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Unravelling
Incarcerated in the gloom of a Highland asylum, a young mother finds illicit love. And death.
Kate Sharp’s family is a mystery. Her mother, Ellen, disappeared into the shadows of Craig Dunain psychiatric hospital when Kate was a child. When her grandmother dies, Kate is desperate for answers. What were the circumstances of her mother’s life and death? Who is her father?
Kate’s not the only one trying to uncover the truth. The remains of two bodies with murderous injuries have been found buried in the forest next to the former hospital.
And someone else is searching for answers, and he will stop at nothing to find them.
As the tale of Ellen’s tragic unravelling unfolds, the secrets that led to her death are exposed, along with the shocking truth about Kate’s father.
Unaware of the danger stalking her, Kate continues her search.
Will she find the answers? And can she save her own life
Kate Sharp’s family is a mystery. Her mother, Ellen, disappeared into the shadows of Craig Dunain psychiatric hospital when Kate was a child. When her grandmother dies, Kate is desperate for answers. What were the circumstances of her mother’s life and death? Who is her father?
Kate’s not the only one trying to uncover the truth. The remains of two bodies with murderous injuries have been found buried in the forest next to the former hospital.
And someone else is searching for answers, and he will stop at nothing to find them.
As the tale of Ellen’s tragic unravelling unfolds, the secrets that led to her death are exposed, along with the shocking truth about Kate’s father.
Unaware of the danger stalking her, Kate continues her search.
Will she find the answers? And can she save her own life
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2021
30 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 19, 2022
Unravelling is both the title of this book and an accurate description of the feeling that permeates the pages. Forbes doesn’t pull any punches: her novel is captivating, able to hold the reader’s attention and take them on a dizzying journey. Yay!
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
August 14, 2021
I devoured this book in one sitting - much to the detriment of a very rare day off where I planned to finish the draft of my third novel - but I couldn't put it down. In terms of plot the blurb explains what's going on so I won't delve in much deeper other than to say that it is tense, intense, well plotted, beautifully written and constructed with cleverly drawn characters who are vivid and alive. This is Kate's story but it is also her mother's and each is told in different sections of the book wherein we learn about how mother and daughter lived, and the ways in which they were torn apart. Unsurprisingly there are some shady characters in both their lives and it's how they deal with them that unravels and brings the narrative to its satisfying conclusion. There's sadness and there's laughter too, especially when Kate is picking up her polish workmate's sometimes confused use of English. Inverness is a central character and the city carries the responsibility well. I don't want to say too much more as it's a book that needs to be read. I highly recommend it.
February 11, 2022
Unravelling by Helen Forbes is easily a five star review. I could not put this book down and stayed up way too late to finish this in one sitting. It was absolutely addicting as soon as I read the first page.
I love when characters feel like people I know and these do. They are flawed and realistic. Character driven stories allow me to get lost in the story and feel like I’m actually there.
I kove the theme of mental health that was approached very well. Clever plot and well-paced, this was so fantastic. I can’t say anything negative about Unravelling. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
I love when characters feel like people I know and these do. They are flawed and realistic. Character driven stories allow me to get lost in the story and feel like I’m actually there.
I kove the theme of mental health that was approached very well. Clever plot and well-paced, this was so fantastic. I can’t say anything negative about Unravelling. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
February 13, 2022
This enthralling tale of troubled minds, deception, families, lies, manipulation and hidden secrets is written in three parts. The first part is written from the alternating perspectives of Kate and two men called Daniel and Jamie. The middle section is written from the perspectives of Kate's mother Ellen and starting from when she was fifteen took the reader through the events which led to up to the night that changed her life forever.We were given insights into her thoughts about her parents, then taken through the birth of her beloved daughter and the time Ellen spent in Craig Dunain psychiatric hospital and the events leading up to her death.The intense concluding part of the story in which the hidden truths and betrayals from the past are finally revealed is written from the perspectives of Kate and Jamie.
Kate worked in a care home inhabited by a number of realistic characters including a new arrival called Lucille who insisted on referring to Kate as the princess. Kate's best friend at the home was her work colleague Stefan who was Polish and quite often made humorous mistakes whenever he got his words muddled up. I really liked Stefan and loved the interactions between the two characters. Kate's only known relative was her Gran who had taken care of Kate since she was a young girl, it was while Kate was sorting out her gran's possessions after her tragic death that she stumbled across her Mother Ellen's journal. Kate's gran had always did everything in her power to avoid talking about Ellen and the discovery of a dark secret within the pages of the journal compels Kate to try and learn more about her mother's troubled hidden past.
