by Liz Webb
SYNOPSIS
She thought his death would destroy her ... but his return was far worse.
Nancy and Calder are moving from London to an isolated slate island, off the west coast of Scotland. Nancy is focused on their new beginning, but is increasingly unsettled by the stark island, the mysterious inhabitants and Calder’s dark past, which he’s kept hidden from her.
Then one of Nancy’s nightmares plays out in real life: she finds Calder’s boat upturned in the bay, his body adrift in the icy water. He’s clinically dead with no heartbeat. But miraculously the doctors manage to bring him back to life. Everyone thinks he has made a full recovery, but Nancy doesn’t recognise the man who has come back from the dead.
As secrets, lies and bodies begin to wash up on the island, Nancy must come to terms with the fact that despite the fresh start, sometimes the slate cannot be wiped clean.
REVIEW
The first thing that struck me when reading The Saved was that the isolated Scottish island setting was the perfect backdrop for this murder mystery. The small town mindset of the inhabitants, the way everyone was physically cut off from the mainland, the 'cultish' behaviour and the fierce storms all added to the claustrophobic atmosphere and general feeling of dread which stuck with me throughout the story.
The second thing I loved was the concept. The idea that we can never be 100% sure we really know someone is such a creepy thought - everyone has a history, it's possible that everyone has things they want to hide or run away from and it's possible that the person you love and have chosen to spend your life with has not always been that same person you think you know. It really is terrifying that you could be being deceived and have no idea of anything that played out before you met.
The Saved was a brilliantly dark and twisty thriller with a cast of really interesting characters. It's one of those stories that will keep you guessing and constantly changing your mind, racing through to find out what the outcome will be. A must read for any psychological thriller fans!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Liz Webb originally trained as a classical dancer, then worked as a secretary, stationery shop manager, art class model, cocktail waitress, stand-up comic, voice-over artist, script editor and radio drama producer, before becoming a novelist. She lives in North London.
Thanks to Allison & Busby @AllisonandBusby for the opportunity to read and review.
Fiction: Mystery / Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Allison & Busby
ISBN: 978-0749030131
Pages: 384pp