This book weaves the story of a woman named Ella living in the present day with that of a woman named Violet who lived, and disappeared, in 1855. When Ella moves into the house where Violet grew up, she decides to try to solve Violet's mysterious disappearance. The story is told from several characters' viewpoints, and I liked that while the main characters were written in first person, the secondary characters were written in third person. Reading pieces of the story from both the beginning and the end made this a page-turner as the reader tries to figure out what happened. Early on in the book we learn that once character is a despicable person, so while there are no extremely graphic scenes, parts of the book were hard for me to read.

When Ella and her husband decide to take the jump and move her family out of the city into a small town into a house on a cliff, the last thing Ella expected was the house to be tied to an unsolved murder case that happened 150 years ago. Upon finding a beautiful self portrait of a young woman who may have lived in the house a hundred years ago, Ella cannot help but immerse herself in the mysterious murder and the disappearance of Violet Hargreaves, especially since the girls history seems to resemble what Ella went through growing up.

East Sussex Coast, 1855

Violet is a lonely 18-year-old girl whose father is a widowed Industrialist and travels a lot. To fill her lonely days, Violet paints, despite her father’s disapproval of Violet painting – it is her escape.

She meets a handsome married neighbor next door who claims he knows artists in London that can help Violet get noticed and break out into their world. All Violet wants more than anything is to escape her small town and do what she loves most and that’s paint. But, when Violet ignores warnings about Edwin, she sets in motion the horrible set of events that had the town’s people wandering for years of what had occurred and a mystery that was never solved.

This was so interesting. It’s a historical fiction but those who are afraid of slow moving Historical Fiction don’t be. Kerry Barrett delivers a beautiful if not horrific story about two women set years apart with centuries worth of secrets. She spins a lovely tale of a girl named Violet, who just wanted something more than a lonely marriage out of life and Ella a thriller-writer who might be just curious enough to uncover it.

The entire time I was reading Violet’s story I found myself rooted to my seat, finding it completely riveting and thoroughly heartbreaking.

I wanted to know how it all ended for the young girl so naive, yet so full of passion.

The ending had me gasping, because I did not expect that to go the way it did. Not only was it completely heart wrenching, but also quite a bit horrifying. You can’t even tell that it’s coming until a certain point and at that point you get to know Violet enough to really feel for the girl and her outcome.

I wasn’t sure how plausible the ending was to be honest, but I guess I could see it happening. It felt original, unexpected and definitely creative. Ella’s obsession with Violet was strange and at times it did feel hard to believe because I did not know why she was so consumed in a mystery that happened so long ago, with not much to go on, but her prodding really paid off in uncovering the ugly truth that was hidden all these years unanswered.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys an engrossing story that builds up in tension and mystery, with characters that will stick to your heart long after it is finished.

You'll like this one if you enjoy dual time line mysteries. OMGosh there'a a painting in the attic! Ella, a thriller writer (how appropriate) moves into a new home and discovers there's a long unsolved mystery about the woman who lived next door. Violet was a wonderful painter who fell in with the, let's face it, evil Edwin after they meet on the beach. She was too young and impressionable and well, you know how things go when this sort of thing happens. Ella finds herself working things out. You might see where she's making wrong assumptions at times, but that's part of the charm of this well plotted novel. I really enjoyed Violet and Ella both- Barrett has created two terrific characters you'll wish could actually meet. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a very engaging and entertaining novel.

East Sussex Coast, 1855
Violet Hargreaves is the only child of a widower and an inspiring painter, who has dreams of living in London. However in a male dominated world, making it as a female painter is not an easy thing. Particularly when her own father doesn't believe a young lady painting is becoming, meaning Violet has to get her brushes out in secret - either in the attic or down on the beach whenever her father is away.

One day the naive 18 year old meets Edwin; a mysterious and handsome man on the beach. He promises her a world beyond the small coastal village she's stuck in, by nurturing her talent and looking after her to help her escape. Violet sees this as the only chance she'll have to get away from the type of life her father wants her to have; that is to marry and lead a "normal" mundane life. Yet Edwin is far from the charming man he appears to be. Despite alarm bells and warnings about him, Violet finds herself on a precarious path with seemingly no way out.

