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whatkatisreading 's review for:
The Clique
by Rhiannon Barnsley
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
‘The Clique’ by Rhiannon Barnsley is a clever and dark thriller which follows lawyer Cass as she navigates working in a patriarchal environment and coping with the loss of her mentor Sara. The story begins with Sara’s death - initially written off as a suicide caused by work-related stress (the author who is herself a corporate lawyer definitely drives home just how stressful and exhausting the job is!) but later investigated by the police who think something even more sinister happened. Cass also can’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right in the lead up to Sara’s final day…
When her colleague Nat reveals that Sara was part of a secret female-only society, Cass wonders whether that group hold the key to the mystery. Since spots only open up when members leave… or die, Cass decides that now might be the time for some digging. As her situation changes at work, she meets a man she likes and is drawn deeper into the secretive club, her life becomes more dramatic… but is her life in danger?
I really couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting… the office environment was tense and disturbing even before the real drama started, and the raw descriptions of the treatment of women in the workplace and the outward-facing focus on mental health while piling unreasonable workloads on Associates rang true. The club itself sounded tempting - empowering and elevating women by creating a strong network to counteract the influence of old boys’ clubs and male dominance on company boards - so it was thrilling to glimpse inside and ponder whether it was too good to be true. The plot was twisty and intriguing, with a few shocking moments.
I liked Cass, she was easy to relate to and sympathise with and was clearly a very smart and capable woman. George was also an interesting addition to the book and I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship.
This gets five stars from me!
I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher HQ via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
When her colleague Nat reveals that Sara was part of a secret female-only society, Cass wonders whether that group hold the key to the mystery. Since spots only open up when members leave… or die, Cass decides that now might be the time for some digging. As her situation changes at work, she meets a man she likes and is drawn deeper into the secretive club, her life becomes more dramatic… but is her life in danger?
I really couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting… the office environment was tense and disturbing even before the real drama started, and the raw descriptions of the treatment of women in the workplace and the outward-facing focus on mental health while piling unreasonable workloads on Associates rang true. The club itself sounded tempting - empowering and elevating women by creating a strong network to counteract the influence of old boys’ clubs and male dominance on company boards - so it was thrilling to glimpse inside and ponder whether it was too good to be true. The plot was twisty and intriguing, with a few shocking moments.
I liked Cass, she was easy to relate to and sympathise with and was clearly a very smart and capable woman. George was also an interesting addition to the book and I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship.
This gets five stars from me!
I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher HQ via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.