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The Accusation
A bizarre abduction. A body of damning evidence. A world of betrayal.
Eighteen-year-old Ellie Canning is found shivering and barely conscious on a country road, clad only in ill-fitting pyjamas. Her story of kidnap and escape quickly enthrals the nation: a middle-aged woman with a crazy old mother has held Ellie in a basement, chained her to a bed and given her drinks from an old baby's sippy cup. But who was this woman and what did she want with Ellie? And what other secrets might she hide?
When the accusation is levelled at local teacher Suzannah Wells, no one seems more bewildered than Suzannah herself ... to start with. The preposterous charge becomes manifestly more real as she loses her job and her friends. And the evidence is strong: a dementia-affected mother, a house with a basement, a sippy cup that belonged to her long-dead daughter. And Ellie Canning's DNA everywhere. As stories about Susannah's past emerge, even those closest to her begin to doubt she's innocent.
And Ellie? The media can't get enough of her. She's a girl-power icon, a social-media star. But is she telling the truth?
Eighteen-year-old Ellie Canning is found shivering and barely conscious on a country road, clad only in ill-fitting pyjamas. Her story of kidnap and escape quickly enthrals the nation: a middle-aged woman with a crazy old mother has held Ellie in a basement, chained her to a bed and given her drinks from an old baby's sippy cup. But who was this woman and what did she want with Ellie? And what other secrets might she hide?
When the accusation is levelled at local teacher Suzannah Wells, no one seems more bewildered than Suzannah herself ... to start with. The preposterous charge becomes manifestly more real as she loses her job and her friends. And the evidence is strong: a dementia-affected mother, a house with a basement, a sippy cup that belonged to her long-dead daughter. And Ellie Canning's DNA everywhere. As stories about Susannah's past emerge, even those closest to her begin to doubt she's innocent.
And Ellie? The media can't get enough of her. She's a girl-power icon, a social-media star. But is she telling the truth?
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2019
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2199 people want to read
About the author
Wendy James
40 books185 followersWendy James is the celebrated author of eight novels, including the bestselling The Mistake and the compelling The Golden Child, which was shortlisted for the 2017 Ned Kelly Award for crime. Her debut novel, Out of the Silence, won the 2006 Ned Kelly Award for first crime novel, and was shortlisted for the Nita May Dobbie award for women's writing. Wendy works as an editor at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation and writes some of the sharpest and most topical domestic noir novels in the country.
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March 15, 2020
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
A complex and tension-filled story that kept me guessing!
This was my second audiobook by Wendy James. I started it right after I finished listening to one of her other books, “The Golden Child”. I enjoyed that novel and thought this one sounded interesting too.
An eighteen-year-old girl accuses a local teacher and her mother of keeping her confined in their basement. Apparently, she was kept restrained and medicated. Eventually, she was able to escape.
Suzannah Wells is adamant that she and her mother, Mary have done nothing wrong. She claims they have even never met, Ellie Canning. However, there’s a tremendous amount of evidence that seems to support the young girl's story. With her confident and qualified agent by her side, Ellie Canning quickly becomes a media star.
Did Suzannah and her mother really keep Ellie captive? And if so why?
Someone is lying. But who?
I really enjoyed this audiobook.
The storyline was intriguing and though it deals with some very emotional issues, there were quite a few light-hearted moments as well. Suzannah’s mother, Mary was definitely one of my favorite characters. The interactions between Mary and others often had me in stitches.
I thought the story flowed well and was easy to follow. There were some great twists and the main one caught me completely by surprise.
I don’t think it will be long before I pick up another book by Wendy James.
March 22, 2021
Imagine having an accusation leveled at you that is so preposterous and ridiculous that no one could possibly believe it's true. Now imagine that the evidence of the the crime is irrefutable. Evidence found in your own home. How can this be?
This is what happens to Suzanna Wells. One day she is a drama teacher at a small school, living with and caring for her elderly mother that suffers from dementia until the police come knocking.
Ellie Canning was found on the side of road not far from Suzanna's house. She was shivering, alone, and barely conscience when she was discovered. She claims she was held in the basement of a home by a woman and her mad mother for a month until she was finally able to escape.
Ellie becomes a media darling virtually overnight. Every news agency and media source wants a piece of her. She is a beautiful and smart young woman that grew up in foster care and has become a source of inspiration to people far and wide.
Suzanna's life, on the other hand, has ceased to be. She is let go from her teaching job and her friends and co-workers turn their back on her. The internet, such as it is, is a place of rage and vitriol all aimed at Suzanna and her mother. Unfavorable stories from her youth are spread far and wide through the internet making her look unhinged and guilty. Stunned, she can only sit back and wait for the trial.
Who is lying and who is telling the truth? You'll have to read this to find out.
What a page turner. I'll admit I did know the direction this book was heading in but that didn't take away from the story for me because I wanted to know all of it. The why and the how. I was not disappointed. This is a fictional account of a true story, The Canning Affair, from 1753 - which I just read up on after closing the final page of this book. A fascinating mystery to be sure but don't read about that until after you've read this. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC.
This is what happens to Suzanna Wells. One day she is a drama teacher at a small school, living with and caring for her elderly mother that suffers from dementia until the police come knocking.
Ellie Canning was found on the side of road not far from Suzanna's house. She was shivering, alone, and barely conscience when she was discovered. She claims she was held in the basement of a home by a woman and her mad mother for a month until she was finally able to escape.
Ellie becomes a media darling virtually overnight. Every news agency and media source wants a piece of her. She is a beautiful and smart young woman that grew up in foster care and has become a source of inspiration to people far and wide.
Suzanna's life, on the other hand, has ceased to be. She is let go from her teaching job and her friends and co-workers turn their back on her. The internet, such as it is, is a place of rage and vitriol all aimed at Suzanna and her mother. Unfavorable stories from her youth are spread far and wide through the internet making her look unhinged and guilty. Stunned, she can only sit back and wait for the trial.
Who is lying and who is telling the truth? You'll have to read this to find out.
What a page turner. I'll admit I did know the direction this book was heading in but that didn't take away from the story for me because I wanted to know all of it. The why and the how. I was not disappointed. This is a fictional account of a true story, The Canning Affair, from 1753 - which I just read up on after closing the final page of this book. A fascinating mystery to be sure but don't read about that until after you've read this. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC.
May 17, 2019
When a young girl is found in a shepherd's hut having claimed to have escaped from the basement of a farmhouse where she was held captive for a month, she becomes a media sensation. Especially as her kidnapers were female with an unsavoury reason for kidnapping her. Soon a local school teacher, Susannah Wells and her elderly mother, Mary Squires in the town of Enfield Wash are identified by the girl, Ellie Canning, as being her abductors. She has a lot of evidence to back up her claims but is she telling the truth or spinning a web of lies?
Wendy James has re-imagined an infamous case from the mid 18th century where a 18 year old maidservant called Elizabeth Canning claimed to have been kidnapped by two women (Susannah Wells and Mary Squires of Enfield Wash). The case attracted a lot of public attention, especially in the media of the time (pamphlets and news sheets), especially during the trial and later retrial. In this contemporary retelling, James has highlighted the power of social media and the press to form and manipulate public opinion. While Ellie becomes a talk show celebrity and admired victim, Susannah is suspended from work and painted as a monster by the media and public.
James has written an engaging and gripping thriller with complex characters. This is definitely a book that demands to be read in one sitting to see how it all turns out!
With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins AU for a digital copy of the book.
Wendy James has re-imagined an infamous case from the mid 18th century where a 18 year old maidservant called Elizabeth Canning claimed to have been kidnapped by two women (Susannah Wells and Mary Squires of Enfield Wash). The case attracted a lot of public attention, especially in the media of the time (pamphlets and news sheets), especially during the trial and later retrial. In this contemporary retelling, James has highlighted the power of social media and the press to form and manipulate public opinion. While Ellie becomes a talk show celebrity and admired victim, Susannah is suspended from work and painted as a monster by the media and public.
