Book Description
He jumped to his death in front of witnesses. Now his wife is charged with his murder.
Five years ago, Erin Kennedy moved to New York following a family tragedy. She now lives with her detective husband in the scenic seaside town of Newport, Long Island. When Erin answers the door to Danny’s police colleagues one morning, it’s the start of an ordinary day. But behind her, Danny walks to the window of their fourth-floor apartment and jumps to his death.
Eighteen months later, Erin is in court, charged with her husband’s murder. Over that year and a half, Erin has learned things about Danny she could never have imagined. She thought he was perfect. She thought their life was perfect. But it was all built on the perfect lie.
My Thougths
Thank you to Millie Reid and Quercus Books for sending me a proof copy of this book. Published today I read it immediately prior to publication and it was the perfect book at the perfect time!
Told in the first person voice of Erin, the story begins on that blissful last morning that started off normally and went so badly wrong as Danny launched himself out of the window to his death below. The story then moves forward 18 months to ‘now’ when Erin is on trial for murder. A sub plot set 4 years prior at Harvard tells a different story and these all merge as the book progresses.
It would not be an understatement to say this book got me on the back foot. The police knock on the door, they and Erin witness Danny leap out of the window so how can she be responsible for his murder? To find that out, friends, you will have to read the book, but trust me when I say this was a fast paced and twisty story, a thrilling read with the mystery from the outset keeping me guessing and keeping me reading.
The writing is skilled, not only in creating this excellent plot but also in exploring Erin’s grief, the way her world totally falls apart in that one unforeseeable event. The questions she needs to answer to allow her to understand what caused her husband to take such a final action, lead her to question everything she knew about the man she had loved. I enjoyed the storyline set in Harvard and was constantly trying to work out exactly how this related to the current events.
This was a strong thriller / mystery with some superb twists, one in particular gave me a, ‘wtf’ moment, which I loved. Cleverly plotted with strong, engaging characters, particularly those on ‘TeamErin’ supporting her and later fighting for her liberty. The location was escapist, set on Long Island, beaches and a local community appealed with some truly rich neighbours. Hard to fault this gripping page turner, published today and recommended by me.
About the Author
Jo Spain is a full-time writer and screenwriter. Her first novel, With Our Blessing, was one of seven books shortlisted in the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition and her first psychological thriller, The Confession, was a number one bestseller in Ireland. Jo co-wrote the ground-breaking television series Taken Down, which first broadcast in Ireland in 2018. She’s now working on multiple European television projects. Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and their four young children.
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