But unbeknownst to Kate,she is being watched by a individual who is terrified that the secrets of the past are going to be revealed, someone who is certain that Kate has something in her possession which was rightfully his and is determined to get the object back. This person was clever and manipulative and was prepared to do everything in his power to get his hands on the item in question.was
The parts of the story which were set in the psychiatric hospital had a authentic vibe to them and it was obvious that the author had carried out a vast amount of research into her subject matter. When you think about it, there is not really a vast amount of difference between a care home and a psychiatric hospital, they are both inhabited by individuals whose minds have caused them to become incapable of taking care of themselves. One of the main differences being that some patients who find themselves in need of psychiatric care can get better with the correct treatment whereas scientists are still unable to uncover a cure for dementia. As someone who suffers from mental health issues, I found it easy to relate to Ellen's fluctuating thoughts and mood swings, how one minute everything in her life was going well and then the next your brain feels like it's packed full of cotton wool and you are walking around with a dark cloud floating above your head. How your thoughts can do easily be overrun with feelings of paranoia, self doubt and mistrust of the people who genuinely care about your wellbeing. The characters who appeared throughout these parts of the story were a eclectic mix of vivid individuals, some who were more trustworthy and likeable than others
The scenery around the hospital was beautifully and vividly described, the beauty and majesty of the trees in the forest with the wind rustling the branches and leaves. The stark contrast between the beauty of mother nature and the darkness of the nature of some of the characters who walked within the walls of the old hospital and the evil acts that man can inflict on their fellow human beings.
Unravelling is a mesmerising story that pulled the reader in with a chilling prologue, the author's words flow with ease as her story unfolds before your captivated eyes. It's beautifully descriptive cleverly plotted with a cast of characters who are authentic and believable. There are some clever twists scattered throughout the book and the story has a intense edge of your seat conclusion. The plot covers some sensitive and realistic subject matter and the author had written those parts of her story with care and understanding. I thought this was a very well written,enjoyable read. Very highly recommended by little old me.
Kate worked in a care home inhabited by a number of realistic characters including a new arrival called Lucille who insisted on referring to Kate as the princess. Kate's best friend at the home was her work colleague Stefan who was Polish and quite often made humorous mistakes whenever he got his words muddled up. I really liked Stefan and loved the interactions between the two characters. Kate's only known relative was her Gran who had taken care of Kate since she was a young girl, it was while Kate was sorting out her gran's possessions after her tragic death that she stumbled across her Mother Ellen's journal. Kate's gran had always did everything in her power to avoid talking about Ellen and the discovery of a dark secret within the pages of the journal compels Kate to try and learn more about her mother's troubled hidden past.
But unbeknownst to Kate,she is being watched by a individual who is terrified that the secrets of the past are going to be revealed, someone who is certain that Kate has something in her possession which was rightfully his and is determined to get the object back. This person was clever and manipulative and was prepared to do everything in his power to get his hands on the item in question.was
The parts of the story which were set in the psychiatric hospital had a authentic vibe to them and it was obvious that the author had carried out a vast amount of research into her subject matter. When you think about it, there is not really a vast amount of difference between a care home and a psychiatric hospital, they are both inhabited by individuals whose minds have caused them to become incapable of taking care of themselves. One of the main differences being that some patients who find themselves in need of psychiatric care can get better with the correct treatment whereas scientists are still unable to uncover a cure for dementia. As someone who suffers from mental health issues, I found it easy to relate to Ellen's fluctuating thoughts and mood swings, how one minute everything in her life was going well and then the next your brain feels like it's packed full of cotton wool and you are walking around with a dark cloud floating above your head. How your thoughts can do easily be overrun with feelings of paranoia, self doubt and mistrust of the people who genuinely care about your wellbeing. The characters who appeared throughout these parts of the story were a eclectic mix of vivid individuals, some who were more trustworthy and likeable than others
The scenery around the hospital was beautifully and vividly described, the beauty and majesty of the trees in the forest with the wind rustling the branches and leaves. The stark contrast between the beauty of mother nature and the darkness of the nature of some of the characters who walked within the walls of the old hospital and the evil acts that man can inflict on their fellow human beings.
Unravelling is a mesmerising story that pulled the reader in with a chilling prologue, the author's words flow with ease as her story unfolds before your captivated eyes. It's beautifully descriptive cleverly plotted with a cast of characters who are authentic and believable. There are some clever twists scattered throughout the book and the story has a intense edge of your seat conclusion. The plot covers some sensitive and realistic subject matter and the author had written those parts of her story with care and understanding. I thought this was a very well written,enjoyable read. Very highly recommended by little old me.
February 15, 2022
Another Helen Forbes book and another fabulous read! A psychological thriller that is set in Inverness and an addictive read. I had to read this all in one sitting; it's that good.