James has written an engaging and gripping thriller with complex characters. This is definitely a book that demands to be read in one sitting to see how it all turns out!
With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins AU for a digital copy of the book.
May 13, 2019
Suzannah Wells had not long moved from Sydney to the small town of Enfield Wash with her mother Mary. She was a drama school teacher at the local high school as well as her mother’s carer. When she heard in the news of a young woman, Ellie Canning, who’d been found, barely clad and semi conscious on a nearby country road, she was suitably shocked and saddened about the story of Ellie’s abduction. Who would do such a thing – and why?
As Suzannah’s friendship with the nearby farmer, and original owner of her home, Chip Gascoyne deepened, Suzannah found she enjoyed his company. Mary liked him as well; he seemed able to control and calm her when she became confused. But it was when the police appeared at the door to Suzannah’s home, then brought the warrant to search the house that lives changed; trust fractured; truth was suspected of being lies. Suzannah was shattered…
The Accusation by Aussie author Wendy James is based on an 18th century English criminal case where the guilt or innocence of a certain party remains a mystery. Ms James has woven an intriguing, fascinating story of betrayal, evidence that can’t be denied and a web of dark secrets around a likeable and seemingly trustworthy woman. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As Suzannah’s friendship with the nearby farmer, and original owner of her home, Chip Gascoyne deepened, Suzannah found she enjoyed his company. Mary liked him as well; he seemed able to control and calm her when she became confused. But it was when the police appeared at the door to Suzannah’s home, then brought the warrant to search the house that lives changed; trust fractured; truth was suspected of being lies. Suzannah was shattered…
The Accusation by Aussie author Wendy James is based on an 18th century English criminal case where the guilt or innocence of a certain party remains a mystery. Ms James has woven an intriguing, fascinating story of betrayal, evidence that can’t be denied and a web of dark secrets around a likeable and seemingly trustworthy woman. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2019
Another fast paced compelling and thrilling read by Aussie author, Wendy James. Wendy really knows how to draw her readers in and hold their attention all the way to the very last page. I have enjoyed all of Wendy’s books including this one.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
November 7, 2019
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The Accusation by Wendy James. (2019).
After 18 year old Ellie is found shivering and barely conscious on a country road, her bizarre story of kidnap and escape enthrals the nation. Local drama teacher Suzannah, once a minor celebrity, is new to the town and suddenly in the spotlight when she's accused of being the perpetrator. As stories about Suzannah's past emerge, even those close to her doubt her innocence. Meanwhile the media can't get enough of Ellie but is she telling the truth?
I kept seeing this book EVERYWHERE so of course I had to jump on the bandwagon haha. I quite enjoyed this entertaining tale that leaves the reader wondering for majority of the book who is telling the truth and what the real story is. I found the concept of a crime victim suddenly becoming a celebrity quite fascinating; of course crime survivors are often in the spotlight but in Ellie's case she becomes what I can best term in today's society an 'influencer'. Suzannah's "crazy mum" was a riot and certainly stole the attention on the pages she was included. I would recommend reading this in one or two sessions if possible to get the full effect of confusion and suspense of working out what actually happened. This is one that would be great to take with you on a holiday.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
The Accusation by Wendy James. (2019).
After 18 year old Ellie is found shivering and barely conscious on a country road, her bizarre story of kidnap and escape enthrals the nation. Local drama teacher Suzannah, once a minor celebrity, is new to the town and suddenly in the spotlight when she's accused of being the perpetrator. As stories about Suzannah's past emerge, even those close to her doubt her innocence. Meanwhile the media can't get enough of Ellie but is she telling the truth?
I kept seeing this book EVERYWHERE so of course I had to jump on the bandwagon haha. I quite enjoyed this entertaining tale that leaves the reader wondering for majority of the book who is telling the truth and what the real story is. I found the concept of a crime victim suddenly becoming a celebrity quite fascinating; of course crime survivors are often in the spotlight but in Ellie's case she becomes what I can best term in today's society an 'influencer'. Suzannah's "crazy mum" was a riot and certainly stole the attention on the pages she was included. I would recommend reading this in one or two sessions if possible to get the full effect of confusion and suspense of working out what actually happened. This is one that would be great to take with you on a holiday.
June 3, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Wendy James, the 2017 Ned Kelly Best Crime Fiction shortlist author, returns with her latest novel, The Accusation. This new novel from Wendy James is a velvet rich domestic noir novel that buries itself in themes of kidnapping, truth, lies, sensationalism and cult status. Absorbing, addictive and seducing, I read this novel in two short sittings.
The Accusation is the story of a baffling crime, an off kilter abduction and an act of betrayal. At the centre of this strange crime is Ellie Canning, an eighteen year old girl who is discovered on an isolated country road, filled with a tale of a kidnapping and a daring escape. Ellie’s tale immediately captures the nation, by many questions of how and why emerge. Someone clearly needs to be blamed for this horrendous crime and the finger is quickly pointed at Suzannah Wells – a newcomer to the area. Suzannah’s behaviour and suspect background soon sees her cast as the evil perpetrator of this crime. For Ellie though, her life is now dictated to the media circus that constantly surrounds her. The public continue to crave more from the poor girl who was kidnapped and bravely escaped. But Ellie’s star begins to fall and as it does the real story behind her kidnapping in revealed – in spectacular circumstances.
Wendy James is a decorated Australian novelist, especially in the field of contemporary and crime fiction. Domestic noir is her forte and she definitely sends us in a spin with her latest novel. Filled with contradictions, plenty of grey areas and more questions than answers, The Accusation will keep you riveted from the opening paragraph to the last sentence.
The Accusation is a book that is inspired by a real life eighteenth century crime that took place in Britain. Known as the ‘Canning Affair’, this baffling crime involved the kidnapping of a maidservant who claimed to have been taken against her will for a period of a month. Labelled as one of Britain’s most unusual crime mysteries of the era, the further reading I conducted on this case and how it links to The Accusation was enlightening. I have a weakness for novels styled in this way and The Accusation is definitely a book that wrapped itself around me.
The Accusation is a novel that is formatted in a divided set of year, month and named labelled perspectives. These points of view alternate, providing the reader with both moments of clarity and confusion. I know personally my sides were distributed evenly. I felt empathy for both central characters, but at the same time, I doubted the integrity of their actions. I think that is a deliberate ploy on behalf of the author. Wendy James wants us to feel this way. She also wants us to think outside the box, get a little creative and play in active role in pursuing the truth.
The novel is separated into three parts and it contains sets of narrative prose, along with documentary transcripts, media stories and police interviews. Together, these varied mediums help to provide a holistic view of this complex case. Connected to this is the exploration the author has undergone to expose the problem of fake news, sensationalism, instant celebrity status, manipulation and public opinion. This was a real eye opener and I am sure this focus on the current climate in the world of media influence will grab at the audience in more ways than one.
Careful characterisation, pitch perfect plotting, spot on pacing and a stifling small town setting adds to the intense nature of The Accusation. Be sure to seek this one out if domestic noir novels are high up on your reading agenda.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Accusation is book #77 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
Wendy James, the 2017 Ned Kelly Best Crime Fiction shortlist author, returns with her latest novel, The Accusation. This new novel from Wendy James is a velvet rich domestic noir novel that buries itself in themes of kidnapping, truth, lies, sensationalism and cult status. Absorbing, addictive and seducing, I read this novel in two short sittings.
The Accusation is the story of a baffling crime, an off kilter abduction and an act of betrayal. At the centre of this strange crime is Ellie Canning, an eighteen year old girl who is discovered on an isolated country road, filled with a tale of a kidnapping and a daring escape. Ellie’s tale immediately captures the nation, by many questions of how and why emerge. Someone clearly needs to be blamed for this horrendous crime and the finger is quickly pointed at Suzannah Wells – a newcomer to the area. Suzannah’s behaviour and suspect background soon sees her cast as the evil perpetrator of this crime. For Ellie though, her life is now dictated to the media circus that constantly surrounds her. The public continue to crave more from the poor girl who was kidnapped and bravely escaped. But Ellie’s star begins to fall and as it does the real story behind her kidnapping in revealed – in spectacular circumstances.
