Louise Candlish (Our House), who has proven herself a master of capturing the tone and complexities of neighborhoods, returns with a psychological thriller that author Lisa Jewell calls “…fiendishly sharp, clever and gripping.”
Gwen Healy is the narrator for the majority of the book, a lonely divorcee of a certain age who lives in one of the loveliest buildings in London, Columbia Mansions, gone the way of so many grand houses separated into flats. Rooms are at a premium all over London, so it’s no surprise that there are plenty of sublets within the mansion, with some creative sorts even renting out a spare bedroom at exorbitant prices.
Living across the hall from Gwen is her neighbor, Alec. Gwen is immediately drawn to his newest subletter, a charming young woman who lives up to her name, Pixie. Despite the age difference, Pixie’s presence brings a new brightness to Gwen’s predictable life, and the two become friends.
It’s only as their friendship blossoms that Gwen sees that Pixie’s cheerful outer layer has a sadder underside, and soon traces this to the “friends with benefits” arrangement Alec has thrust upon Pixie to allow her to afford to live in the nice area and nicer home.
With her own children grown and distant, emotionally if not physically, Gwen is drawn to Pixie’s predicament and reacts with unpredictable protectiveness that pushes forward a chain of events that surprise and shock everyone in the building, even Gwen’s children.
There’s plenty of tension, and Gwen’s close observation of her neighbors in her building is rivaled only by what might or might not be really happening in their homes.
The twists abound as the quiet cruelties of such a close-knit building grow and expand in unimaginable ways to a shocking ending.
Terrifically well-constructed and highly readable~
Auntiemwrites Crime-Mystery Author M K Graff 