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Pretty Little Things
It’s bad when the girls go missing.
It’s worse when the girls are found.
Six months ago, Charlotte almost lost everything. Now, she’s determined to keep her daughter, Elle, safe. So when local girls close to Elle in age and appearance begin to go missing, it’s her worst nightmare.
Charlotte’s fears are confirmed when a frantic search becomes a shocking murder investigation. The girls’ bodies have been found – half-buried, and with traces of mud and wildflowers under their fingernails.
As Charlotte’s obsession with keeping her daughter close pushes her marriage to the brink, local DI Madeleine Wood embarks on a gruelling search for the killer. And, as they dig deeper into the lives of the people they call friends and neighbours, they uncover secrets more terrible than they ever imagined…
It’s worse when the girls are found.
Six months ago, Charlotte almost lost everything. Now, she’s determined to keep her daughter, Elle, safe. So when local girls close to Elle in age and appearance begin to go missing, it’s her worst nightmare.
Charlotte’s fears are confirmed when a frantic search becomes a shocking murder investigation. The girls’ bodies have been found – half-buried, and with traces of mud and wildflowers under their fingernails.
As Charlotte’s obsession with keeping her daughter close pushes her marriage to the brink, local DI Madeleine Wood embarks on a gruelling search for the killer. And, as they dig deeper into the lives of the people they call friends and neighbours, they uncover secrets more terrible than they ever imagined…
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2018
888 people are currently reading
1755 people want to read
About the author
T.M.E. Walsh
6 books64 followersTania (T. M. E.) Walsh began writing full time after becoming a casualty to the recession in late 2008.
She successfully self-published the first two novels in the DCI Claire Winters series before being picked up by HQ - a division of HarperCollins - in 2015.
Tania is currently working on a new standalone thriller, and a fourth book in the DCI Claire Winters series.
In 2011 Tania was the winner of the Wannabe a Writer Blurb competition sponsored by Writing Magazine and judged by Matt Bates, the Fiction buyer for WHSmith Travel.
Tania has previously produced digital artwork that was published on a DVD-ROM for ImagineFX magazine's FXPosé section twice in the early and latter part of 2007, which has been published worldwide.
Tania lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and young daughter.
She successfully self-published the first two novels in the DCI Claire Winters series before being picked up by HQ - a division of HarperCollins - in 2015.
Tania is currently working on a new standalone thriller, and a fourth book in the DCI Claire Winters series.
In 2011 Tania was the winner of the Wannabe a Writer Blurb competition sponsored by Writing Magazine and judged by Matt Bates, the Fiction buyer for WHSmith Travel.
Tania has previously produced digital artwork that was published on a DVD-ROM for ImagineFX magazine's FXPosé section twice in the early and latter part of 2007, which has been published worldwide.
Tania lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and young daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 215 reviews
July 8, 2018
"It’s bad when the girls go missing. It’s worse when the girls are found......"
I've always said the more twisted, sick and gruesome a serial killer is in a story then that's my perfect book and oh my, did "Pretty Little Things" fulfil that requirement!
I especially like when chapters are dedicated to the killer and we hear their thoughts and emotions and the enticing opening chapter by the killer really was quite terrifying. I also like to consider my self to be quite broad minded about a story and this book does surprise you with its revelation of the killer so expect something a little far fetched.
Although it's difficult to discuss the storyline without actually giving the conclusion away (which really does come as a shock) this book is like a tale of two halves. The first half is almost two stories in one, a serial killing police procedural and a psychological thriller that are intricately linked without the reader knowing why. All my suspicions were thrown out the window during the latter part of the book, when you discover the truth and although it's difficult to comprehend the situation it is a realistic scenario - just not something that's easily understood. I've read quite a few books now with this storyline and have always thoroughly enjoyed them.
With plenty of tension and suspense, twists and turns, the author T.M.E. Walsh has produced a well written and very engaging novel that captivated me from start to finish and I'd happily recommend this brilliant book to dedicated crime readers young and old.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I've always said the more twisted, sick and gruesome a serial killer is in a story then that's my perfect book and oh my, did "Pretty Little Things" fulfil that requirement!
I especially like when chapters are dedicated to the killer and we hear their thoughts and emotions and the enticing opening chapter by the killer really was quite terrifying. I also like to consider my self to be quite broad minded about a story and this book does surprise you with its revelation of the killer so expect something a little far fetched.
Although it's difficult to discuss the storyline without actually giving the conclusion away (which really does come as a shock) this book is like a tale of two halves. The first half is almost two stories in one, a serial killing police procedural and a psychological thriller that are intricately linked without the reader knowing why. All my suspicions were thrown out the window during the latter part of the book, when you discover the truth and although it's difficult to comprehend the situation it is a realistic scenario - just not something that's easily understood. I've read quite a few books now with this storyline and have always thoroughly enjoyed them.
With plenty of tension and suspense, twists and turns, the author T.M.E. Walsh has produced a well written and very engaging novel that captivated me from start to finish and I'd happily recommend this brilliant book to dedicated crime readers young and old.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
March 29, 2019
From the first chapter you had me engrossed with this psychological thriller, it kept me on the edge of my sofa with its many twists.
The book starts with the police finding the bodies of 4 missing teenagers, buried with their faces showing.
Charlotte and Iain have a teenage daughter Elle. Charlotte is especially worried about her daughter’s safety, which causes friction between her and Iain. You have a sense of foreboding throughout the book which gave me goose bumps as I waited for something bad to happen at any time.
Loved the ending. I tried to guess several times who the murderer was. The reveal for me was a jaw dropping moment which I did not see coming!!
D.I Madeline was a great character trying to juggle a career and raise 2 children, I hope she is in another book and we get to know her better.
A chilling book that’s easy to lose yourself in. An author to look out for.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
The book starts with the police finding the bodies of 4 missing teenagers, buried with their faces showing.
Charlotte and Iain have a teenage daughter Elle. Charlotte is especially worried about her daughter’s safety, which causes friction between her and Iain. You have a sense of foreboding throughout the book which gave me goose bumps as I waited for something bad to happen at any time.
Loved the ending. I tried to guess several times who the murderer was. The reveal for me was a jaw dropping moment which I did not see coming!!
D.I Madeline was a great character trying to juggle a career and raise 2 children, I hope she is in another book and we get to know her better.
A chilling book that’s easy to lose yourself in. An author to look out for.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
June 1, 2018
Oh! I do love it when a thriller is truly gruesome and bloody. This didn't disappoint on that front! My family couldn't get a word out of me whilst I was reading this, not until I had finished. I fell under the spell of T. M. E. Walsh from page one, my first read from her - I must remedy that.
