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What We Did
He stole her childhood. She'll take his future
What would you do if you accidentally encountered the man who once abused you?
And how would you get away with it?
Bridget's life is small and safe: she loves her husband, her son and works hard to keep her own business afloat. Then one day her world is changed forever. The music teacher who abused her walks into a shop with the teenager he's clearly grooming. Bridget is sent spiralling back into her past.
Anthony begins to stalk Bridget, trying to ensure her silence - until suddenly, she snaps.
And now Bridget must find away to deal with the aftermath of her actions...
What would you do if you accidentally encountered the man who once abused you?
And how would you get away with it?
Bridget's life is small and safe: she loves her husband, her son and works hard to keep her own business afloat. Then one day her world is changed forever. The music teacher who abused her walks into a shop with the teenager he's clearly grooming. Bridget is sent spiralling back into her past.
Anthony begins to stalk Bridget, trying to ensure her silence - until suddenly, she snaps.
And now Bridget must find away to deal with the aftermath of her actions...
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2018
64 people are currently reading
2439 people want to read
About the author
Christobel Kent
24 books231 followersChristobel Kent was born in London in 1962 and now lives in Cambridge with her husband and four children; in between she lived in Florence. She worked in publishing for several years, most recently as Publicity Director at Andre Deutsch. Her debut novel A Party in San Niccolo, was published in 2003.
Series:
* Sandro Cellini
Series:
* Sandro Cellini
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
January 6, 2019
This was an okay read really didn't like the characters & was way to slow, couldn't feel the tension the prose sounded interesting but it just did nothing for me. TRIGGER WARNING!! There is abuse issues in this novel which didn't sit well for me, this is my first read by this author & will try again wasn't a complete waste of time.
January 30, 2019
What We Did by Christobel Kent was the first book that I have read by this author that I have heard so much about. I was really looking forward to reading this one but unfortunately for me it did not live up to expectations. I found it to be very slow paced and long with characters that I just could not relate to. The story was good, although it covers some tough issues.
Bridget has been hiding a secret from everybody in her life, including her husband. She has moved on with her life until one day her past comes back to haunt her. Her childhood music teacher walks into her small dress shop with a young girl on his arm and she is transported back to her youth and the things that he put her through. He will not leave her alone, continuing to taunt her, until one day he pushes too far and she snaps. Her life is then changed again forever and she is holding onto more secrets. A twisted story of secrets and childhood abuse, which at times is hard to read.
Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Girous, Sarah Cricton Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Bridget has been hiding a secret from everybody in her life, including her husband. She has moved on with her life until one day her past comes back to haunt her. Her childhood music teacher walks into her small dress shop with a young girl on his arm and she is transported back to her youth and the things that he put her through. He will not leave her alone, continuing to taunt her, until one day he pushes too far and she snaps. Her life is then changed again forever and she is holding onto more secrets. A twisted story of secrets and childhood abuse, which at times is hard to read.
Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Girous, Sarah Cricton Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
November 11, 2018
Some men deserve to be killed. Anthony Carmichael, the deplorable disgusting degenerate child molester is a shining example. So killed he gets, by one of the kids whose lives he marred so brutally, but who survived the abuse and went on to have a picturesque life in a small town. Surprisingly easy to kill, especially considering that the murderess is a mild mannered shop owner, made all the more mild mannered by being so very British. It’s the getting away with it portion that’s going to be a challenge. Even if she does have a perfect spouse (based it seems on the author’s own one) and a perfect 16 year old son and a younger sister who may be not quite perfect, conventionally speaking, but is very eager and willing to help. And then there’s a reporter, so obsessed with Carmichael’s case for 15 years and so desperately in need of a huge story that she might be prepared to forgo a scruple or two. So that’s the basic plot of this novel, not so much a crime drama as a drama about a crime, driven by an ever increasing disquiet mixed with an ever increasing suspense. Told in a very detailed manner. And I mean very detailed. It’s easily the most noticeable thing about this book. It’s like reading a real time account told in a meticulously play by play fashion. And I love details, to e they bring the story to life and lend it much needed verisimilitude, but here the technique might have (possibly just maybe) slightly overused. The details are exhaustive. But fortuitously not exhausting, because the book still works and well, making for an immersive engaging read, made all the more so by its lovely Britishness. Not just their accents in my mind, but also the deliciously polite reserve, whether it’s a meaningless social interaction of burying a body. You just can’t beat good manners. Not even with a giant festive log (and that’s a murder weapon reference). So yes, I enjoyed this book very much, read it in one prolonged sitting and was thoroughly entertained, even the all too quaint ending was nice. Turns out the author has quite a few books under her literary belt and this is the first time I’m finding out about her, with this novel as a pretty auspicious introduction, so that’s worth looking up. For fans of British flavored slow boiling dramatic psychological suspense this is just the thing. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2020
I enjoyed this book so much! It took me longer to read, but wow the story came together so well!
Bridget gets a shock when she sees an old face from her traumatic past while at work. Anthony Carmichael abused Bridget when she was a child, along with his friends. Years later he walks into her store with a child - and Bridget knows she has to save her. This starts a chain of events that end in an unpredictable, quite traumatic (for the character) ending.
Additionally there is Bridget's husband, Matt. They don't talk about her past, but she feels he already knows. There's Gill, the journalist who wants to take expose Carmichael for what he is - but at what cost. There is Finn, Bridget and Matt's son, who has a girlfriend who he is madly in love with, who noone has met and always has excuses at why she can't meet the family. Then there's Alan Timpson, Carmichael's friend, who also abused Bridget in the past, though is said he prefers to hurt boys.
This book was such a twisty, unexpected read. I didn't imagine the story would come together like it did - I definitely did not expect what happened at the end, though I suppose it was hinted at (cleverly) quite a few times.
One thing I just didn't really find needed in the book was the disappearance of the teenage boy. It didn't seem to conclude that very well, or fit into the story. Apart from that, a very twisty, gripping book!
