Family Friendly Cook Books for the Un-Domestic Goddess!

I am no domestic goddess! I am not very confident or skilled cook and anyone who has eaten out with me knows that "I know what I like and I like what I know"! However, as a mum of three very hungry children (not to mention a husband who always seems to be riffling through the hidden supply of snacks stored in the high level cupboards) I have had become more interested in making meals and snacks. I do find it a real challenge to constantly think of what we can eat day after day that fits in with our after school activities, is reasonably balanced and nutritious and also varied enough so we don't get bored, stuck in a rut or - more likely- "go off" something! But I also don't want to spend all day in the kitchen. As everyone knows that the longer time you spend making something, the less of it the children will eat!
So here are my current favourite cook books. All written with families in mind and with ingredients already on your shopping list. Apologies to my friends who hear me evangelising about these books daily and have probably all received them as presents (and if you haven't, guess what's coming your way soon....!!)
I hope they are new to you and will give you some inspiration!


Fay Ripley has published three cookery books and I can't recommend them highly enough. They are such a reliable go-to for tasty, easy family meals. The ingredients are all common store cupboard foods and the recipes are presented very clearly in short steps - usually no more than 5 stages so incredibly doable. Many of the meals can be prepared quickly or in advance and then reheated. Our favourites are a one pot chicken recipe, a sticky tangy chicken dish, the baked spaghetti carbonara and the quick creamy fish dish. Her banana and chocolate bread is absolutely amazing and I bake this for everyone all the time! I have also used her recipes for dinner parties and weekend entertaining as they are so tasty. These cook books really helped me gain confidence in the kitchen and I found them tame enough to use with the children when they were much younger as well as interesting enough to satisfy an adult palate! Fay often adds tips for adapting the recipes for babies and toddlers and her witty one liners, titles and introductions always make me smile when I'm scanning the pages for our next choice.


I got this for Christmas and literally haven't stopped cooking from it since! We have eaten most of the recipes and they are all winners. Again, they are great for the children and all use straight forward, easy to get hold of ingredients-  in fact there have been several occasions when I've been caught out or had to "rustle" up an extra meal and was able to find everything I needed in my cupboards or fridge so I think that makes it a fantastic book to have to hand. As with Fay, the instructions are short, clear and given in just a few steps. The book is arranged in sections with some ideas for quick weekday teas, weekend meals and grown up entertaining. I have used it for dinner parties and there were clear plates all round.
The absolute best bit about this book is that at the bottom of each page is another short recipe suggesting ways to transform any left overs or ingredients into something else so essentially you have two recipe books for the price of one. Some of these "extras" are really worthy of their own full page - like the chocolate truffles.... yum! Tonight I'm cooking her veg chilli but as suggested at the bottom of the page, we will be having it with tacos rather than rice. My children aren't big fans of rice but really love eating a meal when they can help themselves to different filings and toppings and generally eat more this way. Jo has encouraged me to make my own guacamole, humus and other dips which I had no idea were so simple to put together and these are becoming a key feature with our weekend lunches. They go really well with a tortilla wrap, lightly brushed with olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika, cut up in triangles, baked and then used to fob off the children that they are doritos! (This recipe in is her other book - see below)
The pudding suggestions are inspirational  - her version of a creme brûlée is brilliant, the raspberry cheesecake pots are so easy to make they take literally five minutes and the lifesaver hot chocolate pot cakes are amazing. I have saved several play dates by suddenly being able to cobble together a rather impressive looking treat from very few ingredients in under three minutes! Now if that doesn't make me a smug mum.....


