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Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER One of The New York Times Book Review�??s 10 Best Crime Novels of 2016! The next blockbuster thriller for those who loved The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl...�??a finely crafted novel with a killer twist.�?�(#1 New York Times bestselling author Paula Hawkins) On a rainy afternoon, a mother's life is shattered as her son slips from her grip and runs into the street... I Let You Go follows Jenna Gray as she moves to a ramshackle cottage on the remote Welsh coast, trying to escape the memory of the car accident that plays again and again in her mind and desperate to heal from the loss of her child and the rest of her painful past. At the same time, the novel tracks the pair of Bristol police investigators trying to get to the bottom of this hit-and-run. As they chase down one hopeless lead after another, they find themselves as drawn to each other as they are to the frustrating, twist-filled case before them. Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner, says, �??I read I Let You Go in two sittings; it made me cry (at least twice), made me gasp out loud (once), and above all made me wish I'd written it...a stellar achi… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member brangwinn
This is one of the best physiological thrillers I’ve read. As detectives investigate the case of a child’s death in a hit and run. The actual solution is seemingly improbable, but as good writers prove, they can make the weird seem highly probable. As you get farther and farther into the story,
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the more difficult it is to put the book down. Show Less
LibraryThing member justacatandabook
One rainy evening, an accident occurs on a quiet neighborhood street. Walking home from school with his mother, young Jacob is hit by a car, and killed. Even worse, the car quickly backs up and drives away, leaving Jacob's mother shattered and Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and his team,
With her world ruined by the accident, Jenna Gray seeks refuge by the coast. She finds a small cottage, gets a dog, and tries to escape the nightmares of the accident that haunt both her dreams and waking hours. Meanwhile, Ray and Kate are forced to close Jacob's case, no closer to the suspect than when they started. But the two remain undaunted, working on the case in their off hours, and an anniversary plea one year after the accident turns up some potential leads. What exactly happened that rainy night? Will justice ever come for Jacob--and peace for Jenna?
This was an excellent thriller-- a real surprise, honestly. The beginning of the novel started out slow, and was so horrendously sad, what with Jacob's accident and his mother's terrible grief. It was one of several book's I'd read lately involving the death of a child, and I was so saddened that I almost set it aside. I'm glad I didn't though, because while the book is gut-wrenchingly sad, it's excellent, tense, and suspenseful. Divided into several parts, things pick up immensely at the end of the first part, when Mackintosh throws in an excellent plot twist (I shan't say anymore so as not to ruin it).
Mackintosh is excellent at conveying Jenna's anguish and the sadness that the accident causes. We also have a side-plot of Ray and his feelings toward his subordinate, Kate. Ray's home life is unbalanced: he's dealing with issues with his son, Tom, and his wife. These are a bit distracting at times, but serve to humanize him as well. The police subplot (watching them try to piece things together) is interesting, also. In fact, the book alternates in perspectives: we hear from Ray, Jenna, and one more character. In part 2, we go back in time for some of the characters, but remain in the present with Ray and Kate as they (much like us, the readers) try to solve this crime. It's an interesting technique and works surprisingly well. Jenna is a complicated character, but a well-drawn one.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that there is definitely a trigger for domestic abuse/violence, so please be forewarned for that. There's a character in the novel who reminds me of the husband in that creepy Julia Roberts' film "Sleeping with the Enemy" (I'm totally dating myself here). As such I was up late reading one night, completely creeped out. However, that's the sign of an excellent thriller in my opinion. I raced through the last 2/3 of the book and really wasn't disappointed. There are several more twists, but they actually are pretty believable, not outlandish like in many thrillers. Definitely recommend this one (with the abuse caveat thrown in). A unique psychological thriller that's worth your time, for sure.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley - thank you! The U.S. edition is available everywhere on 5/3/16. You can find a review of this book and many more at my blog.
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particularly eager young DC Kate, to seek out answers. With her world ruined by the accident, Jenna Gray seeks refuge by the coast. She finds a small cottage, gets a dog, and tries to escape the nightmares of the accident that haunt both her dreams and waking hours. Meanwhile, Ray and Kate are forced to close Jacob's case, no closer to the suspect than when they started. But the two remain undaunted, working on the case in their off hours, and an anniversary plea one year after the accident turns up some potential leads. What exactly happened that rainy night? Will justice ever come for Jacob--and peace for Jenna?
This was an excellent thriller-- a real surprise, honestly. The beginning of the novel started out slow, and was so horrendously sad, what with Jacob's accident and his mother's terrible grief. It was one of several book's I'd read lately involving the death of a child, and I was so saddened that I almost set it aside. I'm glad I didn't though, because while the book is gut-wrenchingly sad, it's excellent, tense, and suspenseful. Divided into several parts, things pick up immensely at the end of the first part, when Mackintosh throws in an excellent plot twist (I shan't say anymore so as not to ruin it).
Mackintosh is excellent at conveying Jenna's anguish and the sadness that the accident causes. We also have a side-plot of Ray and his feelings toward his subordinate, Kate. Ray's home life is unbalanced: he's dealing with issues with his son, Tom, and his wife. These are a bit distracting at times, but serve to humanize him as well. The police subplot (watching them try to piece things together) is interesting, also. In fact, the book alternates in perspectives: we hear from Ray, Jenna, and one more character. In part 2, we go back in time for some of the characters, but remain in the present with Ray and Kate as they (much like us, the readers) try to solve this crime. It's an interesting technique and works surprisingly well. Jenna is a complicated character, but a well-drawn one.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that there is definitely a trigger for domestic abuse/violence, so please be forewarned for that. There's a character in the novel who reminds me of the husband in that creepy Julia Roberts' film "Sleeping with the Enemy" (I'm totally dating myself here). As such I was up late reading one night, completely creeped out. However, that's the sign of an excellent thriller in my opinion. I raced through the last 2/3 of the book and really wasn't disappointed. There are several more twists, but they actually are pretty believable, not outlandish like in many thrillers. Definitely recommend this one (with the abuse caveat thrown in). A unique psychological thriller that's worth your time, for sure.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley - thank you! The U.S. edition is available everywhere on 5/3/16. You can find a review of this book and many more at my blog.
