Străinul de lângă mine

by Louise Voss

Atunci cand s-a maritat cu Ed, Lynn Naismith a renuntat la slujba pe care o iubea fara nicio umbra de regret. Insa dupa 10 ani de fericire, Ed este diagnosticat cu dementa timpurie si incep sa se petreaca lucruri ciudate; mai ciudate decat pierderea cheilor sau uitarea unor cuvinte. Unele amintiri sunt uitate, insa altele, demult ingropate, ies la suprafata... iar lumea perfecta a lui Lynn incepe sa se prabuseasca. Insa mintea lui Ed ii joaca feste sau a ei?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

432 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2018

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Just how well do you know your spouse?

Lynn and Ed have been married for ten years and things seem to be going great for them until Ed is diagnosed with early onset dementia. It is not long before Ed starts missing words, strange noises are heard in the night, and Ed becomes secretive and his demeanor begins to change. But the synopsis teases the reader - just who is having their mind play tricks on them?

Soon the reader begins to learn that there is more to this story and the characters than meets the eye. Psychological thrillers are all the rage these days as are books with unreliable characters/narrators and plot twists and shocking reveals! Well, this book does not disappoint in that area, but will I remember it by this time next year? My guess is vaguely.

Not all the characters are likable in this book which keeps things interesting. I did find myself getting annoyed with one character - massively annoyed. Knowing these characters aren't real, I still wanted to ask this particular character "Are you really this ridiculous all the time? I mean seriously? How clueless can one person be? How did you ever work in that particular field and well.... UGH!

But I do have to give the Author props for being clever. The story was interesting and entertaining. Just when you think you might have this story (and the characters) figured out, the Author will surprise you. I did guess one thing early on, but the rest surprised me. Secrets, lies, deception, twists, turns, doubt, shock, anger - it's all here! The Author pretty much throws everything but the kitchen sink in here.

Thank you to Trafalgar Square Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever driven on the famous Lombard Street in San Francisco? This book is the literary version of that street.
(Google it if you're unfamiliar)

This is one clever and twisty story with a refreshingly unique plot.

From the get-go you know something is off and all is not what it seems and Louise Voss doesn't even try to hide it. This choice by the author is what made this story so gripping for me. A sense of dread enveloped me immediately in the first chapter and omg was it ever deliciously unnerving.

Voss scatters so many clues throughout the story that it's dizzying at times. I knew everything I needed to solve this story was right there...just out of reach. I just couldn't seem to fit all of the clues together and it was frustrating and fun and exactly as it should be.

One of my biggest peeves in the mystery/ thriller genre is when writers try to deceive the reader with misleading clues in an attempt to throw them off what is inevitably a predictable ending. Never once does Voss resort to this amateurish tactic. Every clue is relevant in this story, each serving as a piece to the puzzle.

Ultimately this is a riveting read from beginning to end.

4.5 Stars rounded up because I couldn't put it down.


I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing: inconsistent/5 | Plot: 2.5/5 | Ending: nah bruv/5

2.5

SYNOPSIS

Lynn Waites' older husband is losing his mind due to a mix of dementia and Pick's disease... or is he?

MY OPINION

At this point of writing the review, I still haven't decided whether to round up or down. Rounding up feels a lil generous, and rounding down feels harsh? BESOS, WHERE IS OUR .5 STARS???? PLS SIR. STOP GOING TO THE MOON AND GET THIS SH!T SORTED.

Anyways, it really felt like the author lost steam throughout the book. I liked the bants at the start, and the first Lynn flashback was a nice early juicy surprise, but then it just fizzed out. Very specific simile but did any of you make a mosaic with magazine pages during art class in grade school? And at the start you're meticulously ripping small pieces, really going to town. But then you get like halfway and it took you 12 hours to get here and you're just OVER it so the mosaic pieces just get bigger and bigger so you can wrap it tf up? That's the vibe I got with this book.

I don't know if it's because I read a lot of thrillers (way too many tbh), but I found this very predictable. I think it would've shaken me to my squishy core if I had read this a year ago, but I was clocking the twists like I wrote the book myself. So maybe if you're new to the genre, this will rock your socks off? I still appreciated what she did here though. It was a different angle with deceit. I'm just too Nancy Drew for you hoes!! (sarcasm)

Ok, I wanna talk about Lynn but unfortunately I can't really get into it without spoilers sooo, ya'll know the drill...

