What do you think?
Rate this book
Tulipunane kleit
Alice kandis oma lemmikut tulipunast kleiti, kui ta 25 aastat tagasi kadunuks jäi. Tema mälestus püsib kui sünge vari. 1995. aasta kuumal suvel rendib 22-aastane Alice Lang Severn Sandsi populaarse puhkusekeskuse lähistel kämpingus haagiselamut. Ta sõbruneb väikese Marniega, kelle isa on kämpingu hooldaja ja kelle ema suri mõned kuud varem. Kohaliku baariomaniku poeg Will armub Alice´isse ning on armukade kõigi peale, kellega noor naine suhtleb. Pinged aina kasvavad, kuni Alice ühel õhtul oma haagiselamust kaob. Rohkem teda ei nähta. Leitakse vaid tema tumepunane kleit kaldale uhutuna. Veerand sajandit hiljem on linn hooletusse jäetud ja turistid seal enam ei käi. Kämpingu kunagised omanikud on andnud allakäinud firma üle oma pojale Guy’le, kes müüb maa kinnisvaraarendajale. Maad eramajade ehitamiseks ette valmistavad töömehed avastavad sealt inimluud. Need peavad kuuluma Alice’ile. Willi ja Marnie elud said tol suvel juhtunust tugevasti mõjutatud. Nüüd, kui Alice on leitud, peavad nad püüdma oma mälestusi taastada, põgenema minevikusaladuste, räägitud valede ja talumatute süümepiinade eest. Neil tuleb välja selgitada, mis Alice’iga juhtus. Kes ta tappis? Ja miks?
330 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2021
1936 people are currently reading
1266 people want to read
About the author
Louise Douglas
32 books845 followersHello and thank you for visiting my profile page. I write contemporary Gothic novels which are usually inspired by places close to where I live in the Mendips, close to Bristol in the UK, or by places I've visited, especially Italy and Sicily. The House by the Sea won the Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Award in 2021. The Love of My Life, my first book, was longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award. My second book, Missing You, won the RNA Readers' Choice Award, and my third, The Secrets Between Us was a 2012 Richard and Judy Summer Read.
The next book, The Room in the Attic is due to be published in October 2021 and is a ghost story set in a Victorian asylum-turned-boarding school on Dartmoor.
If you'd like to connect, you'll find me on Facebook Louise Amy Douglas or Twitter: @LouiseDouglas3.
The next book, The Room in the Attic is due to be published in October 2021 and is a ghost story set in a Victorian asylum-turned-boarding school on Dartmoor.
If you'd like to connect, you'll find me on Facebook Louise Amy Douglas or Twitter: @LouiseDouglas3.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
January 7, 2021
Contractors demolishing Channel View Holiday Park and funfair discover human bones. Is this the body of Alice Lang missing since the 1970’s who selective mute Marnie who was ten at the time, feels she betrayed? Writer Will Jones returns to Severn Sands, is it guilt that draws him back or the desire to make someone pay if the bones are identified as Alice?
This is a well written character driven slow burner mystery with Alice at the centre of the riddle. The storytelling backtracks via Will and Marnie’s thoughts which brings Alice to life. Although at times this seems haphazard I think this is clever as the characters thoughts go round and round trying to make sense of things, adding realism as it’s exactly what people do in their heads. Alice comes across as a lovely personality and her kindness to ten year old Marnie, struggling with grief over the loss of her mother really stands out. Marnie’s muteness is a very significant part of the storytelling and adds a really interesting element as the reader tries to unravel the reasons why. She is a very complex character keeping people at arms length with some exceptions. Marnie’s love and ability with animals and the bond with her daughter Lucy and father John show her kind and caring side. Will is interesting as before and during his friendship with Alice his world was colour and now it’s monotone because of obsession. As the novel progresses secrets and lies become apparent with various characters revealing shame and guilt. The setting in the declining seaside town of Seven Sands is very good too adding the chilly atmosphere of winter bleakness to a sad and bleak story. The pace picks up towards the end and it has suspense and tension and we see the plot red herrings.
Overall, this is a well written slow burner psychological drama which I enjoyed. I like the ending especially for Marnie and Will.
With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc for an honest review.
This is a well written character driven slow burner mystery with Alice at the centre of the riddle. The storytelling backtracks via Will and Marnie’s thoughts which brings Alice to life. Although at times this seems haphazard I think this is clever as the characters thoughts go round and round trying to make sense of things, adding realism as it’s exactly what people do in their heads. Alice comes across as a lovely personality and her kindness to ten year old Marnie, struggling with grief over the loss of her mother really stands out. Marnie’s muteness is a very significant part of the storytelling and adds a really interesting element as the reader tries to unravel the reasons why. She is a very complex character keeping people at arms length with some exceptions. Marnie’s love and ability with animals and the bond with her daughter Lucy and father John show her kind and caring side. Will is interesting as before and during his friendship with Alice his world was colour and now it’s monotone because of obsession. As the novel progresses secrets and lies become apparent with various characters revealing shame and guilt. The setting in the declining seaside town of Seven Sands is very good too adding the chilly atmosphere of winter bleakness to a sad and bleak story. The pace picks up towards the end and it has suspense and tension and we see the plot red herrings.
Overall, this is a well written slow burner psychological drama which I enjoyed. I like the ending especially for Marnie and Will.
With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc for an honest review.
February 19, 2021
Quite often, the books you love the most are by far the most difficult to review. I’ve sat at my keyboard several times today, thrown down a few phrases, tried to link them together – but I’ve really struggled to capture quite how this book made me feel. I’d usually start with a little about the story, but someone’s already sweat blood over that for the book’s cover, and I think it’s enough. But there are two distinct timelines, the 1995 disappearance of Alice Lang (presumed drowned, leaving her scarlet dress behind), and the present day discovery of her bones – I guess that makes it a murder mystery. And read at that level, it’s certainly a compelling story – perhaps a little slower than some might like, but picking up pace in the final furlong when all its pieces begin to fall into place.
But this book is so much more than that. The timelines don’t alternate in the way you might expect, a straight telling of the then and now, but swirl and eddy and flow – secrets begin to emerge, you think you have everything worked out, only for that certainty to disappear again when you find yourself moving in an entirely different direction. When you add to that the simmering undercurrent of passion and jealousy from the 90s story and the complexities of the characters in the present day – impacted by the legacy of the past, and the truth that even they aren’t entirely sure of – it becomes a story that challenges and excites, and something very different indeed. While the reader might flounder at times when trying to get a grip on the facts, the author always holds the threads of the story extraordinarily firmly – you feel you are in the hands of someone entirely in control, and the writing is exceptional.