As I said before, I do not want to spend all day in the kitchen and with the children's ridiculous timetable of after school activities we often only have twenty minutes or half an hour in which to cook, eat and get out again. This book is perfect for those days. I was a little scared of using Mary Berry - I mean, she's the queen right? How can I possibly hope to follow one of her recipes?! But who knew - I can!
This is a recent purchase but I am already over dependent on it. The ingredients are all things we use all the time and although the recipes have more stages and sometimes require a little bit more preparation or process, they are all very manageable. We have had some really delicious meals from this book and the pork and leek burgers are requested weekly. The winning thing about this book is that you can prepare every single meal in advance - sometimes up to 48 hours - and then just finish off the final stages when you need to. This makes managing meal times a breeze. It also made a recent Sunday lunch with lots of visitors exceptionally easy to orchestrate - I served cheese soufflé would you believe - all pre made then shoved in the oven, presented with a flourish, a fanfare and an appropriate round of applause and awe. I thank you.
There are some lovely bread, scone and cake recipes. We have had the cheese scone bake a lot as it tarts up a Saturday lunch of soup rather nicely. Recommend!


Ok, a little less child friendly maybe - although you will be surprised at what they might try! The winter bowls and the more stew like dishes have been accepted tentatively and I am hopeful that they will eat more from here in the future. Really I bought it for me though and it has been a lovely book to cook for myself and my husband from. To be honest, I was reluctant to buy it. I've heard a lot fabulous things about it but I think the words "clean food", "Sugar free" and "Quinoa" put me right off.
I apologise now for the next statement.
I am a complete convert. This, the lady who needs at least 5 bourbon biscuits to get upstairs and do bath time! I love quinoa. Butternut squash is my new best friend. I eat granola for breakfast. I have just made the chocolate millionaire squares out of dates and pecans for the fourth time and they are absolutely to die for. Try them. I dare you!
The ingredients are more pricey and I have had some fun searching them out in the supermarket but if you can make the investment (or cheat in places and just use normal butter and cocoa powder, essential range dates etc - it doesn't seem to make much difference to the taste but please don't tell Ella....) it is worth it. The recipes are actually very easy to prepare and often don't involve much cooking or baking so can be put together very quickly. I've found that the sweet treats do actually taste as good as my usual indulgences  - if not better (can't believe I just said that) but the best thing is there is no sugar slump, bloating or low afterwards as the ingredients are more nutritional and more slow releasing in their energy. And you can eat four times more of them as its healthy yes? The children have also enjoyed the sweet recipes and seem happy to eat them instead of the shop bought branded products so I will just polish my halo about that too.
It is good food. Filling, healthy and tasty. I'm glad I bought it.


This is similar to the concept of "Deliciously Ella" but not vegan and not as strict. It is perhaps a more manageable and realistic recipe book for most of us. The food is really tasty and really healthy. I have used it for the whole family successfully. It is currently my favourite book and I am gradually working my way through it! I have the confidence to try more adventurous meals with a wider range of ingredients and my tastebuds are eternally grateful.
As with her "Madhouse" book, Jo includes a smaller recipe at the bottom of each page - it's such a fabulous idea. This makes you use every ingredient and every bit of food so it's really resourceful and means you are not wasting any of the things that might have added to your normal supermarket shopping bill!
It's an accessible, practical and totally useable cookery book full of healthy food which looks and tastes appealing. I'm really enjoying cooking from it.


An old favourite! This is a great book which has been written for families by families. The recipes are all achievable, tasty and appealing to the children. This, and Fay's books, made me realise I could cook one meal for all of us rather than cooking several times a day with separate food for children and adults. The section on slow cooker recipes and stews is absolutely brilliant and I use one of these recipes at least once a week. My children love the cowgirl stew! It's a must have for any family.

BLOGS / WEBSITES
A lot of these authors also publish on line which is great if you want to find recipes from their other books or need to check ingredients when you're out and about or on holiday. The BBC Good Food website is fab and you can search via ingredients too. So if you ever have a glut of courgettes in the bottom of the fridge, use it to find out what meal you can cook to use to them up. Preferably one which requires blending or fine chopping so no one sniffs out the green vegetable content!

Thanks to Juliette Hewitson for sharing an obsession for cookery books with me and always recommending the latest releases as well as helping me fill in the gaps on my culinary shelf!

