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A Double Life
"A gripping, intense, stunningly written novel of psychological suspense from the award-winning author of Under the Harrow Claire is a hardworking doctor living a simple, quiet life in London. She is also the daughter of the most notorious murder suspect in the country, though no one knows it. Nearly thirty years ago, while Claire and her infant brother slept upstairs, a brutal crime was committed in her family's townhouse. Her father's car was found abandoned near the English Channel the next morning, with bloodstains on the front seat. Her mother insisted she'd seen him in the house that night, but his powerful, privileged friends maintained his innocence. The first lord accused of murder in more than a century, he has been missing ever since"--
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2018
1167 people are currently reading
13532 people want to read
About the author
Flynn Berry
8 books1,513 followersFlynn Berry is the New York Times bestselling author of Trust Her (out June 2024), Northern Spy, A Double Life, and Under the Harrow. Northern Spy was a Reese’s Book Club Pick and chosen as one of the ten best thrillers of the year by The New York Times and the Washington Post, and Under the Harrow won the Edgar Award for best first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,029 reviews
April 27, 2018
3.5 stars
Thirty years ago, while Claire and her baby brother slept, a brutal attack took place in their home. An attack that left a young woman dead and their Mother injured. Claire's father's car was found abandoned with blood on the interior of the car. Her Mother, who was wounded in the attack, always stated that Claire's father was in the home that night. Her father's friends painted a different picture stating that Claire's father was innocent, and that Claire's Mother was the unstable one. Claire's father has been missing since that night, leaving so many questions unanswered.
Throughout the years, Claire has been contacted by the Police to inform her that her father has been sighted in various locations. None of them ever seem to pan out. He appears to have vanished. Claire and her brother have new names and no one in her current life know that she is the child of a notorious murder suspect except for one friend.
When she receives news that her father may have been sighted again, Claire decides that enough is enough. She wants to know the truth. She has been watching his friends for years. Could they be a link to her father? Is her father innocent? Is her father a killer? Will she ever learn the truth?
This is a psychological thriller about one woman's search for the truth. It's also about class, lies, secrets, living a double life, and of course, the search for the truth. This book is well-written and nicely paced. I found that the more I thought about this book, the more I enjoyed it. It does make one wonder; how would you react/feel if one of your parents was accused of a horrible crime and you never see them again. How would this affect you and your life?
I received a copy of this book from Viking and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Thirty years ago, while Claire and her baby brother slept, a brutal attack took place in their home. An attack that left a young woman dead and their Mother injured. Claire's father's car was found abandoned with blood on the interior of the car. Her Mother, who was wounded in the attack, always stated that Claire's father was in the home that night. Her father's friends painted a different picture stating that Claire's father was innocent, and that Claire's Mother was the unstable one. Claire's father has been missing since that night, leaving so many questions unanswered.
Throughout the years, Claire has been contacted by the Police to inform her that her father has been sighted in various locations. None of them ever seem to pan out. He appears to have vanished. Claire and her brother have new names and no one in her current life know that she is the child of a notorious murder suspect except for one friend.
When she receives news that her father may have been sighted again, Claire decides that enough is enough. She wants to know the truth. She has been watching his friends for years. Could they be a link to her father? Is her father innocent? Is her father a killer? Will she ever learn the truth?
This is a psychological thriller about one woman's search for the truth. It's also about class, lies, secrets, living a double life, and of course, the search for the truth. This book is well-written and nicely paced. I found that the more I thought about this book, the more I enjoyed it. It does make one wonder; how would you react/feel if one of your parents was accused of a horrible crime and you never see them again. How would this affect you and your life?
I received a copy of this book from Viking and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
September 22, 2018
2.5*
Sometimes a book can capture your attention immediately, grabbing you tightly from the start. Leaving you to fully expect a great read you can sink your teeth into. And sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just cannot get that connection. Unfortunately, with this read I fell into the latter category.
Claire grew up having to shoulder the knowledge that her father may have been a killer. She hasn't seen or heard from him since she was a child. Is he on the run because he was guilty? Or is he hiding until he can prove his innocence!
Though Claire has managed to create a successful life with a high-end profession, she's never given up wanting him to face justice and either prove his innocence...or guilt, if that's the case. Is she even prepared to see him after all these years?
I have to admit I had struggle somewhat with this book. It never quite came into focus for me until the final 10%.
The majority of the reviews for this book are extremely positive so don’t let this review sway you. It might be the perfect fit for you!
A buddy read with Susanne🌸
Thank you to both Penguin Publishing Group - Viking, NetGalley and Edelweiss and Flynn Berry for an ARC to read and review.
Sometimes a book can capture your attention immediately, grabbing you tightly from the start. Leaving you to fully expect a great read you can sink your teeth into. And sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just cannot get that connection. Unfortunately, with this read I fell into the latter category.
Claire grew up having to shoulder the knowledge that her father may have been a killer. She hasn't seen or heard from him since she was a child. Is he on the run because he was guilty? Or is he hiding until he can prove his innocence!
Though Claire has managed to create a successful life with a high-end profession, she's never given up wanting him to face justice and either prove his innocence...or guilt, if that's the case. Is she even prepared to see him after all these years?
I have to admit I had struggle somewhat with this book. It never quite came into focus for me until the final 10%.
The majority of the reviews for this book are extremely positive so don’t let this review sway you. It might be the perfect fit for you!
A buddy read with Susanne🌸
Thank you to both Penguin Publishing Group - Viking, NetGalley and Edelweiss and Flynn Berry for an ARC to read and review.
April 11, 2018
Loosely based on the Lord Lucan case, A Double Life is told from the adult perspective of one of the surviving children who was in the house when her father murdered her nanny, beat her mother and vanished. How does such horror affect one’s life? In this instance, finding her father and desperately wanting to know the truth is an all consuming obsession. Claire, a physician living in London, is understandably a mess. Each time she is notified about a possible sighting of her father, she is tossed back into a cycle of intense rumination leading to dubious machinations. In addition to all of this, we are asked to consider class, privilege and the concept of a double life. Is Claire the efficient physician or the obsessed neurotic? Is her father the upper crust Englishman or the cold blooded killer? What constitutes identity? Is there actually such a thing as a facade? In all, this is a satisfying read despite a scene that was puzzling and the last few pages being superfluous.
July 27, 2018
Evil transcends all privilege, all class, and all sophisticated personalities.
