LoveReading Says
Stuffed full of captivating drama, wiles, and deception this is a thoroughly entertaining read. When Freddy returns home after 22 years she knows that old childhood alliances have deteriorated, so who can she trust when everything starts to go wrong? This is a standalone read from Lesley Thomson, if you love her successful Detective’s Daughter series, then you should definitely put this to the top of your reading list. The prologue nails intrigue and suspense to the mast, setting the tone for what is to come. The title stayed in my mind as the first few pages opened. Give yourself time to get to know all of the characters, each chapter is headed by one of them, and there are a fair few to meet. I settled into the conversational tone, which changes with the characters, occasionally unsettling with its staccato style. The coast and fishing community is vibrantly evocative. The drama ramps up before seriously kicking off and Lesley Thomson set my mind conspiring against itself. Death of a Mermaid is a stimulating read, the characters weave their way through the plot which spins to a dramatic conclusion.
Liz Robinson
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Death of a Mermaid Synopsis
'Lesley Thomson gets better and better' Ian Rankin
When Freddy Power was eighteen, her father threw her out. Her sin had been to fall in love with a woman. Freddy waited for two decades to be invited back into the family. The summons never came.
But now, in the wake of her parents' death, Freddy feels the call of home like a siren's song. The trawlers emerging out of the mist. Fishermen unloading their catch down at the harbour. Her best friend, Mags, exploring the cliffs at sunset.
But when she arrives at Newhaven, after twenty-two years of silence, her brothers and her friends act like strangers. Then Mags goes missing, and old secrets - and old passions - are reignited. Freddy is determined to lead the hunt for Mags - even if it means confronting her past, and facing the truth about her family...
Reviews for Death of a Mermaid:
'Catholic guilt, monstrous hypocrisy and all kinds of fishy business are explored in an atmosphere of creeping dread' The Times
'A truly brilliant book, full of atmosphere and a creeping sense of menace. Lesley Thomson lures you in with meticulously drawn characters and a matchless sense of place, and then you are caught in the jaws of a remorseless thriller' Elly Griffiths
'A strong sense of place, wonderfully woven with a cast of memorable characters' Mari Hannah
'Death of a Mermaid is a tense, beautifully written novel, with characters so well-crafted you expect them to walk off the page' Rachael Blok
'A powerful tale of dark secrets that fester in a small seaside town' William Shaw
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781788549738 |
| Publication date: |
1st April 2021 |
| Author: |
Lesley Thomson |
| Publisher: |
Head of Zeus an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
409 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Thriller and Suspense
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Lesley Thomson Press Reviews
'Death of a Mermaid is a truly brilliant book, full of atmosphere and a creeping sense of menace. Lesley Thomson lures you in with meticulously drawn characters and a matchless sense of place, and then you are caught in the jaws of a remorseless thriller' Elly Griffiths.
Reviews for Lesley Thomson's Detective's Daughter series:
'In the best traditions of the classic whodunnit, this is Midsomer Murders for grown-ups' Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express.
'One of the most original characters in British crime fiction ... Thomson's plots are original and she draws her characters with genuine affection' Sunday Times.
'Gloriously well-written ... Thomson creates a rich and sinister world that is utterly unique' William Shaw.
'A clever mystery plot ... Its excellence is in the characters, all credible and memorable' Literary Review.
About Lesley Thomson
Lesley Thomson was born in 1958 and grew up in London. She went to Holland Park Comprehensive and the Universities of Brighton and Sussex. Her first novel, A Kind of Vanishing, won the People's Book Prize in 2010. Her second novel, The Detective's Daughter, was published in 2013 and sold over 300,000 copies.
Author photo © Emily Andersen
More About Lesley Thomson