It’s very much a character driven story, but Alice herself I thought remained something of an enigma – at first I’d decided she was manipulative, using people for her own ends, playing with their emotions, but she was rather deeper than that, driven by something quite different. Marnie’s a fascinating character – a very innocent child in 1995 involved in a maelstrom of emotion she couldn’t begin to understand, mute in adulthood perhaps as a result of that childhood trauma, finding solace in her love for dogs who’d survived traumas of their own. Family relationships feature heavily, and are beautifully handled – Marnie’s father and the mother whose loss adds rawness to the early story, her relationship with her own daughter. And then there’s Will – difficult to like, perhaps the one who really does use people, driven to uncover the truth but sometimes afraid of what might emerge when he does, haunted by guilt about so many things that he struggles to cope with it or find redemption. The characters emotions are always near the surface and draw you further into the story – this is a book you feel, that you become part of, rather than simply reading.
A word for the book’s setting too – the bleakness and seediness of a seaside town in February, past its prime, sad and neglected, in contrast to the holiday mecca it once was. It’s all part of what creates the book’s unique atmosphere – the mud flats, the shifting sands, the abandoned homes, the sad memories.
I will admit that this book took me far longer to read than I expected – I was enjoying it too much to rush, relishing the carefully chosen words, the nuances of the characters and their relationships, lingering over some of the uncovered secrets and letting them sink in before moving on, not wanting to miss a carefully crafted moment. Just in case I haven’t said it clearly enough, I really loved this book: I think it’s the author’s best writing yet, a stunning read, and I recommend it most highly.
But this book is so much more than that. The timelines don’t alternate in the way you might expect, a straight telling of the then and now, but swirl and eddy and flow – secrets begin to emerge, you think you have everything worked out, only for that certainty to disappear again when you find yourself moving in an entirely different direction. When you add to that the simmering undercurrent of passion and jealousy from the 90s story and the complexities of the characters in the present day – impacted by the legacy of the past, and the truth that even they aren’t entirely sure of – it becomes a story that challenges and excites, and something very different indeed. While the reader might flounder at times when trying to get a grip on the facts, the author always holds the threads of the story extraordinarily firmly – you feel you are in the hands of someone entirely in control, and the writing is exceptional.
It’s very much a character driven story, but Alice herself I thought remained something of an enigma – at first I’d decided she was manipulative, using people for her own ends, playing with their emotions, but she was rather deeper than that, driven by something quite different. Marnie’s a fascinating character – a very innocent child in 1995 involved in a maelstrom of emotion she couldn’t begin to understand, mute in adulthood perhaps as a result of that childhood trauma, finding solace in her love for dogs who’d survived traumas of their own. Family relationships feature heavily, and are beautifully handled – Marnie’s father and the mother whose loss adds rawness to the early story, her relationship with her own daughter. And then there’s Will – difficult to like, perhaps the one who really does use people, driven to uncover the truth but sometimes afraid of what might emerge when he does, haunted by guilt about so many things that he struggles to cope with it or find redemption. The characters emotions are always near the surface and draw you further into the story – this is a book you feel, that you become part of, rather than simply reading.
A word for the book’s setting too – the bleakness and seediness of a seaside town in February, past its prime, sad and neglected, in contrast to the holiday mecca it once was. It’s all part of what creates the book’s unique atmosphere – the mud flats, the shifting sands, the abandoned homes, the sad memories.
I will admit that this book took me far longer to read than I expected – I was enjoying it too much to rush, relishing the carefully chosen words, the nuances of the characters and their relationships, lingering over some of the uncovered secrets and letting them sink in before moving on, not wanting to miss a carefully crafted moment. Just in case I haven’t said it clearly enough, I really loved this book: I think it’s the author’s best writing yet, a stunning read, and I recommend it most highly.
September 21, 2021
This is a run-of-the-mill mystery that uncovers the truth behind a body that has been discovered in a run-down holiday park. Flitting between past and present, readers are gradually shown events leading up to Alice’s disappearance, from the perspective of Will and Marnie.
I did not take to Will’s character. I thought him lazy, selfish and self-centred – he really irritated me! Furthermore, his obsession with Alice’s story and lack of care for others around him meant that I bristled when the chapters switched to focus on him. I don’t think it helped that Will does not appear popular with any of the residents of Severn Sands either; I guess I was siding with the majority on this one.
As for Marnie, I don’t think I truly connected with her either. Her silence was not convincing, despite Douglas portraying that Marnie’s mutism is a result of the trauma of losing her mother and then Alice’s disappearance. I thought it became a convenient plot method to add tension to communications and show the difference between Marnie in the past and present.
Despite these misgivings, I did largely enjoy this mystery. I thought the setting was appropriately haunting and really intensified the abandoned feel that you grow to associate with Alice. Alice’s story was unexpected and I could not predict who the perpetrator was behind her disappearance. I enjoyed the flashbacks to when the holiday camp was full of life and energy: Douglas’ contrast emphasises how stagnant Severn Sands has become as a result of the discovered body. Furthermore, the story itself is really atmospheric and the pathetic fallacy added to the panic as Will and Marnie come close to discovering the truth.
This is definitely a winter mystery, reinforced by the chilly weather on the coast! I enjoyed this story for the most part, but did find the last few chapters a bit of a drag: I wanted the story to wrap up quicker and could not get a sense of the threat that Will and Marnie felt. On the other hand, I liked Douglas’s style of establishing the characters and the mystery: we know something happened, the writer leads us down an interesting path to find out the real truth.
With thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I did not take to Will’s character. I thought him lazy, selfish and self-centred – he really irritated me! Furthermore, his obsession with Alice’s story and lack of care for others around him meant that I bristled when the chapters switched to focus on him. I don’t think it helped that Will does not appear popular with any of the residents of Severn Sands either; I guess I was siding with the majority on this one.
As for Marnie, I don’t think I truly connected with her either. Her silence was not convincing, despite Douglas portraying that Marnie’s mutism is a result of the trauma of losing her mother and then Alice’s disappearance. I thought it became a convenient plot method to add tension to communications and show the difference between Marnie in the past and present.
Despite these misgivings, I did largely enjoy this mystery. I thought the setting was appropriately haunting and really intensified the abandoned feel that you grow to associate with Alice. Alice’s story was unexpected and I could not predict who the perpetrator was behind her disappearance. I enjoyed the flashbacks to when the holiday camp was full of life and energy: Douglas’ contrast emphasises how stagnant Severn Sands has become as a result of the discovered body. Furthermore, the story itself is really atmospheric and the pathetic fallacy added to the panic as Will and Marnie come close to discovering the truth.
