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Little Black Lies
'A dark and haunting thriller. It creeps under your skin and doesn't let you go' Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train
What's the worst thing your best friend could do to you?
Admittedly, it wasn't murder. A moment's carelessness, a tragic accident - and two children are dead. Yours.
Living in a small island community, you can't escape the woman who destroyed your life. Each chance encounter is an agonizing reminder of what you've lost—your family, your future, your sanity.
How long before revenge becomes irresistible?
With no reason to go on living, why shouldn't you turn your darkest thoughts into deeds?
So now, what's the worst thing you can do to your best friend?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2015
About the author
Sharon J. Bolton
44 books4,396 followersSharon's newest book The Split is now available in both hardback and paperback in the UK!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...
Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.
She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.
She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...
Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.
She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.
She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,739 reviews
July 7, 2016
I was definitely late to the party with this one, as it was released last year, but undeterred, I delved straight in and didn't want the party to end!
The Falkland Islands is the setting chosen for this psychological thriller, a thriller that will leave you thinking about it long after you close the book.
Children are going missing in a relatively small community, but everyone knows everyone else - surely it can't be one of their own who's responsible could it? Maybe it's an outsider who's made this place their home - or even a passenger from one of the many cruise ships that visit these islands? Whoever is responsible, it's making this one heck of a scary place to live.
Seen from the perspectives of three of the islanders - Catrin, her lifelong friend Rachel, and Callum, Catrin's ex lover and former soldier, who made his home here after fighting in the Falklands War. All of them have secrets, all with something to hide, and when it comes right down to it, can ANY of them be trusted?
This story was so well crafted, and the location added much to the sombre mood of the theme. The main characters were all emotionally damaged, each of them suffering dreadfully, and the author portrayed this beautifully. As the book neared its ending, I just couldn't see how it could be brought to a satisfactory conclusion - well silly me! This has to be one of the best endings I've come across, it was akin to a smack in the face! That's how shocked I was.
I'd liken the story to being cast adrift on a stormy sea, tossed first this way, then that, never knowing where it's all going to end - and it was the very last sentence that revealed what I never saw coming. Now that's what I call clever Ms Bolton!
The Falkland Islands is the setting chosen for this psychological thriller, a thriller that will leave you thinking about it long after you close the book.
Children are going missing in a relatively small community, but everyone knows everyone else - surely it can't be one of their own who's responsible could it? Maybe it's an outsider who's made this place their home - or even a passenger from one of the many cruise ships that visit these islands? Whoever is responsible, it's making this one heck of a scary place to live.
Seen from the perspectives of three of the islanders - Catrin, her lifelong friend Rachel, and Callum, Catrin's ex lover and former soldier, who made his home here after fighting in the Falklands War. All of them have secrets, all with something to hide, and when it comes right down to it, can ANY of them be trusted?
This story was so well crafted, and the location added much to the sombre mood of the theme. The main characters were all emotionally damaged, each of them suffering dreadfully, and the author portrayed this beautifully. As the book neared its ending, I just couldn't see how it could be brought to a satisfactory conclusion - well silly me! This has to be one of the best endings I've come across, it was akin to a smack in the face! That's how shocked I was.
I'd liken the story to being cast adrift on a stormy sea, tossed first this way, then that, never knowing where it's all going to end - and it was the very last sentence that revealed what I never saw coming. Now that's what I call clever Ms Bolton!
June 11, 2020
I'd managed to sidestep war - or rather, I was lucky. I was born 3 years after food rationing ended, following WWII. That war was something that happened to another generation – my parents and grandparents. I was vaguely interested, from a historical point of view, but it wasn’t my war. Then the Falklands War came along. I was 23 and, like everyone else I knew, I’d never heard of the islands. But here we were sending troops down to battle with the Argentinians over this piece of land hardly anyone lived on. It was fascinating…and bizarre. Until the fighting started, that is. Then it became horrifying as nightly news bulletins showed footage of soldiers jumping off boats and running ashore and of planes taking off from an aircraft carrier. Then it got worse. The bombing of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram and the television pictures that showed the aftermath were my first real experiences of the horror of war – played out in front of us in our living rooms.
So when this novel was being rated by everyone as four or five stars, I resisted. I wasn’t sure I wanted to re-visit these islands. But eventually the tide of opinion got to me and I succumbed. And I’m so glad I did.
It’s a book you’re best to go into knowing little or nothing about, so I’ll be sparse with the details. It’s a mystery thriller told in a tight timeframe about a small group of people: their lives, their relationships and their children. Lots happens and it’s told from various perspectives. It’s very clever and its astonishingly well done.
I recognized some of the place names and some of the details of the conflict came back to me as I read the book. Goose Green and Port Stanley are imbedded in the minds of everyone who bore witness to the nightly news updates. And this actually helped give vision to this wild and barren place where everybody knows everyone else – and their business. There are references to the war too, though it’s not necessary to have any knowledge of the history to enjoy this book.
It’s a haunting tale, brilliantly told. It’ll certainly be in the top three thrillers I’ve read this year. Don’t miss it!
So when this novel was being rated by everyone as four or five stars, I resisted. I wasn’t sure I wanted to re-visit these islands. But eventually the tide of opinion got to me and I succumbed. And I’m so glad I did.
It’s a book you’re best to go into knowing little or nothing about, so I’ll be sparse with the details. It’s a mystery thriller told in a tight timeframe about a small group of people: their lives, their relationships and their children. Lots happens and it’s told from various perspectives. It’s very clever and its astonishingly well done.
I recognized some of the place names and some of the details of the conflict came back to me as I read the book. Goose Green and Port Stanley are imbedded in the minds of everyone who bore witness to the nightly news updates. And this actually helped give vision to this wild and barren place where everybody knows everyone else – and their business. There are references to the war too, though it’s not necessary to have any knowledge of the history to enjoy this book.
It’s a haunting tale, brilliantly told. It’ll certainly be in the top three thrillers I’ve read this year. Don’t miss it!
February 18, 2025
5 Holy Moly Stars!!
A Traveling Sister Read with Kaceey!
LITTLE BLACK LIES by SHARON BOLTON is a dark, haunting, emotional, and an extremely suspenseful thriller with an absolutely gripping and clever storyline that grabs your attention almost immediately and doesn’t let go until the very last sentence. We actually had to put this book on hold because of a few sister reads that we were both participating in and it sure didn’t take us long to get right back into the story (maybe we had to refresh our memory a teeny bit) when we picked it up again and then our other sister reads were put on hold!
SHARON BOLTON delivers in our opinion the perfect thriller here because of all of it’s surprising twists and turns and that ending, wow…...we were totally blown away! We have read quite a few thrillers lately and this one definitely left us feeling totally elated and gasping in awe when we were finished because of how awesome we both thought this book was!
To sum it all up it was unpredictable, suspenseful, and a fast-paced read with an ending that was absolutely brilliant which we both found to be totally satisfying. We already have our next Sharon Bolton novel picked out. Highly recommend!!!
A Traveling Sister Read with Kaceey!
LITTLE BLACK LIES by SHARON BOLTON is a dark, haunting, emotional, and an extremely suspenseful thriller with an absolutely gripping and clever storyline that grabs your attention almost immediately and doesn’t let go until the very last sentence. We actually had to put this book on hold because of a few sister reads that we were both participating in and it sure didn’t take us long to get right back into the story (maybe we had to refresh our memory a teeny bit) when we picked it up again and then our other sister reads were put on hold!
SHARON BOLTON delivers in our opinion the perfect thriller here because of all of it’s surprising twists and turns and that ending, wow…...we were totally blown away! We have read quite a few thrillers lately and this one definitely left us feeling totally elated and gasping in awe when we were finished because of how awesome we both thought this book was!
To sum it all up it was unpredictable, suspenseful, and a fast-paced read with an ending that was absolutely brilliant which we both found to be totally satisfying. We already have our next Sharon Bolton novel picked out. Highly recommend!!!
September 9, 2017
A Traveling Sister Read with Norma!
A heart-wrenching, dark and emotional read. Sharon Bolton does it again!
You are quickly drawn into a deeply tragic tale of two lifelong friends, torn apart by a sudden, horrid event that leaves them both emotionally fragile and psychologically damaged. One looking for revenge, the other barely hanging by a thread.
Catrin and Rachel grew up together on the Falkland Islands. Both married with two young sons. Soon each is pregnant and thrilled to have a third son on the way. Then, on a day like any other, everything in their lives change.
The pain both Catrin and Rachel feel is palpable. Witnessing them in their desperate struggles is heartbreaking.
The layers to this book are wonderfully intricate, as Sharon Bolton weaves her web to deliver the perfect thriller. The twists kept coming, keeping me guessing and gasping right up to the very last line. Highly recommend! Already looking to pick up another Sharon Bolton novel!
To find this review along with our Traveling Sister Review, please visit the Traveling Sister Review section of Norma and Brenda’s fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
A heart-wrenching, dark and emotional read. Sharon Bolton does it again!
You are quickly drawn into a deeply tragic tale of two lifelong friends, torn apart by a sudden, horrid event that leaves them both emotionally fragile and psychologically damaged. One looking for revenge, the other barely hanging by a thread.
Catrin and Rachel grew up together on the Falkland Islands. Both married with two young sons. Soon each is pregnant and thrilled to have a third son on the way. Then, on a day like any other, everything in their lives change.
The pain both Catrin and Rachel feel is palpable. Witnessing them in their desperate struggles is heartbreaking.
The layers to this book are wonderfully intricate, as Sharon Bolton weaves her web to deliver the perfect thriller. The twists kept coming, keeping me guessing and gasping right up to the very last line. Highly recommend! Already looking to pick up another Sharon Bolton novel!
To find this review along with our Traveling Sister Review, please visit the Traveling Sister Review section of Norma and Brenda’s fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
April 6, 2017
I wish to thank Net Galley, Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press, and Ms. Sharon Bolton for an ARC of Little Black Lies in exchange for an unbiased review.
Two words: Bloody Brilliant!!
