BOOK SYNOPSIS
An addictive page-turner, pulsing with threat. Thrillingly sinister!' Lucy Clarke
He's missing, presumed dead. But she still can't escape.
Charlotte and Sam were partners. In life, and in crime. They never stole from anyone who couldn't afford it. Wealthy clients, luxury cruise ships. It was easy money, and harmless. At least, that's what Charlotte told herself, until the world caved in on her.
But now, years after she tried to put that past life behind her, it comes rushing back when her estranged ex-husband Sam suddenly goes missing - and someone threatens to expose what they did.
Desperate to escape whoever is tormenting her, Charlotte takes a job as events planner for an engagement party onboard a superyacht in the Caribbean. For a while, her plan seems to have worked, nothing but open ocean and clear skies ahead. Until it becomes clear that she's no longer a thousand miles away from harm.
Because whoever is behind it all is onboard too. And now there's nowhere left to run.
For the vast majority of this twisty story, the chapters alternate between four years previously (then) and eighteen months after the events of the opening chapter (now) But eventually the two time frames converge and the story concludes in the present day.
In the chapters that were set in the past,we learnt how Charlotte met Sam whilst they were both working on-board a cruise ship and how, having always felt that she deserved the best things in life, she found herself drawn into the life of a con artist. They justified their actions by insisting that they only targeted wealthy couples who wouldn't miss the money and expensive jewellery that they stole, nobody got hurt. Charlotte was constantly telling herself that she wasn't a thief (yeah, right, and who are you trying to convince lady, the reader or yourself?) Charlotte and Sam eventually got married but as time passed, she became concerned about Sam's volatile behaviour and began to doubt exactly how much she could trust him. Eventually Charlotte decided that she had to get away, little realising that she was about to be confronted with the ultimate betrayal.
In the now chapters, Charlotte had moved on from her dubious past or that was what she thought until she started receiving texts demanding money from someone who obviously knew her secrets. Charlotte tries to contact Sam and is shocked when she discovers that he has mysteriously disappeared. When Charlotte is offered the opportunity to be the events planner for an engagement party on-board a superyacht, she views it as the chance to escape her tormentor. All goes well for a while and she has just started to relax and believe that her plan has worked when the death threats and attempts on her life start and it becomes apparent that her life is in serious danger. Had she been lured into a trap? How could anyone know about her past? Was Sam hiding on-board the boat? Was Charlotte's luck about to finally run out? These chapters were my favourite parts of the story, I loved the intense atmosphere when Charlotte was on-board the boat, the mystery and intrigue, the moments of danger and trying to figure out who was terrorising Charlotte.
The story had a eclectic cast of vivid, realistic characters, a number of whom,in the now chapters were untrustworthy and viable suspects for being Charlotte's tormentor. I can't say that I thought she was a very likeable individual and therefore I struggled to feel any sympathy for her at any point in the story. I felt a lot of sympathy for the unsuspecting couples who found themselves targeted by Charlotte and Sam, the consequences for some of them were shocking and proved the undoubted that theft is most definitely not a victimless crime.
This is a very well written, gripping, addictive thriller that hooks the reader in from the first page, keeps you guessing and glued to your kindle. There is some unexpected twists and turns, red herrings, intense danger scenes and a unpredictable, shocking conclusion. The places that the characters visit throughout the book are beautifully and vividly described. This is the first book that I have read that was written by this author and it most definitely will not be my last. Very very highly recommended by little old me.
AUTHOR BIO
PUBLICATION DATE: 19th August 2021
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