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I Confess
Gripping, stylish, convincing Sunday TimesThey wont all live to tell the taleSeven friends. One killer. No escapeA group of childhood friends are reunited at a luxury inn on a remote west coast peninsula in Ireland. But as a storm builds outside, the dark events that marred their childhoods threaten to resurface.And when a body is discovered, the group faces a shocking a killer is among them, and not everyone will escape with their livesAlmost unbearably tense and shocking IRISH INDEPENDENTCompellingsharply observed IRISH TIMES
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
80 people are currently reading
687 people want to read
About the author
Alex Barclay
39 books156 followersBarclay studied journalism at university and worked for a period in fashion and beauty journalism as a copywriter in the RTÉ Guide. In 2003, she left the fashion industry to write Darkhouse, the first of two novels featuring NYPD detective Joe Lucchesi. Her second novel, The Caller, was released in 2007, and Last Call in 2008. She won the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award at the Irish Book Awards for her fourth novel, Blood Runs Cold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
August 21, 2019
I Confess is the latest novel from Irish writer and bestselling author, Alex Barclay. It will be published tomorrow, 22nd August 2019, with Harper Collins Ireland.
I Confess is a standalone psychological thriller and is described as ‘addictive and twisty’. I am thrilled to be bringing you all my review today of a novel which just happens to be set in my home county of Cork.
Pilgrim Point, a remote and fictional place off the coast of West Cork was described in 1886 as ‘an anvil-shaped promontory on the south-west coast of Ireland….once been a battleground, and at various times in the centuries that followed, had been fought over, lost, regained, or relinquished.’ It is here that seven friends reunite for a planned evening of laughter and regalia, a time to look back at their youth with a mixture of happiness and sorrow, a time to enjoy and remember the way they were. That was the plan….
Edie and Johnny, decide to renovate an old property near the place they both were reared and transform it into luxury accommodation for paying guests. Married for twenty years, Edie and Johnny had left their home in West Cork for San Francisco. Investing in real estate and property development, they eventually settled in Colorado, owning a ski lodge, but the dream was always to develop a luxury inn. When Johnny heard of a property up for sale back at Beara, near their family homes in West Cork, he convinced Edie that this was it, this was their chance. So with their teenage son, Dylan, they made the decision to move back to the Beara Pensinsula and start the next stage of their lives.
Before the official opening of the inn, Edie and Johnny invite some old friends to stay, to join them for an evening in celebration of their friend, Helen’s birthday, to relax and enjoy their hospitality.
Helen, Laura, Clare, Murph and Patrick all arrive, each in awe of the work that Edie and Johnny have put into the old place. Murph is his usual self, keeping them all entertained with his stories and self-effacing humour. They all relax into the evening of laughter and fun that only old friends can truly experience. As the evening passes, we are given insights into their pasts, secrets that have been kept buried for years start to emerge. The tension starts to build, the heart-rate increases as you suddenly find yourself in the middle of something very sinister indeed. The weather turns, the power flickers and a body is discovered….
The shock of this horrendous discovery causes panic and fear among the friends. The weather is dreadful outside, there is nobody else here, only themselves. Suspicions are raised, accusations are thrown about, the friendship starts to crack……. Who is the killer and what do they want?
Alex Barclay cleverly weaves the past and present together revealing the deceit and the lies that have shadowed these seven friends all their lives. The descriptions of their childhood days is portrayed expertly with each having their own secrets to keep, their own memories tucked away in the recesses of their minds. As this tragic evening develops, the past quickly comes catching up with them all and the guilt of those early days becomes a fresh pain, a shame that resurfaces. Alex Barclay writes with such prowess, craftily introducing these revelations to the reader, leaving a trail of shock and horror in her wake.
There is so much going on in this book, it’s best left to you the reader to discover it’s complexities and it’s truly gripping story-line. I Confess is a fast and furious tale, as the pace gathers toward the final chapters at a ferocious speed. This is a book that you WILL NOT be able to put down. With your heart in your mouth you WILL read until the small hours. You WILL be appalled as the veil is removed and the truth exposed. You WILL be in denial. You WILL be bereft. Amazingly in the midst of all this drama you WILL also laugh.
Alex Barclay lives in west Cork and, as a blow-in, it can be a very daunting prospect to write about your new home place and to use the local dialect of the people who are now your neighbours, but Alex Barclay skillfully nails it.
I Confess is a heart-pounding, disturbing read. It has everything a reader could want from a novel with a very believable cast of characters. A compelling, thrilling, shocking, ominous and very tense page-turner. Highly recommend!
