One Minute later - Susan Lewis

 

Description

You think your life is perfect.

You think your secrets are safe.

You think it’ll always be this way.

But your life can change in a heartbeat.

Brilliantly emotional, suspenseful and page-turning, One Minute Later is the stunning new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author, Susan Lewis.

Susan Lewis – behind every secret lies a story.

With a high-flying job, a beautiful apartment and friends whose lives are as happy as her own, Vivienne Shager is living the dream. Then, on the afternoon of Vivi’s twenty-seventh birthday, one catastrophic minute changes everything.

Forced to move back to the small seaside town where she grew up, Vivi remembers the reasons she left. The secrets, lies and questions that now must be answered before it’s too late. But the answers lie in thirty years in the past…

Shelley Raynor’s family home, Deerwood Farm, has always been a special place until darkness strikes at its heart. When Vivi’s and Shelley’s worlds begin to entwine, it only takes a moment for the truth to unravel all of their lives.

Review

I listened to this book on audio and whilst there was a clear announcement at the beginning of each chapter as to the time line - I found myself feeling a little lost some of the time. I just continued to listen and soon picked up the story again. It felt like the book went on for a lot longer than it needed to in parts. There are also two characters with similar names - one being a derivative of the other. This led me down a path where I wasn't sure if they were or were not in fact the same person. Whether that was the author's intention, or just my own take on it - I'm not sure but it did give lots of questions as I read.

The synopsis given of the book is really only a teeny tiny glimpse of this book, there is so much more to it. Different stories that begin to combine and feel like it will be the end for everyone. It's difficult to summarise without giving something away. Although I said it felt too long in parts there is definitely a lot packed into this book with so many issues being dealt with such as single parenting, terminal illness, organ donation, death and ultimately a murder.

Some of the dialogue felt a little wooden at times but overall it was a good story well thought out and written. I am glad that I did listen to this book on audio as it meant I couldn't be tempted to race ahead and find out what was going to be the final outcome. The book is well read with the narrator changing her voice for the different characters. 

It's certainly left me thinking, and I feel it is a book that will stay with me for some time. 

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. The audio recording is from my own library.