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Emma Donoghue's Room - A fantastic Book, An Amazing Film

This is one of the most memorable books I have ever read and although I finished it in 2010, I can still remember it in so much detail as it affected me so deeply. I have was so struck with Donoghue's ability to write about such a sinister situation in a way which wasn't voyeuristic or gratuitous but sensitive, poignant and very moving. She uses her novel as an opportunity to reflect on more than just the crime which gives the book depth and credibility as a writer.

It takes real skill to captivate an audience, particularly with this sort of topic, and Donoghue certainly has this skill. I read this book in one sitting - at times reading so fast that my eyes were taking in the words quicker than my brain could process them. I was totally mesmerised. It is compulsive reading.

Most of my friends have read this book (and all rated it 5 stars  - unheard of for us all to agree so unanimously!) but there are a few who are put off by the premise  - I don't think it's a spoiler to say what that premise is anymore - of a boy and his mother being held captive in a shed. However, I would argue that this is only half of what the novel is about. What makes this book stand out from any other psychological thriller or crime novel is that a lot of the story is an exploration of life after "Room"; a life in which Joy, the mother, thinks everything will be resolved and happy so desperate is she to escape. In fact, it is almost as hell-like as life in the Room. Donoghue's thorough consideration and meticulous detail of all that Jack and his mum have to adapt to and cope with is fascinating. It raises so many thought provoking questions and discussions. It is handled with sensitivity and exceptionally well written. The portrayal of the parents and their limitations, struggles and emotions are so well captured that their plight is almost as moving and distressing as Joy and Jack's.

Joy is inspirational. She is so young and been locked away for so much of her own life and yet shows so much patience, resilience and practical understanding of how to build a life and protect her son from the horrific reality of their existence. The imaginative way in which she has explained the world to Jack is so admirable, as is her ability to entertain him for hours and hours and hours with nothing.

Jack is equally engaging. As the five year old narrator, he is able to lift the tension and atmosphere a little and provide a some distance from the more sinister details. Donoghue has created a clever voice and an innovative way to show how limited his life experience is and the social and educational effects of only being exposed to one other person and such a restricted living space.

This book is full of tension, drama, emotion and wonderful observations about life. If somehow you haven't read it yet then I would highly recommend you get hold of a copy soon!


I must admit I did have reservations about going to see this at the cinema. When you have enjoyed a book so much there is always the risk that it won't live up to your expectations. I was unsure how the text would adapt to the screen and if it would work on the same number of levels. The book has been such a runaway success and so much hype surrounded the film I was curious how it would handle itself. To be honest, part of me wondered if I really wanted to spend a Sunday evening watching a harrowing film which deals with abuse and depression!

I am so glad that I have seen it.

If you only see one film this year, make it this one. If you only discover one actress this year, make it Brie Larson.

It is a powerful, mesmerising and completely overwhelming film. It captures the characters well and they are as convincing on screen as on paper. The acting is outstanding from each member of the cast. It captures the atmosphere, tension, emotion and poignancy of the book. The most dramatic scenes are handled with sensitivity and have as much dramatic impact as when reading. I was as gripped as I had been six years ago when I read it for the first time and once again it stimulated all sorts of questions, thoughts and reflections leaving me desperate to talk about it all over again.

As did the book, this film will stay with me. It may not be the easiest thing to watch this year but I think it will be the best.

OTHER NOVELS BY EMMA DONOGHUE I RECOMMEND

"Slammerkin"
A slammerkin is a loose gown and this story is all about a loose woman with a desire to touch lovely fabrics. It is set in 17th Century London and is highly evocative of the era with brilliant historical detail and another engaging, well crafted female character.
"The Sealed Letter"
This is a courtroom drama about adultery, rape and a mysterious letter. It is based on a real divorce case from 1864. It is a riveting read which again evokes a convincing portrayal of the historical era in which it is set. It is very readable and there are several good twists.

