#TheAnniversary #NetGalley
Excellent read with awesome twist.
Travis Green - husband, father, upstanding citizen - walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed eleven of his neighbours. The final victim was four-year-old Cassie Colman's father.
As the twenty-five year anniversary approaches, Cassie would rather forget the past - even as her mother struggles to remember it at all. Then something hidden in her mother's possessions suggests those eleven murders were not what everyone believes.Once Cassie suspects she's been lied to about the most important event of her life, she can't stop digging up the past.
I loved it from starting. I was hooked.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for giving me an advance copy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgally for sending this to me for review.

I never like to write too much about thrillers in case I spoil them so here is a brief description.

In 1994 Cassie for the soul survivor of a mass shooting that took the lives of 11 people, she is known as the tragic tot after witnessing the killing of her father. Cassie has always had questions about that night but has never seemed to get answers, when local journalist Alison approaches Cassie to speak to her as part of a story she is writing about the effect of crimes on small communities Cassie decides to work with her and try to uncover so of the details she has forgotten, as they delve deeper into the past Cassie and Alison discover that everything isn't as it seems. What really did happen on that fateful night 25 years ago?

I really enjoyed this book, there were some elements I really didn't expect from a book like this, I really enjoyed the themes in here on mother and daughter relationships but mainly of motherhood, Cassie is really struggling with being a new mum, her daughter is a fussy baby and doesn't sleep well and a lot of this dictates how Cassie lives her life, all the other mums seem to have it all together, breezing through motherhood where everyday for Cassie is a struggle, I found all of this really relatable and well done, I think you often see a side of motherhood that makes it seem easy and like you should enjoy every moment, it is frowned upon if you say your struggling, or finding it hard and I appreciated that this was explored in this novel and actually when you looked closely all these woman who were mothers were struggling with something, looks can be deceiving and I think we need to be reminded of that in our culture.

The mystery itself in this was good but nothing I haven't read before, I didn't really guess what was going on and loved how every now and then a curve ball was thrown, I also enjoyed how you get the points of views of the 11 victims on that night and how there is little clues along the way.

I would recommend this book to someone starting out with thrillers as it's a good place to start with the genre.

The Anniversary by Laura Marshall.
A slow but good read. OK story and likeable characters. I didn't love this book but I Don't hate it either. 3*.

15th June 1994. The day Travis Green shot dead eleven victims, before finally killing himself. The day the residents of Hartstead will never forget. None more so than little Cassie Colman, who's father was Travis' final victim, shot dead in front of her when she was just four years old. 25 years later, Cassie has returned to her hometown, caring for both her baby and her mother. But with the anniversary of the massacre fast approaching, local journalist Alison Patchett is determined to find out what really happened on that day. Old wounds are set to be reopened and past mysteries explored, but some people will do anything to make sure the truth isn't revealed...

Ok, so I'll admit, I wasn't sure about this one to start with. Cassie is struggling as a single mother to a seemingly very challenging baby, and especially at the start of the book I did struggle to relate to her, perhaps because I don't have kids? Either way, it took a few chapters for me to really start to connect with her and root for her, so if you've just started it and you're struggling a bit, definitely stick with it - it's a slow burner, but it's worth it in the end.

Now I'm wary to say too much for fear of spoilers, but I'll try for a quick summary. So Cassie has just moved home, partly to care for her mum who has early onset dementia, and partly to run from her old life, after her ex boyfriend and baby daddy made it clear that he wouldn't be leaving his wife for her. Ouch. So, she's returned to Hartstead, and it's coming up to the 25th anniversary of the day local man Travis Green shot dead 11 people, including Cassie's dad. No-one ever knew how he chose his victims, but local journalist Alison is determined to remedy that, and teams up with Cassie on a quest to find answers. Along the way, we see Cassie try and settle into her new life as mum to a baby who seems to hate her, and daughter to a woman who is starting to forget her.

So, very much a book of two halves - the mystery side, and the domestic drama side. Personally, I loved both, and found them equally gripping and well-written. As I said above, Cassie took a while to warm to but once I did, I loved her, and I really felt for her and empathised with the struggles that seemed to surround her on all sides. The mystery of what really happened that day was revealed very slowly, which really worked in terms of increasing tension, and built up to a reveal which was genuinely unexpected. All in all, definitely a book I'd recommend, and an author I'll keep an eye out for in future.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

On 15th June 1994, Travis Green - husband, father, upstanding citizen - walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed eleven of his neighbours. The final victim was four-year-old Cassie Colman's father. As the twenty-five year anniversary approaches, Cassie would rather forget the past - even as her mother struggles to remember it at all. Then something hidden in her mother's possessions suggests those eleven murders were not what everyone believes. Once Cassie suspects she's been lied to about the most important event of her life, she can't stop digging up the past. But someone will do anything to keep it buried.

