A good few years ago I read....& enjoyed...books by Sabine Durrant but I wouldn't have associated the writer of those chick-lit novels with this excellent psychological thriller.

This was one of those books that grabbed me from the first page. It's cleverly told from the perspective of Nick & Lizzie - in flashbacks by Nick telling the story of how they met
& in the present for Lizzie as she deals with the aftermath of her husband's death.

Events occur that suggest to Lizzie that Nick may not have died in the crash but is still alive & watching her but, of course, no one believes her. As the story progresses we follow Lizzie as she discovers Nick isn't quite the person she thought he was but at the same time we have Nick's explanations of his actions & it's quite chilling to see how he pursues Lizzie, how controlling & jealous he is (I was constantly on tenterhooks waiting to see if/when he became physically abusive) & yet although it would seem at first Lizzie is just a means to an end to him, it appears he does come to love her...in his own warped way.

Lizzie's life becomes further complicated by the arrival of teenager Onnie who invites herself not just into Lizzie's life but also her home. I found her totally obnoxious & felt myself wanting to shout at Lizzie to get a grip & kick the little cow out. A sign of good writing no doubt that such emotions are invoked!

There was a feeling of tension throughout as to what was going to happen next & that, & the fact that I couldn't work out what tack the story was going to take kept me engrossed.

Would really recommend this.

Passing this to KawasakiBabe - hopefully it will appeal but feel free to do with it what you will :o)

Thanks, Plum, I really fancy this one x

I have come across a couple of women who have been in relationships with psychopaths.They develop a knack for seeming calm, in control, pleasant and holding down jobs.
Deep down, they are in turmoil - their lives are controlled solely by their partner; due to jealousy and insecurity their relationships with others systematically break down, and they live in permanent fear of mood swings stemming from said partner's insecurities and violent temper.
This book shows in depth insight into one such relationship, between Lizzie and Zach. After Zach's death, Lizzie is still frightened of Zach - worried he has been following her, or that he has been in her house causing mischief.

Like Plum-crazy, I was cross about the young teenager, Onnie, but realised that Lizzie probably just didn't have the mental strength to deal with her.
I'm still not convinced that Zach is actually dead - it is still ambuguous, and did he truly love Lizzie or not? Hmm, maybe he wants to believe he does.
At least Lizzie herself belived he loved her - a fact which only goes to increase the poor girl's misery by giving her a guilt complex too!
Great book. Will definitely look out for more by her.
Thanks, Plum-crazy x

Passed on to a friend- not yet a Bookcrosser, but I'm working on her!
Happy reading.