OTHER FILM ADAPTATIONS OF GOOD BOOKS CURRENTLY SHOWING IN THE CINEMA
"Brooklyn"
"Carol"
"The Danish Girl"
"The Dressmaker"

....and if you missed them, I thought these adaptations were very true to their originals and really enjoyable  - "The Help" and "Sarah's Key"

Jojo Moyes "Me Before You" comes to our screens in the summer which will surely be another blockbusting hit - I'm hoping to read it before I see it!

for more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me onTwitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to email notifications through the tab on the right hand side

My Review of "The Silk Merchant's Daughter" by Dinah Jeffries

I only discovered Dinah Jeffries a few months ago when "The Tea Planter's Wife" was part of the Richard & Judy Book Club selection. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, era and relationships portrayed in the novel and it was a refreshing change from my usual picks. While having a mutual appreciation / rave about it over coffee a friend told me about "The Separation" which I immediately went and took out of the library on my way home! (Life of a bibliomaniac!) It's always exciting to discover a new author..... but so disappointing when you catch up with all their novels in too short a space of time! So I was even more delighted when I realised that Jefferies was obviously not one to disappoint her fans and had been busy writing her third book which is published on the 25th February.

With an equally appealing cover as her previous titles, Jefferies once more sets her book in Asia. This time it's 1952 French Indochina and eighteen year old Nicole, our protagonist, is living as a French colonial in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. The story follows Nicole over the next few years as she learns about overcoming obstacles in love, politics, family and the cost of making choices; all set against the turbulent backdrop of the threatening conflict between the nationalist Vietminh and the governing French as they fight each other for control in civil unrest which would later become the Vietnam War.

This is a story of a search for belonging and identity. It is a story of a girl not only caught between political conflict, but between lovers, between her family and between her heritage. It is a story about a girl who is constantly pulled in two different directions; who doesn't really fit into either world but attempts to belong to both. Nicole learns to negotiate her way through this conflict, revealing an inner strength and instinct for survival which she never knew she had.

Nicole is half French and half Vietnamese. She takes after her mother with her Vietnamese looks. Her sister, Sylvie, is more French looking and her father's more favoured daughter, gaining control of his successful business while Nicole is passed over and offered a derelict Silk shop in the Vietnamese quarter of town. Nicole works hard to build a good business, inspired by the costumes and accessories she sees around her and nurturing a real appreciation of the fabrics she sells. The description of the silk- the colours, patterns, textures and designs are beautifully recorded. She makes friends with O'Lan who becomes like a sister to her. But still, she harbours a bitter grudge against her own sister.

When she meets American Trader Mark she dreamily believes he is the perfect man for her - but is he to be Sylvie's too? And what exactly is his involvement with her father and his secret entanglement with the cruel torture and murder of Vietnamese rebels? She turns her affections to Tran, a Vietnamese insurgent, but choosing him takes her away from the safety and security of her family and home as she becomes deeply caught up in the world of militant rebels fighting to end the oppressive French rule. Her traumatic experiences test her strength and resilience to the extreme.

Nicole is a young girl whole ultimately wants to please her family, belong and be loved. She is an ordinary teenager caught up in a challenging and troubled era meaning she experiences corruption and complex politics that will affect her and her life choices.

I thought this book was really a coming of age story as we see Nicole learn to accept who she is and define her identity. There are some very emotional passages about sisterhood and sibling rivalry as both Sylvie and Nicole have to recognise their behaviour towards each other and take responsibility for the hurt they have caused each other. They fall in and out of trust with each other. The pattern of lies and deception is dramatic and means that yet again, Nicole is never sure who to trust and whose story to believe. Sylvie's behaviour towards Nicole as the novel reaches its dramatic climax are particularly well evoked, and the final reflection of their relationship is particularly powerful.

Nicole is also caught between her feelings for Mark and Tran as they are also inconsistent and not always truthful about their feelings or involvement with the events unravelling around them. I found myself deeply sympathetic towards Nicole and her naivety during her time with Tran. This is a portrait of someone learning about love and heartbreak. I also liked that I was never fully certain of Mark's motives and his mysterious disappearances add yet another layer of drama and tension.

This novel is much more of a love story than Jefferies previous titles. I think the romantic element of the story is the most central theme. The novel is about love between couples, fathers and daughters, mothers and daughters and sisters. It is a great exploration of one girl coming to terms with all these things.