SPOILERS SCROLL AHEAD





So wassup with Waistey (major cringe at this nickname?) She flip flopped between being Detective of the Year and Dumbass of the Year. Why the flying fk did she go to see Shelagh's sister and then act shooketh when she was like yeah your husband def topped Shelagh. And Lynn was like how dare you slander him?? I love him??? Even though just last chapter Lynn cut off her hair in an act of defiance and said middle fingers up to Ed. I didn't understand what she was expecting from Ellen?? That was pure nonsense.

And when she was like "should I tell the police about his passport?" Girl, you were the police??? Would you want the wife of a missing man with possible dementia to tell you that his passport is also missing??? Me thinks so. She was acting herself all sorts of dumb questions like she hadn't been deemed fit enough to go undercover and seduce ole Eddy boy. But I mean she did fail, and get duped, so now that I think about it... Nah still unacceptable LOL.

Ok and the last couple of chapters had me wishing I could yeet my kindle off the cliff with Ed. Why did she wait so long to confront him? Why wasn't she ringing the police, interpol, the fking Canadian Mounties if need be to come pack his ass up??? She gave him an out to skiddadle off the island and then let him wine and dine her before she finally was like ok stop playin with me Ed. What? I would've let the choppa sing the moment I saw April dry hump him on the beach. Unacceptable behaviour.

Lastly we have the final Adrian twist. All I have to say to Lynn is, put that pucci on ice. You clearly need to be single, forever. Join a nunnery or something, because your hormones CANNOT be trusted.




PROS AND CONS

Pros: decent start, solid plot (questionable execution though), great for thriller newbies

Cons: really petered out LOL, wish she kept that last twist in the drafts, Lynn's character was mad inconsistent

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn and Ed have been married for nearly a decade so the news is devastating when they find out that Ed has been diagnosed with early on set dementia. It starts with a misuse of words, putting things in strange locations, but as his dementia progresses his behavior grows to be far more sinister.

This book was such a wonderful surprise for me. I thought the dementia aspect worked really well here. When you love someone and a diagnosis such as this arises you don't just walk away no matter how awful it gets. This is the predicament that Lynn finds herself in. But beware, because this is a psychological thriller you all know full well that not everyone or everything is as it seems. I do love me a good twist and the very last one....yeah, you got me! I did not expect that. Louise Voss has penned quite a tale and it's one that shouldn't be missed. 5 stars!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

A GoodReads friend had posted a review of this book and it just called out to me. Luckily, it was a Read Now and I was able to snatch it up.

Like the main character, I’m married to a man much older than me and he is starting to have some memory issues. So, I immediately bonded with Lynn. The book is written in first person, which was the perfect narrative style for this type of book. I literally had to keep reminding myself that Lynn was not a real person.

But Ed has more than memory issues. He’s got full blown Pick’s Disease, a form of frontotemporal dementia which effects not just vocabulary but emotions and judgement. He also has a very questionable past, investigated for having murdered his first wife, but eventually exonerated when someone else confesses.

This book gets creepy pretty quickly and moves at a very fast pace. I did start to suss out where it was going early on but that's not to say it didn’t hold my interest. And yes, there was one twist I didn’t see coming. Lynn makes some incredibly stupid decisions which bothered me as I expected her to be smarter. And the ending quickly went into the totally unbelievable category.

So, all in all, a decent read but one that starts much stronger than it finishes.

My thanks to netgalley and Orenda Books for an advance copy of this book.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up to 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s

I think it’s best to not share much more than what is shared in the synopsis..

Lynn loved her job, but after realizing that her affair with her married boss, will not lead to the marriage and children she covets, she asks to transfer to a new city...seeking a fresh start.

She meets Ed, in a most unorthodox way, and has been happily married for ten years....until he is diagnosed with Pick’s disease, a form of early onset dementia. Ed is losing more than his ability to use the correct words in sentences...his behavior is becoming secretive, irrational and occasionally violent.

Does Lynn REALLY know her husband? Is his “true self” being exposed because of his “dementia”?

The story seems to jump around a bit when the books begins, and just when it finds its groove, a few chapters of Lynn’s back story are introduced, crucial to the plot, but the transitions between past and present are a bit uneven.