I Confess is a standalone psychological thriller and is described as ‘addictive and twisty’. I am thrilled to be bringing you all my review today of a novel which just happens to be set in my home county of Cork.
Pilgrim Point, a remote and fictional place off the coast of West Cork was described in 1886 as ‘an anvil-shaped promontory on the south-west coast of Ireland….once been a battleground, and at various times in the centuries that followed, had been fought over, lost, regained, or relinquished.’ It is here that seven friends reunite for a planned evening of laughter and regalia, a time to look back at their youth with a mixture of happiness and sorrow, a time to enjoy and remember the way they were. That was the plan….
Edie and Johnny, decide to renovate an old property near the place they both were reared and transform it into luxury accommodation for paying guests. Married for twenty years, Edie and Johnny had left their home in West Cork for San Francisco. Investing in real estate and property development, they eventually settled in Colorado, owning a ski lodge, but the dream was always to develop a luxury inn. When Johnny heard of a property up for sale back at Beara, near their family homes in West Cork, he convinced Edie that this was it, this was their chance. So with their teenage son, Dylan, they made the decision to move back to the Beara Pensinsula and start the next stage of their lives.
Before the official opening of the inn, Edie and Johnny invite some old friends to stay, to join them for an evening in celebration of their friend, Helen’s birthday, to relax and enjoy their hospitality.
Helen, Laura, Clare, Murph and Patrick all arrive, each in awe of the work that Edie and Johnny have put into the old place. Murph is his usual self, keeping them all entertained with his stories and self-effacing humour. They all relax into the evening of laughter and fun that only old friends can truly experience. As the evening passes, we are given insights into their pasts, secrets that have been kept buried for years start to emerge. The tension starts to build, the heart-rate increases as you suddenly find yourself in the middle of something very sinister indeed. The weather turns, the power flickers and a body is discovered….
The shock of this horrendous discovery causes panic and fear among the friends. The weather is dreadful outside, there is nobody else here, only themselves. Suspicions are raised, accusations are thrown about, the friendship starts to crack……. Who is the killer and what do they want?
Alex Barclay cleverly weaves the past and present together revealing the deceit and the lies that have shadowed these seven friends all their lives. The descriptions of their childhood days is portrayed expertly with each having their own secrets to keep, their own memories tucked away in the recesses of their minds. As this tragic evening develops, the past quickly comes catching up with them all and the guilt of those early days becomes a fresh pain, a shame that resurfaces. Alex Barclay writes with such prowess, craftily introducing these revelations to the reader, leaving a trail of shock and horror in her wake.
There is so much going on in this book, it’s best left to you the reader to discover it’s complexities and it’s truly gripping story-line. I Confess is a fast and furious tale, as the pace gathers toward the final chapters at a ferocious speed. This is a book that you WILL NOT be able to put down. With your heart in your mouth you WILL read until the small hours. You WILL be appalled as the veil is removed and the truth exposed. You WILL be in denial. You WILL be bereft. Amazingly in the midst of all this drama you WILL also laugh.
Alex Barclay lives in west Cork and, as a blow-in, it can be a very daunting prospect to write about your new home place and to use the local dialect of the people who are now your neighbours, but Alex Barclay skillfully nails it.
I Confess is a heart-pounding, disturbing read. It has everything a reader could want from a novel with a very believable cast of characters. A compelling, thrilling, shocking, ominous and very tense page-turner. Highly recommend!
September 1, 2020
This book had it's good moments. It had twists that made the story intriguing and there were secrets that each of them kept. There was also parts that weren't exciting to me or held much use to the story (that's only my opinion).
I didn't expect who was the killer but it didn't really have me shocked. None of the characters kept me particularly interested and all I really remembered about them was the names and that Edie and Johnny were together and owned the inn, whilst Jessie was the girl who died years before when they were children.
It's worth a read but it's not one I would read again.
I didn't expect who was the killer but it didn't really have me shocked. None of the characters kept me particularly interested and all I really remembered about them was the names and that Edie and Johnny were together and owned the inn, whilst Jessie was the girl who died years before when they were children.
It's worth a read but it's not one I would read again.
August 10, 2019
4.5 stars
I confess that I’ve never read an Alex Barclay book before. But now I have and I’ve seen the light. I’m a believer in her ability to spin a great yarn.
So yes, wow! That was one intricate plot, and I’m still thinking about just how it all pieces together. It feels like a very complex jigsaw and it’s not till you lay down the last piece, and then stand back to see the full picture, that you realise how every single piece was vital.
