Op een paar losse eindjes na zit het verhaal goed in elkaar. In haar schaduw is een fascinerende en beklemmende Roman over vriendschap, jaloezie en verraad. Hannah voelt zich na twintig jaar nog steeds schuldig over de dood van haar vriendin. Als ze denkt dat ze haar vriendin ziet, stort ze in. Ze is nog jong en dweept met de knappe vader van haar vriendin. Ze weigert de werkelijkheid te zien; daardoor veroorzaakt ze grote problemen die mede leiden tot de dood van haar vriendin. Het verhaal speelt afwisselend in het verleden en in deze tijd en wordt verteld door Hannah.
Pas na een bijzondere ontmoeting kan Hannah het verleden laten rusten. Het verhaal is spannend en tegelijkertijd geeft de hoofdpersoon je het irritante gevoel dat ze zelfs na twintig jaar nog steeds niet volwassen is. May 07, Dannielle Potts rated it liked it Shelves: Ellen est morte il y a vingt ans! Aura-t-elle seulement le courage de lever le voile sur les secrets de l'enfance? I have never read a book by Louise Douglas before and wow what a good one to start with! I have been so impressed with her book that now I have bought another one of her books!
Hannah Brown works in a museum in Bristol she has a relatively normal life. She has some secrets and had a mental breakdown a few years ago from something that has stemmed from her past. One day Hannah is having a normal day at work when she spots Ellen Brecht, the girl she tried so hard to forget from her past. Ellen was I have never read a book by Louise Douglas before and wow what a good one to start with! Ellen was Hannah's best friend. Ellen moved into Thornfield House, her grandmothers old house. Ellen and Hannah are completely different, Ellen can be intimidating and Hannah being the quieter of the two accepts her personality.
Ellen has a struggle with her family life and Hannah sticks by her. However their lives become twisted with lies, betrayal and tragedy. So was this Ellen that Hannah saw? What does she want? Hannah wants to get to the bottom of it and will not let it get to her as before. This book takes your emotions on a range of journeys, it is captivating and from the moment I picked the book up to the moment I put it down I was hooked. It flowed wonderfully and was such an easy read. The characters in the book are developed well and although this is told by Hannah's point of view, you can connect with all characters on some level.
The book is set into different chapters from Hannah's past and the present day, these link in nicely and I looked forward to reading about Hannah's past. I felt sad for Hannah at times in the book, the way Ellen treated her and her struggle with her own emotions in the book. I felt like I grew up with Hannah too, going from a teenager into an adult and coping with all she had to deal with. Towards the end of the book, I began to feel sad for Ellen and relised that life was not always as it seemed for her. Louise Douglas knew how to build tension in this book and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.
There were twists and turns through out the book and I did not find it predictable at all, which added to my enjoyment of the book. I found the book captivating and would urge others to read it. I would like to thank the publisher for sending me such a fantastic book to review!
Feb 25, Tegan Ballinger rated it it was amazing. Intriguing story - could not put it down towards the end. Enjoyed the author's writing style - lots of descriptions and mood setting - very clever character building. Hannah has her own qualities and is a good friend to Ellen, but also struggles with jealousy and loneliness and feeling of betrayal as Ellen and Jago grow closer.
She is a very complex character and the many facets come together along with the events so we can understand why she has suffered mental illness. As events roll on in the present we are left wondering if she is having more episodes and if she is heading for another breakdown. As secrets are revealed and the darker elements come to the fore all the characters show their best and worst sides. The whole story is very atmospheric and there is a chill that pervades the book as we wonder where this is all going and how Hannah is going to cope with re-living the horrors of her past.
Fans of Louise Douglas or Daphne du Maurier. I loved "The Secrets Between Us" and this was a similar theme. The effect that somebody, who is no longer alive, can have on the living. Here however, the story was, in my opinion, far more tragic. For a start Ellen, the dead girl, was a much more sympathetic character. She was flawed and at times self absorbed, yes. But so was the main character. Hannah said it best when she said that Ellen was "alive".
She didn't just live she burned bright. She was great to read about. The love story was where it became tragic. So many misunderstandings and lies and betrayals and two lives were ruined. Three if you count Hannah who lived with the guilt of what she did for twenty years. I never really connected to her and sometimes I wanted to slap her for being so controlling and selfish and not understanding. Ellen had to put up with so much and Hannah blamed her for most of it, punished her subtly and disbelieved her right until the end because she had a crush on Ellen's father.
