#Blogtour #Review: The Beloveds by Maureen Lindley @TitanBooks @Philippa_Ward18 #TheBeloveds21/6/2018 Release date - 17th June 2018
Book length - 384 pages Publisher - Titan Books Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Philippa from titanbooks.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THE BOOK An exploration of domestic derangement, in the tradition of Daphne du Maurier's classic Rebecca, that plumbs the depths of sibling rivalry with wit and menace. Oh, to be a Beloved: one of those lucky people for whom nothing ever goes wrong. Everything falls into their laps without effort: happiness, beauty, good fortune, allure. Betty Stash is not a Beloved – but her younger sister, the delightful Gloria, is. She's the one with the golden curls, sunny disposition and captivating smile, the one whose best friend used to be Betty's, the one whose husband should have been Betty's. And then, to everyone's surprise, Gloria inherits the family home – a vast, gorgeous pile of ancient stone, imposing timbers, and lush gardens that was never meant to be hers. Losing what Betty considers her rightful inheritance is the final indignity. As she single-mindedly pursues her plan to see the estate returned to her in all its glory, her determined and increasingly unhinged behaviour – aided by poisonous mushrooms, talking walls, and a phantom dog – escalates to the point of no return. The Beloveds will have you wondering if there's a length to which an envious sister won't go. MY REVIEW THE BELOVEDS by Maureen Lindley is a dark, twisted, and utterly compelling novel of obsession, rage, and jealousy, and it is unlike any other novel that I have read before in this genre. Betty Stash hated her sister, Gloria, from the very beginning and as they both grew up, Gloria basking in the love of their mother and everyone else around them while Betty felt abandoned in the shadows, Betty nurtured that hate until it became a writhing, breathing monster that she hid under a cool facade of calm and duty. The only thing that keeps Betty sane, if you can call it that, is her connection with her home, Pipits. It calls to her and understands her in ways that nobody could ever understand. But when her mother leaves Pipits to Gloria and her husband Henry, it is the final straw for Betty who cannot stand to see her home tarnished by those she loathes and she will do whatever it takes to take back what is hers ... This story is told completely from the point of view of Betty which is terrifying and compelling all rolled into one. Hate, revenge, imagined slights, and obsessive, psychotic behaviour are staples throughout this intriguing plot from beginning to end and like watching an accident unfold before your eyes, you are horrified but cannot look away. The characters are really different in THE BELOVEDS - I felt sorry for Gloria and Henry even though I felt they were a little naive at times and as for Betty she is such an unlikeable character and downright repellant at times, yet you still need to know her story, need to know how it all will end. Now the ending will divide opinion - for me, I wanted to know more, it left me wanting more - but probably echoes reality a little more than most novels (and that is all that I'm going to say on the matter). THE BELOVEDS by Maureen Lindley opens up a world of spite, hate, and murderous intent and is definitely a novel worth reading! AUTHOR BIO Maureen Lindley was born in Berkshire and grew up in Scotland. She was trained as a psychotherapist and also worked as a photographer, antique dealer and a dress designer before writing her first book, The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel. Maureen lives in the Wye valley on the Welsh borders with her husband. For more information: Website - maureenlindley.com DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!!
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WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! Currently ReadingUPCOMING BLOG TOURS
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