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Keep Your Friends Close

So I read this one whilst on holiday and as a result of said holiday missed the meeting. I found it to be a good holiday read ploughing through it but able to put it down at a drop of a hat when squealing children in swimming pool called.

I really liked the setting for the book having been to the lakes a number of times. It made a refreshing change from London and/or America.

Initially Natty, the main female character reminded me of Celia in The Husbands Secret - trying to keep everything together by obsessing on the small stuff and appearing bitch like or perfect to the outside world. However before the reader was given too much time to dislike Natty in walked Eve aka alpha mega bitch.

I remember being surprised that the reader was aware right from the start how much of a bitch Eve was and how deliberate her move on Sean, Nattys husband, was. Perhaps the suspense could have been built to a greater extent or a different angle pursued if Eves intent had been hidden from the reader. For example did Natty really injure Eve (possible given her past) or did Eve do it herself? The author did hint at this but didn't string it out enough (convenient cctv footage found two pages later) which I think was the main problem with the book. It was too fast paced, nothing was left to fester or to build as one bomb shell after another was dropped.

I liked the supporting cast especially Nattys father and understand that the book is one of a series featuring the police woman rather than Natty which is good as I think Nattys story was finished appropriately.

The group didn't really like the book, I gave it an 8 as it was the perfect holiday read but needed more bite and a moment or toe given to the reader to pause and absorb. The group, perhaps not drenched in Costa Del Sol sunshine and alcohol, didn't score as highly. The book averaged a 6.

Next book Mrs Hemmingway by Naomi Wood.

Question of the month - Eve was a total bitch in this book but there have been many over the years. Who is your favourite bitch? Fictional of course!

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