I found it quite hard to forgive her for what she did to Jago and Ellen, and although the ending was slightly happy it was upsetting to think how it was too late for them. Even if one part could be remedied, Ellen and Jago could have had a future together and Hannah stole that from them. Jul 26, Katey Lovell rated it liked it. In Her Shadow is a story of loyalty and tragedy. The two main characters, Hannah and Ellen, are best friends, but very different.
Ellen is glamorous, daring and fierce, whilst Hannah is anything but. As the girls grow older they begin to dip their toes into the world of love, lust and desire. Things soon spiral out of control and their lives are irrevocably changed Twenty years later, Hannah is convinced that she has seen Ellen. Is it her memory playing cruel tricks? Or is it really Ellen, a In Her Shadow is a story of loyalty and tragedy. Or is it really Ellen, and if so, what does she want? It took me a while to develop a feel for the characters, especially as both Hannah and Ellen are portrayed as having personality traits that make it hard to warm to them.
However, once the story really started I loved the relationships and interactions between the girls' and their families, and wanted to know the deep, dark secret that was referred to throughout. Without spoiling it for anyone yet to read, I was satisfied with the story itself, although found the ending slightly abrupt-I would have liked a bit more detail about what happened next as I feel it would have rounded it off more neatly and completely.
My first foray into Louise Douglas's work has certainly made me keen to read more of her books. In Her Shadow is an interesting idea, executed well, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had felt a stronger bond to the main characters, particularly Hannah.
In Her Shadow by Louise Douglas
Leggi una pagina e sei convinto di aver capito tutto e alla pagine seguente la tua congettura viene puntualmente smentita. O forse basta che solo una lo sia? Libro da leggere assolutamente! Oct 09, Abi Seddon rated it liked it. This book is a definite page turner which had me gripped all the way through. Three stars may seem miserly for a book I thoroughly enjoyed; however, as my first Louise Douglas novel, I suspect there's better to come. As the book progressed I became more and more frustrated with the lead character, Hannah.
This isn't necessarily a criticism, I think Douglas positions her as a very 'human' character representing the traits we'd all like to think we don't have. There were parts of the book I didn't This book is a definite page turner which had me gripped all the way through. There were parts of the book I didn't find plausible, particularly near the end, and others where I still had open questions the pedant in me wanted to know more about Ellen's mother's demise. That said, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this book to friends. Jun 07, Lara rated it really liked it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was engrossed from the outset. It reminded me a little of 'Eloise' by Judy Finnegan that I read a month or two back based in Cornwall, a friend believing she was being haunted by her dead best friend, secrets etc , however, this book is far superior and much better told. I didn't warm to Hannah the main character to be honest, but strangely it didn't effect my enjoyment.
And I actually liked the ending to this one, more often than not I am disappointed but not I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was engrossed from the outset. And I actually liked the ending to this one, more often than not I am disappointed but not this time, loose ends were tied up and there were no over the top, unbelievable plots.
Looking out for the next book by this author! Aug 26, Debbie rated it liked it. I was rather disappointed with this book.
In Her Shadow
After reading The love of my life and secrets between us, I was hopeful that this would be another 5 star read. Gradually the truth is revealed; a truth that will end in adolescent Ellen's death. When Louise Douglas isn't working as a copywriter she's writing award winning novels. Both her first and second books, The Love of My Life and Missing You were regaled with honours and one feels that for this, Louise's fourth book, it's only a matter of time.
In Her Shadow is told from Hannah's perspective as she tries to live her life, working at Bristol's prestigious City Museum and supporting her colleagues, whilst suppressing a childhood that still haunts her both figuratively and, indeed, where Ellen's presence is concerned, literally. Hannah was initially attracted to Ellen by difference. Hannah had a settled home and happy but almost staid, mundane parents. Whereas Ellen's home was full of music and artistic temperament; anything but staid and therefore anything but dull making it so very attractive to a burgeoning teen.
The psychology behind the girls' relationship with each other and, indeed, Jago, bristles with authenticity; that adolescent friction, envy and jealousy can be confirmed by any parent. We feel Hannah's inability to voice her feelings for Jago whilst hoping he understands and the inevitable crushing that occurs once hopes aren't reflected in real life and yet at the same time we can't blame Jago for not realising. There's also so much that rings true about Ellen, but that way lies spoiler country so I won't elaborate.