A character driven story with characters that are so skillfully created they feel like you know them. I always love a character that is as fallible as I know we are, and these are so realistic I could have been sat with them. Unravelling is the story of Kate and her mother Helen, an event that has the power to turn your life on its head.
We see a duel timeline, Kate's in the present day, and as the story unfolds, Helens back when Kate was a child. Helen was an inpatient at the local psychiatric hospital. Kate discovers her mothers story when she discovers her journal that she penned while in the hospital. Through this, we learn of the characters involved with her mother and how they impacted her back then... and how their effect is still felt within Kate's life now.
A sensitive subject that's handled very well. Helen Forbes has woven a tale that is not a comfortable read sometimes, but it is very real and emotional, too. Mental health is not an issue; many will broach, and I think there is a braveness about bringing a story like this and making a great book out of it, too. Helen is very empathetic and writes from the heart that is very clear.
Any psychological thriller lover will love this intelligent, empathic, and touching story. I recommend Helen Forbes full stop.
A character driven story with characters that are so skillfully created they feel like you know them. I always love a character that is as fallible as I know we are, and these are so realistic I could have been sat with them. Unravelling is the story of Kate and her mother Helen, an event that has the power to turn your life on its head.
We see a duel timeline, Kate's in the present day, and as the story unfolds, Helens back when Kate was a child. Helen was an inpatient at the local psychiatric hospital. Kate discovers her mothers story when she discovers her journal that she penned while in the hospital. Through this, we learn of the characters involved with her mother and how they impacted her back then... and how their effect is still felt within Kate's life now.
A sensitive subject that's handled very well. Helen Forbes has woven a tale that is not a comfortable read sometimes, but it is very real and emotional, too. Mental health is not an issue; many will broach, and I think there is a braveness about bringing a story like this and making a great book out of it, too. Helen is very empathetic and writes from the heart that is very clear.
Any psychological thriller lover will love this intelligent, empathic, and touching story. I recommend Helen Forbes full stop.
August 3, 2021
As a fan of Helen Forbes already, I knew I would enjoy this, her latest offering, and I was right. Unravelling is the story of Kate, and her mother Ellen, and how one event can be the trigger to turn your life upside down.
Kate’s story is set in the present day, with Ellen’s story taking up the middle part of the book, set back whilst Kate was a young child. Kate was looked after by her grandparents whilst her mother was an inpatient in Craig Dunain, the psychiatric hospital “up the hill” in Inverness. Ellen’s time in the Craig is sensitively handled by Helen, being sympathetic, heart-wrenching, desperate, uncomfortable, and real.
Kate doesn’t know her mother’s story, doesn’t know what happened to make her ill, how that illness took over, and separated mother and daughter. Until she acquires a journal written by her mother whilst in the Craig. It’s through that that we learn of the different characters in Ellen’s life, and the impact that they had, and how they are continuing to impact on Kate’s life.
Biased I may be, but if you like intelligent, well plotted and constructed crime fiction, you’ll enjoy this too.
Kate’s story is set in the present day, with Ellen’s story taking up the middle part of the book, set back whilst Kate was a young child. Kate was looked after by her grandparents whilst her mother was an inpatient in Craig Dunain, the psychiatric hospital “up the hill” in Inverness. Ellen’s time in the Craig is sensitively handled by Helen, being sympathetic, heart-wrenching, desperate, uncomfortable, and real.
Kate doesn’t know her mother’s story, doesn’t know what happened to make her ill, how that illness took over, and separated mother and daughter. Until she acquires a journal written by her mother whilst in the Craig. It’s through that that we learn of the different characters in Ellen’s life, and the impact that they had, and how they are continuing to impact on Kate’s life.
Biased I may be, but if you like intelligent, well plotted and constructed crime fiction, you’ll enjoy this too.
January 3, 2022
I couldn’t believe how good this was, I read the whole thing in one sitting - that was a very late night! The story is gripping and the characters are engaging, I just wanted to keep reading to find out more about them, particularly Jamie and Martyna. I love mean characters!
The way the characters are written makes you feel like you could easily be living next door to one of them, they all have flaws and something very real about them. I like it when I feel I can put myself on the same level as the characters in a story and in this case that was easy from the beginning.
The setting for the story is Inverness and has a very edgy mental health theme which was written with care.
The story itself is cleverly written, moves at a good pace and is well plotted.
A highly recommended and addictive thriller. Definitely one to pick up.
I was gifted a review copy of this book by Rachel’s random resources, views and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.
The way the characters are written makes you feel like you could easily be living next door to one of them, they all have flaws and something very real about them. I like it when I feel I can put myself on the same level as the characters in a story and in this case that was easy from the beginning.
