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Finders, Keepers
Verity Baxter has lived - quietly, carefully - in Trinity Fields all her life. Then Ailsa and Tom Tilson move in next door and everything changes. Can Verity trust what she hears through the walls?
And what about the Tilsons: should they pity their eccentric neighbour and her messy house? Or should they fear her?
Either way, like the ivy that creeps through their shared garden fence, their lives are entwined now. And the knots can only get tighter…
And what about the Tilsons: should they pity their eccentric neighbour and her messy house? Or should they fear her?
Either way, like the ivy that creeps through their shared garden fence, their lives are entwined now. And the knots can only get tighter…
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2020
165 people are currently reading
2289 people want to read
About the author
Sabine Durrant
20 books593 followersSabine Durrant lives in London, England, with her three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
April 17, 2020
Verity Anne Baxter, 52, single though been around the block, lives in the dilapidated, cluttered house she grew up in. Her life is not entirely solitary but she is often alone with just the company of her dog, Maudie. The adjoining house has been gutted and modernised within an inch of its life and is now sleek, minimalist and maybe somewhat clinical. Verity’s new neighbours are The Tilsons. There’s overbearing and controlling husband Tom, his wife Ailsa is a bit flakey and maybe nervy, teenager Melissa and twins Max and Bea. Ailsa and Verity develop a mutually beneficial friendship and Verity becomes a part of their lives which deepens when tragedy strikes. The narrator of the story is Verity who’s dry , wry humour and cleverness is evident throughout. Verity is a lexicographer and so each chapter starts with an appropriate object and a definition which I really like. I think readers can relate to ‘Tsundoku’, a piling up of newly acquired books!
I really like Sabine Durrant’s books and this one is no exception. The story is extremely well written, it unfolds really well, hooks you in and keeps the intrigue. This is a slow burner of high quality which keeps you guessing until the end. There is tension especially when Tom is around. All the characters are well portrayed especially Verity and Ailsa and though both have personality traits that are not always admirable I did like them both. I like how Verity and Ailsa become codependent but what adds to the interest is that their relationship and dynamic keeps changing. Max is adorable, he has his issues but is obviously a clever boy.
The story is quite dark, much of the darkness is symbolised and transmitted by Verity's house, it’s like a looming presence, there’s the puzzle of locked rooms, hoarding and the overgrown garden. The state of the house becomes a big bone of contention. However, it’s not just the mysteries of the house because both women have secrets.
Overall, a terrific read which I enjoyed very much and one I can recommend to fans of this genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.
I really like Sabine Durrant’s books and this one is no exception. The story is extremely well written, it unfolds really well, hooks you in and keeps the intrigue. This is a slow burner of high quality which keeps you guessing until the end. There is tension especially when Tom is around. All the characters are well portrayed especially Verity and Ailsa and though both have personality traits that are not always admirable I did like them both. I like how Verity and Ailsa become codependent but what adds to the interest is that their relationship and dynamic keeps changing. Max is adorable, he has his issues but is obviously a clever boy.
The story is quite dark, much of the darkness is symbolised and transmitted by Verity's house, it’s like a looming presence, there’s the puzzle of locked rooms, hoarding and the overgrown garden. The state of the house becomes a big bone of contention. However, it’s not just the mysteries of the house because both women have secrets.
Overall, a terrific read which I enjoyed very much and one I can recommend to fans of this genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.
July 5, 2020
Verify has lived in the same house to fifty years. She had lived there with her mother and sister, Faith. Her mother had died and her sister had moved away. A family of five move into the house next door and Varity makes friends with Ailsa. Verify starts tutoring Ailsa's son, Max. Ailsa's husband is a control freak and he doesn't like her Ailsa'sfriendship with Verify. But one day tragedy strikes.
This story is told from Verity's perspective. The pace, tension and suspense build up slowly. The plotline is intriguing. It's also a chilling and dark read. The story has a dual timeline that jumps back and forward from the day they first met to the present day. This shows us how their relationship developed. This is a well written and cleverly crafted story that I don't want to say to muchabout and spoil it for potential readers.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author Sabine Durrant for my ARC in exchange for a honest review
This story is told from Verity's perspective. The pace, tension and suspense build up slowly. The plotline is intriguing. It's also a chilling and dark read. The story has a dual timeline that jumps back and forward from the day they first met to the present day. This shows us how their relationship developed. This is a well written and cleverly crafted story that I don't want to say to muchabout and spoil it for potential readers.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author Sabine Durrant for my ARC in exchange for a honest review
July 13, 2020
I absolutely love Sabine Durrant's books, I've been a bit fan since reading Lie With Me, borrowed from my local library 2 years ago, and nearly tiddled myself with excitement when I heard about a new book being released. I think she's a brilliant storyteller and I think she has the right amount of nail biting suspense needed to keep readers gripped. However, this was like reading somebody else's works, and that made me so, so sad 😞I liked the storyline but I found this so 'draggy', it dragged on and on unnecessarily for so many pages, I came very close to DNF'ing several times as I struggled to connect with characters and I struggled to remember anything that had previously happened. I'm sure so many people will enjoy this book, but for me - someone who loves Sabine's work for what it is - this was a very dramatic change of pace and I'm sad to say I won't be as excited for her next novel as I feel I may be a bit disappointed.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sabine Durrant and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to review this ARC ❤️
Thank you to Netgalley, Sabine Durrant and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to review this ARC ❤️
July 23, 2022
An enjoyable Psychological Thriller by author Sabine Durrant and although it was very enjoyable I found it a little slower than some of her other books. There is plenty to enjoy, some interesting characters and cleverly crafted plot.
The story revolves around Verity, she has spent the last fifty years living in the family home with her mother and Faith her sister. Now lives alone following the death of her mother and her sister Faith moving away. Life is very quiet for Verity so when a new family move in next door her interest is heightened. Verity goes out her way to try and make friends with the mother Ailsa and even starts to tutor her son Max in order to be friendly. But Ailsa’s husband doesn’t like the friendship developing between Verity and Ailsa.
This is a slow burner but very cleverly written. The characters are well developed and throughout the book I felt that something was going to happen with the author constantly building up the suspense.
The story revolves around Verity, she has spent the last fifty years living in the family home with her mother and Faith her sister. Now lives alone following the death of her mother and her sister Faith moving away. Life is very quiet for Verity so when a new family move in next door her interest is heightened. Verity goes out her way to try and make friends with the mother Ailsa and even starts to tutor her son Max in order to be friendly. But Ailsa’s husband doesn’t like the friendship developing between Verity and Ailsa.
This is a slow burner but very cleverly written. The characters are well developed and throughout the book I felt that something was going to happen with the author constantly building up the suspense.
May 18, 2020
Verity has lived in the same house all of her life. When new neighbours move in next door it’s obvious that the man likes his own way and his wife is not happy.
A slow moving story about manipulation and murder.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A slow moving story about manipulation and murder.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2020
Verity is a creature of habit. A lonely eccentric, she spends her days living in the same house she grew up in with her rescue dog Maudie. Surrounded by life long memories and possessions, she doesn’t like change. Always looking for ways to save money or scavenging for things to keep. Life is usually solitary and simple, that is until the Tilson’s move in next door.