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LibraryThing member jnmegan
A tragic accident sets off the action in this suspenseful novel by Clare Mackintosh-unsettling the reader before introducing the characters, and creating an immediate sense of doom. The following chapters are presented in shifting points-of-view: Jenna, the main character, narrates in first person;
When the reader first meets Jenna, she is reeling from the accident-fleeing blindly from its emotional aftermath. She allows fate to deposit her in a remote village in Wales where she can escape from the unending press coverage in her hometown. Jenna soon realizes that she needs to interact with others while trying to avoid any real relationships or dependence on any of the new people she encounters. Her seclusion is temporary, however. She meets a local vet and a kind neighbor who slowly help her build a new life, renew her artistic volition, and rekindle romantic desire. Bit by bit her ties to the small town start to deepen despite her desire to remain in exile.
DI Ray and his partner Kate, meanwhile, are doggedly trying to unravel the mystery of the driver of the car involved in the accident. They continue investigating in secret after the case is closed as they fight a growing attraction that threatens to jeopardize Ray’s marriage.
The character s intersect just as the third voice appears, who sheds some surprising light on Jenna’s past and her real connection to the crime. The climax brings all of these characters together, and a true account of events comes into focus.
Good plot development and an interesting juxtaposition of narrators rescue this slow-burner of a novel from becoming another run-of-the mill thriller. Mackintosh is skillful and inventive in her plot twists and use of literary techniques, keeping the reader engaged throughout. There were times when the violence was borderline offensive, and the romantic scenes too overwrought. In fact, the romantic subplot between Ray and Kate could have even been removed entirely, but at times these chapters were a welcome break from the bleaker scenes in the story line. I would recommend this book for mystery lovers who have patience for a long build up of action and a high tolerance for unnecessary romantic tangents.
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Ray, the DI tasked with investigating the devastating hit and run in omniscient third person; and later on, another mystery character is developed using a unique second person viewpoint. This last character is pivotal to the plot, and comes in just as the mystery starts to unfold. When the reader first meets Jenna, she is reeling from the accident-fleeing blindly from its emotional aftermath. She allows fate to deposit her in a remote village in Wales where she can escape from the unending press coverage in her hometown. Jenna soon realizes that she needs to interact with others while trying to avoid any real relationships or dependence on any of the new people she encounters. Her seclusion is temporary, however. She meets a local vet and a kind neighbor who slowly help her build a new life, renew her artistic volition, and rekindle romantic desire. Bit by bit her ties to the small town start to deepen despite her desire to remain in exile.
DI Ray and his partner Kate, meanwhile, are doggedly trying to unravel the mystery of the driver of the car involved in the accident. They continue investigating in secret after the case is closed as they fight a growing attraction that threatens to jeopardize Ray’s marriage.
The character s intersect just as the third voice appears, who sheds some surprising light on Jenna’s past and her real connection to the crime. The climax brings all of these characters together, and a true account of events comes into focus.
Good plot development and an interesting juxtaposition of narrators rescue this slow-burner of a novel from becoming another run-of-the mill thriller. Mackintosh is skillful and inventive in her plot twists and use of literary techniques, keeping the reader engaged throughout. There were times when the violence was borderline offensive, and the romantic scenes too overwrought. In fact, the romantic subplot between Ray and Kate could have even been removed entirely, but at times these chapters were a welcome break from the bleaker scenes in the story line. I would recommend this book for mystery lovers who have patience for a long build up of action and a high tolerance for unnecessary romantic tangents.
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LibraryThing member ReadingGrrl
Clare Mackintosh has written one hell of a book. Vivid descriptions of events, scenery and small time life. I can honestly say I was shocked about 3/4 of the way through the book and I actually found myself going backward trying to figure out what I missed. The rest of the book was a fast paced
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wicked ride. Show Less
LibraryThing member purpledog
“I Let You GO” is an intense psychological thriller. The story line was ingenious and riveting. The twist at the end I never saw coming. Well written! You will have a hard time putting this one down.
It is such a great book, I do not want to spoil anything; so, here is a short synopsis. Jacob,
Meanwhile, Jennifer, an aspiring artist, fleas to the English coast to escape an abusive husband and a past that gives her nightmares every night. She tries to make a new life for herself but the past will not let her rest in peace. Just when things starts to look up the past comes roaring back with a vengeance.
It is such a great book, I do not want to spoil anything; so, here is a short synopsis. Jacob,
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a five year old boy, is killed by a hit and run driver and the search begins for his killer. Despite endless hours, the police have no leads. One last attempt on the one year anniversary of Jacob’s death finally yields the first real clue.Meanwhile, Jennifer, an aspiring artist, fleas to the English coast to escape an abusive husband and a past that gives her nightmares every night. She tries to make a new life for herself but the past will not let her rest in peace. Just when things starts to look up the past comes roaring back with a vengeance.
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LibraryThing member smik
The story is narrated through a number of voices. The beginning is a hit and run accident on a wet night in which a 5 year old, Jacob, is killed while crossing a surburban road in Bristol with his mother.
The case is assigned to Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and his team but it is one of those
The title is inevitably a focus of this book, because the mother did let go the little boy's hand as he ran across the road to their house. But not all of the voices tie in well with the title, and that is where the plot twist comes in. On the back cover Peter James terms the plot twist "astonishing" and I'd have to agree: it certainly took me in.
An excellent read. Recommended.
The case is assigned to Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and his team but it is one of those
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accidents that has no witnesses and the boy's mother is unable to give any details of the vehicle.The title is inevitably a focus of this book, because the mother did let go the little boy's hand as he ran across the road to their house. But not all of the voices tie in well with the title, and that is where the plot twist comes in. On the back cover Peter James terms the plot twist "astonishing" and I'd have to agree: it certainly took me in.