The story's adults are also spot on: This is only the first layer of the story, though. On top of the friendships, personality quirks and backgrounds, Louise Douglas layers on atmosphere. This time around we knew we could nail it, as after all, we know you really well. We know how that brain works. We could write your stuff. Anyway, we smugly picked out the baddie about 9 times each. Yeah, it was someone different all 9 times. Then we ran out of characters on our cast list. Gotta give you that one.
And yes, you readers out there, there is a baddie! Gosh, there are so many weird things happenings in this book that it was impossible to gather them up in one nice ball and assign a nice cohesive explanation to it all. We even wrote all these events down and analyzed them to death—all for naught.
In a way, that was fun. It is painful thing to admit. But kudos for you for weaving all these things perfectly almost together by the end. Sorry, but I have to call you out for cheating a few times. OK, some people will ding you for making Jessica somewhat wild and crazy the second half of the book. To me she was rightfully panicking and reacting accordingly as you were pulling some nasty strings on her.
Now others for sure are going to nick you for this story lacking the usual unrelenting creepy crawly suspense that seems to be your hallmark. But you know, Mr. I liked that immensely! And how about that ending? Some people will hate it. Particularly how you dealt with Olivia, Jess, and Izzy. So, in summary, this book is a winner, a home run, and fabulous use of my reading time. I have to remind you though, Mr. Edwards, that you messed with my head twice this year.
That means I am twice as determined to break you next time. So bring it on and beware--my buddy and I are ready to get even! Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. View all 52 comments. Sep 30, Debra rated it really liked it Shelves: But when her four-year-old daughter, Olivia, begins mentioning things, things that only Jessica and her sister knew, Jessica becomes concerned. Is her daughter interested in death because of her age and she is beginning to understand what that means? Is she curious about the Aunt she never knew? As the tension mounts, Jessica begins to wonder if her sister's death was really an accident?
How does her daughter know so much about her dead aunt? Is her daughter getting messages from beyond the grave? What was going on in his sister's life leading up to her death? Mark Edwards has created a creepy psychological thriller that does not disappoint. I questioned what was real and what was not real while reading this book.
This book has a feel of dread and apprehension. Is Olivia talking to a ghost? How does she know everything she knows? As Jessica becomes more concerned about her daughter, I did as well.
As Jessica becomes obsessed with learning the truth, it is easy to feel her emotions, her anxiety, her suspicion, her fears, her concern for her family and her need to know the truth. I came up with several theories and guesses while reading. Edwards does a good job at throwing out some possibilities but keeps the truth just out of the reader's grasp. I read this book in one day as I was fully invested in learning the truth.
There are twists and turns which I did not see coming. There is an interesting, yet plausible reveal at the end. Edwards has created interesting and fully developed characters who are dealing with a lot of issues in this book. The story-line touches on several things such as sex, love, loss, infidelity, grief, the MeToo movement, trust, guilt, family secrets, lies, relationships, drug use and obsession. There is a paranormal element which I thought he worked flawlessly into the story. Another solid book by Edwards.
The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Read more of my reviews at www. View all 19 comments. Eerie, unsettling, and gripping—I have come to look forward to the new Mark Edwards books the way I look forward to Fridays or crawling in bed after a long day. They are always tantalizing and well-written, and they captivate my interest until the very last page. Mark Edwards is a master of the suspense genre! His books always have that vague sense of uneasiness over them—wondering what exactly is going on.
And I love the spooky ghost-shadow that lurked over this! It blurs the line between myste Eerie, unsettling, and gripping—I have come to look forward to the new Mark Edwards books the way I look forward to Fridays or crawling in bed after a long day. It blurs the line between mystery and paranormal, where it made me wonder if maybe there was something otherworldly going on!!
Olivia claims that Izzie has been communicating with her.
Is it possible that Olivia is able to communicate with Izzie? And if so, will Jessica finally get answers to what happened to her sister all of those years ago? The darker things get, the less certain Jessica is that this is merely coincidence.
Description
Jessica needs to find the truth before something horrible happens to Olivia, or even to herself! I had absolutely no clue what to make of the strange events of this novel. I wondered how it could be possible for Olivia to know some of the things she knew, or believe the things she said. She knows it is possible, because she herself experienced it too. I think most of us have found ourselves surprised at the things children say sometimes.
The words and thoughts that come out of there mouths, that often seem much beyond their years. Children have a mix of innocence and naivety and wisdom. They often are more perceptive than adults believe them to be, and that makes this the perfect set up for this story. This book is filled with many amazing characters, and the female characters were particular standouts. I think that can be difficult to do—to write a breadth of characters so different from yourself.