Ailsa and Tom Tilson have just bought and renovated the house next door. Modernised within a inch of its life, they bring the family hustle and bustle the street has been missing. With three children of their own life is busy, and this doesn’t escape the attention of Verity next door. Soon after meeting Ailsa hires Verity to tutor their son Max, who struggles with his literacy. As Verity gets to know the family cracks begin to quickly show. But can Verity really judge with so many secrets of her own?
I liked this but I didn’t love it. It’s very well written but an extremely slow burn and I was expecting something bigger after all that build up. What i did however like is that it’s very realistic. This could totally happen. It’s not one of those far fetched thrillers with a billion twists where you just think ‘yeah yeah’. The characters are interesting and the relationship between the two women oddly endearing. I found myself rooting for both. 4 stars from me. ✨
Ailsa and Tom Tilson have just bought and renovated the house next door. Modernised within a inch of its life, they bring the family hustle and bustle the street has been missing. With three children of their own life is busy, and this doesn’t escape the attention of Verity next door. Soon after meeting Ailsa hires Verity to tutor their son Max, who struggles with his literacy. As Verity gets to know the family cracks begin to quickly show. But can Verity really judge with so many secrets of her own?
I liked this but I didn’t love it. It’s very well written but an extremely slow burn and I was expecting something bigger after all that build up. What i did however like is that it’s very realistic. This could totally happen. It’s not one of those far fetched thrillers with a billion twists where you just think ‘yeah yeah’. The characters are interesting and the relationship between the two women oddly endearing. I found myself rooting for both. 4 stars from me. ✨
July 5, 2020
Verify has lived in the same house for fifty years. She lived there with her mother and sister, Faith. Her mother had died and her sister had moved away. A family of five move into the house next door and Verity makes friends with Ailsa. Verify starts tutoring Ailsa's sin, Max. Ailsa's husband is a control freak and he doesn't like Ailsa's friendship with Verify. But one day tragedy strikes.
This story is told from Verity's perspective. The pace, tension and suspense build up slowly. The plotline is intriguing. It's also quite a dark and chiĺling read. The story has a dual timeline that jumps back and forward from the day they met to the present day. This shows us how their relationship developed. This is well written and cleverly crafted story that I don't want to much about and spoil it for potential readers.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton for my ARC in exchange for a honest review
This story is told from Verity's perspective. The pace, tension and suspense build up slowly. The plotline is intriguing. It's also quite a dark and chiĺling read. The story has a dual timeline that jumps back and forward from the day they met to the present day. This shows us how their relationship developed. This is well written and cleverly crafted story that I don't want to much about and spoil it for potential readers.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton for my ARC in exchange for a honest review
July 25, 2020
An action-packed thriller, this is not. Finders, Keepers is a delicious slow-burner that remains utterly enthralling throughout. It has a bit of a cat-and-mouse feel to it, although I couldn’t at all decide who the cat was or who the mouse.
Verity, fifty-two years old, has lived in the same house since birth. Verity doesn’t like change and has little social contact, unless you count the weekly pub quiz and her faithful dog. But Verity is happy with her life, her job and her home. The Tilson family moving in next door really shouldn’t have an impact on her life at all. But somehow, it does and Verity strikes up a rather unlikely friendship with Ailsa Tilson.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out quite quickly that Verity is as eccentric as they come. I didn’t particularly find her likeable, nor could I decide if she was a reliable narrator or not. What is clear though, is that she has a few secrets she’d quite like to keep hidden. But then, that might also be possible next door where the Tilson family could maybe not entirely be as they seem. I say “could” because what the reader thinks they know about this family is all based on Verity’s point-of-view. And how much of what she tells us can we actually believe?
This is very much a character-driven story, in that way that Sabine Durrant does so incredibly well. There is such depth to her characters and the reader is allowed plenty of time to try and figure them out. My perceptions and loyalties shifted throughout, until I thought I knew what was going on. Because there is a mystery to solve and a responsible party to reveal but you will have to discover all of that for yourself. The storyline switches between the past and the beginnings of the friendship between Verity and Alicia, and the present where the consequences start to unravel. To me, this is one of those books where you don’t fully realise the extent of how masterfully the plot has been constructed until you reach the part where all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
Finders, Keepers is a captivating, intriguing and chilling tale of obsession and manipulation that will most definitely appeal to fans of Sabine Durrant and the slow-burner psychological thriller genre.
Verity, fifty-two years old, has lived in the same house since birth. Verity doesn’t like change and has little social contact, unless you count the weekly pub quiz and her faithful dog. But Verity is happy with her life, her job and her home. The Tilson family moving in next door really shouldn’t have an impact on her life at all. But somehow, it does and Verity strikes up a rather unlikely friendship with Ailsa Tilson.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out quite quickly that Verity is as eccentric as they come. I didn’t particularly find her likeable, nor could I decide if she was a reliable narrator or not. What is clear though, is that she has a few secrets she’d quite like to keep hidden. But then, that might also be possible next door where the Tilson family could maybe not entirely be as they seem. I say “could” because what the reader thinks they know about this family is all based on Verity’s point-of-view. And how much of what she tells us can we actually believe?
This is very much a character-driven story, in that way that Sabine Durrant does so incredibly well. There is such depth to her characters and the reader is allowed plenty of time to try and figure them out. My perceptions and loyalties shifted throughout, until I thought I knew what was going on. Because there is a mystery to solve and a responsible party to reveal but you will have to discover all of that for yourself. The storyline switches between the past and the beginnings of the friendship between Verity and Alicia, and the present where the consequences start to unravel. To me, this is one of those books where you don’t fully realise the extent of how masterfully the plot has been constructed until you reach the part where all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
Finders, Keepers is a captivating, intriguing and chilling tale of obsession and manipulation that will most definitely appeal to fans of Sabine Durrant and the slow-burner psychological thriller genre.
June 30, 2020
Creepy, clever and a masterclass in characterisation – I love everything Sabine writes, and this book was an exquisite treat.
July 6, 2020
Ok, not sure where to start! This book is a dark tale of manipulation and obsession with so many secrets. some not so shocking, some completely shocking. I’m not even sure if I liked anyone in the book bar, Max!
Verity is living in her house, where she has done for basically her whole life, she was a career to her mother before she died and her younger sister left home. However, she becomes obsessed with her neighbours.
Ailsa and Tom move in next door with their 3 children, moving away from something that happened in their previous home. A new project comes to their minds as they try to wear Verity down with her home.
At first, I began to wonder about Verity and Ailsa and their friendship. You are made to not like Tom from the get-go as he confronts Verity on her doorstep about the state of her garden. Ailsa appears to try and placate things but I was never quite sure how much manipulation was from Tom or off her own back. She was a woman who was after what she could get, not actually sure if I would have classed her a friend. Verity has an unhealthy obsession, she likes to have the upper hand and she an air of grace around Ailsa until Ailsa enters her house one day. Then things start to change and the somewhat fragile friendship changes.
With an opening that teased some events and current situations, we are taken back to Verity and Ailsa meeting and their story to the fateful event. Many things are alluded to and you aren’t quite sure of them until you take a step back and ponder, then things make a lot of sense. This is a somewhat slow burner, secrets and information are teased out, it takes time to trust someone and you can get a sense of this here. Verity always made to feel like a burden, embarrassed by everything becomes Ailsa project as they try to sort out her house. But again, who benefits from Ailsa actions?