PRETTY LITTLE THINGS starts slowly but gains pace if you persevere, this slow-burn had me gripped and when the pace increased I enjoyed it even more. I can't get enough of serial killer thrillers, and this is an exciting one! Edge of my seat would be an understatement. And that finale, I was shocked! So bloody good! Bravo!
I would like to thank T. M. E. Walsh, HQ Digital, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
PRETTY LITTLE THINGS starts slowly but gains pace if you persevere, this slow-burn had me gripped and when the pace increased I enjoyed it even more. I can't get enough of serial killer thrillers, and this is an exciting one! Edge of my seat would be an understatement. And that finale, I was shocked! So bloody good! Bravo!
I would like to thank T. M. E. Walsh, HQ Digital, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2018
i thought i knew who the killer was. and that would have made my rating about 3 stars.
and yet - astonishingly - the real identity of the killer was even worse.
i'm not going to mince words:
FUCK.
THIS.
BOOK.
and i don't mean that in a jokey "omg fuck this book it was so good". no. genuinely, fuck this book to the deepest depths of hades.
i'm not surprised, but saddened that this was published. we do NOT need anymore fucking demonisation of mental illness in the world. is "mental health awareness" only for depression and anxiety? when it comes to the """scary""" illnesses, are they still fair play?
fuck you. FUCK YOU. mentally ill people are exponentially more likely to be VICTIMS rather than PERPETRATORS. the media presentation of * is overwhelmingly negative, and i have seen NO positive representations of it. seeing as itstems from child trauma, i think this is fucking unacceptable. blame victims of child abuse?? okay. great!
can you even think of any murderers who had that illness?? there's maybe a couple out of thousands of murderers out there. yet every single person with it is evil in the media.
i don't have the illness in this book. but i do have a mental illness with psychoses, and i know what it's like for everyone to present psychotic mental illnesses as negative. hell, the word "psychotic" is shorthand for "evil maniac", despite being an actual medical term to describe specific things (namely, delusions and hallucinations. and no, my hallucinations don't make me fucking murder people, although once i had a panic attack because i hallucinated mould on butter. yeah, i'm a fucking threat to society me like. watch out, percy's going to hallucinate mould on you!!)
tl;dr this book is the latest offering in an attempt to demonise mental illness, and i am fucking SICK of it. i am fucking DONE. my illness is not a fun plot twist or something that turns people into murderous monsters.
and yeah, i brought a bunch of personal shit into this review. but this book infuriated me to my very soul, my very core, that i had no choice. i'm not going to shut up about my illnesses, and i'm not going to be ashamed of them even though the entire media and books like this want me to be. i'm not going to stop calling out SHIT like this.
even if you couldn't give two flying fucks about mental illness, you have to admit that it's a lazy plot device by this point. it's not clever, it's not original, and it's not interesting. all it is, is washed-up, sad, and HARMFUL.
so this book can go into a dumpster fire.
that's me done. peace out.
*i put a spoiler tag on the name of the illness because i guess it's technically a spoiler and makes the identity of the killer obvious
and yet - astonishingly - the real identity of the killer was even worse.
i'm not going to mince words:
FUCK.
THIS.
BOOK.
and i don't mean that in a jokey "omg fuck this book it was so good". no. genuinely, fuck this book to the deepest depths of hades.
i'm not surprised, but saddened that this was published. we do NOT need anymore fucking demonisation of mental illness in the world. is "mental health awareness" only for depression and anxiety? when it comes to the """scary""" illnesses, are they still fair play?
fuck you. FUCK YOU. mentally ill people are exponentially more likely to be VICTIMS rather than PERPETRATORS. the media presentation of * is overwhelmingly negative, and i have seen NO positive representations of it. seeing as itstems from child trauma, i think this is fucking unacceptable. blame victims of child abuse?? okay. great!
can you even think of any murderers who had that illness?? there's maybe a couple out of thousands of murderers out there. yet every single person with it is evil in the media.
i don't have the illness in this book. but i do have a mental illness with psychoses, and i know what it's like for everyone to present psychotic mental illnesses as negative. hell, the word "psychotic" is shorthand for "evil maniac", despite being an actual medical term to describe specific things (namely, delusions and hallucinations. and no, my hallucinations don't make me fucking murder people, although once i had a panic attack because i hallucinated mould on butter. yeah, i'm a fucking threat to society me like. watch out, percy's going to hallucinate mould on you!!)
tl;dr this book is the latest offering in an attempt to demonise mental illness, and i am fucking SICK of it. i am fucking DONE. my illness is not a fun plot twist or something that turns people into murderous monsters.
and yeah, i brought a bunch of personal shit into this review. but this book infuriated me to my very soul, my very core, that i had no choice. i'm not going to shut up about my illnesses, and i'm not going to be ashamed of them even though the entire media and books like this want me to be. i'm not going to stop calling out SHIT like this.
even if you couldn't give two flying fucks about mental illness, you have to admit that it's a lazy plot device by this point. it's not clever, it's not original, and it's not interesting. all it is, is washed-up, sad, and HARMFUL.
so this book can go into a dumpster fire.
that's me done. peace out.
*i put a spoiler tag on the name of the illness because i guess it's technically a spoiler and makes the identity of the killer obvious
December 10, 2024
“Pretty Little Things”, by T.M.E. Walsh
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Well… I really can’t remember how this book got into my list. Perhaps because of its cover?
Anyways… I have to be honest.
I was hooked from the beginning.
I thought that the writing and the storytelling were great. It was compulsive. I really didn’t want to put the book down.
But the twist, which I didn’t see coming, was so disappointing. In my opinion it lacked originality.
But I can’t ignore the quality of the writing, hence my ratings.
There are some good red herrings, but I found a clue that one of the narrators was unreliable.
This was very entertaining and I will definitely read another book by this author.
e-book (Kobo): 379 pages (default), 103k words, 75 chapters (the book is divided into 3 parts)
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Well… I really can’t remember how this book got into my list. Perhaps because of its cover?
Anyways… I have to be honest.
I was hooked from the beginning.
I thought that the writing and the storytelling were great. It was compulsive. I really didn’t want to put the book down.
But the twist, which I didn’t see coming, was so disappointing. In my opinion it lacked originality.
But I can’t ignore the quality of the writing, hence my ratings.
There are some good red herrings, but I found a clue that one of the narrators was unreliable.