An excellent read. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member Pet12
WOW! One of the best psychological thrillers I have read in ages. I can't actually believe this is a debut novel. The twists and surprises were jaw dropping. My emotions were all over the place with this one. I am not even going to go into any description of what the story is about for fear of
I listened to the audiobook version narrated by David Thorpe and Julie Barrie. Both of them were fantastic. Julie Barrie had me close to tears several times, while David Thorpe's sinister, evil voice felt truly threatening.
Loved it! I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.
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spoiling it. Very cleverly written, the characters were all really excellent. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by David Thorpe and Julie Barrie. Both of them were fantastic. Julie Barrie had me close to tears several times, while David Thorpe's sinister, evil voice felt truly threatening.
Loved it! I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.
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LibraryThing member basilisksam
A good solid thriller and definitely a page turner in the sense that I felt I had to keep going to find out what happened next. I came to really like the main female narrator and cared what happened to her.
Personally I would have liked to have seen a bit more editorial control. In particular the
But overall this is a fantastic debut and I look forward to reading her next book.
Personally I would have liked to have seen a bit more editorial control. In particular the
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last few chapters were drawn out a little more than they needed to be and some of the content seemed to be written with a film/tv adaptation in mind. The police characters were likable but again it seems obvious that the author has it in mind to make a series with the same investigators. There’s nothing wrong with this except that here you can identify certain passages and even whole chapters that just don’t need to be there and should have been cut. In particular there’s a chapter where Ray, the chief investigator, invites his colleague Kate for a meal with his wife. We learn nothing from this encounter that we did not already know and it only serves to slow down the action. It’s only this padding that stops me from giving five stars.But overall this is a fantastic debut and I look forward to reading her next book.
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
LOTS OF SPOILERS
The trouble with reading a book with "an astonishing twist" on the cover and pages of similar quotations at the beginning is that you are always waiting for the twist. When what I presume was "the" twist (there were others), i.e. that Jenna was the (presumed) driver of the car and
I had been finding the first part really slow, despite all the quotes describing the novel as a page turner. The constant switching between the perspectives of Jenna and the police made things really drag for me. The triangle between Ray, Mags and Kate was not terribly original and again I didn't identify enough with any of them to care overmuch for what happened.
The beginning of the second half drew me in though, with the chapters from Ian's perspective, where I did feel his character was cleverly revealed step by step. However, once we were alternating between scenes of abuse from the past and scenes of abuse in the present I started to skim. The chapters describing Jenna's experiences in prison/at the police station/in court were very well done and made me hope fervently never to be arrested for anything. Patrick seemed too good to be true and we never did get to find out more about his dead girlfriend.
The resolution and the final twist - Ian was the driver - all got a bit melodramatic and that was before we learnt that he had killed his own son intentionally. That was a twist too far for me.
The trouble with reading a book with "an astonishing twist" on the cover and pages of similar quotations at the beginning is that you are always waiting for the twist. When what I presume was "the" twist (there were others), i.e. that Jenna was the (presumed) driver of the car and
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not the bereaved mother, came along, somehow it wasn't such a shock. I had been finding Jenna puzzlingly unsympathetic anyway, so part of me was glad. I had noted the discrepancies between what we knew of Jenna and what the police believed to be true of the feelings of the bereaved mother towards them, but otherwise it seemed to come out of left field - there was no real sense of appreciation of all the clever clues that had been sown. Also, I don't really understand how the police were suddenly so sure that it was Jenna's car which had been involved in the "accident".I had been finding the first part really slow, despite all the quotes describing the novel as a page turner. The constant switching between the perspectives of Jenna and the police made things really drag for me. The triangle between Ray, Mags and Kate was not terribly original and again I didn't identify enough with any of them to care overmuch for what happened.
The beginning of the second half drew me in though, with the chapters from Ian's perspective, where I did feel his character was cleverly revealed step by step. However, once we were alternating between scenes of abuse from the past and scenes of abuse in the present I started to skim. The chapters describing Jenna's experiences in prison/at the police station/in court were very well done and made me hope fervently never to be arrested for anything. Patrick seemed too good to be true and we never did get to find out more about his dead girlfriend.
The resolution and the final twist - Ian was the driver - all got a bit melodramatic and that was before we learnt that he had killed his own son intentionally. That was a twist too far for me.
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LibraryThing member jan.fleming
Never saw that coming.....
LibraryThing member Itzey
It happens in a heartbeat…
the car comes from nowhere…the squeal of wet brakes,
the thud…and the spin of his body
before it slams onto the road…
…the car backs up the street [its] engine whining in admonishment.
Debut Authors tickle my fancy. I just love discovering new budding authors and
Drawing on years of experience as a British crime inspector and the emotional loss of her own child, Mackintosh has fashioned a psychological thriller that will appeal to any lover of crime fiction. First published in England in 2014, I Let You Go will make its hardcover debut in the US in May 2016.
Five year old Jacob, nearly effervescent describing his learning to write his name, races home from school tethered firmly in his mother’s grip. As they near the house, his mother points across the street at the porch light she has left on for them.
She releases his hand for a split-second to swipe a rain soaked hair lock out of her eye and Jacob lurches forward challenging her…“I’ll race you, Mummy…”
Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and members of his crime investigation team take on the task of finding the hit-and-run driver. A nearly impossible task with heavy rain in the area, blinding headlights highlighting the horror on the pavement, and no other eyewitnesses.
Jenna Gray, suffocating with grief, decides to packs a holdall (gym bag for us ‘Mericans) and leave. “Can I do this? Is it possible to simply walk away from one life and start another? I have to try; it is my only chance of getting through this in one piece.”
Jenna aimlessly travels further and further from Bristol until she sequesters herself in an isolated small cottage in the teensy seaside town of Penfach (Wales).