It has been over a year since I read Ms. Bolton’s Now You See Me, which ended up as my favorite read of 2014. I cannot understand why it has taken me so long to get back to this author. What a magnificent story she has constructed in Little Black Lies. This stand-alone psychological thriller has it all: terrific characters, a beautifully described setting, masterful plot, twists and turns galore, and a mind-blowing ending.
The novel takes place in the Falkland Islands located in the South Atlantic Ocean; it is a place I knew little about before reading this book. The setting itself plays a major role in the story, and Ms. Bolton effectively transports us there with her luminous descriptive passages.
The tale is told from the points of view of each of the three co-protagonists, giving us three different angles on the story. There is a strong emotional element in Little Black Lies. We get deep, and I mean DEEP, inside the heads of Catrin, Callum, and Rachel, and we get to know them intimately. I do not think it is possible for character development to be any better than what Ms. Bolton has done in this book.
To say the plot is ingenious is an understatement. There are so many facets to it and so many possible ways the story can go. The twists and turns practically induce vertigo. I was sure at one point that I had it all figured out. Fool! I wasn’t even close. At 96% I was worried for Ms. Bolton, wondering how she was going to get herself out of this complex situation. I was totally enthralled with how the plot played out, and it took till the very last sentence of the book to do so. I do have to admit that though I was totally surprised by virtually all aspects of the ending, the clues are all there to figure everything out if you are smart enough. Clearly, I wasn’t. And that’s the way I like my thrillers.
In summary, this book is riveting and a must read for all thriller fans. It baffles me why so many readers are unaware of this author. In my opinion, she is in the upper echelon of the finest thriller writers in the world. Give her books a shot. You will not regret it.
Two words: Bloody Brilliant!!
It has been over a year since I read Ms. Bolton’s Now You See Me, which ended up as my favorite read of 2014. I cannot understand why it has taken me so long to get back to this author. What a magnificent story she has constructed in Little Black Lies. This stand-alone psychological thriller has it all: terrific characters, a beautifully described setting, masterful plot, twists and turns galore, and a mind-blowing ending.
The novel takes place in the Falkland Islands located in the South Atlantic Ocean; it is a place I knew little about before reading this book. The setting itself plays a major role in the story, and Ms. Bolton effectively transports us there with her luminous descriptive passages.
The tale is told from the points of view of each of the three co-protagonists, giving us three different angles on the story. There is a strong emotional element in Little Black Lies. We get deep, and I mean DEEP, inside the heads of Catrin, Callum, and Rachel, and we get to know them intimately. I do not think it is possible for character development to be any better than what Ms. Bolton has done in this book.
To say the plot is ingenious is an understatement. There are so many facets to it and so many possible ways the story can go. The twists and turns practically induce vertigo. I was sure at one point that I had it all figured out. Fool! I wasn’t even close. At 96% I was worried for Ms. Bolton, wondering how she was going to get herself out of this complex situation. I was totally enthralled with how the plot played out, and it took till the very last sentence of the book to do so. I do have to admit that though I was totally surprised by virtually all aspects of the ending, the clues are all there to figure everything out if you are smart enough. Clearly, I wasn’t. And that’s the way I like my thrillers.
In summary, this book is riveting and a must read for all thriller fans. It baffles me why so many readers are unaware of this author. In my opinion, she is in the upper echelon of the finest thriller writers in the world. Give her books a shot. You will not regret it.
July 27, 2016
This is highly recommended for all thriller fans! I just loved it!
I just loved this book. It deserved a lot more stars than 5. This book is so hard to review to give it the justice it deserves. First of all I have never been to the Falkland Islands but I sure felt that I was there. I could vision in it, and could even smell it. I love when the author description of a place is so well done that it felt like I just visited it. I love to visit places in my books. I also loved the characters in this book.
If you have not read this book, I feel you are missing out if you are a thriller fan. This one I think is my favorite for the year. Here is a short summary of the book.
Catrin Quinn’s job at Falkland Conservation is to protect the sea life in the Falklands’ fragile ecology. Why would her goal, her passion, lie in nursing a plan to kill her former best friend, Rachel Grimwood? The answer unfolds in three strands. As Catrin glides among the fur seals and pilot whales, she reveals the unending source of her pain: her two young sons, Ned and Kit, left alone in a car parked on a cliff, fell to their deaths in the same sea whose wildlife she now protects. Her ex-husband, Ben, has moved on, remarried, and started a second family. Only her former lover Callum Murray, a Scottish soldier who came to defend the Falklands during the Argentine invasion, understands who Catrin has become. In his narrative, he tries to woo Catrin back into the world. In spite of his own struggles with PTSD, he tempts her into the hero’s role, searching for a toddler who’s gone missing from a tour-boat holiday. But trying to save another mother’s child provides scant relief for Catrin, who trains her sights ever more narrowly on Rachel, the woman who left Ned and Kit in the vehicle that became their coffin. Bolton leaves it to Catrin’s intended victim to bring her story home, but Rachel’s narrative lacks the bite of the earlier two.
In the end, what might have been a searching look into the fine line between mishap and crime ends in a cascade of improbability.
I just loved this book. It deserved a lot more stars than 5. This book is so hard to review to give it the justice it deserves. First of all I have never been to the Falkland Islands but I sure felt that I was there. I could vision in it, and could even smell it. I love when the author description of a place is so well done that it felt like I just visited it. I love to visit places in my books. I also loved the characters in this book.
If you have not read this book, I feel you are missing out if you are a thriller fan. This one I think is my favorite for the year. Here is a short summary of the book.
Catrin Quinn’s job at Falkland Conservation is to protect the sea life in the Falklands’ fragile ecology. Why would her goal, her passion, lie in nursing a plan to kill her former best friend, Rachel Grimwood? The answer unfolds in three strands. As Catrin glides among the fur seals and pilot whales, she reveals the unending source of her pain: her two young sons, Ned and Kit, left alone in a car parked on a cliff, fell to their deaths in the same sea whose wildlife she now protects. Her ex-husband, Ben, has moved on, remarried, and started a second family. Only her former lover Callum Murray, a Scottish soldier who came to defend the Falklands during the Argentine invasion, understands who Catrin has become. In his narrative, he tries to woo Catrin back into the world. In spite of his own struggles with PTSD, he tempts her into the hero’s role, searching for a toddler who’s gone missing from a tour-boat holiday. But trying to save another mother’s child provides scant relief for Catrin, who trains her sights ever more narrowly on Rachel, the woman who left Ned and Kit in the vehicle that became their coffin. Bolton leaves it to Catrin’s intended victim to bring her story home, but Rachel’s narrative lacks the bite of the earlier two.
In the end, what might have been a searching look into the fine line between mishap and crime ends in a cascade of improbability.
May 27, 2015
Ever since I finished this book yesterday I have been debating whether to give it four or five stars, but since after a certain point I couldn't pit the darn book down, five it is.
The setting was unusual, the Falkland Islands, and the writing is so wonderfully descriptive, I could feel the wind, pi true the rocks and cliffs, the mine field, all the wild life, actually felt like I was there. Same with he characters, we get a glimpse of village life, those who run the newspaper and the police. The three main character each tell their stories and we get to know them pretty well. We even get a little picture of the war on the islands told through flashbacks of one of the main characters. Children are going missing on the island and this is where the story starts, with a missing boy and then it just hooked me, the story goes places I didn't expect, many twists and turns. Suspense, tension and wanting to know what happens. And no this is, another one I had no clue until the end and I love when an author can do that. The final twist at the end really surprised me.
Bolton has become one of my favorite authors and this stand alone did not disappoint.
ARC from Net Galley.
The setting was unusual, the Falkland Islands, and the writing is so wonderfully descriptive, I could feel the wind, pi true the rocks and cliffs, the mine field, all the wild life, actually felt like I was there. Same with he characters, we get a glimpse of village life, those who run the newspaper and the police. The three main character each tell their stories and we get to know them pretty well. We even get a little picture of the war on the islands told through flashbacks of one of the main characters. Children are going missing on the island and this is where the story starts, with a missing boy and then it just hooked me, the story goes places I didn't expect, many twists and turns. Suspense, tension and wanting to know what happens. And no this is, another one I had no clue until the end and I love when an author can do that. The final twist at the end really surprised me.
Bolton has become one of my favorite authors and this stand alone did not disappoint.
ARC from Net Galley.
June 21, 2023
Thank you L Stew for the gifted copy 💖
Phat ass trigger warning: euthanasia of whales
Writing: standard for Sharon Bolton (sold) | Plot: disjointed | Ending: *drops to knees* whyyYYYYYYY??
SYNOPSIS
3 years ago, Catrin lost both of her sons in a tragic accident. Since then, 3 boys have gone missing. Oh, and there's whales.
MY OPINION
Every time I get to the last 25% of a Bolton book, this is what I look like:
Just... WHY??? It's like she's sitting in front her computer, rubs her hands together like a super villian and goes: "How quickly can tank this book?" While this certainly wasn't her worst ending, it was giving me Scooby Doo in full effect. At least she acknowledged the tomfoolery of the police, but still. For a book that took its time and was carefully pieced together, she really slammed 16 'twists' together at the end there. I will admit that the very final twist on the last page was GOODT—I wish there had been more exploration around this.
It was honestly hard to write the synopsis for this one because I didn't want to give away too much. Told in three parts from three POVs, you don't really get to the meat of things until halfway through the book. The first half is establishing Catrin as Bad Gyal Chun Li, which includes an unnecessarily long whale scene that ends in the euthanasia of nearly 200 whales. Yep. I know WHY Bolton included this, but this part was doing too much.
Catrin is the first narrator, and I found her part the most confusing. Callum and Rachel's POVs fill in the blanks, thankfully. I can't really say I particularly liked any of the characters; Constable Skye was the funniest with her incessant clumsiness. Catrin, Callum, and Rachel all made poor decisions based on their level of horniness, so brace yourself for that.
As per usual, Bolton serves up a unique setting in the Falkland Islands. This book is set in 1994 and includes lots of details about the ongoing Argentinian-British power-struggle over the island. Was it pertinent to the plot? Not particularly. But I appreciate any 'thriller' (although this is more like slightly confusing suspense) that isn't set in an affluent Boston neighbourhood. You can tell Bolton does her research, which always earns extra points from me.
