Stuffed full of captivating drama, wiles, and deception this is a thoroughly entertaining read. When Freddy returns home after 22 years she knows that old childhood alliances have deteriorated, so who can she trust when everything starts to go wrong? This is a standalone read from Lesley Thomson, if you love her successful Detective’s Daughter series, then you should definitely put this to the top of your reading list. The prologue nails intrigue and suspense to the mast, setting the tone for what is to come. The title stayed in my mind as the first few pages opened. Give yourself time to get to know all of the characters, each chapter is headed by one of them, and there are a fair few to meet. I settled into the conversational tone, which changes with the characters, occasionally unsettling with its staccato style. The coast and fishing community is vibrantly evocative. The drama ramps up before seriously kicking off and Lesley Thomson set my mind conspiring against itself. Death of a Mermaid is a stimulating read, the characters weave their way through the plot which spins to a dramatic conclusion.
'Lesley Thomson gets better and better' Ian RankinWhen Freddy Power was eighteen, her father threw her out. Her sin had been to fall in love with a woman. Freddy waited for two decades to be invited back into the family. The summons never came.But now, in the wake of her parents' death, Freddy feels the call of home like a siren's song. The trawlers emerging out of the mist. Fishermen unloading their catch down at the harbour. Her best friend, Mags, exploring the cliffs at sunset.But when she arrives at Newhaven, after twenty-two years of silence, her brothers and her friends act like strangers. Then Mags goes missing, and old secrets - and old passions - are reignited. Freddy is determined to lead the hunt for Mags - even if it means confronting her past, and facing the truth about her family...Reviews for Death of a Mermaid:'Catholic guilt, monstrous hypocrisy and all kinds of fishy business are explored in an atmosphere of creeping dread' The Times'A truly brilliant book, full of atmosphere and a creeping sense of menace. Lesley Thomson lures you in with meticulously drawn characters and a matchless sense of place, and then you are caught in the jaws of a remorseless thriller' Elly Griffiths'A strong sense of place, wonderfully woven with a cast of memorable characters' Mari Hannah'Death of a Mermaid is a tense, beautifully written novel, with characters so well-crafted you expect them to walk off the page' Rachael Blok'A powerful tale of dark secrets that fester in a small seaside town' William Shaw.