Today is release day for Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan and I’m delighted to be able to bring you my review. This is Claire’s second novel in the crime genre and another thriller to have you gripped. This is Claire’s tenth novel in total having moved from writing women’s fiction to crime in 2018. If you haven’t read her debut crime novel, Her Name Was Rose, you might want to grab it as well. Below you will find the book cover and description, followed by my review.

 

Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan

Just how far is a mother willing to go?

When a mysterious note arrives for seven months pregnant nurse Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.

As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds, she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.

Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…

‘A brilliantly paced, intriguingly plotted and thoroughly enjoyable story. One of the best psych thrillers I’ve read this year.’ LIZ NUGENT

Apple of My Eye – My Review

I finished reading this book late in the afternoon and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Not because I finished reading it, but because I’d been on tenterhooks the whole way through. This is a slow burning gripping psychological thriller that had me gasping for breath on numerous occasions. It takes you deep into the mind of a tormented soul who wants to find nothing more than happiness and peace.

The story progresses really well and from about 60% things take a huge turn. So much is happening, so much to panic over, and so much to keep you glued to the pages. I recommend making sure you don’t try reading the second half of this book when you don’t have a lot of time because you won’t be able to put it down.

The Apple of My Eye has three different points of view. We have Eli (Eliana) our main character, Louise the mystery character, and Angela (Eli’s mother). From the very start, I got the feeling that this book was going to take me to some very dark places and I wasn’t wrong. Eli is pregnant and struggling with daily sickness and not bonding with her baby. Instead of blooming she’s feeling drained. Add to that, she’s a nurse that works in respite helping others to die pain-free and comfortable. Things go from bad to worse when a note is delivered to her in work claiming that her husband is cheating on her. This sets a lot of things in motion and with her husband Martin having to travel to London for a few days, another note arrives claiming he’s not there for work.

Eli doesn’t know what to think. The evidence is there and when her mother comes to stay and help, she convinces Eli to go back to Belfast with her. This is where things really take a twist and I’m not going to have any spoilers in this review but I will say, be ready for some great reveals.

Character-wise, it took me a while to warm to Eli as I didn’t really find her believable at the start and there really wasn’t any reason for her to doubt her husband but as the story continued she really came into her own and showed her strength. She endured an awful lot and her confusion and conflict were really well written.

Louise as a character was brilliant and so well written. Her pain flowed off the page and she was so easy to sympathise with. Louise’s chapters were raw and she kept me guessing right up to her big reveal. I didn’t see that coming at all.

Angela, Eli’s mother, was a little harder to get to grips with and her point of view only comes once Eli moves back in with her. She’s a doting mother and will do anything for her daughter. She was well written and she shocked me when her story unfolded.

Overall, this is a twisted story of love and death and grief, and it’s very well written. I had tears in my eyes towards the end and felt that it was beautifully done and finished the book off perfectly.

I didn’t see the twists coming and couldn’t have guessed what the big reveal was which was great and the tension towards the end of the story was excellent. All in all, I’d give this book 4.5 Stars. Another great psychological novel from Claire Allan.

Apple of My Eye is available now in ebook and paperback from Amazon and all retail outlets.

Until next time,

Keep reading and writing,

Amanda