This was very entertaining and I will definitely read another book by this author.
e-book (Kobo): 379 pages (default), 103k words, 75 chapters (the book is divided into 3 parts)
June 1, 2018
Pretty Little Things by TME Walsh - wow!! This was my first book by this author but most definitely will not be the last!
I got hooked into this one fairly early on, the story has me needing to find out more. Charlotte was in a major car accident 6 months ago, leaving her extremely vulnerable. She lives in a small town where everyone knows each other outside of Milton Keynes. She lives with her husband and teenager daughter.
There is a murderer on the loose... teenage girls are being taken and now their graves have been discovered. The police are sure it is a local - but which one and why?
The ending of this book will have you gobsmacked.. it did me. I love that I was shocked - reading so many thrillers it doesn't happen as often as I would like.
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest views
I got hooked into this one fairly early on, the story has me needing to find out more. Charlotte was in a major car accident 6 months ago, leaving her extremely vulnerable. She lives in a small town where everyone knows each other outside of Milton Keynes. She lives with her husband and teenager daughter.
There is a murderer on the loose... teenage girls are being taken and now their graves have been discovered. The police are sure it is a local - but which one and why?
The ending of this book will have you gobsmacked.. it did me. I love that I was shocked - reading so many thrillers it doesn't happen as often as I would like.
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest views
June 19, 2018
I was very excited to read Pretty Little Things. A psychological thriller with unexpected twists described as the ultimate page turner? - I say, 'ANYTIME!'
The book starts really well - police trying to catch a serial killer when four dead bodies of teenage girls are found in a dumpster. The main story teller is a local woman - Charlotte who has a teenage daughter of her own and is sick with worries about her. Charlotte had a serious car accident six months ago and is lucky to be alive. She is trying to get her life back on track with a support from her husband and best friend.
For a thriller, I thought the pace of the book was a little slow to start with. There is a lot of focus on Charlotte and her family and hardly any insight into the police investigation. The pace picks up at about 40% and the turn of events gets exciting. There are new twists to the story and we are completely kept in the dark about who the killer is.
The big I-did-not-see-that-coming moment comes when the killer is finally revealed. I believe this is the main reason why most people rate this book with 5 stars. Without giving anything away, I will just say that the killer's identity is truly shocking and I admit that I was totally clueless myself. But unfortunately, the killer reveal twist felt too far fetched for me and I couldn't make myself buy the story, no matter how much I wanted to.
Nonetheless, the book is well written with a gruesome plotline and can make a good holiday read, if you can let your imagination go wild towards the end of the book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts really well - police trying to catch a serial killer when four dead bodies of teenage girls are found in a dumpster. The main story teller is a local woman - Charlotte who has a teenage daughter of her own and is sick with worries about her. Charlotte had a serious car accident six months ago and is lucky to be alive. She is trying to get her life back on track with a support from her husband and best friend.
For a thriller, I thought the pace of the book was a little slow to start with. There is a lot of focus on Charlotte and her family and hardly any insight into the police investigation. The pace picks up at about 40% and the turn of events gets exciting. There are new twists to the story and we are completely kept in the dark about who the killer is.
The big I-did-not-see-that-coming moment comes when the killer is finally revealed. I believe this is the main reason why most people rate this book with 5 stars. Without giving anything away, I will just say that the killer's identity is truly shocking and I admit that I was totally clueless myself. But unfortunately, the killer reveal twist felt too far fetched for me and I couldn't make myself buy the story, no matter how much I wanted to.
Nonetheless, the book is well written with a gruesome plotline and can make a good holiday read, if you can let your imagination go wild towards the end of the book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2018
While a terrible read, Pretty Little Things could make a superb subject for book club discussion. I can't explain why I rated this book so low without introducing spoilers and in fairness must admit that what repelled me might fascinate other readers. Though from early in the book I sometimes suspected the character who turns out to the responsible for the abduction and murders of the teenaged girls, I found the actual explanation of the perpetrator's motives totally unbelievable and unacceptable. So if you are looking forward to a straightforward mystery story, think twice. Now for my take, for those who have read the book or have decided not to.
April 5, 2020
I really have nothing to say but how fantastic this book was! It had plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing and the ending was EVERYTHING!! I did not to see it coming. Highly recommend to people that love a good mystery.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy of Pretty Little Things, a stand alone psychological thriller set in Buckinghamshire.
There is a serial killer on the loose in the villages around Milton Keynes and DI Madeleine Wood and her team are at a loss. With four teenage girls missing they suspect the worst but can't prove it. Charlotte Moore, a local woman, almost lost her life six months ago in a car crash and having had to re-evaluate all she holds dear is currently making her daughter, Elle's life a misery by smothering her with overprotectiveness.
I found Pretty Little Things to be a bit of a mixed bag for my personal taste but have rated it 4 stars because I recognise the novel's strengths and know that most readers will love it. The novel is mostly told in the first person by Chalotte Moore with a switch of perspective to DI Madeleine Woods' investigation from time to time and an occasional interjection from "Anon". I chose to read this novel as I love police procedurals but the police perspective is muted with Ms Walsh preferring to concentrate on Charlotte, so it's another novel, another unreliable narrator. I really struggle with this approach as flaky characters don't hold my interest and I get annoyed with their poor decision making.
This reservation aside, Ms Walsh does an excellent job of ramping up the tension and disguising the killer's identity and motive. I was clueless and had several suspects in mind as the novel progressed. The last few chapters are masterful as the full scale of events is revealed. It's fair to say you won't see it coming and while it may not be the most believable ending it fits the novel completely.
Charlotte Moore is obviously struggling with some kind of post traumatic stress after the accident and has behavioural issues. She's paranoid, mistrustful, erratic and extremely unlikeable. I felt no connection with her and groaned at most of her decision making so I can't say she is an enjoyable companion.
I'm glad I stuck with the novel as the ending makes it all worthwhile but I didn't always enjoy the journey.
There is a serial killer on the loose in the villages around Milton Keynes and DI Madeleine Wood and her team are at a loss. With four teenage girls missing they suspect the worst but can't prove it. Charlotte Moore, a local woman, almost lost her life six months ago in a car crash and having had to re-evaluate all she holds dear is currently making her daughter, Elle's life a misery by smothering her with overprotectiveness.
I found Pretty Little Things to be a bit of a mixed bag for my personal taste but have rated it 4 stars because I recognise the novel's strengths and know that most readers will love it. The novel is mostly told in the first person by Chalotte Moore with a switch of perspective to DI Madeleine Woods' investigation from time to time and an occasional interjection from "Anon". I chose to read this novel as I love police procedurals but the police perspective is muted with Ms Walsh preferring to concentrate on Charlotte, so it's another novel, another unreliable narrator. I really struggle with this approach as flaky characters don't hold my interest and I get annoyed with their poor decision making.
