A year ago Amy's family was rocked to its foundations when her youngest child, Ruby-May, was tragically killed. To mark the occasion the family decide to visit a small island in Italy to attempt to move on. But when Amy's brother Nick arrives with their father, tensions rise and anger erupts. You see Amy's father was to blame for Ruby-Mae's death, even though he categorically denies he was to blame. And as the long hot days pass instead of the holiday healing old wounds it begins to rip them open.
From the first few pages I was hooked - this author's writing is really something else. I love reading books set in other countries and the descriptions of Italy and the villa were unbelievably evocative, I almost felt as if I was there! The author writes with such care and detail, picking up on everything that it was an utter joy to read. The characters were also fascinating, I'm not sure any of them were particularly likeable, but they were all so interesting that I wanted to hear more about each one, and I loved the little dips back into their past, I felt it really added something extra to the story.
And finally, the plot. I had no idea where it was going, particularly as the book opens with a woman's body found on a beach, but then focused on the grief the family was facing after the loss of Ruby-Mae. We find out early on how Ruby-Mae died, but as the story develops it's evident that there are so many secrets lurking within this family and it just got more and more interesting and gripping. By the last 100 pages I was absolutely desperate to know what was going on and I couldn't put it down. Oh and what a fantastic ending, an extra little curveball to finish it all off.
This is my first book by Sanjida Kay and it won't be my last. What a talent.
From the first few pages I was hooked - this author's writing is really something else. I love reading books set in other countries and the descriptions of Italy and the villa were unbelievably evocative, I almost felt as if I was there! The author writes with such care and detail, picking up on everything that it was an utter joy to read. The characters were also fascinating, I'm not sure any of them were particularly likeable, but they were all so interesting that I wanted to hear more about each one, and I loved the little dips back into their past, I felt it really added something extra to the story.
And finally, the plot. I had no idea where it was going, particularly as the book opens with a woman's body found on a beach, but then focused on the grief the family was facing after the loss of Ruby-Mae. We find out early on how Ruby-Mae died, but as the story develops it's evident that there are so many secrets lurking within this family and it just got more and more interesting and gripping. By the last 100 pages I was absolutely desperate to know what was going on and I couldn't put it down. Oh and what a fantastic ending, an extra little curveball to finish it all off.
This is my first book by Sanjida Kay and it won't be my last. What a talent.