Review: ‘She Was The Quiet One’, by Michele Campbell

Blurb

The gripping new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Michele Campbell

Because murderers are never who you expect…
She was the quiet one but is she guilty?

For twin sisters Rose and Bel, enrolling at the prestigious new boarding school should have been a fresh start. But with its sinister rituals and traditions, Odell soon brings out a deadly rivalry between the sisters.

For Sarah and husband Heath, the chance to teach at Odell seems like the best thing that ever happened to their small family a chance to rise through the ranks and put the past behind them.

Until one dark night ends in murder.

But who’s guilty and who’s telling the truth? And who’s been in on it all along..?

From the Sunday Times bestselling author Michele Campbell comes the breathtaking new thriller SHE WAS THE QUIET ONE.

My Review

I was absolutely gripped by this intense thriller. The plot is tight, twisted and I loved it.

Seriously, I had to have a two day break about halfway through because I was getting so involved in the plot. And I had to read the last chapters during that break to give myself the courage to go on. Knowing whodunit helped me carry on through the twists and turns, the betrayals and madness.

The Enright twins are very different but so alike, at odds because they dealt with grief differently, and, full of misunderstandings of each other, they’re manipulated by outside forces. Its this manipulation that brings the drama, especially in the hothouse atmosphere of an intense private school environment, where insecurity and lax oversight reign supreme. The characters are individuals, with deep flaws and some excellent qualities. The use of police transcripts to bring the two time periods together – the events leading up to, and the investigation of, the murder – works really well. It took me a bit to get what was going but I realised eventually.

Highly recommended to fans of thrillers: this ain’t your Enid Blyton school story.