This reservation aside, Ms Walsh does an excellent job of ramping up the tension and disguising the killer's identity and motive. I was clueless and had several suspects in mind as the novel progressed. The last few chapters are masterful as the full scale of events is revealed. It's fair to say you won't see it coming and while it may not be the most believable ending it fits the novel completely.
Charlotte Moore is obviously struggling with some kind of post traumatic stress after the accident and has behavioural issues. She's paranoid, mistrustful, erratic and extremely unlikeable. I felt no connection with her and groaned at most of her decision making so I can't say she is an enjoyable companion.
I'm glad I stuck with the novel as the ending makes it all worthwhile but I didn't always enjoy the journey.
August 9, 2018
“It’s the blood that gets to you first. It’s messy, gets everywhere. Under your nails, in each line, every crevice. It’s a bitch to clean.”
Can we say - “Hello, Clarice?” I think even Dr. Lecter would be scared of the psycho killer that lies in lines of this story! Yes my friends, Pretty Little Things, is a sick, gory read that leaves you breathless and shaken.
“This is my garden, they are my seeds. Pretty things might grow here,”
It takes a lot for a book to leave me feeling unnerved; Pretty Little Things has succeeded triumphantly in this quest. It’s the kind of read that leaves you tingling, sweaty, nervous, heart racing and afraid to sleep in the dark. The story is terrifying due to the sheer fact that as the story unfolds you quickly realize that it could be more than just a story. It could be happening somewhere to someone’s daughter. Ekkk!!! Time to hide and lock away the kiddos!
This is not a read for the weak. I definitely recommend it if you want a twisty, horrific, mind-numbing, nightmare inducing read! This is one that deserves more than five stars; and I’m happy to say it’s a new addition to my favorite reads list!❤️❤️
Can we say - “Hello, Clarice?” I think even Dr. Lecter would be scared of the psycho killer that lies in lines of this story! Yes my friends, Pretty Little Things, is a sick, gory read that leaves you breathless and shaken.
“This is my garden, they are my seeds. Pretty things might grow here,”
It takes a lot for a book to leave me feeling unnerved; Pretty Little Things has succeeded triumphantly in this quest. It’s the kind of read that leaves you tingling, sweaty, nervous, heart racing and afraid to sleep in the dark. The story is terrifying due to the sheer fact that as the story unfolds you quickly realize that it could be more than just a story. It could be happening somewhere to someone’s daughter. Ekkk!!! Time to hide and lock away the kiddos!
This is not a read for the weak. I definitely recommend it if you want a twisty, horrific, mind-numbing, nightmare inducing read! This is one that deserves more than five stars; and I’m happy to say it’s a new addition to my favorite reads list!❤️❤️
November 14, 2018
This book started off good. It started off really good. Girls disappear. Bodies are found. Obviously there is a serial killer at work. Parallel to this story is the story of Charlotte dealing with the aftermath of a horrific car accident. Then the two stories seem to merge. But then, somewhere at about 75% of the way through, the wheels fall off the wagon and the wagon (analogy for the story) falls off the side of a cliff into the abyss of roll your eyes unbelievable. And while I realize that this is fiction and supposed to be a bit beyond realistic, this was too far to not leave a bitter taste in my mouth after finishing the book.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and HQ Digital in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and HQ Digital in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2018
I have a confession to make. Although ‘Pretty Little Things’ has been on my ever growing ‘TBR’ (To be read) pile for a while, I have never actually read it. On finishing reading ‘Pretty Little Things’ all I can think is, where have I been all this time? I absolutely flipping well loved reading it but more about that in a bit.
Charlotte is a bit of a funny old fish. When we first meet her, she is the mother of a girl called Elle and married to her husband. There was an accident a while ago and Charlotte appeared to be on the brink of losing everything. The accident has left Charlotte with some memory issues that affect her to this day and she often forgets things she is supposed to do. I did wonder if perhaps she was depressed as well because she does not come across as a happy bunny, she is still suffering as a result of the car accident and she lost someone close to her. As a consequence of losing someone close to her and the fact that four local girls were kidnapped and subsequently murdered, Charlotte has become even more fiercely protective of her daughter, to the point where she is stifling her. By that I mean that Charlotte seems to be determined to limit her daughter’s independence and her everyday life because she wants to keep her safe. Don’t get me wrong I totally understand the reasons behind it but Charlotte’s obsession with her daughter’s safety started to become a bit creepy for me. DI Madeleine Wood is in charge of a small team of detectives investigating the disappearance of the girls. She is one feisty, determined and sometimes stubborn lady. She puts all her energy into the case and this has led to conflict with her home life, which is suffering because she is so busy at work. I could understand why she was so dedicated to her work but I think that she had a bit of a wonky work/ life balance.
Oh my giddy aunt this was one hell of a scary rollercoaster ride of a read. Blimey oh riley there were more twists and turns in this book than you would find on a snakes and ladders board. I was also not expecting certain things to happen and when they did I felt as though I had been punched in the gut. The book began with a bang, the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. I became addicted to reading this book from the moment I picked my Kindle up the book had me under its spell for quite a while. I was so wrapped up in DI Wood’s investigation and Charlotte’s fears for her daughter, that I just had to keep reading. As a result the page numbers seemed to fly past in a blur and before I knew what was happening, I had finished the book, which I had mixed feelings about. Don’t get me wrong I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story ended but at the same time I was enjoyed the author’s writing style, the story and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue. I picked the book up at an ideal time because I was in need of a distraction and boy did this book distract me. Some of the details were perhaps a bit gruesome but that didn’t bother me as both of my parents were nurses, so you can imagine some of the slightly disgusting conversations that were had around our dinner table.
To conclude I have to say that this is a brilliant book and I really can’t understand why I hadn’t actually read it before. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I can’t wait to read more from this fantastic author. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board just has to be a resounding and well deserved 5* out of 5*.