This is about building trust and revealing back the layers to each other. That takes time and Finders Keepers takes that time, it took me a while to get into the story because of the slow pace but I appreciate the effort the author has taken to build up this story. We get to know most of the characters but through Verity’s eyes, unreliable? I would say so and I love that she even admits this! Without realising you care about who she does, and dismiss who she dismisses. I know I wouldn’t want to live in the house next door!!
This was my first foray with Ms Durrant, and the way she takes her time to look into someone’s mind has intrigued me. I am not sure what made anyone tick, but the evidence is damming. People are just not nice!!! They will use and abuse for their own gain and it’s safe to say that’s what happens here. Shocks are thrown in along the way, but they are relevant and show us what makes these people tick. Things did not pan out how I thought it would, unfortunately reading one review revealed something without realising (I hope) and I saw a new direction for this book.
It was very twisty and clever, and then when you get to the unsuspecting end, well all I can say is well played Ms Durrant, well played.
Verity is living in her house, where she has done for basically her whole life, she was a career to her mother before she died and her younger sister left home. However, she becomes obsessed with her neighbours.
Ailsa and Tom move in next door with their 3 children, moving away from something that happened in their previous home. A new project comes to their minds as they try to wear Verity down with her home.
At first, I began to wonder about Verity and Ailsa and their friendship. You are made to not like Tom from the get-go as he confronts Verity on her doorstep about the state of her garden. Ailsa appears to try and placate things but I was never quite sure how much manipulation was from Tom or off her own back. She was a woman who was after what she could get, not actually sure if I would have classed her a friend. Verity has an unhealthy obsession, she likes to have the upper hand and she an air of grace around Ailsa until Ailsa enters her house one day. Then things start to change and the somewhat fragile friendship changes.
With an opening that teased some events and current situations, we are taken back to Verity and Ailsa meeting and their story to the fateful event. Many things are alluded to and you aren’t quite sure of them until you take a step back and ponder, then things make a lot of sense. This is a somewhat slow burner, secrets and information are teased out, it takes time to trust someone and you can get a sense of this here. Verity always made to feel like a burden, embarrassed by everything becomes Ailsa project as they try to sort out her house. But again, who benefits from Ailsa actions?
This is about building trust and revealing back the layers to each other. That takes time and Finders Keepers takes that time, it took me a while to get into the story because of the slow pace but I appreciate the effort the author has taken to build up this story. We get to know most of the characters but through Verity’s eyes, unreliable? I would say so and I love that she even admits this! Without realising you care about who she does, and dismiss who she dismisses. I know I wouldn’t want to live in the house next door!!
This was my first foray with Ms Durrant, and the way she takes her time to look into someone’s mind has intrigued me. I am not sure what made anyone tick, but the evidence is damming. People are just not nice!!! They will use and abuse for their own gain and it’s safe to say that’s what happens here. Shocks are thrown in along the way, but they are relevant and show us what makes these people tick. Things did not pan out how I thought it would, unfortunately reading one review revealed something without realising (I hope) and I saw a new direction for this book.
It was very twisty and clever, and then when you get to the unsuspecting end, well all I can say is well played Ms Durrant, well played.
July 30, 2020
Finders, Keepers by Sabine Durrant was published with Hodder & Stoughton July 9th. Described as ‘brilliantly creepy and completely absorbing’, it is a tale that really gets under your skin, an unsettling tale.
Number 424 Trinity Fields has been home to Verity Ann Baxter almost her whole life. At fifty-two years of age, Verity lives alone, with just her trusted companion, her dog, Maudie for company. Verity had been her mother’s carer for many years but, following her mother’s passing five years previously, Verity has lived a very isolated existence. An occasional trip out to meet her friend Fred and a regular pub quiz are Verity’s only social outlets. What Verity doesn’t have is a friend, a real friend who will be there for her, who will be a shoulder, an ear, a silent companion when needed. Verity works as a freelance assistant editor to the editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. Working from home suits Verity but it also very much adds to the loneliness in her life.
When Ailsa and Tom Tilson buy the property next door, Verity watches the house being transformed, over a thirteen month period, into a show home. When the Tilsons finally move in with their three children, Verity gets to meet the family that she already knew lots about.
“Of course I knew they’d moved in the day before. The whole neighbourhood knew they’d moved in the day before. Most of us had anticipated little else for the last thirteen months but their moving in the day before; thirteen months of drills and bulldozers, the clatter of scaffolding, the whining of saws, the bangs and shouts and music and oaths of the increasingly frantic builders. I knew their taste…”
Ailsa and Tom Tilson, a couple that The Sun describe as ‘a fairy-tale couple‘, she in HR and he, a record company executive, live a life very, very different to that of Verity Ann Baxter. During the initial days and following a very brief encounter, Verity watches, observes until a knock on the door announces the arrival of Tom and Ailsa. Tom is brash with Verity demanding she sort out her garden before it impinges too much on their property. Verity’s house is not quite up to the standard of the Tilsons. They have a reputation to uphold and Verity’s house lowers the tone of the area. This initial meeting of Tom and Verity was to be the start of a very thorny relationship, yet Verity was drawn to Ailsa. She made herself available to Ailsa, slowly infiltrating their lives, yet doing it in quite a covert manner. Was Verity just lonely? Was she looking for a friend, a family, companions? Was it an innocent attraction?
Finders, Keepers is a story of obsession. Verity narrates and, as a reader, you are faced with a dilemma. Empathy or discomfort, which emotion does one feel for Verity? Events happen that raise the heckles, raise suspicions and then, with a solid explanation, our compassion returns. We are drip fed scenes and scenarios. We grow to dislike Tom. We begin to switch our allegiance from Verity to Ailsa and back again. Who is the disturbed? Who is the obsessed? Who is out to destroy whom? Finders, Keepers twists and turns as the story reveals itself and in doing so a sense of voyeurism creeps in.
Finders, Keepers is a claustrophobic, disturbing and yet compelling read. It is a slow-burner with an ominous feel and with characters that are just wonderfully fleshed out. Sabine Durrant writes psychological suspense with a very deft pen. Finders, Keepers is a disconcerting read, one where the reader is soon lost in a maze of dead ends, frustrated, confused and creeped out by an uncomfortable and unexplained feeling of dread. Finders, Keepers is very much a character driven read, one of very different personalities, one of obsession and one which totally messed with my head!
Number 424 Trinity Fields has been home to Verity Ann Baxter almost her whole life. At fifty-two years of age, Verity lives alone, with just her trusted companion, her dog, Maudie for company. Verity had been her mother’s carer for many years but, following her mother’s passing five years previously, Verity has lived a very isolated existence. An occasional trip out to meet her friend Fred and a regular pub quiz are Verity’s only social outlets. What Verity doesn’t have is a friend, a real friend who will be there for her, who will be a shoulder, an ear, a silent companion when needed. Verity works as a freelance assistant editor to the editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. Working from home suits Verity but it also very much adds to the loneliness in her life.
