The Sick Rose
A gripping tale of dark secrets and dangerous desires
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
Published:29th Mar '12
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The Sick Rose is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into dark secrets and the struggle for redemption amidst a tangled past.
In The Sick Rose, a gripping psychological thriller, the story unfolds around Paul, a young man caught in a web of crime and betrayal. Having been led astray by his childhood protector, Daniel, Paul finds himself at a crossroads at the age of nineteen. Faced with the daunting choice of testifying against his friend to avoid imprisonment, he grapples with loyalty and the consequences of their shared past. The tension escalates as the weight of secrets begins to take a toll on their relationship.
Louisa, on the other hand, is a woman trying to escape her own dark history. She has dedicated her life to restoring a decaying Elizabethan mansion, seeking solace in her work while attempting to outrun the shadows of her past. When Paul enters her life, a connection blossoms between them, igniting a flicker of hope for the happiness she thought was lost forever. However, as their relationship deepens, it becomes increasingly clear that both are haunted by their violent histories, unable to fully escape the demons that threaten to consume them.
The Sick Rose masterfully intertwines themes of trust, redemption, and the haunting nature of secrets. Erin Kelly crafts a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, exploring the complexities of human relationships and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface. As the story unfolds, the reader is left questioning whether true escape from the past is ever truly possible.
It's unusual for a second novel to be even better than the first but Kelly has pulled off that difficult trick. * Literary Review *
A compelling second novel from masterful storyteller Erin Kelly. * Good Housekeeping *
Kelly's first novel, THE POISON TREE, earned her comparisons with Ruth Rendell and on the evidence of this second psychologically complex thriller, the accolade is entirely deserved. Like Rendell, Kelly is an expert in suburban macabre, relishing in the kind of domestic scenes we all recognise but giving them a satisfyingly chilly. * Psychologies *
Erin Kelly's first thriller, THE POISON TREE, was widely praised, with some reviewers comparing her work to Daphne du Maurier. Her second, THE SICK ROSE, is nearer in spirit to Ruth Rendell's work . . . It's an elaborate narrative structure, but Kelly manages it with panache . . . this is an enormously readable novel and there is no denying Erin Kelly's talent. She's an author to watch. * Spectator *
A real "can't put it down" mystery. This sick rose has got the grip of bindweed. * Independent *
This claustrophobic psychological thriller is the second novel from the author of the brilliant THE POISON TREE. Just as good as her debut, it marks Kelly out as a formidable talent * Bella *
A compelling suspense novel from crime fiction's freshest voice. * Red *
'It is hard to find a more impeccably English writer than Erin Kelly, whose debut THE POISON TREE, marked her as a name to watch in British fiction... In trademark style the [THE SICK ROSE] flits between the 'then' and the 'now', playing with the magic and poison of memories, until the present intervenes with brutal and tragic consequences'. * The Times *
Kelly writes perceptively and chillingly about the long shadows cast by tragic mistakes . . . she shows considerable promise. * Daily Telegraph *
Thumbs up to . . . this leave-the-light-on thriller. * Look *
ISBN: 9781444703856
Dimensions: 197mm x 130mm x 24mm
Weight: 251g
352 pages