Also, although I do not need to like the characters in a book, in this case, I REALLY felt like the author WANTED you to sympathize with Lynn, something I couldn’t do, as I found her morals lacking, both personally and professionally.

HOWEVER despite these 2 things, I was thrilled to FINALLY be reading a story with a unique premise! It definitely held my attention and was one of my more enjoyable reads so far this year, for MOST of it.

But, unfortunately, I could not but into some of the twists towards the end, and I was not thrilled with how the book ended.

3.5 stars rounded up


I would like to thank Netgalley, Trafalgar Square Publishing/Orenda books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for a candid review! If you are intrigued...this book is available NOW!

[Nazanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Some-body’s watching youuuu.
Some-body’s watching youuuu.
Some BODY is WATCHING you.

Ed and Lynn are married for ten years. They are so happy. Ten years ago, Lynn left the job she loved so she could marry Ed. But now doctors diagnosed Ed with some form of dementia and after that everything changed… Strange things happened…

Things more sinister than missing keys and lost words. As some memories are forgotten, others, long buried, begin to surface... and Lynn's perfect world begins to crumble. But is it Ed’s mind playing tricks, or hers...?

When I read the blurb, it sounds really interesting (the dementia plot) and well it has a good rating and let’s not forget about that gorgeous cover! Of course it was a twisty read, some I could guess right and some I couldn’t. But my main issue was, most of the book I was shouting at Lynn! She was so frustrating. and I think she did a poor job considering her previous job. My other issue was the pacing, it was a slow-paced, especially the first half and it took most of the excitement. But it still could hold my interest till the end. Told in single POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novel, contains short chapters and flashbacks. Overall, I expected more and hope you enjoy it!

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read this one in it’s very early stages and it was excellent then, now reading the end result it is indeed even more excellent. It was lovely to start 2018 off with a 5* read – what I call “proper” domestic noir here, which is to say it is not a recycled plot, it has a unique vibe that makes it stand out and also a truly twisty yet believable tale with darkly engaging characters and a cleverly woven atmospheric narrative. Now all this time later I can tell you more about it.

Louise Voss has a beautiful tone and turn of phrase to her writing that makes it a right proper page turner, even without the absorbing and thought provoking story. I was riveted by how the mystery element was woven into the very realistic feeling of what it is like to live with someone who suffers from dementia – which had a personal meaning for me as I go through it with my mother. After a while that sense that it might be you who is going slightly doolally is so so authentic, as Lynn struggles to deal with Ed’s moods and differing mindset that changes almost by the minute. Then as it heads down an ever darker path, you cannot help but be dragged right into their world, where that sense of disconnection, that feeling that all is not right, starts to play on your mind and your senses.

The plotting is clever and often unexpected – some of it is heartbreaking – some of it is actually very creepy – but overall it is fascinating, wonderfully written and a little like car crash telly – you just cannot look away. With an ending that will stay with you and a genuinely memorable set of characters “The Old You” is a purely emotional read with a dark dark heart.

Highly Recommended.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should come as no surprise to me that once again, Orenda has published a book that is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, but this book was chock full of surprises and even better than I could have imagined. The Old You was my first Louise Voss book, I had no idea what to expect but the brief synopsis grabbed my attention instantly. Dementia is a horrible disease, I’ve seen it’s effects firsthand and it’s devastating and totally frightening. Imagine being worried sick about your spouse after such an awful diagnosis, then take it a step further and give it a sinister feeling lurking besides the disease. That’s what Lynn is facing, the loss of her once brilliant husband’s mind and the idea that something isn’t quite right, something even worse than his illness.

I’m not going to dive any further into the plot because there were so many delicious twists and turns in store that elaborating further would only ruin your future reading experience. (I’m assuming this will be going straight onto your TBR because this was an outstanding read.) Well executed domestic suspense/noir is not as easy to find as you would think, but let me assure you this is incredibly well done and stands out from the crowd. Voss is a skilled writer, she has that uncanny ability to slowly draw the reader into a dark web of secrets and lies, she slowly and intoxicatingly gives you details that keep you engrossed and desperate to know what will happen next. The simmering tension and uneasiness was palpable, the air was thick with tension and fear throughout the entire book, words can’t convey just how perfectly paced this was. Keeping a slower paced book exciting is no easy feat, there has to be something to hold your attention and let me tell you, Voss had me hanging off of every single word. I was waiting on pins and needles because I just knew bad things were bound to happen and secrets would be revealed, and when they were I was completely satisfied AND stupefied. Highly recommended by me for fans of crime fiction in general but also for anyone looking for an excellent example of domestic noir/suspense. This is a must read and will most definitely be on my list of favorites for the year.

