I read Little Black Lies, by Sharon Bolton, in a day. I got home from work and sat down on the sofa with a cup of tea and this book to kill some time before dinner.
When I finally looked up and away from the pages, the sun was rising. Every sentence was perfect.
In such a small community such as the Falkland Islands, and surrounded by a dangerous landscape, when a child goes missing, everyone assumes it can only mean a terrible tragedy.
But then another child goes missing, and then another. Suddenly, an accidental death doesn’t seem so likely.
The entire town slowly descends into hysteria and everyone wants to help or find someone to blame.
Even Catrin Quinn, the island recluse, ends up involved in the searches.
Catrin and Rachel have been best friends since childhood.
Wherever one would go, the other would follow.
They were more like sisters than friends.
Until the day Rachel killed both of Catrin’s sons in a horrible and terrible accident.
Now, Catrin bears only a passing resemblance to her old vivacious and compassionate self.
All she feels nowadays is hate, anger and a terrible hunger for revenge.
Living in the small and remote community, Catrin can never escape seeing her former best friend. She sees her in the local diner, laughing and holding her younger son.
She sees Rachel’s other two sons playing in their backyard, alone and vulnerable.
To say that this book is a page turner is an understatement. Bolton is a master of suspense.
There was never a good stopping point in this book, and it just kept getting better and better. If you like mysteries and suspense, this is the book for you.
Ariana Galeano is a librarian with the Richmond Public Library
