Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by thestucumminsreads
The Disappearance of Emily Marr by Louise Candlish
5.0
Exquisite drama, resplendent with social critique and a jaw-dropping twist!
I’m continuing my binge of the wonderful Louise Candlish’s backlist, but this time with a re-read (which was prompted by none other than @lisajewelluk - thanks Lisa!). I read The Disappearance of Emily Marr a number of years ago (before I was reviewing) and remember being absolutely stunned by the shock revelation in the final portion, which I hadn’t seen coming in the slightest! It’s one of those literary moments that turns a novel completely on it’s head and makes you rethink everything that has gone before. It’s perfectly executed, with not a single hint to have you anywhere remotely close to the truth before it is laid bare. I absolutely love when a book floors me like that! Whilst I could clearly remember this twist upon re-reading, what that allowed me to do was really lose myself in all the other aspects of what makes this book such a fantastic read. However, I will firstly say that if you enjoy Candlish’s more recent psychological thriller novels and like a book that is character driven and evenly paced, you should definitely give this one a go whilst eagerly awaiting what she brings us next!
During this read, I really appreciated how much of a nuanced and important social critique this novel is. Candlish focuses on the impact of sudden infamy and being thrust into the immediate (negative) spotlight in a raw and emotional way. She focuses on the distinctly 21st century problem of an ‘always on’ media and the incessant public consumption of click-bait articles and sensationalist headlines. It’s an epidemic in our culture and Candlish puts a very human and relatable story at the heart. It caused me to question my own media consumption and how easily I can be drawn into stories that scream of scandal. Emily Marr is an average woman, who isn’t guilty of anything obscene and yet she is catapulted into notoriety and made a pariah of illicit virtues. She is not a fluffy, perfect character, but the absurdity and heartache of what happens to her makes her painfully human and much more likeable. Her experiences are also the gateway into a wider theme that is explored and touches upon all of the main characters: loneliness and isolation. Emily feels this when she moves into the new flat on Walnut Grove. She doesn’t feel like she fits in with the other residents and her relationship with Matt is no longer romantic, merely one of convenience for the purposes of affording rent. This leads her to meet Arthur, a married neighbour, who feels isolated in a marriage he hasn’t wanted to be in for 20 years, finding solace in working all hours under the sun. Tabby is a young woman who has escaped a troubled past, but has found herself in France alone, after being dumped by the boyfriend she went travelling with. On the Île de Ré she meets Emmie, a lonely woman who has been keeping herself to herself for reasons that Tabby unravels over the course of the plot. Isolation ironically binds these characters to each other, but their stories are a heartbreaking look at the fragility of modern life. No-one is unscathed in this novel and Candlish paints a beautifully fraught and thought-provoking portrait of each. This book challenges societal norms that we have all too readily accepted (and shouldn’t have), as well as tenderly exploring subjects such as mental health, love, privilege, power and voice. It’s a fascinating story on so many levels.
I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy in depth characterisation, a gradual development of a mystery and a social commentary to sink your teeth into. If you enjoy this kind of read, you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic novel and one of the most proficiently delivered twists I remember reading!
I’m continuing my binge of the wonderful Louise Candlish’s backlist, but this time with a re-read (which was prompted by none other than @lisajewelluk - thanks Lisa!). I read The Disappearance of Emily Marr a number of years ago (before I was reviewing) and remember being absolutely stunned by the shock revelation in the final portion, which I hadn’t seen coming in the slightest! It’s one of those literary moments that turns a novel completely on it’s head and makes you rethink everything that has gone before. It’s perfectly executed, with not a single hint to have you anywhere remotely close to the truth before it is laid bare. I absolutely love when a book floors me like that! Whilst I could clearly remember this twist upon re-reading, what that allowed me to do was really lose myself in all the other aspects of what makes this book such a fantastic read. However, I will firstly say that if you enjoy Candlish’s more recent psychological thriller novels and like a book that is character driven and evenly paced, you should definitely give this one a go whilst eagerly awaiting what she brings us next!
During this read, I really appreciated how much of a nuanced and important social critique this novel is. Candlish focuses on the impact of sudden infamy and being thrust into the immediate (negative) spotlight in a raw and emotional way. She focuses on the distinctly 21st century problem of an ‘always on’ media and the incessant public consumption of click-bait articles and sensationalist headlines. It’s an epidemic in our culture and Candlish puts a very human and relatable story at the heart. It caused me to question my own media consumption and how easily I can be drawn into stories that scream of scandal. Emily Marr is an average woman, who isn’t guilty of anything obscene and yet she is catapulted into notoriety and made a pariah of illicit virtues. She is not a fluffy, perfect character, but the absurdity and heartache of what happens to her makes her painfully human and much more likeable. Her experiences are also the gateway into a wider theme that is explored and touches upon all of the main characters: loneliness and isolation. Emily feels this when she moves into the new flat on Walnut Grove. She doesn’t feel like she fits in with the other residents and her relationship with Matt is no longer romantic, merely one of convenience for the purposes of affording rent. This leads her to meet Arthur, a married neighbour, who feels isolated in a marriage he hasn’t wanted to be in for 20 years, finding solace in working all hours under the sun. Tabby is a young woman who has escaped a troubled past, but has found herself in France alone, after being dumped by the boyfriend she went travelling with. On the Île de Ré she meets Emmie, a lonely woman who has been keeping herself to herself for reasons that Tabby unravels over the course of the plot. Isolation ironically binds these characters to each other, but their stories are a heartbreaking look at the fragility of modern life. No-one is unscathed in this novel and Candlish paints a beautifully fraught and thought-provoking portrait of each. This book challenges societal norms that we have all too readily accepted (and shouldn’t have), as well as tenderly exploring subjects such as mental health, love, privilege, power and voice. It’s a fascinating story on so many levels.
I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy in depth characterisation, a gradual development of a mystery and a social commentary to sink your teeth into. If you enjoy this kind of read, you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic novel and one of the most proficiently delivered twists I remember reading!