Bridget gets a shock when she sees an old face from her traumatic past while at work. Anthony Carmichael abused Bridget when she was a child, along with his friends. Years later he walks into her store with a child - and Bridget knows she has to save her. This starts a chain of events that end in an unpredictable, quite traumatic (for the character) ending.
Additionally there is Bridget's husband, Matt. They don't talk about her past, but she feels he already knows. There's Gill, the journalist who wants to take expose Carmichael for what he is - but at what cost. There is Finn, Bridget and Matt's son, who has a girlfriend who he is madly in love with, who noone has met and always has excuses at why she can't meet the family. Then there's Alan Timpson, Carmichael's friend, who also abused Bridget in the past, though is said he prefers to hurt boys.
This book was such a twisty, unexpected read. I didn't imagine the story would come together like it did - I definitely did not expect what happened at the end, though I suppose it was hinted at (cleverly) quite a few times.
One thing I just didn't really find needed in the book was the disappearance of the teenage boy. It didn't seem to conclude that very well, or fit into the story. Apart from that, a very twisty, gripping book!
December 13, 2018
I was provided a copy by NetGalley, but this opinion is solely my own.
I was intrigued by this book, but ultimately it didn't satisfy me. I think it went on far too long, and the writing lacked that something that just grabs you.
Trigger warning for child abuse.
I was intrigued by this book, but ultimately it didn't satisfy me. I think it went on far too long, and the writing lacked that something that just grabs you.
Trigger warning for child abuse.
October 23, 2018
I just felt this went on a bit too long with lots of loose ends and no real outcomes
July 5, 2018
Bridget's life is small and safe, she loves her husband and son and enjoys working hard to keep her business afloat. One day, her former violin teacher, Anthony Carmichael, walks into her shop with the teenager he has clearly been grooming. Carmichael begins to stalk Bridget, terrifying her into silence. But Bridget is stronger now and she fights back. Now, Bridget must deal with the consequences of her actions.
I found this a bizarre kind of read, it started off okay but quickly descended into chaos. I could not follow what was happening due to the way this is written, I am sorry but it put me right off and I struggled to keep up with what was happening. Some of the plot is of course clear but I found this a disappointment as well.
Kent introduces Carmichael and then instantly takes the plot in what could be a dramatic direction but is severely let down by the writing style. The early twist is a good one but the carry through is poor and the subsequent plot is, in my opinion, lacking. A lot seems to happen early on but then not much in the rest of the book and I was bored and had very little interest in the book. I do have to give credit to the ending, Kent ramped up the pace and tied the plot up sufficiently and in a satisfying way, but it does not make up for the rest of the book.
The characters are weak in this as well, I could not get a picture of them and struggled to connect to them or feel sympathy for them. There also seems to be multiple characters who are in this unnecessarily and have plot threads that could be easily left out.
Be warned, Kent writes about some very dark subject matter so there is no enjoyable reading here but I think it is written well and is vital for the plot.
'What We Did' really is not for me, I was bored and not interested in the book and I gained little enjoyment from it.
I found this a bizarre kind of read, it started off okay but quickly descended into chaos. I could not follow what was happening due to the way this is written, I am sorry but it put me right off and I struggled to keep up with what was happening. Some of the plot is of course clear but I found this a disappointment as well.
Kent introduces Carmichael and then instantly takes the plot in what could be a dramatic direction but is severely let down by the writing style. The early twist is a good one but the carry through is poor and the subsequent plot is, in my opinion, lacking. A lot seems to happen early on but then not much in the rest of the book and I was bored and had very little interest in the book. I do have to give credit to the ending, Kent ramped up the pace and tied the plot up sufficiently and in a satisfying way, but it does not make up for the rest of the book.
The characters are weak in this as well, I could not get a picture of them and struggled to connect to them or feel sympathy for them. There also seems to be multiple characters who are in this unnecessarily and have plot threads that could be easily left out.
Be warned, Kent writes about some very dark subject matter so there is no enjoyable reading here but I think it is written well and is vital for the plot.
'What We Did' really is not for me, I was bored and not interested in the book and I gained little enjoyment from it.
September 1, 2018
Disturbing subject matter. This book could have been a very interesting storyline on sexual predators grooming children. Instead, the narrative was so disjointed it was nearly impossible to follow the plot line. There were some twists, thus the 3 star rating. Overall, felt the author missed an opportunity to really explore the grooming issue. The characters were not well developed. Did not connect with the protagonist or really any of the characters. About ⅓ way through this book, found myself skimming the text, wondering where this plot was going. Was very disappointed with this book.
January 16, 2021
"He hasn't come back for you. He isn't interested. He will leave."
TW - Rape and child abuse mentioned (no details given)
This one was a little slow for me. The characters were hard to relate to, and I felt like the tension was lacking. In all honesty I felt bored during some parts of it. The story felt far too long, too drawn out and could have been so much shorter.
I have more from this author on my shelf so will give those a try.
TW - Rape and child abuse mentioned (no details given)
This one was a little slow for me. The characters were hard to relate to, and I felt like the tension was lacking. In all honesty I felt bored during some parts of it. The story felt far too long, too drawn out and could have been so much shorter.
I have more from this author on my shelf so will give those a try.
June 11, 2018
Although I still have her earlier books to read I started this one first. I found it to be fast paced, well written and it kept you on edge. It did remind me a little of one I read a few months ago, The Other Woman, in some parts. However I would recommend it and certainly would like to see it as a TV drama maybe.
July 11, 2019
Ugh. Several times I thought about quitting before I finished, and I should have, because it didn't get better. Waste of time.
NOT recommended. You're welcome!
NOT recommended. You're welcome!