Wendy James is a decorated Australian novelist, especially in the field of contemporary and crime fiction. Domestic noir is her forte and she definitely sends us in a spin with her latest novel. Filled with contradictions, plenty of grey areas and more questions than answers, The Accusation will keep you riveted from the opening paragraph to the last sentence.
The Accusation is a book that is inspired by a real life eighteenth century crime that took place in Britain. Known as the ‘Canning Affair’, this baffling crime involved the kidnapping of a maidservant who claimed to have been taken against her will for a period of a month. Labelled as one of Britain’s most unusual crime mysteries of the era, the further reading I conducted on this case and how it links to The Accusation was enlightening. I have a weakness for novels styled in this way and The Accusation is definitely a book that wrapped itself around me.
The Accusation is a novel that is formatted in a divided set of year, month and named labelled perspectives. These points of view alternate, providing the reader with both moments of clarity and confusion. I know personally my sides were distributed evenly. I felt empathy for both central characters, but at the same time, I doubted the integrity of their actions. I think that is a deliberate ploy on behalf of the author. Wendy James wants us to feel this way. She also wants us to think outside the box, get a little creative and play in active role in pursuing the truth.
The novel is separated into three parts and it contains sets of narrative prose, along with documentary transcripts, media stories and police interviews. Together, these varied mediums help to provide a holistic view of this complex case. Connected to this is the exploration the author has undergone to expose the problem of fake news, sensationalism, instant celebrity status, manipulation and public opinion. This was a real eye opener and I am sure this focus on the current climate in the world of media influence will grab at the audience in more ways than one.
Careful characterisation, pitch perfect plotting, spot on pacing and a stifling small town setting adds to the intense nature of The Accusation. Be sure to seek this one out if domestic noir novels are high up on your reading agenda.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Accusation is book #77 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
June 26, 2019
“It was all so utterly strange, so far beyond my experience, that there was no possible way to orient myself. I felt as if I had fallen into some crazy experimental film, where I was the only actor without a script, the only player who had no idea what was going to happen next.”
The Accusation is the eighth novel by award-winning Australian author, Wendy James. High school drama teacher Suzannah Wells is as surprised as anyone in Enfield Wash when eighteen-year-old Ellie Canning turns up in a farm hut, barely clad and half conscious. She claims to have escaped after being kidnapped and held captive for several weeks by two women somewhere near the town.
When the Police search her house, along with others in the area, Suzannah’s not worried: she and her mother Mary have nothing to hide. But no one is more stunned that Suzannah when she is arrested for abduction and imprisonment. She can’t understand how, but the evidence (and there’s a lot of it) seems to overwhelmingly implicate her and her demented mother.
Having only been in town since the start of the year, Suzannah hasn’t made a lot of friends, but the one she thought she could rely on, celebrity PR agent Honor Fielding has become the unofficial guardian for Ellie, managing her interactions with the press, and Honor can’t (or won’t) talk to Suzannah.
Soon enough social media and online press are digging up anything they can about her past life, none of it flattering and, as the tide of public opinion turns against Suzannah, Ellie quickly becomes a media star, very much flavour of the month, an inspiration for teenaged girls claiming control of their lives. As Suzannah awaits a committal hearing, she faces the very real prospect of jail with no idea how this awful situation arose.
This is a cleverly constructed mystery and even the most astute reader will be formulating and then discarding a number of theories before the truth finally begins to crystallise. Narratives from several perspectives, clearly dated, are supplemented by transcripts of dialogue forming a documentary titled Abducted: the Ellie Canning Story.
James populates her novel with a cast of very relatable characters. While many are busy looking out for number one, most temper this with kindness towards others. But when a certain character films something rather than acting on it, readers will be gasping at the utterly calculated selfishness of it. Mary's semi-demented utterances are often hilarious and occasionally quite insightful, and these are not the only instances of humour: much of the dialogue is blackly funny. This retelling of an 18th Century English case is a riveting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
The Accusation is the eighth novel by award-winning Australian author, Wendy James. High school drama teacher Suzannah Wells is as surprised as anyone in Enfield Wash when eighteen-year-old Ellie Canning turns up in a farm hut, barely clad and half conscious. She claims to have escaped after being kidnapped and held captive for several weeks by two women somewhere near the town.
When the Police search her house, along with others in the area, Suzannah’s not worried: she and her mother Mary have nothing to hide. But no one is more stunned that Suzannah when she is arrested for abduction and imprisonment. She can’t understand how, but the evidence (and there’s a lot of it) seems to overwhelmingly implicate her and her demented mother.
Having only been in town since the start of the year, Suzannah hasn’t made a lot of friends, but the one she thought she could rely on, celebrity PR agent Honor Fielding has become the unofficial guardian for Ellie, managing her interactions with the press, and Honor can’t (or won’t) talk to Suzannah.
Soon enough social media and online press are digging up anything they can about her past life, none of it flattering and, as the tide of public opinion turns against Suzannah, Ellie quickly becomes a media star, very much flavour of the month, an inspiration for teenaged girls claiming control of their lives. As Suzannah awaits a committal hearing, she faces the very real prospect of jail with no idea how this awful situation arose.
This is a cleverly constructed mystery and even the most astute reader will be formulating and then discarding a number of theories before the truth finally begins to crystallise. Narratives from several perspectives, clearly dated, are supplemented by transcripts of dialogue forming a documentary titled Abducted: the Ellie Canning Story.
James populates her novel with a cast of very relatable characters. While many are busy looking out for number one, most temper this with kindness towards others. But when a certain character films something rather than acting on it, readers will be gasping at the utterly calculated selfishness of it. Mary's semi-demented utterances are often hilarious and occasionally quite insightful, and these are not the only instances of humour: much of the dialogue is blackly funny. This retelling of an 18th Century English case is a riveting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
May 15, 2019
The Accusation is author Wendy James’ contemporary take on the Canning Affair, an eighteenth-century criminal case that titillated the Victorian public, a compelling story of trust and betrayal, guilt and innocence.
Susannah Wells, a high school drama teacher, has been living with her mother in the small rural community of Enfield Wash for a just a few months. It’s a quiet life, her mothers dementia driven outbursts aside, in contrast with the years she spent as a young starlet on a popular TV soap.
Susannah, like the rest of the residents in Enfield Wash, expresses her shock when news breaks that a frail, bedraggled young woman has been found on the outskirts of town, claiming to have been abducted, drugged and chained to a bed for more than a month. When presented with the initial results of the police investigation, Ellie tearfully confirms the identity of her captors- Susannah Wells, and her mother, Mary.
Susannah vehemently denies the accusation, but with her arrest, her friends, even her closest friend, her colleagues, the townspeople, and the public at large, judge her guilty. Only her lover, Chip, is willing to believe in Susannah’s innocence, but even his faith begins to waiver as seemingly irrefutable evidence against Susannah builds.
If Susannah is innocent, why was evidence of Ellie’s ordeal found in her home? If Susannah is innocent, what possible motive could a stranger, especially a beautiful and bright young woman like Ellie, have to accuse her? If Susannah is innocent, who is guilty?
I raced through The Accusation, utterly engrossed by the question of Susannah’s guilt or innocence. James skilfully keeps the reader guessing, even while probing the possibilities of truth and deceit.
The story is structured in three parts, covering a period of about 12 months, for the most part progressing linearly, with the occasional slip backward and forward in time. Primarily the narrative unfolds from the perspectives of Susannah, and Honor, Ellie’s PR representative, with brief excerpts from a documentary produced about the case, after its resolution.
Of particular interest is the way in which James explores the role of ‘spin’ and social media in contributing to Ellie’s new found celebrity status, and Susannah’s public vilification. It’s an all too real scenario that demonstrates how easily the public can be manipulated, and how easily truth is dismissed.
The Accusation is provocative and gripping, a contemporary psychological thriller that should be moved to the top of your reading list.
