This book is a crime thriller set in the gloomy, atmospheric lochs of Edinburgh, Scotland. Detective Sergeant Carla Herron is an inexperienced fast-tracked police officer. Carla is married to David, and has two young children, 3 year old Alice and baby Ben, with David being a stay at home dad. After the birth of her daughter Alice, she changed careers from teaching to the police. Carla now faces one of her toughest challenges as a police detective. She is tasked with interviewing a patient at Deepwell psychiatric hospital who has confessed to the murder of psychotherapist, Dr Jane Pochard. The confession is vividly detailed but utterly impossible as the man is locked in a secure ward, under 24-hour surveillance. However, Dr Pochard is missing and the staff at Deepwell seem determined to hinder rather than help with the investigation.
Carla finds herself drawn into the dark history of the hospital’s past and uncovers a cult-like group: The Holistic Foundation of Psychotherapists; who seem to have the ability to ruin the careers of mental health practitioners who disagree with them.
I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about this book. Normally I’m a character driven person, I enjoy getting to know them and their lives. In this book it was the plot that drove me to keep reading. I really wanted to know what was happening and was drawn in by the gloomy, almost fantastical and dream-like setting and intricate writing.
At the beginning I struggled to empathise with the main character Carla Herron. She found it difficult to reconcile her job and motherhood, ultimately giving priority to her job at the risk of her home life and mental health. She is admirable in that she shows a tenacity to solve the mystery and a willingness to learn from her taciturn partner Detective Harry Morton.
The book itself kept me guessing until near the end and I would recommend it if you like atmospheric, intriguing thrillers.
Posted by Ms Lib
Catalogue link: The Listeners
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