Flynn Berry presents a storyline based on a famous unsolved crime in the twentieth century involving Lord Lucan. Lord Lucan was to have killed their nanny and brutally attacked his wife. And he simply disappeared.
Spin the revolving stage and we meet Claire, a physician, who has a parallel background to the Lord Lucan unsavory story. As a child, Claire came upon the body of their nanny in a pool of blood in the kitchen. Her small footprints led to a corner of the room where she crouched in terror. Her mother was badly beaten and she ran down the street to a neighborhood pub for help. Claire's brother, Robbie, was just a toddler at the time.
Claire's father, Colin Spenser, did a Lord Lucan disappearance as well. His car was later found in a field abandoned with bloodstained seats. Afterwards, Claire's mother moves to a completely different locale with her children. The reader sits with thoughts of Colin's grotesque deed. Was it really Colin or was he set up some how? And where in the world has he escaped to?
The focus of the story sets upon Claire and her innate desire to find out the truth about her father. Her intense drive gives energy to the story in the beginning. But then I began to feel the weight of it as Claire trudged through page after page. She became irritating and her tactics seemed a bit childish and off-putting. I couldn't even imagine her as a physician. Too many mundane take-out meals and dull scenarios.
If you read Under the Harrow you will experience a vast difference in the build-up and intensity. Outside of Claire, we really didn't get inside the other characters' heads and walk around enough. So many wasted opportunities to kick this one into high gear. A worthy read, but could have been so much more.
I received a copy of A Double Life through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to Penguin Books and to Flynn Berry for the opportunity.
Flynn Berry presents a storyline based on a famous unsolved crime in the twentieth century involving Lord Lucan. Lord Lucan was to have killed their nanny and brutally attacked his wife. And he simply disappeared.
Spin the revolving stage and we meet Claire, a physician, who has a parallel background to the Lord Lucan unsavory story. As a child, Claire came upon the body of their nanny in a pool of blood in the kitchen. Her small footprints led to a corner of the room where she crouched in terror. Her mother was badly beaten and she ran down the street to a neighborhood pub for help. Claire's brother, Robbie, was just a toddler at the time.
Claire's father, Colin Spenser, did a Lord Lucan disappearance as well. His car was later found in a field abandoned with bloodstained seats. Afterwards, Claire's mother moves to a completely different locale with her children. The reader sits with thoughts of Colin's grotesque deed. Was it really Colin or was he set up some how? And where in the world has he escaped to?
The focus of the story sets upon Claire and her innate desire to find out the truth about her father. Her intense drive gives energy to the story in the beginning. But then I began to feel the weight of it as Claire trudged through page after page. She became irritating and her tactics seemed a bit childish and off-putting. I couldn't even imagine her as a physician. Too many mundane take-out meals and dull scenarios.
If you read Under the Harrow you will experience a vast difference in the build-up and intensity. Outside of Claire, we really didn't get inside the other characters' heads and walk around enough. So many wasted opportunities to kick this one into high gear. A worthy read, but could have been so much more.
I received a copy of A Double Life through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to Penguin Books and to Flynn Berry for the opportunity.
June 6, 2018
There was a simplicity aspect to the book that I really enjoyed. The author didn't try to make this an overly complicated mystery with so many twists and turns that end up hurting the story rather than enhancing it. The book itself is only around 270 pages so the story doesn't drag on and on as you are wondering what happened to the father who disappeared after a woman was murdered. Ended up finishing this in a day as it was an enjoyable read and I find it fascinating that the book was loosely based on a true story.
Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
July 29, 2018
4 appealed to me stars
My reviews can be found here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
This was the first Flynn Barry book that I have read and I truly have to say I will be back for more.
A horrendous murder has been committed, a well heeled father, Colin Spenser, has been accused, blood is later found in his abandoned car, and his children and wife are left to pick up the pieces. Colin, a Lord in the House of Lords, is suspected of murder and yet he is missing. Has he killed himself after this supposed case of mistaken identity or he is the actual cold blooded murderer that some believe him to be? Is his wife, a witness to his being in the house the night of the murder, or is she mistaken, as she is discredited by Colin's friends, the monied and powerful?
Clare is Colin's daughter. She has grown up to become an accomplished doctor and yet, the shadow of her father hangs over her head. Her brother is also affected by his father's supposed actions and turns to a life of drugs and rehab. Every time Clare hears of a sighting of her father, she becomes more and more convinced he is alive and living free. She is obsessed with finding him and bringing him to justice wondering always is he alive and feeling always that yes, indeed he is.
I truly enjoyed this book as I traveled with Clare along the road to finally find this man who is her father. Is he truly the murderer she thinks him to be, and is he still alive, walking about in freedom while Clare and her family are shackled to what they believe he did? Granted there were some excessive parts to Clare's character but I could clearly see her need for justice and the compulsion she experienced, the need to know. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." (Sun Tzu) For Clare everyday not knowing and living in fear was a battle. Would she be able to achieve the result she so desired?
Thank you to Flynn Barry, Viking, and Edelweiss for a copy of this appealing book.
My reviews can be found here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
This was the first Flynn Barry book that I have read and I truly have to say I will be back for more.
A horrendous murder has been committed, a well heeled father, Colin Spenser, has been accused, blood is later found in his abandoned car, and his children and wife are left to pick up the pieces. Colin, a Lord in the House of Lords, is suspected of murder and yet he is missing. Has he killed himself after this supposed case of mistaken identity or he is the actual cold blooded murderer that some believe him to be? Is his wife, a witness to his being in the house the night of the murder, or is she mistaken, as she is discredited by Colin's friends, the monied and powerful?
Clare is Colin's daughter. She has grown up to become an accomplished doctor and yet, the shadow of her father hangs over her head. Her brother is also affected by his father's supposed actions and turns to a life of drugs and rehab. Every time Clare hears of a sighting of her father, she becomes more and more convinced he is alive and living free. She is obsessed with finding him and bringing him to justice wondering always is he alive and feeling always that yes, indeed he is.
I truly enjoyed this book as I traveled with Clare along the road to finally find this man who is her father. Is he truly the murderer she thinks him to be, and is he still alive, walking about in freedom while Clare and her family are shackled to what they believe he did? Granted there were some excessive parts to Clare's character but I could clearly see her need for justice and the compulsion she experienced, the need to know. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." (Sun Tzu) For Clare everyday not knowing and living in fear was a battle. Would she be able to achieve the result she so desired?
