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A review by paulabrandon
He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly
3.0
Laura and Kit are eclipse chasers (well, Kit particularly) and in 1999, during an eclipse in Cornwall, Laura witnesses the rape of Beth by rich boy Jamie. Incensed at the idea he'll get off because of his wealthy connections, Laura lies in the witness stand. She worries about how the lie will affect her relationship with Kit, and the mere fact she did lie has her developing severe stress and anxiety. Jamie is found guilty and goes to prison, but when he lodges an appeal, this brings Beth back into Laura and Kit's lives.
Fifteen years later, in the present, Laura and Kit live completely off the grid, in fear and paranoia, wondering if Beth is going to find them again. Laura is now pregnant, and Kit is traveling with a friend to the Faroe Islands for another eclipse. The book sets about slowly unraveling what happened between Laura, Kit and Beth that now has them so fearful of her.
After a very slow start, this settles into a reasonably diverting thriller. Unfortunately, the chapters set in the present are extremely dull, as they amount to little more than filler as we wait for the events in the past to unfold. Basically, events in the present can't progress until we know what has happened previously, so it's little more than Laura sitting around the house worrying about Kit, or dull details from Kit about his trip and the eclipse.
You'll learn a lot about eclipses here. You'll have them described to you a lot as well. Probably more than you'd like.
The story-line set in the past is far more interesting and suspenseful. Unfortunately, it is hindered somewhat by the fact that there are simply too many psychological thrillers out there nowadays. Authors are struggling to find anything new. Although I know full well Erin Kelly hasn't pilfered anybody elses material,. So therefore, I think a crowded market causes this one to lose a lot of its impact and be predictable, as opposed to an author without any fresh ideas.
If you can get past the dreary start and the interminable present-day chapters, this is fairly engaging, with excellent characterisation, some good suspense, and a very satisfying ending. However, it could have done with being about fifty pages shorter and, no matter how well-written it is, it can't escape the fact that there are so many similar books out there, so it still fails to stand out from the pack.
Fifteen years later, in the present, Laura and Kit live completely off the grid, in fear and paranoia, wondering if Beth is going to find them again. Laura is now pregnant, and Kit is traveling with a friend to the Faroe Islands for another eclipse. The book sets about slowly unraveling what happened between Laura, Kit and Beth that now has them so fearful of her.
After a very slow start, this settles into a reasonably diverting thriller. Unfortunately, the chapters set in the present are extremely dull, as they amount to little more than filler as we wait for the events in the past to unfold. Basically, events in the present can't progress until we know what has happened previously, so it's little more than Laura sitting around the house worrying about Kit, or dull details from Kit about his trip and the eclipse.
You'll learn a lot about eclipses here. You'll have them described to you a lot as well. Probably more than you'd like.
The story-line set in the past is far more interesting and suspenseful. Unfortunately, it is hindered somewhat by the fact that there are simply too many psychological thrillers out there nowadays. Authors are struggling to find anything new. Although I know full well Erin Kelly hasn't pilfered anybody elses material,
Spoiler
the scenario of Laura letting Beth live with them despite barely knowing her, and Kit's barely disguised hostility over it, is virtually identical to the scenario in The Sister by Louise Jensen, as is the twist that Kit's hostility is due to the fact he slept with Beth in CornwallIf you can get past the dreary start and the interminable present-day chapters, this is fairly engaging, with excellent characterisation, some good suspense, and a very satisfying ending. However, it could have done with being about fifty pages shorter and, no matter how well-written it is, it can't escape the fact that there are so many similar books out there, so it still fails to stand out from the pack.