Tell Me What I Am

Wow what a book thank you ever so much for the opportunity to review. I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend to others

This is such a powerful story of love and family. It kept me awake desperate to find out what had happened to affect them all so badly. It felt almost real like a news story.

I loved Una Mannion’s debut, a Crooked Tree, so I jumped at the chance to read Tell Me What I Am.

There are some common themes between the two books (coming of age, poor parenting) but the settings feel different and the story is definitely unique. This, I’d describe as a back to front crime book. It’s Claustrophobic at times but snatches to another POV in time to keep you reading; Mannion’s skilled writing used very effectively.

This is a sensitive and moving story of a sister going missing, leaving behind a young, much loved daughter. Nessa is tormented by the need to find out what has happened to her sister. Meanwhile her niece Ruby cannot understand why her mother would desert her. We feel their heartbreak and bewilderment as every relationship is impacted by the one event that changed their lives for ever. Brilliantly written with very believable characters.

Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannion is an engrossing tale that requires a bit of thought as it jumps backwards and forwards across the years.

The book is about the disappearance of troubled woman Deena Garvey and the effect it has on her family,most notably sister Nessa. Deena's estranged,and abusive, partner Lucas inveigles custody of their 4 year-old daughter Ruby and takes her from Philadelphia to the wilds of rural Vermont to live with himself and his elderly mother..
As Ruby grows up she forgets her previous life but despite Lucas's best efforts it becomes obvious that she hasn't been forgotten.

This is a quite amazing piece of literary fiction with Ruby and Nessa separated by distance,and increasingly time,Nessa never giving up trying to tie the narcissistic Lucas to Deena's disappearance while Ruby is raised by him in an environment that he controls totally.
A book to savour and appreciate as well as enjoy.

Deena Garvey disappears in 2004 and she leaves behind a young daughter and a brother and sister.
Her daughter is taken from the family to live with her controlling father and his mother in the depths of the countryside. She has no friends and is home schooled.
Miles away her aunt has never forgotten her and is secretly watching over her.
Will they ever be re-united and at what cost?

Deena is missing. She left for work but didn’t arrive. Her ex takes custody of their daughter, cuts off Deena’s family and moves out of state. Suspicious? Well Deena has a history of depression, including a suicide attempt, so perhaps she just abandoned Ruby, her four-year-old? But Lucas, the ex-husband is a coercive and controlling man, with a history of domestic violence which led to a restraining order, so perhaps he drove her to the depression and to the suicide attempt? Perhaps he has killed her? How could such a man be allowed sole custody of a child? The answer to the latter is in the legal position that he might have been violent towards his wife, but there is no reason to think he will be a danger to his daughter. He has an alibi for the period when she went missing so can’t have killed her, assuming she is dead since there is no trace of her or her car. His move from Pennsylvania to Vermont clouds the issue since different states have different laws and jurisdictions can't be crossed. Deena’s family, especially her sister Nessa, with who Ruby had been happily settled are devastated but can do nothing because Lucas has refused third-party visiting rights.
The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Ruby, who knows nothing of her past except that her mother left her, and Nessa, whose life has been effectively ruined by the events but who tries to keep the whole issue alive. And so it progresses across fourteen years, as Ruby grows towards her majority. Starting quite slowly, the tale is densely packed with details of Ruby’s life with her controlling father, Deena’s life from Nessa’s memories and the cumulative effect on Nessa and her family. The writing is very powerful, painting portraits of Ruby, Nessa and Lucas which are tangible and deeply disquieting. Tension is always present, even though the plot seems so obvious, because the reader is never sure that they have its measure. The dénouement is highly rewarding. In many books, the period after the resolution is either a blank, leaving the reader with questions unanswered, or quite crowded as all the loose ends are tied together. This story does neither because the details woven so cleverly into it just leave you satisfied. I loved it.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Such a great story with so many levels impacted - the crime side with a "who done it", the emotional family connection, the abuser, and so much more.
This is a great story where you spend a lot working out what really happened....

Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to read an ARC of this book.

This story starts in Vermont 2018 with Ruby who is the daughter of Deena , it’s so mysterious I could tell after a few pages this book was going consume me and be incredibly good, Ruby is doing her chores and out of the blue gets a phone call from a woman called Nessa who says she’s her Aunt.

The second chapter is Nessa’s story in Philadelphia 2004, it follows the day that Deena went missing ( Deena is Nessa’s sister & Ruby’s Mum), I really enjoyed this chapter it was heartbreaking but also intriguing.

From that point on the story is all set in the past showing Ruby and Nessa’s life until they get to 2018 and Ruby’s first chapter.

I was so moved by this book. It was absolutely beautiful, so poignant, full of life, sadness and also regrets. I can’t really give this book enough justice in my review but I can honestly say it will stay with me for a long time.

Do you know one of those things/ possessions that you’ve got that you love but you don’t want to use?. This is how I felt about this book, I knew it was was going to be incredible so I didn’t want to carry on reading because then it would be over.

A powerful read whilst being totally engrossing. It is written over several timelines and involves Rub, the main character, who we follow from childhood, through the teenage years to being a young adult. We hear Ruby's story and, running alongside, her Aunt's, Nessa. Whilst it becomes obvious overtime what is going on behind the scenes and the reader will have their suspicions, there are other plenty of other themes throughout to detract. Brilliantly written, moving and heartbreaking at times with believably depicted characters. A definite yes.

I really enjoyed this story, particularly the intriguing style of writing. My heart was ring throughout as the author drops little nuggets of infortmtion throughout, A very ever and though compelling story.

When I was offered the opportunity to read Tell Me What I Am, having enjoyed the author's previous novel, I was delighted. The author's first novel was one of my top reads of 2021, and so I had high expectations. This book met those expectations and more.

This book is a dual voice, dual timeline which was executed very effectively and built tension as the story of Deena, Nessa's missing sister unfolds. It's clear that Deena's disappearance has had a profound effect on both Nessa and Deena's daughter Ruby, being raised by her father hundreds of miles away. Fourteen years after Deena's disappearance, the two women are both trying to uncover the truth and the book slowly reveals more about the characters and the impact of Deena's disappearance as the truth starts to emerge. Whilst for the most part, this is a satisfying slow burn, with beautiful writing, and highly developed characters, it is the last quarter of the book where the tension explodes into a faster paced, tense finale.

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable book, with two fascinating, and engaging characters. I found the book compelling and it kept me wanting to read on.. Ultimately this was a powerful, emotive, and empowering read and highly recommended. Thanks to Faber Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read.

A powerful story, a mix of thriller and family saga. Heartwrenching, intriguing and gripping.
A well written story that I couldn't put down.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Two women, wrenched apart by a terrible crime, must find a way back to each other
When Deena Garvey disappears in 2004, she leaves behind a daughter and a sister.
Deena's daughter grows up in the country. She learns how to hunt, when to seed the garden, how to avoid making her father angry. Never to ask about her absent mother.
Deena's sister stays stuck in the city, getting desperate. She knows the man responsible for her sister's disappearance, but she can't prove it. Not yet.

Firstly, this is a terrific story well written. I loved the characters and although the point of view changes frequently it’s easy to follow. It’s one of those books that makes you race through to discover what happens next but then be disappointed to finish. A great read and well done.