THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND (2015)

The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBeth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Colette McBeth's first book Precious Thing so when I had the opportunity to read her second The Life I Left Behind I didn't hesitate to request a copy. I wasn't disappointed.

This time out McBeth uses her storytelling skills through the voices of three young women.

Melody Pieterson, viciously assaulted by a supposed 'friend' six years earlier, has worked hard to rebuild her life but the betrayal has left her scarred and damaged. When her convicted attacker is released a woman's body is found and there are too many similarities to overlook.

Eve Elliot tells her story from the 'other side' in the manner of Sebold's The Lovely Bones. Eve has been investigating irregularities in the case before her death. McBeth handles this artfully and the reader is drawn in especially since Eve is the only one who knows what really happened.

The third voice is detective Victoria Rutter, who has also begun to question the handling of the evidence.

These three narratives twist and braid together revealing clues, new information, constantly getting closer to a resolution. Interesting and well-drawn characters carry the story along. Saying too much about the story would ruin the experience for the reader.

Sometimes I read and like a book but that doesn't mean I'll automatically read another by the author. On the other hand, I'd be delighted to read any story Colette McBeth writes.

Plan to stay up late reading. It is hard to put this taut, compelling, psychological thriller aside.

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Bottom Line: Looking for a tense, psychological, well-written thriller? Read The Life I Left Behind and then pick up a copy of Precious Thing. Both are worthy and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Title: The Life I Left Behind

Author: Colette McBeth

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Minotaur Books

No. of Pages: 352 pages

Copyright: February 24, 2015

ISBN:  125004121X

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: NetGalley

Disclaimer: An advanced copy of The Life I Left Behind was provided to me by Minotaur/Net Galley for review purposes.


Colette McBeth was a BBC TV News Correspondent for ten years. She lives in West London with her husband and three young children. She attended the Faber Academy Novel Writing Course in 2011. Precious Thing was her first novel. This is her second. She lives in London with her husband and three children but dreams of being beside the seaside. (from the author's website)