The Sleeper
Emily Barr
Published in 2013
Headline Review
407 pages
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This was a highly readable suspense thriller by an author who is new to me, which was another random paperback pick from my overloaded bookcase.
It presents as domestic suspense – woman who is having an affair goes missing, husband distraught – but then takes an unexpected and much more exciting turn than the usual for this genre.
Lara made a mistake when she married kind, safe, devoted but boring Sam, and now that their plans to have a baby have fallen through, she’s desperate to escape life in small-town Cornwall, where they moved for a fresh start and to escape her toxic family. She takes a contract in London that will mean commuting by overnight train every weekend, but then one day she doesn’t return. Her new friend Iris doesn’t believe the police conclusion, so sets out to find her friend, who has dark secrets and enemies no one would believe.
This was another bolter – I wasn’t expecting to be so hooked and thoroughly enjoyed it, finishing it within 24 hours (I’m very happy to have my reading mojo back even if it means not much else is getting done 😹) Lara’s story is told in (annoying) first person present, while Iris’s is in conventional first person past. Iris is the much more sympathetic protagonist and I liked the way things worked out for each woman. Unfortunately I was spoiled for the major twists by an inadequately concealed GoodReads review – I’m not sure I would’ve seen them coming otherwise. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
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