Psychological thrillers are my favourite genre and this was one of the best books I've ever read. I haven't been able to stop thinking about the characters or put it down since I started it.
The story is told by three women. The central character, Helen, begins the narrative. She is 28 weeks pregnant and just starting antenatal classes. She has gone alone as her husband is working late and she ends up being thrown together with another single girl, Rachel. Rachel is very different from Helen. She is loud and loves drinking and smoking, despite being pregnant. It is from here the story develops. Helen appears to have everything. A large house, a loving husband and several good friends. Despite this she becomes very lonely. Rachel keeps turning up everywhere so their friendship quickly develops. As this happens you start to feel that something isn't quite right. Why is Rachel always there and what does she want? The tension in the story builds up with every page. Some of the chapters are written by Helen's sister in law, Serena and her younger brother's girlfriend, Katie so you start to learn more about Helen's family. What other sinister events have occurred within this slightly dysfunctional family? How is Rachel linked to it all?
This was such a cleverly written book. There were several great twists and I found it quite hard to predict the second half of the book at all (which I loved!) This is Katherine Faulkners first book and I will definitely be looking out for any future books by this great new author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for this ARC.