Thank you to Flynn Barry, Viking, and Edelweiss for a copy of this appealing book.
December 2, 2018
I was a big fan of Flynn Berry’s “Under the Harrow,” so I was delighted to score an ARC of her newest book, “A Double Life.” The novel is loosely based on the real life mystery of Lord Lucan, a British peer who disappeared after being suspected of the brutal murder of his children’s nanny and the assault of his wife during an ongoing custody dispute. To this day, it is unclear if he committed suicide or escaped England with the help of well-placed friends. He has never been found.
In Berry’s telling, the bare bones of the Lucan story are the same. The father purportedly kills the nanny, beats the wife and disappears. His children Claire and Robbie are traumatized. Claire is the narrator and has spent her life obsessed with her father. She is a doctor now who spends her spare time raking the internet for clues and stalking her father’s privileged childhood friends, hoping for any evidence that they might know where he is and give him away. Her unhinged and completely unethical stalking finally lead to a potential payoff - will Claire be able to discover if her father is alive or dead, and if alive.....what then?
I enjoyed this in a squirmy sort of way because Claire is so off-the-rails OBSESSED.....but I also completely understood why and could empathize. The ending was not my fave, but overall, I found this to be a pretty decent light thriller. Not up to “Under the Harrow,” but a good sophomore effort.
Recommended to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers that aren’t too intense. This is a 3.5 but rounding up to 4 for keeping me entertained.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for an Advance Reader Copy of this novel. My review, however, is based on the hardcover edition.
In Berry’s telling, the bare bones of the Lucan story are the same. The father purportedly kills the nanny, beats the wife and disappears. His children Claire and Robbie are traumatized. Claire is the narrator and has spent her life obsessed with her father. She is a doctor now who spends her spare time raking the internet for clues and stalking her father’s privileged childhood friends, hoping for any evidence that they might know where he is and give him away. Her unhinged and completely unethical stalking finally lead to a potential payoff - will Claire be able to discover if her father is alive or dead, and if alive.....what then?
I enjoyed this in a squirmy sort of way because Claire is so off-the-rails OBSESSED.....but I also completely understood why and could empathize. The ending was not my fave, but overall, I found this to be a pretty decent light thriller. Not up to “Under the Harrow,” but a good sophomore effort.
Recommended to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers that aren’t too intense. This is a 3.5 but rounding up to 4 for keeping me entertained.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for an Advance Reader Copy of this novel. My review, however, is based on the hardcover edition.
October 25, 2018
I really enjoyed this thriller, though it definitely straddled the border between thriller and literary novel. In fact, I would think that some thriller fans might find this to be just a bit tedious for their taste. It is somewhat of a slow burn, though I found myself to be quite involved from early on.
It is based on the real life crime case of Lord Lucan, a British royal who was accused of killing his children's nanny and attempting to kill his estranged wife. He disappeared and no one knows for sure what ever happened to him. The author of this tale uses the daughter of Lucan (here named Richard Spenser) who was 8 at the time of the murder. Though the real Lord Lucan had three children, there are only Claire and her younger brother Robbie in this tale. At the age of 34, she is still trying to find out what happened to her father and hopes to bring him to justice, though there still is some doubt as to whether he actually did the crime.
The author mixes the present day search with the retelling of the murder and the aftermath, focusing quite a bit on the time when Claire was 16 and beginning to explore what happened and trying to learn about her father. This thriller has more the feel of a Joyce Carol Oates or Joyce Maynard, with significant character development, and the "thrilling" elements often take lesser importance that the experiences and feelings of the characters. A lot is written about the effect of the crime on the rest of the family. Although Claire is relatively successful as a physician, her younger brother has significant addiction problems.
I found most of this story added up superbly. It was rare that I questioned what was happening in the plot or the thought processes of the characters. And she ended it rather well, I thought, avoiding the melodramatic damsel in extreme distress that can overshadow an otherwise well-written thriller.
It is based on the real life crime case of Lord Lucan, a British royal who was accused of killing his children's nanny and attempting to kill his estranged wife. He disappeared and no one knows for sure what ever happened to him. The author of this tale uses the daughter of Lucan (here named Richard Spenser) who was 8 at the time of the murder. Though the real Lord Lucan had three children, there are only Claire and her younger brother Robbie in this tale. At the age of 34, she is still trying to find out what happened to her father and hopes to bring him to justice, though there still is some doubt as to whether he actually did the crime.
The author mixes the present day search with the retelling of the murder and the aftermath, focusing quite a bit on the time when Claire was 16 and beginning to explore what happened and trying to learn about her father. This thriller has more the feel of a Joyce Carol Oates or Joyce Maynard, with significant character development, and the "thrilling" elements often take lesser importance that the experiences and feelings of the characters. A lot is written about the effect of the crime on the rest of the family. Although Claire is relatively successful as a physician, her younger brother has significant addiction problems.
I found most of this story added up superbly. It was rare that I questioned what was happening in the plot or the thought processes of the characters. And she ended it rather well, I thought, avoiding the melodramatic damsel in extreme distress that can overshadow an otherwise well-written thriller.
June 27, 2018
Flynn Berry's debut novel Under the Harrow was one of the more pleasant reading surprises I've had this year; I felt like I'd found a hidden gem that ticked all of my thriller boxes (atmospheric, dark, is more of a character study than a fast-paced page-turner). A Double Life just reinforced my appreciation of Berry's style. I can see where her books won't work for all thriller lovers, but they really work for me.
Loosely based on the Lord Lucan case, A Double Life follows Claire, whose father murdered her nanny, beat her mother, and vanished without a trace when she was a child. Now Claire is a successful doctor in London, but each possible sighting of her father sends her into such a state of anxiety she finally decides to seek answers for herself.
A Double Life is first and foremost a psychologically driven character study, which examines class and privilege and the role that plays in the crime that was committed. This kind of reminded me of something like The Secret History or Social Creature or The Riot Club, but instead of telling the story from an insular perspective that indulges in the fantasy of living that kind of possibly elite life, it's like if The Secret History had been narrated by Richard's mother, or someone else who was close enough to touch that lifestyle without actually living it. Consequently it's not quite as glitzy and glamorous as any of those other stories mentioned, but it gives us a protagonist who's easy to relate to and root for. The plot is gripping as well, though it's not particularly twisty - but that's fine as Berry's writing keeps you engaged throughout.
