband Tom,her best friend and neighbour Felicity and also one chapter that is voiced by young Grace.Interspersed throughout the story are italicized chapters that are voiced by the person who is tormenting Veronica.Hardly anyone in this twisted tale are very likeable but that also adds a human element to their characters.Throughout the book my feelings and sympathy for Veronica changed a number of times as the story unfolded.I know I was meant to feel sympathy for her because of her grief and suffering due to the death of her daughter but I struggled at times to understand some of her actions.Then something was revealed and some of her actions and behaviour made sense.Some situations can put a lot of stress on a couple's relashionship,some couples pull together and work through things as a team while others are pushed apart.Is Veronica and Tom`s relashionship strong enough to survive once hidden secrets and the whole truth about what happened on the day of their daughter's tragic death is finally revealed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this emotional story of grief,relashionship,friendships,jealousy,mental illness,blame and forgiveness.Although I did guess quite early on in the story the truth about a couple of characters,it's didn't spoil my enjoyment of this well written,debut thriller and I would happily read more books by this author in the future.
October 1, 2017
WOW! I am sat on my sunbed a complete tearful wreck after reading this book. I am completely speechless, I loved it. This is Dawn Goodwin's debut psychological thriller and for new an absolute winner. The story centres around Veronica, who lost her only child when she was run down by a car and she cannot come to terms with her loss. She isolates herself and withdraws from everyone, including her husband Tom and their university friends and neighbours Felicity and Ian. Then one day Veronica meets a new friend, Scarlet who changes her life drastically. Before long Veronica is spiralling out of control, encouraged by Scarlet and all hidden secrets come to life. I found myself going through Veronica's pain, guessed one of the little twists but thought that Dawn has written a fantastic debut novel. Definitely one to read and I look forward to her next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. Wish I could give it 10 stars!
September 30, 2017
This is a well written book and overall a good read, although, I did find it to be predictable and guessed the outcome very early on. Not much else to add. A heartbreaking topic and a mother doing what she needs to do to cope.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Aria fiction for the opportunity to preview.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Aria fiction for the opportunity to preview.
February 20, 2019
Long and drawn out
September 25, 2017
Veronica Pullman is in need of some help. Help she knows she needs but help she can’t bring herself to ask for.
Her life fell apart the day her daughter died, her daughter Grace tragically died in a car accident and life for the Pullmans has never been and never will be the same again.
Veronica can’t come to terms with the fact her daughter has gone, she can’t believe and won’t believe the truth, she won’t even stand for anyone even saying it out loud – Grace is dead!
She has completely isolated herself from everything and everyone, even her marriage and husband Tom.
She very rarely leaves the house and when she does she just goes to her daughters school to stand for a moment imaging what it would have been like with Grace.
The other mothers know Veronica and of her loss but they have long since given up trying to talk to her so they just let her be and she’s only there for a few minutes anyway.
On a day like any other day, Veronica starts her pilgrimage to her daughters school but unlike every other day, today she meets Scarlet.
For some reason being with Scarlet makes her feel slightly better and she can open up and talk to her, something she hasn’t done with anyone else since Grace so the two women soon become best friends.
To begin with Tom is relieved to see some of his wife re-emerge after being so closed off from the world.
All Scarlet wants is to help, to help Veronica have a life again, have some fun and laugh again. Tom can’t remember the last time he heard his wife laugh!
But then things start to spiral out of control. Scarlet isn’t necessarily a good influence or the right person to help Veronica. Drinking through the day, going out partying for nights on end, drinking and dancing with god knows who and then the shoplifting! Why shoplift when you don’t need too? And the anger that is bubbling in Veronica, anger she can’t contain lashing out at everything and everyone.
Then odd things start to happen, a picture of Grace appears out of nowhere, parcels arrive containing items for Grace’s birthday, things neither Veronica or Tom has ordered.
Toms concern for his wife grows as more things happen, Is his wife doing all these things without being aware of it, in some sort of fugue state?
Or is someone deliberately messing with Veronica’s already delicate state of mind?
Is Scarlet really a friend or is she something a lot more sinister?
With twists and turns that at times are blindingly obvious and some more subtle, the book does end on a surprise.
So for anyone that likes psychological thrillers this is a book you need to put on your “To Read” list
Her life fell apart the day her daughter died, her daughter Grace tragically died in a car accident and life for the Pullmans has never been and never will be the same again.
