The Old You by Louise Voss

Paperback: 300 pages

• Publisher: Orenda (15 May 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1912374110
• ISBN-13: 978-1912374113
• Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.3 x 19.8 cm

 

 

Synopsis

Lynn Naismith gave up the job she loved when she married Ed, the love of her life, but it was worth it for the happy years they enjoyed together. Now, ten years on, Ed has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and things start to happen; things more sinister than missing keys and lost words. As some memories are forgotten, others, long buried, begin to surface… and Lynn’s perfect world begins to crumble.

But is it Ed s mind playing tricks, or hers…?

 

Review

The Old You by Louise Voss is a thrilling domestic noir that starts as one thing then half way through changes into something else, which was brilliant. Narrated by Lynn Naismith, we see her life unfold and change completely over about a year. She is happily married to Ed, who is fourteen years older than her and the narrative opens with Ed’s awful diagnosis of dementia and in particular Picks disease which his father had. Lynn and Ed need to prepare for their lives to change and accept that Ed life will now be shortened. But sad time goes on it is Lynn left wondering if she is seeing and hearing things.

This is a fast paced thriller, full of suspense and tension that, towards the end sent my heart racing and I had butterflies in my stomach. It has a plot line that goes off at several tangents as the story of Lynn and Ed, past and present, are revealed. Each chapter seems to drop just one more clue or piece of information just at its end. The chapters are fairly short and punchy and you really do just think one more but keep on going as the shocking plot is drip fed.

I’m not sure many of the characters come out of this book well or are particularly likeable. However, I did have some sympathy for Lynn, having to worry and take care of her husband whose mind was deteriorating rapidly. She obviously loved Ed and it must be so hard to deal with the diagnosis of dementia . I did feel that she was a bit naive at times, and should have trusted her own intuition more. Ed is a man who takes care of himself, likes his clothes, and could be the perfect husband. His diagnosis of Picks Disease sees a great change in him, but from the beginning he seems too good to be true, there was something unsavoury about him.

Louise Voss’ writing was brilliant, all her characters were well developed with detailed back stories that explained their current actions. She really kept the tension throughout, from that first page to the last and that hooked me. I loved all the detail in this book and how everything came together for a spine tingling end. Louise Voss is a new author for me but I will now look at buying more of her books.

The Old You is a sinister read with chilling and calculating characters and a plot that will shock and surprise you to ; a superb read.

Thank you for reading my review of The Old You by Louise Voss. I really appreciate all likes and share,s and obviously your comments.