After the Ferry

by C.A. Larmer

A 'SLIDING DOORS'-STYLE SUSPENSE: It's the mid-1990s, pre-mobile phones, and a young traveller must make a terrifying, exhilarating choice: Will she jump ship with a seductive stranger? Or stay safely on the Greek Islands ferry with her friends and miss what could be the love of her life?

ONE CHOICE LEADS TO TRUE LOVE. ONE LEADS TO MURDER. BUT WHICH IS WHICH?

In this fast-paced, psychological thriller, we follow Millie Malone across two very different lifetimes. In one life she remains onboard with her mates--two Sydney lads with very shaky motives, and an old school pal with a chip on one shoulder and a crush of her own--and in the other she jumps.

One life sees her married in the country, the other sees her married to her career. But only one of them will live on to tell the gripping tale.

This is a story of choices--and how one bad decision could end up being the best decision of your life.

From the bestselling, award-winning author comes a cracking, stand-alone story with twists and turns that will make you question every decision you ever made. And think twice next time you travel.

Genre: Mystery // Travel // Thriller // Romance // Suspense

NB: This book follows British English spelling and usage, and contains some Australian slang and language. No graphic violence or sex.

296 pages, Paperback

Published August 16, 2019

About the author

Author Christina (C.A.) Larmer was born in remote Papua New Guinea where close encounters with witchdoctors and cannibal progeny (no, really), gave her a morbid taste for mystery that has culminated in more than a dozen crime novels, including four in the Amazon-bestselling Agatha Christie Book Club series, two Posthumous Mysteries, seven Ghostwriter Mysteries, a thriller/suspense, and a stand-alone novel called An Island Lost, which is set in deepest Papua—where else?

When she's not politely bumping people off (they are mostly 'cozies', folks), Christina can be found in the hinterland behind Byron Bay (Aus) where she runs an indie publishing biz, teaches, freelances, and hangs out with her muso hubby, two sons and one very cheeky Blue heeler. For news, views, calarmer.com // https://calarmer.com/blog/

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is difficult to decide how to review this one. It was interesting, it was clever, but it was also very, very confusing.

The book tells the story of Amelia's life from two points of view, one being what would have happened if she decided to follow her heart and leave the ferry and the other what would have happened if she had stayed on board. That's the interesting and clever part. The confusing part was trying to keep up in each chapter with which life we were in. All the characters were the same but they had different roles and if my mind wandered for just a second I tended to lose track.

The mystery aspect is good. There are unreliable narrators to confuse the issue and many of the characters are hiding things. Eventually both stories are concluded and we discover which is the real one. The bad guy is uncovered and all the side issues are explained. There is a satisfactory if not an especially happy ending.

Rating wise for me this book really hovers between three and four stars.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. Had me drawn in from the beginning. I found it suspenseful and very well written. The characters are written well. I highly recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written, intriguing, captivating mystery/thriller about what-if that was creative, original, and interesting. Some parts were a little vague about which version of the characters was going through which situation, but that was part of the book’s charm and design too. Anyway it all tied together quite cleverly in the end, even if both versions of Amelia’s life didn’t end up with a happy ever after. And the build-up of the story was enjoyable despite the inherent mystery, if not because of it too. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys pondering life, fate, destiny, etc.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Binky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read all of CA Larmer’s books. Most would be described as “cosy”.
After the ferry is most definitely not cosy. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it at 3am. Luckily it wasn’t a work night so I got to sleep in in the morning. I had to keep a list of names to help me keep track of who was who, rape with the time changes. And because the names were different in the two alternate futures. I had fun working out the twists. Highly recommend!!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting psychological thriller that has a lot of mystery to it that kept me engaged throughout. I’ve never read this author before and found she has a good writing style and produced a unique story. I’d encourage readers who enjoy some mystery to give this book a go.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[karin whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Ferry

An interesting different story, twisted, at first some confusion on my part, but quickly became engrossed in the parallel telling. Well written, great character development, flowing and an unusual story. Won't forget this one, well worth reading!