Book Review – Too Close by Natalie Daniels

by Shalini, posted in Book Reviews, Fiction

What can I say about this book which caused my head to spin, my brain to rattle in my skull trying to figure out what I feel?!!

The story of Connie was a total mind fuck. I felt sad at her betrayal, shocked at her actions and absolute anger, burning hot lava spewing out of me, against the man, the husband who was the root cause of evil, the philanderer. He escaped scot free, he got to eat his cake and have it too.

The book starts out as a thriller then gets a bit philosophical with the paragraphs of forgiveness. Connie is in a mental facility awaiting trial, for driving into the river with 2 children, both apparently critical. The shock causes amnesia, and the forensic psychologist, Emma or Dr R, has to then peek into her brain, catch that single thread which would cause the knots of memory to untangle and flow out…

The entire book is the story of Connie both in the facility and in the days months years preceding that. One casual meet in the playground causes the door to open a crack and the snake is left with the temptation to slide right in and make its home. The old residents have to then move out or try to kill the snake. What do you think happens then? Who wins? Read the book to know.

The story has many niggles, description of her life at the psychiatric facility is more than the friendship turned bad. For me the story is too disjointed, not cohesive. There were pages on forgiveness, I am not very sure if that is even possible. My sense of justice did not like that only Connie suffers, the perpetrators escape. The reveals in the story are fabulous, they come in the latter half.

The book captivated me, incited my emotions, not for the narrator but for the infidel husband, who was never the main part of the story… Well, it was an enjoyable read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Transworld Digital, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!

All my reviews can be found here

Natalie Daniels is the pseudonym for screenwriter, author and actress Clara Salaman who you may recognise as DS Claire Stanton from The Bill. She lives in London and in Northern Spain.

Connie and Ness met in the park while their children played. As they talked, they realised they were neighbours. Perhaps it was only natural that they and their families would become entirely inseparable.

But when Ness’s marriage ends in a bitter divorce, she is suddenly at Connie’s house all the time. Connie doesn’t have a moment to herself, no time alone with her husband, not a second to chat to her kids.

It’s all too much. Something has to give.

Connie has woken up in a psychiatric hospital. They say she committed a terrible crime but she says she can’t remember a thing.

Publication date: 24th November 2018

Publisher: Transworld Digital

49 thoughts on “Book Review – Too Close by Natalie Daniels”

      1. I too am that way. Having been treated that way before, I get upset when I see it or read about it. Though it makes me appreciate what I have more.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Pingback: The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe (Book Review) – Phantom Paper

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