- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Avon (4 April 2019)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 000829187X
- ISBN-13: 978-000829187
Synopsis
Erica has always wanted to be exactly like her neighbour, Faye: beautiful, thin, and a mother. But Faye’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems – she has a terrible secret, and slowly but surely, it is threatening to destroy her and everything she holds dear.
When Faye’s daughter Tamsin goes missing after school, the police turn to Erica. But is Erica the only one who has been enviously watching Faye? Or is there another threat hiding in the shadows…?
Review
I hugely enjoyed Amanda Robson’s previous book Guilt so I jumped at the chance to review her latest novel Envy. Fast paced, chilling and tense, this book looks at envy in all its different forms and the destruction it can leave in its wake. Narrated by the four main characters, Faye, her husband Philip his best friend Jonah and Erica who watches Faye from afar and wants her life, the short and punchy chapters make this a compelling and multi faceted read.
At the centre of this book is the beautiful Faye, tall, good looking and with what seems to be the perfect life. If she is the centre to this book, almost like the sun that shines bright, Erica, Philip and Jonah are the planets that orbit her life, trying to bask in her beauty and wonderful life. Erica wants to be Faye, to loose weight and look like her, to be a mother and have a happy marriage. Erica stalks Faye and realises that she is not as perfect as she looks. Erica grew up in care is shocked when Faye makes a mistake and sets her mind on taking her daughters away from her as she doesn’t think Faye deserves to be their mother. Jonah is best friend to Faye’s husband but has always had feelings for Faye, watching her, wanting to take her from Philip so she can be with him. After a party this grows to an obsession with Faye, wanting her to leave Philip and their perfect life; he is envious of all they have. Philip starts to doubt his wife and her obsession with becoming a model. He is envious of how men look and react to her and this grows to his mistrust of her. It is fair to say that none of these characters are particularly likeable, and by the end of the book it was only Erica who redeemed herself, especially in her relationship with best friend Mouse; theirs is the only relationship built on truth and acceptance of who you are.
I love Amanda Robson’s writing style with the short punchy chapters and the different perspectives of the plot. In parts of the book where two of the characters are having a discussion she begins a chapter with the last sentence of the chapter before to keep the flow and discussion going. Throughout the book she keeps the suspense and tension alive and slowly builds up to the final shocking conclusion. With the multiple narrators you are drawn in to their part in the story so are constantly in the mind-set of ‘one more chapter’.
Envy maybe a short title but this book encompasses envy in all its different guises; obsession, desire, lust, and image. There are some difficult issues discussed from child abduction to sexual violence to mental health issues, but all are in context and add to the menace of the plot. The writing style adds to the suspense and thrill of the book with the shorter chapters and multiple narrators giving different perspectives to the the story. With some shocking moments, this is a skillful psychological thriller full of drama and malice and one I highly recommend.
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I want to thank Avon for my copy of Envy and inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