It’s tells of a group of childhood friends reunited at a luxury inn that one of them owns. But so many secrets lurk in their past and this weekend they surface and everyone is forced to confront and own the part that played.
I strongly recommend this if you like fast-paced, occasionally funny, often dark, layered plots. Or if you just want a cracking read!
I confess that I’ve never read an Alex Barclay book before. But now I have and I’ve seen the light. I’m a believer in her ability to spin a great yarn.
So yes, wow! That was one intricate plot, and I’m still thinking about just how it all pieces together. It feels like a very complex jigsaw and it’s not till you lay down the last piece, and then stand back to see the full picture, that you realise how every single piece was vital.
It’s tells of a group of childhood friends reunited at a luxury inn that one of them owns. But so many secrets lurk in their past and this weekend they surface and everyone is forced to confront and own the part that played.
I strongly recommend this if you like fast-paced, occasionally funny, often dark, layered plots. Or if you just want a cracking read!
September 19, 2019
I Confess is the story of childhood friends Clare, Laura, Helen, Patrick, and Murph reuniting with Edie and Johnny to have a sneak peek at the former convent and industrial school that Johnny and Edie have renovated into a luxury resort and soon to be spa in their remote hometown in Ireland. When the weather turns ugly causing a power outage and a body is discovered, old secrets come to light.
This book is a lot lile a roller coaster. The first part of the book is like you're going up the big incline, building suspence and anticipation for the ride that is to come once you have reached the top. Then the last part of the book is as though you are suddenly rushing down hill through twists and turns and loops. Making it nearly impossible to put down.
The characters are well developed as we see each of them through flashbacks to their youth, and now as 46 year olds. The author builds the suspense by using the semi isolated setting and the weather with the power outage. The chapters are laid out in such a way that it makes you want to keep reading to see what happens next amongst the friends as secrets are unveiled that you never see coming.
On a personal note, as a full time wheelchair user, I appreciate the research that the author did to make Helen, diagnosed with MS and a wheelchair user, authentic in both her care she needs, the descriptions of making the resort wheelchair accessible and what those accommodations are, and her feelings about her diagnosis. Its nice to see characters with disabilities portrayed authentically.
My thanks to Harper Collins UK, NetGalley, and Alex Barclay for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a lot lile a roller coaster. The first part of the book is like you're going up the big incline, building suspence and anticipation for the ride that is to come once you have reached the top. Then the last part of the book is as though you are suddenly rushing down hill through twists and turns and loops. Making it nearly impossible to put down.
The characters are well developed as we see each of them through flashbacks to their youth, and now as 46 year olds. The author builds the suspense by using the semi isolated setting and the weather with the power outage. The chapters are laid out in such a way that it makes you want to keep reading to see what happens next amongst the friends as secrets are unveiled that you never see coming.
On a personal note, as a full time wheelchair user, I appreciate the research that the author did to make Helen, diagnosed with MS and a wheelchair user, authentic in both her care she needs, the descriptions of making the resort wheelchair accessible and what those accommodations are, and her feelings about her diagnosis. Its nice to see characters with disabilities portrayed authentically.
My thanks to Harper Collins UK, NetGalley, and Alex Barclay for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2019
I thought this book was dreadful. The language was very rough and very vulgar. The story line was non existent. For a group of supposedly well educated people the conversation left a lot to be desired.
October 14, 2019
Dear reader, I must admit something... I fooled myself. Having read a few books by Linwood Barclay in the past, I only zoomed in on 'Barclay'. And on the fact that a large part of this story takes place in Castletownbere, a lovely little town I visited during my first holiday in Ireland.
I was wrong and I'm sorry. This is not the correct Barclay. This Barclay gives us a story about five childhood friends who come together. This is, to say it nicely, not very original. You know that they are, in fact, not all good friends. You know there will be lots of problems and secrets and secret love. It is no different in this story. People keep running around in a giant old renovated convent while they are supposed to have a dinner party. There is not much dinner or party, except from a birthday cake. There is a lot of memories, good ones and bad ones, and of course there is a murder.
I've read the book till the end because I don't give up easily and it started out ok. It just didn't fulfill my expectations.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
I was wrong and I'm sorry. This is not the correct Barclay. This Barclay gives us a story about five childhood friends who come together. This is, to say it nicely, not very original. You know that they are, in fact, not all good friends. You know there will be lots of problems and secrets and secret love. It is no different in this story. People keep running around in a giant old renovated convent while they are supposed to have a dinner party. There is not much dinner or party, except from a birthday cake. There is a lot of memories, good ones and bad ones, and of course there is a murder.
I've read the book till the end because I don't give up easily and it started out ok. It just didn't fulfill my expectations.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
April 20, 2021
A very fast paced thriller that switches between events over the course of one evening in modern day and flashbacks to events of the people involved some of which make sense and some of which I’m not sure needed to be part of it. I enjoyed it but it did feel like there were a few too many characters. A couple of the women felt superfluous to the plot & I ended up completely confused during the epilogue with all the dads suddenly appearing in a flashback sequence.
I did like it though. It’s very twisty and you never know what will happen next. The killer is revealed about 60% in and then it’s a race to see what happens next and if he gets caught. I ended up reading it in one go, sitting up late to finish despite the previous mentioned negative points. This is my first Alex Barclay book & I will probably read more
I did like it though. It’s very twisty and you never know what will happen next. The killer is revealed about 60% in and then it’s a race to see what happens next and if he gets caught. I ended up reading it in one go, sitting up late to finish despite the previous mentioned negative points. This is my first Alex Barclay book & I will probably read more
April 10, 2021
A difficult book to engage with. The book lacked description for someone without Irish/Catholic knowledge. Too many characters with a random account of different stories. Characters introduced in the last chapters who had huge relevance on the main story but were not included until the end. I couldn't wait to finish it, just so I could end the agony of reading it.
February 21, 2021
Terrible story did not feel any connection or internet with the characters. The kids in the story were immature and stupid
December 12, 2021
A group of old friends meet up at a luxury inn that one of them has just opened. It is a dark and stormy night, and the inn is the site where a terrible accident happened when they were children.
They start to relive their childhood memories, leading back to some horrific things which occurred.
Then it becomes clear that there is a murderer among them. How well do they really know each other?
This was a quick read. Not a bad book for this type of genre.
They start to relive their childhood memories, leading back to some horrific things which occurred.
Then it becomes clear that there is a murderer among them. How well do they really know each other?
This was a quick read. Not a bad book for this type of genre.
June 3, 2021
I wanted something mindless to read and had seen this recommended somewhere but it is so blah I'm not sure I can finish it. Over 100 pages in, I'm just starting to be able to distinguish some of the characters. We've already had the obligatory child abuse by parents and nuns, sexual abuse, suicide, alcoholism, secret families... sure, the murder will be anticlimactic.
October 1, 2019
A group of friends who haven’t met up for years meet in a luxury bed and breakfast that their friends Edie and Johnny have recently bought and restored.
Edie and Johnny left their Cork home years ago and return to their home town transforming the B&B. They invite their childhood friends almost like a trial opening and reunite friendships looking back on their time growing up together.
It’s not long until the weather turns nasty, the electricity falters and a body is discovered.
Alex Barclay is a great story teller joining up the past and the present leaving shocking developments about the lives of the group.
A lot takes place in this book. The first part lays out the characters and explains how they are all linked together building suspense as the pages turn.
The second part reveals lots of interesting chapters about past indiscretions and the characters all seem to hold secrets and as the evening develops the past catches up on them and the suffering becomes evident.
I whizzed through this book and wanted to sleep but I had to finish in just two helpings. Always a good sign for me that the books characters had me gripped.
Lots of twists and secrets that you never see coming unravel before you.
I have read Alex Barclay before and this book does not disappoint.
Edie and Johnny left their Cork home years ago and return to their home town transforming the B&B. They invite their childhood friends almost like a trial opening and reunite friendships looking back on their time growing up together.
It’s not long until the weather turns nasty, the electricity falters and a body is discovered.
Alex Barclay is a great story teller joining up the past and the present leaving shocking developments about the lives of the group.
A lot takes place in this book. The first part lays out the characters and explains how they are all linked together building suspense as the pages turn.
The second part reveals lots of interesting chapters about past indiscretions and the characters all seem to hold secrets and as the evening develops the past catches up on them and the suffering becomes evident.
I whizzed through this book and wanted to sleep but I had to finish in just two helpings. Always a good sign for me that the books characters had me gripped.
Lots of twists and secrets that you never see coming unravel before you.
I have read Alex Barclay before and this book does not disappoint.
September 16, 2019
This one wasn’t for me at all.
Looking at reviews on GoodReads it does seem to be a bit of a marmite book, being either loved or hated. For me, I can’t quite say I hate it, but I just didn’t find it interesting at all. It was so dull! I couldn’t keep track of who anyone was, not due to a complex script, but just down to boredom.
My first Alex Barclay, and looks likely to be my last.
