Don't Let Go

It’s such a pleasure to kick back and settle down with a book from an author who is reliably brilliant; other than knowing you’re in for a treat you have no idea what to expect, as every story has been utterly unique in their presentation, plot, and finale.

'Don’t Let Go' exceeded my expectations as it's a cracker of a cunning mystery, nurtured to perfection.

A missing wife, an anxious husband, and their blood-splattered hotel room all point to a grave outcome, but statements from witnesses conflict with the facts. Despite the carnage no body is found, yet no one saw her leave their room after she went inside. The details that emerge suggest premeditated murder but without the evidence of a physical corpse the fate of Liane Bellion cannot be determined, only that she has vanished into thin air.

Ooh, I do love a book like this! The sharp hook of suspense caught me right away! I was trying to work out scenarios as to why Liane's husband would casually leave his daughter swimming in the hotel pool after excusing himself to check on his wife, then call the police to report her missing and successfully draw attention to himself as a pattern of erratic behaviour is revealed.

The chronological time stamps included within each chapter were similar to following a live bulletin, while maintaining a flowing story format. This additional level of reality it impresses just how dangerous lost time can be to an investigation of this nature as every what, why, where, and how take a step closer to the husband's guilt. The police authorities grow restless and overworked, and the prime suspect makes so many illogical moves I was wondering what he could possibly be trying to achieve. Of course it all becomes quite clear. Until then, the island's residents are speculating, backed up by sources of gossip and details not exchanged with police during interviews.

'Don’t Let Go' is a title you can't fully appreciate until you near the end of a holiday in this vivid Indian Ocean setting, where some of the characters are wishing they most definitely weren’t there. While the frantic race is on to solve a vengeful riddle before the ultimate sacrifice must be made, the diverse heritage of Réunion Island allows its cultural history to blend into the story at just the right intervals.

Simply superb.

***Actual Rating 4.5 / 5***

Ok I wasn't sure... I've read Before the Crash and Black Water Lilies was my favourite read of 2016 but I still had my doubts. I'm not sure whether it was the cultural differences, the language or what but, a couple of chapters I. I still wasn't sure. The writing is strong, the plot intriguing and then... and then something gripped me and I ended up reading this flat out over the course of a day.
This isn't a straightforward read. It is an intelligent read full of the flavours and scents of a combined race full of the racial, cultural differences found in a small island community whatever the flag it flies under. The plot is convoluted. A man, a history, a missing child, a dead child. All a tangle and all down to two cops to untangle. Miss Marple is mentioned and there is an Agatha Christie undercurrent of things being not just what they seem. Something just on the corner of the page always implied but not unravelled until the end. If you like the psychological reads that are filling the top shelves of WH Smith this beats them all...