If you like ridiculous plots and solar eclipses

characters not likeable (girls are both a bit mad) plus a dumb boyfriend and solar eclipses ad nausuem

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2 people found this helpful

How many untruths does it take to make a tragedy?

This is superior, sophisticated psycho-lit: taut, twisting, tense, making a switch-back of your interpretations and sympathies right up to the last few minutes. The framework of interest (near obsession) with watching eclipses is hugely successful, highly original and acts as a extended metaphor for other eclipses (as of love) in the story.

It's impossible to say much about the story because it would spoil it. Enough to say that Kit and Laura are mutually adoring boyfriend-girlfriend when Kit travels to Cornwall to view the eclipse (his passion) where Laura is to join him the next day. That following day Laura is walking ahead of Kit away from the camp site when she sees a couple having sex. She is sure that she is witnessing a rape and a court case follows where her witness account nails the rapist.

The narrative voices of Kit and Laura which make up the novel twist and turn in time between that eclipse in Cornwall, and 15 years later when Laura is heavily pregnant and Kit is briefly away viewing an eclipse in the far North. In those intervening years as Laura befriends Beth the rape victim, the lives of Kit and Laura are dogged by menace and debilitating fear. The author's skill is in drip-feeding us with hints and facts about what 'really' happened, some of the dropped allusions just a phrase here and there which explode within the narrative and are developed only gradually.

The cleverness of it all lies in the fact that there is no one 'real' truth - but there is deception perceived, real, intended and unintended. The narrative voices of Kit and Laura are distinctive and entirely real - and Jonathan Broadbent and Helen Jones capture all the nuances of character and feeling of the words which make up these two entirely real people.

Listening will possess you from the start right until the final resolution which I guarantee you won't have guessed!

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I loved the twist!

Well written, well researched, with a fabulous twist that takes the story up a gear just when it needs it.

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loved it

a page turner with some great charactersand twists in the story.. loved it! a good read

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I was kept on my toes the entire way through!

Excellent story, and really well performed by Helen and Jonathan. The characters and plot were gripping, looking forward to reading more by Erin. If you like psychological thrillers and constant twists this book is for you. Do be aware, however, of significant triggers in parts of the book, pertaining to abuse and sexual assault.

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Brilliant writing and narration

Beautifully written, in this genre Erin Kelly has written a book in a class of its own. I particularly liked Helen's voice in the narration.

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Warning!

I was so disappointed when I read this book it could have been a good story but it was ruined by the author s decision to have Laura's every other word the F word. It didn't fit the character in my view but worse it cheated me out of a third of her part . Did the author run out of adjectives for her to use or was just lazy?

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very slow

read lots of good reviews of this book so persevered with it but took 50 or so chapters to improve

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On the edge of my seat!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This book is dark, full of suspense with plot twists that keep you guessing until the end.

What did you like best about this story?

There is a twist towards the end that I just didn't see coming - I actually gasped out loud! I love the entangled lies and deceit that ran through both character's perspective in the book.

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A slow burner story

The story line started off really slowly; I wasn't sure if I'll make it to the end. However, I stuck with it and it took a turn for the better in the last 3 hours. The pace picked up and the story became interesting.
This book had potential with an interesting idea and setting but unfortunately was just ok for me. That said, it didn't put me off the author and I will make sure to check out her next book.

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