review written and read live on the bookshow by Corinna christopher on 5th June 2014
This is a dark and
moody novel about a group of close friends and the tremors and turbulence that
arise in their relationships when one of the gang inherits a grand mansion in
the English countryside. Lucas inherited
the house from his uncle Patrick who recently committed suicide and invites Jo,
Martha, Danny, Michael, Rachel and Greg, all university friends, to visit him
at week-ends.
Jo is narrating the
story and is a budding journalist working on a local paper. She has known Lucas quite well and over their
visits embarks on an affair with him.
She feels that the house Stoneborough exerts a strange atmosphere over
them all and is convinced that it is haunted by the previous owner.. Into the mix of friends is Danny a
charismatic and mischievous young man ostensibly with a great career and plenty
of money. There is also Michael who is
gay and Greg and Rachel who are a couple.
Over the ensuing
week-ends Jo finishes with Lucas and in due course forms a strong relationship
with Greg....Lucas is devastated but is then taken over by Danny who after
loosing his job sponges off Lucas and causes endless trouble for everyone.
Jo moves in with
Greg and is busy trying to promote her career but Lucas keeps calling her and
wanting Jo to prop him up, eventually taking an overdose.
There are further
dramas when Lucas's long-dead father turns up and various family truths
emerge. The story is slow to develop but
there is a suitably dramatic conclusion to the tale. I found Jo a rather irritating character as she was very indecisive and wanted to give her a good shake along
with most of the other young people.
There is mystery,
romance and murder in this book and it is entertaining. Like other books by this author it is a good
read.
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