The Life I Left Behind
A must-read taut and twisty psychological thriller
Published on 13. August 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-4722-0599-5 (ISBN)
Description
You know those books you feel jealous of everyone reading? This is one of those those. Read it. Savour it. Talk about it. Share it.
'The plot is taut and compelling, the writing excellent, but it's the exciting narrative structure that sets it apart - a three-strand storyline, one told by a woman who has already been murdered' (Marian Keyes Guardian)
Everyone tells her she's a survivor. No-one knows she's dead inside.
Six years ago Melody was left for dead. When the body of another woman, Eve, is discovered, Melody knows her attacker is still out there. The only way she can survive is to follow the clues of the life that Eve left behind.
'The plot is taut and compelling, the writing excellent, but it's the exciting narrative structure that sets it apart - a three-strand storyline, one told by a woman who has already been murdered' (Marian Keyes Guardian)
Everyone tells her she's a survivor. No-one knows she's dead inside.
Six years ago Melody was left for dead. When the body of another woman, Eve, is discovered, Melody knows her attacker is still out there. The only way she can survive is to follow the clues of the life that Eve left behind.
Reviews / Votes
Lots of women published great, grippy thrillers this year - Colette McBeth's The Life I Left Behind (Headline Review) is one of the best. The plot is taut and compelling, the writing excellent, but it's the exciting narrative structure that sets it apart - a three-strand storyline, one told by a woman who has already been murdered. -- Marian Keyes * Guardian * One of the best books of the year * Sun * The Life I Left Behind is a rare thing; a well-paced, meticulously-researched thriller which is not just gripping but compassionate, too -- Paula Hawkins, author of THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN Absolutely amazing. Grip-Lit of the highest order. Brilliant. -- Marian Keyes A creepy and clever thriller * Fabulous * Dark and clever murder tale with a twist * Heat * McBeth pulls it off with aplomb * Glamour * This intriguing and twisty thriller kept me reading into the night * Woman & Home * McBeth's is a much better realisation of the same theme [as The Lovely Bones] and, psychologically, by far the more interesting accomplishment * Independent * If a more affecting psychological thriller is published this year, it will be a very good book indeed * Irish Times * Completely brilliant -- Jill Mansell Fantastic -- Lucy Diamond Praise for Colette McBeth:'Colette McBeth delivers twists and shocks with superb timing. An impressive debut' * The Times * 'An interesting and original page-turner' * Literary Review * 'A cleverly crafted tale... If you're a fan of Gone Girl, you'll love this' * Sunday Mirror * 'An excellent storyteller... Precious Thing is more than deserving of a place on the modern thriller bookshelf' * Sunday Express * 'A great debut, menacing, gripping and full of twists and surprises... This is one of those incredibly compelling stories that simply drags you along, whether you like it or not. Highly recommended' * Lovereading.co.uk * 'Precious Thing is one of my top five books of 2013. Truthfully, I would go on for hours about what I loved about this psychologically disturbing, thoroughly readable, cleverly written book' * Fabulousmag.co.uk *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Headline Publishing Group
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
272 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4722-0599-5 (9781472205995)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2015
Headline Book Publishing
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Colette McBeth is the critically acclaimed author of psychological thrillers Precious Thing, The Life I Left Behind and An Act of Silence.
Colette was a BBC TV News television correspondent for ten years, during which time she covered many major crime stories and worked out of Westminster as a political reporter.
She lives on the South Coast with her husband and three children.
Twitter @colettemcbeth
Facebook /colettemcbethauthor
colettemcbeth.co.uk
Colette was a BBC TV News television correspondent for ten years, during which time she covered many major crime stories and worked out of Westminster as a political reporter.
She lives on the South Coast with her husband and three children.
Twitter @colettemcbeth
Facebook /colettemcbethauthor
colettemcbeth.co.uk