But this is an area that Edwards consistently surprises and delights in. Every novel of his I read, I find myself captivated again by the characters. And then the ghost story itself is so wonderful! I love the idea of someone trying to communicate something. What happens in this book is the story of not how something is being communicated, but what is being communicated and why. Why go through Olivia? What did happen that day Isabel fell?
The delivery on this mystery will make your mind buzz with excitement and energy. It is so well-crafted, with dozens of twists and turns along the way. Thank you so much to the amazing team at Amazon Publishing for my copy of this book to review. Jul 25, Paromjit rated it really liked it Shelves: Mark Edwards writes what is often a chilling and creepy psychological thriller with elements of the paranormal.
Almost five years ago, Isabel died after falling off the balcony of her luxurious apartment. The police deemed it to be an accident, but was it? Living an ordinary life as a mum, Jessica, still traumatised by Isabel's death, begins to feel unsettled and disturb Mark Edwards writes what is often a chilling and creepy psychological thriller with elements of the paranormal. Living an ordinary life as a mum, Jessica, still traumatised by Isabel's death, begins to feel unsettled and disturbed when her 4 year old daughter, Olivia, begins to exhibit strange behaviour and talking weirdly.
The little girl knows things about Jessica and Izzy that she really could not possibly know. Olivia seems to be channelling Isabel, which has Jess looking more closely at how Isabel died. This is a great read, with twists, that does not fail in engaging the reader. Mark Edwards fans will love this! View all 15 comments. Oct 13, Amanda rated it it was amazing Shelves: Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review. I feel like all my christmases have come at once as I love Mark Edwards books. I wanted to lock myself away so I could read this book without being disturbed!!
Another amazing psychological thriller that kept me spellbound from beginning to the end, I could not predict how this would end and you kept me on my toes trying to fathom it out. Jessica and will have 2 children Felix 10 and Olivia 4. When Olivia appears to be passing messages o Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review. When Olivia appears to be passing messages on from her dead Aunt.
Jessica starts to think maybe her sisters accident was something more sinister. Cleverly written thriller with a paranormal twist.
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He is a must read author who just gets better and better!!! If you was only going to read one book this year, this should be it!!! View all 8 comments. Jul 17, Melisa marked it as to-read. View all 14 comments. Nov 02, Sean Peters rated it it was amazing. A Gripping, Tense, psychological thriller that keeps you guessing all the way! Isabel's life seemed perfect. For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel's death was an accident.
But when Jessica's young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt's past, Jessica can't shake the fe Thank you to Net Galley, The Publishers and to Mark Edwards for an ARC copy of this fabulous book. But when Jessica's young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt's past, Jessica can't shake the feeling that there's a more sinister truth behind the tragedy. As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel's life was less than perfect and that Jessica's might also be at risk.
I personally to not like books on the paranormal activities, but it goes on to more than that and at first " Oh not not my type of book", but I was so wrong, this is a great book, with an intrigue, tension and suspense that is hard to get with a psychological thriller, slow burning it is not, fast paced it is, with an incredible supply of characters, red herrings. With a clever storyline that switches between the past and present, as well as different points of view, one being Isabel's, the past and present giving just small pieces of the puzzle, but just also teasing you and keeping so many secrets to near the end I have read most of Mark Edwards books, and I think this is his best so far, I really could not book this book down.
A clear five star book. View all 9 comments. Jessica knew Olivia was going to say something terrible. She could feel it. She tried to hurry away, nodding an apology to Pat, but she was too slow.
Olivia was still staring at the dinner lady. This is slightly different from anything I have previously read by Mark Edwards, but I can't tell you why for fear of spoiling it for you.
I found the first half of the book a little slow, but that was just Edwards laying the groundwork for a gripping second half. An intriguing and satisfying read. I write psychological thrillers. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday. View all 13 comments. A successful business, a beautiful house, an adoring husband.
Isabel and Jessic were sisters. Jessica has two children, Felix and Olivia. Isabel died in a tragic accident. She fell from a balcony at her home before Olivia was born. When Olivia starts misbehaving at school, she tells her teachers that it's her friend Izzy that is making her do these bad things.
Jessica is shocked when she learns this, but it seems that Olivia is able to communicate with her dead aunt. Olivia knows things that only Isabel and Jessica knew. So just how is Olivia getting her information? Can she really communicate with the dead? Jessica set out to find out the truth.