An amazing debut from Rebecca Kelly. This book tackles sensitive subjects such as sexual abuse and trafficking in a sensitive and emotive way.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

This is a beautifully written debut novel dealing with horrific abuse and paedophilia. Monstrous Souls could could not have been more aptly titled, this book is full of despicable and depraved characters. The subject of child abuse is handled sensitively and leaves readers to use their imagination.

The writing is descriptive and atmospheric. The relationship between the two girls is realistic and heart wrenching. The torment Heidi felt knowing Nina's secret but not knowing where to turn was so emotional.

I hope this author's next book is out soon.

This is a well written, tightly plotted story that despite its subject matter keeps the reader turning the pages. I appreciate that child abuse in any form is abhorrent but it is an integral part of this story and Rebecca Kelly’s writing skill means the scenes are set but never graphically described, so our own imagination has to fill in the gaps - which is so refreshing. I liked to use of the two timelines and was particularly impressed with the sensitive portrayal of teenage angst. A great debut novel and I’ll be looking out for more by this talented author.

This was a very dark thriller did take me a while to get into it but did enjoy it. The characters were believable. I didn’t like the jumping back and forth between years however they were very well explained so easy to keep up with. Dealt with some very dark issues but dealt with well and appropriately. For a first novel excellent look forward to Rebecca’s next one.

Heidi has survived a childhood attack which saw her best friend murdered, and her younger sister disappear without a trace. Now, 15 years later, her memory is starting to come back and she wonders whether she will finally be able to piece together what happened to her.

The story unfolds through chapters told from alternating points of view – Denise (police officer), Heidi (victim) and an unknown narrator who we assume is some how involved. The timeline also flits between now (2016) and then (2001).

This is an example of a timehop storyline done well, with no confusion about what is happening. However, I did feel that it was a cover for allowing Heidi to regain her memories, without having to really deal with what was prompting them after so long of being blank. It did work though, and I am possibly just being picky.
The alternating perspectives make this a pacey read, and do keep you hooked; however, I think that is a stylistic tool rather than a recommendation on the way the story gripped me. I was interested, but at parts I found it all a little confused and muddled so it lost its way for me a bit.

As a debut novel this is undeniably brilliant, and I am confident Kelly can only get better, which means she’s destined for great things! Tackling such a dark, and sadly, topical subject in a way without making it seemed cliched is definitely noteworthy, and the author should be commended.

If you like a dark mystery then this is undoubtedly up your street, although, in terms of shock factor and real thriller/didn’t see that coming, I think it’s a little lackluster.

The Stars
A sold 3/3.5 stars from me and I intrigued to see how this author develops in time. Definitely one to watch out for.

Monstrous Souls is a dark and gritty read, not for everyone!
Holly suffered an incident In her teens which led to severe memory loss, this has affected the lives of everyone around her. However, very slowly, her memory is starting to return, she gets flashes of what actually happened and the ramifications of this may spread wider than she can imagine. We gradually discover the disturbing story of child sexual abuse and the organisations allowing the criminals to get away with it. While the writing is neither graphic or gratuitous, the author manages to convey the deep psychological effects on the victims and their families.

Very enjoyable but dark read. Liked the time differences of the chapters. Lots of twists and turns throughout a gripping stpryline

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Monstrous Souls by Rebecca Kelly.

DNF.

I tried, SO HARD to anchor this book down. I tried audio, then book, I started over, and started over again. I could not get into this one. The jumping timeline and characters, combined with a lack of interest, and it was just a lemon for me.

Heidi is left disturbed and disfigured after the murder of her friend and dissappearance of her sister. Now, 15 years on, she's starting to remember what happened, unravelling a mystery that spans deeper than she could have imagined.

A fast-paced, chilling thriller, Monsterous Souls hits with enough clout to make it a formidable page Turner, even if at times it's entirely predictable. In fairness to Kelly, this is her first novel, and it focuses on strong storytelling as apposed to a multitude of twists or red herrings.

It's the perfect length for a story that doesn't waste time getting to the point. A fantastic first outing for Rebecca.

From the first page I could not put this book down and the ending did not disappoint in any way. A superbly written, gripping read from start to finish, looking forward to other books by this author

I really enjoyed this book. I found it thrilling and very readable. I read it very quickly as I couldn’t put it down and read every minute that I could. At times it was scary but I love that in books . The ending was different to what I thought it would be but it didn’t spoil it for me. I hope this author writes more. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

From the first page of Monstrous Souls I was totally hooked by this dark and compelling book. The story follows Heidi, a victim of an incredibly violent attack that killed her best friend. The attack also left Heidi’s little sister missing and Heidi herself badly hurt and with no memory of the assault or much else of her life before it. Years later, Heidi is starting to remember what led to the tragedy that destroyed her life and finds herself in danger and on a collision course with the harrowing truth.

It has to be admitted that Monstrous Souls is not a cheerful book, there is a lot of darkness and sadness within these pages but it is a truly brilliant read which will keep readers desperate to know the truth about what happened to Heidi on that fateful day. The story has some really traumatic themes which, whilst deeply upsetting, feel depressingly believable and rooted in realism. The author weaves the two timelines together beautifully. The current day resurrection of Heidi’s case is the driving force of the book whilst her flashbacks to the events leading up to the attack provide a deeper understanding of what is going on in the present and why her memory has kept so much hidden from her.