This is definitely a winter mystery, reinforced by the chilly weather on the coast! I enjoyed this story for the most part, but did find the last few chapters a bit of a drag: I wanted the story to wrap up quicker and could not get a sense of the threat that Will and Marnie felt. On the other hand, I liked Douglas’s style of establishing the characters and the mystery: we know something happened, the writer leads us down an interesting path to find out the real truth.
With thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2021
The Scarlet Dress is the second novel by Louise Douglas that I have had the pleasure of reviewing after The House by The Sea. Although I have only reviewed two of her books so far, I love her gift for creating sinister surroundings from seemingly normal settings and the depth of character research which makes for a chilling rollercoaster ride.
In The Scarlet Dress, we find ourselves at Severn Sands Holiday Park, a caravan park where Marnie's father is the caretaker. Marnie herself is a dog and animal lover and enjoys helping rescued animals have a better life.
Currently, she herself is also an injured soul and tormented by events of her childhood.
Going back in time to 1995, she and Alice were friends as Alice's family stayed at the caravan park. Until she went missing.....
Will loved Alice and was protective towards her. Now she's gone, he treats people however he wants.
Since the day her life turned upside down, Marnie lives with selective mutism. But will she speak out about what happened?
The Scarlet Dress reels you in, makes you believe one thing and then there's a twist you didn't expect. It is a "then and now" story but is not as clear-cut in that structure as any other novel that I have reviewed. It is this writing style that makes me love Louise Douglas' novels and I felt so immersed. The book gripped me and kept me gripped.
I was sad and curious for Alice and Marnie, and for Marnie's father, a widower since his wife died when Marnie was just ten years old. I felt the loss of her mother and friend was so much for her to deal with but this was in no way unrealistic.
I wanted to like Will more than I did and I wanted him to be more approachable for Marnie as they both knew Alice. I felt bad for her as an adult and felt I could sympathize personally with how it felt to be pushed out or misunderstood.
I loved her affinity with animals and felt comforted by the presence of animals in amongst all the trauma and harsh reality she was living with.
The Scarlet Dress deals with so much more than just the dress. Friendship, loss memories of the past and moving on after trauma were all poignant themes.
I loved the clever way in which the holiday park was described as it was in its hayday and the things we'd associate with a carefree family/childhood vacation were mentioned such as the pool, fair rides and cabins and this introduced a sense of excitement, nostalgia and adventure. The fact that it is now run-down and seedy enhances the creepiness of the novel and I had goosebumps and felt shivers down my spine more than once.
In fact, this part reminded me of The Ring movie (US version) that take place at fairground. I loved this movie too. It is a very effective way to show that what appears harmless and a fun, safe place for kids can also be a sinister environment.
An outstanding thriller with a pace that never lets up. The roundabout thought processes throughout the novel are very realistic as the events lead to shock, disbelief terror and fear which is very far from the idyllic, longed-for event that should be a family vacation.
I highly recommend this and hope to review more Louise Douglas books.
Thanks to Louise Douglas, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 stars.
In The Scarlet Dress, we find ourselves at Severn Sands Holiday Park, a caravan park where Marnie's father is the caretaker. Marnie herself is a dog and animal lover and enjoys helping rescued animals have a better life.
Currently, she herself is also an injured soul and tormented by events of her childhood.
Going back in time to 1995, she and Alice were friends as Alice's family stayed at the caravan park. Until she went missing.....
Will loved Alice and was protective towards her. Now she's gone, he treats people however he wants.
Since the day her life turned upside down, Marnie lives with selective mutism. But will she speak out about what happened?
The Scarlet Dress reels you in, makes you believe one thing and then there's a twist you didn't expect. It is a "then and now" story but is not as clear-cut in that structure as any other novel that I have reviewed. It is this writing style that makes me love Louise Douglas' novels and I felt so immersed. The book gripped me and kept me gripped.
I was sad and curious for Alice and Marnie, and for Marnie's father, a widower since his wife died when Marnie was just ten years old. I felt the loss of her mother and friend was so much for her to deal with but this was in no way unrealistic.
I wanted to like Will more than I did and I wanted him to be more approachable for Marnie as they both knew Alice. I felt bad for her as an adult and felt I could sympathize personally with how it felt to be pushed out or misunderstood.
I loved her affinity with animals and felt comforted by the presence of animals in amongst all the trauma and harsh reality she was living with.
The Scarlet Dress deals with so much more than just the dress. Friendship, loss memories of the past and moving on after trauma were all poignant themes.
I loved the clever way in which the holiday park was described as it was in its hayday and the things we'd associate with a carefree family/childhood vacation were mentioned such as the pool, fair rides and cabins and this introduced a sense of excitement, nostalgia and adventure. The fact that it is now run-down and seedy enhances the creepiness of the novel and I had goosebumps and felt shivers down my spine more than once.
In fact, this part reminded me of The Ring movie (US version) that take place at fairground. I loved this movie too. It is a very effective way to show that what appears harmless and a fun, safe place for kids can also be a sinister environment.
An outstanding thriller with a pace that never lets up. The roundabout thought processes throughout the novel are very realistic as the events lead to shock, disbelief terror and fear which is very far from the idyllic, longed-for event that should be a family vacation.
I highly recommend this and hope to review more Louise Douglas books.
Thanks to Louise Douglas, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 stars.
June 13, 2021
This was quite an interesting tale with a different storyline which at first glance might appear to be familiar. A renovation and bones were found. Was it Alice who had disappeared 25 years ago wearing the scarlet dress?
This slow-moving mystery was had engaging prose which kept my curiosity peaked and made me want to know what really happened. The characters were well developed. Alice herself was a sweet soul who was kind and courteous. Told in dual timelines where some parts were memories, I liked both Marnie and Will as they remembered Alice. Overall, this kept me engaged in its pages over the afternoon.
This slow-moving mystery was had engaging prose which kept my curiosity peaked and made me want to know what really happened. The characters were well developed. Alice herself was a sweet soul who was kind and courteous. Told in dual timelines where some parts were memories, I liked both Marnie and Will as they remembered Alice. Overall, this kept me engaged in its pages over the afternoon.
May 29, 2021
Random question about this book...who was the father of Marnie’s daughter (Lucy)? Did I miss this explanation when I nodded off during this story?
