What She Saw: A gripping psychological thriller with a heart-pounding twist (Utterly gripping psychological thrillers by Wendy Clarke)

The development of the story was very slow. I almost gave up reading the book several times before the half way point, but somehow stuck with it. Once it got going, however, it was good.

Absolutely loved this book, just couldn’t wait to read on! Great characterisation & setting. Excellent plot with some unexpected surprises! If you love the Lakes & love a thriller, you’ll love this!

What she saw is such a good read. The writing assured, the intricate plot making for a page-turner. This is Wendy Clarke’s debut novel, but I never doubted it would be good. I’ve read many of her published short stories and I know she’s skilled with her words.From the opening lines, “I have no warning that anything bad is going to happen to me today,” I knew something sinister was in the air and as the book progressed with its twists, turns and different perspectives from all of the interesting characters, I was hooked.I won’t give spoilers to my review. Take it from me that Leona, the main character, has a past she’s escaped from and it is horrific. (I love the way Wendy uses the present tense for this character’s narrative – it doubly heightens the suspense.) Leona has a daughter to protect. And the daughter, Beth, is a teenager now with all the usual angst which is exacerbated by her mother’s behaviour of late. How can Beth possibly understand that her mother’s past is catching up with her? Leona starts to have panic attacks and feels the need to renew contact with her counsellor, who knows all about her past. These sessions added to the secrecy as Leona dipped back to a “time of darkness”. But the reader is still in the dark about what actually happened. There are plenty of cliff hangers in this story.Set against the dramatic, moody backdrop of the Lake District (another plus for me as I lived there for seven years), which is beautifully described, we have added ingredients for a winner. Beth is a clever artist and through her eyes, the reader catches tantalising glimpses of the countryside: “she would sit on the bench and watch the kestrels that nested in the cliffs or the sparrowhawks… in those moments, she would just let her imagination run free.” The landscape is a strong feature of the book. The tranquil, beguiling, but ever-changing scenery is a backdrop to events, both smooth and troubling. “The day had broken with a fragile beauty – the sun rising in a pale blue sky, small wisps of cloud feathering high above the peaks.” Contrast this with the terrifying climax of the story, described in almost Gothic detail: “As I stumble along the slippery slate path, the dark, gaping throat of the quarry is my constant companion.” I loved these descriptions.I look forward to Wendy’s next book – out very soon. I hope she never stops writing.

Finished this last night and WOW! What a ride!Leona would do anything for her daughter Beth but underneath their life is a torrent of secrets threating to break out and spoil the life they are leading. One day Leona gets a phone call from someone in her past and she realises that you can't always keep the past in the past, however hard you try!This is my second Wendy Clarke book and it most definitely did not disappoint. I would actually say I enjoyed it even more than the previous book I read, His Hidden Wife (which I really adored). I found myself thinking about this storyline when I wasn't reading it and I thought I had worked out the twist then decided that it couldn't possibly be what I thought so decided I was wrong and then in the end I was proved correct. What a twist!!Highly recommend this little gem of a book! Read it, you won't regret it.

I absolutely loved this suspenseful psychological thriller. The way the author teases the reader with just enough information at the right time, was perfect and kept me glued to the book. I had at least a couple of coffees go cold on me while absorbed in the story! Thank goodness for microwaves.The Lake District setting started the novel in an idyllic way but soon had the desired effect of providing a bleak and dangerous backdrop for what was to come. The Beth chapters were really intriguing. The portrayal of the teenage girl, hormones alight and flushed with angst, were so realistic. The dynamics of the whole family were cleverly interwoven, each one of them playing a crucial part In the story.Leona’s character maintained my interest with ease and I turned each page with anticipation, needing to know what was coming next and it wasn’t what I was expecting at all! Wendy Clarke is certainly great at surprising the reader, and I must add, with great plausibility.I loved this psychological thriller and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Just don’t put the kettle on and pour a cuppa, it may just go cold on you too - haha!

Like the storyline 👏

The story is told from points of view of Beth, Leona and Ria. Some parts in the past and most in the present day.The characters didn’t feel fully developed to me. I didn’t feel a connection with any of them and didn’t find any of them particularly likeable. Beth especially felt like a spoiled brat rather than someone I felt sorry for. That aside, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story.There were a few twists. I did see most of them coming but that didn’t spoil anything.A well written debut novel.

I was a massive fan of Wendy when she wrote short stories, but I’m afraid I have found this novel a very slow burn, and I mainly kept reading to find out what the twist was. The last 10% was tense, but the build up to that was not my cup of tea at all. We spend chapters following an ordinary 37-year-old woman who has started having panic attacks, and with her daughter who has started bunking off school. Gradually, through sessions with a counsellor, the hinted at past comes out. But I’m not sure which bit was supposed to be the jaw dropping twist.From the other reviews, clearly a lot of people enjoy this approach, but not me.