Looking at reviews on GoodReads it does seem to be a bit of a marmite book, being either loved or hated. For me, I can’t quite say I hate it, but I just didn’t find it interesting at all. It was so dull! I couldn’t keep track of who anyone was, not due to a complex script, but just down to boredom.
My first Alex Barclay, and looks likely to be my last.
February 20, 2021
Found this really hard to follow. The story line didn't seem to flow and at times was quite confusing. Unfortunately didn't enjoy but as I had started I had to finish hehe :)
February 13, 2021
A funny book this one. I was bored until I got about 40 pages in and then began to really enjoy it. It went downhill a little at times particularly the conversational elements. It was difficult to know who was saying what as there was so much talking. Half of it didn’t make sense. There were some believable characters, particularly Johnny. We all know a Johnny. A good story with the plot going back and forth from present to past, I got some clarity as to why things were happening. I did get confused again when it started telling the story of the fathers on the night of the rape. So many different names to remember.
I could see this being televised and making a really good series. As a book, it didn’t flow for me. I think this is because of the amount of characters, the long stretches of conversation and the use of Irish slang which I meant I had no idea what they were saying.
I could see this being televised and making a really good series. As a book, it didn’t flow for me. I think this is because of the amount of characters, the long stretches of conversation and the use of Irish slang which I meant I had no idea what they were saying.
June 27, 2022
Slow starter but definitely worth the read as it picks up pretty quick. Great story
September 2, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher.
A dark, twisting tale of obsession and hatred, I CONFESS by Alex Barclay is addictive, harrowing, and everything else in between all tied together in one masterful package.
When Edie and Johnny buy the old convent that holds so many memories for everyone and transform it into a luxury inn for holidaymakers, not everyone can understand why. But a private party held for their closest and oldest friends will give them all a chance to catch-up and reconnect, as well as understand a little better. But a storm is brewing and when a body is found, everyone begins to question whether they truly know each other at all. And then there is Jess, their friend who died all those years ago who suffered a cruel and horrific fate - what could the present possibly have to do with the past? Who is terrorising them and why? They will soon find out.
Told from different characters point-of-view and moving from past to present, I CONFESS by Alex Barclay drew me instantly into this gang of mates and instantly made me connect with them. The present-day plot is filled with friendship and laughter but there is an uneasiness brimming under the surface, and the past plot broke my heart into a million pieces and made me so angry for the innocent childhood that was shattered.
I CONFESS has a dark core that will haunt you even after you turn the last page but has so many elements which make it so much more than your usual psychological thriller. It's hard to put this into words so I recommend you buy it for yourself so you can see what I mean.
I CONFESS by Alex Barclay is a 5 star read by a 5 star writer and I look forward to more from this fantastic author.
A dark, twisting tale of obsession and hatred, I CONFESS by Alex Barclay is addictive, harrowing, and everything else in between all tied together in one masterful package.
When Edie and Johnny buy the old convent that holds so many memories for everyone and transform it into a luxury inn for holidaymakers, not everyone can understand why. But a private party held for their closest and oldest friends will give them all a chance to catch-up and reconnect, as well as understand a little better. But a storm is brewing and when a body is found, everyone begins to question whether they truly know each other at all. And then there is Jess, their friend who died all those years ago who suffered a cruel and horrific fate - what could the present possibly have to do with the past? Who is terrorising them and why? They will soon find out.
Told from different characters point-of-view and moving from past to present, I CONFESS by Alex Barclay drew me instantly into this gang of mates and instantly made me connect with them. The present-day plot is filled with friendship and laughter but there is an uneasiness brimming under the surface, and the past plot broke my heart into a million pieces and made me so angry for the innocent childhood that was shattered.
I CONFESS has a dark core that will haunt you even after you turn the last page but has so many elements which make it so much more than your usual psychological thriller. It's hard to put this into words so I recommend you buy it for yourself so you can see what I mean.
I CONFESS by Alex Barclay is a 5 star read by a 5 star writer and I look forward to more from this fantastic author.
September 6, 2019
Edie and Johnny are from a small town called Beara in the southwest of Ireland. Having relocated back from the States, they buy the old convent/industrial school in the town and do it up as a five star hotel/leisure resort. They invite their lifelong friends, Helen, Clare, Laura, Patrick and Murph, over for dinner to celebrate Helen's birthday.
With a storm raging outside, the electricity goes, plunging the room into darkness and little by little, long held secrets come out into the light. What they don't know is that a killer is among them and they won't all make it out alive.
What an absolute cracker of a read. It is set in Ireland, where I'm from, so instantly I knew I would like it from the get go! I also knew this book was going to be amazing from all the fantastic social media coverage and reviews it has received up to and around the publication date (22 August last).
