I may be slightly biased, because as soon as a book even gives me cult-y vibes, I’m all for it, but 33 Women by Isabel Ashdown is a 5-star read.
The plot:
When sisters Celine and Pip get a call telling them their reclusive mother has died, the women are reunited at her riverside home in Arundel to pick up the pieces. But someone is missing – their middle sister, Vanessa, brutally murdered years ago and the victim of an unsolved case.
The discovey of another body in similar circumstances throws new light on Vanessa’s death. Could there be more to her case than the police first thought? And what do the mysterious residents of Two Cross Farm, the neighbouring women’s commune, have to do with it? What secrets are lurking behind their locked gates? And what is the significance of the number 33?
I honestly can’t imagine why anyone would dislike this book!
This book has my name written allllllll over it. When you read quite a lot of thrillers, they start to become predictable and same-y, but this book doesn’t disappoint and provides a fantastic ending and well-built characters.
It’s current and topical, with a strong focus on female oppression. Whilst being an interesting read, it’s also a psychological thriller at its finest, and is the optimal page-turner.
You’re given snippets of information by the dual character and dual timeline style. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know this isn’t my jam, but I honestly loved this style in 33 Women, and can’t think of a better way for it to be done. It wasn’t confusing, and left you with small cliff-hangers, as well as the perspective from someone within the commune, and also someone on the outside investigating Vanessa. There were definitely chapters which left you thinking something dodgy was going on and made that mystery element heightened as you are trying to work out whodunnit.
The plot starts off fast-paced which follows throughout the whole read. I loved how you are casually thrown in and finding information alongside the characters, without it feeling long or tedious. There definitely isn’t a dull moment, which is a big downfall with some other thrillers.
The twists just kept coming, and even though these were spread well apart, it was incredibly engaging. I often found my mind wondering to the plot, especially at times when I couldn’t pick it up to read. A mind-boggling ending (because it’s so good) and I closed this book and said ‘wow’, so that says it all really.
There is one small aspect which isn’t answered, which’ll probably bug me for the rest of my life, but other than that, it came together really well – both shocking and incredibly well thought-through, with everything slotting into place perfectly – I’m seriously impressed.
If this is the type of book Ashdown produces, sign me up for all previous and future books.
For fans of Ruth Ware and engaging, mysterious crime psychological thrillers, which you’ll think about constantly. I honestly can’t imagine why anyone would dislike this book!
33 Women, Isabel Ashdown, RRP £8.99 (paperback); Book Depository
Pages: 332
Publisher: Trapeze
Genre: Thriller