When Ailsa and Tom Tilson buy the property next door, Verity watches the house being transformed, over a thirteen month period, into a show home. When the Tilsons finally move in with their three children, Verity gets to meet the family that she already knew lots about.
“Of course I knew they’d moved in the day before. The whole neighbourhood knew they’d moved in the day before. Most of us had anticipated little else for the last thirteen months but their moving in the day before; thirteen months of drills and bulldozers, the clatter of scaffolding, the whining of saws, the bangs and shouts and music and oaths of the increasingly frantic builders. I knew their taste…”
Ailsa and Tom Tilson, a couple that The Sun describe as ‘a fairy-tale couple‘, she in HR and he, a record company executive, live a life very, very different to that of Verity Ann Baxter. During the initial days and following a very brief encounter, Verity watches, observes until a knock on the door announces the arrival of Tom and Ailsa. Tom is brash with Verity demanding she sort out her garden before it impinges too much on their property. Verity’s house is not quite up to the standard of the Tilsons. They have a reputation to uphold and Verity’s house lowers the tone of the area. This initial meeting of Tom and Verity was to be the start of a very thorny relationship, yet Verity was drawn to Ailsa. She made herself available to Ailsa, slowly infiltrating their lives, yet doing it in quite a covert manner. Was Verity just lonely? Was she looking for a friend, a family, companions? Was it an innocent attraction?
Finders, Keepers is a story of obsession. Verity narrates and, as a reader, you are faced with a dilemma. Empathy or discomfort, which emotion does one feel for Verity? Events happen that raise the heckles, raise suspicions and then, with a solid explanation, our compassion returns. We are drip fed scenes and scenarios. We grow to dislike Tom. We begin to switch our allegiance from Verity to Ailsa and back again. Who is the disturbed? Who is the obsessed? Who is out to destroy whom? Finders, Keepers twists and turns as the story reveals itself and in doing so a sense of voyeurism creeps in.
Finders, Keepers is a claustrophobic, disturbing and yet compelling read. It is a slow-burner with an ominous feel and with characters that are just wonderfully fleshed out. Sabine Durrant writes psychological suspense with a very deft pen. Finders, Keepers is a disconcerting read, one where the reader is soon lost in a maze of dead ends, frustrated, confused and creeped out by an uncomfortable and unexplained feeling of dread. Finders, Keepers is very much a character driven read, one of very different personalities, one of obsession and one which totally messed with my head!
November 29, 2020
A slow read where I was given an inquisitive Verity in her early fifties becoming friends with new neighbors. A catastrophe occurs.
My first book by author Sabine Durant, the beginning was very slow. I almost gave up but I stuck to it and the book developed hauntingly. I found a connection with Verity where her narration kept the plot going. Suspense slowly built up and I ended up liking the book much more than I hoped.
My first book by author Sabine Durant, the beginning was very slow. I almost gave up but I stuck to it and the book developed hauntingly. I found a connection with Verity where her narration kept the plot going. Suspense slowly built up and I ended up liking the book much more than I hoped.
June 13, 2021
My introduction to Sabine Durrant, FINDERS KEEPERS promised an exciting story but it was so slow moving I gave up. I was thoroughly confused from the beginning to the point I had no idea who was narrating or what she was on about. I had managed to glean that the narrator was female, probably due to the premise outlining Ailsa and Verity as major contributors to the story. But I was thoroughly lost and despite reading that others had persevered with it till the plot developed into something better, I just got to the point where I didn't care anymore. I had no idea who was who and who did what...or why. And the chapters started in a confusing way with something like a shopping list and then the unpicking of a word and what it means.
Maybe I might revisit the book at a later date (when I have time) and give it another go...who knows? But at this point, I found the book to be far too slow and confusing to hold my interest.
I would like to thank #SabineDurrant, #Netgalley and #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #FindersKeepers in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Maybe I might revisit the book at a later date (when I have time) and give it another go...who knows? But at this point, I found the book to be far too slow and confusing to hold my interest.
I would like to thank #SabineDurrant, #Netgalley and #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #FindersKeepers in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 20, 2020
I have long been a fan of Sabine Durrant's writing, and hearing of a new release by her was a real joy. I have been completely and totally consumed by Finders Keepers; it is a story told in the most beautiful language; it is precise and tautly woven. It moves at a pace that keeps the reader intrigued, casting a spell and slowly and carefully revealing the intricacies of the plot.
Verity has lived in the same house in Trinity Fields, London for her entire life. She cared for her mother before she died, and her sister Faith left years ago. Now, it's just Verity and her dog Maudie who occupy the large, somewhat dilapidated house. Verity works from home, she's a wordsmith; working on new definitions for updated versions of the dictionary.
Verity has new neighbours. The Tilsons; Aisla, Tom and three children, couldn't be more different to Verity. They have transformed their house; it is nothing like Verity's, and despite the adjoining wall, the stark contrast between their clean, modern, minimalistic dwelling and Verity's leaking, shabby house becomes a theme that runs throughout the story.
This really is a tale about contrast. Despite Tom's anger towards Verity and her overgrown garden, with weeds that dare to creep into his perfectly created space, the two women strike up a relationship. Whilst it would be difficult to call this a traditional friendship, it's certainly a compelling and intriguing pairing and always seen through Verity's own eyes.
Sabine Durrant excels in character creation. I have a great fondness for unreliable, and quite frankly, unlikeable fictional characters and this book is filled with them. Verity's narrative is completely one-sided and the reader will often question what she says. Aisla is drawn as a flighty, sometime cruel woman, whilst Tom's portrayal is that of a bully who expects everything to go his way.
There's a death at the centre of this story. The reader knows who is dead, and who is accused of it, but it takes some time for us to realise what happened, we are kept on our toes, always wondering and I changed my mind many times throughout the novel.
The author begins each chapter with a word definition and also with the description of a random object, it is not until around 100 pages in, that the significance of these objects become clear, and it's a game changer. Readers will revisit how they see Verity, maybe they will find more empathy for her, maybe not.
There are many authors quoted on the cover of this book, and to be honest, I find it difficult to add anything to their words. They have said everything. This really is a sublime story, written with panache and incredible insight into the human mind, and the power of the female relationship.
Finders Keepers is mesmerising and mysterious. I was absolutely gripped throughout. This author really cannot put a foot wrong, in my view. Highly recommended and sure to be in my top books of 2020.
Verity has lived in the same house in Trinity Fields, London for her entire life. She cared for her mother before she died, and her sister Faith left years ago. Now, it's just Verity and her dog Maudie who occupy the large, somewhat dilapidated house. Verity works from home, she's a wordsmith; working on new definitions for updated versions of the dictionary.
Verity has new neighbours. The Tilsons; Aisla, Tom and three children, couldn't be more different to Verity. They have transformed their house; it is nothing like Verity's, and despite the adjoining wall, the stark contrast between their clean, modern, minimalistic dwelling and Verity's leaking, shabby house becomes a theme that runs throughout the story.
This really is a tale about contrast. Despite Tom's anger towards Verity and her overgrown garden, with weeds that dare to creep into his perfectly created space, the two women strike up a relationship. Whilst it would be difficult to call this a traditional friendship, it's certainly a compelling and intriguing pairing and always seen through Verity's own eyes.