Jefferies fascination with two worlds is apparent even in the last few words of the novel: "that was the end. Or was it the start?" I was intrigued by the ending and all it revealed about Sylvie - is this the start of Jefferies next novel? Oh I do hope so!

This book has a staggering 4.36/5 stars on Goodreads and I would recommend it as an enjoyable read with some excellent description of the setting and era. I would also highly recommend "The Tea Planter's Wife" and "The Separation" if you have not yet discovered them!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for this fair and honest review.

Travels with a Bibliomaniac

This week we were on holiday in York. Our hotel looked out across the Minster. These titles sprung to mind:


This is a short historical novel set in medieval England about a Dean who decides to build a spire on his cathedral. It is a dark novel about obsession and folly. Golding always delivers an engaging read.


I read "The Barsetshire Chronicles" a long time ago but they immediately sprung to mind as novels about clergy. Don't be put off by the fact it's Victorian literature, Trollope is actually quite accessible and relevant. His writing is at times witty and his characters are engaging. They might take a bit of commitment but it is worth it - particularly if you fancy an escape from the modern world for a while!


Well you can't stay at a hotel without thinking about novels which use them as the perfect setting for stories - so many people, so many possibilities! And this has to be the most chilling of them all! Maybe not the best read to "relax" with while in a hotel, although the constant noise of the street outside our York base meant that there wasn't really any comparison to Overlook Hotel. Similarly, you could try "Psycho" if you fancy something equally unnerving to while away your evening with!


Something a little less terrifying! Always a great comforting read and I can still never remember the outcome however many times I read them! Christie is a very talented crime writer and her books are always a good tonic on holiday.


A story set in York! A legal drama about a mother defending her own son who stands accused of murder. The reviews on Goodreads are very positive and make this book sound like a solid choice for a good crime story set in a courtroom with a fast pace and well drawn characters.


Another story set in York which embraces its rich history. It is set in the early 1900s and claims to have "a large cast and wonderfully intriguing subplots, set at a moment of great social change." It sounds like an easy read full of interesting historical detail and atmosphere.

This was a great discovery for the children! We had a fab visit to the York Museum which really impressed us and they had a whole range of York-based quiz books and colouring books which we stocked up on. However this was the real winner and had been read cover to cover in no time at all and then quoted all the way through lunch!

You can't visit York and not mention the Vikings! My nine year old son enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone else who likes this historical period. "It's not about warriors," he adds, "just peasants." So unlike his mother's choices, he is not indulging in things that will keep him up in the dark hours.....

The York Literature Festival takes place from the 10-23 March and will feature talks by Val McDermind and Wendy Cope, literary walks, creative writing workshops and a Jane Austen talk. It seems that York's literary scene is very much alive and we did manage to find a few second hand book shops to browse and the compulsory stop off at Waterstones to see what the York branch recommended to the local audience. It's a beautiful city and we found so much to explore and do together as a family.

Where were you this week and what books has it inspired? You may discover a new author or rediscover an old favourite! Happy holiday reading!

for more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3

What's made my "To Read" list this week?

Or perhaps I should call this blog, "What hasn't made my to read list?"......I seem to have got a bit download happy with my Kindle, although I am proud to say I don't think I've spent over £2 on any of the titles so it's not really that bad as addictions go! Thank you Twitter for all the exciting recommendations and heads up about the bargain offers - you've really come up with some great titles this week!


It's most appropriate to start with this book as it certainly seems to have gone "viral"! The reviews have been thick and fast and full of phrases like "thought provoking", "thrilling", "fast paced" and "contemporary". It tells the story Su who fails to return home after a holiday in Magaluf where she was celebrating the end of her A Levels with her sister Leah. Footage of Su in compromising situation has been leaked all over the internet and viewed by thousands of people including her own family. "Every person's worst nightmare" writes one reviewer and another claims it is a "definitive novel for today". It certainly sounds relevant and important. I read Fiona Neill's "The Good Girl" this summer which sounds similar and it was a compulsive read. Worth adding to your to read list!