The setting for the story is Inverness and has a very edgy mental health theme which was written with care.
The story itself is cleverly written, moves at a good pace and is well plotted.
A highly recommended and addictive thriller. Definitely one to pick up.
I was gifted a review copy of this book by Rachel’s random resources, views and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.
July 27, 2021
Helen brings the people and places of Inverness to life
Firmly rooted in the Highland capital, Helen’s third novel has all the darkness, mystery and finesse of her previous work.
The characters are fully rounded individuals you’d recognise in the bar, at work, at the local psychiatric hospital….
‘The Craig’ - previously Craig Dunain, currently New Craigs - is vividly described with insight, humour and empathy.
A tale of sad, twisted lives, murder and mental illness, yet there is plenty of light here too - friendship, family, people doing the right thing. An engaging read that is difficult to put down.
Firmly rooted in the Highland capital, Helen’s third novel has all the darkness, mystery and finesse of her previous work.
The characters are fully rounded individuals you’d recognise in the bar, at work, at the local psychiatric hospital….
‘The Craig’ - previously Craig Dunain, currently New Craigs - is vividly described with insight, humour and empathy.
A tale of sad, twisted lives, murder and mental illness, yet there is plenty of light here too - friendship, family, people doing the right thing. An engaging read that is difficult to put down.
September 26, 2021
Gripping story
This is a generation story that had me unable to put the book down. Characters are so beautifully written, you just feel like you're watching the whole thing happen. Some love. Some mental illness, some family stuff, some happiness, but very real things that happen in family life while dealing with mental illness.
This is a generation story that had me unable to put the book down. Characters are so beautifully written, you just feel like you're watching the whole thing happen. Some love. Some mental illness, some family stuff, some happiness, but very real things that happen in family life while dealing with mental illness.
January 23, 2022
Mental health - always a sensitive yet interesting subject.
This was so well written. I really enjoyed reading the middle portion of the book from the point of view of Ellen whilst she was in hospital.
Thrilling. I’ve loved 2 books written by this author that I have read recently and would definitely read more.
This was so well written. I really enjoyed reading the middle portion of the book from the point of view of Ellen whilst she was in hospital.
Thrilling. I’ve loved 2 books written by this author that I have read recently and would definitely read more.
October 3, 2021
It's great to read a crime novel set in Inverness, and for those who know the city, the setting will be instantly recognisable. As well as having the cold case at its heart, this is a great examination of mental illness and its treatment in times gone by.
January 26, 2023
Another great story from Helen Forbes! I really enjoyed this gripping thriller set in Inverness, with an interesting set of characters and an unsettling theme of mental illness. Highly recommend and looking forward Helen’s next book.
February 9, 2022
Helen Forbes is another new-to-me author I've not come across before but upon reading the premise for UNRAVELLING, I was intrigued. Thrillers surrounding mental health/illness always fascinates me, particularly when featuring a sinister and foreboding asylum such as the one depicted here.
But...
It took me a while to get into this book. I don't think I connected well with Kate and then Martyna seemed a little too psycho. To be honest, the first part of the book left me wondering where it was heading and I felt the pace to be a little slow, despite the short snappy chapters that I so love. But then Part Two began and the story shifted back 30 years to Ellen's story in her words, beginning in her early teens to her time in "The Craig", the psychiatric hospital overlooking Inverness. It was then we, the readers, are given a different perspective and while some of it was confusing and repetitive it was also the convoluted mind of someone suffering from a mental illness. Things didn't really pick up till after 50%, which in my book is a little long before making things interesting, but I persevered and was rewarded with a satisfying outcome.
Set in Inverness, the Highland capital of Scotland, the story begins with Kate in the present day as she nurses her ailing grandmother and then grieving with her loss. Kate had never really known her mother Ellen, who died when she was just a young girl, and was brought up by her grandparents. Kate doesn't know her mother's story or what happened to make her so ill or why. She often asked her gran who could only say that she was ill and did her best to get better.
But then a chance meeting with someone who knew her mother all those years ago leaves her with a parting gift as he helped her move into her grandmother's flat that she had bequeathed to her. In one of the boxes, she discovers a journal belonging to her mother and upon reading the first few entries, discovers the worst possible secret she could imagine. Shocked by what she read, Kate shuts the journal and buries it back in the box in which she found it...not yet ready to read any further.
Meanwhile, a camper in the woods surrounding the old asylum stumbles upon a gruesome find...a human bone which then leads to the discovery of an almost intact skeleton. Police search the area and later uncover another set of skeletal remains. Could these remains be linked to the old Craig Dunain asylum?