August 14, 2019
I loved this book. I liked the characters and because of what Anthony did to her when she was a child I'm glad she got away with killing him. I'd recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2019
A slow story with characters that had secrets. Bridget has a secret about her
Past that haunts her and comes to life when she again faces the man who
Obused her many years ago. Now a woman Bridget hides what she did to
Carmichael with the help of her sister. This is a tale of secrets, abuse,and
Retribution. There were many twists and turns that kept you reading. It is a
Story told in detail and the first book I’ve read by this author.
Past that haunts her and comes to life when she again faces the man who
Obused her many years ago. Now a woman Bridget hides what she did to
Carmichael with the help of her sister. This is a tale of secrets, abuse,and
Retribution. There were many twists and turns that kept you reading. It is a
Story told in detail and the first book I’ve read by this author.
January 4, 2019
This one was a slow, simmering burn of a novel. Initially, I was hesitant about the synopsis, as it seemed to lay the story out so cleanly that there would be no surprises. Boy, was I wrong. Not only was the situation interesting at face value, the mystery beneath the story was so shocking and surprising to me, I never saw it coming. Great, fast-paced read!
June 22, 2019
Longlisted for the 2019 Mystery Writers Ass. Golden DAGGER award for best novel. https://thecwa.co.uk/the-daggers/cate...
Not my favorite to make the Shortlist for this award, this thriller was so full of convenient coincidences and a draggy story line that I am wondering if I want to read any more of the 15 contenders on the list.
Not my favorite to make the Shortlist for this award, this thriller was so full of convenient coincidences and a draggy story line that I am wondering if I want to read any more of the 15 contenders on the list.
July 18, 2019
This book reminds me of life.
To live a true happy life, you have to live with bad memories.
To live a true happy life, you have to live with bad memories.
July 26, 2019
I found some of the storyline disturbing and repellent, but relevant.
Twenty years after Bridget was sexually abused by her violin teacher Doctor Anthony Carmichael, he walked into the high class boutique she owned – and back into her life! They recognised each other, but there was no acknowledgement. He was buying a dress for a young girl. It was disconcerting for Bridget because she knew the girl was his latest protégé.
Doctor Carmichael, dangerous to the extreme because of his respectable veneer as a music teacher in a position of trust, had found a job at the local university, where Bridget’s husband worked as an IT technician. Bridget had kept her past secret, even from her husband - and although marred by her past, she had gone on to have a happy family life. But after seeing Carmichael, memories resurfaced with flashbacks from the past.
Carmichael then began stalking her – intimidating her to secure her silence – and then he goes missing....
We then follow how Bridget, with the help of her sister, dealt with the aftermath of her revenge. If it wasn't for the gravity of the subject matter, I thought some of it was a little farcical.
Except for the twist towards the end, I didn’t feel any tension by what should have been a gripping storyline. I also thought that some of the plot seemed contrived.
Twenty years after Bridget was sexually abused by her violin teacher Doctor Anthony Carmichael, he walked into the high class boutique she owned – and back into her life! They recognised each other, but there was no acknowledgement. He was buying a dress for a young girl. It was disconcerting for Bridget because she knew the girl was his latest protégé.
Doctor Carmichael, dangerous to the extreme because of his respectable veneer as a music teacher in a position of trust, had found a job at the local university, where Bridget’s husband worked as an IT technician. Bridget had kept her past secret, even from her husband - and although marred by her past, she had gone on to have a happy family life. But after seeing Carmichael, memories resurfaced with flashbacks from the past.
Carmichael then began stalking her – intimidating her to secure her silence – and then he goes missing....
We then follow how Bridget, with the help of her sister, dealt with the aftermath of her revenge. If it wasn't for the gravity of the subject matter, I thought some of it was a little farcical.
Except for the twist towards the end, I didn’t feel any tension by what should have been a gripping storyline. I also thought that some of the plot seemed contrived.
April 7, 2019
DNF on page 180.
I got pretty far into this book, hoping, hoping, hoping it would develop into something interesting. But, nope.
I was hoping the story would be a horrible, suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse between a woman and her sexual abuser. It started that way. Super creepy. Gave me goosebumps. That could’ve been such a great story.
But, nope.
Then I was hoping we’d get a lot of the horrible backstory, what really happened back then, to really flesh out the characters, the woman, her abuser, her parents, her sister. And then have the puzzle pieces start dropping into place for people in the current day.
But, nope.
Then I was hoping the characters would fill out in other ways and become interesting, surprising. Carrie was almost there. Matt? Finn?. I’d even’ve take Laura.
But, nope.
And then I was hoping the story itself would evolve into something interesting, twisty-turny .
But, nope.
So there you go. That’s what the book wasn’t. Lots many nopes. [Shaking head] Read at your own risk. And don’t think I’m not going to sit here thinking “told you so“. Ooo, there’s another one.
I got pretty far into this book, hoping, hoping, hoping it would develop into something interesting. But, nope.
I was hoping the story would be a horrible, suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse between a woman and her sexual abuser. It started that way. Super creepy. Gave me goosebumps. That could’ve been such a great story.
But, nope.
Then I was hoping we’d get a lot of the horrible backstory, what really happened back then, to really flesh out the characters, the woman, her abuser, her parents, her sister. And then have the puzzle pieces start dropping into place for people in the current day.
But, nope.
Then I was hoping the characters would fill out in other ways and become interesting, surprising. Carrie was almost there. Matt? Finn?. I’d even’ve take Laura.
But, nope.
And then I was hoping the story itself would evolve into something interesting, twisty-turny .
But, nope.
So there you go. That’s what the book wasn’t. Lots many nopes. [Shaking head] Read at your own risk. And don’t think I’m not going to sit here thinking “told you so“. Ooo, there’s another one.
April 19, 2024
DNF.
Started with promise, but when The Thing happens (and at first I thought the character was hallucinating, but no. It happened), I just lost heart. I couldn't see any way the author could resolve things in a way that would be fair, decent or satisfying.
I mean, a lot of lives are going to be wrecked here, due to one brief event, and, with this issue, I'd have liked to have seen something more sensible and sensitive as an approach. I was anticipating a gradual resolution and righting of old wrongs. But what was offered to me couldn't ever have led that way.
