Book Review - Too Close For Comfort by Eleanor Moran

Amazon UK

Title: Too Close For Comfort

Author: Eleanor Moran

Format reviewed:  Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: 22nd September 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Mia Cosgrove is a high-flying psychotherapist with a thriving practice, but when she receives a desperate phone call from her oldest friend, Lysette, she puts her London life on hold to rush to her side. A friend of Lysette’s, Sarah, has plunged to her death from the top of a multi-storey car park, a text message on her phone next to her, simply saying ‘I’m sorry’ with a single X, left unsent and unaddressed. 

At first the police are convinced it’s a suicide, but when another death rocks the rural community Mia is asked to help the ramped-up investigation. Why are the close-knit group of mums who surrounded Sarah so reluctant to share what they knew about their beautiful, troubled friend? And how high a price will Mia pay for her determination to unearth the truth and discover what really happened? 

Mia Cosgrove is back, and is tackling a whole new case, although this time, arguably she perhaps shouldn't get herself involved in a professional capacity. She is a psychotherapist, who goes to Little Copping to support her best friend Lysette, after Lysette's other good friend Sarah appears to commit suicide. 

However after being with her friend for not long, she senses, although she tries to ignore it, that there may be more to the story that meets the eyes, but it isn't until the police ask her to be involved and offer support to the small community that Mia becomes truly involved. 

This is the second book featuring Mia Cosgrove, and does work as a complete standalone to A Daughter's Secret, however if you have read the first one you will have a more complex understanding of Mia, and her background. 

Mia tries to be a friend to everyone while supporting Lysette and trying to work out just what is going on, even though she isnt investigating, but trying to make sure everyone is ok with has occurred mentally. As Mia is incredibly intelligent though, she knows that things don't add up, but just can't quite put her finger on the reasoning. 

Lysette is a complex character, who seems desperate to unload her secrets but can't quite bring herself to reach out fully to Mia, and her behaviour starts to become more and more erratic. 

As the story progresses, I got to meet all of the main friendship group that Sarah was involved with, but I didn't really like any of them that much. When the truth finally comes out, as it always tends to in fiction, I couldn't help but feel marginally confused as to various motivations, or explicitly what happened. 

This is a very readable book, I was definitely interested in Mia and her thoughts, and the way the story was told, was enjoyable. I loved the small hints at Sarah's diary spread in between some chapters, as well as small asides at the end of chapters, from Mia, implying something was big was coming, but that she couldn't tell you what it was yet. 

Thank you to EDPR for my copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - A Daughter's Secret by Eleanor Moran

Amazon UK

Title: A Daughter's Secret

Author: Eleanor Moran

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 30th July 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

Mia is a high-flying child psychotherapist, hoping to be made partner in the thriving practice where she works. But then she takes on a case which will change her life for ever, and bring back the past she has done her best to bury. 

Thirteen year old Gemma was the last person to see her father before he went on the run, fleeing from a major criminal trial. The police are desperate to track him down, pressuring Mia to tease the information out of his angry and reluctant daughter. But what does Gemma really know and how hard can Mia push without betraying her?

Both are hiding devastating secrets. Both need the other to survive. Will they learn to trust each other before it's too late?

There seemed to be almost three stories going on simultaneously in this book. Mia's present day with her current romantic involvements, Mia's past going from childhood until late teens, shown to us in small segments, explaining her troubled relationship with her own father, and then Gemma, Mia's latest 13 year old patient. 

Gemma, is potentially the key witness in a criminal case, where she is the last person to have seen her father before he disappeared. In her therapy sessions with Mia, we see one confused and angry child, who may or may not know the truth. 

Mia in her dealings with Gemma, has to confront her own past issues, and it soon becomes apparent that the professional boundaries between Mia and Gemma are conflicted, and possibly crossed. It seems as though they bond on an emotional level that I'm not sure I fully understood, and were using their sessions as a crutch almost. 

The insights into Mia's own childhood were fascinating, and made me feel very sorry for her, especially with her relationships to Lorcan and Jim. 

It is the present day current up to date Mia's story that I also really enjoyed, as she tries to make a go of things with her current boyfriend, but not everything happens as it should. 

I found A Daughter's Secret to be an interesting story,  but at times I felt slightly confused by it all. I think the premise of the book was amazing and carried it quite well, and the whole way through my main thoughts was what does Gemma really know, and will she tell anyone. 

The book is leading up to an emotional finale, one that I definitely wouldn't have been able to predict, occurring as it did.  I really enjoyed A Daughter's Secret, and think it is definitely worth a read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this review copy. This was my honest review.