Nicci French - Secret Smile

review read live on bookshow on 9th May 2013 by Babs Simpson

this is a psychological thriller - the story of Miranda who has a few dates with Brendan then dumps  him when she catches him reading her diary.

And that's the end of that, except it isn't

Miranda sister, Kerrey, finds a wonderful new boyfriend, and guess who it is?  Brendan.  The girls' parents and brother love him too and Brendan & Kerry become engaged - everyone being very careful of Miranda's feelings because Brendan has told them that he dumped her and she is broken hearted.

No-one believes Miranda when more and more horrible things happen; Brendan 7 Kerry move into her flat, he whispers vile things to her that no-one else can hear and gradually her family and friends come to believe she is paranoid and poor Brendan is suffering.

Her brother dies and the police become involved.

Brnedan leaves Kerry and immediately takes up with Laura, Miranda's close friend from university.  They marry then Laura dies too.

Miranda becomes more and more obsessed with trying to convince people of Brendan's guilt but she cannot get anyone to believe her.

this is an exciting page turner, quite spooky and really nasty in places but a very absorbing read.

 

show 4th June 2009

Guests today were Lydia Birch & Malcolm Martland.
Lydia reviewed Bill Brysons 'Notes from a Small Island' and a book she did not like called : White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyami.
The Bill Bryson was the first one of his I had read & I found it laugh out loud amusing (like the incident in the typical 1970's guest house when he left the tomato on his breakfast plate and was admonished by the landlady).
Similar suggested author to Bryson: Stephen Clarke (Merde Happens)
Malcolm reviewed PD James The Lighthouse & a trivia book. The PD James book was obviously set on Tresco, with embellishments.
Pd james suggested similar authors: Ruth Rendell, Minette Walters, Nicci French, Guilermo Martinez (Oxford Murders)
I had to mention the trivia fact I discovered about the 'horror novel printed on toilet roll'. Quote: 'Acclaimed Japanese horror writer Koji Suzuki, has teamed up with Hayashi Paper Corp for his latest novel 'Drop' (this brought belly laughs from the guests). The nine-chapter horror tale, due to be printed on rolls of toilet paper is aptly set in a public restroom, and is about an evil spirit that inhabits a toilet bowl.
Koji Suzuki, is perhaps best known for his books Dark Water and The Ring (well!)
The story is repeated over about every yard of paper and each roll costs Y210 (£1.40)