March 18, 2021
I took to Marnie straight away. She's reliant almost, on the company of the rescue dogs that she likes to help and train. They need her as much as she needs them. All damaged through no fault of their own. A single mum to teenager, Lucy, Marnie is shaken by the discovery of human bones buried under the old Holiday Caravan Park in Severn Sands. The story is set in dual timelines, 1995 and then the present. 1995 The Channel View Holiday Park was open to the public and owned by a Mr & Mrs deVillars who lived next to the park in a gothic place called Blackwater. Alice Lang: young, single and beautiful, befriended Marnie and the two had an instant bonding. I could feel how Marnie felt in the present day. The sense of loss, the sadness and the how and the why? Marnie had suffered so much loss, I just wanted to piece her back together again. Will. Will has never gotten over his loss of Alice. Although she wasn't his, he acted as if she were. Did his jealousy erupt on the night she disappeared? Or was it another love interest? Or did Alice really drown, as the locals believed happened. Will Will finish his book - have his mind put to rest after all these years? I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't fast-paced, but it was compelling and full of mystery and I wanted to lay the past to rest once and for all, myself. And I wanted Marnie to have closure and then hopefully she would be able to re-build a happier life for herself and her daughter, with their rescue animals. Near the end I was holding my breath, I was shocked at the ending and I loved it! I look forward to reading many more books by this author. Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
February 15, 2021
The Scarlet Dress is a slow burner of a murder mystery that opens with bones being found on the land that used to be the holiday park Severn Sands. Who they belong to isn't a surprise but the fact that it is a murder is, for the last 25 years the locals all thought she walked into the estuary, leaving behind the titular scarlet dress.
One man Will Jones has been haunted by her loss and he's now a writer so he makes his way back, leaving the current girlfriend in the process, to revisit his teenage hometown and probe who killed Alice.
This was a book that I was drawn into from the very start with both the characterisation and location being beautifully painted in a whole array of hues. The fact that the plot was both sufficiently intricate and yet avoided the absurd was the icing on the cake.
I wholeheartedly recommend.
One man Will Jones has been haunted by her loss and he's now a writer so he makes his way back, leaving the current girlfriend in the process, to revisit his teenage hometown and probe who killed Alice.
This was a book that I was drawn into from the very start with both the characterisation and location being beautifully painted in a whole array of hues. The fact that the plot was both sufficiently intricate and yet avoided the absurd was the icing on the cake.
I wholeheartedly recommend.
February 27, 2021
[Blog]::[Youtube]::[Twitter]::[Instagram]::[Pinterest]::[Bloglovin]
“The Scarlet Dress” is a gripping, slow-burn mystery that will glue you to the plot till the end.
To begin with, I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The story starts slowly but gains momentum midway. I got invested in the plot once Will came into town and met Marnie. The author compellingly writes the story with multiple red herrings with numerous suspects.
Moreover, each of the suspects shows indications of hurting Alice or sharing secrets with her. What’s interesting is how people had a different opinion of Alice, even though they all bonded together. Furthermore, the ending turned out to be a shocking twist that I did not expect, making the story memorable. Similarly, I also loved the author’s writing style, where she alternates timelines through flashbacks of the characters.
The characters are unique, mysterious, and blend beautifully in the tale. Marnie and Will are dynamic in the lead. Marnie is a fascinating character, who doesn’t talk much, but someone that connects to you. It was interesting to see how their lives blended with Alice and how her death impacted them. Some of my favorite moments are when Will finds Luna or when Marnie finds the tin box. I also thought the author painted the imagery of Severn Sands in a beautiful yet mysterious way.
However, the only minor issues I had with the story were some unanswered questions. For instance, I don’t think we found out the reason why Marmie didn’t talk. As I previously mentioned, it took me a good 4-5 chapters to get into the story. But once I got past the initial chapters, I loved the story!
Apart from that, this was a great story that grew on me. Overall, “The Scarlet Dress” is a very slow-burn mystery that will entertain you.
May 16, 2021
In 1995, a young woman, Alice Lang, rents a caravan in a holiday park in Severn Sands, owned by the deVillars family. She befriends sad little Marnie Morahan, whose mother Denise has recently died. Marnie’s father is the caretaker John who gives casual work to young student Will Jones. Will has fallen madly in love with Alice while he and Marnie strike up a sibling-like friendship.
Everything changes when Alice goes missing, presumed drowned after her sequined scarlet dress is found washed up on the shore. It will be another 25 years before the truth of her death comes out when modern developers of the old holiday park dig up her bones.
Will, now a successful author of true crime, returns to the seaside town to try and lay his demons to rest, never having recovered from his obsession with Alice. Marnie has turned into a misfit, mute and happier with dogs than people. Both of them still carry guilt that they may have contributed to Alice’s death in some way. Will is convinced Guy deVillars is the culprit and wants to prove it.
Alice is too ephemeral to really get a grasp on her character, and the sympathy for Marnie is borderline as some aspects of her life aren’t really explored, but Will Jones is beyond irritating, self-absorbed and awful to everyone, including his long-suffering girlfriend Saoirse who should have dumped him long ago. Even if he is redeemed a little by the conclusion, I don’t believe such a person can change his spots so I didn’t care.
The ending couldn’t come quick enough for me. I had guessed early on where the responsibility might lie and only persevered to be proved right. The plot devices involving problems with mobile phones – left in cars, forgotten chargers, dead batteries – even a character who didn’t own one - had me rolling my eyes! There is a lot of description featuring moody sea and sky and rather a lot of dogs.
Such a disappointment after the author’s earlier “House by the Sea” which had been a five-star read for me. Not sure what went wrong with this one. I think it was the horrid Will Jones mostly. (I can understand why Marnie preferred dogs.)
Everything changes when Alice goes missing, presumed drowned after her sequined scarlet dress is found washed up on the shore. It will be another 25 years before the truth of her death comes out when modern developers of the old holiday park dig up her bones.
Will, now a successful author of true crime, returns to the seaside town to try and lay his demons to rest, never having recovered from his obsession with Alice. Marnie has turned into a misfit, mute and happier with dogs than people. Both of them still carry guilt that they may have contributed to Alice’s death in some way. Will is convinced Guy deVillars is the culprit and wants to prove it.
Alice is too ephemeral to really get a grasp on her character, and the sympathy for Marnie is borderline as some aspects of her life aren’t really explored, but Will Jones is beyond irritating, self-absorbed and awful to everyone, including his long-suffering girlfriend Saoirse who should have dumped him long ago. Even if he is redeemed a little by the conclusion, I don’t believe such a person can change his spots so I didn’t care.
