Local Author | Claire Allan who is from Derry, my hometown!
Book | Her Name Was Rose
Synopsis | When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines that split second will change her life. But after Emily watches a car plough into the young mother – killing her instantly – she finds herself unable to move on. And then she makes a decision she can never take back. Because Rose had everything Emily had ever dreamed of. A beautiful, loving family, a great job and a stunning home. And now Rose’s husband misses his wife, and their son needs a mother. Why couldn’t Emily fill that space? But as Emily is about to discover, no one’s life is perfect … and not everything is as it seems.
Rating | 4/5
Personal thoughts |At first I was cynical of the first person narrative and by the fact that this was Allan’s first venture out of chick lit. In the beginning it had some tropes of chick lit however as the first person narrative developed, an unreliable narrator was used top great effect. As a result you questioned Emily’s state of mind turning Her Name Was Rose into a true psychological thriller. Having it set in Derry personally made it very familiar and I could easily picture the people described. This was a quick and exciting read and I would recommend it.
