Francesca

by Susan Tarr

FRANCESCA is a gripping, psychological thriller.

She grapples with her memories of her past life while coming to terms with her new life, an alien world to her after so many years of institutionalized living.

What decisions will she make at each new turn?

What would be the correct decision to make?

Only Francesca knows the answers to those questions.

230 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2021

About the author

What a life I have had so far!
I arrived on the shores of Kenya, East Africa, in a 28ft yacht, and traveled Europe from there. While in Kenya, I contracted cerebral meningitis from swimming in foul water, off the side of the yacht. That stopped me in my tracks for many years. And I had 2 emergency Caesarians, one without anaesthetic. Whilst in Kenya, I was arrested for treason...but that's another story. I came home to NZ because my youngest daughter was paralyzed. But I couldn't get my Anna out of Kenya because she was not on a passport. So with the NZ embassy, we contrived a passport for her, flew it to Switzerland via AirNZ, where a pilot carried it into Kenya. Little Anna was waiting at Nairobi airport with a glue stick and a passport pic. Once we'd settled back in New Zealand, we traveled to USA since we then owned an international yacht charter and motor home company with bases and boats in Fiji, Tonga, Australia and NZ. So much stuff I could put in a book but so little time...

Writing in several different genres comes naturally to me. I tend to have several books on the go at any one time, so I can flip-flop between them when the mood takes me.

Reviews

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francesca by Susan Tarr.
The world has tormented seven-year-old Francesca ever since she can remember from her lecherous uncle, inadequate father, and even her promiscuous mother who abandoned her to them.
By standing up to her bullies, she ends up in a mental health facility, where she spends most of her young life being rehabilitated while closely observing others. Her burning dream is to find her mother once she is released, but when they finally reunite Francesca discovers the glamorous woman she remembered is now a drug-dealing junkie.
Alone again, homeless and penniless, she’s working hard to put order in her life and adapt to the modern world, until she's thrown in the path of her childhood abusers once again.
This time she will not be a victim...
Brilliant dark read. Very well written. 5*.

[Helen Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gritty and very real journey through the life of Francesca. I thought the dark realism of the main character’s life as a neglected and abused child was narrated with a real honest and openness that was poignant, intensely sad and compelling. It was pretty heart wrenching to read, particularly as this is reality for some children and not only the awful treatment she suffers at the hands of so called trusted adults but also the bullying she consequently suffers from her peers.
I lost my way a little with her later life story and how it panned out although, again, it was really sad and thought provoking how deeply her childhood experiences spilled over into her adult life and were so central to her thoughts and actions.
A good read, I would recommend it.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Francesca's life started to go badly wrong when her mother left her. As a seven year old she is powerless. Abused by her father & her Uncle Mo, half starved, unwashed & poorly clothes she struggles to get by. However school is no escape as she is ruthlessly bullied & even though she is very bright her teachers are no help, misinterpreting her misery as insolence. When she finally snaps, she ends up in an institution for many years. She is determined that when eventually she is considered safe to return to society she will track down her beloved mother. What she doesn't expect is ever to set eyes on Uncle Mo again.

This was very well written but it was a harrowing read & I couldn't really say I enjoyed it.

[Clare Brack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the strangest book..I couldn't tell where it was set or get this jist of the characters....the only real character was Francesca...everyone else was who she spoke about ...a good read though...a sad story of child abuse though without graphic details

[Melinda Colt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good psychological thriller and Francesca didn't disappoint. Beautifully written, heartbreakingly real at times, and filled with poetic justice that gave me an immense sense of closure in the end. Highly recommended for fans of the genre!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francesca's life has been a living nightmare since her mother upped and left her to be cared for by her dad. The abuse she suffered by her dad and uncle was horrific, I found it really difficult to read at times. A heart wrenching story but definitely worth reading.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read any of Susan Tarrs books so to read this was a lovely change. Not an easy subject matter as it deals with child abuse and the struggles of growing up in care.

[Geeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult read at times and a reminder of traumatic childhood events that happen.

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gritty good thriller about the life of Francesca. A brilliant story to read. I found it hard in parts, but wasn’t put off. Would recommend this book.

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard book to read about abuse without being to graphic.
A very sad story about Francescas life and growing up in care but it is worth reading.
Beautifully written.

[Beccy Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harrowing read that somehow manages to be inspirational
Well written, focusing on the damaged relationships that Francesca tries to repair through the book