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The Anniversary
Eleven murders. Twenty-five years ago.
Are some truths better left buried?
On 15th June 1994, Travis Green - husband, father, upstanding citizen - walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed eleven of his neighbours. The final victim was four-year-old Cassie Colman's father.
As the twenty-five year anniversary approaches, Cassie would rather forget the past - even as her mother struggles to remember it at all. Then something hidden in her mother's possessions suggests those eleven murders were not what everyone believes.
Once Cassie suspects she's been lied to about the most important event of her life, she can't stop digging up the past.
But someone will do anything to keep it buried . . .
Are some truths better left buried?
On 15th June 1994, Travis Green - husband, father, upstanding citizen - walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed eleven of his neighbours. The final victim was four-year-old Cassie Colman's father.
As the twenty-five year anniversary approaches, Cassie would rather forget the past - even as her mother struggles to remember it at all. Then something hidden in her mother's possessions suggests those eleven murders were not what everyone believes.
Once Cassie suspects she's been lied to about the most important event of her life, she can't stop digging up the past.
But someone will do anything to keep it buried . . .
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2021
119 people are currently reading
1979 people want to read
About the author
Laura Marshall
8 books979 followersLaura Marshall is the bestselling author of four psychological thrillers. Her debut novel, Friend Request, was a Kindle No.1 and Sunday Times bestseller, with over half a million copies sold in the UK. Laura's books have sold in twenty-four territories around the globe.
She grew up in Wiltshire, studied English at the University of Sussex and currently lives in Kent with her family.
For more information visit Laura's website www.lauramarshall.co.uk or find her at www.facebook.com/lauramarshallauthor or on Twitter @laurajm8.
She grew up in Wiltshire, studied English at the University of Sussex and currently lives in Kent with her family.
For more information visit Laura's website www.lauramarshall.co.uk or find her at www.facebook.com/lauramarshallauthor or on Twitter @laurajm8.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
July 24, 2021
4-5 stars.
It’s 6th June, 1994 and Travis Green is a killer in waiting, a few hours later eleven people will be dead including Travis. This traumatic and thankfully shockingly rare event in the UK makes the undistinguished town of Hartshead infamous in the same way as Hungerford. Twenty five years on ‘tragic tot’ Cassie Colman, the daughter of the last victim returns home with baby daughter Amy to care for her mother Sylvia who has early onset Alzheimer’s. To mark the anniversary journalist Alison Patchett is going to write an article in the hope of clarifying some discrepancies from that terrible day. The story goes between 1994 and 2019.
This is a really good and balanced combination of the mystery of what happens on the day in 1994 with Cassie’s personal story coping with a difficult baby and the distress and hardship of losing a parent to Alzheimer’s. She’s an excellent central protagonist, her portrayal is very good, she’s flawed but very likeable and honest and you find yourself totally invested in her story. I particularly like how Cassie is searching for her own identity as she adjusts to the upheavals in her life, it feels relatable and real. The plot unfolds almost organically with Alison Patchett reopening old wounds but equally getting closer to the truth. There are some buried secrets and lies, some by omission, which are revealed a bit at a time. Cassie experiences some nasty threats but is unable to identify who is the source. At times it’s very shocking and there are moments of acute tension where you almost hold your breath. The finale is excellent as it’s so unexpected but when you track back it makes perfect sense. It’s a really good spotlight on what terrible, traumatic events can do to people and places and how it impacts on them, changing them forever.
Overall, this is one that enthrals from the start as the plot uncovers what darkness is harbouring under the surface.
With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
It’s 6th June, 1994 and Travis Green is a killer in waiting, a few hours later eleven people will be dead including Travis. This traumatic and thankfully shockingly rare event in the UK makes the undistinguished town of Hartshead infamous in the same way as Hungerford. Twenty five years on ‘tragic tot’ Cassie Colman, the daughter of the last victim returns home with baby daughter Amy to care for her mother Sylvia who has early onset Alzheimer’s. To mark the anniversary journalist Alison Patchett is going to write an article in the hope of clarifying some discrepancies from that terrible day. The story goes between 1994 and 2019.
This is a really good and balanced combination of the mystery of what happens on the day in 1994 with Cassie’s personal story coping with a difficult baby and the distress and hardship of losing a parent to Alzheimer’s. She’s an excellent central protagonist, her portrayal is very good, she’s flawed but very likeable and honest and you find yourself totally invested in her story. I particularly like how Cassie is searching for her own identity as she adjusts to the upheavals in her life, it feels relatable and real. The plot unfolds almost organically with Alison Patchett reopening old wounds but equally getting closer to the truth. There are some buried secrets and lies, some by omission, which are revealed a bit at a time. Cassie experiences some nasty threats but is unable to identify who is the source. At times it’s very shocking and there are moments of acute tension where you almost hold your breath. The finale is excellent as it’s so unexpected but when you track back it makes perfect sense. It’s a really good spotlight on what terrible, traumatic events can do to people and places and how it impacts on them, changing them forever.
Overall, this is one that enthrals from the start as the plot uncovers what darkness is harbouring under the surface.
With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 26, 2022
This entertaining thriller had such a gripping premise that I was completely hooked from the outset.
First off the notion that an anniversary of a tragedy being acknowledged is always an interesting one, there's a sort of macabre intrigue that fascinating people.
In this instance apparent upstanding citizen Travis Green shot eleven people back in the summer of 1994.
Cassie Colman is the daughter of one of the victims and obviously wishes to forget that faithful day.
Though the 25th anniversary of the seemingly sporadic attack has everyone talking.
The second more puzzling aspect of the story is that it now appears that their might be more to these initial random murders.
The search for the truth adds a nice layer of mystery whilst the town of Hartstead struggles to unburden itself from its darkest day.
The author really captures the way people remember these types of incidents, especially Cassie who was only 4 at the time and with no recollection but determined to seek the truth.
First off the notion that an anniversary of a tragedy being acknowledged is always an interesting one, there's a sort of macabre intrigue that fascinating people.
In this instance apparent upstanding citizen Travis Green shot eleven people back in the summer of 1994.
Cassie Colman is the daughter of one of the victims and obviously wishes to forget that faithful day.
Though the 25th anniversary of the seemingly sporadic attack has everyone talking.
The second more puzzling aspect of the story is that it now appears that their might be more to these initial random murders.
The search for the truth adds a nice layer of mystery whilst the town of Hartstead struggles to unburden itself from its darkest day.
The author really captures the way people remember these types of incidents, especially Cassie who was only 4 at the time and with no recollection but determined to seek the truth.
September 30, 2021
Cassie has a young baby and she has moved back to her childhood home to look after her mum who has dementia.
It is almost the twenty fifth anniversary of the day a gunman walked round the town randomly shooting residents including Cassie’s father. A reporter is questioning everyone involved with the victims hoping to write a story about that terrible day and to find new evidence.
I enjoyed this book and the twist and turns in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for my e-copy in
exchange for an honest review.
It is almost the twenty fifth anniversary of the day a gunman walked round the town randomly shooting residents including Cassie’s father. A reporter is questioning everyone involved with the victims hoping to write a story about that terrible day and to find new evidence.
I enjoyed this book and the twist and turns in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for my e-copy in
exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2023
Sterfdag is het tweede boek dat ik lees van Laura Marshall, na Vriendschapsverzoek. Dat boek was toen goed voor een volle buit aan sterren, dus de verwachtingen lagen redelijk hoog. De korte inhoud van het boek is een kolfje naar mijn hand. Een cold case (die wel opgelost werd) vormt de rode draad doorheen het hele boek.