The Old You in three words: Unnerving, Innovative and Ingenious.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read!

I certainly wouldn't label this a 'nail-biter' as the publisher did, but there are some sneaky little surprises to this domestic thriller.

What made this fun to read was in the execution.

First comes from the build up: providing the reader with a very shaky foundation of what's to come, as the information being provided is highly unreliable.

Second comes from the characters....who can you trust?

Last comes from the expert way the author slowly and expertly reveals the truth. I let out a little 'whoop!' when it all came together.

I'm going to have to look into some of the author's other works, as I see she has partnered up with another of my favorite authors Mark Edwards. I look forward to my next adventure with Ms Voss!

ARC provided by NetGalley

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow. What did I just read? I’ve been aware of books by Louise Voss, I’ve even bought one or two, but this is the first that I’ve actually read. If the other ones are as well written and gripping as this then I have seriously been missing out.

I’m going to make this review quite short as I really don’t want to give anything away about the story which could spoil it for someone else. The domestic noir element has been taken to another level by Voss’ clever and original plotting. Excellent characterisation, perfectly paced and with a sinister undertone. I was drawn in from the very first page and even though I felt sympathy for both Ed and Lynn following Ed’s diagnosis, there was something about them both that I found unsettling and I was never really sure who I could trust or believe.

The dementia element of the story struck a chord with me for personal reasons and it felt authentic and believable. Ed’s descent into a state of forgetfulness and confusion were hard to read and I felt truly sorry for Lynn having to watch the personality of the man she loved change so completely.

The unexpected revelations and surprises in this story were relentless. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, Voss pulls the rug from under you and with each new twist my poor little brain was scrabbling to catch up.

I loved the whole damn twisted thing. Definitely a contender for my books of the year list. Bravo Louise Voss, you’ve played a blinder with this one!

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to reading this one and I was really disappointed. It started well but then went off on a totally far fetched tangent and it lost me. I wanted to love it but... oh well... can't love them all!

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

 If you ever wanted to know what "domestic noir" was then you need to read The Old You.  This is a proper creepy, clever and carefully plotted story which grabbed me from the first page and when I forgot to feed the kids and walk the dog, I knew I was going to give this book 5 big stars.

I have read several of Louise's books with Mark Edwards and also her first solo book The Venus Trap, but in my opinion The Old You is possibly her best work so far. 

The Old You starts with Lynn and her slightly older husband, Ed, being diagnosed with early onset dementia and at first you can truly empathise and feel Lynn's pain watching the man she loves change so drastically.  The story continues with Lynn dealing with the affects on her family and friends as Ed deteriorates rapidly.  It's heartbreaking to read and written so realistically that it's impossible not to get emotionally involved.

I don't want to give anything away, except just when I was settling in following Lynn and Ed's story - WHAM!  The entire story does an abrupt u-turn, spinning me round 180 degrees and leaving me rather shocked.  The twists and turns are constant, the cleverly crafted plot proves just how talented Louise Voss is and it was an absolute pleasure to read something so original in such a popular genre.

My thanks to the publisher and Anne Cater for the advanced copy.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You ever run into those books that just creep up on you? It's that slow burn that sets the tone of the entire story and then continually surprises you as it increases in pace and turns you on your axis. This is one of those books. The kind that proves you don't need that throat punch of a twisty read to still be an outstanding psychological thriller. That sneaks up on you right up until the very end.

"SOMEBODY'S WATCHING YOUUUUUUU"

I'm finding myself surprised that Voss hasn't been on my radar until now. This was a one sit read and the next thing I knew, hours had gone by and I was turning that last page. I did a bit of a double take in a few parts and had to turn back to make sure what I read was correct. Lots of little twists throughout that make this one of those "don't think you know, because you don't" kind of reads. Just remember, these are all things that come about in a slower pace than you might find your typical psychological thriller, which is where the noir comes in - that subtlety that I've grown to appreciate in any type of noir thriller. Hitchcockian is a huge word to use for any type of read, but best describes how the tone of this book is set.

Vivid characters, cleverly plotted and the prime of what domestic noir is at heart.