Overall I have to say that I did prefer Under the Harrow to A Double Life since the former had more to offer in the way of atmosphere with its setting in the English countryside, but I did really enjoy this as well. If you prefer your thrillers to be character-driven and lean a bit more toward the literary side of things, I'd highly recommend giving Flynn Berry a try.
Thank you to Netgalley, Viking, and Flynn Berry for the advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Loosely based on the Lord Lucan case, A Double Life follows Claire, whose father murdered her nanny, beat her mother, and vanished without a trace when she was a child. Now Claire is a successful doctor in London, but each possible sighting of her father sends her into such a state of anxiety she finally decides to seek answers for herself.
A Double Life is first and foremost a psychologically driven character study, which examines class and privilege and the role that plays in the crime that was committed. This kind of reminded me of something like The Secret History or Social Creature or The Riot Club, but instead of telling the story from an insular perspective that indulges in the fantasy of living that kind of possibly elite life, it's like if The Secret History had been narrated by Richard's mother, or someone else who was close enough to touch that lifestyle without actually living it. Consequently it's not quite as glitzy and glamorous as any of those other stories mentioned, but it gives us a protagonist who's easy to relate to and root for. The plot is gripping as well, though it's not particularly twisty - but that's fine as Berry's writing keeps you engaged throughout.
Overall I have to say that I did prefer Under the Harrow to A Double Life since the former had more to offer in the way of atmosphere with its setting in the English countryside, but I did really enjoy this as well. If you prefer your thrillers to be character-driven and lean a bit more toward the literary side of things, I'd highly recommend giving Flynn Berry a try.
Thank you to Netgalley, Viking, and Flynn Berry for the advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2022
A Double Life
is a dull tale about Claire, a doctor and traumatized woman still struggling with the violence her father inflicted on her family over two decades ago.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Based on a true crime case from 1970s London, Claire's father was accused of murdering the nanny and brutally assaulting his wife.
He absconded the country with the help of his privileged, entitled friends.
Claire is consumed with discovering her father's whereabouts, an obsession that has her leading a double life of her own, establishing contact with the daughter of one of her father's former friends on a false pretense that she may discover where the family is hiding her father.
When she discovers where her father is, and tracks him down, she uncovers the reason why her mother and nanny were attacked, but retribution may be hard to come by when her father is reluctant to be brought to justice.
First, if you're expecting a suspenseful story, this is not for you.
Readers are told who the bad guy is.
The mystery or lack of one is where he is. After a few pages, you won't care either way.
Second, Claire is neither likable or unlikeable. She's more annoying; her narrator voice constantly jumps back and forth from present to past.
This is incredibly distracting. What editor approved of this POV?
One minute she's discussing her patients and the next paragraph she's reminiscing about the ice cream her father brought her the day before he went ballistic. WTF?
The continuous ping ponging threw me out of the story when I'm expected to be engrossed in it.
Third, the prose was very dry, lacking emotion or warmth.
Claire as a character is underdeveloped and not fleshed out. She sounds a little unhinged at times, but that may be due to her brother's opioid addiction and her obsessive quest to find her father.
It was hard for me to believe she was focused and intelligent enough to become a doctor.
It seemed that stalking her father's friends and concocting stories to insinuate herself into their inner circle was her full time job.
The premise sounded intriguing but an uneven writing style, poorly developed characters and a confusing tone made this a dud.
I'd say the only positive was this was a short read but I found myself struggling to finish the less than 300 pages.
Never a good sign.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Based on a true crime case from 1970s London, Claire's father was accused of murdering the nanny and brutally assaulting his wife.
He absconded the country with the help of his privileged, entitled friends.
Claire is consumed with discovering her father's whereabouts, an obsession that has her leading a double life of her own, establishing contact with the daughter of one of her father's former friends on a false pretense that she may discover where the family is hiding her father.
When she discovers where her father is, and tracks him down, she uncovers the reason why her mother and nanny were attacked, but retribution may be hard to come by when her father is reluctant to be brought to justice.
First, if you're expecting a suspenseful story, this is not for you.
Readers are told who the bad guy is.
The mystery or lack of one is where he is. After a few pages, you won't care either way.
Second, Claire is neither likable or unlikeable. She's more annoying; her narrator voice constantly jumps back and forth from present to past.
This is incredibly distracting. What editor approved of this POV?
One minute she's discussing her patients and the next paragraph she's reminiscing about the ice cream her father brought her the day before he went ballistic. WTF?
The continuous ping ponging threw me out of the story when I'm expected to be engrossed in it.
Third, the prose was very dry, lacking emotion or warmth.
Claire as a character is underdeveloped and not fleshed out. She sounds a little unhinged at times, but that may be due to her brother's opioid addiction and her obsessive quest to find her father.
It was hard for me to believe she was focused and intelligent enough to become a doctor.
It seemed that stalking her father's friends and concocting stories to insinuate herself into their inner circle was her full time job.
The premise sounded intriguing but an uneven writing style, poorly developed characters and a confusing tone made this a dud.
I'd say the only positive was this was a short read but I found myself struggling to finish the less than 300 pages.
Never a good sign.
February 14, 2021
The 7th Earl of Lucan was a British aristocrat who tried to murder his wife, accidently murdered the nanny, while his young children slept upstairs. This was headline news in 1974. After the murder, he then disappeared, never to be seen again and his body was never found. The author, Flynn Berry, inspired by the real-life case, does a very good job in imagining just what his children and wife went through after the horrifying ordeal. It is a thrilling story and I applaud the writer on her understanding of how violence can destroy many lives in its aftermath, especially children. Four stars.
July 31, 2018
She said she heard noises coming from downstairs so she went to see what they were. When she reached the landing she found her estranged husband with a length of pipe outfitted with tape.
He attacked her forcing his fist down her throat.
He said he was walking past the house when he witnessed the fight. He came in to aid his wife and the burglar ran away.
The evidence
Although his DNA is present at the scene of the crime and blood is found in his car 70 miles away there is no DNA underneath her fingernails indicating a close struggle. He is a Lord and has friends in high places that are willing to vouch for him and secure his alibi. During the inquest her reputation is brought into question including concerns over her mental health and her sexual proclivities.