East Sussex Coast, 2016
Ella Daniels is an author, yet has an awful case of writer's block. Her husband has been offered his dream job on the coast, so she decides to move her family to a house on the cliff overlooking the sea. Ella believes this will be the perfect place to get her crime writing back on track. However, the house seems to have an unsettling atmosphere, and the locals in the village talk of mysterious happenings and a possible murder.

When Ella is setting up her writer's studio in the attic, she discovers a painting of a young and beautiful girl named Violet. Who was she? She does some digging around and establishes she went missing around the same time as the terrible crimes. Ella's own writing takes the back burner as she becomes resolved to find out what happened to Violet over 150 years ago.

If you haven't read any historical fiction before and would like to start, this book would be a great introduction to the genre; it's lighter on the descriptions of the setting, feelings and the period etc than others, and has a rather quick pacing. It's well written and chock a block full of mystery, suspense, violence, family drama, intrigue, greed, lies, and betrayal, and pulls the reader into the lives of the characters.

The structure is a dual time slip, with chapters divided between the present day and 1855, mainly told from the point of view of Violet in the past and Ella in 2016. The chapters are easily distinguishable, therefore if dual time lines aren't normally your thing, this is an extremely easy book to follow. I personally found myself more immersed and interested in the 1855 timeline than the present day. Although, as the pieces of the mystery began slotting together, and the past/present began slotting together, the present became more engrossing.

The characters are relatable and you can really feel for the predicaments of each of the main protagonists, although at times I found Violet frustrating. However, I can fully appreciate the reasons why at times she acted in a head shaking manner, and could behave thoughtlessly. The "baddie" of the book is extremely believable; and you find yourself really rooting for Violet and Frances, and hoping he will receive his comeuppance.

The mystery element to the storyline and the history of the artwork were the parts I savoured, and the twist towards the end did take me by surprise. I do personally prefer a bit more meat on my historical fiction. I enjoy the slow pacing and the descriptive nature many of them take; that way I really become immersed in the story and the descriptions of the settings.

Nevertheless I did enjoy this book, but would definitely place it at the lighter end of the genre. It's the ideal choice if you find yourself in the mood to read an historical fiction book with a bit of mystery thrown in, but don't want anything too heavy going. The ending totally blindsided me and would melt the hardest of hearts. I read on NetGalley that it's a perfect read for fans of Kate Riordan, Tracy Rees, Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley, and I would wholeheartedly agree.

I do wish Goodreads would allow half stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if I could, would have given it 3.5 stars. Seeing as we have to round up, and I don't think it's only worth 3 stars, I'll have to go up a star and rate it 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read this ARC, in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I enjoyed this book because of the dual time line, the intriguing unfolding mystery, and the many things that the main character and the girl in the picture have in common. The story started out a little slow at first but it quickly became a compelling mystery filled with greed, violence and manipulation that kept me guessing right through to the end of the book. In present time Ella Daniels has left her job and the hustle and bustle of London for a historic seaside home where she plans to become a full time writer. As she settles in and meets friends and neighbors she learns that the house she's renting has quite a notorious history, including a horrific murder and the unexplained disappearance of a teenage girl that happened more than 150 years ago. As Ella does research and gathers clues the story unfolds through they eyes of a very naive and talented young artist named Violet, and the married couple who live next door. Mystery lovers and fans of historical fiction will find this book a real treat. I read a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

The Girl in the Picture by Kerry Barrett is a poignant story of a love affair that should've never been. This is one of those books that are hard to put down once you start.

I knew I was hooked when I flipped to page 2. The story revolves around a 150 years old crime that no one's been able to solve. There are lies and deceit, a failed love affair, and a wife who feels sorry for her husband's mistress and decides to help her with what little she can.

There are so many twists and turns the reader doesn't see coming, which makes this book a thousand times better because nothing is predictable in its storyline.

The way in which Ella, the author character in the book, tries to solve the mystery researching every clue she comes across, at the same time as Violet, Edwin, and Frances redact the events behind the clues Ella is researching, I thought was short of ingenious.

I enjoyed seeing how Ella puts her facts together, especially when they are wrong and the reader knows it. I found myself shouting "no, that's wrong. Edwin did... or Violet went to... or You need to go look in the attic...LOOK IN THE ATTIC!"