As the investigation proceeds we meet the Inspector’s family and his team in greater detail. We learn the hardships and pressures that affect everyone during a long and arduous criminal investigation. The interoffice relationship between the DI and his trainee felt contrived and unnecessary. The dialogue would have been better spent, in my humble opinion, exploring his relationship in deeper depth with his wife and children.
I am leaving out some pretty heady plot lines and additional characters as I consider them spoilers. The author tackles some powerful topics that I would love to have seen her explore in greater depth. You’ll know it when you find them! I wouldn’t want to ruin your read! I rated it 3 1/2 stars because it wasn't quite up to highly recommend yet.
the car comes from nowhere…the squeal of wet brakes,
the thud…and the spin of his body
before it slams onto the road…
…the car backs up the street [its] engine whining in admonishment.
Debut Authors tickle my fancy. I just love discovering new budding authors and
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Clare Mackintosh did not disappoint me in crafting her first work of fiction.Drawing on years of experience as a British crime inspector and the emotional loss of her own child, Mackintosh has fashioned a psychological thriller that will appeal to any lover of crime fiction. First published in England in 2014, I Let You Go will make its hardcover debut in the US in May 2016.
Five year old Jacob, nearly effervescent describing his learning to write his name, races home from school tethered firmly in his mother’s grip. As they near the house, his mother points across the street at the porch light she has left on for them.
She releases his hand for a split-second to swipe a rain soaked hair lock out of her eye and Jacob lurches forward challenging her…“I’ll race you, Mummy…”
Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and members of his crime investigation team take on the task of finding the hit-and-run driver. A nearly impossible task with heavy rain in the area, blinding headlights highlighting the horror on the pavement, and no other eyewitnesses.
Jenna Gray, suffocating with grief, decides to packs a holdall (gym bag for us ‘Mericans) and leave. “Can I do this? Is it possible to simply walk away from one life and start another? I have to try; it is my only chance of getting through this in one piece.”
Jenna aimlessly travels further and further from Bristol until she sequesters herself in an isolated small cottage in the teensy seaside town of Penfach (Wales).
As the investigation proceeds we meet the Inspector’s family and his team in greater detail. We learn the hardships and pressures that affect everyone during a long and arduous criminal investigation. The interoffice relationship between the DI and his trainee felt contrived and unnecessary. The dialogue would have been better spent, in my humble opinion, exploring his relationship in deeper depth with his wife and children.
I am leaving out some pretty heady plot lines and additional characters as I consider them spoilers. The author tackles some powerful topics that I would love to have seen her explore in greater depth. You’ll know it when you find them! I wouldn’t want to ruin your read! I rated it 3 1/2 stars because it wasn't quite up to highly recommend yet.
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LibraryThing member Cherylk
From the beginning when the tragic accident happens and Ms. Jordan's life is turned upside down with the loss of Jacob to the end, I was hooked for the whole ride. I know that some people do not like first person narration but in this case, it worked. In fact, it helped add to the story as a whole.
I can't believe that I am going to say this but I really did enjoy the romantic aspect between Kate and Ray. It brought them closer and made them work well as a team. Which Kate's passion for the case and justice is what helped Ray to fight as hard as he did. His expertise was great as well. I will be checking out more books by this author to read.
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It made me feel the emotions that Jenna experienced with the results of the accident. The first part of this book was good but then it really got "real" with the second and third half of the book. I can't believe that I am going to say this but I really did enjoy the romantic aspect between Kate and Ray. It brought them closer and made them work well as a team. Which Kate's passion for the case and justice is what helped Ray to fight as hard as he did. His expertise was great as well. I will be checking out more books by this author to read.
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LibraryThing member brokenangelkisses
Occasionally, a book can become a victim of its own publicity.
Clare Mackintosh's dramatic debut novel, 'I Let You Go', has been extensively marketed and reviewed as containing an 'astonishing' and 'shocking' twist. So, as a reader of many crime thrillers and psychological suspense stories
All of which is a lengthy way of saying that sometimes priming readers to expect a huge twist might not work in an author's favour; I would have enjoyed this far more had the intended twist had the impact it was meant to, or even if I had still spotted it in advance but not been led to expect a shattering development. (I appreciate that it's equally possible to argue that I spoiled my own fun, but part of the joy of these kinds of stories is to guess where you might be taken, and I really do feel that the signs were quite clear from the start.)
Still, it's possible to foresee a twist and still enjoy the story an author has to tell, and I really did enjoy this.
-- What's it about? --
A tragic accident results in the death of a five year old boy. Devastated by the implosion of her life and desperate to escape, Jenna Gray flees to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, where she initially struggles to cope with her memories and her grief.
Gradually, Jenna begins to build a life for herself, but her past isn't about to disappear that easily, and when it catches up to her, it may just destroy her.
-- What's it like? --
A compelling mix of police procedural and personal drama. Chapters narrated in the first person by Jenna reveal her almost-paralysing fear and Mackintosh deftly balances the emotional weight of these fraught interludes with more mundane, but equally revealing, scenes from the ongoing murder investigation. DI Ray Stevens is mentoring DC Kate Evans and it's immediately clear that his admiration for her youthful stamina and principles has the potential to spill over into their personal lives. In fact, we learn so much about the the relationships between Evans, Stevens, wife Mags and son Tom, that I wonder whether they will feature in her next book, 'I See You'.
Mackintosh has been a police officer herself, and some of the ideas behind this story were inspired by a case that was ongoing during her first few years as an officer, so it was particularly interesting to read the chapters featuring the police officers as I felt like it was quite an 'inside' view being offered. (This was especially true of the barrister who suggests a tactical 'sneezing fit'.) The long hours and camaradie are well-portrayed and I felt sympathy with DI Stevens even as he irritated me. (Of course this pretty, young, fiery woman who you're spending most of your time with seems more appealing right now than your wife, but please, please, switch on your brain!)
Jenna is a complex character who is likely to draw strong feelings from readers as her story trajectory develops, but just as you might decide to loathe her, another narration enters the mix: this sinister first person voice forms perhaps the most chilling and effective narrative strand of the entire story, and I loved this insight into a dark mind.
