Welcome to Litsy!

I saw the author read from this book at Bloody Scotland 2018 and jumped at the chance to read it. It's engrossing and well told, and I loved that the three main characters were women. I'd definitely read another book of hers.

Claire Askew‘s debut crime novel is a well-observed, melancholy affair revolving around 3 women whose lives are forever changed by a crime played out in the tabloid crucible (which is slightly over-salted but nevertheless rings true) and although there are a couple of strained plot points that I didn‘t quite buy, this is a very human book that shows how difficult it is to ever really know why people do awful things.

The unfolding story is told from the POV of 3 women: DI Helen Birch, Ishbel (mother of the first victim), & Moria (mother of the perp).

The chapters dealing with the shooting itself were gripping, but, personally I am fed up of reading about middle-aged women as drab & paralysed by ennui. I ended up feeling incredibly frustrated by the characters. 3 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to review an ARC.