Books Read: Keep Her Quiet by Emma Curtis

Jenny has just given birth to the baby she's always wanted. She's never been this happy.

Her husband, Leo, knows this baby girl can't be his. He's never felt so betrayed.

The same night, a vulnerable young woman, Hannah, wakes to find her newborn lifeless beside her. She's crazed with grief.

When chance throws Hannah into Leo's path, they make a plan that will have shattering consequences for all of them.

Years later, a sixteen-year-old girl reads an article in a newspaper, and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about herself. But what she learns will put everything she has ever known - and her own life - in grave danger. Because some people will go to desperate lengths to protect the secrets their lives are built on . . .

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I'd like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and Transworld Books for my copy of Keep Her Quiet to review via NetGalley. Firstly I must apologise for the delay in uploading this review this afternoon due to a power cut.

The story begins in 1989 with what can I only imagine would be every mother's worst nightmare, the loss of a child which is something our two central characters Hannah and Jenny experience although under very different circumstances. Pregnancy and the birth of a child should be one of the happiest times of their lives but teenager Hannah has had to cope with everything on her own since being shunned by her family, whereas Jenny may as well be alone whilst pregnant as husband Leo didn't want a child and he's not exactly thrilled by the news. Both women experience the highs and lows of childbirth and loss in the matter of days and the actions of one will have an impact on both of them for years to come.

The story is narrated from the viewpoints of the multiple characters which enables us to see what is going on, more often than not the reader is more aware of the facts than the other characters, and it really gives us an insight into their lives. Although I thought the whole premise of the plot sounded intriguing, as to how far would you go when you're in the midst of grief and unimaginable pain, I also thought it seemed a bit too far-fetched and extreme. I couldn't believe how quickly life changed for them all following one fateful event which saw the paths of these two families collide with devastating consequences.

What can I say about Leo, well nothing positive at all, he really was an odious character from the offset. Yes his wife may have manipulated him into a situation that he's been more than vocal about, but really he was so quick to accept his villain role when he went along with a plan that would save him trouble in the long run but would cause her immense pain and loss for years to come. I'm not saying that what Jenny did to get pregnant in the first place was right but her actions were well-intentioned whereas his were just plain selfish and reckless.

My opinions on Jenny and Hannah swung back and forth. I really wanted to shake Jenny at times and tell her to open her eyes and see what was before her, was she really so blinkered? She was a strong woman who put her energies into helping others who have been through similar experiences but yet she really couldn't see the truth about her own husband. And then there's teenager Hannah who was a naive and not very worldly young woman who found herself cast out on her own when she brought shame on her family. I know she was scared and alone but I honestly couldn't believe what I was reading and how cold she seemed to be when it came to the events of that fateful night. As much as I felt for her loss, I thought she was extremely selfish putting her needs ahead of those of Jenny and her daughter.

Fast forward to 2005 and it's been 16 years since their daughter Sophie was abducted, renewed media interest brings about the chance for them to appeal directly to their daughter who might be watching the appeal. Once again it showed the selfishness of Leo that he's using the media interest for his own purposes with the launch of his next book. But it also brings us full circle to teenager Zoe who has been home-schooled for most of her life and kept in the dark in a way with the lack of TV, internet and social media. If it wasn't for school bullies making an odd comment to her about her potentially being Sophie, she wouldn't have even had any doubts about who she really was. Is she ready for what she might uncover?

And this is where I really can't say much more without giving away any spoilers but it's fair to say that just when I thought I knew where everything was heading, I was thrown off track which is testimony to the skilled writing of the author. She really puts her characters through the wringer even though you might have to suspend belief a little.

This is normally when I would say I'm looking forward to reading whatever book you have in store for us next but just remembered I still have The Night You Left waiting for me on my Kindle so I'll hopefully get around to reading this sooner rather than later.