Beneath the Surface by Fiona Neill
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Release date: 11 July 2019
Back cover blurb: After a chaotic childhood, Grace Vermuyden is determined her own daughters will fulfil the dreams denied to her. Lilly is everyone's golden girl, the popular, clever daughter she never had to worry about. So when she mysteriously collapses in class, Grace's carefully ordered world begins to unravel. Dark rumours swirl around their tight-knit community on the edge of the Fens as everyone comes up with their own theories about what happened. Consumed with paranoia, and faced with increasing evidence that Lilly has been leading a secret life, Grace starts to search for clues. Left to her own devices, ten-year-old Mia develops some wild theories of her own that have unforeseen and devastating consequences for the people she loves most. Beneath the Surface explores the weight of the past upon the present, the burden of keeping secrets and what happens when children get caught in the undercurrents of adult relationships.
I have to be honest that this was a slightly different novel to the one I was originally anticipating, but an enjoyable read nonetheless.
Beneath the Surface focuses on family relationships, and the fact that no matter how well we think we may know our parents, children, friends etc, there is always something new to discover.
Everyone lies, even if they appear to be the most honest person on the outside.
Lilly is everyone's golden girl, beautiful, bright and popular. When she collapses in an English lesson, her friends and family are distraught, their world turned upside down.
But this is only the beginning of their nightmare.
Told from alternate characters points of view, this is a novel that requires concentration, and I'm not sure the ending will satisfy all, but it's a good character driven novel nonetheless.
Beneath The Service is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.
Thank You to the publisher who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.