‘Tis the season…
to go into hiding’
– Closing In
[ About the Book ]
Caroline has a good life – a job she likes, a daughter she’d do anything for. In the midst of the Christmas rush, covering events and parties, the local journalist is looking forward to the holidays and having some quality time with the ones she loves.
But Caroline’s good life is not her only life.
When, out of the blue, she spots a frighteningly familiar figure in the crowd – a man she hasn’t laid eyes on in more than twenty years – she is jolted shockingly back to a secret past she’d hoped she’d put behind her forever.
As Christmas nudges closer and alarming events unfold, she feels him closing in on her. Caroline must come up with a plan to keep this man away from her family. But just how far will one woman go to protect a good life? And just how far will one man go to destroy it?
[ My Review ]
Closing In by E.D. Thompson was just published October 13th with Hachette Ireland and is described as ‘a page-turning festive thriller’. Set in the weeks before Christmas, Closing In introduces us to Caroline. A local journalist in a small town, Caroline is divorced and living alone. Her daughter has moved out, now living her own life and Caroline has a relatively established routine. Working for the same paper for years, she has developed good relationships with her colleagues and with the community she lives in. The locals are familiar with Caroline and are only too delighted to chat to her about local events and activities. Caroline is on very good terms with her ex-husband, his wife and their two young kids and, to any outsider looking in, Caroline lives a contented existence.
But Caroline is hiding a secret and when she sees someone from her past, she is left shaken and disturbed. Initially Caroline thinks she may have imagined what she saw but when some unexplained incidents occur, Caroline has to face up to the reality of her past catching up with her.
Closing In is very much a story of suspense as Caroline tries to contain her past and maintain her reputation among her friends. With Christmas fast approaching, Caroline wants to enjoy quality time with her loved ones, relaxing in the bosom of her extended family. If the truth were to be revealed Caroline’s whole existence would be destroyed. With nobody that she can trust Caroline starts to panic. Her friends worry about her but she just cannot confide in any one individual. As the situation intensifies, it’s clear that Caroline’s stable life is about to come crashing in on her but can she survive the fallout?
Closing In is a novel with a gentle flow that makes it very readable. The characters are well drawn out and the reveal, when it appears, is quite shocking. Although labelled a thriller, it is not a fast-paced, heart-pounding tale but has more of a cosy mystery feel to it. An enjoyable read!
[ Bio ]
E.D. Thompson worked as a newspaper journalist before turning to fiction writing. She is a graduate of the Creative Writing MA at Queen’s University, Belfast and prolific author of short stories for women’s magazines. A mother of three grown-up children, she lives in County Armagh with her husband and cat.
