Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce

Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 336

Publisher - Wildfire

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

An electrifying debut thriller for fans of Anatomy of a Scandal, Apple Tree Yard, and Gone Girl.

Alison has it all. A doting husband, adorable daughter, and a career on the rise - she's just been given her first murder case to defend. But all is never as it seems...

Just one more night. Then I'll end it.

Alison drinks too much. She's neglecting her family. And she's having an affair with a colleague whose taste for pushing boundaries may be more than she can handle.

I did it. I killed him. I should be locked up.

Alison's client doesn't deny that she stabbed her husband - she wants to plead guilty. And yet something about her story is deeply amiss. Saving this woman may be the first step to Alison saving herself.

I'm watching you. I know what you're doing.

But someone knows Alison's secrets. Someone who wants to make her pay for what she's done, and who won't stop until she's lost everything....

A disturbing, toxic and compelling novel that explores the power of fear and desire, jealousy and betrayal, love and hate, BLOOD ORANGE introduces a stunning new voice in psychological suspense.



My Review

I have seen a lot of folk talking about this book and mostly all good, I always feel a wee bit apprehensive going into a super popular book because I don't always like books that are well loved. I shouldn't have worried at all and wish I hadn't left it as long to pick up. Meet Alison, her career is on the right track and has just landed her first murder case. Her husband looks after their adorable wee girl and he is making progress in his own career moves and group meetings at home. All should be great for Alison but it isn't, she is having an affair, alcohol is becoming and issue, her behaviour is embarrassing her husband and friends. Alison can't seem to do right for wrong and now she has to sort a defense for a client who doesn't seem to want to help herself, she says she killed her husband and isn't helping Alison and co to help her.

As Alison works to figure a defense for her client, accused of killing her husband she had to look into their relationship, uncomfortable things come to light. Alison can't help but compare her clients relationship to her own. Infidelity is a big theme in this book, not central but it is important. There are very uncomfortable aspects to the relationships that readers may find uncomfortable reading but highlights cohersive behaviour and negative control in relationships really well.

Alison is such an enigma, she is strong, driven, passionate but her personal life and choices are so at odds with Alison the professional. Soon enough her personal life and work life collide and it is like a car crash you can't look away from. This doesn't read like a debut, I am surprised Tyce hasn't been writing for years. I sank this in one day, I can't say I liked the characters at all but I couldn't stop reading to see what they were going to say and do next. 4/5 for me this time, I am looking forward to seeing what Tyce comes out with next!

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