Charlotte is a bit of a funny old fish. When we first meet her, she is the mother of a girl called Elle and married to her husband. There was an accident a while ago and Charlotte appeared to be on the brink of losing everything. The accident has left Charlotte with some memory issues that affect her to this day and she often forgets things she is supposed to do. I did wonder if perhaps she was depressed as well because she does not come across as a happy bunny, she is still suffering as a result of the car accident and she lost someone close to her. As a consequence of losing someone close to her and the fact that four local girls were kidnapped and subsequently murdered, Charlotte has become even more fiercely protective of her daughter, to the point where she is stifling her. By that I mean that Charlotte seems to be determined to limit her daughter’s independence and her everyday life because she wants to keep her safe. Don’t get me wrong I totally understand the reasons behind it but Charlotte’s obsession with her daughter’s safety started to become a bit creepy for me. DI Madeleine Wood is in charge of a small team of detectives investigating the disappearance of the girls. She is one feisty, determined and sometimes stubborn lady. She puts all her energy into the case and this has led to conflict with her home life, which is suffering because she is so busy at work. I could understand why she was so dedicated to her work but I think that she had a bit of a wonky work/ life balance.
Oh my giddy aunt this was one hell of a scary rollercoaster ride of a read. Blimey oh riley there were more twists and turns in this book than you would find on a snakes and ladders board. I was also not expecting certain things to happen and when they did I felt as though I had been punched in the gut. The book began with a bang, the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. I became addicted to reading this book from the moment I picked my Kindle up the book had me under its spell for quite a while. I was so wrapped up in DI Wood’s investigation and Charlotte’s fears for her daughter, that I just had to keep reading. As a result the page numbers seemed to fly past in a blur and before I knew what was happening, I had finished the book, which I had mixed feelings about. Don’t get me wrong I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story ended but at the same time I was enjoyed the author’s writing style, the story and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue. I picked the book up at an ideal time because I was in need of a distraction and boy did this book distract me. Some of the details were perhaps a bit gruesome but that didn’t bother me as both of my parents were nurses, so you can imagine some of the slightly disgusting conversations that were had around our dinner table.
To conclude I have to say that this is a brilliant book and I really can’t understand why I hadn’t actually read it before. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I can’t wait to read more from this fantastic author. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board just has to be a resounding and well deserved 5* out of 5*.
June 17, 2018
What a fantastic psychological thriller! I have not read any of this author’s previous books but will certainly be catching up on them now. Where do I start? Charlotte was involved in an accident where she nearly lost her life. Her memory has been affected by this and she is suffering from PSTD from the accident. In the village where she lives with her husband and teenage daughter, young girls are going missing and Charlotte becomes obsessed about her daughter’s safety as it seems that there is a serial killer on the loose. DI Madeleine Wood and her team are investigating the case and she is so dedicated that her home life is suffering.
This book grabs you from the start and you will not be able to put it down. It is told mainly by Charlotte, with chapters from Madeleine and from Anon. This book is so addictive , so unpredictable, with a massive twist near the end that will blow your mind! If you are a lover of psychological thrillers then this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
This book grabs you from the start and you will not be able to put it down. It is told mainly by Charlotte, with chapters from Madeleine and from Anon. This book is so addictive , so unpredictable, with a massive twist near the end that will blow your mind! If you are a lover of psychological thrillers then this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 4, 2018
I have to say this book left me speechless. I can’t tell you why as it will spoil it!
I was intrigued by other reviews that said about a twist at the end but I wasn’t expecting it when it happened.
Charlotte is recovering from a near fatal car accident and is trying to get her life back on track. Her husband and teenage daughter are very supportive but her memory lapses are starting to try their patience.
Petty arguments start up and as more and more teenage girls go missing, and are then found murdered, Charlotte becomes very over-protective of her daughter, Elle.
There’s another person who is trying to get close to Charlotte and her husband really doesn’t trust him but to Charlotte he seems harmless until she starts to get her memory back about the accident.
This is a real edge of your seat thriller and I loved the ending.
Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I was intrigued by other reviews that said about a twist at the end but I wasn’t expecting it when it happened.
Charlotte is recovering from a near fatal car accident and is trying to get her life back on track. Her husband and teenage daughter are very supportive but her memory lapses are starting to try their patience.
Petty arguments start up and as more and more teenage girls go missing, and are then found murdered, Charlotte becomes very over-protective of her daughter, Elle.
There’s another person who is trying to get close to Charlotte and her husband really doesn’t trust him but to Charlotte he seems harmless until she starts to get her memory back about the accident.
This is a real edge of your seat thriller and I loved the ending.
Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 1, 2018
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review..
I enjoyed reading T.M.E Walsh's three books in the DCI Claire Winters series, So I was excited when I heard the author was due to release a new book featuring DI Madeleine Wood.
Pretty Little Fears is not for the squeamish. There was a killer at work targeting teenage girls in the small villages around Milton Keynes. Four girls were missing until they were found by kids in a disused holiday village. The girls dead bodies were buried up to their faces like a Macabre bed.
Nurse Charlotte Monroe was recovering from a traumatic car crash which nearly killed her. Charlotte could not remember what happened before the crash, six months she was still suffering memory lapses and could not always remember conversations. When one of friends daughter goes missing, Charlotte starts to fear for the safety of her daughter Elle.
Charlotte immediately wants to wrap Elle in cotton wool, stopping Elle from attending a friend's party and postponing Elles birthday party. Charlotte husband Iain disagrees, and thinks she is too immersed in the murderers causing problems in their already ailing marriage. In the background is John who was driving behind Charlotte before the crash, and witnessed the other driver in a HGV talking on his mobile at the time of the accident. . Iain took a dislike to John and told her not to see him again., which she ignored.
Newly promoted DI Madeleine Wood is given the task of investigating the killings. She is married with two children who she never sees. Madeline is annoyed she was assigned the case because the other DI's would not touch the case.
Phew, there is so much more I could tell you, but I don't want to ruin the story. It was cleverly crafted story with multiple layers. There were so many suspects to choose from, I blamed everyone but the real killer. The story was told from the POV of Charlotte. Madeleine and the killer who described themselves as anonymous.
I felt sorry for Charlotte who was obviously suffering from PTSD, However I did not like her. She was very insecure and on the brink of hysteria, I could understand why she wanted to protect Elle but she could not see her behaviour was alienating Elle. I liked Madeleine and her team, I hope if there is another book we find out more about her personal life.
OMG, the conclusion of this story was out of this world. The killers confession left me feeling cold, the dialogue was so well written it will stay with me in the days to come. I recommend this book, if I could award more than five stars I would.
December 28, 2022
I was a bit gutted the way it ended but it was amazing to read. Hopefully there will be a second book
June 12, 2018
Wow. This is a real page turner, I honestly could not put it down. It’s a really clever story and the characters are so well written you really do empathise with them. It has a jealous husband, a stalker-ish person, a potential affair, a solid police procedural, teenagers and a murderer. And the ending was a real shock, absolutely loved it. This really did have a proper, unexpected twist.....oohh brilliant.