Veronica can’t come to terms with the fact her daughter has gone, she can’t believe and won’t believe the truth, she won’t even stand for anyone even saying it out loud – Grace is dead!
She has completely isolated herself from everything and everyone, even her marriage and husband Tom.
She very rarely leaves the house and when she does she just goes to her daughters school to stand for a moment imaging what it would have been like with Grace.
The other mothers know Veronica and of her loss but they have long since given up trying to talk to her so they just let her be and she’s only there for a few minutes anyway.
On a day like any other day, Veronica starts her pilgrimage to her daughters school but unlike every other day, today she meets Scarlet.
For some reason being with Scarlet makes her feel slightly better and she can open up and talk to her, something she hasn’t done with anyone else since Grace so the two women soon become best friends.
To begin with Tom is relieved to see some of his wife re-emerge after being so closed off from the world.
All Scarlet wants is to help, to help Veronica have a life again, have some fun and laugh again. Tom can’t remember the last time he heard his wife laugh!
But then things start to spiral out of control. Scarlet isn’t necessarily a good influence or the right person to help Veronica. Drinking through the day, going out partying for nights on end, drinking and dancing with god knows who and then the shoplifting! Why shoplift when you don’t need too? And the anger that is bubbling in Veronica, anger she can’t contain lashing out at everything and everyone.
Then odd things start to happen, a picture of Grace appears out of nowhere, parcels arrive containing items for Grace’s birthday, things neither Veronica or Tom has ordered.
Toms concern for his wife grows as more things happen, Is his wife doing all these things without being aware of it, in some sort of fugue state?
Or is someone deliberately messing with Veronica’s already delicate state of mind?
Is Scarlet really a friend or is she something a lot more sinister?
With twists and turns that at times are blindingly obvious and some more subtle, the book does end on a surprise.
So for anyone that likes psychological thrillers this is a book you need to put on your “To Read” list
October 2, 2017
A nightmare for any couple. A tragic accident tears a young family apart. A loss of a child in such circumstances rends this family apart and does not bring them any closer. Months go by and the situation does not seem to improve at all. The mother seems to revert to a state of not acknowledging the absence of her child and the father tries to reach out to her and at the same time, has no support for his own overwhelming sorrow.
Enter a new friend who supports the mother, brings her out of her shell and forces her to live again.
It may not be the ideal way to go about things and old friends are shut out firmly, mainly because they remind her too much of the past. As the days go by Veronica seems to drift deeper and deeper into a morass of her own mind which seems to make sense only to her. You wonder where it is all going to end and you also know its not going to be good.
The ending of course is with a twist in the tale. It is that which supports the whole story.
It was a sad story, very emotional, very good characterization.
Enter a new friend who supports the mother, brings her out of her shell and forces her to live again.
It may not be the ideal way to go about things and old friends are shut out firmly, mainly because they remind her too much of the past. As the days go by Veronica seems to drift deeper and deeper into a morass of her own mind which seems to make sense only to her. You wonder where it is all going to end and you also know its not going to be good.
The ending of course is with a twist in the tale. It is that which supports the whole story.
It was a sad story, very emotional, very good characterization.
September 30, 2017
I enjoyed this book but had worked out what was going on with the characters early on, so it was a case of reading until the end to see if I'd guessed correctly! And I had!
The story is something different and I liked the characters Veronica and Tom, but Felicity made my blood boil!
I can't say too much about the story as I don't want to spoil it for you but I will say that this is a gripping read and one that moves at a very fast pace.
I would recommend this book if you like thrillers that centre around family life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria publishers for sending me an advance copy of the book.
The story is something different and I liked the characters Veronica and Tom, but Felicity made my blood boil!
I can't say too much about the story as I don't want to spoil it for you but I will say that this is a gripping read and one that moves at a very fast pace.
I would recommend this book if you like thrillers that centre around family life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria publishers for sending me an advance copy of the book.
October 10, 2017
*** I received an advanced e-copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Veronica and her husband are still reeling over the loss of their daughter, who was hit by a drunk driver. Tom is going to therapy and trying to cope, but Veronica refuses to even mention the accident , and still acts as if Grace were alive. Then Veronica makes a new friend. Scarlet helps bring Veronica out of her protective shell, but at the same time makes her do things she would never have done otherwise. To add another twist, someone is intent on driving Veronica insane. They are leaving mementos of Grace in unexpected places, hoping to cause a breakdown.
