Book Synopsis:
When a stranger approaches Julia Butler at her mother’s funeral and hints at a disturbing family secret, her life is turned upside down.
Who is this woman and how does she know so much about Julia’s life?
Grief-stricken, Julia finds her well-ordered life unravelling and her relationships in turmoil. As the mystery around the stranger deepens, she must not only make peace with those around her, but with the ghosts from her past to find hope for the future.
After the Funeral is a gripping debut novel which explores the complex relationships between three generations of women with sensitivity and compassion.
After The Funeral is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.
My Review:
I’ve always been a huge fan of family mysteries which involve multiple generations, especially if there is a connection somehow to the second world war. After The Funeral is exactly the type of book I love and I was intrigued from the start with the unusual situation Julia finds herself in.
The author leads the reader on a gripping, twisty journey alongside Julia as she tries to discover if the stranger is her long lost relative. I really enjoyed the mystery side of the story which was very well paced and it was fun trying to work everything out. The inclusion of diary entries from the second world war was especially interesting though a heartbreaking read and I really felt for Emily having to deal with everything.
This was a truly compelling story about love, secrets and loss. I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving anything away but this was a fantastic read which I found hard to believe was a debut novel. I’ll definitely be interested in reading more from this author in the future.
Huge thanks to Red Door publishing for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Gillian Poucher was born in Bolton. After studying history at undergraduate level, she worked as a solicitor before training as a church minister. She was ordained into the United Reformed Church in 2006 and completed her PhD in Biblical Studies in 2013. Gillian lives in Lincolnshire with her husband and daughter. After The Funeral is her first novel.
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