-- Final thoughts --
Mackintosh's writing is at turns beautiful, saddening and shocking. It is always suspenseful. There are several twists, so if you do spot the first one coming, there's still plenty to be stunned by. Even the ending is startlingly open in one key aspect, leaving readers to speculate about whether or not the remaining characters can move forwards or if they will remain haunted by the novel's events and departed people. I really enjoyed reading this and particularly liked the way the action was spread over more than a year; the whole storyline felt very convincing, despite some very dark and dramatic scenes near the end.
It's easy to see why this genuinely chilling story has been so popular and I shall definitely be keeping an eye out for 'I See You'.
Clare Mackintosh's dramatic debut novel, 'I Let You Go', has been extensively marketed and reviewed as containing an 'astonishing' and 'shocking' twist. So, as a reader of many crime thrillers and psychological suspense stories
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containing big twists, I was obviously On Guard for hints and clues pertaining to the Astonishing, Shocking twist. And, presumably because I was looking for them, I found them easily and the Massive Big Twist was, um, not. In fact, events seemed so clearly signposted that I wondered whether I was wrong and something much...twistier...was afoot, but I was right and actually found the ending of part one a little flat.All of which is a lengthy way of saying that sometimes priming readers to expect a huge twist might not work in an author's favour; I would have enjoyed this far more had the intended twist had the impact it was meant to, or even if I had still spotted it in advance but not been led to expect a shattering development. (I appreciate that it's equally possible to argue that I spoiled my own fun, but part of the joy of these kinds of stories is to guess where you might be taken, and I really do feel that the signs were quite clear from the start.)
Still, it's possible to foresee a twist and still enjoy the story an author has to tell, and I really did enjoy this.
-- What's it about? --
A tragic accident results in the death of a five year old boy. Devastated by the implosion of her life and desperate to escape, Jenna Gray flees to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, where she initially struggles to cope with her memories and her grief.
Gradually, Jenna begins to build a life for herself, but her past isn't about to disappear that easily, and when it catches up to her, it may just destroy her.
-- What's it like? --
A compelling mix of police procedural and personal drama. Chapters narrated in the first person by Jenna reveal her almost-paralysing fear and Mackintosh deftly balances the emotional weight of these fraught interludes with more mundane, but equally revealing, scenes from the ongoing murder investigation. DI Ray Stevens is mentoring DC Kate Evans and it's immediately clear that his admiration for her youthful stamina and principles has the potential to spill over into their personal lives. In fact, we learn so much about the the relationships between Evans, Stevens, wife Mags and son Tom, that I wonder whether they will feature in her next book, 'I See You'.
Mackintosh has been a police officer herself, and some of the ideas behind this story were inspired by a case that was ongoing during her first few years as an officer, so it was particularly interesting to read the chapters featuring the police officers as I felt like it was quite an 'inside' view being offered. (This was especially true of the barrister who suggests a tactical 'sneezing fit'.) The long hours and camaradie are well-portrayed and I felt sympathy with DI Stevens even as he irritated me. (Of course this pretty, young, fiery woman who you're spending most of your time with seems more appealing right now than your wife, but please, please, switch on your brain!)
Jenna is a complex character who is likely to draw strong feelings from readers as her story trajectory develops, but just as you might decide to loathe her, another narration enters the mix: this sinister first person voice forms perhaps the most chilling and effective narrative strand of the entire story, and I loved this insight into a dark mind.
-- Final thoughts --
Mackintosh's writing is at turns beautiful, saddening and shocking. It is always suspenseful. There are several twists, so if you do spot the first one coming, there's still plenty to be stunned by. Even the ending is startlingly open in one key aspect, leaving readers to speculate about whether or not the remaining characters can move forwards or if they will remain haunted by the novel's events and departed people. I really enjoyed reading this and particularly liked the way the action was spread over more than a year; the whole storyline felt very convincing, despite some very dark and dramatic scenes near the end.
It's easy to see why this genuinely chilling story has been so popular and I shall definitely be keeping an eye out for 'I See You'.
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LibraryThing member SheTreadsSoftly
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh is a highly recommended novel about a tragic accident and secrets.
In the opening of I Let You Go Jacob, a 5-year-old boy, is killed by a hit and run driver in Bristol. His mother let go of his hand, for just a moment, and he dashed ahead of her, into the street. The
In the meantime, Jenna Gray, a sculptor, is haunted by Jacob's death. She runs away to live in a rented cottage in the remote coastal town of Penfach, Wales. It is Jenna's plan to start over here, in this remote area where no one has heard of Jacob and the horrific hit-and-run accident that changed her life. She wanders the cliffs and shoreline, using photography as a way to help her recover.
The Bristol CID team headed by DI Ray Stevens, and assisted by long-time friend and investigator Stumpy and rookie DC Kate Evans. The team is doing all they can to try and dig up new information that will lead them to the hit and run driver. It doesn't help the investigation that Jacob's mother has disappeared, unable to handle the criticism that she is partially to blame for his death because she let go of his hand.
Chapters in the first part of the novel alternated between what is happening in the investigation, and of the personal life of Ray Stevens, and Jenna's life. Then the novel throws a big mind-bending deviation half way through. Once you start down that path, expect several other twists and complications before you reach the end. I can't say anything else because experiencing the shocking twists are what make this novel worth reading.
I Let You Go is a well written, complex who-done-it with plenty of layers to the plot. Mackintosh does an excellent job in this debut novel. The plot twists are surprising, but not contrived, which increases the tension and should hold your rapt attention through to the end. The character of Jenna and Ray are well developed; they are flawed characters with a depth that lends them realism. For me, the only kink in an otherwise exemplary novel was the relationship between Ray and Kate.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the Penguin Publishing Group for review purposes.