Thanks to Orenda Books for this copy

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynn and Ed have been married for several years. Unfortunately Ed starts showing signs of dementia .. no surprise since his own father had died with dementia.

Things start happening, much to Lynn's chagrin. Ed forgets words .... keys go missing ... memories forgotten. But other memories begin to surface. Their perfect world begins to disintegrate.

Ed's first wife disappeared and was never seen again. Something Ed says makes Lynn suspect that he killed her and hid her body.

But Lynn knew this before she married him.

This is an extremely well written psychological thriller filled with twists and turns. Everybody lies ... everyone has secrets... secrets just begging to be released from the shadows. The characters are credible ... but not all are entirely likeable.

Many thanks to the author / Orenda Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Psychological Thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, hello, Louise Voss! Let me apologise. I have no earthly idea how you managed to evade my radar all these years but I promise that I now firmly have my eye on you and will not lose sight of you again. I don’t mean that to sound as creepy as it does.

Every once in a while, a humdinger of a psychological thriller finds its way into my hands and completely restores my faith in this slightly oversaturated genre. The Old You is that humdinger, people. Throw everything you think you know about books like these out the window and prepare yourself for an incredibly thrilling ride. Don’t for one second make the same mistake I did, imagining this will be a predictable journey and you will have it all figured out halfway through the story. No, no. Louise Voss obviously doesn’t work that way and is far cleverer than that.

Lynn’s husband Ed has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia. The signs have been there for a while but it’s a devastating blow nonetheless. Things quickly turn far more sinister though. Things that are for worse than leaving your keys in the fridge or socks in the dishwasher, forgetting a name or a password and Lynn’s life soon starts to crumble. That’s all I’m giving away for fear of ruining anything.

What a deliciously devious and devilish plot this is. It seems to lead you down a certain path until you suddenly find yourself walking face first into a brick wall. Never mind twists, these are more like shocks that leave your mouth wide open and your brain fried to crisps. Quite frankly, it left me feeling like the losing side in a wrestling match. You know, battered and bruised, a little sweaty, utterly exhausted but you just want to jump to your feet and do it all again because the thrill and the buzz of it was just that insanely awesome. Something like that anyway.

The Old You is an intensely suspenseful and gripping tale that kept me guessing until the end. I absolutely devoured this book, racing through it in one absolutely delightful sitting. It’s brilliantly written, intelligently plotted and grabs you by the throat until you’re almost breathless. With a creepy, tense and somewhat threatening feel to it, it had me engrossed until I flipped the final page.

I’m not entirely sure my review is doing this addictive story any justice. It’s been a while since a psychological thriller left such an impression on me and I’m struggling to find the words to explain to you how much I loved it. I can tell you right now though that this one will be right up there in my list of books of the year. I absolutely can’t wait for whatever Louise Voss comes up with next but in the meantime, I’ll be correcting the error of my ways and catching up on some of her older work. One to watch for sure and The Old You is definitely one to buy and read right now! Highly recommended!

[Bedelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan-freakin-tastic!! Finished in one day! Loved it!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This noir-ish book, set in Wolsey, near Hampton Court in present day England, involves an unusual set of people who have been flung together in strange ways over the past decade. Lynn Jackson is married to a retired doctor, Ed Naismith, whose first wife disappeared mysteriously. She was presumed a suicide until a drifter confessed to her killing. Lynn met Ed about a year later, gradually fell head over heels for him and the rest is history — well sort of.

The entire novel is narrated by Lynn and periodically, during the the early chapters, she leaves the reader with unsettling comments about herself, her husband, her life. All is not what it seems, she appears to be saying. And then Ed begins exhibiting signs of dementia, of a kind that took his father.

A sense of unease and some unlikeable characters is perhaps to be expected in this type of novel with its noir elements, but I found this story went over the top. While the plot could be compelling, pulling me along to find what would happen next, I didn’t care about Lynn or Ed. I increasingly disliked Lynn though I should have had some sympathy. Instead I disliked her and her motives, the way she was written.

So yes this can be very readable and at times action-packed, but I felt it was a bit tawdry in the end. Perhaps this is noir and it’s not for me.