Vijfentwintig jaar na het bloedbad dat Travis Green aanrichtte en waarbij er 11 van zijn buren het leven lieten, wil het stadje Heartstad een herdenking houden. Journalisten proberen nog steeds met nabestaanden in contact te komen en dus laten ze ook Casie Colman niet met rust. Zij was vier jaar toen het drama zich voor haar ogen afspeelde en ze voor altijd haar vader verloor. Haar herinneringen aan die dag zijn echter vaag en haar moeder kan haar niet veel wijzer meer maken nu ze kampt met dementie. Tot Casie tussen haar moeders bezittingen iets aantreft dat haar aan het denken zet. Een zoektocht naar de waarheid begint.
Sterfdag hield me op bepaalde punten in de ban want waar ik naar uitkeek waren de stukken waar we beetje bij beetje meer te weten komen over die fatale dag in 1994. Ook de fragmenten waarbij we de slachtoffers leren kennen enkele momenten voor ze het leven zullen laten, waren zeer interessant en las ik echt graag.
Wat me wel stoorde was het oneindige gezeur van Casie over haar baby en de moeilijkheden van het moederschap en dat gecombineerd met haar moeder die dement is. Het is oké om dit even te vermelden, maar in elke hoofdstuk wordt de baby erbij betrokken. Bij elke uitstap die gemaakt wordt, rijst de vraag ‘maar wat met de baby en mijn moeder. Ik kan ze niet achterlaten’… Zo gaat dit het hele boek door en na verloop van tijd gaat dat deuntje wel wat vervelen. Ik wou de ontknoping van de zaak weten en was minder geïnteresseerd in het slaappatroon van de baby.
Godzijdank was het einde helemaal onverwacht en zag ik het niet aankomen. Sterfdag is dus zeker een goed boek, maar niet zo goed als zijn voorganger Vriendschapsverzoek. Ik geef het dan ook 4 sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...
Vijfentwintig jaar na het bloedbad dat Travis Green aanrichtte en waarbij er 11 van zijn buren het leven lieten, wil het stadje Heartstad een herdenking houden. Journalisten proberen nog steeds met nabestaanden in contact te komen en dus laten ze ook Casie Colman niet met rust. Zij was vier jaar toen het drama zich voor haar ogen afspeelde en ze voor altijd haar vader verloor. Haar herinneringen aan die dag zijn echter vaag en haar moeder kan haar niet veel wijzer meer maken nu ze kampt met dementie. Tot Casie tussen haar moeders bezittingen iets aantreft dat haar aan het denken zet. Een zoektocht naar de waarheid begint.
Sterfdag hield me op bepaalde punten in de ban want waar ik naar uitkeek waren de stukken waar we beetje bij beetje meer te weten komen over die fatale dag in 1994. Ook de fragmenten waarbij we de slachtoffers leren kennen enkele momenten voor ze het leven zullen laten, waren zeer interessant en las ik echt graag.
Wat me wel stoorde was het oneindige gezeur van Casie over haar baby en de moeilijkheden van het moederschap en dat gecombineerd met haar moeder die dement is. Het is oké om dit even te vermelden, maar in elke hoofdstuk wordt de baby erbij betrokken. Bij elke uitstap die gemaakt wordt, rijst de vraag ‘maar wat met de baby en mijn moeder. Ik kan ze niet achterlaten’… Zo gaat dit het hele boek door en na verloop van tijd gaat dat deuntje wel wat vervelen. Ik wou de ontknoping van de zaak weten en was minder geïnteresseerd in het slaappatroon van de baby.
Godzijdank was het einde helemaal onverwacht en zag ik het niet aankomen. Sterfdag is dus zeker een goed boek, maar niet zo goed als zijn voorganger Vriendschapsverzoek. Ik geef het dan ook 4 sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...
August 2, 2021
Differently good
The Anniversary is not, as I presumed when saw the title, a wedding anniversary but the date when a man in a small English town, Hartshead, went beserk and randomly killed 11 people, it has to be said it did remind me of real life tragedies that have happened in the UK in the past
One survivor, much to her initial displeasure becomes involved in a journalist’s attempt to rehash the events for a 25 year ‘special’ and as she does she begins to realise that maybe the 11 were not just random at all
Told in the ‘now’ and also chapters telling the last moments of the 11 the story keeps you’re interest as little by little the patterns emerge and the truth becomes clear
There are 2 ‘human interest’ stories interwoven in, parental dementia and the reality of Motherhood for a single Mum, both well done and poignant
At times it felt a bit dragged out as very similar scenes happened in the pub but it did all lead to an interesting conclusion to an overall well written read
8/10
4 Stars
The Anniversary is not, as I presumed when saw the title, a wedding anniversary but the date when a man in a small English town, Hartshead, went beserk and randomly killed 11 people, it has to be said it did remind me of real life tragedies that have happened in the UK in the past
One survivor, much to her initial displeasure becomes involved in a journalist’s attempt to rehash the events for a 25 year ‘special’ and as she does she begins to realise that maybe the 11 were not just random at all
Told in the ‘now’ and also chapters telling the last moments of the 11 the story keeps you’re interest as little by little the patterns emerge and the truth becomes clear
There are 2 ‘human interest’ stories interwoven in, parental dementia and the reality of Motherhood for a single Mum, both well done and poignant
At times it felt a bit dragged out as very similar scenes happened in the pub but it did all lead to an interesting conclusion to an overall well written read
8/10
4 Stars
May 6, 2022
Op 15 juni 1994 werd het stadje Hartstead opgeschrikt door een afschuwelijke gebeurtenis: Travis Green liep door de straten en schoot, schijnbaar lukraak, elf mensen dood, waarna hij zichzelf ook het leven ontnam. Eén van de slachtoffers was de vader van de toen vierjarige Cassie Colman. Nu, 25 jaar later, keert Cassie met haar baby terug naar Hartstead om voor haar moeder te zorgen, die lijdt aan vroegtijdige dementie.
Na een intrigerend begin, geschreven vanuit het perspectief van de moordenaar, schakel je naar Cassie, die overduidelijk moeite heeft met alle veranderingen in haar leven. Ze voelt zich erg alleen, ze worstelt met zichzelf en met haar nieuwe rol als zorgverlener voor haar moeder en ze heeft het gevoel dat ze het moederschap maar niet onder de knie krijgt. Ze kent weinig mensen in Hartstead omdat ze lang in Londen heeft gewoond en ze vindt het lastig om zich echt open te stellen, maar er komen toch al snel wat nieuwe mensen in haar leven.
Er komt een herdenkingsbijeenkomst aan en journaliste Alison is naar de stad gekomen om een artikel te schrijven over hoe steden zich herstellen na traumatische gebeurtenissen. Ze wil Cassie graag spreken over die bewuste dag, want ze heeft vragen over enkele tegenstrijdigheden. Hoewel Cassie het verleden graag wil laten rusten, wordt ze toch nieuwsgierig wanneer ze in het huis van haar moeder spullen ontdekt die erop wijzen dat ze haar hele leven is voorgelogen. Haar moeder heeft nooit over de gebeurtenissen willen praten en is nu ook niet meer in staat om vragen te beantwoorden. Ze zal dus zelf op zoek moeten gaan naar antwoorden. Was er wel een duidelijk motief? Waren de slachtoffers echt allemaal willekeurig gekozen? Wie kan ze vertrouwen? En wie wil verhinderen dat ze de waarheid ontdekt?
Samen met Cassie duik je steeds dieper in de zaak, probeer je verbanden te ontdekken, zoek je naar aanwijzingen, bedenk je verschillende scenario’s en lijken steeds meer gedragingen verdacht. Het verhaal is sterk opgebouwd, er worden veel personages opgevoerd die allemaal wel iets te verbergen lijken te hebben en het verhaal zit vol kleine wendingen die je soms dichter bij de waarheid brengen en je op andere momenten volledig op het verkeerde been zetten. Hoewel ik af en toe echt dacht dat ik een stukje van de puzzel had opgelost, kwam de uiteindelijke ontknoping toch als een verrassing.