In the opening of I Let You Go Jacob, a 5-year-old boy, is killed by a hit and run driver in Bristol. His mother let go of his hand, for just a moment, and he dashed ahead of her, into the street. The
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police have a headline-grabbing complicated case they must try to solve with very few good clues and no good witnesses. People are weighing in with their own opinions, saying that the mother should not have let go of his hand. If she had held his hand, Jacob would still be alive.In the meantime, Jenna Gray, a sculptor, is haunted by Jacob's death. She runs away to live in a rented cottage in the remote coastal town of Penfach, Wales. It is Jenna's plan to start over here, in this remote area where no one has heard of Jacob and the horrific hit-and-run accident that changed her life. She wanders the cliffs and shoreline, using photography as a way to help her recover.
The Bristol CID team headed by DI Ray Stevens, and assisted by long-time friend and investigator Stumpy and rookie DC Kate Evans. The team is doing all they can to try and dig up new information that will lead them to the hit and run driver. It doesn't help the investigation that Jacob's mother has disappeared, unable to handle the criticism that she is partially to blame for his death because she let go of his hand.
Chapters in the first part of the novel alternated between what is happening in the investigation, and of the personal life of Ray Stevens, and Jenna's life. Then the novel throws a big mind-bending deviation half way through. Once you start down that path, expect several other twists and complications before you reach the end. I can't say anything else because experiencing the shocking twists are what make this novel worth reading.
I Let You Go is a well written, complex who-done-it with plenty of layers to the plot. Mackintosh does an excellent job in this debut novel. The plot twists are surprising, but not contrived, which increases the tension and should hold your rapt attention through to the end. The character of Jenna and Ray are well developed; they are flawed characters with a depth that lends them realism. For me, the only kink in an otherwise exemplary novel was the relationship between Ray and Kate.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the Penguin Publishing Group for review purposes.
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LibraryThing member Virginia51
I really enjoyed reading this story. I was surprised at who was who in this story. I loved the characters. I cried a lot in this story. It is always hard when there is a death of a child in any story. I received an ebook copy of this book from Firsttoread for a fair and honest opinion.
LibraryThing member StarrK
I finished this book this morning. I had been looking forward to reading it, and when I did I was a bit disappointed in the beginning. It was a bit slow for me, maybe it was due to what I had read before, maybe it was my reading mood. I wasn't as certain of my enjoyment as I had been when I picked
After that, the story picks up the pace, and it is much harder to put down. I don't even want to talk about the details because I don't know what will ruin a person's reading experience. And yes, it is an experience. Continuing on, knowing that there had to be at least a couple more twists in the story did not prepare me for what happened. It was as if Mackintosh actually enjoyed playing these mind games, but these were the mind games that I didn't mind so much. I have a pretty twisted imagination, and I have to admit that there are some things that she did with a particular character that I would not have thought to do.
The ending. Yes, I sort of expected some of what happened to happened. Yes, I was still shocked at it, and still unsettled by it. Without ruining it, I can only say that you should definitely read this. You will be so glad that you did.
*A note about the comparisons to Gone Girl and the Girl on the Train: I didn't like Gone Girl, I couldn't get into the book at all. I watched the movie to find out what the twist was, and then I wasn't all that shocked or impressed. I have The Girl on the Train on my TBR list, so I don't know how this compares to that. *
And yes, I just found out that Mackintosh has a second book coming out in July. I will be pre-ordering that one as soon as it becomes available!!!
5 stars *****
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it up. But then.... then I got to the first jaw-dropping moment. And I had to go back and check what I read. How could I have not seen this coming? I had read carefully, making sure I followed all of the threads and breadcrumbs that were twisting into a complete story. But this?! When you get to the first twist, you immediately think that you read wrong or that you missed something. It was all right there and there's no way you would have missed something this big. But you did. I did. Others before me did. It is normal, do not be ashamed. After that, the story picks up the pace, and it is much harder to put down. I don't even want to talk about the details because I don't know what will ruin a person's reading experience. And yes, it is an experience. Continuing on, knowing that there had to be at least a couple more twists in the story did not prepare me for what happened. It was as if Mackintosh actually enjoyed playing these mind games, but these were the mind games that I didn't mind so much. I have a pretty twisted imagination, and I have to admit that there are some things that she did with a particular character that I would not have thought to do.
The ending. Yes, I sort of expected some of what happened to happened. Yes, I was still shocked at it, and still unsettled by it. Without ruining it, I can only say that you should definitely read this. You will be so glad that you did.
*A note about the comparisons to Gone Girl and the Girl on the Train: I didn't like Gone Girl, I couldn't get into the book at all. I watched the movie to find out what the twist was, and then I wasn't all that shocked or impressed. I have The Girl on the Train on my TBR list, so I don't know how this compares to that. *
And yes, I just found out that Mackintosh has a second book coming out in July. I will be pre-ordering that one as soon as it becomes available!!!
5 stars *****
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LibraryThing member Twink
I Let You Go is Clare Mackintosh's debut novel......and oh boy is it good!
I'm always on the lookout for my next 'psychological thriller' read. Taglines such as...."The next blockbuster thriller for those who loved The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl... “a finely crafted novel with a killer
The starting point of the novel is the hit and run killing of a five year old boy. DI Ray Stevens and his team, including newcomer Kate, are given the case. The mother is heartbroken, the public is outraged - and the team is struggling to find anything leading to the identity of the driver.
Jenna Gray provides another POV. Devastated over the accident, she retreats to a small Welsh village and an isolated cottage. " I never thought I would run away. I never thought I would need to." What secrets is Jenna holding on to?
Mackintosh had me hooked from the first pages. But it was the ending of Part One, that had me shouting out loud - What!? Mackintosh had completely bamboozled me! And I loved it! I ended up going back and rereading a few chapters, just to see when and where the wool was pulled over my eyes.
With the amount of mysteries and suspense novels that I read, I find I can almost predict how some novels are going to progress. Not so with I Let You Go. And so finding out the rest of the story kept me up 'til the wee hours. That first 'gotcha' is not the last - there's more than one twist to this tale.