Susannah Wells, a high school drama teacher, has been living with her mother in the small rural community of Enfield Wash for a just a few months. It’s a quiet life, her mothers dementia driven outbursts aside, in contrast with the years she spent as a young starlet on a popular TV soap.
Susannah, like the rest of the residents in Enfield Wash, expresses her shock when news breaks that a frail, bedraggled young woman has been found on the outskirts of town, claiming to have been abducted, drugged and chained to a bed for more than a month. When presented with the initial results of the police investigation, Ellie tearfully confirms the identity of her captors- Susannah Wells, and her mother, Mary.
Susannah vehemently denies the accusation, but with her arrest, her friends, even her closest friend, her colleagues, the townspeople, and the public at large, judge her guilty. Only her lover, Chip, is willing to believe in Susannah’s innocence, but even his faith begins to waiver as seemingly irrefutable evidence against Susannah builds.
If Susannah is innocent, why was evidence of Ellie’s ordeal found in her home? If Susannah is innocent, what possible motive could a stranger, especially a beautiful and bright young woman like Ellie, have to accuse her? If Susannah is innocent, who is guilty?
I raced through The Accusation, utterly engrossed by the question of Susannah’s guilt or innocence. James skilfully keeps the reader guessing, even while probing the possibilities of truth and deceit.
The story is structured in three parts, covering a period of about 12 months, for the most part progressing linearly, with the occasional slip backward and forward in time. Primarily the narrative unfolds from the perspectives of Susannah, and Honor, Ellie’s PR representative, with brief excerpts from a documentary produced about the case, after its resolution.
Of particular interest is the way in which James explores the role of ‘spin’ and social media in contributing to Ellie’s new found celebrity status, and Susannah’s public vilification. It’s an all too real scenario that demonstrates how easily the public can be manipulated, and how easily truth is dismissed.
The Accusation is provocative and gripping, a contemporary psychological thriller that should be moved to the top of your reading list.
May 19, 2019
The Accusation by Wendy James iis a book that I read in 2 sittings, struggling to put it down. Once you start it you really want to know what is going to happen next and how it will all unfold. Another great Australian author that I have discovered this year. I loved his this was written, in 3 parts, from multiple points of view and featuring interviews and newspaper articles. Set in a small Australian town where everyone knows everyone and their business, the story gets more twisted as it goes along.
Ellie Canning claims to have been kidnapped in Sydney and brought to Enfield Wash and held captive in the basement of a house by 2 women for a month. She escapes and becomes an instant media sensation, the nation is enthralled. But who would do this to a young girl and why? Local drama teacher Suzanne Wells is as appalled as everybody else but then police come knocking and arrest her for the crime. There is so much evidence making her look guilty but she did not do this. Why does it look like she has and how can she prove herself innocent when the victim is a media darling?
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Ellie Canning claims to have been kidnapped in Sydney and brought to Enfield Wash and held captive in the basement of a house by 2 women for a month. She escapes and becomes an instant media sensation, the nation is enthralled. But who would do this to a young girl and why? Local drama teacher Suzanne Wells is as appalled as everybody else but then police come knocking and arrest her for the crime. There is so much evidence making her look guilty but she did not do this. Why does it look like she has and how can she prove herself innocent when the victim is a media darling?
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
January 29, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
When eighteen year old Ellie Canning is found wandering the countryside, she immediately captures the rapt attention of the media and gets the whole country on her side when she tells her story of being kidnapped and held captive for days. School teacher and former actress, Suzannah Wells, is flabbergasted when Ellie identifies her as her captor. Soon, Suzannah has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, as Ellie’s community support continues to grow, turning her into a national icon. Suzannah’s pleas her innocence, but all the evidence points to her as the captor. Who is telling the truth?
Australian author Wendy James is new to me (for the record, she has at least eight novels under her belt, I just haven’t read them!) and I can definitely see the intrigue, as she can spin quite the addictive tale!
Suzannah generates quite the empathy and support, as she struggles to leave her fame behind and take care of her ailing mother in a new home in the Australian countryside. When the accusations are hurled at her, however, I was left immediately questioning her innocence. Her mother, Mary, is spunky and absolutely hilarious, and she adds even more speculation to the building “did she or didn’t she?” plot. James definitely leaves you second guessing your initial opinions, and taking a hard look at all the players.
The story is told from the perspective of Suzannah and her former friend, Honor (who represents Ellie on a public relations level) , and takes place in the months before the alleged kidnapping, to the time directly after (although not necessarily in time order). The dates are listed at the beginning of each chapter, which is a good thing as the plot can easily get confusing if you aren’t paying close enough attention to the timeline.
Although I had a hard time initially getting into this story, once it pulled me into its web, I was hooked. The ending is (not entirely) predictable, and although I had a vague idea of how the story would play out, I was invested enough to need to know the exact ins-and-outs. In this case, the ending both satisfied me and provided me with inner validation (specifically around the character of Ellie, who I felt was “off” right from the get-go).
James has a writing style similar to S.E Lynes or KL Slater, and I thoroughly enjoyed both her creativity and her suspenseful storytelling.
When eighteen year old Ellie Canning is found wandering the countryside, she immediately captures the rapt attention of the media and gets the whole country on her side when she tells her story of being kidnapped and held captive for days. School teacher and former actress, Suzannah Wells, is flabbergasted when Ellie identifies her as her captor. Soon, Suzannah has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, as Ellie’s community support continues to grow, turning her into a national icon. Suzannah’s pleas her innocence, but all the evidence points to her as the captor. Who is telling the truth?
Australian author Wendy James is new to me (for the record, she has at least eight novels under her belt, I just haven’t read them!) and I can definitely see the intrigue, as she can spin quite the addictive tale!
Suzannah generates quite the empathy and support, as she struggles to leave her fame behind and take care of her ailing mother in a new home in the Australian countryside. When the accusations are hurled at her, however, I was left immediately questioning her innocence. Her mother, Mary, is spunky and absolutely hilarious, and she adds even more speculation to the building “did she or didn’t she?” plot. James definitely leaves you second guessing your initial opinions, and taking a hard look at all the players.
The story is told from the perspective of Suzannah and her former friend, Honor (who represents Ellie on a public relations level) , and takes place in the months before the alleged kidnapping, to the time directly after (although not necessarily in time order). The dates are listed at the beginning of each chapter, which is a good thing as the plot can easily get confusing if you aren’t paying close enough attention to the timeline.
Although I had a hard time initially getting into this story, once it pulled me into its web, I was hooked. The ending is (not entirely) predictable, and although I had a vague idea of how the story would play out, I was invested enough to need to know the exact ins-and-outs. In this case, the ending both satisfied me and provided me with inner validation (specifically around the character of Ellie, who I felt was “off” right from the get-go).
James has a writing style similar to S.E Lynes or KL Slater, and I thoroughly enjoyed both her creativity and her suspenseful storytelling.
May 27, 2019
It’s been a while since a book has kept me up late into the night, but I was so entranced with this one that I read it in one day and couldn’t tear myself away until all was revealed. Anyone who knows my obsession with getting enough sleep will know that it takes a special kind of story to have that sort of power over me!
Darn, this book was good! From the very first page, I was totally and utterly hooked. I’m not sure if it was the premise of the story, or the characters, or a combination of both, but I felt that James really touched the very core of me, like a fisherman using the perfect bait to catch his dinner. I will be very careful not to give anything away here, but basically the story revolves around an eighteen year old girl who claims to have been abducted by a middle-aged woman and her crazy old mother and held hostage in their basement for weeks before being able to escape. Being a small town, the pool of suspects is limited, and soon suspicion fall upon highschool drama teacher Susanna and her mother Mary, who live in an old farmhouse just out of town. Suzannah denies ever having laid eyes on the girl, and yet Ellie seems to know a lot of details about the house and the couple of older women. So who is telling the truth, and who is the liar?