Dit is een boeiend mysterie over leugens en geheimen, over herinneringen en het begraven van de waarheid. Het wordt nergens gruwelijk of eng, maar de (sluimerende) spanning is van begin tot eind aanwezig en het verhaal is zeer vlot geschreven, waardoor dit een fijne pageturner is die je het liefst in één keer uit wilt lezen!
Na een intrigerend begin, geschreven vanuit het perspectief van de moordenaar, schakel je naar Cassie, die overduidelijk moeite heeft met alle veranderingen in haar leven. Ze voelt zich erg alleen, ze worstelt met zichzelf en met haar nieuwe rol als zorgverlener voor haar moeder en ze heeft het gevoel dat ze het moederschap maar niet onder de knie krijgt. Ze kent weinig mensen in Hartstead omdat ze lang in Londen heeft gewoond en ze vindt het lastig om zich echt open te stellen, maar er komen toch al snel wat nieuwe mensen in haar leven.
Er komt een herdenkingsbijeenkomst aan en journaliste Alison is naar de stad gekomen om een artikel te schrijven over hoe steden zich herstellen na traumatische gebeurtenissen. Ze wil Cassie graag spreken over die bewuste dag, want ze heeft vragen over enkele tegenstrijdigheden. Hoewel Cassie het verleden graag wil laten rusten, wordt ze toch nieuwsgierig wanneer ze in het huis van haar moeder spullen ontdekt die erop wijzen dat ze haar hele leven is voorgelogen. Haar moeder heeft nooit over de gebeurtenissen willen praten en is nu ook niet meer in staat om vragen te beantwoorden. Ze zal dus zelf op zoek moeten gaan naar antwoorden. Was er wel een duidelijk motief? Waren de slachtoffers echt allemaal willekeurig gekozen? Wie kan ze vertrouwen? En wie wil verhinderen dat ze de waarheid ontdekt?
Samen met Cassie duik je steeds dieper in de zaak, probeer je verbanden te ontdekken, zoek je naar aanwijzingen, bedenk je verschillende scenario’s en lijken steeds meer gedragingen verdacht. Het verhaal is sterk opgebouwd, er worden veel personages opgevoerd die allemaal wel iets te verbergen lijken te hebben en het verhaal zit vol kleine wendingen die je soms dichter bij de waarheid brengen en je op andere momenten volledig op het verkeerde been zetten. Hoewel ik af en toe echt dacht dat ik een stukje van de puzzel had opgelost, kwam de uiteindelijke ontknoping toch als een verrassing.
Dit is een boeiend mysterie over leugens en geheimen, over herinneringen en het begraven van de waarheid. Het wordt nergens gruwelijk of eng, maar de (sluimerende) spanning is van begin tot eind aanwezig en het verhaal is zeer vlot geschreven, waardoor dit een fijne pageturner is die je het liefst in één keer uit wilt lezen!
September 29, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
June 15th, 1994 marked the day the town of Hartshead became infamous after Travis Green went on a killing spree, murdering ten people and then taking his own life. Now, 25 years later, Cassie, the daughter of one of the victims returns home to care for her mum who suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s and her newborn, when she is approach by Alison, a journalist asking for her help in finding some answers to what happened that fateful day.
I gotta confess that it took me a while to connect with the story and it was all because of Cassie’s character. I understand she was going trough a really distressing time with her mum’s illness and had no problem with that. My issue was with her relationship with her child. I know it can be hard dealing with a difficult newborn, but I don’t think it was needed to repeat several times how she would prefer to not have her so she could have an easier life. Although I had some problems with her attitude, I think both the dementia and the struggles of motherhood were well portrayed.
As the story progressed and her relationship with Alison was developed, I found myself warming to her and got really invested in her search for the truth.
The little chapters about the victims of the shooting were interesting and a nice way for the reader to try and connect all the puzzle pieces.
The middle part felt a bit repetitive at times with many pub scenes that didn’t bring much to the plot.
Although the ending was not that surprising to me cause I called the “villain” early on, it still managed to deliver a final surprise I didn’t see coming (although to be honest, the reader didn’t have any info to suspect it either).
Interesting story about how a tragedy can impact not only those who went through it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book UK/Sphere for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 15th, 1994 marked the day the town of Hartshead became infamous after Travis Green went on a killing spree, murdering ten people and then taking his own life. Now, 25 years later, Cassie, the daughter of one of the victims returns home to care for her mum who suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s and her newborn, when she is approach by Alison, a journalist asking for her help in finding some answers to what happened that fateful day.
I gotta confess that it took me a while to connect with the story and it was all because of Cassie’s character. I understand she was going trough a really distressing time with her mum’s illness and had no problem with that. My issue was with her relationship with her child. I know it can be hard dealing with a difficult newborn, but I don’t think it was needed to repeat several times how she would prefer to not have her so she could have an easier life. Although I had some problems with her attitude, I think both the dementia and the struggles of motherhood were well portrayed.
As the story progressed and her relationship with Alison was developed, I found myself warming to her and got really invested in her search for the truth.
The little chapters about the victims of the shooting were interesting and a nice way for the reader to try and connect all the puzzle pieces.
The middle part felt a bit repetitive at times with many pub scenes that didn’t bring much to the plot.
Although the ending was not that surprising to me cause I called the “villain” early on, it still managed to deliver a final surprise I didn’t see coming (although to be honest, the reader didn’t have any info to suspect it either).
Interesting story about how a tragedy can impact not only those who went through it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book UK/Sphere for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2021
The Anniversary is the latest psychological thriller from bestseller Laura Marshall about the earth-shattering impact of a mass shooting in a small British town and the trauma that still lingers almost three decades later. It has been twenty-five years since local man Travis Green raged through the small town of Hartstead on a mass rampage, shooting eleven people dead, seemingly at random, who happened to be on the usually safe streets. Cassie Coleman was only four when he gunned down his very last victim - the father she had never known - before he took the cowards way out and shot himself, too. Four-year-old Cassie witnessed her father Gary's slaughter alongside her mother, Sylvia, and naturally, their lives have never been the same since that tragic day. It is now swiftly approaching the anniversary of that fateful day that changed not only the Coleman's lives but those of so many other families as well as the town itself. Cassie has spent her life trying to escape her past, but she is forced to return home when her mother starts forgetting even the basic details of hers and is diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Struggling with a mother whose puzzle pieces are becoming muddled and memories becoming increasingly faded and now a young mum to baby Amy herself, she decides to let the imminent date pass by and mourn it silently.
Then a strange discovery amongst her mother's possessions calls into question everything Cassie thought she knew about the eleven murders all those years ago. And on her quest for answers, Cassie realises the past is a complicated thing. Some can't remember, some don't want to. And some will do anything to ensure it stays buried. Cassie, desperate to know the truth about an incident that had so much impact on her life, teams up with journalist Alison Patchett to get to the bottom of what precipitated the mass murder on 15 June 1994. This is a compulsive and enthralling thriller with an intriguing mystery at its centre and unsettling secrets many people will do anything to keep concealed. It's a clever, slow-burn novel with plenty of drama, twists and family friction and the well-written narrative is shot through with the dead’s backstories. The story slips seamlessly between 1994 and 2019 and features two sides: the domestic drama and the past traumatic incident, both of which are equally interesting and relevant to one another. Cassie is a realistic and likeable protagonist who only wants to know the truth about what happened to her father all those years ago and she has a right to know after the suffering she has endured because of his merciless murder. It is a tense and shocking portrayal of the impact trauma and horrific tragedy can have on the people and places involved. Highly recommended.
