WHERE IS STEF CAMPBELL? AND WHO CAN BE TRUSTED TO BRING HER HOME?
Paramedic Andy Campbell has a secret he can't tell anyone, not least the police.
But when his missing wife's image is found at the home of a suspected killer, detectives start asking questions, and they're not the only ones . . .
The race for the truth leads them far from their Edinburgh home.
But who will find her first, and will they save her life or take it?
As soon as I finished reading the first chapter I had so many questions, the main one being why was the story beginning in a courtroom waiting on a verdict for a murder trial? This and so many others were answered in time but first we had to go back 6 months and find out about the events that brought us to this point.
Both Andy and Stef are paramedics and have the perfect life together, or that is what everyone thought, until the day that Stef disappeared and no-one knows where she is. But as we soon discover there's one big secret that has been withheld until it reaches the point that help is required.
When police arrive at his door saying they have concerns about his wife as items belonging to his wife were found at the home of a known criminal, Andy tells them that she's currently away on an artist retreat and he isn't able to communicate with her. But Betty, the cleaner his wife hired, doesn't believe a word of his story especially when she discovers something that makes her think differently and she sets out to try and find out where exactly Stef is.
The story is told through alternating chapters from Andy and Betty as we follow them through the days that follow Stef's trip/disappearance. We discover little nuggets of information and follow them as they react to information that is uncovered. Then every so often we get a chapter from Stef that sheds a little more light on the situation. Each character played their part and were well developed, the more we get to know them the more I felt for them but also intrigued me as I wanted to know what they were all hiding. The only thing that niggled me, and it was only a minor issue, was I couldn't work out how old Betty was meant to be and I guess it doesn't really matter one way or the other!
At first I had my suspicions as to what I thought had happened but the narrative was leading you to believe one thing which seemed all too obvious for me. And whilst it was partly true, the final reveal was a real gut-wrencher and I really felt for them and the situation that they found themselves in. It's hard to say anything more without giving away any spoilers but it's fair to say that this topic would make for great discussions in a book group.
Once again the book is set in Portobello, as was her debut The Silent Debut, which the author really brings to life with her descriptions of the places and people, but I could also picture the breathtaking scenery of the mountains where Stef and Andy used to go hiking.
Find Her First was a compelling, yet emotional, thriller that had me second guessing the whole way through. I look forward to seeing what's next from Emma Christie... no pressure.
No comments:
Post a Comment