I have read a couple of books by Louise Candlish but, they were more psychological than thrillers. This book is both. Ellen has two children; Lucas by her first husband Vic and Freya, with her second Justin. Lucas is academically gifted and expected to attend a good university in the near future. The school appoints him to be a kind of mentor to Kieran, a new kid who has been in care. Ellen worries straightaway about this friendship as Lucas starts misbehaving, she obviously doesn't; trust Kieran. Lucas' school performance deteriorate a. The two boys have a car accident and Lucas dies, Kieran escapes alive.
Ellen is heartbroken and wants revenge and this is all I can say without spoiling the book. The book has a few twists and surprises right to the end, but the interesting thing is that it reverses the usual order found in psychological thrillers. It's not just good guy in danger by bad guy, but everyone in this book can be both good and bad and can switch sides several times. Part of the book is told like a book within the book and also contains different perspectives which eventually makes you question everything. It's all I can say, overall a good book in the psychological family drama genre with a thrilling aspect. I like to read something a bit different from time to time, the psychological thriller formula has probably been overused, this book has a slight change of direction which was welcome.

I’ve read a few pieces of work from this author before and really enjoyed them. They just seem to get better and better. This one had me completely invested. I read it so quick I was desperate to find out where the story went.

When Lucas is paired up as a "buddy" at school to new starter Kieran, his mother Ellen takes an immediate dislike to him. He speaks like a wannabe gangster, is insolent to her, and slowly begins to lead her previously well-behaved son into the bad habits of drugs and heavy drinking. She does all she can to keep the pair apart, but then the thing she always feared happens: her son dies, and Kieran is responsible. And nothing will even the score - or will it?

This is a clever novel, which subtly shifts your feelings throughout about which characters are the victims and which are the guilty, with unreliable narration and varying points of view. While this is on one side a domestic thriller, it's also a moving story of motherly love taken to the point of obsession.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

When Lucas, a well liked and academic student, is asked to buddy up with a new starter to his school it sets a catastrophic series of events in motion. Troubled Kieran is being fostered locally and Ellen soon realises he is a bad influence on her son.

The story is narrated mostly by Ellen but there is a section narrated by Vic which makes the story more well rounded. It’s cleverly written and keeps you guessing all the way through. For once, I really didn’t see the ending coming right until the last moment!

Most of the characters are flawed and quite unlikeable. You have to keep reading to find out what they’ll do next! It’s a dark and twisted book with plenty to enjoy and I very much recommend it. This isn’t my first Louise Candlish and it definitely won’t be my last!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

I’m a little undecided about this book. It was very slow and had it not been an author I’ve enjoyed before, I would have given up near the start. I persevered with it and the last quarter was much better. The characters were well described and the plot was interesting but most of the book lacked the “grip-factor”. I won’t give any spoilers but I also found a lot of plot-holes throughout.

Absolutely gripping and mesmerising, I pounded my way through this in two sittings. Full of flawed, unlikeable, 3 dimensional characters and a plot so well paced you never know when to put the book down, this is a fantastic read.

Model student Lucas Gordon is made the buddy for new starter, and troubled youngster, Kieren Watts. The friendship they strike up troubles Lucas’ mother Ellen Saint. He’s leading her perfect son astray, and then when the worst happens and Lucas ends up dead she lays the blame firmly with Kieren. She’s desperate for revenge.

I enjoyed this book, it’s the first I’ve read by Louise Candlish, with an original story. The first part is, for the most part, narrated by Ellen Saint. Then it switches to Vic Gordon, Lucas’ father. This change of narration came at a time when I found the story was beginning to drag a little and reinvigorated the tale. It brought a fresh perspective and threw a new light on the story. It switched between the two later on. It’s a well plotted novel that I would recommend.

Chilling, Dark, Despairing….
A chilling, dark, despairing tale of suspense from the talented Louise Candlish. From the very first page to the last the tension racks in gradients. A carefully and well crafted cast of characters, a suspenseful ambience and some master storytelling combine for a hugely compelling, compulsive read. A worthy addition to the author’s canon.

I really enjoyed the latest from Louise Candlish, who writes a dark drama with twists and turns at every corner.

The book focuses on the central characters Ellen and Vic, who tragically lost their son in a car accident. Ellen believes the driver of the car to be dead so is shocked to see him two years later, and seeks to not only find out why, but also to exact the ultimate revenge for her son's death.

But all is not quite what it seems. At times the book felt very dark and remote as the central characters are deeply grieving parents but as chilling as it was, it was also a real page turner. Brilliant 4.5 stars from me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of Louise's work and I was beyond excited to be able to read this in advance of publication!

This is another thrilling page-turner and I really could not put it down. Every cliche you could imagine is how I feel about this book!

A chilling narrative about the lengths that some people will go to to protect those they care about and avenge the cherished memories of loved ones is the theme of this compelling story.

