There Should Have Been Eight

Publisher:  Golancz

Date Published: 2023

Book Length: 408

Star Rating: 5 ***** I Loved it and highly recommend

About Book: Seven friends. One last weekend. A mansion half in ruins. No room for lies. Someone is going to confess.Because there should have been eight...They met when they were teenagers. Now they're adults, and time has been kind to some and unkind to others. None more so than Bea-the one they lost nine long years ago.They've gathered to reminisce at Bea's family's estate, a once glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies, and new lovers are all under one roof. But when the weather turns and they're snowed in at the edge of eternity, there's nowhere left to hide from their shared history. As the walls close in, the pretence of normality gives way to long-buried grief, bitterness, and rage. Underneath it all, there's the nagging feeling that Bea's shocking death wasn't what it was claimed to be. And before the weekend is through, the truth will be unleashed. No matter the cost....

My Thoughts: It should have been Eight by Nalini Singh sets the scene at the beginning, bringing all the characters together and I was able to understand the relationships and dynamics as they  began to emerge.

The attention to detail in describing details is second to none and enriches the storytelling. Along with the descriptions of feelings made me feel I was there with the person. A testament to Singh’s ability to draw you into the lives of the people showing their vulnerabilities and miscomprehensions. My favourite character was Aaron as he seemed to be the most kind overall.

The books key moments unfolds like a carefully orchestrated symphony, each note revealing a crucial element in the story, each one of the seven participants playing a distinctive instrument. A great unfolding of mysteries one by one that keeps you enthralled, with lots of twists and turns, a book I had difficulty putting down. There is a little repetitiveness on mentioning Lung going blind but that did not detract from the book overall.

In conclusion a great book with twists and turns that keeps you guessing and I highly recommend to lovers of mystery and suspense books.