Part Two begins a different perspective in which we are given Ellen's narrative as she tells her story from her early teens, the birth of her daughter Kate and her subsequent spiral into mental illness, resulting in her being admitted to "The Craig". This part of the story highlights the debilitating horrors of mental illness as we see the confusing world through Ellen's eyes and her inability to trust anything or anyone. We meet several other colourful characters in her time there - some sad, some mad and some downright horrible. In this part of the story, we are privy to Ellen's world and not the one everyone else thought was her story...but the one that really happened. And as it came to an end, the sheer emotion was just heartbreaking.
Finally, we came to Part Three which was the beginning of the end of Kate and Ellen's stories. Everything that happened beforehand came together in perfect synchronicity to evolve into a culmination of events that brought everything into the open...therefore giving Kate the closure she needed.
It was cleverly done but I couldn't help but wonder if the chapters couldn't have alternated between Kate and Ellen in the present and past with each chapter to give readers a building insight as the story developed. It may have helped it move along more smoothly because the first part was incredibly slow to start with. I wouldn't say it was addictive, not to start with, but I did want to find out what happened which is probably what made me continue reading...otherwise I may have given up. For me, it lacked something to keep me engaged despite it ending up a fairly decent thriller.
Despite my misgivings, UNRAVELLING is certainly atmospheric and even claustrophobic with the haunting setting of Craig Dunain Mental Hospital, known as "The Craig" at its centre, giving that sinster sense of foreboding. It is most certainly a sad and twisted tale of murder and mental illness that is tense, dramatic and even emotional.
I would like to thank #HelenForbes, #ScolpaigPress and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #Unravelling in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
But...
It took me a while to get into this book. I don't think I connected well with Kate and then Martyna seemed a little too psycho. To be honest, the first part of the book left me wondering where it was heading and I felt the pace to be a little slow, despite the short snappy chapters that I so love. But then Part Two began and the story shifted back 30 years to Ellen's story in her words, beginning in her early teens to her time in "The Craig", the psychiatric hospital overlooking Inverness. It was then we, the readers, are given a different perspective and while some of it was confusing and repetitive it was also the convoluted mind of someone suffering from a mental illness. Things didn't really pick up till after 50%, which in my book is a little long before making things interesting, but I persevered and was rewarded with a satisfying outcome.
Set in Inverness, the Highland capital of Scotland, the story begins with Kate in the present day as she nurses her ailing grandmother and then grieving with her loss. Kate had never really known her mother Ellen, who died when she was just a young girl, and was brought up by her grandparents. Kate doesn't know her mother's story or what happened to make her so ill or why. She often asked her gran who could only say that she was ill and did her best to get better.
But then a chance meeting with someone who knew her mother all those years ago leaves her with a parting gift as he helped her move into her grandmother's flat that she had bequeathed to her. In one of the boxes, she discovers a journal belonging to her mother and upon reading the first few entries, discovers the worst possible secret she could imagine. Shocked by what she read, Kate shuts the journal and buries it back in the box in which she found it...not yet ready to read any further.
Meanwhile, a camper in the woods surrounding the old asylum stumbles upon a gruesome find...a human bone which then leads to the discovery of an almost intact skeleton. Police search the area and later uncover another set of skeletal remains. Could these remains be linked to the old Craig Dunain asylum?
Part Two begins a different perspective in which we are given Ellen's narrative as she tells her story from her early teens, the birth of her daughter Kate and her subsequent spiral into mental illness, resulting in her being admitted to "The Craig". This part of the story highlights the debilitating horrors of mental illness as we see the confusing world through Ellen's eyes and her inability to trust anything or anyone. We meet several other colourful characters in her time there - some sad, some mad and some downright horrible. In this part of the story, we are privy to Ellen's world and not the one everyone else thought was her story...but the one that really happened. And as it came to an end, the sheer emotion was just heartbreaking.
Finally, we came to Part Three which was the beginning of the end of Kate and Ellen's stories. Everything that happened beforehand came together in perfect synchronicity to evolve into a culmination of events that brought everything into the open...therefore giving Kate the closure she needed.
It was cleverly done but I couldn't help but wonder if the chapters couldn't have alternated between Kate and Ellen in the present and past with each chapter to give readers a building insight as the story developed. It may have helped it move along more smoothly because the first part was incredibly slow to start with. I wouldn't say it was addictive, not to start with, but I did want to find out what happened which is probably what made me continue reading...otherwise I may have given up. For me, it lacked something to keep me engaged despite it ending up a fairly decent thriller.
Despite my misgivings, UNRAVELLING is certainly atmospheric and even claustrophobic with the haunting setting of Craig Dunain Mental Hospital, known as "The Craig" at its centre, giving that sinster sense of foreboding. It is most certainly a sad and twisted tale of murder and mental illness that is tense, dramatic and even emotional.
