Book Review ~ Darkest Truth by Catherine Kirwan

Arrow Books
2019

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

When lawyer Finn Fitzpatrick is approached by a man to investigate the death of his daughter, her first instinct is to refuse. And yet something about his story draws her in.

Why did a bright, confident, beautiful young girl suddenly drop out of school, isolating herself from everyone who cared about her?

The deeper Finn goes into the case, the darker and more twisted the picture becomes.

Because these are powerful people she is trying to expose. And they will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

What did I think about it..

Finn Fitzpatrick is a solicitor in the city of Cork, one stormy evening, just as she is leaving her office, she is approached by an elderly man who asks for Finn's helping in searching out the truth about what happened to his daughter, Deirdre. At first Finn is reluctant to take on the investigation but something about Sean Carney's story appeals to her sense of justice.

What then follows is an investigation which takes Finn into some dark and dangerous places and the more she uncovers about one person in particular the more she become embroiled in uncovering dark secrets which have been covered up by someone who was in a position of great trust.

Initially I found the story a little slow and it took me a while to feel comfortable with the characters, particularly Finn, who took some getting used to, but then about half way through the story starts to really take off and it becomes a much more interesting read.

As with all first stories in a proposed new series there is a certain amount of scene setting and getting to know the people and places. I think that setting the story in Cork is a great idea as the author seems to know the area well, and even though I am not familiar with the city, thanks to the author's detailed descriptions I was able to picture the streets and the other places which draw Finn into this complicated investigation. The story itself tackles a difficulty subject and in light of the #MeToo movement is particularly relevant.

Darkest Truth gets the series off to a good start.

About the Author

Catherine Kirwan grew up on a farm in the parish of Fews in County Waterford. She studied law at UCC and lives in Cork where she works as a solicitor. Darkest Truth is her first novel.

Twitter @catherinekirwan #DarkestTruth

@DeadGoodBooks

The Summer Six ~ Review ~ Giveaway ~ In A Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Dead Good Books launches it's Summer Reading Campaign with the Summer Six

Six books that they're recommending as fab page turners and real holiday suitcase space worthy!

You can join in with the fun on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram from 25th July using the hashtag #SummerSix

Tweet  @DeadGoodBooks which of the books you’d recommend to a friend using #SummerSix or snap a written version of your recommendation on Instagram with the hashtag and you’ll automatically be entered into a draw to win a set of all six books and an additional set to gift on to a friend.

Running out of space in your suitcase? Never fear – Dead Good Books are also giving you the chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite too so you can take loads of wonderful books with you!

Find out more on the Dead Good Books Website

For your delectation

~** Here are the Summer Six**~

  

  

I was lucky to be invited to be one of the bloggers given the chance to read one of the books 
In A Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware.


 Here are my thoughts plus the chance to win a copy of the book in my UK only giveaway.

The Blurb

In a dark, dark wood

Nora hasn't seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back. 

There was a dark, dark house

Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her

And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room

But something goes wrong. Very wrong.

And in the dark, dark room...

. 

Some things can’t stay secret for ever

My thoughts about In a Dark Dark Wood

If you go down to the woods tonight be sure not to go alone otherwise you may get tangled in this very cleverly controlled story of revenge and retribution.  What starts off as a group of alleged friends gathering in a secluded house in the woods for a hen party, rapidly becomes something far more sinister, and as old secrets come to the surface, so the fickle finger of fate starts to intervene with disastrous consequences.

Leonora Shaw has been invited to the hen party of a friend she hasn't seen in over ten years, she is puzzled as to why she has been contacted after such a long time but, as with all things, just sometimes, against your better judgement, you go along with an event even though you know that deep down it just feels wrong to do so.

I read the book quickly over the space of a few hours and I found the first person narrative, the story is told from Leonora's point of view, quite compelling.  There is much to take in and the pace is really fast and even though there were times when I questioned whether the characters would act the way they did, I couldn't stop myself from powering through the book at top speed in order to find out just what was going on with this disparate gathering of odd bods.

In a dark dark wood is a complex and multi-layered psychological suspense story which gives rise to the notion that we never really know what makes our friends tick and the old adage of keep your enemies close couldn't be truer. The author writes with great conviction and keeps control of a complicated plot whilst at the same time cranking up the tension. The added bonus of putting so many unstable narrators into one place makes it a real challenge to know who is telling the truth and why they are acting in the way they did but I enjoyed rising to that challenge. Throughout the story there is a real sense that this hen party is not going to end well, of course whether it does or not, you'll have to find out for yourselves.

Written with a fine eye for detail, In a dark dark wood is deliciously sinister, with more than a hint of ice cold terror, it’s a perfect holiday read and I loved it.

Best Read with …Pepperoni pizzas and ice cold tequila slammers.

Leave us a lovely comment after this blog post to be in with a chance of winning a copy of  In A Dark Dark Wood and of course, leave us a contact email or we won't be able to find you again and that would be disastrous if you're the winner.
UK addresses only.

I'll put all the entries into Jaffa's hat and pick a winner by Sunday 31st ..so go...go

**Good Luck**

Vintage
2015

 Happy Summer Reading

~***~



**~~ And the Winner is~~**

Ali 

Well done