I know they say that the relationship between mothers and daughters can sometimes be complex, but crikey, She Chose Me takes this complexity to a new level. It is an original, chilling psychological thriller that had me hooked. If like me you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, definitely grab a copy of Tracey Emerson’s debut novel. You won’t be disappointed.
I’ve got to be careful what I write in this review as I really don’t want to give anything away. It is full of twists, some that are actually quite heartbreaking. Yes, I did work out a lot of the twists along the way, but that didn’t stop me enjoying the novel in any way. Actually I think it enhanced my enjoyment as it made me empathise with the characters more, especially as She Chose Me explores difficult issues of abandonment, regret, mental illness and obsession.
She Chose Me tells the story of Grace who returns to London to manage her mother’s affairs after living away for 20 years. Her mother is dying and although they have a complex relationship, Grace is struggling to come to terms with her mother’s decline. Already emotionally fragile, Grace starts to notice odd things happening, including receiving a Mother’s Day card in the post. Yet Grace is not a mother. As Grace becomes more unsettled, we find out more about her history including what drove her away from her mother.
The novel continually switches from the point of view of Grace to the point of view of Cassie, a young woman obsessed with Grace. Cassie’s obsession freaked me out.
The dual narrative does work although at times I did find it slightly confusing as there were a few instances I had to read the opening of chapters a couple of times to work out if it was from the point of view of Grace or Cassie. Also just a little tip for you all when you read this; remember to look at the dates at the opening of chapters as otherwise this can also be a tad confusing. However I really don’t think this will detract you from the enjoyment of this novel. It definitely didn’t for me as I found it fast paced with a captivating story that hooked me in. I zoomed through this book and I was a bit gutted to finish it.
Thank you Legend Press for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for She Chose Me in return for my honest review, especially Lucy Chamberlain. Thank you also Tracey Emerson for this original and moving psychological thriller. I really look forward to reading more of your writing.
She Chose Me was published on 15 October, so it is available now for you all to buy. Do!
Legend Press has also organised a blog tour so please find out what my fellow book bloggers think of this brilliant read.
My rating:
