29 Apr 2016

SIREN.


Cover imageSIREN by ANNEMARIE NEARY.

PRESS RELEASE: Published 24th March 2016/Hutchinson/TPB, £12.99

A dark and suspenseful psychological thriller about the slippery nature of truth in post-conflict Ireland, and a redemptive story of a woman claiming back her own identity.


Róisín Burns has spent the past twenty years becoming someone else. The secrets she has kept since she was a naive schoolgirl in Belfast have blighted her existence and ruined her relationships; her life in New York is built on lies. 

Things are beginning to fall apart when a figure from her Belfast childhood flashes up on the news: it's the man who stole her life. These days Brian Lonergan is a smooth sharp suited politician, a family man, the darling of the Irish press. But scandal is brewing and Róisín knows the truth. 

Armed with the evidence that could ruin Lonergan, she travels back across the Atlantic to the remote Lamb Island to hunt him down. 

But Lonergan is one step ahead; when Róisín arrives on the island, someone else is waiting for her…


FIRST SENTENCE {Belfast}: Róisín sensed the danger long before she'd had a chance to think it, when it was just a quivering of something in the air outside the room.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 129}: Róisín tried hard to smoke. Each time it was an effort to get anything out of it, the smoke too bitter, too thick. She liked the idea of poisoning herself, though, sucking the evil into her until she became the same colour as everything else in this bloody place.

SOURCE: Received for review.

MY THOUGHTS: Powerful stuff, incredibly powerful stuff. I don't know which aspect I found more disturbing, the passages set in the Belfast of Róisín's youth or those set some twenty years later when she finds herself on a remote island, armed with the evidence that could ruin the man who ruined her youth and on a very personal mission to lay to rest the ghosts of her past and expose the dirty secrets behind this now seemingly squeaky-clean politician.

Jumping between the different eras didn't prove problematic as it sometimes can with a duel time line, the narrative flowed well, the characters were well penned and, as such, taken as a whole I did enjoy Siren but given the individual threads to the story it was the events of  Róisín's teenage years that I found hugely compelling. The author, perhaps in an attempt to draw out the suspense/tension, arguably lingering too long over the portions of the book dedicated to events on Lamb Island.

The second book by the author that I have had the honour of reviewing. Whilst also set in Belfast, A Parachute In The Lime Tree is a historical fiction. The very different styles proof that Annemarie Neary is a versatile writer.


13 comments:

Natasha said...

Love how dark and suspenseful this sounds, will definitely have to try and track this one down too! - Tasha

Kelly said...

This sounds really good. Looking back at the author's first novel... despite my love of historical fiction, I think this one appeals more. I enjoyed both of your reviews, though, and need to keep an eye out for this author.

Shooting Stars Mag said...

This sounds fantastic! I like these type of mystery/thrillers. I'm glad the narrative time shifts weren't confusing!

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Oh this sounds quite good. I wasn't expecting that much interest. I'll have to check it out!

Have a great weekend!

Sandra Cox said...

Sounds like a fantastic, chilling read. Great review, Tracy.

Suko said...

Excellent review as always! I'm glad you enjoyed this.

Brian Joseph said...

This sounds so good. It is interesting how disturbing stories can be so appealing.


These duel timeline books seem so popular these days. I liked the ones that I have read.



Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Not one I've heard of but it does sound like a good read. Thanks for sharing it with us :)

Melliane said...

It sounds quite well done there! I don't think I knew about the author

The Bookworm said...

I like a good psychological thriller and this sounds like one. Glad you enjoyed it.

DMS said...

This sounds like a fascinating read. I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it so much. Awesome that you liked it so much! :)
~Jess

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Sounds creepy and suspensful...just how I like it!!

Gina said...

Dual timelines can be hard to keep straight but it seems the author worked her magic well. Thanks for the share!