Thursday 26 March 2015

Review: The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBeth


Six years ago, Melody Pieterson was attacked and left for dead. Only a chance encounter with a dog walker saved her life. Melody's neighbor and close friend David Alden was found guilty of the crime and imprisoned, and the attack and David's betrayal of her friendship left Melody a different person. She no longer trusts her own judgment, she no longer trusts her friends. In fact, she no longer really has any friends. She’s built a life behind walls and gates and security codes; she’s cloistered herself away from the world almost entirely.

And then, soon after David is released from prison, Eve Elliot is murdered in an attack almost identical to Melody’s. With the start of a new police investigation, Melody is suddenly pulled from her ordered, secluded life and back into the messy world around her. But as she learns more about Eve's murder, Melody starts to wonder if perhaps David hadn’t betrayed her after all...if perhaps the killer is someone else entirely, someone who’s still out there, preparing to strike again.

Narrated alternately by Melody and by Eve’s lingering ghost, The Life I Left Behind is a taut thriller and an intimate look at two young women bound together in ways neither of them could ever have predicted. Colette McBeth has proven once again that she is a master of suspense.


Hardcover, 352 pages
Published February 24th 2015 by Minotaur Books

Terri's Thoughts

** I won a copy of this book as part of a giveaway on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review**

I really enjoyed the fact that this story was told through multiple perspectives.  I found that it added another element of interest for me and kept the story moving along.  You see the story from Melody's point of view (the first victim), Eves (the dead victim) and the detective although her story was not as developed.

The story started slow for me but then picked up momentum.  I was curious to see how the pieces would fit together although I did figure out who the guilty party was pretty early on.  Aside from the mystery/suspense aspect of the story it was also about Melody finding herself again after hiding within herself for years.  This was interesting to read although I found towards the end she still played victim more than I would have liked.  I was slightly confused to how she handled things at a certain point.  I would love to elaborate but can't as it would give away too much.

As a whole this was an interesting read with just enough puzzle pieces to keep me entertained.  I am glad that I had the opportunity to read this.




About the Author

Colette McBeth had been a BBC News reporter for 10 years when she won a place on the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course and started her first book, Precious Thing. She lives in London with her husband and three children but dreams of being beside the seaside.

Website: 
Twitter:  colettemcbeth


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