#Blogtour: What Lies Within by Annabelle Thorpe @annabellet @meadolivia @QuercusBooks #WhatLiesWithin

I’m kicking off the blog tour for What Lies Within by Annabelle Thorpe today.

What Lies Within was published in ebook on the 5th of April 2018 and is currently the bargain price of 99p.  You can purchase your copy here.

Book Blurb:

An intense, claustrophobic psychological novel about the dark side of expat life, and what being out of your comfort zone can do to you, set in the vibrant souks and ancient riads of Marrakech

A unique friendship, built on a lie

Freya, Paul and Hamad. Three friends from two different worlds; a seemingly unshakeable bond, suddenly under threat.

A move that would change all their lives.

The trio have stayed close since university despite Freya and Paul’s marriage and Hamad’s wealthy lifestyle – so different from their own. Then an incredible job offer from Hamad sees Paul and Freya move to Morocco.

A city where nothing is as it seems

Marrakech soon proves a perplexing place to live. Instead of reinvigorating their marriage, Freya finds the move is driving them apart. Revelations about their shared past force her to acknowledge that neither Paul nor Hamad is quite the man she thought. When a shocking crime is committed, Freya finds herself cast adrift in the dark corners of a bewildering city, unsure who to trust or to believe.

My Review:

This was a very atmospheric, emotional and addictive book which I thoroughly enjoyed.  It’s a bit of a slow burner and it isn’t fast paced so don’t go into the book expecting a thriller as you will be disappointed.  Rather the author takes time to allow the reader to get to know her characters, setting and the relationship between the three which made me feel a lot closer to the characters and therefore more invested in what was going to happen.  It’s the gradual unveiling of the relationship and the secrets each of them have that helps to create the tension in the book, as we discover the holes in what is outwardly a very unique and happy friendship.

My favourite Character was Dame Edith.  I loved her formidable character and how she had the confidence to make what she wanted happen, not a women to be messed with.  She knows what she wants and goes for it which was very admirable, though frustrating for those who disagreed or though differently to her.  I enjoyed reading about her past and what she had got up to in her life.  I also had a soft spot for Freya who I felt a bit sorry for.  It was quite emotional watching her trying to save her marriage and recreate the happiness Paul and her had enjoyed at the beginning.

The author’s descriptions of Marrakesh were very vivid and made it very easy to picture the setting.  I felt that I could picture where the story was set as clear as if I was there experiencing it all alongside the characters.  I could imagine the noise of the market, picture all the beautiful colours and feel the heat and dust of the place.  I really want to go visit the country now so I can experience it all first hand, though maybe I’ll avoid becoming an expat considering what happens in this book!

This is the author’s second book but the first I have read and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Olivia Mead and Quercus for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

If you enjoy atmospheric, character driven novels then you will love this book!

About The Author:

Annabelle Thorpe has been a travel and features journalist for fifteen years, writing for national print and online media. She currently works as a freelance, writing mostly for the Times, Telegraph and Guardian, alongside copywriting, non-fiction travel books and PR consultancy work for the National Trust. Alongside her journalism, Annabelle completed an MA in Contemporary History in September 2012 and is an alumna of Curtis Brown Creative. She lives in Ditchling, East Sussex. Follow Annabelle on Twitter @annabellet or visit her website  www.annabellethorpe.co.uk

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If you liked the sound of this book from my review please follow the blog tour and find out what these other fabulous bloggers are saying.