1. Speak up; speak out
2. Yep. When you're a grown up, with a supportive family, try your hardest to trust them and let them into your confidences.
3. Report the fecker.
4. Don't let him wreck your life again.
Started with promise, but when The Thing happens (and at first I thought the character was hallucinating, but no. It happened), I just lost heart. I couldn't see any way the author could resolve things in a way that would be fair, decent or satisfying.
I mean, a lot of lives are going to be wrecked here, due to one brief event, and, with this issue, I'd have liked to have seen something more sensible and sensitive as an approach. I was anticipating a gradual resolution and righting of old wrongs. But what was offered to me couldn't ever have led that way.
1. Speak up; speak out
2. Yep. When you're a grown up, with a supportive family, try your hardest to trust them and let them into your confidences.
3. Report the fecker.
4. Don't let him wreck your life again.
June 3, 2019
I couldn’t finish this book. I have a standard to my reading and this book didn’t come up to that standard. And that’s a shame because it could have been a great book to help women through a horrifying time in their life. And it still might in some, but It’s not for me. I’m sorry if this offends some, but I have to live by my standards but first and foremost, by God’s standard and I just feel this book doesn’t live up to that. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers of #WhatWeDid for opportunity to read and review in my honest opinion.
January 4, 2020
What a huge disappointment! Reading the back of this novel I thought it would be a great read. Bridget has a loving husband and a good son. She's running a business and her life seems to be in order until Anthony Carmichael walks in the door of her shop and threatens her. Sounds good.
I usually enjoy books that deal with the present while revealing past events but not in this case. I also like books with another character's viewpoint adding depth, again, not in this case.
Just a clunky, disjointed read where the flipping between characters and time lines makes it hard to follow.
I usually enjoy books that deal with the present while revealing past events but not in this case. I also like books with another character's viewpoint adding depth, again, not in this case.
Just a clunky, disjointed read where the flipping between characters and time lines makes it hard to follow.
March 22, 2021
I was given an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
This one just didn't grab me. I've enjoyed a lot of this author's books in the past, but the characters just merged together, the plot didn't really keep me in suspense, and I was just eager to get through it and onto the next book
This one just didn't grab me. I've enjoyed a lot of this author's books in the past, but the characters just merged together, the plot didn't really keep me in suspense, and I was just eager to get through it and onto the next book
December 3, 2018
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'Isabel, Isabel: in the deep dark she remembered the girl’s innocence, her admiration, her glee at being special, it blazed. Bridget had been special once, as she frowned down at her instrument, the instrument burnished and warm from her touch, trying, trying, trying, her heart in her mouth. Him watching her, impatient.'
Bridget’s world is on the verge of collapse all due to the return of her former music teacher Anthony Carmichael. Every soiled memory she has buried from that horrible time rises to the surface when he comes into her dress shop with a pretty, eager young girl named Isabel. Suddenly, the life she has been living is ripped from beneath her feet, is it possible to run, to move from the threat of him? The possessive, guiding way he was touching that little girl, the intimacy is like poison in Bridget’s veins. She should stop him, she should speak up but she is frozen in fear.
The days move on, she collects her senses and begins to relax into her daily routine sure that as a ‘visiting professor’ he won’t be around for long. Until she discovers he will be at the University her own husband works at, for much longer than she hoped. 2 years, if they can keep him, and the school is ‘lucky to have him.’ There is Isabelle, so much the same as Bridget once was, trusting, talented, open to the attention and charm of an adult. Though Bridget is no longer a child, everything about Carmichael brings chills, fear into the very cells of her being. Closer, closer he advances and then she snaps, from there an even bigger secret takes hold, but can she carry on as if nothing happened?
Bridget goes from sheltering her shameful past, which many sexually abused children feel responsible for, to hiding a criminal act. Then the story descends into a nightmare about her own son, who is keeping secrets about his own new relationship. There is also Gillian Lawson, who is looking for Dr. Carmichael, as she is digging into the past and alive with the chase of a story. She knows too that Bridget is a link, and with her husband working as the computer officer at Rose Hill, she has a way to reach her. Too, what of the husband, Matt? Is he a ‘genuinely nice man’, or is he the type to marry victims, to further abuse them? How much of a coincidence, she wonders, is it for Carmichael to end up where his former student’s husband works? It just figures a journalists is chasing truth when Bridget has something the size of…. Carmichael to hide.
The strength of the novel is in the emotional state Bridget’s abuser returning into her life puts her in. That a wife, mother, competently running her own dress shop can turn into a terrified wreck after having a run in with the man who sexually abused her, many years after it happened can explain just how debilatating sexual abuse is. Her instinct is to uproot her life, which of course is not plausible, but that thought alone conveys just a drop of the fear and remnants of damage one person can wreak in another’s life. The fact she hasn’t told her husband anything, ever, that it’s remained bottled up inside of her all this time speaks volumes for how abusers walk away unscathed. The adult always has an edge, knows how to make a child believe that every viloation is mutual desire, and he/she is just as much to blame. If a child has a special talent, or is hungry for attention, how much easier it is for the abuser to manipulate them, to have access, to learn the family dynamics and use it against the child. I was expecting to see Carmichael exposed, to see him stripped for once of his power, publicly tarred as would seem just, but this was a completely different novel. What a strange turn. Not to say he doesn’t get punished but not what I expected. The ‘grooming’ is bigger than just Carmichael. I’ve read quite a few books that explore this very issue, one good thing is straight away there is no romanticized storyline. In fact, he turns your stomach from the very start. I sometimes felt all over the place, and the things that happen after the big moment between Bridget and Carmichael, which is very early in the novel, seem a bit hard to pull off, but truth is stranger than fiction and having a sister whose norm is chaos can come in handy, at least for Bridget.