I wouldn't recommend you rush out and get this one. It was a bit slow and disjointed, but if you're a certified #BoltonBish, go right ahead. Might as well buss through her backlist.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: unique setting, interesting historical aspects, some suspense, final twist on the last page was solid
Cons: had a hard time understanding Catrin and Callum's characters, everyone made decisions with their seggsual body parts instead of their brains, storyline was disjointed, real mystery isn't introduced until nearly halfway through
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
Phat ass trigger warning: euthanasia of whales
Writing: standard for Sharon Bolton (sold) | Plot: disjointed | Ending: *drops to knees* whyyYYYYYYY??
SYNOPSIS
3 years ago, Catrin lost both of her sons in a tragic accident. Since then, 3 boys have gone missing. Oh, and there's whales.
MY OPINION
Every time I get to the last 25% of a Bolton book, this is what I look like:
Just... WHY??? It's like she's sitting in front her computer, rubs her hands together like a super villian and goes: "How quickly can tank this book?" While this certainly wasn't her worst ending, it was giving me Scooby Doo in full effect. At least she acknowledged the tomfoolery of the police, but still. For a book that took its time and was carefully pieced together, she really slammed 16 'twists' together at the end there. I will admit that the very final twist on the last page was GOODT—I wish there had been more exploration around this.
It was honestly hard to write the synopsis for this one because I didn't want to give away too much. Told in three parts from three POVs, you don't really get to the meat of things until halfway through the book. The first half is establishing Catrin as Bad Gyal Chun Li, which includes an unnecessarily long whale scene that ends in the euthanasia of nearly 200 whales. Yep. I know WHY Bolton included this, but this part was doing too much.
Catrin is the first narrator, and I found her part the most confusing. Callum and Rachel's POVs fill in the blanks, thankfully. I can't really say I particularly liked any of the characters; Constable Skye was the funniest with her incessant clumsiness. Catrin, Callum, and Rachel all made poor decisions based on their level of horniness, so brace yourself for that.
As per usual, Bolton serves up a unique setting in the Falkland Islands. This book is set in 1994 and includes lots of details about the ongoing Argentinian-British power-struggle over the island. Was it pertinent to the plot? Not particularly. But I appreciate any 'thriller' (although this is more like slightly confusing suspense) that isn't set in an affluent Boston neighbourhood. You can tell Bolton does her research, which always earns extra points from me.
I wouldn't recommend you rush out and get this one. It was a bit slow and disjointed, but if you're a certified #BoltonBish, go right ahead. Might as well buss through her backlist.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: unique setting, interesting historical aspects, some suspense, final twist on the last page was solid
Cons: had a hard time understanding Catrin and Callum's characters, everyone made decisions with their seggsual body parts instead of their brains, storyline was disjointed, real mystery isn't introduced until nearly halfway through
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
August 4, 2016
"But the woman Ben had married wasn't there any more and neither he nor I knew where to find her."
Ah, it happens. I had to "sit with" this book by Sharon Bolton afterwards and feel the grit of its words and close my eyes tightly to the deep impact of the character of Catrin Quinn. Sharon Bolton places her finger on the pulse of Catrin and reveals the inner workings of a woman who has suffered the unspeakable loss of two sons in a horrific accident. Only Bolton knows where deep in her soul this character resides.
The Falkland Islands provides the setting with a craggy landscape ripe for questionable happenings. Bolton even provides a thread of the war fought there and the fissures of the scars left behind. Catrin and her husband Ben have divorced after losing their sons.....like two puzzle pieces that no longer fit into the scheme of things. Catrin embraces a weakened lifeline to being a marine biologist and becomes immersed in the darkened waters off the coast of the archipelago. She breathes tainted breaths within the shattered remnants of her former life. She is hollowed out and dying a slow death in the brutal rays of daily life.
You see, her childhood friend, Rachel, is responsible for the deaths of those two little boys. And forgiveness is as elusive as the horn of a unicorn. They have not spoken for three years and avoid being anywhere near each other. Rachel walks in the aftermath of this loss as well. It has imprinted a stain upon her heart for which there is no cure.
Callum Murray takes up residence near Catrin. He suffers from PTSD after the war and the effects weigh heavy on him. There is a connection between these two that remains unbreakable in the years before and the time after the accident.
Tragedy strikes again when young boys go missing in this small community. Bolton weaves the story with a snake-like grip on the lives of these three characters. How are they interconnected and what will be left on the doorstep?
Some have questioned the ending of this story. But it conjures up thoughts of the "pound of flesh" in The Merchant of Venice. Is there ever a means to complete restitution for our deeds? The suffering soul has a profound willingness to fall upon the sword for the supreme sacrifice. Yet, it is never enough.
Sharon Bolton presents a story that is so deeply character driven. She lays out the frailty of the human mind and spirit like no other. You walk within the weight of each step taken by these individuals. This is a remarkable read if you are open to lifting aside the dark shadows that overcast truth. And truth is an elusive bird here that takes flight when the winds are stirred.
Ah, it happens. I had to "sit with" this book by Sharon Bolton afterwards and feel the grit of its words and close my eyes tightly to the deep impact of the character of Catrin Quinn. Sharon Bolton places her finger on the pulse of Catrin and reveals the inner workings of a woman who has suffered the unspeakable loss of two sons in a horrific accident. Only Bolton knows where deep in her soul this character resides.
The Falkland Islands provides the setting with a craggy landscape ripe for questionable happenings. Bolton even provides a thread of the war fought there and the fissures of the scars left behind. Catrin and her husband Ben have divorced after losing their sons.....like two puzzle pieces that no longer fit into the scheme of things. Catrin embraces a weakened lifeline to being a marine biologist and becomes immersed in the darkened waters off the coast of the archipelago. She breathes tainted breaths within the shattered remnants of her former life. She is hollowed out and dying a slow death in the brutal rays of daily life.
You see, her childhood friend, Rachel, is responsible for the deaths of those two little boys. And forgiveness is as elusive as the horn of a unicorn. They have not spoken for three years and avoid being anywhere near each other. Rachel walks in the aftermath of this loss as well. It has imprinted a stain upon her heart for which there is no cure.
Callum Murray takes up residence near Catrin. He suffers from PTSD after the war and the effects weigh heavy on him. There is a connection between these two that remains unbreakable in the years before and the time after the accident.
Tragedy strikes again when young boys go missing in this small community. Bolton weaves the story with a snake-like grip on the lives of these three characters. How are they interconnected and what will be left on the doorstep?
Some have questioned the ending of this story. But it conjures up thoughts of the "pound of flesh" in The Merchant of Venice. Is there ever a means to complete restitution for our deeds? The suffering soul has a profound willingness to fall upon the sword for the supreme sacrifice. Yet, it is never enough.
Sharon Bolton presents a story that is so deeply character driven. She lays out the frailty of the human mind and spirit like no other. You walk within the weight of each step taken by these individuals. This is a remarkable read if you are open to lifting aside the dark shadows that overcast truth. And truth is an elusive bird here that takes flight when the winds are stirred.
October 20, 2017
Library- ebook: Overdrive
This was a *Sharon Bolton* FIRST for me. “Black Little Lies” is a stand alone novel. I’ve heard great things about this English author of mystery fiction -especially about her Lacey Flint series- that before I invested time in a series(which I mostly resist)...
I wanted to see what all the hubba-hubba was about. I’m glad I did. Thank You to many Goodreads friends!
I loved the setting —Stanley, Falkland Islands... between Great Britain and Argentina and a little history of the Falklands War. I enjoyed reading about the land - the history of the whales - while at the same time the the characters - and plot were the driving force.
Catrin (and her dog Queenie), first begin this story. Catrin immediately grabs our attention when she tells us she’s plotting to kill her ex-best friend Rachel. It’s been almost three years since her 2 sons died after Rachel left them alone in her car- that went over a cliff. Catrin’s plan is to kill Rachel on the day of the three-year anniversary that her sons died.
Author Sharon Bolton - is quite ingenious with the plot and characters. A young boy is missing.... very similar to two other young boys who went missing on this small island who were never found. But with each of the main characters, I was always wondering who was really reliable and who wasn’t.... and how were the missing boys tied to Catrin’s specific situation - grief- and desire for revenge on Rachel.
It was easy to make a case for none of the characters being a reliable.
After Catrin narrates approximately the first third of the story —�we then have Callum- an ex Scottish Soldier and last Rachel.
So.... it’s Catrin, Callum, and Rachel running this novel....or is it? There are a couple other side characters we also question - with little surprise details along the way —� as in ...”oh my, really?”
I wouldn’t get too comfy in thinking you have this novel figured out.....it’s not called
“Black Little Lies” for nothing.
I sure as hell didn’t see the ending coming.
No graphic or extreme violence- kudos to Bolton....
.............just a darn good mystery-suspense novel!
This was a *Sharon Bolton* FIRST for me. “Black Little Lies” is a stand alone novel. I’ve heard great things about this English author of mystery fiction -especially about her Lacey Flint series- that before I invested time in a series(which I mostly resist)...
I wanted to see what all the hubba-hubba was about. I’m glad I did. Thank You to many Goodreads friends!
I loved the setting —Stanley, Falkland Islands... between Great Britain and Argentina and a little history of the Falklands War. I enjoyed reading about the land - the history of the whales - while at the same time the the characters - and plot were the driving force.
Catrin (and her dog Queenie), first begin this story. Catrin immediately grabs our attention when she tells us she’s plotting to kill her ex-best friend Rachel. It’s been almost three years since her 2 sons died after Rachel left them alone in her car- that went over a cliff. Catrin’s plan is to kill Rachel on the day of the three-year anniversary that her sons died.
Author Sharon Bolton - is quite ingenious with the plot and characters. A young boy is missing.... very similar to two other young boys who went missing on this small island who were never found. But with each of the main characters, I was always wondering who was really reliable and who wasn’t.... and how were the missing boys tied to Catrin’s specific situation - grief- and desire for revenge on Rachel.
It was easy to make a case for none of the characters being a reliable.
After Catrin narrates approximately the first third of the story —�we then have Callum- an ex Scottish Soldier and last Rachel.