Another brand new thriller which has had fingers tweeting is this story about a wife and uncovering what she really knew about the crimes her husband is accused of committing. It is hailed as the next "Gone Girl" and promoted as an exceptional psychological thriller. The reviews are a little mixed as the market is quite heavily saturated with novels claiming to be the next "Girl on a Train" but it sounds very readable and potentially full of unexpected twists and revelations. The TV rights have been sold already and I think I read that there are hopes for film adaptation too.


As it has been half term, I must include this Young Adult book which is also featuring as the Bedtime Book Club read on web based magazine The Pool. Tasha was dead for 13 minutes but she doesn't know how she ended up in the water. Reviews are full of compliments for Pinborough's well crafted writing style and ability to successfully capture teenage voices. It sounds gripping and a real page turner. I am definitely looking forward to reading this one!

While on the subject of Young Adult fiction I did find myself in Waterstones' Children's dept yesterday (I was with my own children but obviously they were more interested in the fish tank which left me happily browsing and inevitably spending too much money on books I won't let them touch until I have finished with them!) I couldn't resist buying Katherine Woodfine's latest mystery "The Jewelled Moth" and Robin Stevens "Murder most Unladylike". I recommended them in a previous post but to be honest, it was the beautiful shiny covers that got me this time!!


I read a great article on The Wall Street Journal (wsj.com) about the next "Gone Girl" and ten thrillers to look out for in 2016. It reviewed the latest publications which have all had TV rights sold already, companies are so confident of their success. "The Crow Girl" sounds like the next "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"; set in Stockholm and spanning a massive 758 pages. "Dark Matter" is written by the man behind the quirky but intriguing Sky series "Wayward Pines" and the film promises to be like "Inception." It's not out until August but I think it will be worth the wait! They also listed five psychological thrillers with "Girl" in the title which are jumping on the current bandwagon of "Gone Girl" but will undoubtedly make compulsive reading! Titles which stood out to me were "All the Missing Girls" by Megan Miranda and "The Girls" by Emma Cline.


I reviewed "The Hidden Legacy" by G J Minett recently (go on, add it to your to read list if it's not already there!) and this week he recommended this book. A recommendation from a good thriller writer must be one of the best kind of recommendations you can get so I have boldly pre-ordered this book which is due out on 25th Feb. It's a debut novel for fans of "Before I go to Sleep" about Sarah who lies in a coma, unable to communicate or remember anything about how she got there she has to piece together what happened by listening to the voices around her. It is described as a stunning thriller with a "devilish twist" and the premise sounds intriguing and ambitious! Roll on Feb 25th!


After all these thrillers I am going to need a change of scene and this sounds perfect! This quietly announced itself on my timeline and is out in March. A collection of short stories which explore Israeli culture and heritage. Reviewers claim the stories are compassionate and compelling. Nearly every reviewer commented on the beautiful use of language and I think this is what made me jot this book down. It will be very different from anything else on my shelf and that alone makes it worth reading.

Finally I read "You" by Caroline Kepnes this week. My, what a book! Have a look at my blog post for a detailed review but I must say this is one of the most haunting and original novels I have encountered for a long time. It is not an easy read and there is some explicit language and content to prepare yourself for but the narrator is one of the most chilling characters I have met since John Fowles' "The Collector". Prepare to lose sleep after reading this!

Happy reading!
For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3

My Review of "Our Endless Numbered Days"

This had been on my "to read" list since it's publication in March as I had seen several reviews and thought the concept was very appealing. It was one of those books which you don't get around to reading, it got buried under more recent suggestions until I saw it on the "Quick Choice" stand in the library and thought it was fate guiding me to pick it! And then I kicked myself hard for leaving it so long! Isn't that always the way!