I will start by saying this entire read centres around a very difficult and sensitive subject and it could be triggering for people. However, if you do read this then you are in for a real treat! This book does not stop. I was completely hooked by the plot and everything going on. Marshall throws in twist after twist, I was left breathless with everything that was happening. I found this book to be completely enthralling and I was devastated to finish it.

Marshall writes this mostly around Cassie, we get to know Cassie and the life she has built for herself. With the anniversary coming up, Cassie has the opportunity to learn more about the dark events of twenty-five years ago. I loved following Cassie as she starts her journey of discovery, it really is that, there is no other way of putting it. Cassie is such a likeable, realistic character, I could really picture her and I felt for her and everything she was going through. Marshall also has chapters from the perspectives of the victims, offering the reader a glimpse into the truth as the book progresses. I have to say this was a masterstroke. It enabled me to get to know them a little bit better and get a sense of who they were. With each offering I felt a deeper understanding and felt that little bit closer to the truth.

'The Anniversary' is a very dark read focusing around a very traumatic event. I thought Marshall wrote about it with aplomb, I was enthralled by the plot that is packed with twists and adored the characters telling this story. This is an exquisite thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sphere for an advance copy.

What a page-turner this book is! Fast-paced, concisely written, twisty and with untrustworthy characters. Exactly what I want in a thriller. I thought this one was more sophisticated than the other Laura Marshall book I’ve read, Friend Request.

In 1994, the sleepy town of Hartstead was traumatised by a local man shooting 11 people and then himself. The 25th anniversary of this tragic event brings secrets to light, as our protagonist Cassie (who was only 4 at the time her father was a victim) has returned to the town and is befriended by a journalist who wants to find out the truth. The novel is an exploration of how such events affect people and places for years afterwards and also a vindication of mothers who think they are not good enough. Cassie is a character you can empathise with, as she’s a single mother with a young baby she is struggling to connect with, plus she has a mother with early onset dementia, but there is no one to look after Cassie… except for some new friends who are possibly not to be trusted. Cassie is supposed to be around 30, yet she’s sometimes given expressions which only an older person would use. Everyone also seems to say ‘Jesus’ as an exclamation and “can I have a word?” – I know these are small details but maybe the dialogue could have been more varied for different characters.

I felt that there was a lack of decent male characters in the novel. They are all abusers, mean drunks, sinister weirdos or commitment-phobes, except for one character you’re supposed to like but who didn’t seem real to me.

The ending, while it suited the themes of the story, was somewhat of an anti-climax, I thought. The novel turned out to be more of an emotional drama and less of a crime thriller than I’d anticipated. I wasn’t disappointed, just a little surprised. It’s definitely worth reading though and is the perfect length.

[Note - my review will be published on my blog on August 3rd]

A fast paced read, Cassie returns to her home town 25 years after tragedy hit, a man shot 11 seemingly random people then turned the gun on himself, Cassie was only 4 and was there when it happened. A journalist seeks her help in finding the truth of what happened that day, Cassie is struggling as a single parent and looking after her mum with early onset dementia. But in seeking the truth she also finds out how strong she is.
The truth comes out but not before Cassie has to question who she can trust and who is telling the truth.

“Tragic tot” Cassie Colman experienced, at the age of four, the murder of her father - the final victim of a spree killer, Travis Green, who shot eleven people, apparently at random, in the town of Hartstead before turning the gun on himself.

Now an adult and a single mother, Cassie has returned to her hometown with her baby, to live with her mother who has early onset dementia. Cassie is finding motherhood challenging - Amy isn’t the easiest baby - and often seems unnecessarily hard on herself, because her situation is undeniably a difficult one.

To make matters worse, it’s the twenty-fifth anniversary of Travis Green’s killing spree, and the small town is the subject of media attention as a result, with journalist Alison Patchett taking a fresh look at what happened back then.

The Anniversary was a fantastic read. It’s told from Cassie’s point of view, and she’s an engaging character - flawed, but doing her best - and we also learn bits about the other victims, as more facts gradually emerge about what happened back then.

I really liked the sensitive depiction of Cassie’s mother, Sylvia, and a - for once - relatively accurate representation of the social care system. The ending is very satisfying.

An excellent read from Laura Marshall - many thanks for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

A remarkable book in which I didn’t see any of the twists coming. Also whilst on the subject of Lauras- Lauren North’s book is fabulous too. Basically book writing Laura’s and derivatives thereof are on an upward trajectory.