“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius

“And that’s when you see a man up there – a man you’d recognise anywhere. He’s older now and his appearance has subtly changed, but it’s definitely him.

Which makes no sense at all since you know he has been dead for over two years.

You know this for a fact.

Because you’re the one who killed him…”

Right. Where do I start? I finished the book last night, and wanted to sleep on it to try and work out what I wanted to say about Louise Candlish’s newest novel “The Heights”. I’m still quite dumbfounded so I’ll do my best with this review.

There’s not much I can say without giving the plot away for this, so I’m going to tread carefully. Please bare with me.

“The Heights” is a twisty tale of loss, grief, tragedy and revenge. The book is different to LC’s previous works, where it’s being told from the perspective of the main character Ellen Saint who is writing her story in a writing class. Throughout we are drip-fed details from the past and present. It’s a typical “just one more chapter” type of read, and I personally found it extremely difficult to have to put it down to go to work, and generally go about my normal daily life. However savouring this somewhat has been extremely rewarding. There was a moment when I was reading that I thought the twist was revealed a little too early but fear not, LC’s got you. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the concluding chapters will leave you open mouthed.

“The Heights” reigning themes are grief, justice and revenge, and how the journey of revenge can change you, and take you down an extremely dark path for vengeance. This is certainly not a story about forgiveness by any stretch of the imagination.

It’s a complex story, and you will find your loyalties tested throughout. There’s no right or wrong answer here, and nobody comes out unscathed. This is the thing with revenge… Some say the easiest thing to move on is to forgive, unfortunately some people cannot do that and “The Heights” explores the morality of this so beautifully.

As anybody who has read my previous posts will be able to tell by now, Louise Candlish is my auto-buy author. Her books never disappoint and “The Heights” was no exception.

It is released August 5 in the UK.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in return for an honest review.
I am a huge Louise Candlish fan, she’s a fantastic writer and this new psychologist thriller certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s dark and twisty and will have you guessing right until the very last page. It’s addictive and leaves you wanting more, so much so, you can’t put it down. I will absolutely be recommending this to everyone and I can’t wait until her next book comes out.

Being a massive fan of Louise Candlish I am sure you can imagine how excited I was to be able to read an advanced copy of her new upcoming release, ‘The Heights’, due to be released in September. You will also be pleased to know I wasn’t disappointed!

“The Heights’ introduces us to Ellen Saint, who has suffered a traumatic experience and is trying to rebuild her life following this. All was going to plan until the day she sees someone she thought she would never see again. A man, standing at the top of a high rise apartment building, standing outside of the penthouse, looking down. Ellen knows she is not mistaken and that the man is who she thinks it is, there is no denying it. What is more uncomprehendable to her is the fact that this man is dead, a fact she knows is true as she was the one who killed him.

Written from a few different perspectives this story takes us on a series of twists and turns and Louise Candlish has done it again! I devoured this book over two days, even though I wanted it to last longer and savour it but it was just too gripping and I wanted to know more. The content of each chapter is cleverly thought out to give the correct balance between the past and the present and also between the different characters. It is a story that keeps you guessing right up to the very end.

Another brilliant release from Louise Candlish, pre-order your copy now and wait patiently for September, you won’t be disappointed! Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced readers copy.

Really enjoyed this one. It kept you wondering about what really happened and how different characters had different perceptions of the event.

Mixed thoughts on this one - as a psychological thriller it felt very much a slow burn, as a crime novel it lacked drama, as a drama about families coping with bereavement in tragic circumstances it didn't draw me in enough to care for the characters. That said, it was an easy read to enjoy over a sunny bank holiday and I'm sure it'll appeal to fans of Louise Candlish's other novels.

Ellen Saint’s son Lucas dies as the passenger in a car accident and Ellen blames the driver, his friend Kieran Watts.
Kieran disappears, but years later Ellen thinks she’s seen him.
So ensues a tense game of cat and mouse, as Ellen attempts to punish Kieran and get the retribution she needs.
The heights refers both to the swanky block of flats Kieran now lives in, and Ellen’s compulsion to jump if she’s in a high place.
It’s the sort of book you read through your fingers because you know no good is going to come of the final reckoning.
Tense, with lots of twists and turns, this is Candlish at her best,
Ellen is a believable character - a middle-class mum consumed by grief and fury.
You’ll be left guessing how this will end.
Recommended.

Ellen Saint can’t quite believe it when she sees, across a gap between buildings beside the Thames, a young man she never expected to see again. Kieran Watts, the person responsible for the death of her son Lucas, and someone she has every reason to believe is himself dead, is not only alive but apparently flourishing.

The knowledge could be enough to send Ellen - someone with a fear of high places, a compulsion to jump - over the edge.

The narrative is mainly a memoir (inevitably titled Saint or Sinner) written by Ellen, framed by extracts from an article written about it by a Sunday Times journalist. It’s an unusual structure and works well, as Ellen recounts the events leading up to Lucas’s death and later, when she sees Kieran again.

Clearly, teenage Kieran - a new boy at Lucas’s school, with an unsettled background - isn’t anyone you’d probably want your kid hanging around with. Ellen sees her son, under his malign influence, heading rapidly off the rails.But is Kieran deserving of sympathy at any point, or is he fully the monster Ellen perceives? The narrative shifts around in such a way that I could never quite make up my mind. Certainly, there are few if any unambiguous heroes or villains here - Ellen’s husband Justin and Prisca, Lucas’s foster mother, perhaps, being closest to the former.

The Heights could in fact just as easily be called The Lengths, as in those Ellen is willing to go to in order to avenge the death of Lucas. A fascinating read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have not read anything from this author for a while and I shall be changing that. Fast paced read, good characters and an even better storyline

The Heights is yet another superb thriller from Louise Candlish that had me hooked from the first page. Flicking between the past and the present built the tension perfectly until the dramatic finale which had me of the edge of my seat. I devoured this book in two sittings as I was so desperate to find out what happens. I will certainly be recommending this to everyone I know.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Another brilliant book about the dark side of middle-class London by Louise Candlish. Her plots are so intricate and clever! This book was as moving as it was gripping.

I've been a fan of Louise Candlish's books since picking up Our House last year, in all of her books I've read prior to this one she always deliver highly gripping original plots, great characters and plenty of twists and tension. There is not one book of hers I’ve not throughly enjoyed! This was a five star read for me. Clever, twisty, and altogether spine-chilling! This book had intrigue, suspense, drama, and a decent storyline! There were definitely some twists and turns , I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Tense, twisty, compelling - Louise Candlish does it again. Another brilliant read that you will keep thinking about long, long after you have read the final page

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advance copy. Sadly I struggled to understand the structure of this novel. I can see it has a great premise and is well written, but it wasn't for me. I'm sure others will love it and it will do very well.

Firstly a big thank you to Simon and Schuster for my copy to review on netgalley. I’m a huge fan of Louise’s I’ve had the upmost pleasure to meet her and been thrilled to be quoted on her cover.

She has released the last couple of years, amazing bestselling thrillers .

I’m tempted to say this is one of my favourite of her Simon and schuster publications.

It was a Saturday treat to read cover to cover in one go.

This is amazing and I predict huge success with this.

Fast paced and will have you turning the pages desperate to get answers.

I felt conflicted emotions both as a mum who wants to protect my child but also as a psychology enthusistt and care home kid. I understand the vicious cycle of troubled childhood ,crime and adulthood.

Twisty,haunting and thought provoking. Captivating and compelling this will reel you in and leave you bereft once finished . I absolutely loved it and highly recommend!

Published 5th August so get pre ordering.

Another brilliant read from Louise.

Gripping all the way which kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning until the very last page with my heart in my mouth.

I really enjoy when the chapters are set out with the viewpoints from Ellen and Vic.

Louise Candlish has long been an auto buy for me, and this book was everything I hoped for and more! A fascinating story of murder and revenge with the sort of characters you love to hate!

I always look forward to a new Louise Candlish book and this one didn’t disappoint.

When Lucas, Ellen and Vic’s teenage son dies, Ellen knows who's to blame and she’s out for revenge. So she puts into motion a plan to get rid of him and believes he is gone for good, but when he suddenly reappears, she is determined that this time he will pay for what he did.

Told from both Ellen and Vic’s point of view, it shows how very different their perceptions are of the events leading up to Lucas’ death.

A good entertaining book with a twist you don’t see coming.

Another brilliant book from Louise Candlish who never disappoints.

Ellen and Justin live with their two children, Lucas and Freya. Lucas’ birth dad, Vic, is still a big part of his son’s life and they all rub along nicely. That is until a new boy, Kieran, arrives at school and Lucas is asked to look out for him and show him the ropes. As Justin comments after tragic events occur “we were very, very unlucky to have crossed paths”.

This is every mother’s nightmare, and Ellen lives out what must cross any parent’s mind when such tragedies happen.

There are quite a few twists and little unexpected turns in the story, it keeps the reader guessing ‘what next?’.

Would definitely recommend, thank you NetGalley.

The Heights is another thrilling read from Louise Candlish. I love her books and this one is excellent. Told from the viewpoint of Ellen and her ex- husband it goes back in time to look at their son's toxic relationship with friend Kieran and his untimely death. The sinister Kieran is the focus of this novel - and Ellen's obsession, who lives up in The Heights - a tall block of flats by the Thames. Different characters have different perspectives on what happened and the truth is slowly revealed. The opening of the book has a fabulous hook and I raced through it, not wanting it to finish.

I love Louise’s books and was thrilled to receive her latest from NetGalley. And I wasn’t disappointed- this is my favourite of hers yet!
Ellen lives with her teenage son, daughter and husband in London. They are a happy family and all is well, until a new boy at school is partnered with her son Lucas. Ellen just knows that Kieran is bad news and a terrible influence on her boy. But Ellen doesn’t realise just how far reaching the consequences of this friendship will be ....
I devoured this book. It kept me thinking all the way through and I thought that the story built up to its conclusion beautifully. Thank you Louise and NetGalley!