This was a story of a thousand theories – the unreliable narrator theme as its best. I really liked Suzannah and wanted to believe her, but Ellie also makes a convincing case against her. My imagination soon started to run riot. S was guilty, S was innocent, S had multiple personalities, S had an identical twin, aliens had landed in the yard and taken possession of S’ body to commit the crime. One of those surely had to be right! But no matter whether either was right or wrong, here we have the media and the public who have already elevated the young pretty Ellie to celebrity status and condemned the two reclusive women as being the guilty party.
To say I loved James writing style is an understatement – I was mesmerised. Both the setting and the characters came to life for me, painting vivid pictures in my mind and playing out movie like in front of my eyes. I particularly enjoyed the character of Mary, Suzannah’s mother, who suffers from a type of dementia and is extremely eccentric. Whilst Mary would undoubtedly be quite hard work to look after in real life, here she livened up the story and added not only a bit of humour but an additional thread to sow doubt in the reader’s mind. Do her crazy ramblings contain some truth?
I can firmly say that THE ACCUSATION is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read this year, and features amongst other greats of Australian crime fiction to have hit our shelves recently. There is a special quality to Australian mysteries that captures the effects of a vast and isolated land on the human psyche, and ratchets up tension. James has used all of these elements with perfection to create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that kept my heart rate up and my mind churning in an effort to solve the mystery.
If you like a good psychological thriller, then you cannot go past this one. I was even more intrigued to learn that the story had been inspired by a true 18th century crime, which gives it additional depth and meaning. Giving the historical “Canning Affair” a 21st century setting, with the ensuing media circus and social media storm, was a clever way to bring this old mystery back to life. THE ACCUSATION is Australian crime writing at its best, showcasing the great talent of Australian women writers out there today. It deserves all the hype! A brilliant book, very highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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Darn, this book was good! From the very first page, I was totally and utterly hooked. I’m not sure if it was the premise of the story, or the characters, or a combination of both, but I felt that James really touched the very core of me, like a fisherman using the perfect bait to catch his dinner. I will be very careful not to give anything away here, but basically the story revolves around an eighteen year old girl who claims to have been abducted by a middle-aged woman and her crazy old mother and held hostage in their basement for weeks before being able to escape. Being a small town, the pool of suspects is limited, and soon suspicion fall upon highschool drama teacher Susanna and her mother Mary, who live in an old farmhouse just out of town. Suzannah denies ever having laid eyes on the girl, and yet Ellie seems to know a lot of details about the house and the couple of older women. So who is telling the truth, and who is the liar?
This was a story of a thousand theories – the unreliable narrator theme as its best. I really liked Suzannah and wanted to believe her, but Ellie also makes a convincing case against her. My imagination soon started to run riot. S was guilty, S was innocent, S had multiple personalities, S had an identical twin, aliens had landed in the yard and taken possession of S’ body to commit the crime. One of those surely had to be right! But no matter whether either was right or wrong, here we have the media and the public who have already elevated the young pretty Ellie to celebrity status and condemned the two reclusive women as being the guilty party.
To say I loved James writing style is an understatement – I was mesmerised. Both the setting and the characters came to life for me, painting vivid pictures in my mind and playing out movie like in front of my eyes. I particularly enjoyed the character of Mary, Suzannah’s mother, who suffers from a type of dementia and is extremely eccentric. Whilst Mary would undoubtedly be quite hard work to look after in real life, here she livened up the story and added not only a bit of humour but an additional thread to sow doubt in the reader’s mind. Do her crazy ramblings contain some truth?
I can firmly say that THE ACCUSATION is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read this year, and features amongst other greats of Australian crime fiction to have hit our shelves recently. There is a special quality to Australian mysteries that captures the effects of a vast and isolated land on the human psyche, and ratchets up tension. James has used all of these elements with perfection to create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that kept my heart rate up and my mind churning in an effort to solve the mystery.
If you like a good psychological thriller, then you cannot go past this one. I was even more intrigued to learn that the story had been inspired by a true 18th century crime, which gives it additional depth and meaning. Giving the historical “Canning Affair” a 21st century setting, with the ensuing media circus and social media storm, was a clever way to bring this old mystery back to life. THE ACCUSATION is Australian crime writing at its best, showcasing the great talent of Australian women writers out there today. It deserves all the hype! A brilliant book, very highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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May 2, 2021
This one drew me in on concept--a teenage girl accuses a woman and her mother of having kidnapped her and held her captive for a month, but who can you believe? It's told primarily from the POV of Susannah, the woman accused, though you get the teen girl Ellie's POV via transcripts from a documentary made about the situation at some unspecified point in the future. Timing-wise, you get a bit of Susannah months before the alleged incident, and then everything after.
I was compelled to read, and in particularly once I got past 30% I read the rest in one sitting. I was incredibly invested in Susannah and so upset at the perceived injustice of what was happening. I definitely waffled often because Ellie's account had such specific details! Was this a book where our POV protagonist, in 3rd person close POV chapters, was lying to the reader, or lying by omission?
Well. To discuss the rest and why ultimately this was a 4 star for me rather than a homerun, I need to go into
Regardless, I had a really good time reading this and recommend it to anyone who enjoys the kind of domestic suspense where your MC has the whole world closing in on them, the screws really tighten, and you feel rage boiling in your stomach on behalf of the MC and the forces moving against them. This book delivers that beautifully. And I loved what it had to say about celebrity, influencer culture, etc... it had a nice edge to it. And once I was done and looked up the Canning Affair, it was cool to see how the author modernized it.
I was compelled to read, and in particularly once I got past 30% I read the rest in one sitting. I was incredibly invested in Susannah and so upset at the perceived injustice of what was happening. I definitely waffled often because Ellie's account had such specific details! Was this a book where our POV protagonist, in 3rd person close POV chapters, was lying to the reader, or lying by omission?
Well. To discuss the rest and why ultimately this was a 4 star for me rather than a homerun, I need to go into
Regardless, I had a really good time reading this and recommend it to anyone who enjoys the kind of domestic suspense where your MC has the whole world closing in on them, the screws really tighten, and you feel rage boiling in your stomach on behalf of the MC and the forces moving against them. This book delivers that beautifully. And I loved what it had to say about celebrity, influencer culture, etc... it had a nice edge to it. And once I was done and looked up the Canning Affair, it was cool to see how the author modernized it.
March 14, 2021
A 5-star premise with 1-star execution.
THE 5-STAR PREMISE: When a local drama teacher with a slightly blemished past is accused of abducting a pretty and penniless teen -- readers need to decide which "Drama Queen" is telling the truth. The teen allegedly had been held captive in the teacher's basement for three agonizing weeks. Public sympathy immediately gravitates towards the gorgeous teen and the teacher loses her job and her friends and is shamed on social media. When DNA evidence is obtained from the teacher's basement, the verdict seems like it's a no-brainer.
The before/after story of the arrest and impending trial unfolds from alternating views of the main protagonists. The author's character development is superb.
THE 1-STAR EXECUTION. The beginning of the book was S-L-O-W. But the major problem I had with this book was that there was sooooo much repetitive content. I listened to the book's audio version and the 9-hour audiobook easily could have been 6 hours with no information lost.
If THE ACCUSATION was a 6-hour audiobook, it would have been a 5-star read.
THE 5-STAR PREMISE: When a local drama teacher with a slightly blemished past is accused of abducting a pretty and penniless teen -- readers need to decide which "Drama Queen" is telling the truth. The teen allegedly had been held captive in the teacher's basement for three agonizing weeks. Public sympathy immediately gravitates towards the gorgeous teen and the teacher loses her job and her friends and is shamed on social media. When DNA evidence is obtained from the teacher's basement, the verdict seems like it's a no-brainer.
The before/after story of the arrest and impending trial unfolds from alternating views of the main protagonists. The author's character development is superb.
THE 1-STAR EXECUTION. The beginning of the book was S-L-O-W. But the major problem I had with this book was that there was sooooo much repetitive content. I listened to the book's audio version and the 9-hour audiobook easily could have been 6 hours with no information lost.
If THE ACCUSATION was a 6-hour audiobook, it would have been a 5-star read.