A Double Life is about the aftermath of such a tragedy. Based on the real life story of Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan who disappeared in 1974 after attacking his estranged wife and bludgeoning the nanny to death. The narrator Claire is the daughter. It is now over 20 years later but she and her brother still bear the wounds. They have been forced to flee the country and change their names in order to avoid all of the media attention. Both have been psychologically traumatized. Robbie is addicted to pain killers and Claire is obsessed with finding her father. She finds it difficult to reconcile the father she knew with the monster who slayed her beloved Emma. Perhaps when she finds him he could prove his innocence. Maybe her mother was mistaken.
A Double Life does not read so much as a mystery as it does a domestic thriller. It has a depth that is not found in your typical fast-paced thriller. If you don't mind a slow burn, A Double Life may be just the book for you.
November 26, 2018
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A tale set in England. Years ago, an English peer murdered his maid and ran off. No one ever able to find out where he went. For years the man's wife looked for him, but got no cooperation from the man's friends.
Now it's years later, and her life all but ruined ( well, middle class) the man's daughter infiltrates his world and finds him fairly easily.
Unlikable characters, and a mundane plot.
A tale set in England. Years ago, an English peer murdered his maid and ran off. No one ever able to find out where he went. For years the man's wife looked for him, but got no cooperation from the man's friends.
Now it's years later, and her life all but ruined ( well, middle class) the man's daughter infiltrates his world and finds him fairly easily.
Unlikable characters, and a mundane plot.
July 20, 2018
This novel is based on the disappearance of Lord Lucan. However, although it is inspired by a real-life event, the characters are fictional and events are told from the point of view of Claire, a thirty four year old doctor in London. Claire started life with another name, and another life, until her father fled the country.
This novel looks at the aftermath of a crime and how it affected Claire and her young brother. Very few people know the truth about Claire’s real identity. Opening up to others has led to bad experiences for her and so she is very much alone, and lonely. Sometimes, it seems that life goes on, much as usual. She is a doctor in a busy practice, coping with issues, such as her brother’s reliance on prescription drugs, work issues and her obsession with her father.
Every now and then, there is a sighting of her father. If the police take it seriously, they may approach her and ask for a DNA swab, to try to prove that the possible suspect is the man that Claire last saw when she was eight. When this occurs, it brings all of those memories back into focus and increases her attempts to find out what really happened.
I found this quite a moving read. At essence, it is the story of a marriage between Claire’s parents – of class differences and a cover up, that, literally, saw the upper classes close ranks against Claire’s mother and who saw the perpetrator of a crime as the victim. The question is, how far will Claire go to learn the truth? An interesting, well written and thought provoking novel, which would be ideal for reading groups, as it has so much to discuss. I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
This novel looks at the aftermath of a crime and how it affected Claire and her young brother. Very few people know the truth about Claire’s real identity. Opening up to others has led to bad experiences for her and so she is very much alone, and lonely. Sometimes, it seems that life goes on, much as usual. She is a doctor in a busy practice, coping with issues, such as her brother’s reliance on prescription drugs, work issues and her obsession with her father.
Every now and then, there is a sighting of her father. If the police take it seriously, they may approach her and ask for a DNA swab, to try to prove that the possible suspect is the man that Claire last saw when she was eight. When this occurs, it brings all of those memories back into focus and increases her attempts to find out what really happened.
I found this quite a moving read. At essence, it is the story of a marriage between Claire’s parents – of class differences and a cover up, that, literally, saw the upper classes close ranks against Claire’s mother and who saw the perpetrator of a crime as the victim. The question is, how far will Claire go to learn the truth? An interesting, well written and thought provoking novel, which would be ideal for reading groups, as it has so much to discuss. I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
October 11, 2018
Claire is a London physician living under an assumed identity. Time and again she finds herself disappointed when police tell her that their new search to find her missing father has not yielded any results. Twenty six years ago, while Claire and her brother were asleep upstairs in their London home, her father brutally murdered Claire’s nanny and then attempted to murder her mother. He fled the scene and was never apprehended. But Claire is determined to find her father and then discover the truth about what really happened that night.
This psychological thriller alternates between the events that happened in the past and the current investigation that Claire has begun on her own. It is a story of class, privilege, deception, and the memories that a child holds about her family. It’s hard to put this one down as Claire inches closer to discovering the truth.
Thank you to First to Read, Viking Press an imprint of Penguin Random House, and author Flynn Berry for giving me the opportunity to read this well written crime novel!
This psychological thriller alternates between the events that happened in the past and the current investigation that Claire has begun on her own. It is a story of class, privilege, deception, and the memories that a child holds about her family. It’s hard to put this one down as Claire inches closer to discovering the truth.
Thank you to First to Read, Viking Press an imprint of Penguin Random House, and author Flynn Berry for giving me the opportunity to read this well written crime novel!
July 23, 2018
This is apparently based on the real life story of the disappearance of Lord Lucan. I have never heard of the story before but it didn't interfere with reading the book. Claire was a young child when someone broke into her home, killed her nanny and brutally attacked her mother. Her mother fingered her father, a Lord, who disappeared that night. He had been helped by his well placed friends and was never heard of again.
It's been 26 years and Claire has never stopped looking for him. She looks for him on the streets, on trains and everywhere she goes. She spies on his friends and makes friends with their children trying to find information on him. Her brother has reacted differently and has sunk into a life of addiction. Claire is a GP working for public health.
I found the story a little pedestrian and certainly not that exciting. Claire really became quite obnoxious and annoying. I wasn't rooting for her at all although I did root for her brother. It was so-so and OK for people who don't want a lot of excitement.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
It's been 26 years and Claire has never stopped looking for him. She looks for him on the streets, on trains and everywhere she goes. She spies on his friends and makes friends with their children trying to find information on him. Her brother has reacted differently and has sunk into a life of addiction. Claire is a GP working for public health.
I found the story a little pedestrian and certainly not that exciting. Claire really became quite obnoxious and annoying. I wasn't rooting for her at all although I did root for her brother. It was so-so and OK for people who don't want a lot of excitement.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
July 16, 2018
I was lucky enough to be sent an arc of this remarkable novel. A Double Life is more than a taut thriller that will keep you poised at the edge of your seat. It's a deeply considered examination of women, violence, class, privilege, and memory. While the background of the characters was new to me—an upper class London family—the theme of a daughter searching for information about her violent father resonated, and I was captured by the story and pitch perfect prose.
