Daphne Du Maurier's sinister thriller "My Cousin Rachel' was always going to be a hard act to follow, but the Hussies were keen to see if this contemporary tale could offer the reader the same level of emotional intensity. Set in modern day England the novel follows the trials and tribulations of Annie, a teenage girl with a terrible past. We first meet Annie when she goes to the police to report her mother as a serial killer. An unusual scenario filled with the promise of a high octane, emotionally charged roller coaster read. As the story unfolds we discover that Annie was forced to watch her mother's depraved acts of wanton violence against young children. The reader gets to know Annie as she tries to settle into her new life as Milly. Now living with a psychologist and his family a new dimension is introduced as Milly has to contend with hostility from her 'foster sister' Phoebe. Far from feeling sympathy for the protagonist the reader is constantly wrong footed, unable to decide wether Annie is a victim or a villain, hence the title 'Good Me Bad Me'. she has a very strange relationship with her foster mother to whom she shows contempt despite attempts at friendship from the older woman. It felt at times as though the author was trying to cover too many themes in one novel, murder, nature versus nurture, is Annie destined to be evil because her mother was evil. Bullying and peer pressure, Annie finds she is the target of the school bully, her foster sister, and her gang. Her new family are clearly dysfunctional, an alcoholic unfaithful mother and 'mean girl' daughter and a father obsessed with work and professional recognition. Through out the book the reader is presented with flash backs showing what life was like for Annie before she decided to report her mother. Unfortunately the characters aren't really strong enough to excite the readers compassion. Towards the end it takes on the feel of a teen novel with Annie finally reaping her revenge on Phoebe. An ambiguous cliff hanger would have lent the novel an air of mystery but the author spelled out exactly what had happened, it seemed unnecessarily patronising to the reader. The Hussies agreed that this book had all the raw ingredients to make a unique thriller but its delivery let it down.
The newly refurbished Beaumont Hotel provided the venue for our pre Christmas meeting. A large open plan eating area with decor reminiscent of Normandy. It would be lovely on a warm summer evening but the large window gave out onto the black December night, spreading a winter chill across the diners. The food was exceptional and quite good value. An all round thumbs up from the Hussies who will definitely be making a return trip.
Continuing the rather dark theme of murder mystery we will be reading 'The Death Messenger' by local crime novelist Mari Hannah ....
