Title: The Birthday Weekend
Author: Lesley Sanderson
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture, 18 December 2020
Buy Links: Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Google
Blurb
Dear Louise. It’s time we all put the past behind us. We’re meeting for my birthday. I want you there. Love, Amy. X
When Louise receives an invitation to her old friend Amy’s birthday weekend in a cottage next to the woods near their old university campus, a chill runs down her spine.
Fifteen years ago, Hannah walked into those same woods and never came back. Her death destroyed her friends. They’ve not met as a group since. Until now.
As the party gets underway and old grudges are uncovered, a game of truth or dare is proposed. It’s clear one person has questions about their friend’s death – and now they want answers. And nothing will stop them.
When everyone has buried secrets, digging for the truth is going to get dangerous.
A gripping and addictive psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages, for fans of Gillian Flynn, Teresa Driscoll and Ruth Ware.
Review
Louise is invited to her friend Amy’s cottage along with a few others who they were friends with at university for a birthday weekend. The cottage as it happens is in the same place as the university and it backs on to the woods where their friend Hannah was found dead fifteen years earlier.
The Saturday night of the weekend was planned by Amy to be a time to remember Hannah and maybe get closure. What happens is a little different from what she had planned when new evidence comes to light and Hannah was actually murdered. Who murdered her?
A game of truth and dare brings forward a lot of secrets and betrayals are revealed and it is not just about that fateful day but things more recent too. Will the friendships and relationships be able to survive this?
I really enjoyed reading this book, I felt that I got to know the characters well like they were my own friends as it was very detailed, the world building was so good I felt like I was in that cottage, sitting in the living room looking at Hannah’s photo.
I was not too shocked with whom the murderer was but it did not have me feeling flat as it was a really good book that kept me engaged from early on.
This is the second book I have read by Lesley Sanderson and I have enjoyed both, I will be looking out for more from her.
Author Bio
Lesley attended the Curtis Brown Creative 6 month novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 The Orchid Girls (then On The Edge) was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.
Lesley is the author of psychological thrillers and spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and works as a librarian. She loves the atmosphere and eclectic mix of people in the area. Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has been hooked on psychological thrillers ever since.
Author Links: Facebook | Twitter
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from Netgalley, thank you to Bookouture for allowing me to review this book and be a part of the book tour.
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