August 8, 2018
It was domestic violence. There was nothing uncommon about it, nothing mysterious. A woman is murdered by her partner two times every week in this country. Eight a month, more than a hundred a year. No one would have cared about my father, no one would know his name, if he hadn’t had money
This feels like a book confused by its own identity: part of it wants to be saying something serious about the links between class privilege and violence against women; the other half keeps remembering that it’s being filed under crime/thriller so suddenly works in some half-hearted suspense tropes. And the left-field ending comes up literally out of nowhere with a ‘what? who?’ finale.
It’s a shame as Berry could have done something special with this story: using the Lord Lucan case as a springboard she asks questions about what it means to grow up thinking that your father might be a murderer, who used his rich and powerful friends to disappear. The thinly disguised Bullingdon Club and other accents make the first part of this feel akin to A Very English Scandal, another story of sex, lies and murder in the higher echelons of British society.
But then too much turns on the ‘obsessed woman’ trope as our GP heroine is soon spying, blackmailing and disguising herself like something out of a cheap thriller. In the end neither part quite works: the thoughtful part sinks beneath the unconvincing and unbelievable; the thriller part fails to thrill.
Great potential, but ultimately unsatisfying: 2.5 stars rounded up.
February 26, 2021
I love Flynn Berry books! "Under the Harrow" was absolutely one of her best!
In each of her books, the narrator is on a mission to solve a crime while trying to understand the situation and study the people effected or involved. She always captures her readers with the technique and in depth super sleuthing as if they are involved in the search.
This is a chilling psychological thriller that looks at how children's healing can be stifled when exposed to a tragedy in the family. Claire and Robbie were small children when their father walked into their house killed the nanny and attempted to kill their mom. Unable to understand what took place, she has spent the last 30 years questioning where her father is and how he could have committed such a crime.
Claire is a very successful doctor now and contends with her brother's drug dependency while working. When the police report to her they may have a sighting of her father, she sets out on a mission to locate him first.
A powerful additive is her father is a Lord from the United Kingdom hierarchy, which was thought that his privileged friends aided and abetted him. This story was inspired by one of the most notorious unsolved crimes of the twentieth century-the Lord Lucan case...
In each of her books, the narrator is on a mission to solve a crime while trying to understand the situation and study the people effected or involved. She always captures her readers with the technique and in depth super sleuthing as if they are involved in the search.
This is a chilling psychological thriller that looks at how children's healing can be stifled when exposed to a tragedy in the family. Claire and Robbie were small children when their father walked into their house killed the nanny and attempted to kill their mom. Unable to understand what took place, she has spent the last 30 years questioning where her father is and how he could have committed such a crime.
Claire is a very successful doctor now and contends with her brother's drug dependency while working. When the police report to her they may have a sighting of her father, she sets out on a mission to locate him first.
A powerful additive is her father is a Lord from the United Kingdom hierarchy, which was thought that his privileged friends aided and abetted him. This story was inspired by one of the most notorious unsolved crimes of the twentieth century-the Lord Lucan case...
June 3, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars. At 20% this was in danger of being a DNF for me but by 25% it got a little better, enough so to keep reading. I found the flashbacks to be presented in a very confusing way. I would be well into the flashback and just generally confused about what I was reading before I even realized it was a flashback. I also thought there were a lot of character names past and present to keep track of and that added to the confusion. At the end of the day, I just didn’t feel like there was much to this story. The father may have murdered the nanny and tried to murder the ex wife, he had possibly been spotted several times over the years after he disappeared, the daughter befriends someone who may have info and tries to find him and then there is a little bit left to the story after that. It was all pretty boring for me really. No big suspense and no real twists or turns. I think the premise was interesting, which is why I read it, but there wasn’t much behind it. The best thing about this book is that it was short.
2.5 stars. At 20% this was in danger of being a DNF for me but by 25% it got a little better, enough so to keep reading. I found the flashbacks to be presented in a very confusing way. I would be well into the flashback and just generally confused about what I was reading before I even realized it was a flashback. I also thought there were a lot of character names past and present to keep track of and that added to the confusion. At the end of the day, I just didn’t feel like there was much to this story. The father may have murdered the nanny and tried to murder the ex wife, he had possibly been spotted several times over the years after he disappeared, the daughter befriends someone who may have info and tries to find him and then there is a little bit left to the story after that. It was all pretty boring for me really. No big suspense and no real twists or turns. I think the premise was interesting, which is why I read it, but there wasn’t much behind it. The best thing about this book is that it was short.
August 10, 2018
loved Under the Harrow so I was excited to read this and it did not in any way disappoint.
I love how Flynn Berry creates and breathes life and soul into a character- in this case Claire, whose father killed her Nanny, attempted to kill her Mother then disappeared seemingly into thin air…
There is such an atmosphere here as Claire researches and travels , takes care of her brother, goes into a kind of life catatonic state every time the police believe they’ve caught up with her errant Father . I love how its really not about whether he’s guilty or not but about how the lives he left behind him are indelibly altered. His friends who covered for him, their children and at the heart of it all Claire who watches and waits and plans..
Themes of privilege, victim blaming, history and consequences run throughout the narrative and it is at turns chilling and emotionally resonant. Beautifully written, stand out characters and a hugely immersive sense of place and time make A Double Life an absolute must read.
Highly recommended.
I love how Flynn Berry creates and breathes life and soul into a character- in this case Claire, whose father killed her Nanny, attempted to kill her Mother then disappeared seemingly into thin air…
There is such an atmosphere here as Claire researches and travels , takes care of her brother, goes into a kind of life catatonic state every time the police believe they’ve caught up with her errant Father . I love how its really not about whether he’s guilty or not but about how the lives he left behind him are indelibly altered. His friends who covered for him, their children and at the heart of it all Claire who watches and waits and plans..
Themes of privilege, victim blaming, history and consequences run throughout the narrative and it is at turns chilling and emotionally resonant. Beautifully written, stand out characters and a hugely immersive sense of place and time make A Double Life an absolute must read.
Highly recommended.
August 15, 2018
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Flynn Berry’s first novel was like stepping into an inviting pool that seemed shallow, finding yourself over your head, and then taking pleasure in submersion. These days I’m drawn less and less to psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators who may or may not be the real killer or in a coma or an alcoholic blackout at a given moment or whatever, but Under the Harrow never struck me as quite fitting into that category and, until the end, nor did A Double Life. Yes, there’s a murder and a mysterious past and yes, there is a narrator with a secret name who does some very tense, questionable things that made me chew my fingernails a bit, but Berry’s skill as a writer helps transcend the straight-up thriller genre. I adore her dark and evocative place descriptions that put the reader exactly where she wants them, as well as the delectability of her fine details that make the most basic situations richer than the sum of their parts.