Sabine Durrant excels in character creation. I have a great fondness for unreliable, and quite frankly, unlikeable fictional characters and this book is filled with them. Verity's narrative is completely one-sided and the reader will often question what she says. Aisla is drawn as a flighty, sometime cruel woman, whilst Tom's portrayal is that of a bully who expects everything to go his way.
There's a death at the centre of this story. The reader knows who is dead, and who is accused of it, but it takes some time for us to realise what happened, we are kept on our toes, always wondering and I changed my mind many times throughout the novel.
The author begins each chapter with a word definition and also with the description of a random object, it is not until around 100 pages in, that the significance of these objects become clear, and it's a game changer. Readers will revisit how they see Verity, maybe they will find more empathy for her, maybe not.
There are many authors quoted on the cover of this book, and to be honest, I find it difficult to add anything to their words. They have said everything. This really is a sublime story, written with panache and incredible insight into the human mind, and the power of the female relationship.
Finders Keepers is mesmerising and mysterious. I was absolutely gripped throughout. This author really cannot put a foot wrong, in my view. Highly recommended and sure to be in my top books of 2020.
November 9, 2020
people who love words will love this clever
narration by local oddball Verity colliding with
her new neighbor Aisla, a charming outsider
who fits strangely in her cramped but empty
life, memories, difficulties and dellusion. ♡
narration by local oddball Verity colliding with
her new neighbor Aisla, a charming outsider
who fits strangely in her cramped but empty
life, memories, difficulties and dellusion. ♡
September 3, 2021
Verity Baxter has lived in the same house in Trinity Fields all her life. After her mother died five years ago it’s just been Verity and her beloved dog, Maudie rattling around, keeping themselves to themselves.
But when the Tilsons move in next door, Verity’s world expands. Drawn into their chaotic world, whether she likes it or not, she becomes forced to confront her own idiosyncrasies and the chilling secrets she’s been keeping.
I loved this book SO much. This is the third Sabine Durrant novel I’ve read and every one has been a five star winner. I feel like more people need to know about this author as she’s at the top of her game for creepy and menacing reads. Verity is such a fascinating and multi layered character. It’s the skill of a writer when you’re able to like and loathe someone simultaneously. I loved hearing about her past, I loved her quirkiness (she made me chuckle so many times) and I adored her relationship with the Tilson’s son Max. This story kept me going whilst catching covid and kept me entertained whilst feeling absolutely rotten. The perfect medicine!
But when the Tilsons move in next door, Verity’s world expands. Drawn into their chaotic world, whether she likes it or not, she becomes forced to confront her own idiosyncrasies and the chilling secrets she’s been keeping.
I loved this book SO much. This is the third Sabine Durrant novel I’ve read and every one has been a five star winner. I feel like more people need to know about this author as she’s at the top of her game for creepy and menacing reads. Verity is such a fascinating and multi layered character. It’s the skill of a writer when you’re able to like and loathe someone simultaneously. I loved hearing about her past, I loved her quirkiness (she made me chuckle so many times) and I adored her relationship with the Tilson’s son Max. This story kept me going whilst catching covid and kept me entertained whilst feeling absolutely rotten. The perfect medicine!
Read
July 11, 2020Review to follow for blog tour
March 8, 2023
Onion peeler
Engrossing, adjective. So interesting that you give it all your attention and time.
52-year-old recluse Verity, dog mom to Maudie and a WFH freelance assistant editor at the OED, journals her story of the murder next door while the accused murderess is living under her roof.
Verity recounts (each chapter an entry with an item and word definition as header) how she met and befriended new neighbor Ailsa, who is under house arrest—in Verity's home—while awaiting trial for killing her husband, Tom. Ailsa and Tom's three children are off residing with Ailsa's mother-in-law, Cecily Tilson (which had me do a double-take. Not Cicely Tyson).
We get to know most of them intimately (not kidding—there's one masturbation scene) in this disquieting tale of obsession, grief, and found family.
Fans of the author's early thrillers (this, her fifth) and of Lisa Jewell's The House We Grew Up In, if not also Tarryn Fisher's The Wrong Family, should love seeing the layers peeled back as the drama unfolds and truths are revealed.
---
📓👚🧤
I wonder if the idea for this book sprang loosely from the true story of Dr. W. C. Minor (The Professor and the Madman).
CW: mental illness;
September 8, 2020
I’m a huge fan of Sabine Durrant as her slow burning psychological thrillers are exactly the type of books I love! Finders, Keepers was high on my list of anticipated reads of the year and thankfully it didn’t disappoint.
Verity has lived in the same house all of her life. She’s unmarried (but not inexperienced with the opposite sex as she’s quick to point out!) and her life revolves around her job, her dog and the local pub quiz. When the Tilson family move in next door, the clash of lifestyles is very obvious from their first encounter. Tom is obsessed with the state of Verity’s garden and worried about it encroaching on the perfection he’s seeking of his own property. His bullying ways made me feel very uncomfortable from his first comment and every mention got me even more worked up! Ailsa and Verity become friends which was very unexpected due to their differences but I couldn’t work out who was playing who, if that were the case! Both seemed untrustworthy characters with secrets to hide, but who’s secrets are going to lead to the death (we know there’s been one and who’s from very early in the narrative) that has occurred?
This is a deliciously dark slow burner with some incredibly unlikable characters carrying out unexpectedly devious acts. And that’s where Sabine Durrant excels! The creeping sense of awareness that things weren’t as they first seemed bubbled beneath the seemingly everyday encounters between Verity and her neighbours. I knew where my sympathies lay but I also knew I was probably being led down the (weed infested) garden path!
Sabine Durrant remains one of my go-to authors who’s books I will buy without even reading the blurb. Finders, Keepers is a gripping, tense and emotionally exhausting novel that had a satisfying storyline and a gratifying ending. I adored it!
Verity has lived in the same house all of her life. She’s unmarried (but not inexperienced with the opposite sex as she’s quick to point out!) and her life revolves around her job, her dog and the local pub quiz. When the Tilson family move in next door, the clash of lifestyles is very obvious from their first encounter. Tom is obsessed with the state of Verity’s garden and worried about it encroaching on the perfection he’s seeking of his own property. His bullying ways made me feel very uncomfortable from his first comment and every mention got me even more worked up! Ailsa and Verity become friends which was very unexpected due to their differences but I couldn’t work out who was playing who, if that were the case! Both seemed untrustworthy characters with secrets to hide, but who’s secrets are going to lead to the death (we know there’s been one and who’s from very early in the narrative) that has occurred?
This is a deliciously dark slow burner with some incredibly unlikable characters carrying out unexpectedly devious acts. And that’s where Sabine Durrant excels! The creeping sense of awareness that things weren’t as they first seemed bubbled beneath the seemingly everyday encounters between Verity and her neighbours. I knew where my sympathies lay but I also knew I was probably being led down the (weed infested) garden path!
Sabine Durrant remains one of my go-to authors who’s books I will buy without even reading the blurb. Finders, Keepers is a gripping, tense and emotionally exhausting novel that had a satisfying storyline and a gratifying ending. I adored it!
July 9, 2020
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher.
Dark and disturbing, FINDERS, KEEPERS by Sabine Durrant is a slow-burning psychological thriller that will make you feel edgy, uncomfortable, and utterly enthralled.