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
Fararr, Straus and Giroux
'Isabel, Isabel: in the deep dark she remembered the girl’s innocence, her admiration, her glee at being special, it blazed. Bridget had been special once, as she frowned down at her instrument, the instrument burnished and warm from her touch, trying, trying, trying, her heart in her mouth. Him watching her, impatient.'
Bridget’s world is on the verge of collapse all due to the return of her former music teacher Anthony Carmichael. Every soiled memory she has buried from that horrible time rises to the surface when he comes into her dress shop with a pretty, eager young girl named Isabel. Suddenly, the life she has been living is ripped from beneath her feet, is it possible to run, to move from the threat of him? The possessive, guiding way he was touching that little girl, the intimacy is like poison in Bridget’s veins. She should stop him, she should speak up but she is frozen in fear.
The days move on, she collects her senses and begins to relax into her daily routine sure that as a ‘visiting professor’ he won’t be around for long. Until she discovers he will be at the University her own husband works at, for much longer than she hoped. 2 years, if they can keep him, and the school is ‘lucky to have him.’ There is Isabelle, so much the same as Bridget once was, trusting, talented, open to the attention and charm of an adult. Though Bridget is no longer a child, everything about Carmichael brings chills, fear into the very cells of her being. Closer, closer he advances and then she snaps, from there an even bigger secret takes hold, but can she carry on as if nothing happened?
Bridget goes from sheltering her shameful past, which many sexually abused children feel responsible for, to hiding a criminal act. Then the story descends into a nightmare about her own son, who is keeping secrets about his own new relationship. There is also Gillian Lawson, who is looking for Dr. Carmichael, as she is digging into the past and alive with the chase of a story. She knows too that Bridget is a link, and with her husband working as the computer officer at Rose Hill, she has a way to reach her. Too, what of the husband, Matt? Is he a ‘genuinely nice man’, or is he the type to marry victims, to further abuse them? How much of a coincidence, she wonders, is it for Carmichael to end up where his former student’s husband works? It just figures a journalists is chasing truth when Bridget has something the size of…. Carmichael to hide.
The strength of the novel is in the emotional state Bridget’s abuser returning into her life puts her in. That a wife, mother, competently running her own dress shop can turn into a terrified wreck after having a run in with the man who sexually abused her, many years after it happened can explain just how debilatating sexual abuse is. Her instinct is to uproot her life, which of course is not plausible, but that thought alone conveys just a drop of the fear and remnants of damage one person can wreak in another’s life. The fact she hasn’t told her husband anything, ever, that it’s remained bottled up inside of her all this time speaks volumes for how abusers walk away unscathed. The adult always has an edge, knows how to make a child believe that every viloation is mutual desire, and he/she is just as much to blame. If a child has a special talent, or is hungry for attention, how much easier it is for the abuser to manipulate them, to have access, to learn the family dynamics and use it against the child. I was expecting to see Carmichael exposed, to see him stripped for once of his power, publicly tarred as would seem just, but this was a completely different novel. What a strange turn. Not to say he doesn’t get punished but not what I expected. The ‘grooming’ is bigger than just Carmichael. I’ve read quite a few books that explore this very issue, one good thing is straight away there is no romanticized storyline. In fact, he turns your stomach from the very start. I sometimes felt all over the place, and the things that happen after the big moment between Bridget and Carmichael, which is very early in the novel, seem a bit hard to pull off, but truth is stranger than fiction and having a sister whose norm is chaos can come in handy, at least for Bridget.
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
Fararr, Straus and Giroux
May 17, 2018
Today is publication day for Christobel Kent’s new novel What We Did so I have completed reading it at the perfect time to post my review. Although, this is going to be a tough book to review without giving away any spoilers so I may be briefer than normal. (Was that a small sigh of relief I just heard?)
Let’s just take a moment to admire the cover, which was one of the things that drew my eye to it on NetGalley. I love the grey with the bright spots of orange and green. Would look fabulous on any book shelf, great cover design.
This is a psychological thriller with a tricky subject matter at its heart. Bridget is a survivor of abuse she suffered as a teenager at the hands of her violin teacher. She has built a small, safe life for herself in a provincial university city with a quiet husband and a well-balanced teenage son, running her own clothing shop and working hard to keep her demons at bay. Her husband and her son know nothing about her past and that is the way she would like to keep it so when her abuser casually walks into her store one day in the company of his latest pupil, Bridget believes her whole way of life is at risk.
When I started this book, I had a slightly jaded feeling that I knew how the story would pan out. However, I was completely wrong. Things unfold in a very unexpected way and the story goes off then at a totally different tangent and really drags you with it.
The first quarter of the book was quite slow and I did start to worry that the whole story pacing was going to be too staid to carry me to the end – I have begun to expect more flourishes from a book in this genre – but once the first pivotal act occurs, things pick up and I was totally gripped from that moment on and I ended up staying up late to finish the book. Looking back at the book as a whole, the pacing was perfect for the storyline and the nature of the characters and it was actually a refreshing change from the constant bombardment of action and tension we sometimes get. The gentle start, followed by the sudden shocking change was the perfect reflection of how Bridget’s gentle life is so immediately disrupted when her abuser reappears on the scene.
The characters that need to be sympathetic are sympathetic, the criminal perpetrators are suitably loathsome. Bridget’s sister was my favourite character, and the most complex, I believe, and I also enjoyed the way her innocuous husband’s story arc developed. There was a side storyline involving her shop assistant that I think was meant to throw Bridget’s complicated feelings about her past into relief and give her some enlightenment, but it wasn’t really well-developed enough to end up as anything but a distraction which was a little disappointing.
The main storyline was psychologically twisty enough to keep me guessing about who was involved in what. I suspected people of things they hadn’t ended up doing and didn’t guess the ending so early in the novel that it was an anti-climax when it came. All in all, I enjoyed the book and it is well worth a read. However, it does not have the jaw-dropping twists that have become the norm, this is much more a character-based novel that isn’t relying on any schlock or shock for shock’s sake that some novels in this genre do. You will have to make your own decision about whether this is a positive or negative based on your own preferences for this type of novel.