2.5 rounded to 3

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[daniela weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

although very cleverly written, I felt there 
was something off with this story-the narrator 
oscillating between being too dumb or a complete 
genius, most situations being incredibly complicated 
then having magic solutions, or it just wasn't for me.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the books written by Louise Voss with fellow author Mark Edwards and I also adored her last standalone solo book The Venus Trap BUT…….The Old You is something very special indeed and definitely the pinnacle of her writing career so far! Now as most of you know I’m a super speedy reader but not with this book – it took me a WHOLE WEEK! And it’s not because I couldn’t get into it! No, it’s because I wanted to savour every word and I was thoroughly enjoying the slow and steady unfurling of the plot. I was able to devour every single page at a leisurely pace and it was heavenly. If you love domestic noir then this is going to be the book of 2018 for you. It has definitely reserved its place on my favourite books of the year list!

When Lynn’s husband starts showing symptoms of Picks disease, the same form of dementia that his father suffered from, she wants to support him as much as she possibly can. But when strange things start to happen and Eds behaviour starts to go downhill, will Lynn be able to cope with losing her soulmate?

So I hadn’t really read the blurb when I first picked up The Old You and I’m glad that I went into it blind as it meant that I had no preconceptions of how the storyline would develop. It turned out to have all the elements that I desire in my psychological thrillers but with a feeling of such originality and uniqueness that meant I really wasn’t sure who to trust, which stories to believe but most of all I had no idea of which direction it was trying to send me! The twists were expertly crafted and felt organically developed within the most beautifully written narrative that flowed with a leisurely confidence. I became completely involved with these cleverly created characters and the fascinating insight into their relationship.

The Old You takes domestic noir to the next level. It’s an intriguing account of a marriage full of secrets and lies but with a sinister undertone that slowly drags you under until you’re completely immersed in the menacing atmosphere. I just loved it and didn’t want it to finish!

Highly recommended by me!

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another estrogen driven thriller, with much praise to its name. And for my money entirely undeserved. In fact paying money for this would have been very upsetting. So many thanks Netgalley, where your reading pleasure…or disappointment…are always free. Meet Lynn. Lynn has the worst taste in men, something she’s too oblivious (or stupid, also a very strong possibility) to notice until somewhere like 4/5th of the way into the novel. Lynn is happily married or she was until her dearly beloved’s memory started going south. This, Lynn categorically and repeatedly states isn’t something she signed up for. Which is like well, yeah, she did, didn’t she…unless wedding vows in England are very different from US. But at any rate, things are way more complicated than dementia, all those past secrets and lies. And honestly, I don’t know how to talk about them without giving things away, so maybe you should read more of this review if you haven’t read the book. Mind you, I’m not recommending you read the book, but in case you’re not convinced…go on then, check it out for yourself. Now if you are still reading, let’s talk about Lynn some more. Or maybe let’s talk about the author and about how completely predictable her plotting is. Most of the major twists you’ll notice a mile’s equivalent of pages away. The very final one might surprise you, but by then it’s just all too much. And all on Lynn. Who is so profoundly lacking in good judgement, good taste or any sort of discernment and this is all despite having not only police training, but also undercover training that it is mindboggling she’s gotten as far in life as she did at all. Don’t f*ck your married boss, don’t f*ck a suspect, if you can’t control your wild urges at least use protection, don’t marry someone who owns 50 pairs of nice jeans, don’t believe every single suspicious thing…just really basic things that Lynn won’t do. Instead she’s like someone out of a romance novel, making terrible choices, based on (spelled deliberately) lurv. When it finally becomes blatantly obvious that the dementia thing is a giant fat lie, there is a ridiculous amount of Oh yes it is / Oh no I don’t believe it. Lynn remains somewhat in a state of constant disbelief for most of the novel from there on, she just can’t believe she was so wrong about her sartorially perfect choice of a mate. Until pretty much the very end when she realizes just how thoroughly she has been played. Not saying she deserved it, taking advantage of the intellectually inferior and gullible and romantically challenged is morally wrong. But she is something of an idiot. And with an idiot for a protagonist and complete lack of any interesting or charming or compelling characters and a clichéd plot there just isn’t much to engage with or enjoy here. Sure, it would probably make for a relatively entertaining movie thriller, but in book form it underwhelms dramatically and with a plethora of other choices in the genre there is no need to spend time on this one. Even if it did read quickly. Thanks Netgalley.

[Debi Hawkes · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Such appalling judgement when it came to choosing lovers" Epilogue

Ya think?