I can not say enough good things about this book. I could not put it down. The storyline is captivating, and you won't want to put it down until the very last page. This is definitely a must-read!
Veronica and her husband are still reeling over the loss of their daughter, who was hit by a drunk driver. Tom is going to therapy and trying to cope, but Veronica refuses to even mention the accident , and still acts as if Grace were alive. Then Veronica makes a new friend. Scarlet helps bring Veronica out of her protective shell, but at the same time makes her do things she would never have done otherwise. To add another twist, someone is intent on driving Veronica insane. They are leaving mementos of Grace in unexpected places, hoping to cause a breakdown.
I can not say enough good things about this book. I could not put it down. The storyline is captivating, and you won't want to put it down until the very last page. This is definitely a must-read!
September 9, 2023
i don’t know if i’m too smart or if the plot was a bit too obvious (very likely the second option hehe) but from the beginning i had already figured out the whole story. nonetheless, it was very interesting, nice writing and solid characters. didn’t like the ending very much but overall, it was a nice read. i’d give it 3.75 stars if i could.
September 28, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It's about a mother who is grieving for her daughter that died from getting hit by a car. She meets a new friend and copes by going out, drinking at bars and even drinking everyday at the house. Also, strange things start happening around the house. That's all I'm gonna say about the book because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. The book is a psychological thriller and also deals with family issues. I really enjoyed The Accident and I will definitely read more books by Dawn Goodwin. I give this book 4 1/2 stars.
August 13, 2020
Loved it!! ❤️
September 17, 2017
Fantastic read I won't given any spoilers but I have to say wow each character had me going the only on I was sure of and right about in the end was felicity . I truly felt for veronica but I new so much more would come out in the end I did nail one of the big twist on the head but I couldn't put this read down I had to get to the end and even though I guessed the big twist the other turns surprised me if you want a good thriller that will knock your socks off this is perfect for you I highly recommend it
September 18, 2017
What a brilliant book and an author i cant wait to read more from. Tragedy strikes a family leaving everyone involved to deal with their grief in their own way. However the ways grief is dealt with encounters its own problems. Can the family come together in the end or is the tragedy too much to overcome. This book will keep you reading into the small hours.
September 21, 2017
I struggled getting into The Accident but I pushed through because I try really hard to never DNF.
This was a decent read but I figured this one out fairly quick. But, had I not figured it out, it would be a nice surprise ending. To anyone else looking at The Accident, I would still suggest reading it.
So what's it about? Veronica and her husband sadly have lost their daughter to an accident. Veronica has been posted up in the house for months, grieving and backing off from her husband and girlfriends.
One day, Veronica spots a woman outside dancing in the rain. Veronica was captivated and jealous of the happy go lucky woman. We learn shortly after this that the woman's name is Scarlet. Veronica and scarlet become fast friends. Scarlet is wild and happy. Veronica feels as though Scarlet is helping her get her life back. She needs Scarlet. They have fun and Veronica is living again! She grows a back bone towards her bitchy friends. But during this time, Veronica starts noticing sketchy things. Things turning up, phone calls, messages etc. What is going on? You'll have to read to find out 😉
This is told in mostly Veronica's POV but also a few others. I'm a huge fan of multiple POVs but I know some goodreaders are not.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley. Thank you!
This was a decent read but I figured this one out fairly quick. But, had I not figured it out, it would be a nice surprise ending. To anyone else looking at The Accident, I would still suggest reading it.
So what's it about? Veronica and her husband sadly have lost their daughter to an accident. Veronica has been posted up in the house for months, grieving and backing off from her husband and girlfriends.
One day, Veronica spots a woman outside dancing in the rain. Veronica was captivated and jealous of the happy go lucky woman. We learn shortly after this that the woman's name is Scarlet. Veronica and scarlet become fast friends. Scarlet is wild and happy. Veronica feels as though Scarlet is helping her get her life back. She needs Scarlet. They have fun and Veronica is living again! She grows a back bone towards her bitchy friends. But during this time, Veronica starts noticing sketchy things. Things turning up, phone calls, messages etc. What is going on? You'll have to read to find out 😉
This is told in mostly Veronica's POV but also a few others. I'm a huge fan of multiple POVs but I know some goodreaders are not.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley. Thank you!
