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readbydanni's review
4.0
Clever, well structured and kept me guessing. There's a few clues dotted throughout the book, some that I missed and some that I'd guessed. Makes for a really enjoyable read that was an easy way to lose a few hours!
Luke is a successful doctor in his own right and the ever-patient husband of Minister Alison Thompson. Luke's wife Alison is a piece of work. Selfish, career-minded, spoilt, arrogant and using people to build her own profile, I really questioned how Luke could've stood by his wife for so many years. Their adopted daughter Nina is a breath of fresh air who is not afraid to call out her mother for what she is. She's close to her father but even he gets on the wrong side of her sometimes.
When Luke's work is affected by momentary seizures, he seeks the help of Terrence Black and is forced to uncover a dark secret he'd tried to keep hidden for years. Terrence helps him open up about his family and their long history and encourages Luke to let go of his burdens.
I really enjoyed Luke's sessions with Terrence Black. They were an interesting way to give an account of Luke's past and to bring about the events that happen following his admission.
When Luke begins to receive what seem like threats to the life of his daughter Nina, he scrambles to try and figure out who is sending the threats and why. To confront the culprit, he must first confront his own past and from here Guilty really starts to pick up pace, escalating towards a fast-paced ending that I didn't see coming.
The chapter "Full Disclosure" was a nice way to summarise everything that had happened and why to make sure the reader had understood. And right at the very last minute, we have one sneaky little twist that gives us a huge clue as to what happens in this story once the words stop.
Very clever and well-structured, this is a great book from Siobhan MacDonald that I'd definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Siobhan MacDonald and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Luke is a successful doctor in his own right and the ever-patient husband of Minister Alison Thompson. Luke's wife Alison is a piece of work. Selfish, career-minded, spoilt, arrogant and using people to build her own profile, I really questioned how Luke could've stood by his wife for so many years. Their adopted daughter Nina is a breath of fresh air who is not afraid to call out her mother for what she is. She's close to her father but even he gets on the wrong side of her sometimes.
When Luke's work is affected by momentary seizures, he seeks the help of Terrence Black and is forced to uncover a dark secret he'd tried to keep hidden for years. Terrence helps him open up about his family and their long history and encourages Luke to let go of his burdens.
I really enjoyed Luke's sessions with Terrence Black. They were an interesting way to give an account of Luke's past and to bring about the events that happen following his admission.
When Luke begins to receive what seem like threats to the life of his daughter Nina, he scrambles to try and figure out who is sending the threats and why. To confront the culprit, he must first confront his own past and from here Guilty really starts to pick up pace, escalating towards a fast-paced ending that I didn't see coming.
The chapter "Full Disclosure" was a nice way to summarise everything that had happened and why to make sure the reader had understood. And right at the very last minute, we have one sneaky little twist that gives us a huge clue as to what happens in this story once the words stop.
Very clever and well-structured, this is a great book from Siobhan MacDonald that I'd definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Siobhan MacDonald and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
Guilty is bestselling Irish writer Siobhan MacDonald’s third work of thrilling psychological suspense set in her native Ireland and it is another step up in terms of the thrills and spills on display throughout. Professor Luke Forde, a renowned Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon and his wife, Alison Forde-Thompson, an up and coming politician, appear from the outside to have the perfect life but usually those who try too hard to mould the way they are perceived are the ones who have the most to hide; that is definitely the case here. But when a series of incidents appears to be a targeted campaign against the family they become quite anxious about why it might be happening. Is it the work of daring political saboteurs? Or could it be related to the secrets Luke has long hidden from the prying eyes of those around him? He may very well be about to receive his just desserts...
This is a thriller full of twists, turns, misdirection and excitement that from the outset packs a punch, opening in explosive and highly engaging fashion. The whole narrative is deeply unsettling with a menace to it that you rarely see (or, perhaps more accurately, feel) in fiction. The attention to detail (as well as the palpable menacing atmosphere) was a joy to behold and not something many writers usually lend their time to. The plentiful dark revelations dotted throughout keep your attention and some of them were really quite emotional as well as surprising. It's a quick, easy and enjoyable read and a novel that is perfect for a little summer escapism as it’s not too heavy a plot. Hence, it'll appeal to a wide audience of crime fanatics. Many thanks to Constable for an ARC.
This is a thriller full of twists, turns, misdirection and excitement that from the outset packs a punch, opening in explosive and highly engaging fashion. The whole narrative is deeply unsettling with a menace to it that you rarely see (or, perhaps more accurately, feel) in fiction. The attention to detail (as well as the palpable menacing atmosphere) was a joy to behold and not something many writers usually lend their time to. The plentiful dark revelations dotted throughout keep your attention and some of them were really quite emotional as well as surprising. It's a quick, easy and enjoyable read and a novel that is perfect for a little summer escapism as it’s not too heavy a plot. Hence, it'll appeal to a wide audience of crime fanatics. Many thanks to Constable for an ARC.
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