Then a strange discovery amongst her mother's possessions calls into question everything Cassie thought she knew about the eleven murders all those years ago. And on her quest for answers, Cassie realises the past is a complicated thing. Some can't remember, some don't want to. And some will do anything to ensure it stays buried. Cassie, desperate to know the truth about an incident that had so much impact on her life, teams up with journalist Alison Patchett to get to the bottom of what precipitated the mass murder on 15 June 1994. This is a compulsive and enthralling thriller with an intriguing mystery at its centre and unsettling secrets many people will do anything to keep concealed. It's a clever, slow-burn novel with plenty of drama, twists and family friction and the well-written narrative is shot through with the dead’s backstories. The story slips seamlessly between 1994 and 2019 and features two sides: the domestic drama and the past traumatic incident, both of which are equally interesting and relevant to one another. Cassie is a realistic and likeable protagonist who only wants to know the truth about what happened to her father all those years ago and she has a right to know after the suffering she has endured because of his merciless murder. It is a tense and shocking portrayal of the impact trauma and horrific tragedy can have on the people and places involved. Highly recommended.
January 12, 2022
Travis Green sits in his front room, and with his rifle at hand he contemplates the day ahead and how his wife will be the only one to know why he killed 10 people and then himself. Its time !!! and he sets off on a deadly path of slaughter, on that grim day in 1994.
25 years on Cassie, daughter of the last victim returns to Hartsted with her daughter and is faced with the knowledge that this may not be the random slaying of innocent people, that everyone was led to believe at the time. Teaming up with Alison Patchett, they uncover the lies, secrets and stories of its residents to write a new version of the events that day.
This was a very good book, full of suspense, interesting characters and a neatly constructed plot that kept you reading and guessing.
25 years on Cassie, daughter of the last victim returns to Hartsted with her daughter and is faced with the knowledge that this may not be the random slaying of innocent people, that everyone was led to believe at the time. Teaming up with Alison Patchett, they uncover the lies, secrets and stories of its residents to write a new version of the events that day.
This was a very good book, full of suspense, interesting characters and a neatly constructed plot that kept you reading and guessing.
July 13, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
The Anniversary is a 2021 published novel from Kindle No.1 bestseller Laura Marshall. This Kent based author issues her readers with a layered, emotional, morally driven and suspenseful psychological thriller. Featuring themes of the passage of time, loneliness, connections old and new, ongoing trauma, family duty, town gossip, betrayal, small-town politics, personal protection, escape, and the inescapable pull of the past, this is a story of underlying darkness.
Laura Marshall’s story revisits the harrowing mass shooting in a small town 25 years earlier. This catastrophic tragedy claimed eleven lives and still casts a dark shadow over the community of Hartstead. The daughter of one of the victims returns home with her newborn and deals with the combined burden of caring for her mother, who suffers from worsening memory loss with a young baby. As the plot thickens, Cassie suspects that her mother may hold the key to revealing what truly happened that fateful day but someone will do anything to keep the truth lost in time.
As well as an addictive domestic thriller, The Anniversary explores the pressures of solo parenting, inherited trauma, and the silencing power of secrets that have remained hidden for decades. The opening of Marshall’s novel was especially gripping and it managed to draw me deep into the sense of high suspicion, confusion, misunderstanding and unease around the traumatic shooting. While I had to pause reading midway through due to work commitments, I was happy to return to Marshall’s book and the unfolding story held enough tension, mystery and emotion to carry me through. I know I didn’t pick the shock wave conclusion, which is always great!
The Anniversary represented a welcome return to the writing of Laura Marshall, whose earlier novel Friend Request I really enjoyed. This was a clear ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4-star read!
🙏Huge thanks to my regular and fave reading buddy @nadsylovesbooks for reading this one with me.
The Anniversary is a 2021 published novel from Kindle No.1 bestseller Laura Marshall. This Kent based author issues her readers with a layered, emotional, morally driven and suspenseful psychological thriller. Featuring themes of the passage of time, loneliness, connections old and new, ongoing trauma, family duty, town gossip, betrayal, small-town politics, personal protection, escape, and the inescapable pull of the past, this is a story of underlying darkness.
Laura Marshall’s story revisits the harrowing mass shooting in a small town 25 years earlier. This catastrophic tragedy claimed eleven lives and still casts a dark shadow over the community of Hartstead. The daughter of one of the victims returns home with her newborn and deals with the combined burden of caring for her mother, who suffers from worsening memory loss with a young baby. As the plot thickens, Cassie suspects that her mother may hold the key to revealing what truly happened that fateful day but someone will do anything to keep the truth lost in time.
As well as an addictive domestic thriller, The Anniversary explores the pressures of solo parenting, inherited trauma, and the silencing power of secrets that have remained hidden for decades. The opening of Marshall’s novel was especially gripping and it managed to draw me deep into the sense of high suspicion, confusion, misunderstanding and unease around the traumatic shooting. While I had to pause reading midway through due to work commitments, I was happy to return to Marshall’s book and the unfolding story held enough tension, mystery and emotion to carry me through. I know I didn’t pick the shock wave conclusion, which is always great!
The Anniversary represented a welcome return to the writing of Laura Marshall, whose earlier novel Friend Request I really enjoyed. This was a clear ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4-star read!
🙏Huge thanks to my regular and fave reading buddy @nadsylovesbooks for reading this one with me.
March 16, 2023
Als je houdt van een traag opbouwende psychologische thriller dan kan ik dit boek zeker aanraden. Het verhaal bouwt zich rustig op. Het start met een tragedie die het dorpje in de ban houdt. Op een dag besluit Travis Green om 11 personen neer te schieten. Is dit zomaar in een zotte willekeur of schuilt er meer achter deze roekeloze daad? Je krijgt inzicht in het waarom. Cassie heeft deze veldslag mogen overleven, ze was toen 4 jaar als haar papa koelbloedig werd neergeschoten. Zij vormt ook de centrale figuur in dit boek. Een aanrader!
May 2, 2022
Travis Green liep op 15 juni 1994 door de straten van Hartstead en vermoordde elf van zijn buren. Het laatste slachtoffer was de vader van de vierjarige Cassie Colman.
Het is inmiddels bijna vijfentwintig jaar geleden en Cassie zou het verleden liever willen vergeten, tot ze tussen de spullen van haar moeder iets vindt wat erop wijst dat ze is voorgelogen over de moorden...
Vanaf dat moment kan Cassie niet meer stoppen met het zoeken naar de waarheid, maar iemand zal er alles aan doen om die begraven te houden...
Door de omschrijving van dit boek werd ik helemaal enthousiast. Waarom besloot Travis Green elf mensen dood te schieten? Was dit bewust of niet? En wat waren zijn beweegredenen? Vol goede moed begon ik dus aan dit verhaal.
'Sterfdag' begint meteen met een pakkende inleiding. Je leest over die bewuste dag in juni. Daarna lees je vanuit Cassie. Ze was vier jaar toen haar vader werd doodgeschoten. Zij en haar moeder hebben deze ramp overleefd, maar ze zit nog steeds met vragen.
Naarmate het verhaal vordert voel je dat er meer aan de hand is.De sfeer wordt steeds mysterieuzer en grimmiger. Ook lees je korte stukjes over de slachtoffers op die bewuste dag. Dit vond ik ook wel een interessante toevoeging aan het verhaal.
Telkens denk je te weten hoe het zit, maar dan blijkt het toch net even weer anders te zijn. Het verhaal wordt niet super spannend, maar je wil wel doorlezen omdat je wil weten wat er zich precies die bewuste dag heeft afgespeeld. Ik weet alleen nog niet precies wat ik nou van het einde moet vinden. Ik had het in elk geval niet verwacht, maar het ging voor mij plotseling wel allemaal iets te snel. Toch was dit zeker een geslaagd verhaal!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
Het is inmiddels bijna vijfentwintig jaar geleden en Cassie zou het verleden liever willen vergeten, tot ze tussen de spullen van haar moeder iets vindt wat erop wijst dat ze is voorgelogen over de moorden...