May 17, 2018
"A heart-stopping thriller with shocking secrets that will keep you hooked" - not so much. The 'twists' were so blatantly obvious I actually thought that the reader was supposed to know certain things, but I guess it was supposed to be a surprise at the end. And almost nothing happened in this book. Lather, rinse, repeat... repeat... repeat.
December 12, 2017
The Accident by Dawn Goodwin
Title - The Accident
Author - Dawn Goodwin
First Published - October 17
Publisher - Aria
Pages - 416
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £9.99 Kindle - £0.99
ISBN - 178669963X
When tragedy strikes everything falls apart. Friendships are torn apart, marriages on the brink and a women left alone not knowing who to trust.
When Veronica and Tom's daughter Grace is involved in a tragic accident, things begin to quickly spiral out of control. With Veronica slowly pulling away from everyone who loves her and unable to accept what has happened. Things seem to be hopeless.
Then suddenly Veronica meets a women called Scarlett. Soon Veronica is going out again, laughing and smiling once again. Things seem to be getting back to how they once were. But is all as it seems? With this happy go lucky Veronica comes drinking, drugs and violence. Also something strange is happening. Grace's name appearing in the shower, gifts showing up, flowers. Is somone playing games or is Veronica lossing her mind?
I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first time I have heard of Dawn Goodwin and I must admit afer this book, I have added her name on my list of authors to keep an eye out for. I really did enjoy this book, I found the plot easy to follow and it kept me hooked right from the start. Whilst reading this book I had two theories as to what was going on and i'm glad to say I was correc this however, did not spoil the story for me as it can sometimes do.
I found I really liked the character of Veronica and really hoped she would be okay, and realise what was happening. I found myself really rooting for her.
I found Tom to be an annoying character although I don't know if this was just because of a personal dislike for the name Tom or because he seemed to have no idea what was going on with his wife.
I hated Falicity from the moment she came into the book and I must say I am glad she got her comupance in the end.
I have chosen to give this book five out of five stars and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for their seriously good next read. Very much deserves five stars. Another book added to my favorites category.
My Review can be found on:
Amazon (Once the book has been published)
Goodreads,
Net Galley,
My Blogs www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog....
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com
Links to my review can be found on:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Title - The Accident
Author - Dawn Goodwin
First Published - October 17
Publisher - Aria
Pages - 416
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £9.99 Kindle - £0.99
ISBN - 178669963X
When tragedy strikes everything falls apart. Friendships are torn apart, marriages on the brink and a women left alone not knowing who to trust.
When Veronica and Tom's daughter Grace is involved in a tragic accident, things begin to quickly spiral out of control. With Veronica slowly pulling away from everyone who loves her and unable to accept what has happened. Things seem to be hopeless.
Then suddenly Veronica meets a women called Scarlett. Soon Veronica is going out again, laughing and smiling once again. Things seem to be getting back to how they once were. But is all as it seems? With this happy go lucky Veronica comes drinking, drugs and violence. Also something strange is happening. Grace's name appearing in the shower, gifts showing up, flowers. Is somone playing games or is Veronica lossing her mind?
I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first time I have heard of Dawn Goodwin and I must admit afer this book, I have added her name on my list of authors to keep an eye out for. I really did enjoy this book, I found the plot easy to follow and it kept me hooked right from the start. Whilst reading this book I had two theories as to what was going on and i'm glad to say I was correc this however, did not spoil the story for me as it can sometimes do.
I found I really liked the character of Veronica and really hoped she would be okay, and realise what was happening. I found myself really rooting for her.
I found Tom to be an annoying character although I don't know if this was just because of a personal dislike for the name Tom or because he seemed to have no idea what was going on with his wife.
I hated Falicity from the moment she came into the book and I must say I am glad she got her comupance in the end.
I have chosen to give this book five out of five stars and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for their seriously good next read. Very much deserves five stars. Another book added to my favorites category.
My Review can be found on:
Amazon (Once the book has been published)
Goodreads,
Net Galley,
My Blogs www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog....
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com
Links to my review can be found on:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 206 reviews