Synopsis
Sarah always thought of herself and her husband, Tom, as good people. But that was before their son Freddy came home saying he'd done something terrible. Begging them not to tell the police. Soon Sarah and Tom must find out just how far they are willing to push themselves, and their marriage, to protect their only child . . .
As the lies build up and Sarah is presented with the perfect opportunity to get Freddy off the hook, she is faced with a terrifying decision . . .
Save her son . . . or save herself?
Review
This book was recommended to me by someone I went to school with on Twitter and I didn't really know what to expect. Jane Corry wasn't someone who I had read before and all I had to go on was a short synopsis but it intrigued me. It was different to the types of books I'd read recently and I was interested in where the story might take me.
The story centres on on a married couple with a teenage son called Freddie who has done something terrible. His mother, Sarah and Father, Tom are two very different people and as the story progresses, we get to see just how different and incompatible they really are. Secrets are revealed and there are genuine twists and turns throughout and moments of emotion which caused me to reach for the tissues on more than one occasion.
“When it comes to a mother's love - that boundless, almost undefinable, primal, umbilical-cord wrenching bond that cannot be broken - there are no rules .”
While at first, I was a bit daunted by the length of the book (it sits at nearly 500 pages long), in hindsight I think that it is needed. This is a slowburner of a story which gives each character time to breath. We are given a true insight into how lying can cause a relationship to break down and the devastating effects that can have on those involved. In the first half, we are taken through Sarah and Tom's relationship while the second half concentrates on the fall out from Freddies actions. There are times, especially during the first half, where it does feel a little tedious but it's needed for the payoffs in the second half to count.
Final Thoughts
This is a long book, make no mistake and there are times when it truly feels like a long book. However, when the payoffs come they really come and it's clear to see why a lot of the 'fluff' is needed. Yes, things are tied up a little too neatly when it comes to the end but I'm happy for that in the case of these characters. Some of them go through so much and are really put through the wringer so it's nice to see some resolution for them all. It's really impressive how Corry brings all of the different threads together and so this is an author I will definitely be keeping an eye on.
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