BLOGTOUR, BOOK REVIEW - You Need You by Sharon Bairden

 

                                                      .             BOOK SYNOPSIS

Your secret didn’t die with me.’

The mysterious note tucked inside the pages of a recently returned book leaves librarian, Morag McLaughlin, chilled to the bone. She knows it was meant for her.

Someone out there knows her darkest secrets and they could destroy everything.

Torn apart from her own family, she will stop at nothing to create a perfect new one.

Why are they all so ungrateful? She’s only looking after them...

Isn’t she?

Set in Scotland, this is a dark, chilling and at times uncomfortable to read thriller with a plot that covers a wide range of relatable issues including grief, loneliness, loss, abuse, deception, mental health and manipulation. The author also highlights the sad but realistic fact of how judgemental society is of people who don't fit into what is viewed as normal or acceptable.

The chapters are written from the perspectives of four vivid, realistic characters, Morag, Susan, Jess and Ronnie, individuals who had been affected emotionally and mentally at some point in their lives and were each harbouring their own personal secret. Morag was a middle aged woman who worked in the local library at which she ran a club every Tuesday to which people could come and share their troubles and have a chat. But Morag was very picky about who was allowed into her club or family as she referred to her chosen few and someone who was definitely not welcome was Jess who worked at the cafe. Morag only interacted with people who were vulnerable and easy to manipulate and there was something about Jess that she just didn't trust. Or maybe Morag saw in Jess something that she didn't want to acknowledge in herself. Unlike Susan who was a struggling single parent to four year old Lily and living in fear of two violent, dangerous men. Then there was poor, severely disturbed Ronnie who lived with his mother and found himself being manipulated by not just one but two women. My heart went out to both him and Susan and there was a number of times I was tempted to scream don't listen to her at my kindle.

My thoughts and feelings about Morag were conflicted, due to her actions it would have been easy to label her unlikable but it was obvious that she was very lonely and had some serious issues. People don't voluntarily chose to have mental health issues, believe me, I can personally testify to that, all Morag wanted was a family of her own, yes, her actions throughout the book were morally wrong but didn't her issues mean that she deserved at least a tiny bit of sympathy.

There was also some chapters towards the end of the book that gave the reader a insight into the shocking events from Morag's past and why she detested her mother so much in the present day.

Oh boy, there isn't enough superlatives in the English dictionary that I could use to describe this extremely well written,addictive,dark thriller. The story hooks you in from the first page,is intricately plotted and so chilling at times that I had goosebumps on top of my goosebumps. The last quarter of the book is seriously intense and had me on the edge of my seat, if I was in the bad habit of biting my nails (which I'm not) I wouldn't have any left. A incredible thriller with a genuinely unexpected twist that is perfect for curling up with on these dark Autumn nights and very very highly recommended. This is most definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.

                                                                    AUTHOR BIO

By day Sharon Bairden is the Services Manager in a small, local independent advocacy service and has a passion for human rights; by night she has a passion for all things criminal. She blogs over at Chapterinmylife and is delighted to be crossing over to the other side of the fence to become a writer.

Sharon lives on the outskirts of Glasgow, has two grown up children, a grandson, a Golden Labrador and a cat. She spends most of her spare time doing all things bookish, from reading to attending as many book festivals and launches as she can.

She has been known to step out of her comfort zone on the odd occasion and has walked over burning coals and broken glass – but not at the same time!

Publication Date: October 12, 2021

eBook: 978-1-914480-23-2

Paperback: 978-1-914480-22-5

Hardback: 978-1-914480-24-9

Purchase Links:

Limited Edition Hardback—numbered, with signed and dedicated bookplate.

https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/you-need-me-limited-hardback-edition

Standard formats (eBook, Paperback, Hardback)

https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/you-need-me

Also available in all bookshops, and online at Kobo, Google and Amazon

PLEASE  REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT THE POSTS OF THE OTHER BLOGGERS WHO HAVE STOPS ON THIS BLOG TOUR