My book review of 'Precious Thing' by Colette McBeth

by Colette McBeth
Precious Thing
by Colette McBeth

Rachel and Clara were best friends at school and they vowed that would never change.

Now Rachel and Clara have jobs and relationships and they have drifted apart. But Rachel still decides to meet Clara for a night out and is surprised when the arrangements go awry. The next day at work as a tv reporter, she finds she is covering the news that a woman has disappeared. That woman is Clara.

As the investigation continues into Clara's disappearance, events become increasingly more puzzling. Rachel's life which had seemed so distant from Clara's, now seems to be implicated in her disappearance. Gradually Rachel discovers that Clara wasn't the person she thought she knew.

This is a gripping read. Set in Brighton, its seaside setting is vivid. The characters are believable, though the plotting does seem a bit far-fetched, but the nightmare scenario is convincing. I had to keep reading, unable to put it down, but felt completely drained at the end of it as the twists did keep coming.

There were elements of the story I anticipated but overall, it was a completely compelling.

Date of this review: January 2014