July 7, 2021
Wow...this book called The Accusation was actually based on a true case from 1753. I love books that are based on something that occurred in real life.
Ellie is just 18 years old when one day she's found stumbling and confused but claiming that she'd been help hostage by two women. Kind of unusual, but there was a deep dark secret about to unfold as the reader continues to the end.
I can't say that I'm easily shocked, so I don't like using that word but I was definitely taken aback by the end of the story. There was so much in this story, and it questionable whether or not Ellie was telling the truth, if the women accused really did it, and if not why would she accuse them?
Rather unique, definitely somewhat dark and twisted...I love it!
I'd like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a free e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.
#AnAccusation #NetGalley
Ellie is just 18 years old when one day she's found stumbling and confused but claiming that she'd been help hostage by two women. Kind of unusual, but there was a deep dark secret about to unfold as the reader continues to the end.
I can't say that I'm easily shocked, so I don't like using that word but I was definitely taken aback by the end of the story. There was so much in this story, and it questionable whether or not Ellie was telling the truth, if the women accused really did it, and if not why would she accuse them?
Rather unique, definitely somewhat dark and twisted...I love it!
I'd like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a free e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.
#AnAccusation #NetGalley
May 25, 2019
‘Everything added up – but not to the truth.’
Near the town of Enfield Wash in New South Wales, eighteen-year-old Ellie Canning is found unconscious by a local farmer in a disused shepherd’s hut on his property. After she regained consciousness, she told the police that she had sought shelter in the hut after escaping from a nearby farmhouse. Ellie Canning claimed that she’d been abducted by a middle-aged woman and chained to a bed in a basement for a month. The woman, Ellie said, had a crazy old mother. The woman, Ellie said, had given her drinks from an old baby’s sippy cup.
Who was this woman, and why did she abduct Ellie?
Local high school teacher Suzannah Wells is accused of abducting Ellie. While she claims never to have seen Ellie before, the evidence seems to point to her guilt. Suzannah’s mother, Mary, has dementia, Suzannah’s house has a basement, and Ellie’s DNA is everywhere. Suzannah loses her job and most of her friends, especially after stories from the past emerge. Few people believe that she is innocent.
Ellie becomes a social media star. Everyone is interested in her story. But what really happened?
I picked this and found it hard to put down. Was Suzannah innocent or guilty? What role (if any) had Mary played? Could Ellie be mistaken? If Suzannah was innocent, why was Ellie’s DNA in her house? The evidence against Suzannah grows, public opinion is firmly against her. The only person who seems to believe Suzannah is her lover Chip.
The story unfolds over a period of about 12 months and is told from the perspectives of Suzannah and Honor Fielding, the celebrity PR agent who is Suzannah’s neighbour, was Suzannah’s friend and is now Ellie’s agent. There are also excerpts from a documentary prepared about the case.
Who is telling the truth? And why, before the case is heard, is everyone so quick to condemn Suzannah?
What role has the media played?
This novel is Ms James’s contemporary revisiting of the Canning Affair, an eighteenth-century criminal case and cause célèbre, which is also the subject of Josephine Tey’s novel ‘The Franchise Affair’. It’s a novel which makes the reader think about the power of the media and of how easy it can be to shape public opinion.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Near the town of Enfield Wash in New South Wales, eighteen-year-old Ellie Canning is found unconscious by a local farmer in a disused shepherd’s hut on his property. After she regained consciousness, she told the police that she had sought shelter in the hut after escaping from a nearby farmhouse. Ellie Canning claimed that she’d been abducted by a middle-aged woman and chained to a bed in a basement for a month. The woman, Ellie said, had a crazy old mother. The woman, Ellie said, had given her drinks from an old baby’s sippy cup.
Who was this woman, and why did she abduct Ellie?
Local high school teacher Suzannah Wells is accused of abducting Ellie. While she claims never to have seen Ellie before, the evidence seems to point to her guilt. Suzannah’s mother, Mary, has dementia, Suzannah’s house has a basement, and Ellie’s DNA is everywhere. Suzannah loses her job and most of her friends, especially after stories from the past emerge. Few people believe that she is innocent.
Ellie becomes a social media star. Everyone is interested in her story. But what really happened?
I picked this and found it hard to put down. Was Suzannah innocent or guilty? What role (if any) had Mary played? Could Ellie be mistaken? If Suzannah was innocent, why was Ellie’s DNA in her house? The evidence against Suzannah grows, public opinion is firmly against her. The only person who seems to believe Suzannah is her lover Chip.
The story unfolds over a period of about 12 months and is told from the perspectives of Suzannah and Honor Fielding, the celebrity PR agent who is Suzannah’s neighbour, was Suzannah’s friend and is now Ellie’s agent. There are also excerpts from a documentary prepared about the case.
Who is telling the truth? And why, before the case is heard, is everyone so quick to condemn Suzannah?
What role has the media played?
This novel is Ms James’s contemporary revisiting of the Canning Affair, an eighteenth-century criminal case and cause célèbre, which is also the subject of Josephine Tey’s novel ‘The Franchise Affair’. It’s a novel which makes the reader think about the power of the media and of how easy it can be to shape public opinion.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 29, 2019
I can't believe this is the first time I've read any Wendy James. The Accusation by popular Australian author Wendy James was domestic noir meets psychological thriller and I really enjoyed it.
Suzannah Wells is an ex soapie star and now the local drama teacher at Enfield Wash, NSW. Ellie Canning is an 18 year old kidnapping survivor who is in the media spotlight after escaping her female captors. Suzannah is accused of the crime and the book drives the reader towards the truth. Is Suzannah guilty or innocent of the crime?
I've gotta be honest, I was constantly flipping from character to character and then back again, each time certain I'd worked out who was responsible for Ellie's kidnapping. And it's safe to say I won't be making a great detective anytime soon because I didn't guess who the perpetrator was, or their motivations for the crime.
I've been reading quite a few Australian authors this year and Wendy James is right up there with the best. Her writing style is polished and engaging, no doubt coming from having written and published seven books prior; although this is a stand alone.
The story is told from two character points of view, with excerpts of a later documentary of the case dotted between the chapters. There's a clever use of news reports and social media in The Accusation to ratchet up the tension as Suzannah's character is torn to shreds.
I later discovered in the Author’s Note that The Accusation is based on the real 18th Century English mystery known as the Canning Affair. This is a modern day re-telling of the mystery and after learning about it online, I gained a new appreciation for what I’d just read.
If you enjoy a thrilling 'whodunnit' without a murder, then The Accusation by Wendy James is for you. Lovers of domestic noir and psychological thrillers will also find plenty to keep the pages turning. Highly recommended.
* Copy courtesy of Harper Collins *
Suzannah Wells is an ex soapie star and now the local drama teacher at Enfield Wash, NSW. Ellie Canning is an 18 year old kidnapping survivor who is in the media spotlight after escaping her female captors. Suzannah is accused of the crime and the book drives the reader towards the truth. Is Suzannah guilty or innocent of the crime?
I've gotta be honest, I was constantly flipping from character to character and then back again, each time certain I'd worked out who was responsible for Ellie's kidnapping. And it's safe to say I won't be making a great detective anytime soon because I didn't guess who the perpetrator was, or their motivations for the crime.
I've been reading quite a few Australian authors this year and Wendy James is right up there with the best. Her writing style is polished and engaging, no doubt coming from having written and published seven books prior; although this is a stand alone.
The story is told from two character points of view, with excerpts of a later documentary of the case dotted between the chapters. There's a clever use of news reports and social media in The Accusation to ratchet up the tension as Suzannah's character is torn to shreds.
I later discovered in the Author’s Note that The Accusation is based on the real 18th Century English mystery known as the Canning Affair. This is a modern day re-telling of the mystery and after learning about it online, I gained a new appreciation for what I’d just read.
If you enjoy a thrilling 'whodunnit' without a murder, then The Accusation by Wendy James is for you. Lovers of domestic noir and psychological thrillers will also find plenty to keep the pages turning. Highly recommended.