I would like to thank #HelenForbes, #ScolpaigPress and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #Unravelling in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 22, 2021
First of all let me just say, I'm not very good with writing reviews - I tend towards the brief, so I'm trying to be more expansive here.
I read it in three sittings: session one was out of mild curiosity - was this a book I felt I could get into, was it the kind of the thing I would enjoy? I find it hard to take part in a blog tour if I haven't genuinely engaged with the material - I don't want to lie to my readers. So I quickly read the opening 30 or 40 pages.
The second reading session was a panicked, 'Eek I almost forgot and there's only four more days until my post is due out...' so I read another 50 or so pages, thinking, I like how this is unfolding, I'm definitely intrigued, I'm confident I am going to love this book.
The third sitting, with 250+ pages to go was one of those, 'I don't care how long it takes, I am not putting this book down for anything except Rege-John Page or Theo James.' I mean, I was hooked.
Reader, I devoured it.
And this is my conclusion:
Unravelling by Helen Forbes is an engrossing, claustrophobic psychological thriller. It was tense at times, and sorrowful. The insights into serious mental illness were so emotive, and I admit I blubbed. It was compulsive too - as I said, I just had to read on, I had to know.
The ending was swift and satisfying, and hopeful.
For me, I felt that Kate's story was in a way a - not redemption exactly - more a second chance for Ellen. I can't explain (words are my job too! Rolls eyes.) It was the pay-off that we the reader got after the long personal journey of self-discovery of both Ellen and Kate.
I enjoyed the style. To begin with I was a little confuzzled by the shift in points of view, but got used to it, you can identify the narrators easily enough. I think it was a bold move to separate Kate's story into two halves and put Ellen's story in the middle. I'm not sure I'd have made that choice myself, but I think it works, though when I came back to the second part of Kate's story I had to quickly 'revise' what had happened in the first part. But I think it worked, and as I say, I was hooked - it was definitely an unputdownable, engrossing read, and I highly recommend this book!
I read it in three sittings: session one was out of mild curiosity - was this a book I felt I could get into, was it the kind of the thing I would enjoy? I find it hard to take part in a blog tour if I haven't genuinely engaged with the material - I don't want to lie to my readers. So I quickly read the opening 30 or 40 pages.
The second reading session was a panicked, 'Eek I almost forgot and there's only four more days until my post is due out...' so I read another 50 or so pages, thinking, I like how this is unfolding, I'm definitely intrigued, I'm confident I am going to love this book.
The third sitting, with 250+ pages to go was one of those, 'I don't care how long it takes, I am not putting this book down for anything except Rege-John Page or Theo James.' I mean, I was hooked.
Reader, I devoured it.
And this is my conclusion:
Unravelling by Helen Forbes is an engrossing, claustrophobic psychological thriller. It was tense at times, and sorrowful. The insights into serious mental illness were so emotive, and I admit I blubbed. It was compulsive too - as I said, I just had to read on, I had to know.
The ending was swift and satisfying, and hopeful.
For me, I felt that Kate's story was in a way a - not redemption exactly - more a second chance for Ellen. I can't explain (words are my job too! Rolls eyes.) It was the pay-off that we the reader got after the long personal journey of self-discovery of both Ellen and Kate.
I enjoyed the style. To begin with I was a little confuzzled by the shift in points of view, but got used to it, you can identify the narrators easily enough. I think it was a bold move to separate Kate's story into two halves and put Ellen's story in the middle. I'm not sure I'd have made that choice myself, but I think it works, though when I came back to the second part of Kate's story I had to quickly 'revise' what had happened in the first part. But I think it worked, and as I say, I was hooked - it was definitely an unputdownable, engrossing read, and I highly recommend this book!
July 21, 2021
I love discovering new authors and Helen Forbes is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘Unravelling’ and it certainly appealed to me. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and then settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. Overall I did enjoy reading ‘Unravelling’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me a little while to get into ‘Unravelling’, which has more to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read and finding it hard to concentrate than anything else. Once I got into the story, I became intrigued by the characters and I was interested to see in which direction the story was going to go next. I would pick the book up only intending to read three or four chapters in one go but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over a dozen chapters later. As a result I managed to finish the book within the space of a day which is good going for me. I found ‘Unravelling’ to be a tense, dramatic and emotional read, which gripped me from start to finish.