So.... it’s Catrin, Callum, and Rachel running this novel....or is it? There are a couple other side characters we also question - with little surprise details along the way —� as in ...”oh my, really?”
I wouldn’t get too comfy in thinking you have this novel figured out.....it’s not called
“Black Little Lies” for nothing.
I sure as hell didn’t see the ending coming.
No graphic or extreme violence- kudos to Bolton....
.............just a darn good mystery-suspense novel!
May 31, 2015
Many thanks to Netgallery, Minotaur books and Sharon Bolton for supplying the ARC copy of “Little Black Lies” in return for a honest review.
Sharon Bolton is the author of the bestselling Lacey Flint series. Little Black Lies is her first standalone thriller since Blood Harvest. This standalone mystery is about a mother who, three years after her two young children disappeared, is plotting revenge…to kill someone.
The novel is set in the Falkland Islands, and the writing instantly draws you into the book, with descriptive scenic passages that provide food for thought. It is about a tragic story of death, guilt and trying to move on, in the midst of pain.
The novel is divided into three parts, and the three co-protagonists; Catrin, Callum and Rachel, take part explaining in detail their perspective of the events. This allows the reader to broaden their scope of the dynamics of the situation, past and present, and get to know the characters in greater detail.
Catrin Quinn lost her two young sons, three years ago, in a terrible accident. Catrin is a marine scientist, working for the Falkland Conservation, and appears on the outside to be “coping”…but this is only an act. The only thing that gives her comfort is her dog, “Queenie” a terrier, that had also loved the boys.
“I’ve been wondering if I have what it takes to kill. Whether I can look a living creature in the eye and take the one irreversible action that ends a life…I have no difficulty in killing. I’m actually rather good at it.”
Callum Murray, a Scot who first came to the Falklands as a paratrooper during the war, and was Catrin’s ex-lover, when she was married to Ben. Callum suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and has episodes, “flashbacks” to what happened in the conflict. (PTSD)
Rachel, was Catrin’s childhood best friend, until the day of the tragic car accident, that had Rachel at the wheel of the car, and resulted in the accidental deaths of Catrin’s young sons, and the end of their friendship. Now all that Catrin wanted was Revenge!
And then another child goes missing! Three young boys all disappear in the last two years, all near water. But were they connected?
In this fast-paced suspense novel, the author keeps the reader guessing right until the very end, and boy what a surprise Brilliant ending! A definite 5-Star plus rating from me. Now I am totally intrigued to make the time to read all her books in the series.
Sharon Bolton is the author of the bestselling Lacey Flint series. Little Black Lies is her first standalone thriller since Blood Harvest. This standalone mystery is about a mother who, three years after her two young children disappeared, is plotting revenge…to kill someone.
The novel is set in the Falkland Islands, and the writing instantly draws you into the book, with descriptive scenic passages that provide food for thought. It is about a tragic story of death, guilt and trying to move on, in the midst of pain.
The novel is divided into three parts, and the three co-protagonists; Catrin, Callum and Rachel, take part explaining in detail their perspective of the events. This allows the reader to broaden their scope of the dynamics of the situation, past and present, and get to know the characters in greater detail.
Catrin Quinn lost her two young sons, three years ago, in a terrible accident. Catrin is a marine scientist, working for the Falkland Conservation, and appears on the outside to be “coping”…but this is only an act. The only thing that gives her comfort is her dog, “Queenie” a terrier, that had also loved the boys.
“I’ve been wondering if I have what it takes to kill. Whether I can look a living creature in the eye and take the one irreversible action that ends a life…I have no difficulty in killing. I’m actually rather good at it.”
Callum Murray, a Scot who first came to the Falklands as a paratrooper during the war, and was Catrin’s ex-lover, when she was married to Ben. Callum suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and has episodes, “flashbacks” to what happened in the conflict. (PTSD)
Rachel, was Catrin’s childhood best friend, until the day of the tragic car accident, that had Rachel at the wheel of the car, and resulted in the accidental deaths of Catrin’s young sons, and the end of their friendship. Now all that Catrin wanted was Revenge!
And then another child goes missing! Three young boys all disappear in the last two years, all near water. But were they connected?
In this fast-paced suspense novel, the author keeps the reader guessing right until the very end, and boy what a surprise Brilliant ending! A definite 5-Star plus rating from me. Now I am totally intrigued to make the time to read all her books in the series.
September 4, 2015
Someone is not telling the truth........
In Little Black Lies, three damaged souls recount personal stories of the same six disturbing days of their lives involving missing children within a small community on the Falkland Islands.
This tragic mystery-thriller really grabbed me at the start, was a bit redundant along the way, but ended in a way that surprised the hell out of me!
February 23, 2018
EXCERPT: "I'm moving faster now, telling myself to slow down, but feeling the normal panic of a mother who can't find her children. Even her dead ones."
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In such a small community as the Falkland Islands, a missing child is unheard of. In such a dangerous landscape it can only be a terrible tragedy, surely...
When another child goes missing, and then a third, it’s no longer possible to believe that their deaths were accidental, and the villagers must admit that there is a murderer among them. Even Catrin Quinn, a damaged woman living a reclusive life after the accidental deaths of her own two sons a few years ago, gets involved in the searches and the speculation.
And suddenly, in this wild and beautiful place that generations have called home, no one feels safe and the hysteria begins to rise.
But three islanders—Catrin, her childhood best friend, Rachel, and her ex-lover Callum—are hiding terrible secrets. And they have two things in common: all three of them are grieving, and none of them trust anyone, not even themselves.
MY THOUGHTS: This is the second truly amazing book I have read this year, and I cannot speak highly enough of it.
I became emotionally entangled with the characters in this spellbinding story of friendship, love, lust, death, guilt, anger, grief and revenge. Often I found myself going back and re-reading passages, rolling their black beauty around in my mind, dwelling, wondering......And then there was the most mind-blowing ending.....
Set in the Falkland Islands, this book focuses on the lives of 3 people, who each take a turn at narrating, in the aftermath of a tragedy.
Two young boys, Ned and Kit, are killed in an accident resulting from a combination of lust and carelessness.
In the following three years, three children go missing, all bearing a strong resemblance to the two dead boys.
Is this the work of the dead boys mother? She has been but a mere ghost of herself since their death.
Or perhaps it is her lover, and ex-Falklands war soldier who suffers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder complete with blackouts.
Or is it someone else entirely?
Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Sharon Bolton for providing a digital copy of Little Black Lies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In such a small community as the Falkland Islands, a missing child is unheard of. In such a dangerous landscape it can only be a terrible tragedy, surely...
When another child goes missing, and then a third, it’s no longer possible to believe that their deaths were accidental, and the villagers must admit that there is a murderer among them. Even Catrin Quinn, a damaged woman living a reclusive life after the accidental deaths of her own two sons a few years ago, gets involved in the searches and the speculation.
And suddenly, in this wild and beautiful place that generations have called home, no one feels safe and the hysteria begins to rise.
But three islanders—Catrin, her childhood best friend, Rachel, and her ex-lover Callum—are hiding terrible secrets. And they have two things in common: all three of them are grieving, and none of them trust anyone, not even themselves.
MY THOUGHTS: This is the second truly amazing book I have read this year, and I cannot speak highly enough of it.
I became emotionally entangled with the characters in this spellbinding story of friendship, love, lust, death, guilt, anger, grief and revenge. Often I found myself going back and re-reading passages, rolling their black beauty around in my mind, dwelling, wondering......And then there was the most mind-blowing ending.....
Set in the Falkland Islands, this book focuses on the lives of 3 people, who each take a turn at narrating, in the aftermath of a tragedy.
Two young boys, Ned and Kit, are killed in an accident resulting from a combination of lust and carelessness.
In the following three years, three children go missing, all bearing a strong resemblance to the two dead boys.
Is this the work of the dead boys mother? She has been but a mere ghost of herself since their death.
Or perhaps it is her lover, and ex-Falklands war soldier who suffers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder complete with blackouts.
Or is it someone else entirely?
Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Sharon Bolton for providing a digital copy of Little Black Lies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 9, 2020
A terrifying psychological masterpiece! Haunting and profoundly disturbing!
Catrin
'I've been wondering if I have what it takes to kill. Whether I can look at a living creature in the eye and take the one irreversible action that ends a life. Asked and answered, I suppose. I have no difficulty in killing. I'm actually rather good at it.
Callum
"Imagine a drugged-up, drunken nightmare . The scariest images you can think of racing into your head one right after another. "
Rachel
I would cut off my own arm, rip my face to ribbons, if it were sufficient penance for what I did. To wash away the albatrosse's blood.
*********************
Sharon J. Bolton's writing is strikingly vivid and expressive, perfectly capturing the essence of natural landscapes, expertly entwining her story in and around them.
Little Black Lies takes place in the Falkland Islands, an archipelago of isolated islands on the South Atlantic Ocean, rich with an abundance of wildlife. The rugged landscape of rock formations, steep cliffs, bogs, and coastline make for a beautiful but hostile, unearthly, mysterious, and frightening place.
Sharon J. Bolton takes full advantage of the unsettling and unnerving elements of the Falkland Islands—in spades!
" I step outside into a sort of creepy twilight, as though the world has fallen into the shadow of something sinister."
Read in two sittings, impossible to put down! This is my favorite Sharon J. Bolton novel yet!
The storyline is unique, captivating, and beautifully crafted with deeply passionate characters that I was immediately drawn to.
I quickly became immersed in the story, nerves singing, a continual sensation of icy fingers along my spine. A frightening, ominous presence breathing whispers on my skin. Paralyzing terror crashes over me like waves crashing against the cliffs, over and over and over........
You have been warned....(in a good way!)
Catrin
'I've been wondering if I have what it takes to kill. Whether I can look at a living creature in the eye and take the one irreversible action that ends a life. Asked and answered, I suppose. I have no difficulty in killing. I'm actually rather good at it.
Callum
"Imagine a drugged-up, drunken nightmare . The scariest images you can think of racing into your head one right after another. "
Rachel
I would cut off my own arm, rip my face to ribbons, if it were sufficient penance for what I did. To wash away the albatrosse's blood.