* Copy courtesy of Harper Collins *
June 23, 2019
Exciting, fast paced, twisted PERFECT
My View:
Credible! Readable! Powerful!
What a fantastic read!!!
This is a fabulous read that kept me up till the early hours trying to work out the knots and twists in this plot. Like a skilful magician, Wendy James directs our attention to view the scenarios in a particular way, provides glimpses, hints, clues then redirects our attention to other possibilities.
I do love an unreliable narrator. A fast paced read with some surprising reveals, I predict an award or two for this novel.
My View:
Credible! Readable! Powerful!
What a fantastic read!!!
This is a fabulous read that kept me up till the early hours trying to work out the knots and twists in this plot. Like a skilful magician, Wendy James directs our attention to view the scenarios in a particular way, provides glimpses, hints, clues then redirects our attention to other possibilities.
I do love an unreliable narrator. A fast paced read with some surprising reveals, I predict an award or two for this novel.
May 26, 2019
The Accusation
The Accusation is a contemporary take on the ‘Canning Affair’, one of the most famous English criminal mysteries of the 18th century and is by Australian author Wendy James.
The story is of a bizarre abduction with no credible motives for the accused. Significant evidence is found in the house basement for a guilty verdict but who is lying!
Pretty 18 year old Ellie Canning is found on a country road in a shepherds hut, barely conscious and clad in ill fitting pink pyjamas. She claims to have been kidnapped and held prisoner for a month by two women and has escaped. Ellie is the perfect victim and survivor and quickly grows an expanding fan base on social media with opportunities flowing in from her ordeal fame.
Suzannah Wells, the accused is a local high school drama teacher, in her younger years she was a starlet on a popular TV soapie. She cares for her mother, a colourful character who suffers from a form of dementia.
This story is of trust, betrayal, guilt and innocence, it will keep the reader in suspense to the end. Although I guessed the guilty party early on, the story still engaged my attention with unexpected twists and turns. A well paced and engaging read.
Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC in return for an honest review
The Accusation is a contemporary take on the ‘Canning Affair’, one of the most famous English criminal mysteries of the 18th century and is by Australian author Wendy James.
The story is of a bizarre abduction with no credible motives for the accused. Significant evidence is found in the house basement for a guilty verdict but who is lying!
Pretty 18 year old Ellie Canning is found on a country road in a shepherds hut, barely conscious and clad in ill fitting pink pyjamas. She claims to have been kidnapped and held prisoner for a month by two women and has escaped. Ellie is the perfect victim and survivor and quickly grows an expanding fan base on social media with opportunities flowing in from her ordeal fame.
Suzannah Wells, the accused is a local high school drama teacher, in her younger years she was a starlet on a popular TV soapie. She cares for her mother, a colourful character who suffers from a form of dementia.
This story is of trust, betrayal, guilt and innocence, it will keep the reader in suspense to the end. Although I guessed the guilty party early on, the story still engaged my attention with unexpected twists and turns. A well paced and engaging read.
Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC in return for an honest review
January 14, 2021
You can read so many other glowing reviews of The Accusation and I hope that you will. I appear to be the outlier but this book simply did not work for me. I really didn't care for any of the characters, I thought that the premise was too over the top; bottom line, it bored me. Surely it's just me.
June 9, 2019
I was in the mood for a mystery novel and came across The Accusation by Wendy James. This book I learned after reading the author's note was based on a case that took place in the 18th Century in the UK called The Canning Affair, which later was developed into a novel set in the post-war by Josephine Tey called The Franchise Affair. Wendy James took both accounts and then added her twist to create The Accusation set in modern times in a small Australian town. The book starts with a young teacher who loves her work and wants to make a difference in the world, after her break-up and her mother's break. She moves with her mother to a small town and gets a job at the school. During this time, she meets her neighbors, including one who used to be a big-time TV Star and is now a Social Media and Agent for celebrities. After a failed relationship, Susannah - our main character also starts to form a relationship with her landlord, Chip. In the town, she also is befriended by Honor - our Celebrity Agent. Soon the community is rocked when a young teenaged girl is found wandering the rural backwoods with claims she was kidnapped and tortured. The young girl Ellie Canning at first can't recall anything but soon becomes a celebrity when Honor takes her under her wings and makes her into a TV star and inspirational model to all. As the story goes along, Ellie starts recalling things, and all the evidence points to newcomer Susannah. How can this be if Susannah has never met her in her life? Soon it will become the world against Susannah as Ellie's story, and the evidence becomes damning? Who is setting Susannah up and why? Will the real truth ever be revealed or by the time it does - what will be left of Susannah's reputation and life? Find out in this Australian hit - The Accusation by Wendy James.
May 13, 2019
I loved, loved, loved this book! So much so, I read it in one siting on a Sunday afternoon- hunched down in my corner chair, coffee forgotten and cooling beside me.
Set in a small country town in NSW, initially, the familiar rural setting provided a sense of false easiness. Lulled me indeed into comfort. Having spent years teaching in such a place, both the negative and positive aspects of rural life were instantly familiar. But the layers are soon uncovered and the town is proved to be both a warm and sinister place, a juxtaposition James exploits to the very end. The (mostly) female characters are all strongly drawn and James moves the reader along with ease and confidence, contributing to how fast I was flipping those pages over. The role of both the traditional and the social media is highlighted and the 'political spin factor' explored and mined mercilessly. Plus, I just could not wait to find out what really happened. Maybe it is in this way James creates this amazing pull push tug of tension.
I think The Accusation is a deceptively simple book. Certainly, it's a book one can enjoy just for its ability to make you crazy to discover the answer (satisfying indeed). However, the novel also serves up plenty of questions about our fascination with victim identity culture; about the role of the Fourth Estate and the powerful influence socio-economic status wields. Would love to see this page turner made into a movie!
Set in a small country town in NSW, initially, the familiar rural setting provided a sense of false easiness. Lulled me indeed into comfort. Having spent years teaching in such a place, both the negative and positive aspects of rural life were instantly familiar. But the layers are soon uncovered and the town is proved to be both a warm and sinister place, a juxtaposition James exploits to the very end. The (mostly) female characters are all strongly drawn and James moves the reader along with ease and confidence, contributing to how fast I was flipping those pages over. The role of both the traditional and the social media is highlighted and the 'political spin factor' explored and mined mercilessly. Plus, I just could not wait to find out what really happened. Maybe it is in this way James creates this amazing pull push tug of tension.
I think The Accusation is a deceptively simple book. Certainly, it's a book one can enjoy just for its ability to make you crazy to discover the answer (satisfying indeed). However, the novel also serves up plenty of questions about our fascination with victim identity culture; about the role of the Fourth Estate and the powerful influence socio-economic status wields. Would love to see this page turner made into a movie!
November 16, 2020
This is a really clever book but as I write that, I think - is that what you want to come to mind when you sit down to review a book? Is that what makes a good book? Well, yes and no. It is what makes for a "good read" and it is a great plus for a book based on a mystery, but cleverness only takes the reader so far. As well as twist after twist and revelation after revelation, I need to feel that the behaviour and motivation of the main characters makes psychological sense, and that aspect of "The Accusation" did not work well enough for me. Perhaps a good airport read (when we are flying again) and perhaps that's just what Wendy James intended?
October 12, 2019
I'd seen reviews of this book popping up in a few places and was surprised it hadn't been on my radar. Fortunately I was able to access an online review copy and meet established Australian author Wendy James - for the first time - in my case.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
December 5, 2020
Interesting characters, but the sheer unfairness of the plot bothered me so much that I was careening through a lot of the book, trying to get to the resolution. I also despised the abortion leading to infertility twist. Liked the non-chronological structure, and enjoyed a lot of the writing, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2021
Rating: 2
Thoughts: This was a meh one for me. The idea of the plot was what intrigued me, but the writing style just missed the mark. It seemed to drag on and parts that I thought would be given more time were rushed as if it wasn't important. When it switched to the different character view, the voice didn't change much with them.