Which makes it all the more painful that I can’t give this a higher rating, due to the ludicrous twist at the end that almost wholly negates everything the reader has been immersed in until the last few pages. It’s as if someone leaned over Berry's shoulder to tell her that every good thriller isn't complete without a nonsensical twist at the end, so she'd better get on it. While I was loving this even more than Under the Harrow, the bizarre and disappointing ending tainted everything that came before it. I believe that this would have been a far better book without the events of the last four pages.
Flynn Berry’s first novel was like stepping into an inviting pool that seemed shallow, finding yourself over your head, and then taking pleasure in submersion. These days I’m drawn less and less to psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators who may or may not be the real killer or in a coma or an alcoholic blackout at a given moment or whatever, but Under the Harrow never struck me as quite fitting into that category and, until the end, nor did A Double Life. Yes, there’s a murder and a mysterious past and yes, there is a narrator with a secret name who does some very tense, questionable things that made me chew my fingernails a bit, but Berry’s skill as a writer helps transcend the straight-up thriller genre. I adore her dark and evocative place descriptions that put the reader exactly where she wants them, as well as the delectability of her fine details that make the most basic situations richer than the sum of their parts.
Which makes it all the more painful that I can’t give this a higher rating, due to the ludicrous twist at the end that almost wholly negates everything the reader has been immersed in until the last few pages. It’s as if someone leaned over Berry's shoulder to tell her that every good thriller isn't complete without a nonsensical twist at the end, so she'd better get on it. While I was loving this even more than Under the Harrow, the bizarre and disappointing ending tainted everything that came before it. I believe that this would have been a far better book without the events of the last four pages.
August 9, 2018
Loosely based on a true crime, A Double Life introduces us to Claire. As a young child, her nanny was killed and her mother attacked in a shocking act of violence. Her fathers car is found abandoned with bloodstains on the seat but has vanished into thin air. Fast forward 30 years and we see Claire as an adult. The police come to see her to let her know that there has been a sighting of her father. This sighting doesn't pan out, as has happened for her entire life. Frustrated, Claire decides to take the matter into her own hands and find out the truth once and for all. Was her father the murderer? Or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time, or even involved at all? She goes on the hunt and what evolves is a thrilling page turner. There was a lot of build up throughout the book but I found the ending lackluster. This was an interesting story with a strange ending that did not seem to fit the rest of the book. For me, A Double Life was ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @vikingbooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
July 3, 2019
Just another book where the author keeps jumping back and forth in time. That is getting old.
September 21, 2018
Excruciatingly Boring
Claire blackmailing Alice into giving her information on where her father is hiding.
"Your father hires prostitutes"
Alice sighs "No, i'm sorry, but no, he doesn't"
I hold out my phone " Do you want to call her?"
She's started to cry "Bitch."
A dull, confusing, and at times silly book.
The shifting story line and characters jumping in and out made it difficult to follow.
Claire was not a character i felt empathy for same goes for her brother Robbie and their mother uhm what was her name? I forgot but she died of a heart attack.
The ending was ridiculous. Where did Mark come from?
"How did you find me?" -Mark
"Your name was in his search history." -Claire
Ha! Nonsense.
Only 260 pages with large fonts made it a barely readable book. 1 1/2 stars
Claire blackmailing Alice into giving her information on where her father is hiding.
"Your father hires prostitutes"
Alice sighs "No, i'm sorry, but no, he doesn't"
I hold out my phone " Do you want to call her?"
She's started to cry "Bitch."
A dull, confusing, and at times silly book.
The shifting story line and characters jumping in and out made it difficult to follow.
Claire was not a character i felt empathy for same goes for her brother Robbie and their mother uhm what was her name? I forgot but she died of a heart attack.
The ending was ridiculous. Where did Mark come from?
"How did you find me?" -Mark
"Your name was in his search history." -Claire
Ha! Nonsense.
Only 260 pages with large fonts made it a barely readable book. 1 1/2 stars
June 9, 2019
Yo a este libro lo habría titulado como “Diario de una obsesión”, porque de eso se trata y no, como yo me esperaba de un thriller.
La protagonista es una mujer en sus treintas, médico de familia e hija de un conocido asesino, el padre cometió su crimen cuando ella contaba con ocho años de edad y nunca fue detenido y sigue prófugo.
Esta historia comienza cuando la policía le llama para decirle que es posible que hayan encontrado a su padre, al final, no era él, pero a partir de ese momento comienza a contar la historia del asesinato, la huída de su madre con ella y su hermano y lo que ha sido su vida desde entonces, pero además, nos cuenta su enorme obsesión con dar con su padre, con saber lo que realmente sucedió ese día y las razones que tuvo para hacer lo que hizo, nos relata, entre otras muchas cosas, como ha investigado a amigos, familiares y todo el trabajo detectivezco que ha hecho para dar con su padre.
El libro realmente trata sobre eso, su obsesión, sus sentimientos al respecto, los traumas generados y demás.
Me ha costado un mundo leerlo, es una historia lenta aunque bien narrada y para ser honesta me parece que me ha costado y que el sinsabor que me ha dejado el libro es provocado más debido a que encontré algo que no esperaba al leer este libro, me esperaba más bien un thriller o una novela negra o algo parecido y más bien me he encontrado con un libro narrado en primera persona que presenta una serie de cavilaciones provenientes de la mente de la protagonista, ha sido una agonía personal leerla.
No he abandonado el libro por lo que malo no es y tengo que reconocer que está escrito y narrado muy bien lo que hace que me haya sido un poco más fácil su lectura.
Lo cierto es que el problema ha sido mío, me encontré con una historia muy diferente a lo que esperaba y además este tipo de libros me cuestan mucho, en primera persona, leer sobre traumas, complejos y problemas de una sola persona, inventadas o no por ella misma da igual se me hace cuesta arriba leer sobre esto.
Lo mejor del libro viene tal vez el 70% del mismo y al final nos enteramos de si el padre realmente es o no un asesino, al menos no me he quedado con la duda y dicho sea de paso la protagonista se queda con un problema mental menos.