*********************
Sharon J. Bolton's writing is strikingly vivid and expressive, perfectly capturing the essence of natural landscapes, expertly entwining her story in and around them.
Little Black Lies takes place in the Falkland Islands, an archipelago of isolated islands on the South Atlantic Ocean, rich with an abundance of wildlife. The rugged landscape of rock formations, steep cliffs, bogs, and coastline make for a beautiful but hostile, unearthly, mysterious, and frightening place.
Sharon J. Bolton takes full advantage of the unsettling and unnerving elements of the Falkland Islands—in spades!
" I step outside into a sort of creepy twilight, as though the world has fallen into the shadow of something sinister."
Read in two sittings, impossible to put down! This is my favorite Sharon J. Bolton novel yet!
The storyline is unique, captivating, and beautifully crafted with deeply passionate characters that I was immediately drawn to.
I quickly became immersed in the story, nerves singing, a continual sensation of icy fingers along my spine. A frightening, ominous presence breathing whispers on my skin. Paralyzing terror crashes over me like waves crashing against the cliffs, over and over and over........
You have been warned....(in a good way!)
April 2, 2021
Wow... Just wow...
I'm in a daze, I don't even know where to begin...
Synopsis, yes... I'll start there... The novel is told from three viewpoints and begins with Catrin.
Catrin is struggling, grieving from the tragic accidental death of her two children three years prior. Not that she really sees their deaths as accidents, she blames her childhood friend Rachel who was looking after them that day. And Catrin has a plan for revenge. However when a child goes missing, the third in two years, she gets dragged into a web of secrets and lies and finds her plan of revenge is not going to be as simple after all. Callum and Rachel tell the remainder of the story, but I don't want to give away any more information about them or the story because I don't want to spoil anything!
I have made no secret about my admiration for Bolton's novels. Especially the Lacey Flint series, which is my all time favourite series. There is something about the atmosphere she creates in her books that resonates with me. I get sucked into the darkness of it, and love every word of it.
I'm not even sure exactly why this book captured me so. Perhaps being a mother now, books about dead and lost children strike a particular chord with me now. A chord that has not always been there. Like a new level of emotion.
Catrin's grief is so real. So palpable, that it made me feel sick to my stomach. But don't let that put you off this book!!! It's not all doom and gloom... Well a lot of it is... But not in a bad way!!
If you are a fan of books such as gone girl, sharp objects, the girl on a train etc etc I have no doubt you will enjoy this book, or any of Bolton's novels. Although there is just no comparing them... Bolton blows them out of the water!
I'm not exactly sure why she isn't more popular, here in Aus anyway... I know she is getting more popular but I hadn't heard of any of her books until the Lacey Flint series was auto recommended to me on Goodreads and I thought I would give it a go (thank you Goodreads!). I will be very surprised if she doesn't make it to the top 10 here is Aus very soon.
My daze still continues. This is absolutely my favourite book of the year... So much emotion, SO DAMN GOOD!!!! And that ending is so fresh that right now, I am having a lot of trouble thinking of a book that I have liked more. Ever.
Put aside whatever you are reading at the moment, forget your to-read list, and READ THIS BOOK!!!!! You won't regret it!!!
For more reviews check out my:
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I'm in a daze, I don't even know where to begin...
Synopsis, yes... I'll start there... The novel is told from three viewpoints and begins with Catrin.
Catrin is struggling, grieving from the tragic accidental death of her two children three years prior. Not that she really sees their deaths as accidents, she blames her childhood friend Rachel who was looking after them that day. And Catrin has a plan for revenge. However when a child goes missing, the third in two years, she gets dragged into a web of secrets and lies and finds her plan of revenge is not going to be as simple after all. Callum and Rachel tell the remainder of the story, but I don't want to give away any more information about them or the story because I don't want to spoil anything!
I have made no secret about my admiration for Bolton's novels. Especially the Lacey Flint series, which is my all time favourite series. There is something about the atmosphere she creates in her books that resonates with me. I get sucked into the darkness of it, and love every word of it.
I'm not even sure exactly why this book captured me so. Perhaps being a mother now, books about dead and lost children strike a particular chord with me now. A chord that has not always been there. Like a new level of emotion.
Catrin's grief is so real. So palpable, that it made me feel sick to my stomach. But don't let that put you off this book!!! It's not all doom and gloom... Well a lot of it is... But not in a bad way!!
If you are a fan of books such as gone girl, sharp objects, the girl on a train etc etc I have no doubt you will enjoy this book, or any of Bolton's novels. Although there is just no comparing them... Bolton blows them out of the water!
I'm not exactly sure why she isn't more popular, here in Aus anyway... I know she is getting more popular but I hadn't heard of any of her books until the Lacey Flint series was auto recommended to me on Goodreads and I thought I would give it a go (thank you Goodreads!). I will be very surprised if she doesn't make it to the top 10 here is Aus very soon.
My daze still continues. This is absolutely my favourite book of the year... So much emotion, SO DAMN GOOD!!!! And that ending is so fresh that right now, I am having a lot of trouble thinking of a book that I have liked more. Ever.
Put aside whatever you are reading at the moment, forget your to-read list, and READ THIS BOOK!!!!! You won't regret it!!!
For more reviews check out my:
Youtube
Blog
September 20, 2018
TWO FRIENDS TORN APART BY A TERRIBLE TRAGIC EVENT!!
My brain is still coming down from this tragic heart wrenching thriller that pulls at your heartstrings & doesn't let go till the end, I felt so many emotions while reading this superbly written novel about lifelong friends whose lives are torn apart both are emotionally fragile & mentally challenged.
I wont go into detail about this one but if you like a fast paced thriller that had just about everything you could want in a novel then this is for you, I connected with this straight away as I lost my brother many years ago & the pain you go through is indescribable to this day I still feel pain. This is a well crafted dark thriller you wont want to put down had a major twist I didn't see coming, I loved the setting & history of the Falkland islands was atmospheric I could feel myself there with Catrin & Rachel, I thought Ms Bolton weaved a dark tale of how far friendships can be tested in these circumstances.
My brain is still coming down from this tragic heart wrenching thriller that pulls at your heartstrings & doesn't let go till the end, I felt so many emotions while reading this superbly written novel about lifelong friends whose lives are torn apart both are emotionally fragile & mentally challenged.
I wont go into detail about this one but if you like a fast paced thriller that had just about everything you could want in a novel then this is for you, I connected with this straight away as I lost my brother many years ago & the pain you go through is indescribable to this day I still feel pain. This is a well crafted dark thriller you wont want to put down had a major twist I didn't see coming, I loved the setting & history of the Falkland islands was atmospheric I could feel myself there with Catrin & Rachel, I thought Ms Bolton weaved a dark tale of how far friendships can be tested in these circumstances.
August 26, 2023
3.5 stars
The book is set in the Falkland Islands and provides a picture of the rocky topography, cool climate, bushy vegetation, and abundant animal life (especially birds and whales) of the region. It seems to be a beautiful but harsh environment, and forms an excellent background for the story.
As the book opens, a three-year-old boy named Archie, who belongs to a tourist family, goes missing during a picnic. He's the third little boy to disappear from the area within the last few years. The police, local residents, and passengers from a cruise ship all search for the child, who is presumed to have wandered off by himself. Though some islanders fear a child abductor/murderer may have snatched the missing kids, the authorities are extremely reluctant to entertain any such notion.
The story is told from the points of view of three people. Catrin: an animal conservationist whose life was torn apart by the accidental death of her two sons a few years ago. Catrin is a shell of her former self and plans retribution against the woman who 'killed' her boys. Callum: a Scotsman who suffers from PTSD due to horrific experiences in the Falkland War. He subsequently moved to the Falklands and, for a time, was Catrin's lover. Rachel: Catrin's former best friend whose carelessness caused the death of Catrin's sons. Her remorse and guilt overwhelm her.
The gripping story grabbed and held my attention as the main characters (as well as an assortment of strong secondary characters) look for little Archie. While this is occurring a couple of hundred whales beach themselves and Catrin has to deal with this emergency as well, a situation that turns out to be extremely difficult.
Shortly afterwards, yet another little boy disappears. This last occurrence is too much for the local people and tourists, who become frenzied.
Because the book is structured partly as 'oral diaries' narrated by Catrin, Callum, and Rachel, the reader comes to know each character's thoughts as well as their behavior and actions. This gives insight into why things happened as they did. For Catrin we learn about her children's death, her ruined marriage, and her planned retribution against Rachel. For Callum we find out about the terrible things he endured during the war, how he fell in love with Catrin, and how he's determined to help her now. And Rachel talks about her former friendship with Catrin, her rough relationship with her parents, and her difficulties being a wife and mother after the accident.
I found most of the story to be compelling. I wanted to find out what happened to the missing kids and how the interactions among the various characters would play out. I also thought the depiction of the island's culture - including the lack of privacy, celebratory bonfires and fireworks, and quirky people - was fascinating.
I've seen that other reviewers love the book's climax and ending. I was disappointed with them however. I think the last part of the story is contrived and unbelievable. I also think that some mystery aspects of the story are not resolved in a satisfactory fashion. Nevertheless, this is a compelling, well-written story that's worth reading.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
February 26, 2016
4.25
This did not meet my low expectations.
It wasn't anything like The Girl On The Train or, oh never mind.
It was multilayered and unpredictable.
I did not figure things out ahead of time.
It had the perfect atmospheric and surprisingly educational setting.
I most certainly did not foresee that wickedly twisted closing and admit that I read it three times.
Will I read more of this new to me author's work? You bet.
This did not meet my low expectations.
It wasn't anything like The Girl On The Train or, oh never mind.
It was multilayered and unpredictable.
I did not figure things out ahead of time.
It had the perfect atmospheric and surprisingly educational setting.
I most certainly did not foresee that wickedly twisted closing and admit that I read it three times.
Will I read more of this new to me author's work? You bet.
