Too Close for Comfort by Eleanor Moran

Too Close for Comfort
By Eleanor Moran
Published by Simon & Schuster (22 September 2016)
ISBN: 978-1471141720

Publisher's description

Mia Cosgrove is a high-flying psychotherapist with a thriving practice, but when she receives a desperate phone call from her oldest friend, Lysette, she puts her London life on hold to rush to her side. A friend of Lysette’s, Sarah, has plunged to her death from the top of a multi-storey car park, a text message on her phone next to her, simply saying ‘I’m sorry’ with a single X, left unsent and unaddressed. 

At first the police are convinced it’s a suicide, but when another death rocks the rural community Mia is asked to help the ramped-up investigation. Why are the close-knit group of mums who surrounded Sarah so reluctant to share what they knew about their beautiful, troubled friend? And how high a price will Mia pay for her determination to unearth the truth and discover what really happened? 

My verdict 

I enjoyed A Daughter's Secret by the same author, so welcomed the opportunity to read Too Close for Comfort, which features some of the same characters.

Again, this book is a slow burner. It's more a psychological study of relationships between friends, with plenty of drama and intrigue, than a psychological thriller. There wasn't that much of a 'thriller' element, less than in the author's first book, although this didn't impact on my enjoyment at all.

The writing is beautiful, providing vivid descriptions of people and places. The characters are well drawn with realistic flaws. I found myself gradually immersed into the lives of these women and the close-knit community in which they live. I was intrigued to discover what secrets they were hiding - and why. There was so much raw emotion bubbling under the surface - and on the surface - from pain and grief to lies and bitterness. 

I admit I wasn't sure about the big reveal at the end - how realistic it was. But overall, this was a very enjoyable read and one that I would recommend.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

A Daughter's Secret by Eleanor Moran

A Daughter's Secret
By Eleanor Moran
Published by Simon & Schuster (30 July 2015)
ISBN: 978-1471141690

Publisher's description
Mia is a high-flying child psychotherapist, hoping to be made partner in the thriving practice where she works. But then she takes on a case which will change her life for ever, and bring back the past she has done her best to bury.
Thirteen year old Gemma was the last person to see her father before he went on the run, fleeing from a major criminal trial. The police are desperate to track him down, pressuring Mia to tease the information out of his angry and reluctant daughter. But what does Gemma really know and how hard can Mia push without betraying her?
Both are hiding devastating secrets. Both need the other to survive. Will they learn to trust each other before it's too late?

My verdict
A Daughter's Secret is a book about complex father-daughter relationships.

Mia is a psychotherapist. She has been tasked with finding out the location of 13-year-old Gemma's father, who is on the run from a major criminal trial. Gemma was the last person to see her father and the police are convinced that she is still in contact with him. Meanwhile Mia is struggling with maintain a professional relationship with Gemma, seeing similarities between them as her memories of her own father bubble to the surface.

This is an enjoyable story and kept me intrigued until the end. I liked the author's style of writing and this was an easy read. From the blurb, I was expecting more of a psychological thriller, but there was little of the 'thriller' aspect. It was mainly an exploration of dominating fathers and whether it's possible to love your children 'too much'.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.