I do have to mention the antagonist of the story as well - he is a piece of work. His chapters just made my skin crawl. I'm being deliberately obtuse in this review - I simply don't want to give anything away - the unexpected turns need to be - well - unexpected. But, if you want to - here's an excerpt.
Mackintosh spent 'twelve years in the police force, including time on CID and as a public order commander'. Her descriptions of the investigation and the team have the ring of authenticity. I also enjoyed the secondary plot line involving Kate and Ray. The title? Almost every character can use the line "I Let You Go" in their lives.
I'm always on the lookout for my next 'psychological thriller' read. Taglines such as...."The next blockbuster thriller for those who loved The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl... “a finely crafted novel with a killer
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twist.” (Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train)".....definitely catch my eye. The comparison has been used on quite a few books since last year - sometimes living up to the promise and sometimes not. I Let You Go absolutely hits the mark!The starting point of the novel is the hit and run killing of a five year old boy. DI Ray Stevens and his team, including newcomer Kate, are given the case. The mother is heartbroken, the public is outraged - and the team is struggling to find anything leading to the identity of the driver.
Jenna Gray provides another POV. Devastated over the accident, she retreats to a small Welsh village and an isolated cottage. " I never thought I would run away. I never thought I would need to." What secrets is Jenna holding on to?
Mackintosh had me hooked from the first pages. But it was the ending of Part One, that had me shouting out loud - What!? Mackintosh had completely bamboozled me! And I loved it! I ended up going back and rereading a few chapters, just to see when and where the wool was pulled over my eyes.
With the amount of mysteries and suspense novels that I read, I find I can almost predict how some novels are going to progress. Not so with I Let You Go. And so finding out the rest of the story kept me up 'til the wee hours. That first 'gotcha' is not the last - there's more than one twist to this tale.
I do have to mention the antagonist of the story as well - he is a piece of work. His chapters just made my skin crawl. I'm being deliberately obtuse in this review - I simply don't want to give anything away - the unexpected turns need to be - well - unexpected. But, if you want to - here's an excerpt.
Mackintosh spent 'twelve years in the police force, including time on CID and as a public order commander'. Her descriptions of the investigation and the team have the ring of authenticity. I also enjoyed the secondary plot line involving Kate and Ray. The title? Almost every character can use the line "I Let You Go" in their lives.
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LibraryThing member celticlady53
I love reading a book by an author who knows what they are writing as they tell a story because they have worked in some capacity in law enforcement. It just seems to make the story believable. Clare Mackintosh certainly writes in this category and with I Let You Go is just one of those stories.
The
Jenna Gray's world is turned upside down and she takes herself off to a small Welsh community where she hopes to take up her artwork again and just try to forget and start over. Can you ever escape your past? Jenna hopes that she can and it seems that what she looks for is possible. But in a heartbeat it all comes crashing back to turn her world upside down.
Right about in the middle of the story comes a twist that I did not see coming at all. A complete turnaround to what I thought the story was about. If an author can give a story a twist to make it a psychological thriller, Clare Mackintosh definitely did that. I do not want to give away parts of the story, suffice it to say that it was a page turner for sure.
I love a good thriller and this one certainly is right up there. If you read and liked The Girl on the Train, then this will be to your liking also. I give this one five stars!
I received a copy of the book for review and my honest thoughts.
The
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story started out so happy, with a mom and her child walking home chattering about their days. All of a sudden the child runs out into the street and the worst thing happens. A child is hit by a car and the driver takes off. The mother is questioned and she is kind of ostracized by the community, how could a mother let this happen? Why did she not keep a closer watch on her child?Jenna Gray's world is turned upside down and she takes herself off to a small Welsh community where she hopes to take up her artwork again and just try to forget and start over. Can you ever escape your past? Jenna hopes that she can and it seems that what she looks for is possible. But in a heartbeat it all comes crashing back to turn her world upside down.
Right about in the middle of the story comes a twist that I did not see coming at all. A complete turnaround to what I thought the story was about. If an author can give a story a twist to make it a psychological thriller, Clare Mackintosh definitely did that. I do not want to give away parts of the story, suffice it to say that it was a page turner for sure.
I love a good thriller and this one certainly is right up there. If you read and liked The Girl on the Train, then this will be to your liking also. I give this one five stars!
I received a copy of the book for review and my honest thoughts.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
I swore to myself that I would not cave to yet another pitch espousing a killer twist and edge-of-your-seat thrills. I caved fairly quickly. Let’s face it; I think I am a sucker for any sort of thriller. At least I always start thrillers dubious that they are really going to live up to the hype.
I Let You Go starts out slowly. Very slowly. It will make you question why you ever started reading the book. There is a stalled police investigation into the hit-and-run accident that resulted in the death of a child and the two investigators’ growing attraction to each other. Then there is the depressed Jenna trying to forge a new life in a remote Welsh village. The story plods along as you would expect it. Then there is the “twist” and suddenly, things become a lot more interesting.
This twist is not really a twist but more of a situation where certain pieces of the puzzle come together in such a way so that you can finally see the whole picture. The twist is actually a brilliant piece of writing that does not necessarily change the game but puts the game into an entirely new context. To say anymore will be to spoil the surprise, but suffice it to say that the twist, when it did come, was enough to make me take a renewed interest in the story and thoroughly appreciate Ms. Mackintosh’s writing.
The rest of the story is equally predictable but still interesting given what you now know about the various characters. Speaking of which, the characters are fairly one-dimensional and essentially nothing more than your standard cast necessary for all good police procedurals. The ending is a bit too pat, for real life is seldom as clean, but it is in keeping with the rest of the book. The “twist” is what takes I Let You Go beyond mediocrity. It is a case of damning with faint praise, but if it were not for the revelation in the middle of the story it would be just one more decent but highly predictable thriller.