February 2, 2016
My Number 7 Read and Bronze Gavel for Best Book of 2015
Posted to The Literary Lawyer
Bolton at Her Best - 5 Stars
Since Gone Girl , there seems to be a rash of books that tells the same story from multiple perspectives and through the eyes of broken characters. While this book may not be as good as Gone Girl (in my opinion) it may have a broader appeal than the Gillian Flynn's pair of unlikable sociopaths could muster. I have not read any of the other standalone novels written by Sharon Bolton but have read the Lacey Flint series. Of all of her books that I have read, this one is easily her finest work. While I have continually taken issues with elements of Bolton's writing style, I found that I was compelled to read this novel and did not want to put it down. Despite any issues, I believe it deserves a full 5 stars.
Plot Summary
Catrin Quinn is an unhappy woman. You can't fault her for this. Several years earlier, her two children died in an unfortunate accident that was due to the negligence of her best friend. Catrin wants to kill her former best friend. She has lost her children and in her pain lost her husband and lost her lover. As the eve of the death of her children approaches, a young child goes missing. As the days pass, most assume the child has died or has been killed. This is not the first young child to have gone missing on the remote Falkland Islands. Catrin is thrust into the midst of the investigation of the missing child and she is forced to deal with the death of her own children while others grieve the loss of theirs. Catrin is also forced to face her repressed feelings as she has to confront the people that she has shut out of her life.
My Take
I want to make this clear. I gave this book 5 stars because I enjoyed it. I found it entertaining and difficult to put down. This was largely due to the wonderful characterization. Catrin, Rachel and Callum where created with great care and detail. I found each of them to be interesting, layered and believable. A quick review of my reviews with show that I am a sucker for a novel with great characters.
My love of great characters allows me to overlook issues with the a plot. Honestly, this book had issues with the plot. Plot issues have been an ongoing issue with Bolton novels and this one is no exception. There are situations that are downright preposterous i.e. . Some elements were contrived, i.e. . Given these issues, those readers that are not as enamoured with great characters may find this novel less than 5 stars. While I certainly could have given it less, I enjoyed the ride.
Great characters and sketchy plot aside, the novel featured one of the most entertaining and atmospheric settings I have read. The Falkland Island serve as the backdrop for the story. The setting is remote, lonely and isolated and serves as the depressive force and serves as an ominous and looming presence throughout. The nature of the setting contributed to the nature of the characters.
Final Thoughts
On some levels, this book is not a 5 star read. I would give the plot 3 stars, the characters 5 stars and the setting 5 stars. The flaws in the plot did not interfere with my enjoyment of the story. If you have contemplated reading a Sharon Bolton novel, you can't go wrong starting with this one. It is truly one of her best and an excellent example of her writing style. If you enjoy this you will certainly enjoy her other offerings.
If You Liked...
I think that fans of The Girl on the Train will find lots to love here. While the plot is not as tight, the characterization and multiple perspectives will feel familiar and comfortable. Excellent characterization rules the day in both novels in these stories peppered with broken and hurting people.
Posted to The Literary Lawyer
Bolton at Her Best - 5 Stars
Since Gone Girl , there seems to be a rash of books that tells the same story from multiple perspectives and through the eyes of broken characters. While this book may not be as good as Gone Girl (in my opinion) it may have a broader appeal than the Gillian Flynn's pair of unlikable sociopaths could muster. I have not read any of the other standalone novels written by Sharon Bolton but have read the Lacey Flint series. Of all of her books that I have read, this one is easily her finest work. While I have continually taken issues with elements of Bolton's writing style, I found that I was compelled to read this novel and did not want to put it down. Despite any issues, I believe it deserves a full 5 stars.
Plot Summary
Catrin Quinn is an unhappy woman. You can't fault her for this. Several years earlier, her two children died in an unfortunate accident that was due to the negligence of her best friend. Catrin wants to kill her former best friend. She has lost her children and in her pain lost her husband and lost her lover. As the eve of the death of her children approaches, a young child goes missing. As the days pass, most assume the child has died or has been killed. This is not the first young child to have gone missing on the remote Falkland Islands. Catrin is thrust into the midst of the investigation of the missing child and she is forced to deal with the death of her own children while others grieve the loss of theirs. Catrin is also forced to face her repressed feelings as she has to confront the people that she has shut out of her life.
My Take
I want to make this clear. I gave this book 5 stars because I enjoyed it. I found it entertaining and difficult to put down. This was largely due to the wonderful characterization. Catrin, Rachel and Callum where created with great care and detail. I found each of them to be interesting, layered and believable. A quick review of my reviews with show that I am a sucker for a novel with great characters.
My love of great characters allows me to overlook issues with the a plot. Honestly, this book had issues with the plot. Plot issues have been an ongoing issue with Bolton novels and this one is no exception. There are situations that are downright preposterous i.e. . Some elements were contrived, i.e. . Given these issues, those readers that are not as enamoured with great characters may find this novel less than 5 stars. While I certainly could have given it less, I enjoyed the ride.
Great characters and sketchy plot aside, the novel featured one of the most entertaining and atmospheric settings I have read. The Falkland Island serve as the backdrop for the story. The setting is remote, lonely and isolated and serves as the depressive force and serves as an ominous and looming presence throughout. The nature of the setting contributed to the nature of the characters.
Final Thoughts
On some levels, this book is not a 5 star read. I would give the plot 3 stars, the characters 5 stars and the setting 5 stars. The flaws in the plot did not interfere with my enjoyment of the story. If you have contemplated reading a Sharon Bolton novel, you can't go wrong starting with this one. It is truly one of her best and an excellent example of her writing style. If you enjoy this you will certainly enjoy her other offerings.
If You Liked...
I think that fans of The Girl on the Train will find lots to love here. While the plot is not as tight, the characterization and multiple perspectives will feel familiar and comfortable. Excellent characterization rules the day in both novels in these stories peppered with broken and hurting people.
August 17, 2015
2.5 Stars
Little Black lies was an engaging read filled with twists and turns and lies and betrayals to keep the reader turning the pages.
I loved the setting of the Novel in the remote location of the Falklands Islands and really enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape, wildlife and the inhabitants and the references to the Falklands war.
The first half of the novel was without doubt entertaining and I found it suspenseful and I was eager to find out what happened to the missing boys. However the last part of the novel I found really very contrived and flawed.
What started as a great unique and interesting read turned out to be disappointing and not very creditable story.
Little Black lies was an engaging read filled with twists and turns and lies and betrayals to keep the reader turning the pages.
I loved the setting of the Novel in the remote location of the Falklands Islands and really enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape, wildlife and the inhabitants and the references to the Falklands war.
The first half of the novel was without doubt entertaining and I found it suspenseful and I was eager to find out what happened to the missing boys. However the last part of the novel I found really very contrived and flawed.
What started as a great unique and interesting read turned out to be disappointing and not very creditable story.
February 6, 2017
Little Black Lies is a character driven story of a friendship destroyed by a tragic loss caused by one character's negligence resulting in overwhelming grief, guilt, anger, and revenge. The story is written in three parts, told by three suffering and lost characters explaining their course of events which occurred over six days. I love how this gave me understanding from each of their own perspectives of their pain and suffering, past and present. The bit of history of the war, the good description of the island, and the reality of nature of the whales all added to the story.
I thought this to be a clever, unpredictable and interesting story with a brilliant ending.
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
I thought this to be a clever, unpredictable and interesting story with a brilliant ending.
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
August 29, 2015
I finished this book a few hours ago and I am still thinking about it. I have a feeling it will stay with me for a long time.
The story is set on the Falkland Islands in 1994 and revolves around three characters: Catrin, Rachel and Callum, who are each struggling with grief and loss for different reasons. Catrin lost her two son’s in an accident 3 years ago, Rachel was responsible for that accident and Callum, a good friend of Catrin’s, is struggling with PTSD from being in the army. Since the accident, children have gone missing on the island and early on in the story another child being reported missing. No one wants to believe there is someone on the island responsible, though suspicions begin to rise. The story is told in three parts, firstly from Catrin’s perspective, then Callum’s and lastly Rachel’s.
I don’t think I have the words to truly convey how emotional I found this book. Sharon Bolton creates a haunting atmosphere throughout the novel by vividly describing the setting and the island’s wildlife. I am normally very impatient when it comes to descriptive writing, but it worked for me in this story and added to the mystery. Sharon really captures the grief and loss experienced by Catrin, Callum and Rachel. I sympathised with each of them, but I think I felt for Rachel the most. I found this book difficult to put down; it was brilliantly written and held my attention right to the very last page. I just can’t stop thinking about how it ended!
Thank you to the publisher via net galley for my copy to read and review. Also thank you to Christine for giving me a nudge to read this book and giving me a heads up to the Q & A with the author going on in the Crime Detective Mystery Thriller Group.
The story is set on the Falkland Islands in 1994 and revolves around three characters: Catrin, Rachel and Callum, who are each struggling with grief and loss for different reasons. Catrin lost her two son’s in an accident 3 years ago, Rachel was responsible for that accident and Callum, a good friend of Catrin’s, is struggling with PTSD from being in the army. Since the accident, children have gone missing on the island and early on in the story another child being reported missing. No one wants to believe there is someone on the island responsible, though suspicions begin to rise. The story is told in three parts, firstly from Catrin’s perspective, then Callum’s and lastly Rachel’s.
I don’t think I have the words to truly convey how emotional I found this book. Sharon Bolton creates a haunting atmosphere throughout the novel by vividly describing the setting and the island’s wildlife. I am normally very impatient when it comes to descriptive writing, but it worked for me in this story and added to the mystery. Sharon really captures the grief and loss experienced by Catrin, Callum and Rachel. I sympathised with each of them, but I think I felt for Rachel the most. I found this book difficult to put down; it was brilliantly written and held my attention right to the very last page. I just can’t stop thinking about how it ended!
Thank you to the publisher via net galley for my copy to read and review. Also thank you to Christine for giving me a nudge to read this book and giving me a heads up to the Q & A with the author going on in the Crime Detective Mystery Thriller Group.
May 31, 2015
So far this book is my Read of the Year and it is going to take a very special book indeed to overtake it. You can read a book and rate it 4/5 or 5/5 and then every so often one comes along that blows all the others out of the water as far as ratings are concerned and for me, Little Black Lies is that book.