Intricately plotted, with stunning descriptions of locations and fantastica character development, this is storytelling at its very best.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, as the saying goes -and in this story it works out this way by default. That’s as much as I will say about the plot because any more will spoil the surprises. Louise Candlish is the queen of the psychological suspense genre, in my opinion, and here is a perfect showcase of her talent. Just make sure you can spend enough time to read it in one go, as you won’t be able to put it down once you start.

This is ok ,I loved all of this authour work but struggled with this as didn’t have as much depth to me and deeper dynamics that Louise writes so well of.
It’s still good and had an intriguing concept but that was cleared up quite quickly .
U are given clues that add up so no real surprises .
What I did like was the sheer obsessiveness of the mother and her vice like grip she gives to the potential negligent teenager ....u wonder what she will do next but empathise with the fact she thought one thing allll these years and yet gets a shock things aren’t as clear cut as she thought . However she brings about mixed emotions and I like that .
Is ok though for a quick read but sadly unforgettable bar the concept.
Ty netgalley and publishers for this advanced copy

Blistering. Eviscerating. Shocking.

I know that reading a Louise Candlish book is going to get my insides all twisted and tangled, like that wild rollercoaster ride you know is going to terrify you but you absolutely HAVE to go on...

The Heights does that and more. I had vertigo just reading it. Even though you know the truth is going to be worse than awful, it's still like being in freefall whilst being kicked and punched on the way down with every turn of the page.

I really don't want to say anything about the plot for fear of giving anything away, other to say it is absolutely the best book I have read since Candlish's Our House. I did enjoy Those People and The Other Passenger, but this one blasts them clean out of the water.

Utterly exhilarating.

4.5 stars
This is the first book that I've read from Louise Candlish but it certainly won't be the last.
Straight away I immediately understood and embraced Ellen's perspective. I could picture myself as a worried mother, as she witnesses her teenage son start to morph into someone unrecognisable because of undue influence.
I enjoyed the way that the past and the present were used to build tension as the story unfurls.
I simply had to keep reading to see how everything would turn out and I raced through this in less than 48 hours.
Even though I wasn't sure about it when the first chapter is told from Vic's perspective, I really liked the way that his chapters added a new dimension to the story and allowed us to find out things that we would never have gotten from Ellen's point of view.
Having the book be told in the form of someone writing a book in a writing class was also inspired and brilliantly executed.
It also wasn't the ending that I expected, which I very much appreciated.
There were some great twists and turns throughout, as well. And these felt realistic and plausible, which can't be said for all books and stories in this genre.
I can't wait to see what Louise Candlish does next and I will be making sure to go back and visit some of her back catalogue as a result of enjoying The Heights as much as I did.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Louise Candlish is a master in her genre, and this is very clear in her latest novel. She masterfully builds up the suspense here, the tension, making the reader believe completely in what is presented, until questions are presented.

It is very important that the reader goes into this book without knowing much about the plot, so I won't spoil things but will say this: the way the book is written, how the narrators are presented… it is brilliant.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with and ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Louise Candlish is one of my favourite authors and this new book certainly didn’t disappoint.
It’s a fantastic psychological thriller with plenty of dark twists and turn and an amazing ending.
It’s worthy of 5 stars and I’d strongly recommend this book to anyone.

There is no doubt that this is a novel with well- written characters. Unfortunately it didn't work for me as a crime or thriller novel. It felt like more of a domestic novel, particularly in focusing upon the mother and her loss. This is not a criticism as many have obviously enjoyed this plot. It just isn't for me.
I have no doubt it will do well, though.

Yet another great psychological thriller by Louise Candlish. But a difficult book to write a review for as I really don’t want to give away to much of the plot.

The story is written mainly from the point of view of Ellen Saint. Ellen is consumed by an obsession of justice and revenge and she seems to have no boundaries as too how far she will go to get it !!

Ellen is writing her story in a writers workshop and this is where we find out most of the details of what has happened to her and her family. Within the book we also have information from a reporter and Ellen’s ex husband, Vic.

This is a great psychological thriller that is consumed with revenge and obsession. This is not a book to start if you haven’t get much time to read as you won’t want to be putting this down once you’ve started. A great book that you really don’t want to know to much about before you start reading ...... just know it’s definitely one to add to your tbr pile !!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Twisty, turning thriller - revenge, plots, daft teenagers, unreliable memories - a top read for the sun bed or whilst dodging the rain on the sofa. Louise Candlish writes plausible, nail biting thrillers for current times. I would thoroughly recommend this tale of a mother's grief which turns into an all encompassing desire for revenge.

Exhilarating read!

Twisty twisty!

I have really enjoyed Louise Candlish's previous books and was looking forward to getting stuck into this new story.

The book moves at a good pace, giving us the story in both present and past tense as we gradually uncover truths and untruths surrounding a tragic end to a young life.

Can't say too much without giving spoilers away, but would highly recommend this.