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That’s something, right? In this case, thank goodness I did. Otherwise, I probably would have done the rare DNF.I Let You Go starts out slowly. Very slowly. It will make you question why you ever started reading the book. There is a stalled police investigation into the hit-and-run accident that resulted in the death of a child and the two investigators’ growing attraction to each other. Then there is the depressed Jenna trying to forge a new life in a remote Welsh village. The story plods along as you would expect it. Then there is the “twist” and suddenly, things become a lot more interesting.
This twist is not really a twist but more of a situation where certain pieces of the puzzle come together in such a way so that you can finally see the whole picture. The twist is actually a brilliant piece of writing that does not necessarily change the game but puts the game into an entirely new context. To say anymore will be to spoil the surprise, but suffice it to say that the twist, when it did come, was enough to make me take a renewed interest in the story and thoroughly appreciate Ms. Mackintosh’s writing.
The rest of the story is equally predictable but still interesting given what you now know about the various characters. Speaking of which, the characters are fairly one-dimensional and essentially nothing more than your standard cast necessary for all good police procedurals. The ending is a bit too pat, for real life is seldom as clean, but it is in keeping with the rest of the book. The “twist” is what takes I Let You Go beyond mediocrity. It is a case of damning with faint praise, but if it were not for the revelation in the middle of the story it would be just one more decent but highly predictable thriller.
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LibraryThing member tipsy_writer
This wasn't an emotionally easy book to take in. Saying that it's heavy would be an understatement, but it's one that is such an incredibly crafted story that I know it's one that will stay on my favorites list for years to come.
Jacob, a young boy, has been hit by a speeding car on a dark and
Who killed Jacob that night? Let me tell you, it wasn't at all who I thought. This book had me guessing literally through the last lines of the epilogue.
It's books like this that keep me coming back to the thriller genre over and over again.
What did I think?: This is one of the best books I've ever read and the authors ability to craft such a unique web of circumstances is truly an amazing thing. After this, I'd read anything she writes.
Who should read it?: This is the best thriller I've read in such a long time, so if it's a genre you enjoy you can't miss this one. I can't wait to discuss it with others who I feel are bound to love it as much as I have.
Jacob, a young boy, has been hit by a speeding car on a dark and
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rainy night. The driver, rather than stopping, speeds away leaving the boy's mother traumatized and distraught. Not knowing how to handle her own grief, she flees in effort to escape everything that has just unfolded. Who killed Jacob that night? Let me tell you, it wasn't at all who I thought. This book had me guessing literally through the last lines of the epilogue.
It's books like this that keep me coming back to the thriller genre over and over again.
What did I think?: This is one of the best books I've ever read and the authors ability to craft such a unique web of circumstances is truly an amazing thing. After this, I'd read anything she writes.
Who should read it?: This is the best thriller I've read in such a long time, so if it's a genre you enjoy you can't miss this one. I can't wait to discuss it with others who I feel are bound to love it as much as I have.
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LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
The shocking twist was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be from the reviews. This book made me angry - not because it wasn't well-written (it was), but because the story it was telling was so damn realistic and infuriating.
Most of the reviews are trying so hard not to spoil the twist that
Most of the reviews are trying so hard not to spoil the twist that
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they don't tell you anything about the book, but I think it's unfair to surprise people with a book about brutal domestic violence. Show Less
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
WOW! This was a great story. Jenna Gray has a secret, one that she can’t talk about but has nightmares that wake her up screaming. She has moved to a small village where everyone knows everyone else. She lives in a remote cabin basically keeping to herself, trying to rebuild a life until a knock
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on the door brings it all back. There are so many twists that I never saw coming that kept me mesmerized. I absolutely loved this book but don’t want to talk about it too much because I do not want to spoil the surprises for other readers. However, if you love to be scared and love to keep guessing, this is a book for you! Show Less
LibraryThing member oldbookswine
Excellent read. Jenna Gray moves to an isolated cottage on the Welsh coast to escape her past. However, the reader soon discovers the past is not what as you first thought. As the book moves into part two, you are into a police investigation of a hit and run of a 5 year old boy. As each twist and
This is a book and character you won't forget soon. Writing in the sand can bring new insights into one's life. Highly recommended.
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turn arises you find that her personal history is reflected in her present life. A stray dog brings a romantic interest into the story who is steadfast in his support.This is a book and character you won't forget soon. Writing in the sand can bring new insights into one's life. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Sharn
Wait. What just happened? I seriously missed something, that or the author tricked me... Either way I feel like I need to go back and re-read some of this book to see exactly what happened in my brain. I'm wording this carefully so I don't give anything away but if your read it, you know!
I really
I also didn't care for the cops, they weren't very well developed in my opinion making them feel forced, shallow and predictable. STILL after part 2, I was tempted to give this book 5 stars - that says a lot about part 2.
I'll definitely recommend this one.
I really
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felt like I read two books here which really messed with the rating I gave it. I just can't ignore the fact that I really didn't like Part 1. I was really struggling then... Part 2 happened and that's the book I was waiting for the whole time.I also didn't care for the cops, they weren't very well developed in my opinion making them feel forced, shallow and predictable. STILL after part 2, I was tempted to give this book 5 stars - that says a lot about part 2.
I'll definitely recommend this one.
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
This book is so much more than the cover blurb. There is a veracity in the writing of the police elements, which I attribute to the discovery (reading the about the author bit) that this was written by a woman who had been on the police force for 11 years. There were some great twists in this
tags: 2016-read, will-look-for-more-by-this-author, suspense-thriller-mystery, taught-me-something, made-me-look-something-up, i-heard-about-it-on-npr, didn-t-want-to-put-it-down, thank-you-charleston-county-library
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mystery as well as multiple perspectives, from both those involved directly in the hit and run death of a small boy, to the police involved. tags: 2016-read, will-look-for-more-by-this-author, suspense-thriller-mystery, taught-me-something, made-me-look-something-up, i-heard-about-it-on-npr, didn-t-want-to-put-it-down, thank-you-charleston-county-library
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Awards
Waverton Good Read Award (Shortlist — 2015)
The British Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — Debut Fiction — 2016)
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Longlist — 2016)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2017)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2016)