A shriek rips through the blackness.
I struggle to process it in the muddy depths of sleep. It is familiarly unfamiliar; a continuous, rasping cry, insisting itself on me even as I beg it to retreat.
But when my brain starts to clear and I recognise it... The sound is coming from me...
***
The Blurb
Once, Beth was a different person, convinced she was living her dream life with the enigmatic wellness group, Elixir. But when that dream became a nightmare, she had no choice but to run, no matter what – or who – stood in her way.
Ten years later, exhausted and struggling with the pressures of motherhood, she receives a mysterious letter bearing only the infinity symbol, and knows immediately it is from them.
The past she’d run from has finally caught up with her, and the secrets she’s tried so hard to hide will soon be uncovered. Can she finally escape them for good, or will her freedom pay the ultimate price?
If wellness is the new religion, what happens when it’s taken too far?
My Review
This is a powerful and compelling novel that I couldn't put down. I went to bed one night with the intention of reading a chapter or two before I put the light out and found there was no way I was going to stop reading until I had finished it. In fact, my poor husband who has to be up extremely early for work was complaining about the light being on so late. So, what's a woman to do? Well, I gave him my sleep mask and continued reading until I'd finished it!
The book follows Beth who has escaped a cult which is dressed up as a wellness organisation called Elixir and is headed up by the charismatic Tate. Following her escape, she has gone on to marry Adam and have a child but ten years on and the cult have tracked her down. The book is set during 2023 but with an equal number of chapters dedicated to the time when Beth becomes involved with Elixir.
As a reader we can anticipate the danger that she is getting into as she succumbs to the attraction of the organisation. I literally found myself wanting to shout at her and intervene to stop her doing this. The control that she was succumbing to was unnerving to read, all the while she herself believes these are her decisions and are for her own good.
I found myself questioning how reliable a narrator the Beth of 2023 was. She has spent the last decade looking over her shoulder, thinking the Elixir organisation will catch up with her. When she thinks they are, having initially received a letter with their symbol attached, I was wondering if she was simply paranoid.
I enjoyed the dual timeline of this book, and it moved back and forth seamlessly. The author's writing is wonderful and her ability to build tension was outstanding. Little by little we observe the life Beth has built for herself unravelling and the author portrays this skillfully.
There is a twist at the end of this story which I did not see coming until it was upon me but I shall say no more on that subject. However, I would highly encourage you to get your hands on a copy of this book to read it for yourself.
I have never read anything by this author previously but am now fully intent on reading all of her books and have already ordered a copy of My Name is Anna.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1915523518
Publisher: Datura Books
Formats: e-book, audio and paperback
No. of Pages: 400 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author:
Lizzy Barber's first novel My Name is Anna was a Daily Mail First novel winner, whilst her follow up Out of her Depth was a Richard & Judy pick and has been optioned by Eleventh Hour Films. She read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. She has worked in acting and film development, and has spent the last thirteen years working in the restaurant business with her brother Jamie, heading up their brand and marketing department. They have a small group of restaurants in London: Haché, Hush and Cabana.
You can find out about Lizzy's other novels My Name is Anna and Out of Her Depth by clicking on the titles.
You can also find Lizzy at:
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(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)
(all opinions are my own)
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