Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: January 18, 2022
Source: ALC via Brilliance Audio
Summary:
From the bestselling author of the DI Amy Winter series comes a thriller about a shocking disappearance—and the village that has conspired to keep the truth buried.
Ten years ago, the Harper family disappeared. Their deserted cottage was left with the water running, the television playing cartoons, the oven ready for baking. The doors were locked from the inside.
Overnight, the sleepy village of Nighbrook became notorious as the scene of the unsolved mystery of the decade, an epicentre for ghoulish media speculation.
For crime journalist Naomi, solving the case has turned into an obsession. So now, with Ivy Cottage finally listed for sale, it’s her chance to mount an investigation like no other. And her husband and stepdaughter don’t really need to know what happened in their new home… do they?
But Nighbrook isn’t quite the village she expected. No one wants to talk to her. No one will answer her questions. And as she becomes increasingly uneasy, it’s clear that the villagers are hiding something—that there is something very dark at the heart of this rural idyll. And the deeper she digs, the more it seems her investigation could be more dangerous than she ever imagined… In raking up the secrets of the past, has she made her own family the next target?
My thoughts:
I’ve been a fan of Caroline Mitchell’s police procedurals for a while and I’ve loved her stand-alones as well so I knew I was in for a treat with this newest stand alone and I was absolutely right. This was as twisted and crazy as I’ve come to expect from this talented author and I was captivated by the story from start to finish!
One thing I have come to expect from Caroline Mitchell is that she gives you a story you will not be expecting. This is one wild, crazy ride and it was more twisted than even I could have imagined. It’s dark and disturbing and you find yourself completely invested in what is happening. I loved the alternating timelines and found myself equally invested in both – a family disappears without a trace in the past and then in the present, a crime journalist become obsessed with uncovering the truth, going so far as to buy the house when it comes up for sale, without telling her husband the house’s history. Unfortunately it isn’t exactly a seamless move and the locals aren’t as welcoming as Naomi would like.
This book kept me on pins and needles, wondering just what the heck was going on. I had so many theories running around in my head and let me just say, I never even came close to guessing the ultimate outcome. I loved the unsettling feeling I had right from the start and how it never really goes away. From the unfriendly locals in the present to the bizarre happenings in the past – this book kept me captivated to the point that I could not put it down. This is definitely a binge-worthy type of read – my favorite kind!
If you like stories that are brimming with suspense and will keep you guessing as to what is really going on, I highly recommend this one!
Audio thoughts:
I have come to love listening to Caroline Mitchell’s books. They just translate so well onto audio – between the suspenseful storylines and the great narrators that they get for them, I just find myself glued to the audiobooks and this latest one is no exception. Elizabeth Knowelden has narrated quite a few of Caroline Mitchell’s books and I love that she really does a great job with them. She understands the nuances of her characters and is able to give them each unique voices and personalities. Her pacing is spot on and she infuses just the right amount of tension and emotion into her voice as needed.
