LoveReading Says
June 2013 Debut of the Month.
Crammed with drama and passion this emotional, beautifully written, page-turner deals with strong and unsettling issues with un-sugar coated compassion creating a book that is very hard to put down.
1964. A woman wakes in a mental asylum with no knowledge of who she is. Present day. A man’s grief over the loss of his father is interrupted by the visit from a detective with questions about crimes committed many years before. As these two lives intertwine a devastating truth emerges.
A powerful debut novel perfect for Reading Groups and fans of Maggie O'Farrell.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for The Things We Never Said a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'Susan Elliot Wright has well and truly hit the mark with her wonderful debut novel...Absorbing and totally unputdownable' - Joan Hill. Scroll down to read more reviews.
Sarah Broadhurst
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The Things We Never Said Synopsis
The past shapes us all. But what happens when it hides a secret that changes everything? In 1964, Maggie wakes to find herself in a mental asylum, with no idea who she is or how she got there. Remnants of memories swirl in her mind - a familiar song, a storm, a moment of violence. Slowly, she begins to piece together the past and the events which brought her to this point. In the present day, Jonathan is grieving after the loss of his father. A cold, distant man, he was not easy to love, but at least while he lived there was hope for reconciliation. Then a detective turns up on Jonathan's doorstep to question him about crimes he believes Jonathan's father may have committed long ago...As the two stories interweave, the devastating truth long kept hidden must emerge, and both Maggie and Jonathan are forced to come to terms with the consequences of the shocking and tragic events of over forty years ago.
About This Edition
Susan Elliot-Wright Press Reviews
We have asked a select number of members and browsers to review The Things We Never Said. You can read their reviews below.
Joan Hill - 'Susan Elliot Wright has well and truly hit the mark with her wonderful debut novel ‘The Things We Never Said’ and what an inspired title this is as well. For this beautifully written story is a book with secrets and misunderstandings right at its very heart.' Click here to read the full review.
Lynda DeFreitas - 'This book deals with strong subjects and believable characters but is easy reading. I didn't want to put it down. There were two stories woven together and interleaved throughout...I recommend this book as I enjoyed it immensely.' Click here to read the full review.
Beverley Davenport - 'A story that grips you from the very start, slowly weaving together the tale of two people living different lives in different times...A good read with substance, plot and enough depth to keep you enthralled to the very last page.' Click here to read the full review.
Donna Smith - 'What a pleasure to read this book, that may sound odd given the subject matter, but I really enjoyed it. I found it a good engaging story; it flowed well between the characters and the eras.' Click here to read the full review.
Amanda Donovan - 'The Things We Never Said by the talented Susan Elliot Wright is an emotional roller coaster from the attractive cover to the last page...a perfect summer read, but if the British summer doesn’t arrive, then this book will warm your heart instead. Highly recommended.' Click here to read the full review.
Michelle Russ - http://readinginprogress.blogspot.co.uk/ - 'The book is really well written and I wanted to know more about the characters all the way through. The story was heartbreaking in parts, and I found that I couldn't put it down. The short chapters helped me to stay up a lot later than planned to read it as I kept thinking "just one more"!' Click here to read the full review.
Reba Khatun - 'I finished this book with tears in my eyes. I loved it from the start and looked forward to carrying on from where I left off...I enjoyed reading this although it deals with some very upsetting issues.' Click here to read the full review.
Lindsay Healy - http://thelittlereaderlibrary.blogspot.co.uk/ - 'Debut novelist Susan Elliot Wright has crafted a moving, compelling tale...This is a story that felt both compassionate and very real to me as I read; I soon became absorbed in the lives of these two people.' Click here to read the full review.
Barbara Gaskell - 'The things we never said looks at how we create a psychological world to enable us to manage the reality of our actual experience but at some time we have to break free from its control to truly discover the person we are and can become.' Click here to read the full review.
Linda Dutton - 'This is a cleverly written story and the author's detailed research brings her vivid descriptions, particularly of events and places, to life. Susan Elliot Wright has succeeded at making a complex plot unfold fluently.' Click here to read the full review.
J B Johnston - http://www.brookcottagebooks.blogspot.co.uk/ - 'This is a beautifully told story that sees the characters deal with grief, pain and fear. However, it is essentially a story about love and the bonds that cannot be broken, no matter what life holds.' Click here to read the full review.
Suzanne Marsh - ireadnovels - 'I absolutely loved reading this. You will find this a beautiful page turner with short and engaging chapters. Crammed with drama, passion and trauma.' Click here to read the full review.
Stephanie Harding - 'Written in a very sensitive and ‘true to life’ way (i.e not unduly sentimental ) its very touching and compelling read. I will be looking forward to her next book.' Click here to read the full review.
Zarina de Ruiter - 'The Things We Never Said is an extremely intriguing novel; both timelines gripped me from start to finish and while I did see some of the twists coming not once did it deter me from being absolutely consumed by the story and the characters within.' Click here to read the full review.
About Susan Elliot-Wright
Susan Elliot Wright grew up in Lewisham in south-east London, left school at 16 and married unwisely at 18. She didn't begin to pursue her childhood dream of writing until she left her unhappymarriage and went to university at the age of 30. After gaining a degree inEnglish, she decided to choose a new name, and began flicking through the phonebook for ideas. She settled on Elliot and changed her name by deed poll. Then she met 'Mr Right' (actually, Mr Wright) to whom she is now happily married. She has an MAin Writing from Sheffield Hallam University, where she is now an Associate Lecturer.
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