‘Unravelling’ is well written. The author knows how to grab the reader’s attention and reel them in much like a fisherman reeling in a catch. I loved the rather haunting setting of this story and the fact that the story is set in Scotland. There were several strands to the story and I wasn’t sure how they would link up. I needn’t have worried because the strands interlinked well and the story flowed seamlessly. Reading ‘Unravelling’ felt like being on an emotional rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I did have issues with certain elements of the story but that’s to do with my previous life when I worked in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and I guess I saw parts of the story as another ‘case’. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Helen’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Unravelling’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
It took me a little while to get into ‘Unravelling’, which has more to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read and finding it hard to concentrate than anything else. Once I got into the story, I became intrigued by the characters and I was interested to see in which direction the story was going to go next. I would pick the book up only intending to read three or four chapters in one go but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over a dozen chapters later. As a result I managed to finish the book within the space of a day which is good going for me. I found ‘Unravelling’ to be a tense, dramatic and emotional read, which gripped me from start to finish.
‘Unravelling’ is well written. The author knows how to grab the reader’s attention and reel them in much like a fisherman reeling in a catch. I loved the rather haunting setting of this story and the fact that the story is set in Scotland. There were several strands to the story and I wasn’t sure how they would link up. I needn’t have worried because the strands interlinked well and the story flowed seamlessly. Reading ‘Unravelling’ felt like being on an emotional rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I did have issues with certain elements of the story but that’s to do with my previous life when I worked in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and I guess I saw parts of the story as another ‘case’. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Helen’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Unravelling’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
February 17, 2022
Unravelling is both frightening and saddening.
It’s frightening because the author has sketched characters who blur the line between sanity and madness. You’re never sure who is normal and who is not. You even begin to doubt what “normal” means anymore.
It’s saddening because it depicts the story of a woman who could have been so much, yet was reduced to fighting for survival because of the demons in her head and in her life. Sometimes, even the best of support is not enough. There are many heartbreaking moments in this grim and gritty story, and I had to take my time over certain incidents because they were overwhelming.
What jumped out at me was how the story put a spotlight on mental health problems and the changing attitude of society and the medical fraternity toward mental health patients.
Craig Dunain Hospital was previously called “Northern Counties District Lunatic Asylum,” a name that is indicative of the ignorant way patients were perceived. The story speaks of electrocution being used as a form of therapy to treat mental illnesses, of pinning unruly patients down and injecting them with medicine, and of isolating troublesome patients until they behave.
There are whispers, too, of hospital staff mistreating patients and getting away with it because nobody believes the patient. Outside the hospital, family members of the patients have to endure cruel taunts and jibes because mental illness is a shameful thing.
The story spans two generations – revolving around a mother and her daughter – and the people in their life. So we see the changing attitudes towards mental health over the decades.
As a psychological thriller, Unravelling will have your hair standing on end with its powerful depictions of insanity: the breakdown of the very core of a person whose mind has begun to unravel. Yet, the way the person desperately holds on to a few strands of sanity and hopes to live a normal life with her family will make you feel desolate. The murder angle puts a deadly twist on this sad tale and the combination of evil and psychological instability is potent.
To me, the murder(s) (?) were less important than the narrative around mental health. But the story is crackling with tension, making you feel that there’s danger around every bend. It’s deeply satisfying to follow Kate as she finds the truth about her mother and uncovers a few truths about herself as well.
(I received an e-copy from Rachel’s Random Resources with a request for an honest review.)
It’s frightening because the author has sketched characters who blur the line between sanity and madness. You’re never sure who is normal and who is not. You even begin to doubt what “normal” means anymore.
It’s saddening because it depicts the story of a woman who could have been so much, yet was reduced to fighting for survival because of the demons in her head and in her life. Sometimes, even the best of support is not enough. There are many heartbreaking moments in this grim and gritty story, and I had to take my time over certain incidents because they were overwhelming.
What jumped out at me was how the story put a spotlight on mental health problems and the changing attitude of society and the medical fraternity toward mental health patients.
Craig Dunain Hospital was previously called “Northern Counties District Lunatic Asylum,” a name that is indicative of the ignorant way patients were perceived. The story speaks of electrocution being used as a form of therapy to treat mental illnesses, of pinning unruly patients down and injecting them with medicine, and of isolating troublesome patients until they behave.
There are whispers, too, of hospital staff mistreating patients and getting away with it because nobody believes the patient. Outside the hospital, family members of the patients have to endure cruel taunts and jibes because mental illness is a shameful thing.
The story spans two generations – revolving around a mother and her daughter – and the people in their life. So we see the changing attitudes towards mental health over the decades.
As a psychological thriller, Unravelling will have your hair standing on end with its powerful depictions of insanity: the breakdown of the very core of a person whose mind has begun to unravel. Yet, the way the person desperately holds on to a few strands of sanity and hopes to live a normal life with her family will make you feel desolate. The murder angle puts a deadly twist on this sad tale and the combination of evil and psychological instability is potent.