Let’s just take a moment to admire the cover, which was one of the things that drew my eye to it on NetGalley. I love the grey with the bright spots of orange and green. Would look fabulous on any book shelf, great cover design.
This is a psychological thriller with a tricky subject matter at its heart. Bridget is a survivor of abuse she suffered as a teenager at the hands of her violin teacher. She has built a small, safe life for herself in a provincial university city with a quiet husband and a well-balanced teenage son, running her own clothing shop and working hard to keep her demons at bay. Her husband and her son know nothing about her past and that is the way she would like to keep it so when her abuser casually walks into her store one day in the company of his latest pupil, Bridget believes her whole way of life is at risk.
When I started this book, I had a slightly jaded feeling that I knew how the story would pan out. However, I was completely wrong. Things unfold in a very unexpected way and the story goes off then at a totally different tangent and really drags you with it.
The first quarter of the book was quite slow and I did start to worry that the whole story pacing was going to be too staid to carry me to the end – I have begun to expect more flourishes from a book in this genre – but once the first pivotal act occurs, things pick up and I was totally gripped from that moment on and I ended up staying up late to finish the book. Looking back at the book as a whole, the pacing was perfect for the storyline and the nature of the characters and it was actually a refreshing change from the constant bombardment of action and tension we sometimes get. The gentle start, followed by the sudden shocking change was the perfect reflection of how Bridget’s gentle life is so immediately disrupted when her abuser reappears on the scene.
The characters that need to be sympathetic are sympathetic, the criminal perpetrators are suitably loathsome. Bridget’s sister was my favourite character, and the most complex, I believe, and I also enjoyed the way her innocuous husband’s story arc developed. There was a side storyline involving her shop assistant that I think was meant to throw Bridget’s complicated feelings about her past into relief and give her some enlightenment, but it wasn’t really well-developed enough to end up as anything but a distraction which was a little disappointing.
The main storyline was psychologically twisty enough to keep me guessing about who was involved in what. I suspected people of things they hadn’t ended up doing and didn’t guess the ending so early in the novel that it was an anti-climax when it came. All in all, I enjoyed the book and it is well worth a read. However, it does not have the jaw-dropping twists that have become the norm, this is much more a character-based novel that isn’t relying on any schlock or shock for shock’s sake that some novels in this genre do. You will have to make your own decision about whether this is a positive or negative based on your own preferences for this type of novel.
January 27, 2019
What We Did by Christobel Kent is a recommended psychological study with some aspects of a thriller.
Bridget Webster has kept the abuse the occurred in her past a secret from everyone and keeps a tight control over her emotions and reactions. Now she's happily married to Matt and they have a teenage son, Finn. Matt works in IT at Rose Hill University and she owns a women's clothing boutique in town. When her childhood violin teacher, Anthony Carmichael, shows up in her shop with a young teen he wants to buy a dress for, Bridget can barely keep her emotions under control. When Carmichael later returns, having recognized Bridget after all these years, the resulting actions seem inevitable and require even more subterfuge on Bridget's part. Then Bridget's sister Carrie shows up and becomes involved in the situation.
At the same time reporter Gillian "Gill" Lawson has come to town to secretly seek out Carmichael. She has been following him for years with the certainty that he is a long-time pedophile who has somehow escaped being caught and she wants to finally bring an end to his secret reign of terror. She recognizes Bridget as someone who may have been one of his early victims, but having a reporter snooping around is not what Bridget needs right now.
This is a slow-paced novel that creates suspense through Bridget slowly revealing more information and insight about the secrets in her past and why that would lead her to currently do what she did. Although there is a violent reaction which leads to a pro-long period of trying to cover up the results of her action, the incident loses its shocking power due to the extended coverage of the story line. After this point any suspense or tension is created through Gill's investigation and how odd both Bridget and Matt are acting. The ending is a surprise that I didn't see coming.
What We Did, while it has its moments when it is in the territory of a thriller, is at heart more of a character study. As Bridget reveals more information about her past and the inner torment she endures, empathy for her will increase. Based on what is revealed in her backstory, one does wonder why a case as severe and emotionally fraught as hers didn't come to the attention of others earlier. The scenes between her and Matt when they both are leaving a plethora of things unsaid also create tension.
The writing is certainly good. As I mentioned, the pro-longed cover-up and the many things left unsaid by all the characters results in depleting much of the immediacy of the tension and suspense. The exception is the ending when an increased pace and sense of urgency amplifies the tension and all the plot elements come together.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/0...
Bridget Webster has kept the abuse the occurred in her past a secret from everyone and keeps a tight control over her emotions and reactions. Now she's happily married to Matt and they have a teenage son, Finn. Matt works in IT at Rose Hill University and she owns a women's clothing boutique in town. When her childhood violin teacher, Anthony Carmichael, shows up in her shop with a young teen he wants to buy a dress for, Bridget can barely keep her emotions under control. When Carmichael later returns, having recognized Bridget after all these years, the resulting actions seem inevitable and require even more subterfuge on Bridget's part. Then Bridget's sister Carrie shows up and becomes involved in the situation.
At the same time reporter Gillian "Gill" Lawson has come to town to secretly seek out Carmichael. She has been following him for years with the certainty that he is a long-time pedophile who has somehow escaped being caught and she wants to finally bring an end to his secret reign of terror. She recognizes Bridget as someone who may have been one of his early victims, but having a reporter snooping around is not what Bridget needs right now.
This is a slow-paced novel that creates suspense through Bridget slowly revealing more information and insight about the secrets in her past and why that would lead her to currently do what she did. Although there is a violent reaction which leads to a pro-long period of trying to cover up the results of her action, the incident loses its shocking power due to the extended coverage of the story line. After this point any suspense or tension is created through Gill's investigation and how odd both Bridget and Matt are acting. The ending is a surprise that I didn't see coming.