May 29, 2018
I loved every minute of this pacy crime thriller. Split over multiple points of view, including DI Madeleine Wood, village local Charlotte and the chilling ‘Anon’, the book kept me turning the pages.
The story starts with the discovery of four missing teenaged girls - a story that’s gripped the small village. Understandably, mother Charlotte goes to great lengths to protect her own teenaged daughter whilst trying to overcome the after-effects of a terrible accident. I don’t want to give anything else away but I’m sure you’ll enjoy every twist and turn of this book as I did. I felt like I was part of the investigation, looking at the clues along the way and I couldn’t be sure of ‘who did it’ until the end.
The story starts with the discovery of four missing teenaged girls - a story that’s gripped the small village. Understandably, mother Charlotte goes to great lengths to protect her own teenaged daughter whilst trying to overcome the after-effects of a terrible accident. I don’t want to give anything else away but I’m sure you’ll enjoy every twist and turn of this book as I did. I felt like I was part of the investigation, looking at the clues along the way and I couldn’t be sure of ‘who did it’ until the end.
March 23, 2021
I stopped reading at 90%.
Annoying characters and then the plot turned utterly ridiculous. So ridiculous that I couldn’t finish.
Annoying characters and then the plot turned utterly ridiculous. So ridiculous that I couldn’t finish.
April 17, 2024
This book took me a while to get into, but this was me, as I was listening to the audiobook and I wasn't fully engaged. That's why my rating isn't as high, however that ending! Jeez, that brought me up in my seat, shock and all. MAN!!!!
This book was equally scary and horrifying! I have chills still thinking of the last few chapters. Sadly, however, I saw on Goodreads a spoiler (wasn't even hidden) and I kicked myself for seeing it! So although I sort of knew what was coming, I didn't at the same time!!!! The reveal broke my heart, watching the realisation of the destruction that unfolded, was painful for both to see.
A story about dead children, well it's never easy and this one was a tough pill to swallow.
Watching the story from Charlotte's point of view took a bit of getting used to, as there was no obvious link to anything apart from the fact she had a daughter...I wish I had left it at that! But how did her marriage and family troubles, her car crash, John, Savannah, Paul and Ruby all link?!
The 'Anon' chapters created an intense feeling and one where things were spiralling and ramping up quickly!
As I said before I was struggling a bit with concentration, so I may have missed key information, which I will need to go back and read again. But those last chapters made it worthwhile and then some! It was an interesting twist, and play on things. I thought it was treated delicately and with care.
I will be checking be checking out more by this author. She knows how to weave a tale, make me feel angry and care about characters at the same time! Although, some characters I didn't care for!! But she knows how to twist things so they don't always seem how she has presented it to us.
This book was equally scary and horrifying! I have chills still thinking of the last few chapters. Sadly, however, I saw on Goodreads a spoiler (wasn't even hidden) and I kicked myself for seeing it! So although I sort of knew what was coming, I didn't at the same time!!!! The reveal broke my heart, watching the realisation of the destruction that unfolded, was painful for both to see.
A story about dead children, well it's never easy and this one was a tough pill to swallow.
Watching the story from Charlotte's point of view took a bit of getting used to, as there was no obvious link to anything apart from the fact she had a daughter...I wish I had left it at that! But how did her marriage and family troubles, her car crash, John, Savannah, Paul and Ruby all link?!
The 'Anon' chapters created an intense feeling and one where things were spiralling and ramping up quickly!
As I said before I was struggling a bit with concentration, so I may have missed key information, which I will need to go back and read again. But those last chapters made it worthwhile and then some! It was an interesting twist, and play on things. I thought it was treated delicately and with care.
I will be checking be checking out more by this author. She knows how to weave a tale, make me feel angry and care about characters at the same time! Although, some characters I didn't care for!! But she knows how to twist things so they don't always seem how she has presented it to us.
August 31, 2018
Jesus Christ, I'm not used to write reviews cause I don't know what to say about such a brilliant book. But here we go.
It's the first book of this author that I had the pleasure to read and will not be the last one.
First of all, what incredible writing. I was stuck in my Kindle app, devouring everything she had to give me. And at the same time, I didn't wanted to read to fast and finish.
The characters... all that I love most about thriller are well-built characters, and she knew how to create her characters, each with a guilty scent, and misterious secrets, and lies... Ugh.
The whole story was amazing. That's all.
I love it.
It's the first book of this author that I had the pleasure to read and will not be the last one.
First of all, what incredible writing. I was stuck in my Kindle app, devouring everything she had to give me. And at the same time, I didn't wanted to read to fast and finish.
The characters... all that I love most about thriller are well-built characters, and she knew how to create her characters, each with a guilty scent, and misterious secrets, and lies... Ugh.
The whole story was amazing. That's all.
I love it.
June 4, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Ohhhhhh my word! I'm not afraid of gruesome novels by any means, but this one is Gruesome with a capital G! Four young girls went missing, and now four young girls have been found. Dead. With the formal identification of the bodies taking place, locals (as well as the Police) have their fingers crossed that they aren't the bodies of the missing girls. But they are. Who in their right mind would kill four young girls, then put them in a place where the killer knows that they will be found sooner rather than later?
Local parents are keeping their daughters close to them after recent events, but with the teenagers not taking the situation seriously, the safety of their daughters become an obsession rather than a necessity. Can the police find out the truth? Will the police find the killer before they find another body? Time is of the essence...
I am so, so, so glad that I wasn't eating whilst reading this book as oh em gee, the storyline is severely dark and twisted! The killer wanted to describe how he murdered the girls as they were proud of their 'achievement' as it were. I on the other hand, would have felt a lot less nauseous if the descriptions didn't then turn into such vivid imagery in my head! I'm not complaining, obviously, but it is very gruesome.
It has been a while since I have read a novel which completely funked over my head, so when 'Pretty Little Things' completely funked over my head more than once, I was over the moon in such a weird, weird way. The psychological element of this book was on point! So many dead ends leading to unanswered questions, with the author dropping red herrings left right and centre to keep the readers on their toes; I felt like I was constantly going round in circles! I had no idea who or what to believe, all I wanted to know was who killed those girls.
I felt sorry for Charlotte several times as her life recently hadn't exactly been plain sailing. To be honest, her life had actually been wobbling on the edge - she nearly lost everything and the aftermath was still causing her multiple problems in her every day life, as well as her relationships with her husband and daughter. It must have been tough for Charlotte, that's for sure!