It certainly wasn't any disappointment and I am now a "Fuller Fan'! The book starts in 1976 when Peggy is eight years old. She is told by her father that the rest of the world has disappeared and they set off deep into the woods to a hidden shack where Peggy lives with her father for the next nine years, surviving in the wild with only the barest of rations that the forest can provide. The narrative then shifts to 1985 and Peggy's mysterious re-emergence to the modern world and a reunion with her mother. The novel is about trying to find out the truth about her time in the forest and what happened to lead up to her return.

I was intrigued by the concept (as well as the attractive book cover!). It's an imaginative premise; a parent driven to kidnap their own child and retreat into the wilderness, delusional about politics and the end of the world, fanatical about survival and planning for the apocalypse. And then Peggy's realisation that her father has lied to her for so many years - her family are not dead, they are alive, and have always been. Fuller presents all this with great descriptive and evocative writing. Her portrayal of Penny's relationships with both her parents is explored with realism and poignancy.

Fuller's writing is vivid - full of atmosphere and imagery in which you become fully captivated. The picture of Peggy "playing a silent piano" with wooden keys on the table as her only toy is powerful and resonants long after you've finished the book. It is very visual and easy to conjure in your own mind. In a way, you become as immersed in the secluded world as the two characters. Fuller also touches on issues like nature v nurture when she shows how Peggy copes with her father's behaviour in a world where she has no wider experience on which to draw.

The reader knows Peggy returns to the real world from the outset but don't let this put you off. There is still a dramatic climax and a surprise ending which will leave you deep in thought.

I rated this 4/5 stars and would highly recommend it. I'm pleased to see it sitting amongst the bestsellers in the book shops at the moment and I hope you will be tempted to pick it up - don't let it languish on your "to read" pile for as long as I did!

for more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat, follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3

My Review of "Dear Amy" by Helen Callaghan

Margot Lewis is a teacher and writes an agony aunt column, “Dear Amy” for the Cambridge Enquirer. She receives a letter from Bethan Avery who has been missing for years, claiming to be held captive still and asking for help. Is it a hoax?

At the same time, a student at Margot’s school, Katie, has gone missing and Margot fears for her safety. After receiving more letters, Margot attempts to get the police to take her suspicions seriously and then becomes embroiled in the search for a potential serial killer as previous murders and kidnappings are uncovered. Soon Margot herself is in danger and only one man is prepared to help her uncover the deeply shocking truth.

It is difficult to review this book without spoiling it. What is striking and unique about this book is that you begin by believing you are reading a “another” psychological thriller about kidnapping but actually end up entangled in something far more complex, intriguing and chilling. Callaghan completely overthrows the reader and dares to put them in the exact same position as the narrator. Together you join Margot on her journey to piece together the web of perplexing memories, flashbacks and unfathomable past. Callaghan’s use of senses to evoke memories was particularly effective here.

Margot’s character is well crafted. Our opinion of her is challenged and tested. Female protagonists are very popular in this new wave of psychological thrillers and it’s great to see a whole genre being led by strong, intelligent, brave, “un-victim-like” women. These women are more complex and not always 100% likeable which makes their stories more compulsive and realistic. It also makes them more powerful within a plot. Margot is a strong, fearless, down to earth character. She has made often questionable decisions in order to survive. Callaghan’s ability to create such a multi-layered, tortured character is impressive. She has also clearly researched in depth the workings of mind and memory.

The character of Martin, the only person Margot finds she can depend on, is also well crafted. Although their bond develops rather too fast at a time when Margot thinks she is being stalked and in danger from strange men,  but he does provide the reader with a more reliable point of view and objective perspective.

Finally I am impressed with the author’s ending. It’s difficult to say whether you finish the pages feeling completely satisfied. So much still seems unresolved but this also fits with the intrigue and is true to Margot’s character. The important threads are tied up and there is a sense of hope and optimism for the future.

“Dear Amy” is a page turner. The reader has to work quite hard to piece together the whole story but it is worth the effort. It is a dramatic read and one I was unprepared for. There is much more to this novel that first appears. I would rate it 3.5/5 stars and recommend to fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries about hidden secrets and buried pasts.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in advance in return for an honest and fair review.