What We Did, while it has its moments when it is in the territory of a thriller, is at heart more of a character study. As Bridget reveals more information about her past and the inner torment she endures, empathy for her will increase. Based on what is revealed in her backstory, one does wonder why a case as severe and emotionally fraught as hers didn't come to the attention of others earlier. The scenes between her and Matt when they both are leaving a plethora of things unsaid also create tension.
The writing is certainly good. As I mentioned, the pro-longed cover-up and the many things left unsaid by all the characters results in depleting much of the immediacy of the tension and suspense. The exception is the ending when an increased pace and sense of urgency amplifies the tension and all the plot elements come together.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/0...
December 14, 2018
First off, a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
About the plot - A team of pedophiles is back in Bridget's life from her childhood, threatening her family and at least one other young girl in the community. Her husband works at the local college with one of the men and becomes unwittingly involved as a journalist nudges him into her search for proof. The book started off predictably with the main pedophile accidentally murdered, but turned into a tangle as the plot wound and unwound with repercussions and events throughout the novel. It kept me interested but also disappointed at times as I felt like more could have happened.
A good example is outside of Carmichael's house when a man was behind Bridget all of a sudden. It ended up being a benign event but the author makes us wait through another point of view chapter before revealing what had happened, and here I was thinking that she was going to get either abducted or rescued from another pedophile! This happened more than once. The transitions between past and present were confusing at times too, I understand that was how Bridget's mind flashed back and forth but sometimes I didn't know what was happening and had to read the page again. Overall though it kept me engaged through the novel.
That covers the writing style as well. As far as the characters: I ended up liking Gill a lot more than I thought I would, although I found myself skimming her point of view chapters. Her life didn't interest me at all and she just seemed to add length to the book. Finn and Laura are the innocent characters that drive home the point that abuse can appear in all forms, to anyone. The characters were pretty neutral to me but I ended up feeling bad for most of them. Matt was my favorite, just a guy trying to do the right thing.
Overall I am sticking with 3 stars. I ended up loving how she tied everything together at the end, even if it took a while to get there. The book was a decent suspense/thriller, and I would recommend to anyone who likes that kind of suspenseful fiction.
I omitted the summary but my full review can be found on my blog at:
https://onenursereader.wixsite.com/on...
About the plot - A team of pedophiles is back in Bridget's life from her childhood, threatening her family and at least one other young girl in the community. Her husband works at the local college with one of the men and becomes unwittingly involved as a journalist nudges him into her search for proof. The book started off predictably with the main pedophile accidentally murdered, but turned into a tangle as the plot wound and unwound with repercussions and events throughout the novel. It kept me interested but also disappointed at times as I felt like more could have happened.
A good example is outside of Carmichael's house when a man was behind Bridget all of a sudden. It ended up being a benign event but the author makes us wait through another point of view chapter before revealing what had happened, and here I was thinking that she was going to get either abducted or rescued from another pedophile! This happened more than once. The transitions between past and present were confusing at times too, I understand that was how Bridget's mind flashed back and forth but sometimes I didn't know what was happening and had to read the page again. Overall though it kept me engaged through the novel.
That covers the writing style as well. As far as the characters: I ended up liking Gill a lot more than I thought I would, although I found myself skimming her point of view chapters. Her life didn't interest me at all and she just seemed to add length to the book. Finn and Laura are the innocent characters that drive home the point that abuse can appear in all forms, to anyone. The characters were pretty neutral to me but I ended up feeling bad for most of them. Matt was my favorite, just a guy trying to do the right thing.
Overall I am sticking with 3 stars. I ended up loving how she tied everything together at the end, even if it took a while to get there. The book was a decent suspense/thriller, and I would recommend to anyone who likes that kind of suspenseful fiction.
I omitted the summary but my full review can be found on my blog at:
https://onenursereader.wixsite.com/on...
October 18, 2019
I thought that this book had potential to be better than it was.
There was a lot of build up and suspense for something to happen but not very many shocking moments to follow. It should be called ‘what if’ rather than ‘what we did’.
I feel like the transference between Bridget and Gill was sometimes confusing. I was reading in Bridget’s thoughts one minute and got thrown off when I was all of a sudden somewhere else with no warning. Especially the first time Gill came into the book....half way through a chapter with no explanation. I even flicked back a few pages to find out if I’d missed something.
Thought these may have been better to be more separated?
Also - I feel that the mention of the little boy who went missing and then was found in the woodland wasn’t focused on enough at the end. Why would they not give the photo box to Gill, just take out Bridget’s in order for them to find the photo of the little boy and to put Alan down for longer? Or was that meant to be left up to the reader to ponder about? All they touched on was how Bridget didn’t want them to look for the boy in case they found Carmichael? ...
Overall I feel that it did touch on some deep subjects and in that respect it was well written, not too much to make you feel uncomfortable but so that you can understand the background enough.
First book read by this author, I have them say she disappeared’ so I will give that a whirl before I make any decisions.
3/5 stars for this one.
There was a lot of build up and suspense for something to happen but not very many shocking moments to follow. It should be called ‘what if’ rather than ‘what we did’.
I feel like the transference between Bridget and Gill was sometimes confusing. I was reading in Bridget’s thoughts one minute and got thrown off when I was all of a sudden somewhere else with no warning. Especially the first time Gill came into the book....half way through a chapter with no explanation. I even flicked back a few pages to find out if I’d missed something.
Thought these may have been better to be more separated?
Also - I feel that the mention of the little boy who went missing and then was found in the woodland wasn’t focused on enough at the end. Why would they not give the photo box to Gill, just take out Bridget’s in order for them to find the photo of the little boy and to put Alan down for longer? Or was that meant to be left up to the reader to ponder about? All they touched on was how Bridget didn’t want them to look for the boy in case they found Carmichael? ...