The ending couldn’t come quick enough for me. I had guessed early on where the responsibility might lie and only persevered to be proved right. The plot devices involving problems with mobile phones – left in cars, forgotten chargers, dead batteries – even a character who didn’t own one - had me rolling my eyes! There is a lot of description featuring moody sea and sky and rather a lot of dogs.
Such a disappointment after the author’s earlier “House by the Sea” which had been a five-star read for me. Not sure what went wrong with this one. I think it was the horrid Will Jones mostly. (I can understand why Marnie preferred dogs.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2021
As the title suggests, a scarlet dress forms the crux of the story. Alice, a young woman, arriving alone at a small countryside town, is lost for several years. And during a recent construction job, her bones are discovered and it is confirmed that she was murdered back then.
Who killed Alice and for what reason forms the suspense element of the story. But the emotional backbone to the story is provided by those people whose lives were changed irrevocably because of her death.There are a many number of people whose lives were touched by her's, particularly that of Marnie and Will, the principal characters.
The suspense part of the story worked well for me and I couldn't put down the book till I found out who was the murderer (I did have my suspicions and they proved to be right). The way the author told the story in the point of view of various characters whose lives intertwined with Alice helped to build the suspense well and made the story interesting to read as well.
And then we have the characters themselves. What we find here are real, flawed, human people. They make mistakes, some behave abominably and every single one of them have secrets. Their dynamics and relationships formed a wonderful backdrop for the narration. But I must say, one aspect of Will's character seemed to ring false with me. The fact that he still hasn't come out of his feelings for Alice doesn't work for me. If the author had tried to explore the psyche of losing someone suddenly at a very impactful age, the attempt fell a little short of what was intended.
The narration is another aspect which I took some time to get used to. It seemed a bit abrupt initially, the way the narration skips between the points of view of various characters. Still, it doesn't take away anything from the story but rather adds to it's pace.
Overall, it is an engaging thriller that will not allow you to put it down. You can definitely give it a try if you like to read a good suspense with good emotional gravity.
Who killed Alice and for what reason forms the suspense element of the story. But the emotional backbone to the story is provided by those people whose lives were changed irrevocably because of her death.There are a many number of people whose lives were touched by her's, particularly that of Marnie and Will, the principal characters.
The suspense part of the story worked well for me and I couldn't put down the book till I found out who was the murderer (I did have my suspicions and they proved to be right). The way the author told the story in the point of view of various characters whose lives intertwined with Alice helped to build the suspense well and made the story interesting to read as well.
And then we have the characters themselves. What we find here are real, flawed, human people. They make mistakes, some behave abominably and every single one of them have secrets. Their dynamics and relationships formed a wonderful backdrop for the narration. But I must say, one aspect of Will's character seemed to ring false with me. The fact that he still hasn't come out of his feelings for Alice doesn't work for me. If the author had tried to explore the psyche of losing someone suddenly at a very impactful age, the attempt fell a little short of what was intended.
The narration is another aspect which I took some time to get used to. It seemed a bit abrupt initially, the way the narration skips between the points of view of various characters. Still, it doesn't take away anything from the story but rather adds to it's pace.
Overall, it is an engaging thriller that will not allow you to put it down. You can definitely give it a try if you like to read a good suspense with good emotional gravity.
February 6, 2021
Haunting and suspenseful!
What a totally different and interesting story! So many times I caught myself second guessing what the outcome was going to be. Even when not reading it, I would ponder where it was going.
Louise Douglas has a way to weave a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. I look forward to reading more books written by her.
The Scarlet Dress is a murder mystery/psychological drama that you will have difficulties putting down.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
What a totally different and interesting story! So many times I caught myself second guessing what the outcome was going to be. Even when not reading it, I would ponder where it was going.
Louise Douglas has a way to weave a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. I look forward to reading more books written by her.
The Scarlet Dress is a murder mystery/psychological drama that you will have difficulties putting down.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 9, 2021
Not for me
After nodding off every time I tried to read this book, I gave up at chapter 21. Nothing kept me wanting to read the next "50" chapters. I like books that read like a movie. This was too slow motion for me.
After nodding off every time I tried to read this book, I gave up at chapter 21. Nothing kept me wanting to read the next "50" chapters. I like books that read like a movie. This was too slow motion for me.
July 11, 2022
Gave up at chapter 39, 69 percent read. Its just too tedious and drawn out. Plus, Will is an idiotic character
February 21, 2021
Alice Lang rents a caravan in a park and befriends a shy little girl, Marnie, whose mother passed away several months earlier and lives with her father in the park. April gets to know others in the town and she is a very gregarious person.
Alice just disappears one day and the only thing they find is her favorite Scarlet dress along the shoreline. For years the question has been where is Alice? Her body has never been discovered. Then 25 years later the caravan park is sold and a development park is to be developed. Bones are discovered and now everyone thinks that these are Alice’s remains!
Who is responsible for the death of Alice?
The author does a majestic twisting through a maze of characters and questions and doubts about who and you will never guess until the ending as to why and who!
I would recommend this book to a friend!
I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.
Alice just disappears one day and the only thing they find is her favorite Scarlet dress along the shoreline. For years the question has been where is Alice? Her body has never been discovered. Then 25 years later the caravan park is sold and a development park is to be developed. Bones are discovered and now everyone thinks that these are Alice’s remains!
Who is responsible for the death of Alice?
The author does a majestic twisting through a maze of characters and questions and doubts about who and you will never guess until the ending as to why and who!
I would recommend this book to a friend!
I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.
January 17, 2022
This was a slow starting novel, but as I continued to read I couldn't help being drawn into the story. The more I read the more involved the story line became. I like the way the author incorporated the two time lines and brought in memories that helped with questions generated about the lives of may of the key characters. However, did I miss the explanation of how Marnie had a daughter? Who was Lucy's father? There wasn't enough background information about Marnie's life after the death of Alice. She was a key character with little information about her personal life after Alice's mysterious disappearance.
Overall, I enjoyed this murder mystery and would recommend it as a good winter read.
Overall, I enjoyed this murder mystery and would recommend it as a good winter read.
March 2, 2023
For a murder mystery this book was extremely boring and slow. 90% of the book was literally over the course of only 3 days and then when it mattered and you wanted details, the ending was abrupt and unfulfilling. Not to mention that some of it was just entirely unrealistic and how some characters ended was completely unlike the last 25 years of their life. Just not a very satisfying read and happy it’s over.
June 12, 2021
This. Was a really good read, it did keep me guessing. I was convinced I knew who the murderer was but I was wrong. A really good read
June 25, 2021
A Reading Must
This is the second book I've read by this author and I'm going to read more. This is basically a mystery about family dynamics. The book has a strong feeling of loneliness in a search to find the killer of a girl whose body has been found years after she disappeared. It's about those who knew and loved her. Loved this book and sorry when it ended.
