The Dark path (You Were Made For This) - Michelle Sacks

Description

A bold, sharp, gripping debut about a couple whose perfect life in the Swedish countryside is not what it seems…

In an idyllic house in a Swedish wood, Merry and her husband are building their new dream life with their young baby, far away from events that overshadowed their old life in New York. And they’re happy, aren’t they? Blissfully, blissfully happy.

When Merry’s childhood friend Frank comes to stay, Frank barely recognises her old friend Merry, pureeing baby food, baking, living the Swedish dream. But little by little, cracks begin to show in her carefully constructed fairy tale. And Frank starts to see things others might miss. Dark and treacherous things.

And then a terrible tragedy unfolds…

Review

I should have seen the warning signs in the blurb when it said "Dark and treacherous things" but I really wasn't prepared for how disturbing this book is. It will depend on your own sense of the world and the fact that it is only a book - but for me it was a very difficult read in parts. I found myself gasping out - "no, no" so on that level the author has written a good book to invoke such reactions from me.

The story begins quiet, calmly, and all seems well with the world. Little by little it begins to twist and turn and eventually it all comes crashing down. If that wasn't enough there are still some twists the author has to reveal to the reader.

I hated all of the characters - I didn't warm to any of them. They were all so self absorbed and each in their own way controlling of others. Again the author has written them well to evoke this reaction in me. But did I want to read about them, or enjoy reading about them, maybe not. What I had to know though was what was going to happen and when it did - who did it!

A very different read for me and one that at times I did not relish - a story I am sure I will stay with me, but I rather wish it didn't. My one real gripe is the character called Frank - she is female and I could not for a long time remember that! Her given name is Frances and at one point she even corrects the police when they call her Frances. I did not see the significance of her name - maybe it got lost in editing.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. The atmosphere conveyed in the book is so bleak - the writing so evocative and for that it deserves the 5 stars.

You Were Made For This is out 28 June 2018. My thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for a copy of this book to review.