Reading 'Pretty Little Things' was like being on a roundabout from start to finish. The theme of the book may have been highly disturbing and very graphic, yet it worked incredibly well with the high level of intensity. Without giving anything away, there was a part of T.M.E.Walsh's novel which BLEW MY MIND! Totally unexpected. Extremely shocking. And by golly was it addictive. That part came out of nowhere, taking the shock value of the storyline away above the clouds. I would love to write 'OMGGGGGGG YOU MUST READ THE PART WHEREEEEE' but I can't, so please do trust me when I say that you need to expect the unexpected with 'Pretty Little Things' as there are tons of discoveries to be made along the way.
Jaw-dropping, spine tingling, disturbingly graphic yet unbelievably addictive, 'Pretty Little Things' will make you dizzy with excitement, whilst also keeping you on your toes until the very end. I may have been way out of my comfort zone with this book, but I can assure you that T.M.E.Walsh has now found another fan and I cannot wait to read more from this author if 'Pretty Little Things' is anything to go by!
Ohhhhhh my word! I'm not afraid of gruesome novels by any means, but this one is Gruesome with a capital G! Four young girls went missing, and now four young girls have been found. Dead. With the formal identification of the bodies taking place, locals (as well as the Police) have their fingers crossed that they aren't the bodies of the missing girls. But they are. Who in their right mind would kill four young girls, then put them in a place where the killer knows that they will be found sooner rather than later?
Local parents are keeping their daughters close to them after recent events, but with the teenagers not taking the situation seriously, the safety of their daughters become an obsession rather than a necessity. Can the police find out the truth? Will the police find the killer before they find another body? Time is of the essence...
I am so, so, so glad that I wasn't eating whilst reading this book as oh em gee, the storyline is severely dark and twisted! The killer wanted to describe how he murdered the girls as they were proud of their 'achievement' as it were. I on the other hand, would have felt a lot less nauseous if the descriptions didn't then turn into such vivid imagery in my head! I'm not complaining, obviously, but it is very gruesome.
It has been a while since I have read a novel which completely funked over my head, so when 'Pretty Little Things' completely funked over my head more than once, I was over the moon in such a weird, weird way. The psychological element of this book was on point! So many dead ends leading to unanswered questions, with the author dropping red herrings left right and centre to keep the readers on their toes; I felt like I was constantly going round in circles! I had no idea who or what to believe, all I wanted to know was who killed those girls.
I felt sorry for Charlotte several times as her life recently hadn't exactly been plain sailing. To be honest, her life had actually been wobbling on the edge - she nearly lost everything and the aftermath was still causing her multiple problems in her every day life, as well as her relationships with her husband and daughter. It must have been tough for Charlotte, that's for sure!
Reading 'Pretty Little Things' was like being on a roundabout from start to finish. The theme of the book may have been highly disturbing and very graphic, yet it worked incredibly well with the high level of intensity. Without giving anything away, there was a part of T.M.E.Walsh's novel which BLEW MY MIND! Totally unexpected. Extremely shocking. And by golly was it addictive. That part came out of nowhere, taking the shock value of the storyline away above the clouds. I would love to write 'OMGGGGGGG YOU MUST READ THE PART WHEREEEEE' but I can't, so please do trust me when I say that you need to expect the unexpected with 'Pretty Little Things' as there are tons of discoveries to be made along the way.
Jaw-dropping, spine tingling, disturbingly graphic yet unbelievably addictive, 'Pretty Little Things' will make you dizzy with excitement, whilst also keeping you on your toes until the very end. I may have been way out of my comfort zone with this book, but I can assure you that T.M.E.Walsh has now found another fan and I cannot wait to read more from this author if 'Pretty Little Things' is anything to go by!
February 25, 2025
This is my first read by this author but it won't be my last I really enjoyed it.
It was well written with a compelling story line that really hooked me in right from the first page and made me want to keep reading until I found d out who the Killer was. I think if I wasn't doing this as a buddy read i would have read it in one sitting.
I loved it and the twists at the end were so good
It was well written with a compelling story line that really hooked me in right from the first page and made me want to keep reading until I found d out who the Killer was. I think if I wasn't doing this as a buddy read i would have read it in one sitting.
I loved it and the twists at the end were so good
November 28, 2019
Audio version of this book 📚- Was looking forward to reading this after looking at the reviews but it just didn’t do it for me, narration was ok
June 10, 2018
I have been itching to read T.M.E Walsh’s DCI Claire Winters series for a while now and after finishing Pretty Little Things I have bumped them right to the top of my TBR pile. Seriously, why haven’t I got round to reading them sooner? Pretty Little Things is one heck of a psychological thriller, T.ME. Walsh writes so well and she kept me flicking the pages.
At the beginning of the novel, we delve straight into the mind of a serial killer. This was a seriously creepy opening that set the tone of the book straight away; I was utterly gripped from the first sentence. We then move forward to where the police make a shocking discovery. They have finally located the bodies of four young girls who were previously reported missing. Charlotte, who is one of the central characters in this book is distraught as she is friends with the mother of one of the murdered girls. But as Charlotte and the rest of the town come to terms with the discovery, another young girl goes missing, after all this time is the killer back?
T.M.E Walsh certainly delivers on tension. She gets into the heads of her characters really well, especially Charlotte. Undoubtedly she is fearful for her daughter’s safety given what has happened in the town and this is one of the main sources of tension in the book as her daughter rebels against her. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them and there was a strong sense of foreboding which carried through right to the end of the novel, you know that things aren’t going to be plain sailing for Charlotte and her family.
There were times where I thought I had worked out who the killer was. But there was a twist which really took me by surprise, it was one of those flooring moments which really leaves you praising the author. At this point I’m finding this review really difficult to write as I don’t want to give anything away, but let me tell you, it’s one of those twists which will have you looking back. I thought it was weaved really well into the story.
One character who I would have liked to have learnt more about is DI Madeleine Wood, who is the officer in charge of the case. I enjoyed the scenes which featured her, so I’m hoping that she may return in a future book. But primarily this story is Claire’s and it is definitely more of a psychological thriller than a police procedural.
This was an absolutely riveting read from T.M.E Walsh. I’m really looking forward to catching up on her previous books and she is a writer who is now firmly on my radar.
At the beginning of the novel, we delve straight into the mind of a serial killer. This was a seriously creepy opening that set the tone of the book straight away; I was utterly gripped from the first sentence. We then move forward to where the police make a shocking discovery. They have finally located the bodies of four young girls who were previously reported missing. Charlotte, who is one of the central characters in this book is distraught as she is friends with the mother of one of the murdered girls. But as Charlotte and the rest of the town come to terms with the discovery, another young girl goes missing, after all this time is the killer back?