Verity has lived in Trinity Fields her entire life and when her new neighbours, the sleek and sophisticated Tilson family, move in, she doesn't expect to have many dealings with them. Verity likes to keep her life as it has always been. But unexpectedly, she finds herself entering a friendship of sorts with Ailsa Tilson and quickly enjoys her company and that of her kids, especially Ailsa's son, Max. Verity is not so fond of Tom, Ailsa's husband, who throws his weight around and expects everyone, including Verity, to do as he asks. Verity believes there is something off with their marriage and when something awful happens, secrets find a way of coming to the surface. But everyone has secrets, don't they?
If you are looking for an action-packed thriller then this is not the book for you. FINDERS, KEEPERS is like a flower unfurling, where in each chapter another piece of the puzzle becomes clearer, until the end when we see it all laid out in horrifying clarity. This is very much a character-driven story with Verity as the narrator and this worked perfectly as I was never fully sure just how much I knew Verity throughout the book which created tension and a need to keep reading.
FINDERS, KEEPERS by Sabine Durrant is a superb story and is sure to have you looking at your neighbours in an entirely new light. A must-read!!
Dark and disturbing, FINDERS, KEEPERS by Sabine Durrant is a slow-burning psychological thriller that will make you feel edgy, uncomfortable, and utterly enthralled.
Verity has lived in Trinity Fields her entire life and when her new neighbours, the sleek and sophisticated Tilson family, move in, she doesn't expect to have many dealings with them. Verity likes to keep her life as it has always been. But unexpectedly, she finds herself entering a friendship of sorts with Ailsa Tilson and quickly enjoys her company and that of her kids, especially Ailsa's son, Max. Verity is not so fond of Tom, Ailsa's husband, who throws his weight around and expects everyone, including Verity, to do as he asks. Verity believes there is something off with their marriage and when something awful happens, secrets find a way of coming to the surface. But everyone has secrets, don't they?
If you are looking for an action-packed thriller then this is not the book for you. FINDERS, KEEPERS is like a flower unfurling, where in each chapter another piece of the puzzle becomes clearer, until the end when we see it all laid out in horrifying clarity. This is very much a character-driven story with Verity as the narrator and this worked perfectly as I was never fully sure just how much I knew Verity throughout the book which created tension and a need to keep reading.
FINDERS, KEEPERS by Sabine Durrant is a superb story and is sure to have you looking at your neighbours in an entirely new light. A must-read!!
June 6, 2020
What a delicious read, I felt myself drawn into Verity Baxter's life. A life lived in the same house for an entire lifetime, a life lived accumulating objects following the death of her mother and the final fracturing of her relationship with her sister. Some might say a lonely life although Verity sees it differently, Verity is absorbed by her job researching words for the Oxford English dictionary. Verity's life has stayed the same until new neighbours move in and she is asked to provide some tutoring for their son Max.
I think the success of Sabine Durrant's writing is the depth of her characters and the way she allows us gradually to get to know them. Your first impression of Verity and the new neighbour Ailsa Tilson alters gradually as words are spoken, deeds are done or not, and the lie of the land shifts just slightly.
In addition to the characters is an authenticity about the subject matter. Not to be too blunt Verity is a hoarder and the depiction of this trait is commendably depicted giving a sense of realism but avoiding using the scene for cliched reactions.
This is one of my favourite reads of the year, the depth of the book could be overlooked because of the roller coaster ride of a true psychological thriller, but to have both depth and thrills is an absolute treat.
I think the success of Sabine Durrant's writing is the depth of her characters and the way she allows us gradually to get to know them. Your first impression of Verity and the new neighbour Ailsa Tilson alters gradually as words are spoken, deeds are done or not, and the lie of the land shifts just slightly.
In addition to the characters is an authenticity about the subject matter. Not to be too blunt Verity is a hoarder and the depiction of this trait is commendably depicted giving a sense of realism but avoiding using the scene for cliched reactions.
This is one of my favourite reads of the year, the depth of the book could be overlooked because of the roller coaster ride of a true psychological thriller, but to have both depth and thrills is an absolute treat.
May 12, 2020
I like Sabine Durrant and (normally) she writes highly engaging, thrilling stories. But this? I don’t know what this is. It’s like it’s been written by someone else.
A brittle, mundane, life story of a lonely, slightly naive, kleptomaniac who becomes obsessed and mistreated by her rude, overbearing neighbours.
What captivated me at the start very quickly descended into ramblings of great detail that held no interest. Quite frankly, the neighbours were boring and predictable and the main character was depicted as a frail, doddering 80 year old when she was only 52.
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I skim read the final passages in order to give a review but I shall not be recommending this as a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance reader copy and to Harper Collins for approving my request.
A brittle, mundane, life story of a lonely, slightly naive, kleptomaniac who becomes obsessed and mistreated by her rude, overbearing neighbours.
What captivated me at the start very quickly descended into ramblings of great detail that held no interest. Quite frankly, the neighbours were boring and predictable and the main character was depicted as a frail, doddering 80 year old when she was only 52.
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I skim read the final passages in order to give a review but I shall not be recommending this as a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance reader copy and to Harper Collins for approving my request.
July 11, 2020
Ailsa Tilson moves with her husband and children to Trinity Fields in search of the new.
New project – a house to renovate. New people – no links to the past. New friends – especially her next-door neighbour, the lonely Verity, who needs her help. Verity has lived in Trinity Fields all her life. She’s always resisted change. Her home and belongings are a shield, a defence to keep the outside world at bay. But something about the Tilsons piques her interest. Just as her ivy creeps through the shared garden fence, so Verity will work her way into the Tilson family.
Firstly I have to start by saying how stunning is this cover?! I absolutely love it and could find myself just staring at it.
Anyway returning to what lies between the covers, I enjoyed this and the ending is fantastic. However, I thought it was missing something throughout and everything felt a bit obvious which was disappointing. Parts of the ending were obvious and others were not but I thought it was the perfect ending for the book hence why I said it was fantastic. The rest of the book did need an injection of something and I wish it had a slightly faster pace.
Without going into details, I liked the subjects Durrant tackles, they are hard-hitting and interesting to explore and think about. Pulling apart the plot I think there are some good plot threads running throughout the read but it does not pull together to the overall plot and I found the book as a whole quite weak.
This is told through the eyes of Verity who is a very intriguing character to get to know. I would not say I enjoyed her character but she is perfect for the read and I found myself questioning her motives and what she is really like the whole way through. Ailsa features heavily as well and it was interesting to see the two women get to know each other, they are so very different from each other and I did find parts of their relationship unbelievable. The less said about Tom the better, he was such a disappointingly obvious character and I was hoping for so much more.
Verity is without a doubt the saving grace of this read, she is absolutely fascinating and has so many layers and personality quirks to her. She may not be likeable but she serves her purpose and does so with aplomb.
‘Finders, Keepers’ is a slow read with an intriguing central character. I only wish it had more shocks to keep my attention.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.
