Flitting between two timeframes of the present and 1993, Come Back For Me is a novel brimming with mystery and tension.
It opens in the past, during a storm which echoed the frantic departure of Stella and her family from the isolated island home on Evergreen. Throughout the novel there's the sense that the islanders augment this isolation with their actions towards visitors who choose to spend time on the island they call home. Mind you this is explained somewhat by the discovery of a body buried in the woods which bordered Stella's childhood home, drawing Stella back towards the island and right into the middle of a rather splendid murder mystery. The plot is woven so intricately that I had no idea at all how it was going to end, and the journey up to the ending was really engaging, enhanced I feel by the different timeframes in the novel.
Stella herself, along with the rest of the Harvey family are likable characters, and I particularly liked the dynamic between Stella and her older sister Bonnie. With her absent brother Danny, I got a real sense of how life on the island and their subsequent departure had shaped their futures; there was obviously a black cloud over what had happened, but we were as in the dark as Stella was. The different narratives worked well I thought, giving alternative versions of events on Evergreen, heightening the mystery surrounding the body.
I enjoy Heidi Perk's writing, she has such an easy writing style that it isn't hard to stay hooked into her novels. Come Back For Me is a tale about lies and secrecy, and how the truth can never stay buried forever.

Stella and her family lived on a little Island, everything seemed perfect until one day her parents told her they were leaving the island suddenly. Now an adult in a very different life, Stella is drawn back to the island that she loved so dearly.
This book was very well written, it flowed nicely and the plot kept me engaged as it was a little different to other books I have read. I liked the characters of Stella but found her sister Bonnie really hard to warm to, she came across as angry all time and a little to needy. There were also times when I couldn't get my head around Stella actions and I felt the ending was somewhat unbelievable.

Really enjoyed this book. Interesting characters, a few twists along the way & plenty secrets. I’d highly recommend this book.

This is a book which is more difficult to categorise than usual. There are elements of a routine murder investigation - but without the police procedural aspect; elements of a story about a remote and isolated community - but seemingly somewhere within or very near Poole harbour; elements of a story that mixes action from the present and the past, when the lead character was a young child on the island; and elements of a story that explores the lengths to which parents will go in their efforts to ensure a stable family life. However, for this reader, there were perhaps too many unresolved issues about the way in which the stories were woven together, and - perhaps - a sense that the book was simply too long and somewhat repetitious in labouring the references to the awful secrets that lay buried along with the woman whose body was found early in the book. Having said that, this wasn't a book that I didn't want to finish; the writing, although it might have benefited from some rather more ruthless editing, was fluent and easy to absorb and enjoy.

A fast-paced, intriguing mystery which took some unexpected turns. I love stories which involve going back to one's hometown and uncovering past secrets, and Come Back For Me didn't disappoint.

I enjoyed this book, it helped that I live in the area in which it is set. It was an interesting concept as the island is an invention of the author, however it was a good story. It did seem to get a little bit complicated with a lot of people that could have been involved in the plot, but it was a good read.

I absolutely loved Heidi's books, Now You See Her, and was so excited and happy to be accepted to read come back for me..

It was another great read, another great page turner!

The novel takes place over two different timelines and it is apparent that there have been some secrets over those few years.

The book was gripping, it has me guessing right until the end and wow what an ending! I did not see that coming!

Stella Harvey was just 11 years old when her family up and left her beloved home on Evergreen Island in the middle of a storm. She begged for them to stay and for years later tried to convince her parents to go back but all to no avail. Now after 25 years, she is drawn back to the Island after a body is found on the border of the garden at their old house.

She returns to a frosty welcome from most of the islanders but is determined to find answers to why they left as they did and what secrets her family was hiding.

The story flips between the present and 1993 and the descriptions of life on the island builds up a picture of the life Stella had . It can get a little confusing on how the characters fit into the plot but the twists throughout keep you guessing. The plot was a little slow in revealing itself and so can be a little drawn out but still a good read.

I love a book with family secrets and finding out the truth about things you think you know and this delivered exactly that! There were a couple of things that bothered me such as can a family member identify a body after 25 years? I wouldn't have thought so. I would also like to have known what happened between Jill and her father as it was never really explained.
I did however like everything else and those 2 things were not enough to make me want to stop reading. I liked the main character and I enjoyed her discoveries about her family and the life she had.