La protagonista es una mujer en sus treintas, médico de familia e hija de un conocido asesino, el padre cometió su crimen cuando ella contaba con ocho años de edad y nunca fue detenido y sigue prófugo.
Esta historia comienza cuando la policía le llama para decirle que es posible que hayan encontrado a su padre, al final, no era él, pero a partir de ese momento comienza a contar la historia del asesinato, la huída de su madre con ella y su hermano y lo que ha sido su vida desde entonces, pero además, nos cuenta su enorme obsesión con dar con su padre, con saber lo que realmente sucedió ese día y las razones que tuvo para hacer lo que hizo, nos relata, entre otras muchas cosas, como ha investigado a amigos, familiares y todo el trabajo detectivezco que ha hecho para dar con su padre.
El libro realmente trata sobre eso, su obsesión, sus sentimientos al respecto, los traumas generados y demás.
Me ha costado un mundo leerlo, es una historia lenta aunque bien narrada y para ser honesta me parece que me ha costado y que el sinsabor que me ha dejado el libro es provocado más debido a que encontré algo que no esperaba al leer este libro, me esperaba más bien un thriller o una novela negra o algo parecido y más bien me he encontrado con un libro narrado en primera persona que presenta una serie de cavilaciones provenientes de la mente de la protagonista, ha sido una agonía personal leerla.
No he abandonado el libro por lo que malo no es y tengo que reconocer que está escrito y narrado muy bien lo que hace que me haya sido un poco más fácil su lectura.
Lo cierto es que el problema ha sido mío, me encontré con una historia muy diferente a lo que esperaba y además este tipo de libros me cuestan mucho, en primera persona, leer sobre traumas, complejos y problemas de una sola persona, inventadas o no por ella misma da igual se me hace cuesta arriba leer sobre esto.
Lo mejor del libro viene tal vez el 70% del mismo y al final nos enteramos de si el padre realmente es o no un asesino, al menos no me he quedado con la duda y dicho sea de paso la protagonista se queda con un problema mental menos.
August 11, 2018
I received this ARC on #netgalley in exchange for my review. I love Flynn Berry’s writing and her first book, which was not your typical thriller/murder mystery. This book has a lot of that same intensity without the usual ploys - until the ending. Twenty-six years after a murder, a woman is looking for her father, who disappeared after the crime and is believed to have committed it. She assumes a fake identity and engages in her own detective work to find him. Ironically, she engages in a lot of dubious behavior, similar to the father she’s seeking. The ending of the book, however, went in an unexpected direction that didn’t add to the story but only served to confuse the narrative. 3.5⭐️
June 20, 2018
The build-up and suspense author Flynn Berry created in the beginning through three-quarters the way through this book was incredible. After finishing a chapter and wanting to see what would happen next, the next chapter would flashback in time and I knew I would have to wait to find out. This format kept me turning page after page.
Claire is in her early thirties and hasn’t seen her father in twenty-six years. He may still be out there in the world and she can’t rest easy knowing this. He disappeared after her mother’s attempted murder: one in which he is the prime suspect. He plead his innocence through his friend’s whom would be investigated for helping him escape: they denied everything and were never charged. Claire asks herself these questions more often than not: Do his friends know where he is? Did her dad really try to kill her mother or was her mother mistaken? Was her dad more of the man his friends painted him to be or what her mother accused?
Claire stalks her dad’s friends and is obsessed with finding out what happened to her father. Will she find out the truth? What danger will she face along the way? What will her knowing cost her?
After getting to the crux of the story I felt a bit disappointed. There was no twist, no “hold your breath” part that I was waiting on the edge of my seat for. It was a page turner and a fast read I will give the book that: it was just missing a strong ending. That thrilling feeling that built had no where to go, I am still a bit bummed out.
I don’t regret reading it or wish for that time back.
If you read it, let me know so we can discuss!
August 13, 2018
3.5 ⭐️‘s. I was intrigued by the fact that the book was loosely inspired by one of the most notorious unsolved crimes of the 20th century—the Lord Lucan case. It was well written and interesting, but I didn’t care for the way it jumps between present and past, without warning at times. But it held my attention enough to make me curious about the details of the actual case.
The story is told by the POV of the daughter—Claire—who is obsessed with finding her father. She is now a doctor, leading a quiet life in London. Her younger brother Robbie is a mess, with an addiction to pain meds. They’ve both changed their names so their past can remain hidden.
Almost thirty years ago, Claire woke to noises and went downstairs to discover the body of their nanny—Emma—covered in blood. Her mother and father—Faye and Colin—were estranged at the time.
Faye said Colin attacked her when she found him over Emma’s body. She escaped, ran for help and Colin fled the scene. His car was found abandoned near the English Channel, with bloodstains on the front seat. His powerful, privileged friends maintained his innocence and the first lord accused of murder in more than a century has been missing ever since.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#AdoubleLife #NetGalley
The story is told by the POV of the daughter—Claire—who is obsessed with finding her father. She is now a doctor, leading a quiet life in London. Her younger brother Robbie is a mess, with an addiction to pain meds. They’ve both changed their names so their past can remain hidden.
Almost thirty years ago, Claire woke to noises and went downstairs to discover the body of their nanny—Emma—covered in blood. Her mother and father—Faye and Colin—were estranged at the time.
Faye said Colin attacked her when she found him over Emma’s body. She escaped, ran for help and Colin fled the scene. His car was found abandoned near the English Channel, with bloodstains on the front seat. His powerful, privileged friends maintained his innocence and the first lord accused of murder in more than a century has been missing ever since.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#AdoubleLife #NetGalley
September 19, 2018
I kept turning pages, then turning more pages, praying something would happen...anything at all...
It never happened.
There is zero excitement in this book.
Even worse, the story jumps around in time and location, but gives no indication it's doing so. I was so confused when I'd start a new chapter and there would be new characters, in some random town, doing random things, on a random day.
I'd say the word random pretty much sums up the entire book. Even the climax seemed random. Such a disappointment.
Despite my less than stellar review of this book, I'd still like to personally thank Penguin Books for sending me a copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
It never happened.
There is zero excitement in this book.
Even worse, the story jumps around in time and location, but gives no indication it's doing so. I was so confused when I'd start a new chapter and there would be new characters, in some random town, doing random things, on a random day.
I'd say the word random pretty much sums up the entire book. Even the climax seemed random. Such a disappointment.
Despite my less than stellar review of this book, I'd still like to personally thank Penguin Books for sending me a copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
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