This month's literary offerings include a trio of psychological thrillers that explore the destructive power of jealousy and the precarious nature of secrets. "Fellow Creatures" by Emma Lowther, "My Sister's Secret" by Jane Corry, and "Then She Lied" by Alice Leigh delve into complex character dynamics and suspenseful plots.
Emma Lowther's debut novel, "Fellow Creatures," is set in a London drama school and follows Shannon Bell, a working-class student struggling to find her place in a privileged environment. Her intense obsession with a fellow student, Victoria, fuels a growing jealousy that becomes central to the narrative. The book, noted for its alert intelligence and authentic dialogue, propels readers towards a devastating conclusion. Lowther's prose is described as elegant and original, steering clear of clichés while building suspense.
In "My Sister's Secret," Jane Corry presents the story of sisters Amy and Rosy, whose lives are intertwined by a dark secret they have vowed to protect. Their pact is jeopardized when Amy begins seeing a therapist, Dr. James Starling, who harbors his own hidden past. As Amy becomes infatuated with him, Dr. Starling works to uncover the sisters' secret, skillfully inserting himself into their relationship in unsettling ways. The novel raises disturbing questions about trust and the jeopardy of family secrets.
Alice Leigh's "Then She Lied" opens with Jane, a woman experiencing a panic attack in New York, feeling as though she is being followed. The tension is established from the outset, recalling a past event where Jane, then suffering from amnesia, walked into a police station in a blood-spattered hospital gown 20 years prior. Granted a new identity, her life is suddenly threatened when a body is discovered in a Long Island pond, potentially unearthing memories of her past. The investigation forces her to confront decisions that could dismantle her perceived identity.