I was attracted to this book due to the dementia plot line. I thought that could really be an interesting twist for a psychological thriller. That worked until it all just got ridiculous, too many contrivances, the whole thing ended up not working for me.

Probably didn't help that I really disliked all the primary characters, it's nice to have someone to root for, lol!

I received an ARC from NetGalley, publisher Orenda Books, and Author Louise Voss in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard for me to get into this book since I really disliked the main character, Lynn. The story was slow paced but the author threw in some twists to make me want to read to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing for a copy of Louise Voss' "The Old You" in exchange of an honest review.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found at: https://hookedfrompageoneblog.wordpre...

The Old You is a very different psychological thriller; it is the first book by Louise Voss which I have read and she has jumped onto my list of must-read authors.

The novel opens as Ed Naismith is diagnosed with Pick’s disease, which is a rare form of progressive dementia. His father also suffered from the illness. Ed and his wife, Lynn are devastated by the news. But as they begin to adapt to the new situation they find themselves in, Ed’s attitude begins to change, and Lynn grows increasingly uncomfortable. But is this to do with Ed’s illness? What can Lynn do to stop her world crumbling around her?

The story felt very fresh, and it tackled some themes which I haven’t seen explored very much before in psychological thrillers, dementia is one of them. I really liked how Louise put her own original spin on other themes as well and this is what made the book really enjoyable.

Louise Voss delivered so many surprising twists and turns in this book and when they came they were hard-hitting, I don’t think I have ever been surprised as much as I have been by a book before. The characters were at the heart of her story and I really connected with Lynn; it is Lynn’s perspective that the novel is told from and she was a really likeable character, although I did find myself shaking my head at some of the decisions she was making.

Louise expertly drip feeds us with information about her character’s lives, to reel us even further into their world; after each new revelation came, I really couldn’t see where she was going to take us next. The Old You is a real page turner; the characterisation is stunning and there are some really ingenious and original twists. Thank you to Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books for sending me a copy to review and to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did someone say Hitchcockian? Hellooo! I am there! The Old You is a great psychological mystery thriller and has so many twists and turns I felt like I was reading it on a Merry-Go-Round.

The story starts at a deceptively sedate pace – albeit an emotional one – but pretty quickly there are some curve balls thrown straight at your face and before too long the first twist is gonna have you like 😮 !

From then on all bets are off and I had no clue where the middle of the story was headed at all. You do need to suspend disbelief at some points but, as ever, it is so worth doing for the sake of such an original and entertaining story. The plotting is so clever it’s still making my head spin and it keeps you guessing throughout.

Voss‘s writing is excellent and the characters really jump off the page. I’m still not quite sure who I did and didn’t like but that doesn’t matter a jot. This is a very classy book. I have had one or two of Louise Voss‘s books with Mark Edwards on my TBR for a while now and, on the basis of this one, will be bumping them closer to the top soon.

With grateful thanks to Orenda Books for my ARC of The Old You.

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller? mystery? domestic noir? I'm not sure what to label it. Lynn Naismith's husband, Ed is diagnosed with early onset Pick's Disease (a form of dementia). This is the same disease that destroyed his father. Lynn is left to watch helplessly and pick up the pieces as Ed quickly declines. But we soon learn that there is quite the backstory, nothing is as it seems, and both Ed and Lynn have a few secrets. Ed's first wife disappeared and is thought to be dead. In fact, after some time, a homeless man confessed to killing her. But is that what really happened? Did Ed have something to do with her death? Is Ed truly sick? If not, why would he pretend to be? Ohhh, what a tangled web we weave...

[Gică Andreica · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5/5

Of! Și începuse atât de bine...

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Old You is the first book that I have read by Louise Voss that she has written on her own.
It was a book that left me in awe and lost for words. At the end of chapter one I had decided that I disliked one of the characters. But I was far too quick to judge, things were not as they seemed. As I read more I found that this was a book that completely messed with the reader’s head and I had either underestimated most of the characters in it or been duped. My thoughts and feelings changed constantly.
I hadn’t really read the book synopsis, I sometimes like to go into a book with no knowledge of the storyline and I am glad that I did so with this book. There are no spoilers there but I found it added to the suspense. It is difficult to say anything about the plot without revealing any of the twists so I won’t. All I will say is that it’s intimidating, isolating and very clever.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant review to follow as part of blog tour.