This is the second book I've read by this author and I'm going to read more. This is basically a mystery about family dynamics. The book has a strong feeling of loneliness in a search to find the killer of a girl whose body has been found years after she disappeared. It's about those who knew and loved her. Loved this book and sorry when it ended.
June 22, 2021
Good read
Not one of my regular type of book. But very enjoyable and intriguing.I’m more a rom con fan but will still recommend this book to all readers of murder mystery and even a bit of romance.
Regards Neil Southcoat.
Not one of my regular type of book. But very enjoyable and intriguing.I’m more a rom con fan but will still recommend this book to all readers of murder mystery and even a bit of romance.
Regards Neil Southcoat.
March 2, 2021
Louise Douglas writes spine-chilling modern-day Gothic thrillers full of atmosphere, tension and intrigue and in The Scarlet Dress, she continues to cement her standing as a writer of extraordinary skill and talent who never fails to pen beautifully-written and wonderfully nuanced tales that keep readers riveted to the page.
In 1995, twenty-two year old Alice Lang had rented a caravan on a holiday park on the outskirts of the holiday resort Severn Sands. Alice quickly befriends a young girl Marnie whose father is the caretaker of the holiday park. With Marnie being shy, withdrawn and grieving the loss of her mother, Alice begins to look out for her and she soon takes the little girl under her wing. However, little does she realise that this singular act of kindness is going to have serious repercussions for her. Alice had attracted the attention of Will who has a very jealous streak. Will wants Alice all to himself and he is not about let anyone or anything come between the two of them. As tensions rise and Will’s jealousy reaches fever pitch, one evening a shocking turn of events take place that sees Alice vanish off the face of the earth. Nobody has seen hair or hide of ever since – except for her scarlet dress that had been washed ashore…
A quarter of a century later, the once thriving town is now dilapidated and rundown. Tourists no longer flock to visit Severn Sands and the owners, Mr and Mrs Villars, have passed their failing business onto their son, Guy, who wastes no time in selling the land for development. As the building work begins, the construction workers are shocked when they unearth human bones. There seems to be no doubt that Alice’s remains have been found. But what really happened to Alice Lang twenty-five years ago? Why was she killed? And will this decades-long mystery ever be solved?
Will and Marnie have always been haunted by what happened that summer and now that Alice has finally been found must dig deep into the recesses of their memories to finally uncover what really happened to the woman who had changed both of their lives forever. Will Alice Lang’s killer ever be found? Why was she killed and, more to the point, is the killer still at large willing to do whatever it takes to protect their dangerous secret?
Louise Douglas is a wonderful storyteller and The Scarlet Dress is a beautifully layered page-turner that works as both a thought-provoking and affecting contemporary drama and a psychological crime thriller. The Scarlet Dress deftly blends chilling twists and turns with heart-breaking pathos and emotional depth in a superbly written tale of lies, secrets and deceptions where nothing is as it initally seems.
A compulsively readable tale I simply couldn’t stop reading, Louise Douglas has struck gold with her latest novel, The Scarlet Dress.
In 1995, twenty-two year old Alice Lang had rented a caravan on a holiday park on the outskirts of the holiday resort Severn Sands. Alice quickly befriends a young girl Marnie whose father is the caretaker of the holiday park. With Marnie being shy, withdrawn and grieving the loss of her mother, Alice begins to look out for her and she soon takes the little girl under her wing. However, little does she realise that this singular act of kindness is going to have serious repercussions for her. Alice had attracted the attention of Will who has a very jealous streak. Will wants Alice all to himself and he is not about let anyone or anything come between the two of them. As tensions rise and Will’s jealousy reaches fever pitch, one evening a shocking turn of events take place that sees Alice vanish off the face of the earth. Nobody has seen hair or hide of ever since – except for her scarlet dress that had been washed ashore…
A quarter of a century later, the once thriving town is now dilapidated and rundown. Tourists no longer flock to visit Severn Sands and the owners, Mr and Mrs Villars, have passed their failing business onto their son, Guy, who wastes no time in selling the land for development. As the building work begins, the construction workers are shocked when they unearth human bones. There seems to be no doubt that Alice’s remains have been found. But what really happened to Alice Lang twenty-five years ago? Why was she killed? And will this decades-long mystery ever be solved?
Will and Marnie have always been haunted by what happened that summer and now that Alice has finally been found must dig deep into the recesses of their memories to finally uncover what really happened to the woman who had changed both of their lives forever. Will Alice Lang’s killer ever be found? Why was she killed and, more to the point, is the killer still at large willing to do whatever it takes to protect their dangerous secret?
Louise Douglas is a wonderful storyteller and The Scarlet Dress is a beautifully layered page-turner that works as both a thought-provoking and affecting contemporary drama and a psychological crime thriller. The Scarlet Dress deftly blends chilling twists and turns with heart-breaking pathos and emotional depth in a superbly written tale of lies, secrets and deceptions where nothing is as it initally seems.
A compulsively readable tale I simply couldn’t stop reading, Louise Douglas has struck gold with her latest novel, The Scarlet Dress.
May 26, 2021
Enjoyable read
I knew the ended fairly soon but still love the unfolding of the story and the main characters
Kept me interested.
I knew the ended fairly soon but still love the unfolding of the story and the main characters
Kept me interested.
August 19, 2021
A young girl Alice rents a caravan at the holiday park next to estuary, befriends ten-year-old Marnie, who is the daughter of the park's caretaker. Local boy Will is in love with Alice, and jealous of any one who comes close to Alice. Alice disappeared from the caravan one night. Her scarlet dress was found on the riverbank, cops ruled her death as drowning.
💃🏻Twenty years later, bones were found on the site of a holiday park that has been sold for redevelopment.
💃🏽This started off good but the pace was very slow. On top of it, the unsystematic format the author chose to reveal the past story didn’t sit well with me. Story was told from Will and Marine’s perspective in the present day and in between, they drift off to the events/days surrounding the night of Alice’s disappearance. I don’t mind if this reminiscing happens in a few chapters but this continued in every chapter until the last one. This jumping of story from present to past frustrated me.
💃🏽I can sympathize with Marnie. Apart from her, I don’t connect or feel for any of the other characters. Will is possessed by jealousy, hard to believe he still holds a candle for Alice after all these years, appalled at the way he treats his girlfriends. He pushes them away when he wants but at the end goes to his girlfriend. I was outraged when she accepted him again.