This book had me interested at the offset as its a very dramatic start as we see the family ‘steal away’ in the night from Evergreen, the island, 20 mins from Poole, that they have lived on, they have to leave but at that point we don’t know why
A lot of the book is set on the island after a body is found and secrets of the past are literally unearthed!, I LOVED the descriptions of the island, island life, the gossip that held the 102 islanders together and tore them apart and the author built up a great minds eye vision of what it is like to live on a small island, the good - and the bad
The actual ‘crux’ of the matter takes some time to get to as you are taken from the present to the past and back again and you get to know the family and start to get an inkling of what might be ahead, as say though this does take a time to get to and I was almost getting restless waiting for the action, when it comes its good and believable, quite complex but is explained well and all fits together to make a readable tale
The characters are well portrayed and for me elicited no real strong feelings either way to be honest, I dont think you were meant to love them but equally I don’t think you were meant to dislike them that much either!
The ending was quick and I kept flicking the kindle app to make sure I hadn’t missed an extra page(s), I hadn’t
418 pages is more than ample for this story
Some great research or experience gone into describing island life which I enjoyed more than the actual story
I look forward to this authors next book
7/10 3.5 Stars

This thriller is set on a (imaginary) claustrophobic island in Poole Harbour - an isolated community where everyone knows each other, but more difficult to escape from. The discovery of a long-buried body leads to speculation about, firstly, who the corpse is and, secondly, who the murderer is. Told in the classic "two timelines in parallel" manner, this is a gripping story of lies and deceit.

This was a tough one to rate given that I put it aside 30% of the way through, and read two other books in between. The plot was very slow, and even though things did pick up in the last half, it wasn't by much. I can't deny that the wrap-up was original and clever though, so I've settled on a rating of 3.5.

Stella Harvey had the perfect childhood growing up on Evergreen Island. But in 1993, when she was 11 years old, it all ended, with her family fleeing the island in the middle of the night, never to return. Stella's family was never the same after and she believes that leaving the island destroyed them, but as an adult has never had the courage to go back. Then a body is discovered buried on the outskirts of the garden of her childhood home. Desperate for the answers, Stella must return to to her beloved Island and discover the truth of what really happened that fateful summer of 1993, twenty-five years ago.

As I mentioned the ending was well done, and completely took me by surprise. There were a couple of times where I was convinced I knew where the plot was heading only to be proved wrong on both occasions. All the gothic elements really worked for me - the secluded Island setting cut off from the mainland, with its tight knit, secretive community, who would go to any lengths to protect their own. The geography of Evergreen, including Stella's house, was intricately described and I could easily picture the layout in my head. The present POV was seen through Stella's eyes in the first person, with the summer of '93 narrated by the rest of the Harvey family (third person) - Stella's mother and father (Maria and David), and her two teenage siblings (Danny and Bonnie).

I'm trying to pinpoint why the book dragged and I think it was due to the fact that little could be revealed about the mystery without giving it away, so there were few instances of clue dropping, and you had characters who obviously knew what had happened but just weren't saying, which quickly became frustrating and did little to advance the plot. Also, I think three to four POV's for every flashback was over the top and repetitive.

This probably bothered me more than it should, but would the police really fire so many questions at Stella and ask for her interpretation of adults behaviour, when she was only 11 years old at the time? I wouldn't have thought an account coming from someone so young would be that reliable?

I'm disappointed because Now You See Her was a 5 star read for me last year and as soon as I read the synopsis for this one I was sure this one would be as well. I think those who don't find it slow will rate it higher. There's no question Heidi Perks can write though, and I I’m still looking forward to her next book.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Random House UK – Cornerstone, and Heidi Perks for the e-ARC.

The book opens as 11yr old Stella's father is forcing (albeit without actual physical force) her family to leave remote Evergreen Island, the only home she's known. Ferrying people between the island and Poole Harbour is her father's job but the weather is dire and their decision to leave sudden.

Stella is devastated, expecting her mother to refuse her father's wishes, so surprised when she agrees to their hurried departure. It's an ominous and quite frantic start to this story.

Twenty-five years later Stella is a counsellor. She talks about having boxed-up any feelings about her childhood and compartmentalised them. She still doesn't entirely know why they left their idyllic life so suddenly and - despite her requests - her mother refused to take her back. Ostensibly they left because her father found a better paid job elsewhere, but her parents separated not long after the move. Her brother left home as soon as he was able, and with her beloved mother now dead and father remarried, Stella really only has her sister Bonnie - who's fought her own demons over the years.

