The Heart Ladder

A Suspenseful Psychological Thriller With a Brilliant Twist Ending

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Pub Date 09 Mar 2021 | Archive Date 27 Apr 2021

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Description

"...an ending you will never expect in a million years!"

As the war in Vietnam stutters to a close, a heavily pregnant Faith flees America for a new life in England. Three decades on and her son, thirty-something slacker Dan, knows he's wasting his life in pubs, nightclubs, and his dead-end bookstore job - but nothing seems to stir his soul except listening to the music he loves and setting the world to rights with his colleague Fiona. That all changes, though, when a man with storied eyes and an old army jacket steps into the bookstore and introduces himself as the father Dan never had a chance to know.

But is Jacob, a battered and broken war veteran, really who he claims to be?

As he and Dan kindle their relationship, more and more comes under question; including Jacob's true purpose in seeking Dan out, the unanswered mysteries of his past, and the pivotal role he'll play in Dan and Fiona's uncertain future. Soon, Dan comes to understand that his life is very far from meaningless - and that the choices he's being forced to make might have deadly and irredeemable consequences.

The Heart Ladder is a powerhouse psychological thriller by debut author Sibby Spencer, praised for its taut characterisation, unique delivery, and a shocking twist ending that will leave readers breathless.

"...an ending you will never expect in a million years!"

As the war in Vietnam stutters to a close, a heavily pregnant Faith flees America for a new life in England. Three decades on and her son...


Advance Praise

"The book was beautifully written, the premise really interesting and brilliantly plotted. I particularly liked the ending – no spoilers but it was a great twist! Highly recommended.

I loved this book. Fantastic, page turning story and beautifully written. Amazing twist which I definitely didn't see coming. I can't recommend it enough.

A beautifully written, twisty turny novel. Expect the unexpected!"

"The book was beautifully written, the premise really interesting and brilliantly plotted. I particularly liked the ending – no spoilers but it was a great twist! Highly recommended.

I loved this...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781916283657
PRICE $3.99 (USD)

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Average rating from 10 members


Featured Reviews

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
What a wonderful book this is! I didn't know what to expect, but was delighted to have had the chance to read it.
In 1970 Faith, pregnant in NYC, leaves for the cottage in England her aunt left her. The father of her baby is in Vietnam, MIA.
30 years later, her son Dan is a bit of a slacker, working in a struggling book shop with his assistant Fiona. The two get along really well...Fiona is a great character who is adrift in a world of loneliness, booze and choosing all the wrong men. Dan is not happy with his life and has a tendency to be a bit negative.
When a man shows up claiming to be his lost father, Dan isn't sure what to think, he's a bit suspicious, but the two meet regularly anyway.
There are some interesting chapters set in Vietnam and the horrific events that lead to the disappearance of Dan's father.
Beautifully written with a surprising ending, I highly recommend this read, it is great!

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I had read multiple posts on social media about National Vietnam War Veterans Day and that evening I discovered this novel. I realized I had never read a novel related to the time period of the Vietnam War which hastened my selection of this title. [March 29 is designated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day with the 1st designation by President Nixon in 1974, and annually some states recognize this day on March 30.]

I became immediately absorbed learning Faith Anderson was leaving the United States to move to a newly inherited cottage in a small town in England as it sounded like quite an adventure but leaving all she knows when in the last months of pregnancy was spine-tingling. I became even more immersed as son Daniel now grown, living and working independently has important decisions to make. With the turn of every page, each character seems to have their own secret and as a reader I’m not only experiencing the reveal but also wondering if the secrets will all interact as well as being exposed to the different sides of the Vietnam War through the personal view of multiple characters. When reading this riveting a novel as a reader I’m invested in the lives as living through that time period in history I can easily remember individual names that had served in Vietnam, the family waiting at home, and the aftermath of that war.

This novel is artfully written as it exposes heartfelt emotions and private thoughts and transitions between the past and present seamlessly so the reader can know another piece of the character’s backstory or life experience which has led her/him to this moment. On some pages I didn’t know whether to read slower or faster not wanting to miss a crucial element but still with a burning desire to know each juncture. As a debut this novel is most impressive for the complexities, details, and twists. I look forward to reading more of Sibby Spencer’s writing.

My sincere thanks to Sibby Spencer, and BooksGoSocial for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

#TheHeartLadder #NetGalley

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The Heart Ladder is a beautifully crafted and well-written novel that really makes you feel the emotion of what is taking place so much so you do not expect the ending.

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A fun read and definite change of pace book. With its plot twist in the last part of the book it leads in a rather different direction that makes it a challenge to categorize. Is this fantasy or sci fi or drama or maybe even a sort of romance? Certainly opens up issues of identity and how we relate to each other. Fast moving, highly readable. A good investment of your time.

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An excellent read with a surprise ending. I’m not sure how to describe this book. It’s mostly a story about Dan, brought up by his single mother in England, after his father had died in Vietnam before he was born. There’s a few time jumps and the story is so well plotted that when the twist arrives, it truly is a surprise but it works! Interesting characters for the most part although I did find Quinn, the charismatic leader of the ‘People of the Sun’ protest group more like a cult leader than anything else.

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really enjoyed reading this book, it was a great and suspenseful mystery novel. The twists in this book were so well done and I enjoyed it when it happened.

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