Published By: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Released On: 28/04/2022
Linda has lived in a quiet neighbourhood since fleeing the dark events of her childhood in Wales. Now she sits in her kitchen, wondering if this is all there is: pushing the vacuum around and cooking fish sticks for dinner, a far cry from the glamorous lifestyle she sees in the glossy magazines coming through the mail slot addressed to the previous occupant, Rebecca.
Linda’s husband Terry isn’t perfect – he picks his teeth, tracks dirt through the house, and spends most of his time in front of the TV. But that seems fairly standard – until he starts keeping odd hours at work, at around the same time young women in the town start to go missing.
If only Linda could track down and befriend Rebecca, maybe some of that enviable lifestyle would rub off on her and she wouldn’t have to worry about what Terry is up to. But the grass isn’t always greener and you can’t change who you really are. And some secrets can’t stay buried forever.
*****
*Contains Spoilers*
Thanks to HarperCollins for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Out of the four books Joanna has published, I unfortunately couldn’t get into “The Trouble with Goats and Sheep” or “Three Things About Elsie” (I am aware I’m in the minority here), but I did love her memoir “Breaking and Mending” even if I didn’t realise it was the same author.
This book is very much a cosy crime x murder mystery x psychological thriller. It really has a little bit of everything to keep its reader enraptured. You really start second guessing yourself and the characters with the turn of each page.
For me, this book is very about the human psyche and that really appeals to me, it makes it more personal and relatable; it asks you the question: what would you do in this situation?
The characters are very well rounded, very 3D. I didn’t 100% like anyone, and I didn’t 100% dislike anyone, they all had light and dark parts of them, which really messes with your head. Joanna has written little bread crumbs, littered throughout, teasing you, whetting your appetite until the very end.
You’ll find you have it all worked out and then in the last few pages, it’s all blown wide open, and you’ll be left, mouth agape, trying to settle your thoughts. It is a stunning exploration of the frivolities and the seriousness of human nature.
Books By Your Bedside 