Pages: 400
Published: 28th July 2016
Genre: Thriller
I decided to give this book a go after reading the synopsis on the back of the cover, where it also said that it would be an ideal read for fans of Clare Mackintosh and C.L. Taylor.
That’s not wrong. I found it to be a very enjoyable and engaging read from beginning to end. It took me just two days to read it (which by my standards is very quick), not just because I have spent the last week on holiday, but because it was a page-turner.
The first 50-100 pages are extremely important to any work of fiction. If we don’t connect with the story early on, then we would be unlikely to later on; or at least the twists and the other outstanding moments have less of an impact.
That is what Buchanan does so well. Her writing had me engaged pretty much from the beginning, as she created a strong and intriguing setup, and this all winds together to become a well-paced novel that presents the reader with a moral dilemma, and no shortage of questions until everything is finally resolved.
What Is It About?
Anna Graves is a presenter on a popular local radio station, and has just returned to work following maternity leave. On her way home one night, she is accosted by a teenage boy, who she ends up killing in the act of trying to prevent him from harming her baby daughter, Joni.
Although she is not charged, every aspect of Anna’s life is severely affected. She receives emails from someone calling themselves the Ophelia Killer, who committed a series of murders 20 years earlier.
It never rains but it pours for Anna. More deaths take place and she is connected to all of them, leading the police to craftily pursue her. The only support comes from her grandmother, and the unlikely figure of Jamie, the brother of the boy she killed.
As her livelihood becomes more threatened, as well as the safety of Joni, she is forced to clear her name, and in doing so, finds out who is really responsible for the tragic events.
Anna is an interesting main character. She is bold and confident, but is also really vulnerable, and sometimes unreliable. Buchanan puts a lot of obstacles in there to try and lead the reader down the wrong path, and she does it to pretty good effect.
No Turning Back deals with a number of issues including anxiety, grief, suicide, and the killing of children. If any of these are likely to cause a negative reaction, then it would probably be best to stay away from this book.
I really liked this book. There are one or two aspects that held me back from giving it five stars, but it has to go down as an absorbing, multi-layered read.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 