Monday 19 January 2015

Review: One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis


An intricately plotted, thoroughly addictive thriller from a major new voice in suspense fiction--a mesmerizing and powerful novel that will keep you guessing to the very end

It's funny how easy it is, when it really comes down to it, to get up from your life and begin a new one. All you need is enough money to start you off, and a resolve not to think about the people you're leaving behind."

A happy marriage. A beautiful family. A dream home. So what makes lawyer Emily Coleman--a woman who appears to have everything--get up one morning and walk right out of her life to start again as someone new?

Deliberately losing herself in London, Emily quickly transforms herself into Cat. Along with her new name, she finds a new home in a shared house in North London teeming with an odd assortment of flatmates, and a new job as a receptionist at a hip advertising agency. Finding easy kinship with the fun-loving Angel, her savior and new best friend, Cat begins to live on the edge, giddy with the euphoria of freedom and release.

Cat has buried any trace of her old self so well, no one knows how to find her. But she can't bury the past--or her own painful memories. As the days turn to months, thoughts of all she's left behind begin to consume her. She cannot outrun the ghosts that haunt her, no matter how hard she tries to elude them.

And soon, she'll have to face the truth of what she's done--a shocking revelation that may push her one step too far . . .

Filled with wonderfully complex characters, brilliantly plotted to ratchet the suspense, and exploring themes of family, secrets, and the choices we all must make, One Step Too Far is a mesmerizing thriller that tantalizingly illuminates just how far we may go to try and forget our sins.


Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: January 27th 2015 by William Morrow & Company

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is January 27th 2015.

OMG...what a train wreck.  And by train wreck I do not mean the story, I mean the lives of the characters within the story.  It was a train wreck in a what the heck is going to happen next, page turning, can't eat or sleep until I finish the story kind of way!

As I only give honest reviews it is with great shame that I admit that I did not guess the twists and turns on this one.  I pride myself on being able to figure even the most complex plots out and yet this one alluded me.  I'm not sure if I was off my game or if the subtle way the plot evolved kept me in the dark.  Regardless, kudos to Seskis for doing it.

One of the fascinating aspects to this story is the fact that it is about identical twins who are complete opposites and the jealousy between them.  Ok, it was more one sided however it was an important aspect to the storyline.  As a twin I cannot even fathom not being close to my sister as we are best friends.  The competiveness and jealousy doesn't even enter in to our lives.  Ok maybe we fought over a boy when we were thirteen (I think) but that is the extent of our conflict.  We are nothing but supportive with each other and I couldn't even imagine not being happy when my sister has some kind of life success.

I simply cannot discuss the plot on this one.  I feel I may accidentally give something away and I want readers to discover this story on their own to see if they are caught off guard like I was.  Was it me or was the writing simply that good?

The way the story is told from multiple perspectives and alternates between the present and what came before allowed the story to flow easily and for pieces of the puzzle to fall gradually in to place. I would recommend this story to people who enjoy a good story with characters whose actions spiral out of control. For me I will admit to a couple of moments of uttering curse words (rarely happens) which strangely is the sign of a good book.

About the Author

Tina Seskis grew up in Hampshire, the daughter of an airline engineer and a sales representative. She studied business at the University of Bath and then worked for over 20 years in marketing, advertising and online, with varying degrees of success.

Tina wrote the first draft of One Step Too Far in 2010 and then wrote her second novel A Serpentine Affair in autumn/winter 2011. Her latest novel (working title The One) is due for completion in 2014.

One Step Too Far has been an international bestseller and has sold to 15 publishers worldwide.

Tina lives in North London with her husband and son.


No comments:

Post a Comment