May 10, 2016

Book Review: I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh

Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter, First Paragraph every Tuesday. 
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh, published May 3, 2016 by Berkley. 
Genre: thriller

First chapter, first paragraph:
Prologue: The wind flicks wet hair across her face, and she screws up her eyes against the rain. Weather like this makes everyone hurry, scurrying past on slippery pavements with chins buried into collars. Passing cars send spray over their shoes, the noise from the traffic making it impossible for her to hear more than a few words of the chattering update that began the moment the school gates opened. The words burst from him without a break, mixed up and back to front in the excitement of this new world into which he is growing. She makes out something about a best friend, a project on space, a new teacher, and she looks down and smiles at his excitement, ignoring the cold that weaves its way through her scarf. The boy grins back and tips up his head to taste the rain, wet eyelashes forming dark clumps around his eyes. 
Synopsis: Jenna Gray let go the hand of her five-year-old son for a few seconds as they walked home on the way from school and he ran ahead toward their front door. Those few seconds were enough time for her to lose him forever. 

She moves from her hometown in England for a cottage in Wales, leaving behind sad memories and an ex husband, wanting to make new friends and develop new relationships. But fate has other plans for her, as her ex is hardly out of the picture.

My comments: Imagine my surprise as I read on and found things are not what they seem and people are not who you think ... The novel is intense at times, very suspenseful, and has a surprise ending. I was ambivalent as I couldn't decide whether I would have ended the book that way or not. The plot twist takes the novel into a novel and noir direction.

My objective rating: 5/5
Thanks to the publisher for a review galley for their book tour. 

13 comments:

  1. As I read the first paragraph I thought - How sweet. Reading your comments tell me something different. Now I'm not sure about reading this one.

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  2. I just got this one, so I'm eager to read it! Thanks for reminding me to move it up on the stack. Here's mine: “THE CHILDREN”

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  3. I can't imagine how anyone could get over losing a child. I don't think I'd ever leave that place where I lost him, just in case he might return. Here's Mine

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  4. This seems like a tough one to read, about a missing child. Not sure. Happy Reading!

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  5. Nice review!!

    I think this is going to be the book of the summer. :)

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  6. This in one of my most anticipated reads.

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  7. Something about the writing style bothers me🙃Not sure about this one.

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  8. It is generally a good thing when a story surprises the reader.

    I like the writing in the introduction. It seems to create a detached and spare atmosphere.

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  9. I hadn't heard about this one, but it sounds like a book I'd like.

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  10. A missing child, a hard read. But your comment "things are not what they seem and people are not who you think" makes me want to know what and who they are.

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  11. I'm with Vicki. You have me curious.

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  12. This book is amazing! It made it onto my top 5 thrillers that keep you guessing (which you can check out here if you're interested: https://readbyjess.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/top-5-thrillers-that-keep-you-guessing.html)
    I loved how clever it was, I couldn't figure it out at all!

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