Monstrous Souls is a compulsive read – it is the kind readers will not be able to put down in every sense as the story will linger in the mind long after the last pages. It is gripping and intense but it is also really beautifully written. The author has a real skill in conveying the depth of emotion in the lives of these characters. The damage done to two families by the architects of the attack is almost impossible to truly comprehend but the strength of the writing somehow manages it. I really don’t want to give anything away but I will just say that the ending is a complete gut-punch. I didn’t see certain aspects coming at all but even if I had, it would have had just as much impact. I highly recommend Monstrous Souls – it is a powerful book about so many different issues like corruption, power, culpability, control, abuse and recovery which I know will stick in my mind for a very long time.

My thanks to Agora Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Monstrous Souls’ by Rebecca Kelly in exchange for an honest review. It was published on 25 June and is currently available as a Kindle Unlimited title.

‘One Murdered. One Missing. One Survivor’ - cover tag line.

In 2001 thirteen-year old Heidi was the victim of an horrific attack that left her hospitalised, her seven-year old sister, Anna, missing, and her best friend, Nina, dead. Heidi recalls nothing of the attack and indeed has little memory of her life before it.

Now in 2016 her memory is starting to return and as she begins to retrace the events that led to the assault she has to face her long buried pain and guilt. Yet in the shadows someone is watching placing Heidi and others in danger.

‘Monstrous Souls’ was a page turner. As with many thrillers, the author uses multiple viewpoints and pops back and forth in time to slowly build up the tension and reveal the events of fifteen years previously as well as their impact upon the present.

This was a remarkable debut that addresses a difficult subject with sensitivity while not in any way diminishing its heinous nature.

Certainly recommended with the caveat that it is a very dark and disturbing story.

Enjoyed this debut by Rebecca Kelly, told through the eyes of various characters at different points in time, this is a novel about a really delicate topic, told very well and doesn't pull any punches whilst still managing to handle it with sensitively.

The ending of the book does come as a surprise but at the same time seems very realistic.

Would recommend.

This is a very readable book. It deals very sensitively with a difficult topic. The story began 15 years ago and it gradually unfolds through the two main characters, Heidi, a victim of an attack whose memory of the time is lost, and Denise a police officer who was involved in the original investigation. I enjoyed the eloquent way it the story is written and the unfolding of the events as Heidi's memory returns. The characters are well drawn and the disturbing story is well revealed. It is a pacy thriller.

One of the best thriller/mystery books that I've read in a very long time!

In "Monstrous Souls", Rebecca Kelly does an incredible job laying out the perfect plot that spans decades; many twists; and several great characters. I loved how effectively she flipped between time periods and characters - and I especially appreciated her blunt honesty when it came to the difficult material.

The only reason why I couldn't give this book a solid five stars was because I find the actual ending slightly rushed - but overall, this was a great book that I can highly recommend!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the charge to enjoy this!

Not the best book I ever read , pretty predictable. Child abuse by stepfather and paedophiles , one went missing, one murdered the other survived . Memory came back so the story came out about what happened. Sorry didn’t quite work for me

I wanted to read this book because at its heart it has trauma and the memory issues it can cause. It did not disappoint, and although it was very difficult to read in places, this was because the author did such a good job of conveying what it is like to have memories come back in tiny, broken pieces.

It's extremely well written. I couldn't actually believe that it was a debut. I liked the way that Rebecca Kelly had the confidence to lead us into the story slowly. It lulls us into a false sense of security before the novel picks up pace. The initial passages in which Heidi starts to remember are very well done - too many books try to deal with trauma by bringing back something horrific, and while that's true for some, it's much more realistic to have seemingly innocent everyday objects act as triggers.

This is a story in which we stick closely to those who were targeted, and does not in any way, shape or form glorify the murderer, as far too many novels do. The terror for the reader comes from the psychological impact on Heidi, and from our empathy with her.

As such, this is a novel I will recommend to friends who are unsure about trauma and how it can affect people. I found it very cathartic to read, but not overly sentimentalised. Heidi is not just her trauma - she's a real woman who has survived an horrific past, and their is solace and encouragement in that.

A solid debut thriller. Be aware that there is a lot of content that could be distressing to readers including child abuse and lots of violence towards women and children. Even though the plot was fairly predictable Rebecca really has a solid prose style that makes reading Monstrous Souls a breeze. The only thing that slows you down is the darkness of the content. I wish the characters were a little more fleshed out, they often feel two dimensional and have to react stupidly to certain events in order for plot advancement. This usually would detract but as a first novel it's a solid go.

Thanks to Netgalley, Rebecca Kelly, and Agora Books for the ARC copy.

Ooh this is a creepy story!
15 years ago 3 girls visit an abandoned bunker in a park. One is murdered. One disappears. One survives with no memory.
Now Heidi, the survivor, is starting to remember things, enough to reopen the case and investigate this vicious crime from years ago. Unfortunately it is soon becomes clear that the original investigation failed in many ways. As Denise- the police officer closest to Heidi- starts her investigation, she realises that the suspected child abuse and abduction was influenced by very powerful men, including those within the force.
This is a really gripping book, as Heidi's memories return the stakes get higher and the danger gets more real. You're left wondering what happened until the very last page. Yes, I guessed who the main baddie was fairly quickly, but I didn't guess who was following Heidi.
I'm giving Monstrous Souls 4*. Its perfect for people who enjoy high stakes crime thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.