Vanaf dat moment kan Cassie niet meer stoppen met het zoeken naar de waarheid, maar iemand zal er alles aan doen om die begraven te houden...
Door de omschrijving van dit boek werd ik helemaal enthousiast. Waarom besloot Travis Green elf mensen dood te schieten? Was dit bewust of niet? En wat waren zijn beweegredenen? Vol goede moed begon ik dus aan dit verhaal.
'Sterfdag' begint meteen met een pakkende inleiding. Je leest over die bewuste dag in juni. Daarna lees je vanuit Cassie. Ze was vier jaar toen haar vader werd doodgeschoten. Zij en haar moeder hebben deze ramp overleefd, maar ze zit nog steeds met vragen.
Naarmate het verhaal vordert voel je dat er meer aan de hand is.De sfeer wordt steeds mysterieuzer en grimmiger. Ook lees je korte stukjes over de slachtoffers op die bewuste dag. Dit vond ik ook wel een interessante toevoeging aan het verhaal.
Telkens denk je te weten hoe het zit, maar dan blijkt het toch net even weer anders te zijn. Het verhaal wordt niet super spannend, maar je wil wel doorlezen omdat je wil weten wat er zich precies die bewuste dag heeft afgespeeld. Ik weet alleen nog niet precies wat ik nou van het einde moet vinden. Ik had het in elk geval niet verwacht, maar het ging voor mij plotseling wel allemaal iets te snel. Toch was dit zeker een geslaagd verhaal!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
August 3, 2021
Laura Marshall brings us another twisty psychological thriller which is cleverly plotted and hugely addictive.
On the 25th Anniversary of a mass shooting in a small town, the now grown up Cassie is a struggling new mum. A new friend and a reporter writing an aftermath article take her on a journey of discovery about what actually happened all those years ago...
As well as being an intriguing mystery The Anniversary also has several emotionally resonant levels as Cassie struggles with a newborn and a mother with dementia. The author manages this in an authentic and sensitive manner, anyone with experience of these two difficult life events will recognise the delicate balancing act. At the same time she hooks you into the narrative keeping you turning the pages to discover the final outcome.
Excellent writing, a really great read. Recommended.
On the 25th Anniversary of a mass shooting in a small town, the now grown up Cassie is a struggling new mum. A new friend and a reporter writing an aftermath article take her on a journey of discovery about what actually happened all those years ago...
As well as being an intriguing mystery The Anniversary also has several emotionally resonant levels as Cassie struggles with a newborn and a mother with dementia. The author manages this in an authentic and sensitive manner, anyone with experience of these two difficult life events will recognise the delicate balancing act. At the same time she hooks you into the narrative keeping you turning the pages to discover the final outcome.
Excellent writing, a really great read. Recommended.
September 20, 2022
Without even realising it, this is my second book about mass shootings. It’s not what it sounds like. This book might have a tragic mass shooting at its core, but the story is more about motherhood, and what a mother would do for her child.
This is a fabulously moving story that is going to keep you glued to the pages as you read late into the night. I picked up this book just as “load shedding” become a regular thing. Luckily my darling husband has made sure I have decent light for reading, even when our power is turned off.
This is my first encounter with Laura Marshall and I have already headed over to my favourite online site to add her other two books to my Wishlist. Sadly, Friend Request is not on the sire, I will have to find a copy somewhere else. I was deeply engrossed by this story and found myself deeply engrossed by the mystery. The characters were awesome. Let's just say, I have a mother-in-law named Sylvia and she has dementia. It was easy to relate to, making this book a special read for me. Laura Marshall is creative in her storytelling and I love the way she keeps you guessing while the mystery unfolds. She is an author I look forward to spending more time with.
Twenty-Five-years ago, Travis Green walked through the street of Hartsead shooting people at random. He killed eleven people before turning the gun on himself. The last victim was Cassie Colman’s day. Rumour has it, that Cassie, aged four, was in the room at the time and that she was discovered covered in blood.
Now Cassie has returned home to look after her mom, Sylvia, who has been diagnosed with dementia. Sylvia never spoke about that tragic day, or about the husband she has lost. Cassie has spent her life eager for knowledge while hating the reaction she receives when she meets anyone new. Most people are filled with curiosity and love to question Cassie about the events she has no memory of.
Doubting her ability to cope, Cassie struggles to juggle the demands of looking after Sylvia and her new baby girl. Yet, she finds herself befriending a journalist writing an article about the shooting for the twenty-fifth anniversary and quickly becomes caught up in a search for the truth. Soon threats are made, and it’s clear that someone wants the past left in the past… Cassie cannot ask her mom, and she is desperate for the truth, but can she find the answers she is looking for before someone ends up hurt?
This was a brilliant read. I raced through this book and found myself annoyed every time I needed to walk away from it. The author managed to keep invested and eager to find out what really happened that day.
Sylvia Colman stole my heart. She was just as sweet as my mother-in-law. The author captured the effects of dementia beautifully and sharing Cassie’s frustrations and sadness at the loss of her mother was genuine and rather close to home. The author did a stunning job with this character. If I did not know better, and if the ending was a little different, then the author could have been writing about my mom-in-law.
I have seen this book all over social media and am I happy that I added it to my TBR. I loved this book; it is a fantastic read.
If you are looking for a mystery that will keep you guessing, with awesome characters that will steal your heart, then you simply must read this book. I cannot recommend this one highly enough, and I want to thank all my fellow bloggers for recommending this marvellous book.
https://featzreviews.com
This is a fabulously moving story that is going to keep you glued to the pages as you read late into the night. I picked up this book just as “load shedding” become a regular thing. Luckily my darling husband has made sure I have decent light for reading, even when our power is turned off.
This is my first encounter with Laura Marshall and I have already headed over to my favourite online site to add her other two books to my Wishlist. Sadly, Friend Request is not on the sire, I will have to find a copy somewhere else. I was deeply engrossed by this story and found myself deeply engrossed by the mystery. The characters were awesome. Let's just say, I have a mother-in-law named Sylvia and she has dementia. It was easy to relate to, making this book a special read for me. Laura Marshall is creative in her storytelling and I love the way she keeps you guessing while the mystery unfolds. She is an author I look forward to spending more time with.
Twenty-Five-years ago, Travis Green walked through the street of Hartsead shooting people at random. He killed eleven people before turning the gun on himself. The last victim was Cassie Colman’s day. Rumour has it, that Cassie, aged four, was in the room at the time and that she was discovered covered in blood.
Now Cassie has returned home to look after her mom, Sylvia, who has been diagnosed with dementia. Sylvia never spoke about that tragic day, or about the husband she has lost. Cassie has spent her life eager for knowledge while hating the reaction she receives when she meets anyone new. Most people are filled with curiosity and love to question Cassie about the events she has no memory of.
Doubting her ability to cope, Cassie struggles to juggle the demands of looking after Sylvia and her new baby girl. Yet, she finds herself befriending a journalist writing an article about the shooting for the twenty-fifth anniversary and quickly becomes caught up in a search for the truth. Soon threats are made, and it’s clear that someone wants the past left in the past… Cassie cannot ask her mom, and she is desperate for the truth, but can she find the answers she is looking for before someone ends up hurt?
This was a brilliant read. I raced through this book and found myself annoyed every time I needed to walk away from it. The author managed to keep invested and eager to find out what really happened that day.
Sylvia Colman stole my heart. She was just as sweet as my mother-in-law. The author captured the effects of dementia beautifully and sharing Cassie’s frustrations and sadness at the loss of her mother was genuine and rather close to home. The author did a stunning job with this character. If I did not know better, and if the ending was a little different, then the author could have been writing about my mom-in-law.
I have seen this book all over social media and am I happy that I added it to my TBR. I loved this book; it is a fantastic read.
