Set in 1950’s Morocco, this is an atmospheric novel about obsession, jealousy and identity. Alice is living in Tangiers with her husband, John McAllister. The marriage is not a huge success; it was virtually arranged by Alice’s aunt and is mutually beneficial. Besides sneering at her for her refusal to throw herself into the heat and life of the city, and her seeming inability to fill the nursery of their apartment, John leaves her pretty much alone. She ignores his drinking and affairs and he provides some sort of security for her, while enjoying living off her allowance.

One day, while hiding out in their apartment, Alice is shocked by a sudden visitor. It is Lucy Mason, who knew young Alice Shipley, when they were both students at Bennington College in Vermont. Lucy was a scholarship girl, who drew the quieter, more reserved, Alice, into an exclusive relationship. We know that something terrible happened, but this does not become clear until further into the novel. Certainly, though, it seems that Lucy is manipulative and that she is determined to keep hold of Alice, now she has found her.

This novel has a good setting, with the city of Tangiers very important to the storyline. There is the guide, Youssef, who is known to prey on unsuspecting tourists. The winding roads, the market that Alice dares not shop at, the crowds, stray dogs and the unrelenting heat. This has been compared to Highsmith and Tartt – it isn’t nearly in that league, but then comparisons are unfair and it is an interesting read and an assured debut.

“She was still the most beautiful woman that I had ever met - but in a way that made me shiver with fear.”

It’s the 1950s and Alice Shipley, a young woman recently moved to Tangier with her brand new husband, is struggling; neither the marriage nor the city is quite what she expected and she is isolated in her apartment. Then Lucy Mason, her old roommate from Bennington College in Vermont, unexpectedly - shockingly - arrives on her doorstep. Alice and Lucy were once inseparable, until something dreadful happened, and they haven’t seen each other since that time. Lucy’s arrival will transform Alice’s life in ways which could never have been expected.

Told alternately by Lucy and Alice, Tangerine is a dark tale of obsession, jealousy and disordered thinking, steeped in the heat, sights, sounds and volatile political climate of 1950s Morocco. It’s beautifully told and at times genuinely chilling, skilfully building a sense of dread and lurking menace. It’s a book which I feel would bear rereading to fully absorb the atmosphere and story, and I will probably do so.

Many thanks for the opportunity to read and review Tangerine - I loved it and I think it will be very successful.

Christine Mangan writes a deliciously warped and menacing piece of historical fiction set amidst the sweltering and sweat ridden heat of Tangier in Morocco. This is a twisted psychological thriller narrated from the point of view of the nervously anxious and isolated Alice Shipley, recently married to John, and her once close friend, Lucy Mason. Alice and Lucy, women from different ends of the social and economic strata, were room mates at Bennington College in Vermont, whose relationship fractured after an incident on a dark and stormy night. Since then, there has been no communication between them. The narrative is relayed from the perspective of Alice and Lucy, both unreliable narrators, in this creepy tale of love, obsession, deception, fading dreams and revenge. The location is a character in its own right as Mangan evokes an atmospheric and detailed sense of place, people, geography, history and period.

Alice is trapped in her home, afraid of venturing out in Tangier, whilst her husband, John, is in his element. She is caught unawares when Lucy turns up. A confident Lucy pushes Alice into exploring the city, its people and its vibrant markets. However, there is the inescapable feelings of things that matter not being talked about but hovering below the radar ominously. The two women have markedly different recollections of that night in Vermont. It is not long before Alice feels a crushing feeling of unease in the company of Lucy, feeling pushed into corners in her life and manipulated. John disappears, which heightens Alice's frayed nerves, wondering if her mind is failing her or if Lucy is the source of her travails.

