A Tidy Ending: A Novel by Joanna Cannon

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

From the bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie, a delightfully sinister novel about a married woman living a nice, quiet suburban life—but things aren’t always what they seem…

Linda has lived in a quiet neighborhood since fleeing the dark events of her childhood in Wales. Now she sits in her kitchen, wondering if this is all there is: pushing the vacuum around and cooking fish sticks for dinner, a far cry from the glamorous lifestyle she sees in the glossy magazines coming through the mail slot addressed to the previous occupant, Rebecca.

Linda’s husband Terry isn’t perfect—he picks his teeth, tracks dirt through the house, and spends most of his time in front of the TV. But that seems fairly standard—until he starts keeping odd hours at work, at around the same time young women in the town start to go missing.

If only Linda could track down and befriend Rebecca, maybe some of that enviable lifestyle would rub off on her and she wouldn’t have to worry about what Terry is up to. But the grass isn’t always greener and you can’t change who you really are. And some secrets can’t stay buried forever…

my thoughts:

As a huge fan of Joanna Cannon's, I was thrilled to receive a copy of her latest book, A Tidy Ending. I just knew that I was in for a treat. Her writing is superb, her storytelling is top notch, and her characters are unforgettable - what more could I want? So, I grabbed a cuppa, a biscuit or three, and dove right in. And, let me just say...WOW! I absolutely LOVED A Tidy Ending!!

Linda is married, works at the local charity shop, and obsessed with meeting a woman named Rebecca. She's the previous tenant of the house that Linda and her husband Terry recently purchased just down the street from their old house. Some of Rebecca's post was delivered to the house and Linda couldn't help but find herself rifling through it, especially the glossy magazine with all the beautiful photographs of glamorous homes.  She's convinced that Rebecca is meant to be friend and is determined to track her down. Meanwhile, her husband Terry has been acting rather shifty lately. He's lying about his work hours and not being forthcoming with anything anymore. Linda starts to get suspicious, especially, when the news starts talking about young local women being murdered. Hmm...could Terry be responsible? As Linda finds herself stalking Rebecca, she can't help but find herself paying a bit more attention to Terry and she's not liking what she finds out about her husband. Yikes! And, that is all I will write about this delicious mystery. It is a book you MUST read for yourself - it is so damn good!

A Tidy Ending is a slow burn type of story and that is what makes it a thrilling read. As you get to know Linda and her past, you can't help but jump to all sorts of conclusions. Then as you get to learn more about Rebecca and Terry, well, you can't help but jump to even more conclusions. Talk about twists and turns! I enjoyed trying to piece together whodunit and what it is they've done exactly. And the characters, you can't help but fall in deep with them - they are relatable, unlikeable, flawed to the nth degree, and just fascinating to read about. All in all, this story is just terrific. 

I would happily recommend A Tidy Ending to fans of Cannon and anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to LOVE this book! Check it out ASAP!!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!