Overall I feel that it did touch on some deep subjects and in that respect it was well written, not too much to make you feel uncomfortable but so that you can understand the background enough.
First book read by this author, I have them say she disappeared’ so I will give that a whirl before I make any decisions.
3/5 stars for this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2019
Thank you to Sarah Crichton Books for my advanced digital copy of this book!
What We Did is a hauntingly heartbreaking tale of a woman whose devastating past is catching up with her. Bridget has a secret she keeps from everyone, including her husband. But when her old music teacher walks into her shop, that secret threatens to overtake her. Bridget hope to never see Carmichael again, but he will not leave her alone. Eventually she snaps, and the consequences may do her in.
This book does not move like a thriller, although there is plenty of action to keep the reader in suspense. But rather, it is a look at the ways our pasts can influence our future, and also how we can move beyond them. Bridget carries so much shame and grief with her, and the weight of her experience sat heavy on my shoulders. Prepare for this novel to wreck you, but to still be transported by the beautiful writing. One thing I will say is that I did not feel like I got to know Bridget very well even though the book follows her. However, it made sense to me because she is so guarded that she even keeps her feelings from herself.
I loved the conclusion of this novel and I though Kent was a wizard with his writing. There are plenty of trigger warnings throughout, largely focusing on sexual abuse, so keep that in mind before you begin the book.
What We Did is a hauntingly heartbreaking tale of a woman whose devastating past is catching up with her. Bridget has a secret she keeps from everyone, including her husband. But when her old music teacher walks into her shop, that secret threatens to overtake her. Bridget hope to never see Carmichael again, but he will not leave her alone. Eventually she snaps, and the consequences may do her in.
This book does not move like a thriller, although there is plenty of action to keep the reader in suspense. But rather, it is a look at the ways our pasts can influence our future, and also how we can move beyond them. Bridget carries so much shame and grief with her, and the weight of her experience sat heavy on my shoulders. Prepare for this novel to wreck you, but to still be transported by the beautiful writing. One thing I will say is that I did not feel like I got to know Bridget very well even though the book follows her. However, it made sense to me because she is so guarded that she even keeps her feelings from herself.
I loved the conclusion of this novel and I though Kent was a wizard with his writing. There are plenty of trigger warnings throughout, largely focusing on sexual abuse, so keep that in mind before you begin the book.
January 13, 2019
Via my book blog at https://cavebookreviews.blogspot.com/
Christobel Kent's new novel is a compelling read. Kent's protagonist is a British woman, Bridget, who owns an upscale dress shop in a town near a Rose Hill University where her husband, Matt, works. She lives a quiet, peaceful life with her husband and son, Finn. Matt is a caring, loving man, head of the IT department. Their lives are stable, and they seem content.
For Bridget everything changes in a moment when a man and a young girl enter the shop. The girl is looking for a dress for a piano recital. Bridget's mind explodes at the sight of the man, Anthony Carmichael, her old piano teacher. She hates this old man and never thought she would have to see him again.
The book immediately takes a turn and becomes a suspenseful thriller. I wanted Bridget to get her normal life back, but it didn't seem possible given her actions. The characters surrounding her could help if she shared her secret, but that was the worst torment of all. She thought her husband would have nothing to do with her if he knew her secrets.
I enjoyed this novel and hope it does well when it is published in the USA in February.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
Christobel Kent's new novel is a compelling read. Kent's protagonist is a British woman, Bridget, who owns an upscale dress shop in a town near a Rose Hill University where her husband, Matt, works. She lives a quiet, peaceful life with her husband and son, Finn. Matt is a caring, loving man, head of the IT department. Their lives are stable, and they seem content.
For Bridget everything changes in a moment when a man and a young girl enter the shop. The girl is looking for a dress for a piano recital. Bridget's mind explodes at the sight of the man, Anthony Carmichael, her old piano teacher. She hates this old man and never thought she would have to see him again.
The book immediately takes a turn and becomes a suspenseful thriller. I wanted Bridget to get her normal life back, but it didn't seem possible given her actions. The characters surrounding her could help if she shared her secret, but that was the worst torment of all. She thought her husband would have nothing to do with her if he knew her secrets.
I enjoyed this novel and hope it does well when it is published in the USA in February.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 20, 2019
CAUTION: if you are a survivor of sexual assault and/or domestic violence, this book will most likely be a difficult read for you.
What We Did is a darkly disturbing novel about Bridget who was sexually assaulted as a child by her music teacher. She discovers he has taken a position at the university in the town where she lives when he brings a young teenager into her clothing boutique looking for a dress. Bridget recognizes the man and immediately senses he is grooming the young girl, which sets off all sorts of painful flashbacks for her. When the man later returns to her shop alone, brashly cornering her, touching her, and making it known he wants to continue “their relationship”, she reacts instinctively to protect herself.
Kent writes unflinchingly about pedophiles, sexual abusers, domestic violence, the impacts on the survivors., the secrets we keep, and the lengths to which we go to protect those we love.
This book is well written with strong, believable characters. Though I question the need for such a dark voyeuristic book, it is up to each reader to decide whether to read it. I rate this 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sara Crichton Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
What We Did is a darkly disturbing novel about Bridget who was sexually assaulted as a child by her music teacher. She discovers he has taken a position at the university in the town where she lives when he brings a young teenager into her clothing boutique looking for a dress. Bridget recognizes the man and immediately senses he is grooming the young girl, which sets off all sorts of painful flashbacks for her. When the man later returns to her shop alone, brashly cornering her, touching her, and making it known he wants to continue “their relationship”, she reacts instinctively to protect herself.
Kent writes unflinchingly about pedophiles, sexual abusers, domestic violence, the impacts on the survivors., the secrets we keep, and the lengths to which we go to protect those we love.
This book is well written with strong, believable characters. Though I question the need for such a dark voyeuristic book, it is up to each reader to decide whether to read it. I rate this 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sara Crichton Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
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