Mangan writes a compelling and twisted novel, full of intrigue, with chilling undercurrents of friendships and relationships moving into toxic territory amidst a background of an exotic Tangier and Morocco. There are times when the writing does feel a little uneven on occasion, nevertheless, this book weaves a beguiling and unsettling spell as we wonder just how it will all unfold, although we are rock solid certain all will not end well. A bitter beautifully written story of murky relationships that succeeded in keeping my attention with ease, which I recommend to those who have a penchant for the twisted. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

1950's Tangiers is brought vividly to life in this dark, disturbing psychological thriller. Alice Shipley is living in Tangiers with her husband John, he loves their life but she is afraid to venture out of her small apartment and embrace the city. When Lucy Mason, surpise visitor appears on Alice's doorstep, she is reminded of her life as a student in Vermont, once inseparable their friendship fractured by a tragic accident. Lucy is hoping to turn back time but Alice is wary of being overwhelmed by Lucy's obsessive love.

You can see why comparisons are been made with Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt, it is a novel which looks at the dark side of love and obsession. It will leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth.

Tangerine by Christine Mangan was a thriller set in Tangier in 1956. Alice has moved to Tangier with her husband. Some time later her college friend Lucy turns up on their doorstep. Alice is surprised because she has not spoken to Lucy in over a year because of an unpleasant incident that occurred while they were at college. This story was slow burning and atmospheric. It was quite creepy and unsettling in parts.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for my e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent story full of tension and lots of questions about characters intentions and motivations. The writing was crisp and kept me on the edge of my seat. Thumbs way up!!

What seemed to begin as a story of two friends separated by a tragedy turns into a psychological thriller. Is Lucy the victim or Alice? The atmosphere created by the description of Tangier and the diverse peoples populating the city added to the intrigue. Lucy's conviction that Alice needed to leave Tangier and her husband caused her to make dangerous alliances and decisions. But does she really have Alice's welfare at heart? This book would be a great candidate for the Book Club, sparking I am sure intense discussion.

A psychological thriller set in 1950's Tangier. Two women struck up a friendship when they were at school in America. An accident occurred and the women went their separate ways.

Alice marries John, who takes her to Tangier, a place he love but she finds frightening and overwhelming. Then the mysterious Lucy turns up and things really do start going wrong.

I did wonder why the novel was set in that time and place, perhaps it would not work so well in the modern day, but some of the period descriptions seemed slightly at odds with the plotting, scheming and current problem of identity theft. However that is a mere thought, not even a niggle.

I enjoyed the story, the unravelling of what had happened in Vermont and Alice's descent in chaos as masterminded by Lucy. A great thriller and a great read.

This is a period piece set in Tangier just before independence.
The tone is mysterious and threatening. Lucy visits Alice who is living in Tangier with her husband, John. Alice is not pleased to see her as they have not met for a year since a tragic incident when they were college roomates in Vermont. Lucy has a plan and pursues it with ruthlessness. Her plan evolves and changes as she is thwarted by events. There is a shady character, Youssef, and Alice's Aunt Maud, who are both manipulated into abetting Lucy. I was hoping for a final twist that turned the tables but it was not to be. It will make a great film.

D.N.F. Not my type of book. I couldn't get interested but feel sure many readers would like it.

Tangerine grabbed me from the opening pages, the writing has an evocative quality that drew me in totally and stopped me putting it down until I'd turned the final page.
Based in the 1950's this novel is about two women who met at Bennington, a college in Vermont, sharing a room and becoming inseparable until events drove them apart. The storyline opens with Lucy turning up uninvited on now married Alices doorstep in the North African city of Tangier.

Told in alternate chapters by Lucy and Alice the storyline flits back and forth seamlessly between current day Tangier and when Alice and Lucy were roommates in Vermont.
Its a book about friendship, obsession, manipulation and lies but what this book most of all illustrates is the authors remarkable talent for scene setting; capturing impeccably the heady atmosphere of the Moroccan city of Tangier, its Medina, narrow passageways, bustling crowds and the unforgiving heat so well that you can almost smell the aromas

It has a haunting quality that I loved and I'm not surprised to read that the screen rights have already been sold
There are not many books that on finishing I want to read from start to finish all over again but this is one of them - Totally recommended and I'd give this one 11/10 if I could!

Its hard to believe that this is the authors debut novel and Christine Mangan is certainly a name I'll look out for in the future

After quite a slow start, the author ratcheted up the tension with enough twists and turns to make me abandon real life and devour the tale in one sitting!