New project – a house to renovate. New people – no links to the past. New friends – especially her next-door neighbour, the lonely Verity, who needs her help. Verity has lived in Trinity Fields all her life. She’s always resisted change. Her home and belongings are a shield, a defence to keep the outside world at bay. But something about the Tilsons piques her interest. Just as her ivy creeps through the shared garden fence, so Verity will work her way into the Tilson family.
Firstly I have to start by saying how stunning is this cover?! I absolutely love it and could find myself just staring at it.
Anyway returning to what lies between the covers, I enjoyed this and the ending is fantastic. However, I thought it was missing something throughout and everything felt a bit obvious which was disappointing. Parts of the ending were obvious and others were not but I thought it was the perfect ending for the book hence why I said it was fantastic. The rest of the book did need an injection of something and I wish it had a slightly faster pace.
Without going into details, I liked the subjects Durrant tackles, they are hard-hitting and interesting to explore and think about. Pulling apart the plot I think there are some good plot threads running throughout the read but it does not pull together to the overall plot and I found the book as a whole quite weak.
This is told through the eyes of Verity who is a very intriguing character to get to know. I would not say I enjoyed her character but she is perfect for the read and I found myself questioning her motives and what she is really like the whole way through. Ailsa features heavily as well and it was interesting to see the two women get to know each other, they are so very different from each other and I did find parts of their relationship unbelievable. The less said about Tom the better, he was such a disappointingly obvious character and I was hoping for so much more.
Verity is without a doubt the saving grace of this read, she is absolutely fascinating and has so many layers and personality quirks to her. She may not be likeable but she serves her purpose and does so with aplomb.
‘Finders, Keepers’ is a slow read with an intriguing central character. I only wish it had more shocks to keep my attention.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.
March 31, 2024
I found this to be a very addictive psychological thriller. I loved the characters good and bad (who knows which!). I felt sympathy towards Verity at times. Well plotted, packs a punch, tense and hard to put down. I would recommend to all who enjoy this genre.
July 29, 2020
Finishing a novel by Sabine Durrant is always bittersweet. Part racing to get to the denouement, part realising you'll have to wait another year to be at her twisty-turney (or sometimes just downright twisted) mercy again. What I enjoyed most about Finders Keepers is that while I always had a theory or two on the go, none of my suspicions was borne out. This is one for people who miss Barbara Vine or who loved Magpie Lane.
With many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me see an advance copy.
With many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me see an advance copy.
September 30, 2020
Having enjoyed Lie With Me, I was keen to try another book by this author and I’m pleased I did.
Verity is a single, middle-aged woman who still lives in her childhood home, having inherited it from her late mother. When yummy mummy Ailsa moves in next door, the two women form an odd friendship – exploitative and supportive; honest and mendacious; genuine and fake. In the course of the novel, the balance of power shifts between them. There is some wonderfully elliptical dialogue between the two women, especially at moments of revelation, and also when socially gauche Verity observes Ailsa with her husband and friends.
It put me in mind of Notes on a Scandal (Zoe Heller), The Woman Next Door (Cass Green) and Flesh and Blood (Sarah Williams, ITV). However, I’m not giving away spoliers with any of these comparisons. Although they all feature lonely, middle-aged women who observe the goings-on of a glamourous younger woman, the plot of Finders, Keepers takes its own deliciously slow-burning path.
Verity is a single, middle-aged woman who still lives in her childhood home, having inherited it from her late mother. When yummy mummy Ailsa moves in next door, the two women form an odd friendship – exploitative and supportive; honest and mendacious; genuine and fake. In the course of the novel, the balance of power shifts between them. There is some wonderfully elliptical dialogue between the two women, especially at moments of revelation, and also when socially gauche Verity observes Ailsa with her husband and friends.
It put me in mind of Notes on a Scandal (Zoe Heller), The Woman Next Door (Cass Green) and Flesh and Blood (Sarah Williams, ITV). However, I’m not giving away spoliers with any of these comparisons. Although they all feature lonely, middle-aged women who observe the goings-on of a glamourous younger woman, the plot of Finders, Keepers takes its own deliciously slow-burning path.
April 6, 2020
4-5 stars. I absolutely loved Sabine Durrant’s LIE WITH ME, which made me desperate to get my hands on this book. I’m glad I was able to, because once again I felt that Durrant created an unputdownable, thrilling, and chilling book. It had some very good twists and turns, thrills, chills, and well developed characters! I highly, highly recommend it if you are a fan of Durrant’s previous novels, as I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. She really knows how to lead you down a thrilling ride, which is sure to chill you to the bone and having you gasping in shock!
Will make sure i buzz it up on all the different platforms!
Will make sure i buzz it up on all the different platforms!
July 29, 2020
Neighbours can have secrets!
Finders Keepers is a claustrophobic, uneasy and unsettling narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed because it made my skin creep as if I were seeing something slightly distasteful and yet completely compelling. The aptly, perfectly named, Verity’s voice is strong and convincing so that I was sucked into her world and that of her neighbours, Tom and Alisa, almost against my will.
I thought the plot was masterful with a drip feeding of hints, distractions and credibility that captivated my attention throughout. Reading Finders, Keepers is a bit like catching something out of the corner of your eye. It’s unsettling but you’re not quite sure if you saw what you thought you saw. As well as providing a cracking story, Sabine Durrant considers what it is that makes us who we are, the persona we present to others and the way manipulation can come in many forms so that whilst Finders, Keepers is a riveting story, it is one that has many layers to fathom. The psychological element is subtle, and so plausible that it has far greater impact than brutal physical violence of some reads.
I loved Sabine Durrant’s creation of character. Throughout I couldn’t decide if I loathed Tom or felt sorry for him as the author manipulated my reader responses so unnervingly. Verity’s voice creeps into the reader’s mind until they are mesmerised, whilst Alisa seems like a chimera not to be entirely trusted. Both Alisa and Verity have a neediness that is utterly convincing but at the same time, each woman has a manipulative strength too so that it is impossible to know who is controlling whom and who can – or cannot – be trusted. The interplay between the people in Finders, Keepers, the conveying of meaning through what is withheld as much as what is said and the dynamics of control, all add layers of creepiness whilst seeming to be perfectly benign. I thought this was excellent.
There’s quite a filmic quality to the settings that makes them vivid and vibrant. Iterative themes redolent of threat and danger such as the colour red, a locked room, spying on other people as so skilfully woven in to Finders, Keepers that having finished the read I feel I want to go back to the beginning and look much more carefully, with the benefit of hindsight.
I thought Finders, Keepers was at the very least hugely entertaining and distracting, but more than that, I thought it was a subtle, manipulative story that was intelligently written and actually very unsettling. It made me wonder just how much I really know the people next door. I thoroughly enjoyed it and really recommend it.
Finders Keepers is a claustrophobic, uneasy and unsettling narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed because it made my skin creep as if I were seeing something slightly distasteful and yet completely compelling. The aptly, perfectly named, Verity’s voice is strong and convincing so that I was sucked into her world and that of her neighbours, Tom and Alisa, almost against my will.
I thought the plot was masterful with a drip feeding of hints, distractions and credibility that captivated my attention throughout. Reading Finders, Keepers is a bit like catching something out of the corner of your eye. It’s unsettling but you’re not quite sure if you saw what you thought you saw. As well as providing a cracking story, Sabine Durrant considers what it is that makes us who we are, the persona we present to others and the way manipulation can come in many forms so that whilst Finders, Keepers is a riveting story, it is one that has many layers to fathom. The psychological element is subtle, and so plausible that it has far greater impact than brutal physical violence of some reads.
