Well that first sentence got my attention and just like magic the real world disappeared as I plunged head first into this book.

“By the end of next summer, before the kids go back to school, I will kill my family.”

The story is told from Des’s point of view in two timelines, we go back to 1995 where Des meets his wife to be, Jenny and the present day 2016 where they are married and have 3 children.

We see how they first met, optimistic with their new love. How Des wanted to support Jenny so she could focus on her art, by working as an insurance salesman, a job he has no passion or ambition for. How they marry and have 3 children, but real life is hard and cracks soon appear in their marriage.

Des is a good father who enjoys spending quality time with his children, from the outside they look like a very happy family but Des is unravelling as he becomes obsessed with losing Jenny and becomes controlling. At the start of their relationship you see signs that Des has a temper but that his love for Jenny is real although claustrophobic.

This story kept me engrossed all afternoon, housework was on hold as I couldn’t bare to be parted from the book. The tension slowly built to an explosive ending. Reading this was like watching a runaway train you cannot take you’re eyes off it, even though you know what will happen!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

A bit of a strange book this one . It was semi interesting reading the husbands thought process throughout the novel but it didn’t quite cut it for me and I didn’t like the ending. Sorry not for me this one

I found this to be an uncomfortable read and not at all as I had expected. Sadly this isn't a book that I could recommend

This debut has exceeded my expectations. It’s a grab you by the throat, shake you about a bit and leave you a bit breathless kind of a book. The story of Jenny and Des is told through Des’s eyes and in two timelines. It looks at when they meet in 1995 and at the developing relationship and how it grows and blooms with the odd hiccup along the way and the comparison to 2017 where the cracks are showing which become great chasms. Jenny is an artist and Des by 201u is a very reluctant life insurance salesman, a job he hates but which pays the bills. They have three children, Joey, Mickey and Maeve. This is a novel about obsessive love, of power and control in the home which can be abusive, of jealousy and manipulation and is ultimately very shocking as Des fights to maintain authority over his family as he has little control elsewhere.

I think this is a very well written novel, there are some good descriptions and there is real clarity in the storytelling. I feel that although Des is beyond awful as a personality he does seem truthful though at times he is enigmatic and elusive. The more you read the more shocking and scary his behaviour becomes and I question why Jenny stays with him; the writing is clearly on the walls even in the 1990’s. I think it would have been interesting to hear her thoughts as we only have Des’s point of view. I like the comparison and contrast between Jenny and Des then and now and what you read is a powerful analysis of a personality and a relationship, as their relationship implodes so does Des. His dream of a perfect relationship is over, he wants to be the centre of the family’s world with all its claustrophobia and it’s very damaging. My only negative is that it slightly drags as it reaches the dramatic conclusion, hence 4 stars rather than 5.

Overall, an unputdownable read, in fact I had the kindle meets forehead experience as I tried to read on into the night! A well written and powerful psychological drama that should appeal to fans of the genre. It left me with a lot of questions about Des and what he has done in the past.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House.

I'm not sure what I feel about this book. It follows the life of Des who is married to Jenny.. Told by Des it jumps back and forth between the 1990s and present day. It appears that Des suffers from severe mental health issues but I found it quite long winded and not what I expected after reading the blurb. Well written but unfortunately not my cup of tea.