I’ve already mentioned how delighted I’ve been to see the earlier books of L.H. Stacey repackaged and reissued by Boldwood Books – and equally so that new readers are loving them as much as I did the first time around. Remember The Fake Date, reissued in October (you’ll find my post here)? Well, that one’s firmly on the Amazon Top 100 Best Seller list – and thoroughly deserves it. And today (27th January) sees the publication of another, The Accident – previously published as Tell Me No Secrets – now available as an e-book, in paperback and audiobook, and with a stunning new cover.
They’re calling it “a completely addictive, gripping psychological thriller” – and they’ve certainly got that absolutely right. Let’s take a closer look…
One wrong choice…
Every time Kate Duggan looks in a mirror she’s reminded of the night her life changed forever. Kate managed to walk away from the car accident that ruined the lives of her siblings, but questions still remain about what really happened on that dark stretch of road…
Since then Kate’s life has been spiralling. On the surface her fiancé Rob is supportive, but the reality is he’s controlling and manipulative and Kate knows she has to get away.
So, when Kate begins work at a firm of private investigators, she hopes this is her chance to shake off her guilt and start again. She likes the idea of hiding in the shadows, watching others without being seen.
But that one fateful night will come back to haunt Kate in ways she never expected. And maybe the answers she seeks lie much closer to home than she ever imagined…
Perfect for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and Kendra Elliot.
As before, I’m going to share again my original review, unchanged from 2017 other than the lightest of edits…
This really was quite a read – and in nothing but a good way! Kate is a great character – very likeable, strongly drawn – and you really feel for her as she struggles to conceal her visible scar after an accident that changed her life. She can’t hide the other scars though – her guilt about the others who weren’t so lucky, the damage to her self esteem, the problems with trust and the impact on her relationship with her parents.
OK, so maybe there aren’t too many of us who get the opportunity to train as a private investigator – even less of us (sadly…) get to work with a hot guy who really cares, with a hidden past and a knack for doing exactly the right thing at the right time. But the author really makes the story line work, a real page-turner and totally believable – I loved all the detail about running an investigation, the technology, the mind-numbing time in vans waiting for something to happen, even the photos of the backs of people’s heads being less than useful for identification. The way the story slowly escalates and becomes something other is really well done – also totally believable, with real shocks along the way.
I mentioned in other reviews of the author’s books that she is really excellent at creating characters. I was particularly struck, when reading this one, by the portrayal of Kate’s mother. Her put-downs take your breath away – but there’s a complexity around what lies behind it that’s extremely well handled. And as for Ben – well, he’s considerably more than just a “hot guy”. He’s caring and gentle, shows a nice touch of humour at times, is wonderfully solid and reliable – yes, he definitely worked for me!
Rob, though, is a real piece of work – there are lies, there are secrets, and then there are the kind of secrets that blow away the foundations of everything you hold dear. It’d be unforgivable of me to give away much of the story – I’ve stayed within what you’ll already know from the cover! – but this was one of those books that had me reading into the early hours, totally unable to tear myself away. I liked the Yorkshire setting too – there’s always something rather unsettling about an edge-of-seat thriller set against a background you know well, and there’s plenty of detail that takes you into the well-drawn locations.
Yes, I thought this one was a real winner – a perfect balance between characters you’ll take to your heart and a story that takes you somewhere you really won’t be expecting, and all really perfectly handled by an author getting stronger with every book.
Another one for the Amazon best seller list? Oh, I do hope so…!
About the author
L. H. Stacey is the bestselling psychological suspense author of over seven novels. Alongside her writing she is a full-time sales director for an office furniture company and has been a nurse, an emergency first response instructor and a PADI Staff Instructor. She lives near Doncaster with her husband.
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Love Lynda and her books, Anne – and this is already on my Kindle good to go. Fabulous review and really hope this is a smash hit for my longstanding writing chum!