Set over five days in 1994 on the Falkland Islands and a child has gone missing. Only he isn’t the only child to have gone missing, two others have disappeared in recent years in a community that is desperate to believe in coincidences and not wanting to accept the fact that there could be a child abductor in their midst. The author really has created a believeable community. They are tight knit and close, after all they suffered a war together, and the community spirit of the islanders really shines through in the read.
It is told from three different viewpoints. Catrin, lost her two children in a tragic accident three years ago and has never recovered. Callum is an ex para who served in the Falklands conflict and, suffering from PTSD returned to the island as the only place that he can hope to find peace of mind in. Rachel used to be Catrin’s best friend but is now guilt ridden over her part in the accident that cost the lives of Catrin’s children.
The story is divided into three separate distinct parts; Catrin, Callum and Rachel rather than a lot of going to-ing and fro-ing between the characters and this method of storytelling really works well. We spend a lot of uninterrupted time with each character and really delve into their psyche and feel that we get to know them. With each narrator the story subtly twists and shifts and just when you think you know all there is to know, everything changes, leaving you flabbergasted with each aspect of the story that unfolds.
I loved the setting and think the author really portrayed the beauty and harshness of the landscape magnificently. It was so easy to visualise everything from the barren moors to the tin roofed cottages. It is a very haunting and atmospheric read, one that draws you in from page one. On the one hand I wanted to race through it to see what happened but on the other hand I wanted to savour every page. In short, I absolutely loved this book. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
Set over five days in 1994 on the Falkland Islands and a child has gone missing. Only he isn’t the only child to have gone missing, two others have disappeared in recent years in a community that is desperate to believe in coincidences and not wanting to accept the fact that there could be a child abductor in their midst. The author really has created a believeable community. They are tight knit and close, after all they suffered a war together, and the community spirit of the islanders really shines through in the read.
It is told from three different viewpoints. Catrin, lost her two children in a tragic accident three years ago and has never recovered. Callum is an ex para who served in the Falklands conflict and, suffering from PTSD returned to the island as the only place that he can hope to find peace of mind in. Rachel used to be Catrin’s best friend but is now guilt ridden over her part in the accident that cost the lives of Catrin’s children.
The story is divided into three separate distinct parts; Catrin, Callum and Rachel rather than a lot of going to-ing and fro-ing between the characters and this method of storytelling really works well. We spend a lot of uninterrupted time with each character and really delve into their psyche and feel that we get to know them. With each narrator the story subtly twists and shifts and just when you think you know all there is to know, everything changes, leaving you flabbergasted with each aspect of the story that unfolds.
I loved the setting and think the author really portrayed the beauty and harshness of the landscape magnificently. It was so easy to visualise everything from the barren moors to the tin roofed cottages. It is a very haunting and atmospheric read, one that draws you in from page one. On the one hand I wanted to race through it to see what happened but on the other hand I wanted to savour every page. In short, I absolutely loved this book. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
July 1, 2015
So, no Lacey Flint in sight – this is a standalone novel – and whilst I adore the series fiction from Sharon Bolton if this is not the best thing she has written (so far) I’ll eat my hat.
Set in the Falkland Islands, a place that the author brings utterly, vividly to life, we find a small community where tragedy struck, ripping apart close friends and leaving a dark sense of loss running throughout the lives of the inhabitants. When a child goes missing it starts off a chain of events which will bring old suspicions to the surface and threaten to widen the rift.
This is one of those novels that is exceptional both in the beauty of the prose and in the sheer addictive quality of the story unfolding before you. It packs a real emotional punch with authentic, sympathetic characters whose complicated and tangled interactions are exquisitely drawn by the author, insightful writing that makes you hit a range of feelings as you read it, from angry to sad and everything in between – all the while managing the mystery element of the tale with aplomb, the reveal moments when they come are perfectly placed.
There is no way to put a label on Little Black Lies – it is a tale of friendship and family, a mystery but with a real eye towards the realities of life, I loved every last minute of it, seriously there is not a wrong step here. From first page to last it is enthralling, emotive and engaging and despite the trauma (I cried great big buckets of tears when it was over for reasons I can’t now put into words) I have no hesitation in saying that this is one of the best novels you will read this year. If not the best.
Three Little Words for Little Black Lies. Intense. Traumatic. Unforgettable.
Set in the Falkland Islands, a place that the author brings utterly, vividly to life, we find a small community where tragedy struck, ripping apart close friends and leaving a dark sense of loss running throughout the lives of the inhabitants. When a child goes missing it starts off a chain of events which will bring old suspicions to the surface and threaten to widen the rift.
This is one of those novels that is exceptional both in the beauty of the prose and in the sheer addictive quality of the story unfolding before you. It packs a real emotional punch with authentic, sympathetic characters whose complicated and tangled interactions are exquisitely drawn by the author, insightful writing that makes you hit a range of feelings as you read it, from angry to sad and everything in between – all the while managing the mystery element of the tale with aplomb, the reveal moments when they come are perfectly placed.
There is no way to put a label on Little Black Lies – it is a tale of friendship and family, a mystery but with a real eye towards the realities of life, I loved every last minute of it, seriously there is not a wrong step here. From first page to last it is enthralling, emotive and engaging and despite the trauma (I cried great big buckets of tears when it was over for reasons I can’t now put into words) I have no hesitation in saying that this is one of the best novels you will read this year. If not the best.
Three Little Words for Little Black Lies. Intense. Traumatic. Unforgettable.
March 16, 2015
My sincere thanks to Minotaur Books for providing tis ARC due to be published May 19th 2015.
The Hook - Which is a parent’s worst nightmare? Is it the death of your child or causing the death of your best friend’s children?
The Line – ”These people with their big hair, their bright man-made fabrics and their gleaming white trainers are here for the drama. They are here to inhale the stench of our trouble.”
The Sinker – Two women, Catrin and Rachel, childhood friends; two mothers, one filled with inconsolable grief, the other with guilt; two lives shattered by circumstance. Set in the Falklands, Little Black Lies interweaves a true-life conflict that haunts its islanders, and a poetic nod to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, with the disappearance of several children. Little Black Lies is taut, a tense, gut-wrenching quest for revenge or redemption. Morally compelling, it’s the most thought provoking book I’ve read in a long time. I couldn’t put it down. Sharon Bolton’s got my vote for thriller of the year.
The Hook - Which is a parent’s worst nightmare? Is it the death of your child or causing the death of your best friend’s children?
The Line – ”These people with their big hair, their bright man-made fabrics and their gleaming white trainers are here for the drama. They are here to inhale the stench of our trouble.”
The Sinker – Two women, Catrin and Rachel, childhood friends; two mothers, one filled with inconsolable grief, the other with guilt; two lives shattered by circumstance. Set in the Falklands, Little Black Lies interweaves a true-life conflict that haunts its islanders, and a poetic nod to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, with the disappearance of several children. Little Black Lies is taut, a tense, gut-wrenching quest for revenge or redemption. Morally compelling, it’s the most thought provoking book I’ve read in a long time. I couldn’t put it down. Sharon Bolton’s got my vote for thriller of the year.
November 4, 2015
This is a very captivating novel, I had not read any of Sharon's work before. It is fast paced, I had no idea who the killer was and this kept me up turning the pages as I had to know what was going on. There is so much emotion in this story, love, friendship, trust, grief, despair and tragedy. Then the final twist that I did not see coming at all. A very satisfying read.
September 12, 2015
Who to believe? This dark and complex story dealing with grief, guilt, and revenge will leave you questioning the credibility of its three main characters, each of whom are sympathetic. A few times I thought I had the story figured out but each time I was wrong. Although this was not a page turner for me, I enjoyed it for its slower pace, vivid atmosphere, and cleverly written plot. This had to be one of the most haunting endings I have ever read, yet after reading the ending three times I am still guessing!
January 7, 2017
After finishing this, I don't know whether I need a nap or a stiff drink.
If you've read the author's Lacey Flint series, you know she's a master of creating dark, gripping stories with flawed yet sympathetic characters. That continues in this stand alone novel.
The promotional blurb gives you the gist of the story but there is so much more to this richly atmospheric book set in a small, isolated community on the Falkland Islands.
When we meet Catrin, it's clear she was broken by the loss of her sons 3 years ago. She still eats, sleeps & goes to work but is a shell of the woman she was with room for only one emotion. Hate. As the anniversary of the boys' death approaches, she puts the finishing touches on her plan for retribution. In 2 days, life as she knows it will end.
In the meantime a little boy vacationing with his family goes missing, the third in 2 years.
There are good & bad aspects of living in any small town. Everyone knows everyone's business. And in times of trouble, neighbours band together to provide support. There's also a naivete based on the belief that people you know can't possibly be capable of horrific acts. But as one character notes, fear changes a community. Residents begin to eye each other with doubt & when one of their own falls under suspicion, it's scary & all too believable how quickly a mob mentality infects a group looking for someone to blame.
The book is told in 3 parts, each with a different narrator. Just when you think you have a grip on what happened & who is responsible, you read the next account of events through another's eyes & start to question what you thought you knew. The first two parts end abruptly at crucial points & you may find yourself yelling at the pages in frustration. The tension is palpable & you're acutely aware of the passage of time as the clock ticks down on Catrin's plan. It will mess with your head & make you realize that maybe you rushed to judgement just as quickly as some of the islanders.
The three main characters are complex & well portrayed. Each has experienced the pain of loss in some form & you can feel their grief as they stumble through the aftermath of a horrible event, trying to figure out how to go on living or if they even want to. As in real life, no one is all good or bad & each is guilty of something. As the story progresses & your grasp of their history expands you start to wonder if maybe there are no true villains here, only victims.
The setting itself is an important character. Descriptions of the isolation, cold rock, creeping fog & relentless pounding of the ocean lend a chill & quiet sense of menace to the background. The result is a growing unease as the story unfolds. With 3 plausible versions of events to choose from, it's not til the final few pages that we learn the truth.
It's a profound & at times, difficult read that examines some of the darker sides of human nature & will suck you in from the get-go.
