Helen Appleby is released from prison after serving two years of her sentence for the manslaughter of her partner. All she wants is to open a bookshop and put the past behind her, but it seems that someone is trying to sabotage her plans for a new start.
The Book Seller is a character driven book and unfortunately I didn’t really like the main character. Helen was both paranoid and somewhat gullible as well being prickly and too sensitive. These are all understandable considering she’s just been released from prison, but it does make her hard to warm to.
Helen buys a run down building, which she renovates to turn into a second hand bookstore, however issues arise almost immediately. She doesn’t trust the guys who own the pizza shop next door, her parole officer pops by too frequently and then there’s an incident that could end up sending her back to jail. It appears someone is definitely trying to destroy her fresh start.
My main issue with The Book Seller, besides Helen being unlikeable, is the pacing. For the first half of the book I was waiting for something exciting or dramatic to happen but thankfully the second half of the book overcomes that issue as the seperate plots come together and secrets are revealed.
This is not a fast paced thriller where you’re furiously turning the page to find out what happens next, more an amble through Helen’s life post prison release with some interesting side characters and mysteries to solve. The groundwork for the reveal at the end of the book is cleverly laid out early on, you just don’t realise it at the time.
Overall, an enjoyable read which I liked, but didn’t love.
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Publisher: Boldwood Books
Format: Ebook
ISBN: 9781805494546
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Here’s the synopsis
Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she’s trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them – to rebuild her life and move on.
When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books is the perfect place to find happiness – even if it is all lies.
But the past can never stay hidden…
As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen’s new life and ruin everything she’s built.
But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again…
What Caz Read 