T.M.E Walsh certainly delivers on tension. She gets into the heads of her characters really well, especially Charlotte. Undoubtedly she is fearful for her daughter’s safety given what has happened in the town and this is one of the main sources of tension in the book as her daughter rebels against her. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them and there was a strong sense of foreboding which carried through right to the end of the novel, you know that things aren’t going to be plain sailing for Charlotte and her family.
There were times where I thought I had worked out who the killer was. But there was a twist which really took me by surprise, it was one of those flooring moments which really leaves you praising the author. At this point I’m finding this review really difficult to write as I don’t want to give anything away, but let me tell you, it’s one of those twists which will have you looking back. I thought it was weaved really well into the story.
One character who I would have liked to have learnt more about is DI Madeleine Wood, who is the officer in charge of the case. I enjoyed the scenes which featured her, so I’m hoping that she may return in a future book. But primarily this story is Claire’s and it is definitely more of a psychological thriller than a police procedural.
This was an absolutely riveting read from T.M.E Walsh. I’m really looking forward to catching up on her previous books and she is a writer who is now firmly on my radar.
June 7, 2018
Nice one.
Seriously, it’s a wicked plot. The solution comes completely out of left field, it’s a bit like being slapped unexpectedly up the side of the head with a really fat wet kipper, and then just standing there completely dumbstruck. *Bows down to the author*
It’s fair to say that things haven’t been the same for Charlotte since she was involved in a nearly fatal accident a few months ago. Her face is scarred, which makes her feel insecure, and her memory is as reliable as a leaky tap. The difference is you can fix or replace a tap, whereas Charlotte can’t be fixed and sometimes has no idea whether she is coming or going.
Her insecurities and post-traumatic stress have become consistently worse, especially because she refuses to seek any medical attention. Her husband has started to look elsewhere for comfort, her daughter resents the control issues her mother has, and Charlotte herself has become too attached to the man who saved her life.
Everything comes to a head when the corpses of young girls are found. There is a predator on the loose and Charlotte is determined to make sure her daughter doesn’t become one of his next victims, because the killer has already struck too close to home for comfort.
Walsh writes a compelling piece of crime with fascinating characters, and the plotting is done with an almost criminal air of nonchalance. With a kind of cheeky disregard for what the reader might have been expecting, which is incredibly clever from a plot perspective.
I will definitely be reading more by this author in future. I always appreciate a devious mind and a storyteller who is willing to bend the rules in order to deliver a read one won’t easily forget. It messes with your head, but in a nice evil way.
*I received a copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley*
Seriously, it’s a wicked plot. The solution comes completely out of left field, it’s a bit like being slapped unexpectedly up the side of the head with a really fat wet kipper, and then just standing there completely dumbstruck. *Bows down to the author*
It’s fair to say that things haven’t been the same for Charlotte since she was involved in a nearly fatal accident a few months ago. Her face is scarred, which makes her feel insecure, and her memory is as reliable as a leaky tap. The difference is you can fix or replace a tap, whereas Charlotte can’t be fixed and sometimes has no idea whether she is coming or going.
Her insecurities and post-traumatic stress have become consistently worse, especially because she refuses to seek any medical attention. Her husband has started to look elsewhere for comfort, her daughter resents the control issues her mother has, and Charlotte herself has become too attached to the man who saved her life.
Everything comes to a head when the corpses of young girls are found. There is a predator on the loose and Charlotte is determined to make sure her daughter doesn’t become one of his next victims, because the killer has already struck too close to home for comfort.
Walsh writes a compelling piece of crime with fascinating characters, and the plotting is done with an almost criminal air of nonchalance. With a kind of cheeky disregard for what the reader might have been expecting, which is incredibly clever from a plot perspective.
I will definitely be reading more by this author in future. I always appreciate a devious mind and a storyteller who is willing to bend the rules in order to deliver a read one won’t easily forget. It messes with your head, but in a nice evil way.
*I received a copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley*
June 12, 2018
It’s the blood that gets to you first.
YIKES YIKES AND MORE YIKES!!!!!
T.M.E. Walsh has a way with words and helping to visualize a scene. Something's I maybe didn’t want to visualize though. YIKES. I liked the story a lot. It starts out fantastic and even though I am not a mom, I can certainly relate to Charlotte. You feel her despair and her desperation. I couldn’t imagine a serial killer being loose in my town. She is desperate to keep her daughter safe and along the way she does lose it a little but what loving mom wouldn’t? What mom doesn’t want to keep her daughter safe?
“The killer’s targeting young girls,” Hicks said. “Maybe that’s the fantasy, the thrill, young bodies.”
Anon is sick and twisted. Unlike any character I've read about. What I didn’t see coming was just who ANON was. Looking back, I should of seen the signs, but again this isn’t like any other book ever read and I didn’t see it while I was reading it. This is a mind bending psychological thriller that is worth the read. There are a few parts in the middle that lag a little and you may want to put the book down but don’t give up. Don’t stop reading because it is worth it. After this review I plan to go find another book from this author.
YIKES YIKES AND MORE YIKES!!!!!
T.M.E. Walsh has a way with words and helping to visualize a scene. Something's I maybe didn’t want to visualize though. YIKES. I liked the story a lot. It starts out fantastic and even though I am not a mom, I can certainly relate to Charlotte. You feel her despair and her desperation. I couldn’t imagine a serial killer being loose in my town. She is desperate to keep her daughter safe and along the way she does lose it a little but what loving mom wouldn’t? What mom doesn’t want to keep her daughter safe?
“The killer’s targeting young girls,” Hicks said. “Maybe that’s the fantasy, the thrill, young bodies.”
Anon is sick and twisted. Unlike any character I've read about. What I didn’t see coming was just who ANON was. Looking back, I should of seen the signs, but again this isn’t like any other book ever read and I didn’t see it while I was reading it. This is a mind bending psychological thriller that is worth the read. There are a few parts in the middle that lag a little and you may want to put the book down but don’t give up. Don’t stop reading because it is worth it. After this review I plan to go find another book from this author.
June 20, 2018
4.5 stars for a really brilliant thriller..It seemed that this was going to be pretty straightforward but oh no it wasn’t at all ..what an ending!! I was totally shocked and oh how I love that. Many many thanks to T.M.E, Walsh for writing a book with a truly gobsmacking twist I loved it.
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