💃🏽The hunch Will gets out of the blue is also unconvincing. It’s unbelievable why the character who revealed the truths waited a long time and lacks compelling reasons to do so now. If the unravelling of truth occurs through the investigation then it would have kept the suspense all along but revealing through a character fell flat.
💃🏽There are some plot holes or unanswered questions such as how one character knows about their parentage.
💃🏽Lot of the story revolves and is repeated many times about that particular night, felt it was dragging in parts. The final twist has surprised me.
💃🏻Twenty years later, bones were found on the site of a holiday park that has been sold for redevelopment.
💃🏽This started off good but the pace was very slow. On top of it, the unsystematic format the author chose to reveal the past story didn’t sit well with me. Story was told from Will and Marine’s perspective in the present day and in between, they drift off to the events/days surrounding the night of Alice’s disappearance. I don’t mind if this reminiscing happens in a few chapters but this continued in every chapter until the last one. This jumping of story from present to past frustrated me.
💃🏽I can sympathize with Marnie. Apart from her, I don’t connect or feel for any of the other characters. Will is possessed by jealousy, hard to believe he still holds a candle for Alice after all these years, appalled at the way he treats his girlfriends. He pushes them away when he wants but at the end goes to his girlfriend. I was outraged when she accepted him again.
💃🏽The hunch Will gets out of the blue is also unconvincing. It’s unbelievable why the character who revealed the truths waited a long time and lacks compelling reasons to do so now. If the unravelling of truth occurs through the investigation then it would have kept the suspense all along but revealing through a character fell flat.
💃🏽There are some plot holes or unanswered questions such as how one character knows about their parentage.
💃🏽Lot of the story revolves and is repeated many times about that particular night, felt it was dragging in parts. The final twist has surprised me.
February 23, 2021
Like a long, hot, summer's day, this book goes forever until it suddenly doesn't and you're staring at a gorgeous sunset, sad it's over but fulfilled all the same. Despite a slow start, I found myself enthralled by the slow unwinding of what really happened that fateful day Alice disappeared.
The two point of view characters are a fascinating study in contrasts. Will was passionately, jealously in love with Alice and her disappearance has clouded his judgement, fueled his career as a true crime writer, and poisoned his relationships ever since. He's not terribly likeable - he's an alcoholic who treats his girlfriend with a shocking lack of care, and his biases when it comes to Alice make him incapable of seeing the truth until it might be too late. Marnie, on the other hand, was a child when taken under Alice's wing who has grown into a defiantly different woman who prefers to keep most of the world at a distance. She knows more than she thinks but no-one ever thought to ask her. Her devotion to her animals and her daughter is almost jarring against Will's apathy.
The flashbacks are brilliantly written, interweaving the past and present seamlessly as the tragedy unfolds. Each chapter gave another crumb, another hint, until the breathtaking climax. You can't help but be drawn in.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.
The two point of view characters are a fascinating study in contrasts. Will was passionately, jealously in love with Alice and her disappearance has clouded his judgement, fueled his career as a true crime writer, and poisoned his relationships ever since. He's not terribly likeable - he's an alcoholic who treats his girlfriend with a shocking lack of care, and his biases when it comes to Alice make him incapable of seeing the truth until it might be too late. Marnie, on the other hand, was a child when taken under Alice's wing who has grown into a defiantly different woman who prefers to keep most of the world at a distance. She knows more than she thinks but no-one ever thought to ask her. Her devotion to her animals and her daughter is almost jarring against Will's apathy.
The flashbacks are brilliantly written, interweaving the past and present seamlessly as the tragedy unfolds. Each chapter gave another crumb, another hint, until the breathtaking climax. You can't help but be drawn in.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.
January 15, 2021
Twenty plus years after Alice's disappearance from a caravan park, her bones are located nearby. Marnie, who was a young girl at the time, has been mute ever since Alice disappeared (shortly after the death of Marnie's mother), and Will, Alice's boyfriend or lover of 3 weeks, has spent the rest of his life mourning her and vowing to find out what happened. Will comes off as a crazy stalker even though the woman he is obsessed with is dead. The flashbacks to their relationship are concerning at best. It was an okay book but I wasn't that into it. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but it also didn't grab my attention that much. 3 stars.
April 29, 2021
The Scarlet Dress held my attention from beginning to end. Not many books accomplish that. I found the characters well drawn, interesting, and quite different from one another. Each character's behavior was consistent, albeit sometimes disturbing, throughout the book. There were many plot twists which kept me guessing. I won't summarize the plot, because a review that does, takes away some of my joy of discovery.
I think this would be a good book for book clubs, with many opportunities for meaningful discussion.
I will read other books by this author, but not immediately.
I think this would be a good book for book clubs, with many opportunities for meaningful discussion.
I will read other books by this author, but not immediately.
April 19, 2021
Fabulous
I absolutely loved this book. Great story with many twists and turns. And who doesn’t love a happy ending? Well recommended
I absolutely loved this book. Great story with many twists and turns. And who doesn’t love a happy ending? Well recommended
October 24, 2022
Different than usual mystery!
This story had me guessing through the story line. I never guessed the true killer until it was revealed. Surprise.
This story had me guessing through the story line. I never guessed the true killer until it was revealed. Surprise.
April 27, 2022
Lulu' - per RFS
.
Care Fenici oggi vi parlo di un libro che ho trovato davvero meraviglioso. Un thriller ben costruito in grado di lasciare il lettore ad arrovellarsi il cervello sino all’ultima sconvolgente rivelazione. Procediamo con ordine: la storia si svolge in una cittadina di nome Severns Sands che si affaccia su un estuario e ha inizio con la demolizione di un campeggio, ora in rovina, ma che un tempo aveva attirato folle di turisti con i loro camper sia per la villeggiatura che per fruire dell’ulteriore attrazione di un Luna Park adiacente. Proprio questa demolizione riporta alla luce alcuni resti umani che appartenevano alla povera Alice Lang, una ragazza scomparsa improvvisamente dalla roulotte 149 che aveva affittato venti anni prima.
Dal mistero di questa morte prende il via la narrazione vera e propria e il romanzo si snoda attraverso i ricordi delle persone che avevano conosciuto e amato la povera Alice.
