Tuesday 9 February 2016

Don't Tell - Karen Rose


They tried to escape him, but he wouldn't let them: DON'T TELL is a gripping thriller in the Chicago series by the Sunday Times bestseller Karen Rose.
Desperate Mary Grace Winters knew the only way to save herself and her child from her abusive husband was to stage their deaths. Now all that remains of her former life is at the bottom of a lake.
As Caroline Stewart, Mary Grace has almost forgotten the nightmare she left behind nine years ago. Slowly she has learned to believe that her new life, and new identity, is here to stay.
Then her husband uncovers her hidden trail. Step by step he's closing in on her and everyone she loves. Now Caroline must decide whether to flee again or whether the time has come to stay and fight...

What did I think?

After picking up a few Karen Rose books at a local church fair, we started to collect the whole series as I do like to start at the beginning, even when the books are not necessarily linked.  So I contentedly started at the beginning with Karen Rose’s debut novel from 2003, Don’t Tell.

This is a really riveting debut based around a story of domestic violence and police brutality.  Although it is a difficult subject matter, it is told with courage and strength that I believe would give hope to many abused women.  Mary Grace Winters took her final beating from her husband, Rob and hatched a plan for her and her son, Robbie, to escape.  With the help of a woman’s refuge, Mary Grace and Robbie became Caroline and Tom and started their new lives.  Rob thinks they are dead until Mary Grace’s car is recovered from a lake but there are no bodies.  Rob then goes on the hunt to find his wife and son, and God help anyone who gets in his way. 

It was difficult to read sometimes as we learned of Mary Grace and Robbie’s past and I must admit that if it was a film I would have closed my eyes at times.  Karen Rose has created a truly detestable character in Rob Winters; he doesn’t have an ounce of compassion in his body.  What I did find interesting was when Rob’s colleagues were asked if they noticed any injuries to Mary Grace.  It is true that sometimes people choose what they want to see; they don’t see it because they can’t believe that a policeman who has sworn to protect and serve would use his wife as a punch bag.  Unfortunately there are probably many violent people who hide behind masks of respectability.

I rocketed through this book as it was so fast paced and gripping.  I am so pleased that I have many more Karen Rose books to look forward to.

My rating:




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