Book Description
Steven Harding is a handsome, well-respected professor.
Ellie Masterson is a wide-eyed young college student.
Together, they are driving south from New York, for their first holiday: three days in an isolated cabin, far from the city.
Ahead of them, the promise of long, dark nights – and the chance to explore one another’s bodies, away from prying eyes.
It should be a perfect, romantic trip for two.
Except that he’s not who he says he is. But then again, neither is she…
My Thoughts
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted proof copy of this terse and original thriller. As Steven and Ellie head off to a remote location for a romantic getaway I expected a story about an older, philandering man with a vengeful ex girlfriend on his tail, out to wreak havoc on his new relationship. This shifted as the story progressed to somewhere between Misery (this may be a tenuous link) and Gone Girl, but I continued to be surprised. This book exceeded all expectations in terms of plot and I enjoyed it a lot. Without spoilers it tackled a serious contemporary and ongoing issue in an interesting way in the guise of a thriller.
Told from alternating perspectives of Steven and Ellie, this clever novel unfolds as aspects of the story come together and we see the perspectives of our two protagonists transpire to be remarkably different.
I liked the way the author unpicked the subject matter, really seeking to shed more light on things that we are all aware of but perhaps are all to willing to accept the dominant perspective about – that is, the male view and in this case, Steven’s view.
I hope I have got you intrigued? You should be, but more importantly I really think you should consider picking up Nobody But Us, which is available to buy now. The chapters are short and the story compact – told over that one weekend getaway. This is a thriller which starts at the end, so the police and ambulance are there, the floors and walls are bloodied. But what has happened?
A great read, the ending was possibly a bit drawn out, but that is a minor criticism of a that book I like a lot. An interesting subject is explored in this book, which I would recommend.
About the Author
Laure Van Rensberg is a French writer living in the UK and an Ink Academy alumna. Her stories have appeared in online magazines and anthologies such as Litro Magazine, Storgy Magazine, The Real Jazz Baby ( 2020 Best Anthology, Saboteur Awards 2020) and FIVE:2:ONE. She has also placed in competitions including 2018 and 2019 Bath Short Story Award.
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