I loved Sabine Durrant’s creation of character. Throughout I couldn’t decide if I loathed Tom or felt sorry for him as the author manipulated my reader responses so unnervingly. Verity’s voice creeps into the reader’s mind until they are mesmerised, whilst Alisa seems like a chimera not to be entirely trusted. Both Alisa and Verity have a neediness that is utterly convincing but at the same time, each woman has a manipulative strength too so that it is impossible to know who is controlling whom and who can – or cannot – be trusted. The interplay between the people in Finders, Keepers, the conveying of meaning through what is withheld as much as what is said and the dynamics of control, all add layers of creepiness whilst seeming to be perfectly benign. I thought this was excellent.
There’s quite a filmic quality to the settings that makes them vivid and vibrant. Iterative themes redolent of threat and danger such as the colour red, a locked room, spying on other people as so skilfully woven in to Finders, Keepers that having finished the read I feel I want to go back to the beginning and look much more carefully, with the benefit of hindsight.
I thought Finders, Keepers was at the very least hugely entertaining and distracting, but more than that, I thought it was a subtle, manipulative story that was intelligently written and actually very unsettling. It made me wonder just how much I really know the people next door. I thoroughly enjoyed it and really recommend it.
August 6, 2020
There are so many psychological thrillers which claim to have twists on every page but turn out to be predictable.
This one scores in the way it is written, the atmosphere it sets, of anticipation and dread. There is a feeling that something is not ok right from the beginning.
The narrator, Verity, is a lexicographer so some interesting words begin each chapter.
Starting off with a murder, this story is told backwards till that point, relating how Verity,a lonely elderly woman becomes friends with her new next door neighbor, Ailsa Tilson and the dynamics of that relationship for both women.
Completely on her own after the death of her mother who she cared for all her life, Verity takes comfort in being with Ailsa even when she isn't that comfortable going to the house next door or attending parties or sharing facts about her life or any of it.
Verity's loneliness is something you sense and feel sorry about and even relate to, especially if you have been or seen someone be a caretaker for a sick person, putting their own life on hold, and then be left with no friends or interests to speak of. At the same time, she makes you feel distinctly uncomfortable though you can't pin the exact reason for this feeling down.
As for Ailsa, it isn't clear which persona of hers is the real one... the happy but harried wife, the friendly person who involves herself in every activity or someone entirely different.
The best part of this book is the build up. It is one of those that can be imagined on screen, with dramatic and scary music as the scenes play out. So if you enjoy reading a book where the plot plays out gradually, keeping you wondering and maybe guessing at which among the possibilities that occur to you could be true, this one is for you.
This one scores in the way it is written, the atmosphere it sets, of anticipation and dread. There is a feeling that something is not ok right from the beginning.
The narrator, Verity, is a lexicographer so some interesting words begin each chapter.
Starting off with a murder, this story is told backwards till that point, relating how Verity,a lonely elderly woman becomes friends with her new next door neighbor, Ailsa Tilson and the dynamics of that relationship for both women.
Completely on her own after the death of her mother who she cared for all her life, Verity takes comfort in being with Ailsa even when she isn't that comfortable going to the house next door or attending parties or sharing facts about her life or any of it.
Verity's loneliness is something you sense and feel sorry about and even relate to, especially if you have been or seen someone be a caretaker for a sick person, putting their own life on hold, and then be left with no friends or interests to speak of. At the same time, she makes you feel distinctly uncomfortable though you can't pin the exact reason for this feeling down.
As for Ailsa, it isn't clear which persona of hers is the real one... the happy but harried wife, the friendly person who involves herself in every activity or someone entirely different.
The best part of this book is the build up. It is one of those that can be imagined on screen, with dramatic and scary music as the scenes play out. So if you enjoy reading a book where the plot plays out gradually, keeping you wondering and maybe guessing at which among the possibilities that occur to you could be true, this one is for you.
June 9, 2020
Verity lives in the house she has lived in all of her life, where she was carer for her mother and where she watched her sister grow up and move away. She lives a fairly isolated lifestyle, working from home making updates to the Oxford English Dictionary, with her only real social life being the weekly pub quiz.
She watches as the builders gut and renovate the house next door and is enthralled by the items being thrown away. She cannot resist snaffling away many of the items for herself.
When the neighbours Tom and Ailsa and their three children - teen Meg and twins Bea and Max move in, first introductions aren’t the best with Tom. He tries to intimidate Verity into cutting back the garden trees and generally keeping her home in better repair.
Verity is invited for drinks where Tom addresses this issue again. The twins return from school and it is apparent that Max is struggling with some of his lessons, in particular Maths and English. During the evening, Verity makes the spellings homework fun for Max. Later, Verity is asked if she will tutor Max in English for £15 per hour. She agrees but she is actually never paid for the tutoring.
As Ailsa and Verity become better acquainted, Verity’s eccentricities come to the fore and Ailsa discovers that Verity is a hoarder and many of the rooms in the house are inaccessible. Ailsa decides to help Verity clear the house, uncovering things that were both disturbing and sad.
The book opens with Ailsa living with Verity. It then goes back to tell the story of what happens next, as written by Verity.
The story is great. The way that it’s written, really drags you in and makes you feel that you personally know the characters. When Max achieves a great school report, you’re giving a huge congratulatory clap inside.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and in fact couldn’t put the book down. It’s my second book by Sabine Durrant and I loved Lie With Me too.
I rate it 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟, it would have been 5 but I felt the ending needed more work, particularly with regard to Max and his knowledge of hemlock.
My thanks go to the author and publishers Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an independent review.
She watches as the builders gut and renovate the house next door and is enthralled by the items being thrown away. She cannot resist snaffling away many of the items for herself.
When the neighbours Tom and Ailsa and their three children - teen Meg and twins Bea and Max move in, first introductions aren’t the best with Tom. He tries to intimidate Verity into cutting back the garden trees and generally keeping her home in better repair.
Verity is invited for drinks where Tom addresses this issue again. The twins return from school and it is apparent that Max is struggling with some of his lessons, in particular Maths and English. During the evening, Verity makes the spellings homework fun for Max. Later, Verity is asked if she will tutor Max in English for £15 per hour. She agrees but she is actually never paid for the tutoring.
As Ailsa and Verity become better acquainted, Verity’s eccentricities come to the fore and Ailsa discovers that Verity is a hoarder and many of the rooms in the house are inaccessible. Ailsa decides to help Verity clear the house, uncovering things that were both disturbing and sad.
The book opens with Ailsa living with Verity. It then goes back to tell the story of what happens next, as written by Verity.
The story is great. The way that it’s written, really drags you in and makes you feel that you personally know the characters. When Max achieves a great school report, you’re giving a huge congratulatory clap inside.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and in fact couldn’t put the book down. It’s my second book by Sabine Durrant and I loved Lie With Me too.
I rate it 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟, it would have been 5 but I felt the ending needed more work, particularly with regard to Max and his knowledge of hemlock.
My thanks go to the author and publishers Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an independent review.
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