If you are looking for a mystery that will keep you guessing, with awesome characters that will steal your heart, then you simply must read this book. I cannot recommend this one highly enough, and I want to thank all my fellow bloggers for recommending this marvellous book.
https://featzreviews.com
May 6, 2022
15 juni 1994. Travis Green loopt door zijn stad heen en schiet 11 van z’n buren dood en daarna zichzelf. Zijn laatste slachtoffer is de vader van de vierjarige Cassie, die hij in bijzijn van de vrouw en Cassie neerschiet. 25 jaar later is Cassie terug in haar geboortestad om voor haar demente moeder te zorgen. Cassie is een alleenstaande moeder van een baby. Ze wil het verleden laten rusten, maar raakt toch betrokken bij het onderzoek van journaliste Alison. Waarom schoot Travis al die mensen dood? En was het willekeurig, of zit er meer achter?
Het boek begint vanuit het perspectief van Travis. Direct een goede start! Daarna lees je vanuit Cassies perspectief en er zijn 11 hoofdstukken vanuit de slachtoffers. Deze 11 hoofdstukken zorgen voor een fijne afwisseling én dragen mee aan de onderhuidse spanning. Ook zijn er chat berichten aanwezig. Ook die roepen vele vragen op!
Cassie is een prettig personage om over te lezen. Ze heeft het zwaar als jonge moeder en ik kan mij goed voorstellen dat moeders zich in haar kunnen herkennen. Daarnaast wordt er op een mooie manier met dementie om gegaan in het verhaal.
Echt een spannende thriller is het niet, maar de spanning is zeker van begin tot eind aanwezig. Het is meer een psychologische thriller, met kleine plot twisten en gebeurtenissen die je telkens op een ander spoor zetten. Het einde had ik dan ook zeker niet zien aankomen en ik was er enorm door verrast!
Dit boek is zeker een aanrader als je houdt van vlot geschreven psychologische thrillers met meerdere kleine plot twisten, fijne personages en een heerlijke sluimerende spanning!
Bedankt @lsamsterdam voor dit recensie-exemplaar! Heb er enorm van genoten ! 💛
Het boek begint vanuit het perspectief van Travis. Direct een goede start! Daarna lees je vanuit Cassies perspectief en er zijn 11 hoofdstukken vanuit de slachtoffers. Deze 11 hoofdstukken zorgen voor een fijne afwisseling én dragen mee aan de onderhuidse spanning. Ook zijn er chat berichten aanwezig. Ook die roepen vele vragen op!
Cassie is een prettig personage om over te lezen. Ze heeft het zwaar als jonge moeder en ik kan mij goed voorstellen dat moeders zich in haar kunnen herkennen. Daarnaast wordt er op een mooie manier met dementie om gegaan in het verhaal.
Echt een spannende thriller is het niet, maar de spanning is zeker van begin tot eind aanwezig. Het is meer een psychologische thriller, met kleine plot twisten en gebeurtenissen die je telkens op een ander spoor zetten. Het einde had ik dan ook zeker niet zien aankomen en ik was er enorm door verrast!
Dit boek is zeker een aanrader als je houdt van vlot geschreven psychologische thrillers met meerdere kleine plot twisten, fijne personages en een heerlijke sluimerende spanning!
Bedankt @lsamsterdam voor dit recensie-exemplaar! Heb er enorm van genoten ! 💛
November 8, 2021
Twenty-five years ago, tragedy struck in the town of Heartstead when Travis Green took his rifle and killed eleven people, one of which was Cassie Coleman’s father. She was just four at the time and has no memory of that fateful day. As the twenty-fifth anniversary of the shooting draws nearer, a journalist wants to write a piece on how towns recover from tragedies and this starts raising all kinds of questions about the events of that day. Cassie realizes that secrets have been kept from her and what she know about the day, but not be true.
Once again, this was first time reading an author’s work and I am extremely impressed.
This thriller keeps you guessing every step of the way and when you think you’ve figured things out, you are surprised by a new twist.
I loved Cassie’s growth throughout the story. We are introduced to her as a single mother who is struggling on her own. She constantly feels as if she is letting her child down and doing the wrong thing. She doesn’t have many friends who she can rely on for support. On top of that, her mother has early onset Alzheimer’s and needs full time care. Cassie is sad to see the person she loves slipping away to a point where she doesn’t recognize her own daughter.
As the anniversary of the shooting comes up she meets a journalist named Alison, but not everyone is happy about it. As they investigate, they start finding out things that others wanted to remain hidden. Secrets are uncovered about the details of what happened that day and the fact that it may not have just been a random shooting.
I love that the author did research on dementia and actually interviewed those who have loved ones suffering with the condition. There are also topics of domestic abuse as well as coercive control, a term I learnt a few months ago. It’s an important reminder that not all abuse is physical and can at times be very subtle.
The characters are really well written and there are so many different aspects that make up this novel, not to mention the brilliant twists. I have read some amazing thrillers recently, but I can’t remember the last time I was this invested in a book. This one gets an easy 5 stars from me.
Disclaimer: I was sent this free copy for review by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This does not influence my review or rating in any way. All views and opinions expressed are my own.
Once again, this was first time reading an author’s work and I am extremely impressed.
This thriller keeps you guessing every step of the way and when you think you’ve figured things out, you are surprised by a new twist.
I loved Cassie’s growth throughout the story. We are introduced to her as a single mother who is struggling on her own. She constantly feels as if she is letting her child down and doing the wrong thing. She doesn’t have many friends who she can rely on for support. On top of that, her mother has early onset Alzheimer’s and needs full time care. Cassie is sad to see the person she loves slipping away to a point where she doesn’t recognize her own daughter.
As the anniversary of the shooting comes up she meets a journalist named Alison, but not everyone is happy about it. As they investigate, they start finding out things that others wanted to remain hidden. Secrets are uncovered about the details of what happened that day and the fact that it may not have just been a random shooting.
I love that the author did research on dementia and actually interviewed those who have loved ones suffering with the condition. There are also topics of domestic abuse as well as coercive control, a term I learnt a few months ago. It’s an important reminder that not all abuse is physical and can at times be very subtle.
The characters are really well written and there are so many different aspects that make up this novel, not to mention the brilliant twists. I have read some amazing thrillers recently, but I can’t remember the last time I was this invested in a book. This one gets an easy 5 stars from me.
Disclaimer: I was sent this free copy for review by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This does not influence my review or rating in any way. All views and opinions expressed are my own.
May 27, 2022
Sterfdag is een psychologische thriller met veel verschillende puzzels die opgelost moeten worden. Alles heeft te maken met die ene dag: 15 juni 1994. Cassie Colman heeft de schietpartij in 1994 overleefd, haar vader is wel neergeschoten. Nu Cassie weer in Hartstead woont en de herdenkingsdienst dichterbij komt, is ze eigenlijk wel nieuwsgierig naar die dag. Haar moeder kan haar helaas niks meer vertellen…
Cassie gaat samen met een journalist op onderzoek uit naar het verleden. Waren de slachtoffers random of waren ze zorgvuldig gekozen? En waarom is haar moeder blijven leven? Op deze vragen komen gelukkig de antwoorden in het boek.
Het boek is een pageturner, je komt steeds meer te weten over 15 juni 1994. Tussen de gewone hoofdstukken door, lees je de laatste momenten van de slachtoffers. Op deze manier krijg je steeds meer puzzelstukjes.
Hoewel het niet mega spannend is, betekent dat niet dat er geen mensen vermoord worden. Cassie krijgt nieuwe vrienden, maar wie is er wel te vertrouwen en wie niet?
Sterfdag heb ik met veel plezier gelezen en vond het lastig om het boek weg te leggen. Voor de thrillerfans die niet van actie houden, maar meer van puzzelen.
De eerdere boeken van Laura Marshall heb ik niet gelezen, dus daar kan ik geen vergelijking mee maken.
Cassie gaat samen met een journalist op onderzoek uit naar het verleden. Waren de slachtoffers random of waren ze zorgvuldig gekozen? En waarom is haar moeder blijven leven? Op deze vragen komen gelukkig de antwoorden in het boek.
Het boek is een pageturner, je komt steeds meer te weten over 15 juni 1994. Tussen de gewone hoofdstukken door, lees je de laatste momenten van de slachtoffers. Op deze manier krijg je steeds meer puzzelstukjes.
Hoewel het niet mega spannend is, betekent dat niet dat er geen mensen vermoord worden. Cassie krijgt nieuwe vrienden, maar wie is er wel te vertrouwen en wie niet?
Sterfdag heb ik met veel plezier gelezen en vond het lastig om het boek weg te leggen. Voor de thrillerfans die niet van actie houden, maar meer van puzzelen.
De eerdere boeken van Laura Marshall heb ik niet gelezen, dus daar kan ik geen vergelijking mee maken.
July 21, 2021
On 15th June 1994 the small town of Hartstead was shocked when caretaker Travis Green went on a rampage, shooting eleven people. The victims appeared to be indiscriminate, and nobody has ever been able to understand fully why this awful thing happened. Cassie Colman was only four when her father - the last victim - was murdered in front of his wife and daughter.
It is now coming up to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the shooting. As expected, people are keen to revisit the town and to learn how these events have impacted on the lives of those left behind. For Cassie, now a young mum herself and struggling to cope with her mother's early dementia, this is an unwelcome intrusion. Though she is, herself curious about exactly what happened she has reconciled herself to not getting answers.
When a local journalist starts talking to Cassie, she can't help but be curious. It seems there are some anomalies in the accounts given of that day, and Cassie finds herself drawn into examining the actions of those she has always known in a different light.
This was an interesting idea. We are given some insight into the way in which such events are portrayed in the media and the way people are expected to behave. We get the stories from the past which help us to draw together a fuller picture of the events of that day. And, shockingly, we learn that sometimes things are not what they seem...
The main story was good, and I really found myself enjoying the way the narrative was structured. As we followed Cassie come to her shocking discovery, it felt so much more nuanced than I was expecting and turned things in a direction that took me rather by surprise.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this before publication in exchange for my honest thoughts.
It is now coming up to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the shooting. As expected, people are keen to revisit the town and to learn how these events have impacted on the lives of those left behind. For Cassie, now a young mum herself and struggling to cope with her mother's early dementia, this is an unwelcome intrusion. Though she is, herself curious about exactly what happened she has reconciled herself to not getting answers.
When a local journalist starts talking to Cassie, she can't help but be curious. It seems there are some anomalies in the accounts given of that day, and Cassie finds herself drawn into examining the actions of those she has always known in a different light.
This was an interesting idea. We are given some insight into the way in which such events are portrayed in the media and the way people are expected to behave. We get the stories from the past which help us to draw together a fuller picture of the events of that day. And, shockingly, we learn that sometimes things are not what they seem...
The main story was good, and I really found myself enjoying the way the narrative was structured. As we followed Cassie come to her shocking discovery, it felt so much more nuanced than I was expecting and turned things in a direction that took me rather by surprise.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this before publication in exchange for my honest thoughts.
December 27, 2022
Very good
October 5, 2021
2.5 stars. Twenty-five years after a mass shooting in a small British town, memories of the crime are brought back to the front on its anniversary. I thought this has a promising premise and I usually enjoy stories where the past events are actually not the way they happened. I liked the flashbacks of each victim's last moments before they died and how they were just ordinary people caught up in the crossfire of a vengeful perpetrator.
However, I found the main character insufferable. A large part of this book involves Cassie's struggles about motherhood and her incessant complaining was tiresome to read. For someone who supposedly has such a busy time caring for a baby, she sure spends a lot of time at the pub, drooling after the bartender. She was initially against dredging up memories of the crimes but changes her mind instantly after seeing a photograph. Her motivation is shaky and the way she goes about investigating is hypocritical because she tramples on other people's memories while fiercely defending her own. The reason for the mass shooting is a letdown and doesn't really change anything in the aftermath of her discovery. Sometimes things are better left alone.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
However, I found the main character insufferable. A large part of this book involves Cassie's struggles about motherhood and her incessant complaining was tiresome to read. For someone who supposedly has such a busy time caring for a baby, she sure spends a lot of time at the pub, drooling after the bartender. She was initially against dredging up memories of the crimes but changes her mind instantly after seeing a photograph. Her motivation is shaky and the way she goes about investigating is hypocritical because she tramples on other people's memories while fiercely defending her own. The reason for the mass shooting is a letdown and doesn't really change anything in the aftermath of her discovery. Sometimes things are better left alone.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
May 18, 2021
The Anniversary by Laura Marshall
I give this book 4.5 stars
On 15th June 1994, Travis Green walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed 11 of his neighbours. The final victim was 4 year-old Cassie Colman's father.
As the 25 year anniversary approaches, Cassie would rather forget the past. Then something hidden in her mother's possessions suggests those 11 murders were not what everyone believes.
Once Cassie suspects she's been lied to about the most important event of her life, she can't stop digging up the past.
But someone will do anything to keep it buried . . .
I was drawn in right from the first chapter.Told from Cassies pov, this great storyline has just the right amount of twists and turns that gradually reveal themselves and some interesting characters. A fantastic mystery thriller you will want to keep reading right to the very end! l loved how along the way we also discover a bit about each of the victims involved which builds up the tension.An engaging and enjoyable easy read
With thanks to NetGalley, Laura Marshall and Little Brown Book Group UK for the chance to read and review this book.
I give this book 4.5 stars
On 15th June 1994, Travis Green walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed 11 of his neighbours. The final victim was 4 year-old Cassie Colman's father.
As the 25 year anniversary approaches, Cassie would rather forget the past. Then something hidden in her mother's possessions suggests those 11 murders were not what everyone believes.
Once Cassie suspects she's been lied to about the most important event of her life, she can't stop digging up the past.
But someone will do anything to keep it buried . . .
I was drawn in right from the first chapter.Told from Cassies pov, this great storyline has just the right amount of twists and turns that gradually reveal themselves and some interesting characters. A fantastic mystery thriller you will want to keep reading right to the very end! l loved how along the way we also discover a bit about each of the victims involved which builds up the tension.An engaging and enjoyable easy read
With thanks to NetGalley, Laura Marshall and Little Brown Book Group UK for the chance to read and review this book.
February 7, 2022
Yay, for fun, easy to read mysteries. This one ticked all those boxes, and had a great "twist" at the end that I enjoyed, and that seemed plausible.
July 30, 2021
Ooooft what an addictive read this was!
25 years after a mass shooting in a sleepy English village where 11 people were brutally murdered, one survivor starts looking for answers….she is dying to remember….others would kill to forget.
So many twists, so many heart pounding moments & soooo many potential villains! I just loved it!!! Absolutely gripping!
The Anniversary is out on 5 August!
Thank you @netgalley & @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for my eARC!
25 years after a mass shooting in a sleepy English village where 11 people were brutally murdered, one survivor starts looking for answers….she is dying to remember….others would kill to forget.
So many twists, so many heart pounding moments & soooo many potential villains! I just loved it!!! Absolutely gripping!
The Anniversary is out on 5 August!
Thank you @netgalley & @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for my eARC!
July 1, 2022
Sterfdag is een zeer goed in elkaar gestoken psychologische thriller met een verassende twist op het einde.
Dit is nu het tweede boek die ik lees van Laura Marshall en ik moet echt zeggen wat een fijne schrijfstijl deze auteur heeft. Zeer makkelijk en vlot te lezen.