It is a read so full of surprises, twists, turns and brilliant characters, who we meet as 11 year olds, 16 year olds and later as 46 year old adults, that you can't help but become attached to them and understand their connection to and bond with each other. Murph though was my favourite and I think everyone should have a Murph in their life - that Irish wit was brilliant and had me laughing out loud on my commute. Having said that, actions of other characters in the book also had me gasping aloud on the commute as the story took turns I truly didn't see coming.
I can't give this book any less than five stars as I read it in 2 days, went through a gamut of emotions from empathy, sympathy, shock, revulsion, sadness and total lolz, it is a fantastic read and I highly recommend reading it as soon as possible, if you can. I loved it 5/5*
With a storm raging outside, the electricity goes, plunging the room into darkness and little by little, long held secrets come out into the light. What they don't know is that a killer is among them and they won't all make it out alive.
What an absolute cracker of a read. It is set in Ireland, where I'm from, so instantly I knew I would like it from the get go! I also knew this book was going to be amazing from all the fantastic social media coverage and reviews it has received up to and around the publication date (22 August last).
It is a read so full of surprises, twists, turns and brilliant characters, who we meet as 11 year olds, 16 year olds and later as 46 year old adults, that you can't help but become attached to them and understand their connection to and bond with each other. Murph though was my favourite and I think everyone should have a Murph in their life - that Irish wit was brilliant and had me laughing out loud on my commute. Having said that, actions of other characters in the book also had me gasping aloud on the commute as the story took turns I truly didn't see coming.
I can't give this book any less than five stars as I read it in 2 days, went through a gamut of emotions from empathy, sympathy, shock, revulsion, sadness and total lolz, it is a fantastic read and I highly recommend reading it as soon as possible, if you can. I loved it 5/5*
September 23, 2019
Book left me wondering what did I just read !! The characters conversations were utterly ridiculous for adults and the in and our of rooms , back outside, now downstairs, over to the convent was mind boggling. Not sure who confessed but I confess I will not recommend this book.
March 15, 2021
I struggled with the dialogue bouncing from character to character in the early chapters but once each character was explained a little bit more, it was easier to follow. It was really good in some places but once you know who it is doing the killing, I don’t think the explanation is very good to try and understand why it’s happening.
Strong in some places, weak in others.
Strong in some places, weak in others.
December 22, 2020
I have read a lot of Alex Barclay, this is the tenth book I have read of hers, and there have been many good moments, this one though I really struggled with, it just never resonated with me, and it is probably me, I finished it, but can't say I will remember it too well.
December 9, 2019
Having read all six of Alex Barclay’s Ren Bryce books, I took the opportunity to read her new stand- alone with both hands.
Edie and Johnny have converted a convent from their school days into a luxury Inn in a remote part of Ireland and a group of their forty-something friends meet to admire the result.
The story moves between the voices of different group members and across varying timelines since their school days forward and it is clear from the start that their relationship has been cemented by a childhood tragedy.
It’s a stormy dark evening and relations are fairly strained within the group, but the drink flows and when the power goes down all hell breaks loose.
I love Alex Barclay’s intricate plots and detailed backstories, but with all characters so unpleasant it was difficult to focus as required, and by the time their backgrounds were sufficiently fleshed out, I felt it was almost too late for me.
The informal dialogue, especially the frequent use of ‘Lads’ when the friends referred to one another was distracting, and there was one troublingly violent bedroom scene.
I like to get fully absorbed in a read like this, but even as the action intensified and the body count started to rise, I confess I just couldn’t get there.
With thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK
Edie and Johnny have converted a convent from their school days into a luxury Inn in a remote part of Ireland and a group of their forty-something friends meet to admire the result.
The story moves between the voices of different group members and across varying timelines since their school days forward and it is clear from the start that their relationship has been cemented by a childhood tragedy.
It’s a stormy dark evening and relations are fairly strained within the group, but the drink flows and when the power goes down all hell breaks loose.
I love Alex Barclay’s intricate plots and detailed backstories, but with all characters so unpleasant it was difficult to focus as required, and by the time their backgrounds were sufficiently fleshed out, I felt it was almost too late for me.
The informal dialogue, especially the frequent use of ‘Lads’ when the friends referred to one another was distracting, and there was one troublingly violent bedroom scene.
I like to get fully absorbed in a read like this, but even as the action intensified and the body count started to rise, I confess I just couldn’t get there.
With thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK
June 16, 2020
3 stars for I Confess by Alex Barclay. This my first Alex Barclay novel and I am honestly, a little disappointed. This story is among my favourite type of thriller/suspense novel set on a remote island where it is raining or snowing and, with a group of friends catching up in a old beautiful restored building.
While the story has some good plot surprises and elements I like, I found the book so dialogue heavy. I don’t usually mind this, but a lot of the dialogue between the characters had no relevance to the actual storyline. While idle talk among characters in a book is still needed and helps you as a reader get to know them, it was really confusing to the point it felt like when they were meant to be talking altogether, they were having different conversations.
I would like to try another Alex Barclay novel because I have heard such good things about her writing and I am looking forward to doing so in the future. However, this book just wasn’t for me.
While the story has some good plot surprises and elements I like, I found the book so dialogue heavy. I don’t usually mind this, but a lot of the dialogue between the characters had no relevance to the actual storyline. While idle talk among characters in a book is still needed and helps you as a reader get to know them, it was really confusing to the point it felt like when they were meant to be talking altogether, they were having different conversations.
I would like to try another Alex Barclay novel because I have heard such good things about her writing and I am looking forward to doing so in the future. However, this book just wasn’t for me.
May 14, 2020
Read this for our first bookgroup read which prompted a lot of discussion about the depth of characters, how easy it was to follow and the unnecessary deaths and inclusions of some characters. Without giving too much away the book jumps back and forward a lot in time, left us all sometimes wondered who was who when in the flashbacks as the author uses nicknames alongside full names etc throughout. Some back stories were stronger than others and the number of characters left us feeling like if there were a few less to keep track of we could have empathised more with their situations and experiences.
We all finished the book and it did have a nice twist that we didn’t see coming - also the descriptions and location of the story was interesting and easy to picture.
I was surprised to see this wasn’t a debut novel for Alex.
Book Group Score: 4.5/10
We all finished the book and it did have a nice twist that we didn’t see coming - also the descriptions and location of the story was interesting and easy to picture.
I was surprised to see this wasn’t a debut novel for Alex.
Book Group Score: 4.5/10
January 10, 2021
It's always the quiet one, isn't it? Always.
Apart from what it says on the back cover of the book that the story was set in Ireland, I thought the plot is quite interesting itself. There's a violent scene that's quite disturbing but it's a part of the later story. The outcome's not quite shocking: who did all the killings, but still it drew my attention. Especially, toward the ending.
Though, the writing style is not yet smooth. I had to reread some of the parts to make sure I understand it correctly.
I picked this book specifically because it was set in Ireland, and Cork is where I've been multiple times throughout these last several years. So, I got excited when 'I Confess' referred to a place I might have visited (well, not the exact place though, but likely nearby).
3.5 stars
Apart from what it says on the back cover of the book that the story was set in Ireland, I thought the plot is quite interesting itself. There's a violent scene that's quite disturbing but it's a part of the later story. The outcome's not quite shocking: who did all the killings, but still it drew my attention. Especially, toward the ending.
Though, the writing style is not yet smooth. I had to reread some of the parts to make sure I understand it correctly.
I picked this book specifically because it was set in Ireland, and Cork is where I've been multiple times throughout these last several years. So, I got excited when 'I Confess' referred to a place I might have visited (well, not the exact place though, but likely nearby).
3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2022
My lowest rating so far. It jumped from a mundane quiet evening in with friends to a brutal killing spree with no warning. Don’t read if you are looking for more of a Christie style book, where you can guess the killer, because in this book, as soon as you can start guessing who it is, the killer is revealed. It was clumsily written and confusing. I only liked one character, so didn’t care when the others died. 3/4 of the protagonists killed !!!! Excessive killing! Could be a 4 star book if it was re-written and tweaked by another author. It had a pretty good story line but was over shadowed by the confusing structure and phrasings. Requires some knowledge on Ireland or Catholicism to be enjoyed, I think.
September 20, 2020
Usually I love mystery/crime books but this one just didn't build up suspense at all. I feel as though there were too many layers to the story making it difficult to keep suspense while keeping so many plates spinning.
My main issue was that I believe the culprit was revealed too early and was also made out to be very suspicious at the start therefore taking away a large amount of intrigue.
The storyline from back when they were kids was fairly interesting alongside their individual roles within that storyline. However, the storyline in the adult centred portion of the book hugely let the book down.
My main issue was that I believe the culprit was revealed too early and was also made out to be very suspicious at the start therefore taking away a large amount of intrigue.
