Member Reviews

I raced through this book, enjoying the slow peeling back of layer after layer of secrets. Great atmosphere; it convincingly showed how events viewed through children's eyes can become a tangled memory of truth and misperception in adulthood.

I did find the ending rather anticlimactic. And I felt there were a few loose ends that were never properly resolved. (The book heavily implies that a child is being abused by her father, yet that is left unaddressed; he, above all others, doesn't deserve to be let off at the end.)

Still, well written and a good read.

Was this review helpful?

Twelve year old Stella and her family leave (the presumably fictional) Evergreen Island, where Stella was born and brought up, amid a raging storm one night in 1993. Stella has never had an adequate explanation as to why.

Years later, the news of the discovery of a body on the island - close to her former family home - spurs Stella to return for the first time since they left. But not everyone is pleased to see her. Long buried secrets are coming to light...

Come Back For Me was a very enjoyable and well written read - the unusual setting of the remote island, where all the inhabitants know each other, added an intriguing and atmospheric dimension. Stella was an engaging character and her relationships with her sister Bonnie, her long-estranged brother Danny, and her father who is now living with dementia, are very well drawn. The mystery felt like a bit of a slow burner, but unfolded satisfyingly.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

Was this review helpful?

A mystery thriller set during two periods - the 1990s in the childhood of the main character, Stella, and the present day. The latter is in the first person, narrated by Stella whilst the historical aspects are third person and typically told by her mother. The family moved from Birmingham to a remote island off the coast of Dorset, where Stella was born, and from there they, equally precipitously, moved in 1993 when she was 11. The children grew up and we come to the present day when a skeleton of a young woman is found just outside their old garden on the island. Stella determines to find out who she was and how she died partly because of issues and uncertainties within her own family. Returning to the island she finds herself at odds with the islanders, where everything seems to have changed a lot in the intervening 25 years, or has it? The plot deepens, twists and turns and asks searching questions of behaviours both in the 1990s and today. It is a riveting read and the reader feels for Stella and her desire to understand - her family, origins, future. I found her sister less sympathetic to start with but, as the story unfolds, that changed. The story flowed well, there were good descriptions of places and feelings and excellent context. I shall look out for other titles by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Random House, for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A good thriller set in an unusual place with complex characters and a couple of unique plot twists. The decision made by the main character at the end was exactly what I hoped it would be. Make this a holiday or weekend read because you won't want to stop reading.

Was this review helpful?

What a story, 30 years is a long time where things can change and the impact that can have on people's lives and relationships and there is always a twist to keep you wondering.

Was this review helpful?

I did enjoy this book as a family drama but for some reason I struggled to get through it. It had an intriguing storyline with some interesting characters but I felt myself getting mixed up with who was who and what their motivations were. I think I am in the minority here, as the book has received some excellent views, but I just felt it struggled to keep my attention. I loved the author's last book though and I would certainly read more from her.

Was this review helpful?

Best book I've read for years I absolutely loved it. So well written and brilliantly crafted. It kept me guessing right to the end and I couldn't put it down until I got there. I'm going straight to look for more books by Heidi. Aah just seen if already another of her books Now You See Me I didn't realise it was the same author but that was also one of my favourite books. Read Come Back For Me you'll love it!!

Was this review helpful?

A very well written book which keeps you hooked right from the beginning. I loved the style or writing, the characters and the story. There are plenty of twists and turns and just when you think you know what happened, who did it and why, you are hit with more information which throws you off track. Why do families opt to leave their home and all they know to go and live on a remote island? What secrets keep them there and what secrets make them flee? Why is that everyone on the island knows everyone and everyone's business? Are they all hiding secrets or are they bound by the same one? Follow the story as Stella goes back in time to her childhood on the island whilst she is trying to piece together the truth and keep her family in tact in the present. You will not be disappointed - this is a read not to be missed!!!

Was this review helpful?

Wow, another great book, I really enjoy Heidi's books and this one was another great read with many unexpected moments towards the final few chapters.

The story is based on Stella who as a child lived on an island with a tight-knit community where she was very happy until one day her family up and move in the middle of the stormy night back to the mainland. Stella 25 years later still never knowing why they moved so suddenly watches some unexpected the news that they find a body right by her house she grew up in, and Stella then starts to ask questions wondering who this person could be, did she know them or know the killer or both!

Family Secrets mystery and intrigue this is the perfect book that won't disappoint another great thriller from Heidi thank you so much for letting me read this book I loved it.

Can't wait for more books from Heidi Perks in the future.

Was this review helpful?

I think this is my first Heidi Perks book, a book that I really enjoyed. This book has a surprising plot and lots of twists with interesting characters. I loved the writing style and the setting of the story. I also enjoyed the moving between past and present in the story, this helped to understand what happened and why some events happened as it did. Great writing style.

Was this review helpful?

Come Back For Me is easily the best thriller I've read in a long time, the island and Stella's childhood have a fairytale feel that contrasts really well with the darkness of the rest of the book. Would be a 5/5 but I wasn't keen on the ending.

Was this review helpful?

An intriguing and gripping thriller, very well written. Lots of twists and turns, guaranteed page turner that keeps you guessing until the end.

Was this review helpful?

Come Back For Me was a really engaging and addictive read, about family secrets, a tight knit community and family ties.

Stella as an adult still feels the hurt from having to leave her beloved island home as a child, when one stormy night her entire family crept away under cover of darkness. No explanation was given and Stella never heard from her best friend again. Now a body has been found near her childhood house..and long buried secrets are about to emerge..

We go between past and present, slowly discovering background and events. Heidi Perks keeps you enthralled throughout with some beautiful writing and intelligent plotting.

The setting is both beautiful and claustrophobic, the tension builds towards an emotional finale and our main protagonist Stella faces many difficult and very human choices along the way.

Overall an excellent read – fascinating family drama with more than a hint of psychological thriller.

Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Stella, Bonnie and Danny are siblings who live on the island of Evergreen. A sheltered community off the English coast and leave suddenly in the middle of the night. 25 years later a body is discovered just outside the grounds of their old house and Stella wants to know who it is and try to get answers to questions from her youth.

I really struggled with this. It was quite a slow read although it did perk up in the last 25%. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic thriller that grabbed me from the start. Lots of different possibilities kept me guessing until the end. Fully recommend

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book by this author have read but will definitely not be the last. This is a book that kept me interested until the end.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great, suspenseful read that kept me gripped to every page. Full of twists and turns this book will have you riveted to every surprise event.

Was this review helpful?

This is the second book I've read by Heidi Parks, and she definitely didn't disappoint. Yet again, I found myself utterly immersed in her work. I literally finished this book in a few hours - I couldn't tell myself to put it down. From the first page, I found myself turning page after page to get to the bottom of the many mysteries laid out. Parks has a real knack for throwing red herrings at the readers - I had a long list of suspects and theories, but she still managed to pull it out of the bag and surprise me. I enjoyed her use of different POVs and timelines - giving up just enough information and secrets to keep me waiting on the edge of my seat. I also loved the ending - it wasn't wrapped up in a nice bow, it ended just the way it was supposed to.

If you're looking for a thriller with plenty of mystery and intrigue, you've got the perfect book here. I'll definitely be keeping me eye out for any future releases from Heidi Parks, that's for sure!

Was this review helpful?