Tideline

Penny Hancock

This dark, cold thriller set on the banks of the River Thames is certainly compelling. Loaded with sexual obsession and the haunting memories of an intense childhood relationship the tension grows with each page. The growing insanity of the main character is convincing, and as you find yourself following the logic of her twisted thoughts to their shocking conclusion, the book leaves you deeply disturbed.

Extract

Memories creep up on me. Push up against me the way a cat rubs itself against your leg, purring, refusing to be ignored. Feelings swamp me out of the blue. There’s nostalgia sometimes. More often there’s a startling upsurge of guilt, shame, regret. I wish I could talk to my mother about this, but her reactions are always tinged with criticism, with accusation. There are so many places I dare not go with her.

Parallels