Kerry Barrett is a new-to-me author, and trust me when I say I will be looking up her books. Fortunately, it seems she doesn't have a long backlist I need to read, but only a few. I loved The Girl in the Picture, and I think any lovers of women's fiction with a dash of suspense will absolutely love this too!

https://alfemminile.blogspot.it/2017/09/the-girl-in-picture-by-kerry-barrett.html

I can'd do differenty because I haven't the mouse with me....

Thanks HQ Digital and netgalley for this ARC.

I loved the past/present coming together so beautifully but tragically. This is a tale that will move the hardest hearts.

What a dramatic story!! There was such an extreme build up of suspense that I had to skip ahead to the conclusion to find out what happened to Violet before going back and reading the rest! Excellent addition to any library that has a need for mystery books.

Violet Hargreaves was a very good painter but she became involved with a very evil man. Edwin Forrester was a very selfish man. He would do anything to get what he wanted. Ella and Ben Daniels, with their two sons, had just moved in and in the attic they found the portrait of a lovely young girl. Who was she?
This was one amazing story. From the first sentence I was engrossed in this, I read it in one sitting. The way they investigated and researched the people from their house, fascinating. The interaction of the characters, the descriptions of the surroundings, wonderful. It is a complex plot, with some surprises. The author has done a great job of making sense of all the threads to this. I loved how Violet and Frances became friends and tried to help each other. I think this book is very well written and leaves no questions at the end. Well worth the time to read.

It is now 05:13am and i have just finished this book, i went to bed to read a few chapters before i went to sleep but just couldn't stop reading!
In the book description to said this book was for fans of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley which are big names to live up to and i can safely say Kerry Barrett did not disappoint.

The time split between present day and 1855 was really well done, easy to follow as each chapter gave the name of the character and the date and they flowed seamlessly together. The book is set on the coast line of East Sussex and centres around one house, two women separated by 150 years and the secrets that the house holds.

2016 Ella Daniels, an author suffering from writers block moves with her family from London to an old rural house on the cliffs overlooking the sea hoping that the house, location and change will help her inspire her to complete her novel.
Ella write's crime fiction and when she hears rumours of murders that took place in the house next door and that the girl who lived in Ella's new home went missing at the same time she can't help but to find out what happened 150 years ago to the pretty girl whose painted portrait is found in an old cupboard in the attic.

1855 Violet Hargreaves is only 19 and an aspiring, very talented young artist, who's greatest wish is to follow her dream to London and become a professional artist.
Whilst on the beach painting she meets a handsome stranger that lives in the house next door. After seeing her painting he promises that he will be the one to make her dreams come true.
But sometimes things can be too good to be true.

The book is beautifully written and makes you as intrigued and desperate as Ella to find out what happened to Violet all those years ago and the murders surrounding her disappearance. So much so it has kept me awake all night!.
I am so glad i read this book, i am now a definite fan of Kerry Barrett.
I agree that this haunting time slip tale is perfect for fans of Kate Riordan, Tracy Rees, Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.

The book will be released on 20th September and can be pre ordered from

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Picture-Kerry-Barrett-ebook/dp/B072J3QBVH/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=NEPGBGWHWA2JQN9JP0QS

I am a happy camper when I discover a "new to me" author. When that author has written a EXCELLENT Gothic novel I feel like celebrating. The time slip was perfectly written, the characters were multi-dimensional and believable. This is one I'll be sharing with friends and family.

An excellent cast of believable characters, this was a great mystery. Learning early on that something (but not sure what) bad has happened, the reader is forced to puzzle through the principal concepts of disappearance and death. Although the protagonist is in little danger other than losing her self-respect and possibly a potential book deal, she forces the reader to plow through chapter after chapter uncovering a multitude of clues that ultimately take an unexpected turn and lead to an unforeseen set of events that result in a suspenseful ending.

Ella Daniels is betting that the atmosphere in the old house on the East Sussex Coast will help her write her new suspense story, so she and her family move in. But when she hears about a series of long ago murders in the area, Ella wonders if the house might just have too much “atmosphere”. When she uncovers a portrait of Violet, a girl who once lived in the house and who went missing at the time of the murders, Ella decides to find out what happened to Violet over 150 years ago. Told from both Violet and Ella’s point of view this is a sweeping story for fans of Susanna Kearsley