The Grandmother by Jane E. James

 I might be a grandmother. But I’m not some sweet, harmless old lady who people can push around.

Two little girls stand with their heads bowed in my living room. I’m told they’re my granddaughters. This is the first time I’ve met them since my daughter and I fell out after she married that waste of space, Vince. Daisy is nine, and Alice seven. Daisy is the spitting image of her mother.

They’ve come to live with me because their mother — my daughter — was murdered. In her own home while they slept close by.

I think their father, Vince, killed my daughter. But the police can’t prove it. I’ve always known he was no good. He treated my daughter like dirt. I warned her he’d cheat on her — but she wouldn’t listen.

 But then, most people have a dark side — and I’m no different.

Now he wants his daughters back.

Over my dead body.

I finally have a family of my own. And nobody is going to take it away from me.

About the author

Jane E. James is a bestselling author who likes to create chilling reads that appeal to fans of psychological suspense thrillers, mysteries, and dark fiction. Her novels are packed with plot twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. All of them are standalone novels.  

Jane is an animal lover and lives with her cat, Hero, in a small country village near Stamford, Lincolnshire in the UK, which is known for its quirky tea shops and cobbled streets. Rebecca, Carrie, The Woman in Black and Wuthering Heights are among some of Jane's favourite reads.

Review

‘The Grandmother’ is an engaging psychological thriller that keeps you guessing right up to the end! This is the first book I have read by the author but I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future releases. The style of writing is in a conversational first-person aspect and this means you really felt you were seeing the whole picture…or were you?! This was a book of secrets and lies, even from the characters themselves. It was delicious to read.

When Daisy and Alice wake up one morning to find their mother Scarlet has died, they are placed into the care of their grandmother. Vince their father is currently under suspicion of the death and his girlfriend won't take the girls in. But the thing is, they have never met their grandmother before. She seems to have the perfect life in a cottage in a picturesque village where still fills her time helping out in the community. People always have secrets though…

The story is told from the point of view of the Grandmother and the Father and I thought that aspect was extremely well done as it made you race through the short chapters. It was an engaging read. Despite being the bad guy from a run-down estate, I felt Vince had some great characteristics - he definitely loved his children, and he wanted to improve his life and help people out. I really enjoyed reading his chapters and I was rooting for him to come good! Yvonne, the Grandmother was an intriguing character who was well-developed and from the get-go, you knew the picture-perfect facade was as fake as anything.

This was a great read but I did feel that the ending was very rushed. It could have been teased out to make for a more drama-filled resolution. Maybe there is a sequel in the works…as I would love to know what happened next.

Let me know if you pick this one up!