There were many factors that attracted me to this novel. The striking cover, the remote Anglesey, Wales setting, and the hints of family secrets to name but a few.
It delivered on these and I was immersed for about the first half of the novel. Then I found my attention begin to lag mostly due to the repetitive descriptions of Lowri’s anguish when her young daughter disappears. The first few times were understandable and necessary, but the tenth time maybe not so much…
I adored the setting. A gloomy old funeral home on the Anglesey coast and I always appreciate the revelation of family secrets. There were several secrets exposed here, but I found them to be quite convoluted and ‘over the top’. The pace was fairly steady throughout and the book retained my interest. The ending felt quite rushed and tied up the myriad plot lines, but in a way I found to be rather implausible.
With gothic overtones and a suspenseful storyline, this novel will appeal to many readers. I’m aware that my opinions are not that of the majority, so take them with a grain of salt. In summation, I would read this author again, but found this novel was not a personal favourite.
This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Avon Books UK via NetGalley. ISBN: 9780008460006 ASIN: B09TQX5C7J 381 pages
Anne Wyn Clark lives in the Midlands with her husband and son, plus a rather temperamental cat, a rabbit and a chinchilla. She has three (now grown-up) children and five grandchildren. She is particularly partial to Italian food, decent red wine (or any coloured wine come to that…) and cake – and has been known to over-indulge in each on occasions. She has a penchant for visiting old graveyards and speculating on the demise of those entombed beneath. Whilst she has written short stories and poetry for many years, a lifelong fascination with all things paranormal has culminated in her first novel for adults, Lay Me to Rest. The setting is inspired by her love of Wales, owing to her father’s Celtic roots. She has gone on to write “Whisper Cottage” and most recently “The Last House On The Cliff“.
Fictionophile 