Spettacolare è il modo in cui vengono tratteggiati i vari personaggi a partire da coloro che all’epoca della vicenda erano solo due ragazzini e che, ognuno a suo modo, avevano amato e sofferto per Alice. La prima è Marnie, una bimba, all’epoca dei fatti, orfana da poco dell’amata madre Denise, e che ora ritroviamo adulta, affetta da uno strano mutismo. La donna aveva visto in Alice un amorevole sorella maggiore che la stava aiutando a riprendersi dalla perdita della mamma. Marnie ha una figlia e un amore smisurato per i cani che l’ha portata a scegliersi come lavoro quello di addestratrice cinofila. L’altro personaggio è Will, scrittore affermato, appassionato di delitti irrisolti, che all’epoca dei fatti aveva amato Alice con la forza di un amore adolescenziale, e che la precoce sparizione della ragazza aveva segnato per sempre, tanto da rendergli difficile il rapporto con altre donne.
Attraverso i ricordi di questi due protagonisti ci muoviamo nella storia della piccola comunità di Severns Sands conoscendo gli altri vari personaggi per come erano e per come sono diventati col passare del tempo.
Il sentiero dei ricordi perduti è un romanzo potente con un’ambientazione e una trama ben costruite, dove nulla è lasciato al caso e in cui il lettore si trova a percorrere il viale dei ricordi con un senso di malinconia e suspense crescente divorandone le pagine con il desiderio di conoscere quella verità sepolta che solo alla fine verrà svelata rimettendo le cose al loro posto.
Una lettura che consiglio a chiunque per il pregio di saper appassionare e mai annoiare il lettore.
.
Care Fenici oggi vi parlo di un libro che ho trovato davvero meraviglioso. Un thriller ben costruito in grado di lasciare il lettore ad arrovellarsi il cervello sino all’ultima sconvolgente rivelazione. Procediamo con ordine: la storia si svolge in una cittadina di nome Severns Sands che si affaccia su un estuario e ha inizio con la demolizione di un campeggio, ora in rovina, ma che un tempo aveva attirato folle di turisti con i loro camper sia per la villeggiatura che per fruire dell’ulteriore attrazione di un Luna Park adiacente. Proprio questa demolizione riporta alla luce alcuni resti umani che appartenevano alla povera Alice Lang, una ragazza scomparsa improvvisamente dalla roulotte 149 che aveva affittato venti anni prima.
Dal mistero di questa morte prende il via la narrazione vera e propria e il romanzo si snoda attraverso i ricordi delle persone che avevano conosciuto e amato la povera Alice.
Spettacolare è il modo in cui vengono tratteggiati i vari personaggi a partire da coloro che all’epoca della vicenda erano solo due ragazzini e che, ognuno a suo modo, avevano amato e sofferto per Alice. La prima è Marnie, una bimba, all’epoca dei fatti, orfana da poco dell’amata madre Denise, e che ora ritroviamo adulta, affetta da uno strano mutismo. La donna aveva visto in Alice un amorevole sorella maggiore che la stava aiutando a riprendersi dalla perdita della mamma. Marnie ha una figlia e un amore smisurato per i cani che l’ha portata a scegliersi come lavoro quello di addestratrice cinofila. L’altro personaggio è Will, scrittore affermato, appassionato di delitti irrisolti, che all’epoca dei fatti aveva amato Alice con la forza di un amore adolescenziale, e che la precoce sparizione della ragazza aveva segnato per sempre, tanto da rendergli difficile il rapporto con altre donne.
Attraverso i ricordi di questi due protagonisti ci muoviamo nella storia della piccola comunità di Severns Sands conoscendo gli altri vari personaggi per come erano e per come sono diventati col passare del tempo.
Il sentiero dei ricordi perduti è un romanzo potente con un’ambientazione e una trama ben costruite, dove nulla è lasciato al caso e in cui il lettore si trova a percorrere il viale dei ricordi con un senso di malinconia e suspense crescente divorandone le pagine con il desiderio di conoscere quella verità sepolta che solo alla fine verrà svelata rimettendo le cose al loro posto.
Una lettura che consiglio a chiunque per il pregio di saper appassionare e mai annoiare il lettore.
February 19, 2021
The holiday resort at Severn Sands is once again the subject of scrutiny when human remains are found when the holiday camp is being demolished to make way for a housing development. Twenty five years earlier the mysterious disappearance of twenty two year old Alice Lang caused a similar upset when she left her caravan on the holiday park, never to be seen again. For those who lived and worked on the camp site this disappearance has lain heavy, particularly for Marnie who was then a withdrawn ten year old, and also for nineteen year old Will who had a crush on Alice.
The story then introduces us to the grown up versions of Will and Marnie, both have been damaged by what life has thrown at them and over the years they have each carried a burden of doubt and guilt. Both characters are extremely complex, I found Marnie quite fascinating, she's a gentle soul, far more comfortable with animals than she is with people, and yet there's a hidden depth to her which the author cleverly brings out as the story develops. It took me a while to warm to Will, he has sharp edges which hide his vulnerability, but the role he played in the mysterious events at Severn Sands a quarter of a century ago are crucial to the plot.
As the story progresses the author gradually reveals more about these two central characters and as the events of the summer of 1995 come sharply into focus so a fascinating story, with lots of twists and turns, is gradually revealed. This clever author succeeds in building the tension quite slowly and there's an underlying edginess which at times gives the story quite a sinister feel. I especially enjoyed how the holiday resort became a character in the story, this quiet place, so down on its luck, has kept its secrets well hidden for far too long.
The Scarlet Dress is beautifully written as we have come to expect from this talented author. I flew through the story in the space of one sitting as I didn't want to give up until I knew the secrets of the scarlet dress and the role that both Marnie, Will and the other lead characters played in this compelling story.
The story then introduces us to the grown up versions of Will and Marnie, both have been damaged by what life has thrown at them and over the years they have each carried a burden of doubt and guilt. Both characters are extremely complex, I found Marnie quite fascinating, she's a gentle soul, far more comfortable with animals than she is with people, and yet there's a hidden depth to her which the author cleverly brings out as the story develops. It took me a while to warm to Will, he has sharp edges which hide his vulnerability, but the role he played in the mysterious events at Severn Sands a quarter of a century ago are crucial to the plot.
As the story progresses the author gradually reveals more about these two central characters and as the events of the summer of 1995 come sharply into focus so a fascinating story, with lots of twists and turns, is gradually revealed. This clever author succeeds in building the tension quite slowly and there's an underlying edginess which at times gives the story quite a sinister feel. I especially enjoyed how the holiday resort became a character in the story, this quiet place, so down on its luck, has kept its secrets well hidden for far too long.
The Scarlet Dress is beautifully written as we have come to expect from this talented author. I flew through the story in the space of one sitting as I didn't want to give up until I knew the secrets of the scarlet dress and the role that both Marnie, Will and the other lead characters played in this compelling story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews