*Scenes from a Tragedy* by Carole Hailey is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends suspense with emotional depth. The story follows Carly Atherton, a disgraced journalist seeking redemption after the love of her life, a pilot, dies in a mysterious plane crash. As Carly investigates, she uncovers dark family secrets and confronts a chilling nemesis, leading to a tense and unforgettable climax. Hailey's vivid prose and intricate character development create a compelling narrative that explores themes of grief, obsession, and the fragility of human connections. This novel is a must-read for fans of thought-provoking and emotionally charged thrillers

After a tragic plane crash, a journalist interviews the family of one of the late pilots to understand what led to their untimely death.
This book has an interesting and original structure which was well executed and built suspense. However, the writing was often repetitive and the ending was unnecessarily drawn out.
Overall, an enjoyable listen

I loved this story and thought the audiobook was perfectly pitched. The narrators fitted the story very well and I kept finding reason to go back and listen to some more, which is always a good recommendation!

Actual rating 4.5.

Another very bingeable read that had me absolutely hooked despite the fact it also probably sent my blood pressure through the roof with one of the most detestable characters EVER 🤣 This story wasn’t at all what I was expecting from the opening chapter, and I loved how it took me by surprise and went down a different direction, as we explored the buildup to a tragedy through the eyes of two people close to it. You will absolutely RAGE at one of our main narrators and the people who can’t see through her, but it sure makes for an engrossing read! Great on audio and I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Carole writes next!

This book wins the award for being the most unexpectedly different story from what I was expecting when reading the blurb and seeing the cover!

Gripping from the outset, the story moves along at pace giving different character POV's showing a past and present narrative, giving a well-rounded story. The characters were well done and it may even include one of the most dislikeable and infuriating character I have ever read about!

Recommended if you feel like a dark family mystery!

4.5* overall

2 pilots are killed in a plane crash, we know immediately who caused the crash but not the why and the drive to uncover that truth sits at the heart of this story. To uncover the real story journalist Carly Atherton, (who's ex, Luke, was the other pilot) has to dig into the past of pilot Danny Taylor to figure out what caused him to fly the plane into the side of a mountain.

Along the way she meets Danny's narcissistic sister, Izzy and his wife, Grace and has to read between the lines to work out what the real truth of their family situation was all whilst being consistently beguiled by the charismatic and utterly unreliable Izzy.

Everything in this story keeps coming back to Izzy and I struggled so much with her character. It takes a lot for me to enjoy a book when a major character is utterly unlikeable but Carole Hailey has managed it with this one. The truth as it comes out explains so much why she is such a focal point and makes it all worthwhile but I really did struggle along the way. What helped a lot was the break in perspectives when we heard from Grace, from Carly herself and the journal articles which make up Carly's research work on ghost flights.

What also helped was the fantastic narration from the audiobook narrators. I felt that Eilidh Beaton; Louise Amos; Amy Noble did an amazing job with the shared narration. They were all completely distinctive and brought each different aspect of the book to life. The production quality is superb - high quality, clear, well edited and produced. I definitely felt that the aspects that bothered me most (namely Izzy's story) were mitigated by how well her perspective was brought to life in audio form.

Overall this is a fantastic, slow thriller that's highly character driven with a compelling story and structure. I loved the book within a book aspect with the interspersed journal articles and the switching narrative perspectives. It felt modern, fresh and was absolutely intriguing though felt a tad too long for me at points in the middle.

Thank you to NetGalley W.F. Howes Ltd for a review copy of the Audiobook of "Scenes From a Tragedy" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

🎧 Journalist Carly Atherton is investigating a mysterious plane crash in the Lake District that killed two pilots - one of them her ex-boyfriend, Luke. As she investigates, she becomes entangled with Daniel’s wife, Grace, and his controlling sister, Izzy.

I loved the book-within-a-book, true-crime-style account. Technically, it’s all from Carly’s POV, but through the interviews, we also get perspectives from Izzy and Grace.

This is undoubtedly a character-led story. It’s all about the relationship between these two women and their separate but linked lives. There’s no mystery - we know what happened right from the start - but there’s a creeping dread as the details are revealed.

I rarely love both the protagonist and antagonist - I’m a sucker for a good villain - but this time, I was obsessed with both women! Izzy is awful (you know I love a psychopath), and watching Grace come into her own was phenomenal!

I’m so glad I listened to the full-cast narration. The performances were unbelievably powerful, taking the book to the next level.

I guessed the final reveal early - but aside from that, this was a phenomenal, dark, and utterly gripping suspense novel.

Thanks to @Netgalley and
@wfhowes for access to this advanced readers copy

Trigger warning - narcissism.
I understand trigger warnings are controversial, but I wouldn’t want anyone to be triggered as I have been. This review does not contain spoilers, as narcissism is mentioned within the first few pages.

I loved Carole Hailey’s debut, The Silence Project, so was eager to read Scenes From A Tragedy. The book starts with a plane crash, both pilots died on impact, thankfully nobody else was on board. Investigative journalist Carly Atherton has a vested interest in this disaster, her ex boyfriend was the second pilot on the doomed flight.

I found the book to be completely absorbing. The intensity and menace was off the chart. The writing was so good, that I was “in” the pages, living alongside the characters; talking or shouting out loud to them at times. I couldn’t tear myself away from the pages, despite it feeling like I was watching a car, or maybe a plane, crash about to unfold. The characters were very much alive, fully developed in all their glory. My empathy for one character was huge, but the depth of my anger towards a monstrous individual was equally as strong.

The narration was pitched perfectly. The intonation of the characters’ voices differed, depending on who they were talking to, which was exactly what the story required.

The author has either been the unfortunate focus of a narcissist themselves, or has compiled a huge amount of research from those who have been victims themselves. Also from those who have been unknowingly groomed and bullied, into supporting the manipulative behaviour. Every element rings horrifically true, the honeymoon period of love bombing, followed by the decimation of gaslighting.

Scenes From A Tragedy is compelling, but it was a very hard, uncomfortable read for me. It is a testament to the author’s writing, to bring out my anxiety, to make me feel so strongly and deeply.

I do love a novel that begins with the what and then plays out to give us the why, and the journey to the why was completely gripping, this was smart, dark, and interesting, my mind was played with a little by the book within a book- another love, it meant I kept reminding myself it was fiction.

From the outset, we know we are unfolding the story of how Danny came to crash his plane killing himself and his co pilot. Through the work of journalist Carly, we meet Danny’s nearest and dearest, Izzy his sister, and Grace his wife, through the three women we travel back through his life, his family and the ties between the three and their families. Whilst the content is serious, I found the author skilled at adding subtle dark and comedic elements sporadically and I really appreciated it, it always concerns me when I find the psychopath endearing for a time, but equally shows great depth and fabulous characterisation.

No complaints. I loved this.

The multiple narration from Eilidh Beaton, Louise Amos and Amy Noble was fantastic each portrayed their characters brilliantly.

Huge thanks to WF Howes LTD and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook 🎧

I chose this despite not liking the cover, which I thought looked a bit tacky. I’m so glad I did because it’s proved to be one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to this year. Absolutely gripping from the outset, where the listener is introduced to an outline of a psychopathic personality. The construction of the narrative is clever with a mix of news reports, professional reports and other neat tricks that keep the story moving and allow suspense to ratchet up.

A discredited investigative reporter is writing a book and trying to restore her reputation. She’s looking at an Aerobus air crash in the Lake District in which the pilot and copilot were killed. There were no passengers and I found the reasons for the flight from Stanstead to Glasgow fascinating. It’s clear that all is not as it seems in regard to the disaster and the journey of her discoveries is tense and twisted. Brilliantly narrated throughout, I was literally holding my breath a couple of times. The whole scenario of the psychopath hiding in plain sight is so tightly drawn it’s pulse raising. Tight plotting, well paced and some real insights make this a stunning thriller.

Compelling, dark and chilling!
'Scenes from a Tragedy' centres around a struggling journalist investigating the aftermath of a plane crash and unwittingly uncovering some very complex characters and dark family secrets.
Extremely well written and brilliantly narrated giving real insight into the central characters and their personality traits.
The author has clearly done thorough research into the psychopathic personality type giving great authenticity to the book.
I am grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this highly recommended book.