Set aside a few hours before you start. With expert pacing & heightened suspense, this is a book you'll resent having to put down. Highly recommend.
If you've read the author's Lacey Flint series, you know she's a master of creating dark, gripping stories with flawed yet sympathetic characters. That continues in this stand alone novel.
The promotional blurb gives you the gist of the story but there is so much more to this richly atmospheric book set in a small, isolated community on the Falkland Islands.
When we meet Catrin, it's clear she was broken by the loss of her sons 3 years ago. She still eats, sleeps & goes to work but is a shell of the woman she was with room for only one emotion. Hate. As the anniversary of the boys' death approaches, she puts the finishing touches on her plan for retribution. In 2 days, life as she knows it will end.
In the meantime a little boy vacationing with his family goes missing, the third in 2 years.
There are good & bad aspects of living in any small town. Everyone knows everyone's business. And in times of trouble, neighbours band together to provide support. There's also a naivete based on the belief that people you know can't possibly be capable of horrific acts. But as one character notes, fear changes a community. Residents begin to eye each other with doubt & when one of their own falls under suspicion, it's scary & all too believable how quickly a mob mentality infects a group looking for someone to blame.
The book is told in 3 parts, each with a different narrator. Just when you think you have a grip on what happened & who is responsible, you read the next account of events through another's eyes & start to question what you thought you knew. The first two parts end abruptly at crucial points & you may find yourself yelling at the pages in frustration. The tension is palpable & you're acutely aware of the passage of time as the clock ticks down on Catrin's plan. It will mess with your head & make you realize that maybe you rushed to judgement just as quickly as some of the islanders.
The three main characters are complex & well portrayed. Each has experienced the pain of loss in some form & you can feel their grief as they stumble through the aftermath of a horrible event, trying to figure out how to go on living or if they even want to. As in real life, no one is all good or bad & each is guilty of something. As the story progresses & your grasp of their history expands you start to wonder if maybe there are no true villains here, only victims.
The setting itself is an important character. Descriptions of the isolation, cold rock, creeping fog & relentless pounding of the ocean lend a chill & quiet sense of menace to the background. The result is a growing unease as the story unfolds. With 3 plausible versions of events to choose from, it's not til the final few pages that we learn the truth.
It's a profound & at times, difficult read that examines some of the darker sides of human nature & will suck you in from the get-go.
Set aside a few hours before you start. With expert pacing & heightened suspense, this is a book you'll resent having to put down. Highly recommend.
August 2, 2017
Firstly I'd like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC. It's much appreciated.
I've read all of the Lacey Flint novels but this is the first standalone novel for me. Little Black Lies is an emotionally charged story of unremitting grief, loss, pain and love. It's told in the form of three lead narratives over a period of a few days around Guy Fawkes night in November. Catrin is the grieving mother whose children were tragically killed in a freak accident. Callum is ex military personnel with his own problems, namely Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that causes blackouts when falling into a flasback of the time he served. Rachel, once Catrin's best friend since childhood is the cause of the tragedy involving the young boys as a result of negligence when looking after them.
A fourth character, and an important one at that, is the setting. The Falkland Islands comes to life easily with descriptive prose ranging from it's beautiful scenery to fog filled, windswept days that can chill to the bone. You could almost feel the gorse underfoot, hear the crashing of waves against rocks and feel the remoteness as if you were there yourself. Each narrative gives us a deep insight into their individual characters and this is ultimately the book's strength. This is definitely more character driven than thriller. The book isn't perfect by any means. The last part is questionable at best, compelling for sure, but Ms Bolton's ability even when stretching realms of plausiblity, is forgivable as it's still a cut above average. I was moved by parts of it, especially the beach whaling scene. Something I hadn't really heard of. I went off and googled and was met with distressing images of whales beach bound. Shocking to see, not sure I could cope with that in real life. I found though whilst reading instead of being drawn into the characters I felt that I was sitting on a precipice quietly observing events unfolding before me .... until I got to the end. And then it hit. There was a delayed reaction as my brain processed what I just read. I went back, reread and was left shaken. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I read this through the night, falling asleep and being woken by the howling wind and rain lashing against the window. Earlier in the evening fireworks had been going off everywhere. Tis Bonfire season - fitting really given what I had just read.
It's a hard one to rate. The character driven insight into overwhelming grief is done beautifully and fully deserves 5 stars. The implausibility should lower the score, but I find that I can't because when all is said and done it's a stunning book .... a stunning book with flaws.
Little Black Lies is a showing of how deeply entrenched grief can bring someone to the brink of madness ...... to free fall over the edge ..... to then come away weeping as a result. Unforgettable.
I've read all of the Lacey Flint novels but this is the first standalone novel for me. Little Black Lies is an emotionally charged story of unremitting grief, loss, pain and love. It's told in the form of three lead narratives over a period of a few days around Guy Fawkes night in November. Catrin is the grieving mother whose children were tragically killed in a freak accident. Callum is ex military personnel with his own problems, namely Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that causes blackouts when falling into a flasback of the time he served. Rachel, once Catrin's best friend since childhood is the cause of the tragedy involving the young boys as a result of negligence when looking after them.
A fourth character, and an important one at that, is the setting. The Falkland Islands comes to life easily with descriptive prose ranging from it's beautiful scenery to fog filled, windswept days that can chill to the bone. You could almost feel the gorse underfoot, hear the crashing of waves against rocks and feel the remoteness as if you were there yourself. Each narrative gives us a deep insight into their individual characters and this is ultimately the book's strength. This is definitely more character driven than thriller. The book isn't perfect by any means. The last part is questionable at best, compelling for sure, but Ms Bolton's ability even when stretching realms of plausiblity, is forgivable as it's still a cut above average. I was moved by parts of it, especially the beach whaling scene. Something I hadn't really heard of. I went off and googled and was met with distressing images of whales beach bound. Shocking to see, not sure I could cope with that in real life. I found though whilst reading instead of being drawn into the characters I felt that I was sitting on a precipice quietly observing events unfolding before me .... until I got to the end. And then it hit. There was a delayed reaction as my brain processed what I just read. I went back, reread and was left shaken. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I read this through the night, falling asleep and being woken by the howling wind and rain lashing against the window. Earlier in the evening fireworks had been going off everywhere. Tis Bonfire season - fitting really given what I had just read.
It's a hard one to rate. The character driven insight into overwhelming grief is done beautifully and fully deserves 5 stars. The implausibility should lower the score, but I find that I can't because when all is said and done it's a stunning book .... a stunning book with flaws.
Little Black Lies is a showing of how deeply entrenched grief can bring someone to the brink of madness ...... to free fall over the edge ..... to then come away weeping as a result. Unforgettable.
October 9, 2015
“You must read Little Black Lies, “ I was told. Now I am telling you. This stand-alone thriller by Sharon Bolton combines the remote beauty of the Falkland Islands with eerie references to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and carefully threads them onto a hook, along with tortured, flawed characters and a seriously twisted plot. The result is that I fell for this bait with one big gulp.
Three characters – Catrin Quinn, Callum Murray, and Rachel Grimwood – reveal the story to us. Like the fog that enveloped the ancient seamen of Coleridge’s verse, these three live in a haze most of the time. Catrin, whose two children died in a tragic accident three years earlier, wears her grief like the dead albatross of the poem. Callum, a Scotsman who stayed on the island after the Falklands’ War, is Catrin’s ex-lover. He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and loses time and memory during his attacks. Rachel, formerly Catrin’s best friend, also carries an albatross: guilt.
After Catrin’s boys are gone, other boys go missing. I had ideas… suspicions. I was not totally wrong, but the way in which Ms. Bolton put everything together was mind-boggling! My head is still reeling! The isolation of the islands and the harsh realities of the environment – both the wilderness and human nature – set a haunting tone, and when the eclipse comes, we know something dramatic is about to occur. There are some chapters with the three principals all having their own versions of the truth that seem rather surreal, but each, taken separately, seems plausible enough.
Overall, there is a sense of foreboding as Catrin is obsessed with the approaching anniversary date of her sons’ death. She is miserable, and except for her dog Queenie, she is lonely and weary. She somehow manages to robotically function as another young boy disappears; other people’s children do not concern her. Callum and then Rachel’s narratives are equally dismal, as each has this great weight smothering them. The verses from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner that are interspersed throughout the book add to this sense of gloom, and as a reader, I think I also felt that oppression. Then came that “Aha!” moment. As I read the final paragraph, it was as if the fog lifted, the sun shone, and albatross fell away.
If I may make a suggestion: You must read Little Black Lies. You’ve been told.
5 stars.
Three characters – Catrin Quinn, Callum Murray, and Rachel Grimwood – reveal the story to us. Like the fog that enveloped the ancient seamen of Coleridge’s verse, these three live in a haze most of the time. Catrin, whose two children died in a tragic accident three years earlier, wears her grief like the dead albatross of the poem. Callum, a Scotsman who stayed on the island after the Falklands’ War, is Catrin’s ex-lover. He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and loses time and memory during his attacks. Rachel, formerly Catrin’s best friend, also carries an albatross: guilt.
After Catrin’s boys are gone, other boys go missing. I had ideas… suspicions. I was not totally wrong, but the way in which Ms. Bolton put everything together was mind-boggling! My head is still reeling! The isolation of the islands and the harsh realities of the environment – both the wilderness and human nature – set a haunting tone, and when the eclipse comes, we know something dramatic is about to occur. There are some chapters with the three principals all having their own versions of the truth that seem rather surreal, but each, taken separately, seems plausible enough.
Overall, there is a sense of foreboding as Catrin is obsessed with the approaching anniversary date of her sons’ death. She is miserable, and except for her dog Queenie, she is lonely and weary. She somehow manages to robotically function as another young boy disappears; other people’s children do not concern her. Callum and then Rachel’s narratives are equally dismal, as each has this great weight smothering them. The verses from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner that are interspersed throughout the book add to this sense of gloom, and as a reader, I think I also felt that oppression. Then came that “Aha!” moment. As I read the final paragraph, it was as if the fog lifted, the sun shone, and albatross fell away.
If I may make a suggestion: You must read Little Black Lies. You’ve been told.
5 stars.
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