The discovery of bones near their old house on Evergreen Island brings up a lot of memories for Stella and realising she's never really closed that part of her life, she decides to travel back. Briefly.

Interestingly she's not entirely welcomed back into the tight-knit community. There seem to be secrets kept and even though in many ways she's not an outsider, she's treated in a way that seems strange. She's keen to reconnect with old friends but it seems that's not a possibility.

The story unfolds via Stella in the now and in the past mostly via her mother Maria - spanning a couple of months before the family left the island for good in September 1993.

This book was a little longer than I expected and probably delved a little deeper as well. It gets a tad complicated and I wasn't entirely sure I ultimately knew who was running from what in the end. Nevertheless we learn early on that many who head to the remote island have their secrets and Stella's family was no different.

This book has a couple of interesting twists and I felt a sense of regret that the truth didn't (and doesn't) necessarily ALL come out.

We're reminded that all families have baggage and parents want the best for their children and - in some cases - will do anything for them. But there's also a reminder that secrets can fester and sometimes honesty could actually help prevent more dire outcomes down the track.

I read Perks' Now You See Her last year and enjoyed the twists it offered. It also centred around families harbouring secrets, so I look forward to more from her.

This was excellent and kept me up reading half the night. A body found on an island that not many people lie on. How long has it been there, no one is saying so speculation is rife. Was no one missing? good characters and leads but nothing amounted to anything. A brilliant twist at the end that i really was not expecting. Who would have though that she was the one and kept it hidden all these years. Brilliant writing.

Heidi Perks, you star! I wasnt always convinced this was going to be my type of book, however I was inexorably driven to finish this! A story of deep rooted family secrets, and how far people will go to conceal them. Well written throughout, great read!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
A well constructed thriller told over two time periods. Excellent and descriptive characters.
Although not fast paced this book kept me interested right the way through.
4 stars

You can’t bury the truth forever...

Rushed away from the only home she’s ever known in the middle of a raging storm, Stella Harvey knows that something sinister has happened, but burdened with a secret and betrayal of her own she daren’t speak out. Only when a shocking discovery is made 25 years later in the grounds of her old house does she begin to question that night, and finds that the community she once knew and loved may not quite love her back.

The latest thriller from Heidi Perks (of Now You See Her et al) swept me away from the first paragraph. I devoured it in one day, desperate to learn the twisted secrets and lies that brought this idyllic island lifestyle crashing down around Stella.

Well written, with an easy to read turn of phrase - no stilted sentences or unnecessary waffle here. I thought I had figured out the twist early on in the story but boy was I wrong! Told in both present day and flashback, from the points of view of all members of the Harvey family, Perks builds question upon question, more intrigue arising for every answer given, to the point I was truly left wondering just who had betrayed who. For fans of suspense, mystery and thrillers this is an absolute must!

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story told alternating between present times and events of twenty five years ago. Very enjoyable and well worth a read

I’m so gutted about this book. The storyline was great and it’s a good thriller, but one factual error ruined the whole book for me and made it impossible for me to give this one a rating higher than 3 stars. Everything about the storyline had me hooked, and I couldn’t predict how it was going to end. I guessed some parts, but not the major parts. I also really liked the characters and would like to read more from Heidi Perks. However this factual error really put me off. I was going to stop reading, but I was already 70% of the way through. That’s the only thing that made me keep going. If the error was earlier on in the book, I would have stopped reading. I’ve heard so many great things about Heidi Perks and her books, so I was definitely disappointed as this is the first book I’ve read by her. I do have her other book, Now You See Her, so I will read that one and give Perks’ books another chance.

# Come Back To Me #
A steady read, which some storylines have to be. When they left the Island of Evergreen. Stella was six, 25yrs later she sees on the new a body is found on the border of her old Garden. She talk to Bonnie her sister who hated the island. Stella decides to pay a visit to the island. Thinking people would be pleased to see her. Hmmmm things happen that she didn’t expect, Although a little bit slow to get going. It a intriguing storyline that actually gets its hooks into you. Suddenly you don’t want to put it down. It’s got more twist and turns than a pair of
knickers that’s gone through a 1600 spin speed, This is the second book I have read by Heidi Perks. I must say I am looking forward to book 3 she has it all, a good storyline that’s written very well. Another extremely good author up and coming. I recommend this book