The storyline from back when they were kids was fairly interesting alongside their individual roles within that storyline. However, the storyline in the adult centred portion of the book hugely let the book down.
March 24, 2021
Found it quite disjointed and kept having to go back to find out how some of the characters were connected to the main group.
Read
August 6, 2021Why any publisher decided to print this book is beyond me.
Alex BARCLAY may have written some previous novels that had some merit, and I should mention here I have not read any, but this is complete and utter garbage.
I envisage BARCLAY thinking I had better write something new and has listed all those scenes and events she thinks would be appropriate for her next novel. I can see her list:
...Plenty of people to share with the readers
...Go back and forward from present to past
...Include some involvement with each other
...Have a common point of connection
...mm The weather, make it gloomy and definitely raining
...Religion..yes so important in Irish novels
...The first murder and reactions to it
...More murders, but keep murderer a mystery
...Should I include alcohol and drugs
So of course this list might have evolved into something interesting, BUT IT DIDN'T.
Firstly, I listened to this novel and it was read by an Irish woman, so on many occasions I had no idea of what she was saying. Yes in print it would have been OK, but when changing characters I had no idea of who was who, including the males.
She went back and forwards so often I was lost and because there were so many characters she tried to intertwine, I just let the disc ramble on and sometimes, fell asleep.
Ah, the point of connection - a Catholic school and she introduces us to a very naughty nun. Yes I know there are many stories about dominance of these women especially in Irish settings, but BARCLAY goes above and beyond. It is really ludicrous.
And yes of course it is raining when the big get together happens, on a property she tries to explain but I got lost after the entrance hall. Also where people were in the vast house, yes it was the school they all went to (sorry) at any given time was bewildering. But we came back to the Irish connotations of alcohol in vast quantities, and just to be inventive she throws in drugs.
OK so I am regrettably exposing part of the 'plots' but have to say here the initial murder made no sense even after explanation, and the methods used in the next lot were totally unbelievable.
The side issues were odd - a dog, rapes, adoptions, relationships - yep this one had it all, including some sort of podcast at the end done by an orphan's friend.
And most of all what put me off was the foul language - I am always astounded why authors have to resort to swearing over and over again. Obviously today they have no concept of descriptive adjectives to describe the feelings of a character, no talent to give the reader an insight into the complexity and maybe dis-illusions of a character. I would hate to be in her company if she speaks this way.
So as you can gather if you have read this far, this book is definitely a NO, NO, and comes into the category of A Winter's Tale......
Alex BARCLAY may have written some previous novels that had some merit, and I should mention here I have not read any, but this is complete and utter garbage.
I envisage BARCLAY thinking I had better write something new and has listed all those scenes and events she thinks would be appropriate for her next novel. I can see her list:
...Plenty of people to share with the readers
...Go back and forward from present to past
...Include some involvement with each other
...Have a common point of connection
...mm The weather, make it gloomy and definitely raining
...Religion..yes so important in Irish novels
...The first murder and reactions to it
...More murders, but keep murderer a mystery
...Should I include alcohol and drugs
So of course this list might have evolved into something interesting, BUT IT DIDN'T.
Firstly, I listened to this novel and it was read by an Irish woman, so on many occasions I had no idea of what she was saying. Yes in print it would have been OK, but when changing characters I had no idea of who was who, including the males.
She went back and forwards so often I was lost and because there were so many characters she tried to intertwine, I just let the disc ramble on and sometimes, fell asleep.
Ah, the point of connection - a Catholic school and she introduces us to a very naughty nun. Yes I know there are many stories about dominance of these women especially in Irish settings, but BARCLAY goes above and beyond. It is really ludicrous.
And yes of course it is raining when the big get together happens, on a property she tries to explain but I got lost after the entrance hall. Also where people were in the vast house, yes it was the school they all went to (sorry) at any given time was bewildering. But we came back to the Irish connotations of alcohol in vast quantities, and just to be inventive she throws in drugs.
OK so I am regrettably exposing part of the 'plots' but have to say here the initial murder made no sense even after explanation, and the methods used in the next lot were totally unbelievable.
The side issues were odd - a dog, rapes, adoptions, relationships - yep this one had it all, including some sort of podcast at the end done by an orphan's friend.
And most of all what put me off was the foul language - I am always astounded why authors have to resort to swearing over and over again. Obviously today they have no concept of descriptive adjectives to describe the feelings of a character, no talent to give the reader an insight into the complexity and maybe dis-illusions of a character. I would hate to be in her company if she speaks this way.
So as you can gather if you have read this far, this book is definitely a NO, NO, and comes into the category of A Winter's Tale......
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