Thoughts: This was a meh one for me. The idea of the plot was what intrigued me, but the writing style just missed the mark. It seemed to drag on and parts that I thought would be given more time were rushed as if it wasn't important. When it switched to the different character view, the voice didn't change much with them.
April 17, 2021
Ellie is found in a shepherd's hut, barely conscious. She tells an unlikely tale - she had been held captive by a madwoman and her mother in their basement and been given liquids from a baby bottle.
The madwoman in question is Suzannah Wells. Except that she isn't mad. She is, in fact, a teacher caring for her ailing mother.
But then there is evidence - the baby bottle and Ellie's DNA all over the place. In Suzannah's house.
Suzannah loses her job and her privacy as everyone pries her life open with a vengeance. She is a monster. Meanwhile, Ellie is the woman of the hour. A survivor.
But what if someone is lying?
This book was unexpectedly good. I couldn't put it down. A real page-turner I have come across in recent times.
Note: Do not start reading this book at night.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
5 resounding stars.
The madwoman in question is Suzannah Wells. Except that she isn't mad. She is, in fact, a teacher caring for her ailing mother.
But then there is evidence - the baby bottle and Ellie's DNA all over the place. In Suzannah's house.
Suzannah loses her job and her privacy as everyone pries her life open with a vengeance. She is a monster. Meanwhile, Ellie is the woman of the hour. A survivor.
But what if someone is lying?
This book was unexpectedly good. I couldn't put it down. A real page-turner I have come across in recent times.
Note: Do not start reading this book at night.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
5 resounding stars.
September 1, 2022
It was interesting but I guessed all the twists way before they actually happened so I wasn’t all that invested
September 12, 2022
Setting: NSW, Australia.
46-year-old high school drama teacher Suzannah Wells has recently moved to a small community north of Sydney with her mother, Mary, who suffers from dementia. Shortly after moving in, she starts a relationship with the owner of the neighbouring property - and is pleasantly surprised when, some months later, she discovers that she is pregnant. What is a less pleasant surprise is being accused of abducting and imprisoning an 18-year-old girl who claimed she had been kept locked in a basement for several weeks by two women before managing to escape - and subsequently identifies Suzannah and her mother as the culprits! With all the physical evidence indicating that the girl is telling the truth, Suzannah can only declare her innocence - and trial by media is much in evidence as she is suspended from her teaching job and vilified in the Press and on social media. Meanwhile, the young girl becomes a teenage icon on social media following her ordeal....
This was a fast-moving story, told from the points of view of main characters Suzannah, Ellie (the girl) and Honor Fielding (the girl's publicist), and certainly kept me reading. I was not aware until the author's note at the end that the story was based on a historical case in England where a maid accused two women of kidnapping and holding her for no apparent reason. Clearly this was a modern take on the story, with the interesting modern-day impact of trial-by-media at its forefront. Enjoyable read - 8.5/10.
46-year-old high school drama teacher Suzannah Wells has recently moved to a small community north of Sydney with her mother, Mary, who suffers from dementia. Shortly after moving in, she starts a relationship with the owner of the neighbouring property - and is pleasantly surprised when, some months later, she discovers that she is pregnant. What is a less pleasant surprise is being accused of abducting and imprisoning an 18-year-old girl who claimed she had been kept locked in a basement for several weeks by two women before managing to escape - and subsequently identifies Suzannah and her mother as the culprits! With all the physical evidence indicating that the girl is telling the truth, Suzannah can only declare her innocence - and trial by media is much in evidence as she is suspended from her teaching job and vilified in the Press and on social media. Meanwhile, the young girl becomes a teenage icon on social media following her ordeal....
This was a fast-moving story, told from the points of view of main characters Suzannah, Ellie (the girl) and Honor Fielding (the girl's publicist), and certainly kept me reading. I was not aware until the author's note at the end that the story was based on a historical case in England where a maid accused two women of kidnapping and holding her for no apparent reason. Clearly this was a modern take on the story, with the interesting modern-day impact of trial-by-media at its forefront. Enjoyable read - 8.5/10.
March 30, 2021
2.5
Koncepts bija kaut cik saistošs. Ir jābeidz izlikties, ka viltus apsūdzības nenotiek un, ka visi vienmēr saka taisnību(un absolūti nekad nemelo vnk, lai nomelnotu cilvēku).
Ņemot vērā, ka apsūdzētā un apsūdzētāja vispār savā starpā nebija pazīstamas... mani interesēja kāds būs motīvs.
Kaut kur sākumdaļā es ierakstīju, ka man ir traka versija, kas visticamāk, nebūs pat tuvu patiesībai. Well... izrādās, ka es trāpīju gandrīz precīzi(es neuzminēju vienu sīku detaļu, bet pamats bija precīzi).
Un tāpēc tikai2.5 zvaigznes - jo es uzminēju motīvu... un tas bija pilnīgi stulbs.
Vienīgais, par ko te varēja padomāt, bija tas, kā pēc šādām nepatiesām apsūdzībām dzīvot tam, kurš tika apsūdzēts. Sūzannas dzīve pēc šī bija sabojāta pilnībā. Pat pierādot, ka viņa neko neizdarīja - reputācija bija sagrauta un interneta laikmetā, joprojām bija īpašās pārsliņas, kas pat pēc atmaskošanas turpināja ticēt, ka apsūdzība bija patiesa un Sūzanna vnk izbēgusi no soda.
Nepatiesas apsūdzības mūsdienās ir ierocis kā iznīcināt cilvēku. Sabiedrība automātiski tic. Šobrīd tas ir ļoti reāli. Gribi iznīcināt kādu, kurš tev nepatīk? Apsūdzi viņu. Ja tas ir čalis - vispār nekad dzīvē neatmazgāsies no tās apsūdzības, pat tad, kad pierādīs, ka tu melo. Vienalga, sabiedrība turpinās viņu linčot un uzskatīt, ka viņš vnk izbēga no soda....
Beigās izrādījās, ka šī grāmata ir kā modernizēta versija par reālu lietu no 18.gs.
Mehhh...
Koncepts bija kaut cik saistošs. Ir jābeidz izlikties, ka viltus apsūdzības nenotiek un, ka visi vienmēr saka taisnību(un absolūti nekad nemelo vnk, lai nomelnotu cilvēku).
Ņemot vērā, ka apsūdzētā un apsūdzētāja vispār savā starpā nebija pazīstamas... mani interesēja kāds būs motīvs.
Kaut kur sākumdaļā es ierakstīju, ka man ir traka versija, kas visticamāk, nebūs pat tuvu patiesībai. Well... izrādās, ka es trāpīju gandrīz precīzi(es neuzminēju vienu sīku detaļu, bet pamats bija precīzi).
Un tāpēc tikai2.5 zvaigznes - jo es uzminēju motīvu... un tas bija pilnīgi stulbs.
Vienīgais, par ko te varēja padomāt, bija tas, kā pēc šādām nepatiesām apsūdzībām dzīvot tam, kurš tika apsūdzēts. Sūzannas dzīve pēc šī bija sabojāta pilnībā. Pat pierādot, ka viņa neko neizdarīja - reputācija bija sagrauta un interneta laikmetā, joprojām bija īpašās pārsliņas, kas pat pēc atmaskošanas turpināja ticēt, ka apsūdzība bija patiesa un Sūzanna vnk izbēgusi no soda.
Nepatiesas apsūdzības mūsdienās ir ierocis kā iznīcināt cilvēku. Sabiedrība automātiski tic. Šobrīd tas ir ļoti reāli. Gribi iznīcināt kādu, kurš tev nepatīk? Apsūdzi viņu. Ja tas ir čalis - vispār nekad dzīvē neatmazgāsies no tās apsūdzības, pat tad, kad pierādīs, ka tu melo. Vienalga, sabiedrība turpinās viņu linčot un uzskatīt, ka viņš vnk izbēga no soda....
Beigās izrādījās, ka šī grāmata ir kā modernizēta versija par reālu lietu no 18.gs.
Mehhh...
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