Dit is nu het tweede boek die ik lees van Laura Marshall en ik moet echt zeggen wat een fijne schrijfstijl deze auteur heeft. Zeer makkelijk en vlot te lezen.
October 28, 2023
I thought this was an excellent thriller! Fast-paced and kept me wanting more. I did find the main character quite annoying, particularly at the beginning, but it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the book!
April 30, 2022
Wow, thoroughly enjoyed this book! Kept me on my toes, great storyline.
September 17, 2024
This was my third Marshall book, and, as ever, I am wholly impressed with what I just read.
The Anniversary follows Cassie Colman through the 25th anniversary of the Hartstead Shootings, of which her father was a victim. A journalist is writing a piece on the town so long after the events, befriends Cassie, and the pair, together, after a lot of investigation, learn that the shootings weren't quite what they seemed. Instead of forgetting the past, a new can of worms was dragged up.
I was instantly gripped by this book. It was quite slow-paced in that there was a lot of the same; talking to the relatives of the victims, Cassie, Allison, and Natalie at the pub, frequent similar encounters with Paul, but I personally feel like that just emphasised the mundanity of these characters alongside the literal murder mystery that was occurring.
As well as the whodunit and the finding out of the truth, this book really hit home with me as there was a lot about the struggles of being a new mum - Cassie was struggling with her 12-week-old, feeling judged by the other mums who looked like they had their shit together, and it was about her learning that she was a good enough mum as she was. I really liked that because I myself really struggled postpartum, and it was just... nice to read, I guess?
It's not the most thrilling book I've ever read, but the suspense was there, and the twist definitely caught me off guard... I couldn't have seen it coming from a mile off. Not sure how many Marshall books I've left to read now, but I'll definitely be getting my hands on them when I get the chance.
Very much recommend.
The Anniversary follows Cassie Colman through the 25th anniversary of the Hartstead Shootings, of which her father was a victim. A journalist is writing a piece on the town so long after the events, befriends Cassie, and the pair, together, after a lot of investigation, learn that the shootings weren't quite what they seemed. Instead of forgetting the past, a new can of worms was dragged up.
I was instantly gripped by this book. It was quite slow-paced in that there was a lot of the same; talking to the relatives of the victims, Cassie, Allison, and Natalie at the pub, frequent similar encounters with Paul, but I personally feel like that just emphasised the mundanity of these characters alongside the literal murder mystery that was occurring.
As well as the whodunit and the finding out of the truth, this book really hit home with me as there was a lot about the struggles of being a new mum - Cassie was struggling with her 12-week-old, feeling judged by the other mums who looked like they had their shit together, and it was about her learning that she was a good enough mum as she was. I really liked that because I myself really struggled postpartum, and it was just... nice to read, I guess?
It's not the most thrilling book I've ever read, but the suspense was there, and the twist definitely caught me off guard... I couldn't have seen it coming from a mile off. Not sure how many Marshall books I've left to read now, but I'll definitely be getting my hands on them when I get the chance.
Very much recommend.
November 15, 2024
What a book, I really enjoyed this one.
May 10, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and Netgally for sending this to me for review.
I never like to write too much about thrillers in case I spoil them so here is a brief description.
In 1994 Cassie for the soul survivor of a mass shooting that took the lives of 11 people, she is known as the tragic tot after witnessing the killing of her father. Cassie has always had questions about that night but has never seemed to get answers, when local journalist Alison approaches Cassie to speak to her as part of a story she is writing about the effect of crimes on small communities Cassie decides to work with her and try to uncover so of the details she has forgotten, as they delve deeper into the past Cassie and Alison discover that everything isn't as it seems. What really did happen on that fateful night 25 years ago?
I really enjoyed this book, there were some elements I really didn't expect from a book like this, I really enjoyed the themes in here on mother and daughter relationships but mainly of motherhood, Cassie is really struggling with being a new mum, her daughter is a fussy baby and doesn't sleep well and a lot of this dictates how Cassie lives her life, all the other mums seem to have it all together, breezing through motherhood where everyday for Cassie is a struggle, I found all of this really relatable and well done, I think you often see a side of motherhood that makes it seem easy and like you should enjoy every moment, it is frowned upon if you say your struggling, or finding it hard and I appreciated that this was explored in this novel and actually when you looked closely all these woman who were mothers were struggling with something, looks can be deceiving and I think we need to be reminded of that in our culture.
The mystery itself in this was good but nothing I haven't read before, I didn't really guess what was going on and loved how every now and then a curve ball was thrown, I also enjoyed how you get the points of views of the 11 victims on that night and how there is little clues along the way.
I would recommend this book to someone starting out with thrillers as it's a good place to start with the genre.
I never like to write too much about thrillers in case I spoil them so here is a brief description.
In 1994 Cassie for the soul survivor of a mass shooting that took the lives of 11 people, she is known as the tragic tot after witnessing the killing of her father. Cassie has always had questions about that night but has never seemed to get answers, when local journalist Alison approaches Cassie to speak to her as part of a story she is writing about the effect of crimes on small communities Cassie decides to work with her and try to uncover so of the details she has forgotten, as they delve deeper into the past Cassie and Alison discover that everything isn't as it seems. What really did happen on that fateful night 25 years ago?
I really enjoyed this book, there were some elements I really didn't expect from a book like this, I really enjoyed the themes in here on mother and daughter relationships but mainly of motherhood, Cassie is really struggling with being a new mum, her daughter is a fussy baby and doesn't sleep well and a lot of this dictates how Cassie lives her life, all the other mums seem to have it all together, breezing through motherhood where everyday for Cassie is a struggle, I found all of this really relatable and well done, I think you often see a side of motherhood that makes it seem easy and like you should enjoy every moment, it is frowned upon if you say your struggling, or finding it hard and I appreciated that this was explored in this novel and actually when you looked closely all these woman who were mothers were struggling with something, looks can be deceiving and I think we need to be reminded of that in our culture.
The mystery itself in this was good but nothing I haven't read before, I didn't really guess what was going on and loved how every now and then a curve ball was thrown, I also enjoyed how you get the points of views of the 11 victims on that night and how there is little clues along the way.
I would recommend this book to someone starting out with thrillers as it's a good place to start with the genre.
September 4, 2021
June 15th, 1994, a date nobody in Hartshead will ever forget.
As the town approaches the 25th Anniversary of the atrocities, a journalist is seeking the help of one of the only survivors, Cassie Colman. Cassie has her own issues to contend with - her mother's health is declining rapidly and Cassie is struggling with motherhood, so much so that the friendship of journalist Alison is welcomed.
Someone really does not want Alison or Cassie to keep digging - but we need to dig too to find out what really happened on that fateful day and if things were really as they seemed.
I liked this a lot. There were a lot of side characters to keep track of, but the core group were different enough to be able to know who was who. I liked how Cassie was a realistic portrayal of a young mother trying to care for several people and retain some of herself too, and I liked how the story of what happened in 1994 was unravelled slowly. Yes, parts of it were predictable, and the end was a little unbelievable, but overall I thought this was a very solid thriller that fans of the genre should enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley.
As the town approaches the 25th Anniversary of the atrocities, a journalist is seeking the help of one of the only survivors, Cassie Colman. Cassie has her own issues to contend with - her mother's health is declining rapidly and Cassie is struggling with motherhood, so much so that the friendship of journalist Alison is welcomed.
Someone really does not want Alison or Cassie to keep digging - but we need to dig too to find out what really happened on that fateful day and if things were really as they seemed.
I liked this a lot. There were a lot of side characters to keep track of, but the core group were different enough to be able to know who was who. I liked how Cassie was a realistic portrayal of a young mother trying to care for several people and retain some of herself too, and I liked how the story of what happened in 1994 was unravelled slowly. Yes, parts of it were predictable, and the end was a little unbelievable, but overall I thought this was a very solid thriller that fans of the genre should enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley.
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