Published April 28th, 2022 by The Borough Press
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction
Welcome to my review for this compelling black comedy. Thank you Borough Press for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
MEET LINDA.
Linda lives a nice, normal life, on a nice, normal street with Terry, her perfectly ordinary husband.
Linda’s not like everyone else, she keeps herself to herself. But she’s good at solving puzzles and there are times she sees things other people might have overlooked.
Because nothing on Cavendish Avenue is quite as it seems. People have started to go missing in the neighbourhood and Linda will soon discover that some secrets can’t stay buried forever…
********
MY REVIEW:
In an ordinary English neighbourhood local girls are being murdered by someone the papers have dubbed The Hexford Stranger. As suspicions swirl and everyone is trying to figure out who could be responsible we follow Linda, a normal woman who is one of the residents. She lives with her husband, Terry, and those who know her would say she keeps to herself. But Linda also notices things that other people miss. And lately she’s been noticing strange things that she slowly begins to piece together….
Darkly funny, sinister and deeply human, A Tidy Ending is a captivating and atmospheric read that feels like peeking out of your living room window. Deftly written, skillfully constructed and acutely observed, Joanna Cannon vividly transported me into Linda’s world. Cleverly concealed clues are dropped like breadcrumbs for us to follow, and I don’t mind admitting that I missed a lot of them. And that ending! My jaw dropped. As Linda says repeatedly, appearances can be deceptive.
Now, we need to talk about Linda. Quirky, cringey, sad, lonely and needy, she’s a memorable and compelling but not particularly likeable protagonist, though as I love an unreliable narrator I did find myself warming to her as the story went on. In a loveless marriage, ignored by her husband, put down by her mother and with no friends, you can’t help but feel for her, especially as her traumatic backstory is revealed. She is also socially unaware, cringey, and easy to take advantage of, often making me want to ride in and rescue her when others were mistreating her.
Tense, twisty, complex and full of heart, this is an entertaining domestic noir with heaps of black humour and an appropriately tidy ending.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening for free*
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joanna Cannon graduated from Leicester Medical School and worked as a hospital doctor, before specialising in psychiatry. Her novels, The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie, were both Sunday Times bestsellers and Richard and Judy picks. Her new novel, A Tidy Ending, was published in April 2022. She lives in the Peak District with her dog, Lewis.
********
BUY THE BOOK:
Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links
********
Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx
Emma's Biblio Treasures 