To me, the murder(s) (?) were less important than the narrative around mental health. But the story is crackling with tension, making you feel that there’s danger around every bend. It’s deeply satisfying to follow Kate as she finds the truth about her mother and uncovers a few truths about herself as well.
(I received an e-copy from Rachel’s Random Resources with a request for an honest review.)
February 15, 2022
A twisted, tragic tale of murder, of mental illness, of betrayals, of families and the lies within set in three distinct parts.
The first of which sets out the story of Kate as she comes to unravel the mystery that is her mother, Ellen, who, having died when Kate was but a child, Kate knows next to nothing of ... until she chances across an old journal; an old journal that belongs to Ellen.
The second in which we become privy to Ellen's world as spirals into mental illness and the night that changed her life ... forever.
And finally, we have the third thread which sees the coming together of these two stories in which everything is laid bare.
A well written psychological thriller, the synchronicity with which the two threads of the story came together to form part three, beautifully done. The mental health aspect, whilst the author does not shy away from the realities of life within some of these 'old' asylums sensitively dealt with.
The scenes set in the old Craig Dunain asylum, eerily atmospheric, the sense of foreboding ... {shivers} I actually felt the hairs on my arms prickle - and that's without the discovery of the skeletal remains in the woods, remains that may or may not be connected with the asylum.
The characters, whether they be major or supporting, whether they be Kate, the tragic Ellen, Kate's Polish co-worker whose misuse of English phrases did make me giggle at times or the shadowy figure who, convinced Kate has something that is rightfully his, is determined to get it back ... no matter what it takes, each and everyone of the characters brought something to the story.
Essentially I enjoyed unravelling though as it turned out, for me personally, some aspects of the story line meant that it was a little too close for comfort for me to really enjoy it ... something that rightfully or wrongfully reflects in my rating of it.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... One of several bloggers participating in this tour, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
The first of which sets out the story of Kate as she comes to unravel the mystery that is her mother, Ellen, who, having died when Kate was but a child, Kate knows next to nothing of ... until she chances across an old journal; an old journal that belongs to Ellen.
The second in which we become privy to Ellen's world as spirals into mental illness and the night that changed her life ... forever.
And finally, we have the third thread which sees the coming together of these two stories in which everything is laid bare.
A well written psychological thriller, the synchronicity with which the two threads of the story came together to form part three, beautifully done. The mental health aspect, whilst the author does not shy away from the realities of life within some of these 'old' asylums sensitively dealt with.
The scenes set in the old Craig Dunain asylum, eerily atmospheric, the sense of foreboding ... {shivers} I actually felt the hairs on my arms prickle - and that's without the discovery of the skeletal remains in the woods, remains that may or may not be connected with the asylum.
The characters, whether they be major or supporting, whether they be Kate, the tragic Ellen, Kate's Polish co-worker whose misuse of English phrases did make me giggle at times or the shadowy figure who, convinced Kate has something that is rightfully his, is determined to get it back ... no matter what it takes, each and everyone of the characters brought something to the story.
Essentially I enjoyed unravelling though as it turned out, for me personally, some aspects of the story line meant that it was a little too close for comfort for me to really enjoy it ... something that rightfully or wrongfully reflects in my rating of it.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... One of several bloggers participating in this tour, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
February 4, 2023
Absorbing
Liked everything about this story. Especially the way the past and present are woven together. I believe we need to remember the old hospitals and this book does it while telling a captivating yarn.
Liked everything about this story. Especially the way the past and present are woven together. I believe we need to remember the old hospitals and this book does it while telling a captivating yarn.
May 15, 2022
Dark. Edgy. Intense. Thrilling. Suspense laden. Well researched and littered with twists and turns galore!
This was my first outing with Helen Forbes and it won't be my last.
All of the characters and plot lines fitted perfectly into the narrative and were so well written it was easy to become engulfed in both Kate and Ellen's story.
The chapters were short and punchy. But give you vivid descriptions that set the scene perfectly.
Just when you think you have the story and 'who dunnit?' all sewn up. Helen throws in just a little something more to keep you guessing and hooked all at the same time.
A great thriller.
I loved it!
This was my first outing with Helen Forbes and it won't be my last.
All of the characters and plot lines fitted perfectly into the narrative and were so well written it was easy to become engulfed in both Kate and Ellen's story.
The chapters were short and punchy. But give you vivid descriptions that set the scene perfectly.
Just when you think you have the story and 'who dunnit?' all sewn up. Helen throws in just a little something more to keep you guessing and hooked all at the same time.
A great thriller.
I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews