This was an utterly disturbing book that I couldn't put down. I went into this thinking that it would be about plain old murder and assault, so when it ended up being about human trafficking and child abuse I was a bit shocked. That's where the disturbing part comes in. It felt too realistic, too much like it could happen to anyone, and I felt genuine fear from that. The helplessness felt by the girls, the inevitability of what was going to happen to them, and the present day chapters where we see the consequences still play out all added to my uneasiness.

I didn't have fun while reading this book. It was too heavy for that. I was too busy being sad, scared, and horrified to have fun, but I think that's the point, no? This is the first adult crime/mystery/thriller type book I've ever read that didn't involve paranormal/supernatural elements, and it was a strong introduction to the genre. I kept reading because I just had to know what had happened to those little girls. I spent a good portion of the book assuming I knew what was going to be revealed at the end too, and I was thrown for a loop when that didn't happen.

I loved the twist. I was in no way expecting it, and the way it was handled was very moving and powerful in my opinion. I very nearly cried when the newly revealed person had to watch that tape - I was torn between anger at him for the horrific crime he committed and and unending rage at that awful man who abused him like that to the point where he could do something so terrible. It was heartbreaking.

The flashbacks paired with the dangers of the present events, plus that little sprinkling of an unknown POV who is very clearly out to get Heidi, all adds up into a very high-stakes mystery/thriller which kept me guessing even as I thought I knew the truth - and believe me, it's not what you may expect.

All in all, a fantastic debut novel, with a gripping story that really delves deep into the horrors of human trafficking and corrupt police systems

What an accomplished debut novel and I am already looking forward to more from this author. This really is a gripping and monstrous thriller. This book is really sympathetically written despite the challenging subject of the book which is what makes it such a good read.

Heidi was the victim of a viscous attack which left her with no memory of the attack or events leading up to it. When she comes around her sister is missing and her best friend is dead.. Over 10 years later she still has very little memory of the events but maybe now some of her memories are starting to come back. Will these memories be enough to uncover what really did happen that day? And will Heidi be able to live with the feelings that these new memories bring back?

This story is told through a series of flashbacks and real time events.

This was a promising story and I found that moving back and forth in time was well handled. I guessed quite early who the man behind the crimes was, and that I didn't mind, as I was still curious to see the plot unravel. What I really did not like, and this is the weakness in so many thrillers, is that the main female character who has been fearing for her life for so long, gets into a car with somebody she does not know, is taken to a place where she is about to meet her fate, and lo and behold is rescued in the nick of time. This is such a cliché of the genre. What a disappointing ending!

‘Monstrous Souls’ has some real strengths – it’s generally gripping, often moving and tackles a very challenging topic sensitively. Unfortunately it also has a fair number of weaknesses. At times it feels like there are gaps in the narrative and one of the central characters is plain dull. As a result I came away from it feeling somewhat dissatisfied. This is one of those books that probably could have been really good, but which falls just short.
The story is immediately attention grabbing and the first few chapters are really strong. The setup is that in 2001 three young girls are attacked. One dies, one survives and one goes missing. Heidi, the survivor loses her memory, but years later in 2016 she starts to regain it. Teaming up with Denise, a policewoman who investigated the case originally, she starts to unravel the mystery.
The book switches back and forth between 2001 and 2016, with the older parts all told in first person by Heidi. For the 2016 chapters author Rebecca Kelly takes a different approach, some are Heidi, some are about Denise and some a mysterious male character who goes unnamed until the end. The format works well and Heidi’s sections are really good as she slowly recalls the events of the past and pieces things together. I found Denise a much less interesting character, and that comes from someone who normally loves reading about cops. She lacks a distinct character or drivers and as a result is fairly dull to read. The mystery male is more interesting, with a story arc that’s one of the best things about the book. The gimmick of not releasing his name and deliberately leaving out details that would allow the reader to identify him does wear a bit thin after a while though.
The fact that the book is about child sexual abuse is fairly obvious early on, but fortunately the handling of the subject matter is sensitive and gives the book a real emotional impact at times. Unfortunately the mystery itself is less skilfully handled. Whilst I didn’t guess every detail the ending didn’t come as a big shock to me. In fact a lot of the tension comes from the overwhelming desire to see justice done rather than a need to solve the mystery. In a way that’s not a bad thing, there’s a horrible inevitability to events which suits the topic, but a few more surprises would have strengthened the book.

Monstrous Souls is a fast-paced, gritty and captivating read with an ending many will not predict. If you like to be constantly surprised as you read, then this is one to add to your reading list.

Monstrous souls by Rebecca Kelly was a surprise as I was expecting a murder mystery (I really should remember to recheck the synopsis of the books before reading them.) This was fantastic! An extremely well crafted storyline with characters I felt were well rounded and credible. Tense, hopeful and devastating! I think Rebecca’s success is evidenced in the understanding I had of why no one would risk telling what was going on (usually I’m so frustrated at the fairly weak reasons outlined in such storylines). Rebecca is definitely an author whose work I’ll be watching out for.

A fantastic debut from Rebecca Kelly. This novel is fast paced and gripping, I flew through it. Set across two time lines we follow Heidi as she starts to recover her memory after a horrific attack that leaves her best friend dead and her little sister missing. The story handles some quite dark material with care and the sense of distaste is implied without the need for gratuitous imagery which, I think, shows how skilled this writer is.

Although I worked out a few of the twists and turns quite early on it didn't detract from the story as it really captures you. If you're a fan of a thriller this one is for you.

Thank you to Agora books and @netgalley for this ARC. This is due for publication 25/06/2020


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A really impressive debut novel. I never read the blurb, just saw the cover and I am so glad I did. A very gritty psychological thriller dealing with a subject matter that is distasteful. Set in two time periods 2001 and 2016. How a girl tries to remember what happened on that fateful day and someone who needs to silence her for good. As I said before the subject matter is very dark but this author treats it with dignity and respect. A powerful and emotive read which broke my heart in the last chapter. I have never read a book quite like this before and Heidi, Nina and Anna will stay in my thoughts long after I have turned the last page. I can't wait to read what this author does next. A well deserved five stars and so Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. I have been sent a copy of this book for review purposes. This has not influenced or affected my opinions in this review.

Monstrous Souls is a well-written and fact paced novel that I think any thriller fan will want to sink their teeth into. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I was hooked from the first sentence right up until the surprise ending with a final twist you won’t see coming. So many emotions were conjured with this read. If you’re a fan of thrillers and crime, you will enjoy this book!

*4 stars*

ARC from NET GALLEY

Heidi Bevan wakes up and you can guess the rest. This story line is just done or over done, or has been done, or should not be done anymore. Nothing new here

This book was pretty interesting, told from three different perspectives and two different times as the main character struggles to regain her memory of what happened to her. While it was a little predictable, I also cared about the characters and while not a happy ending at least the loose ends were tied up.

now this book is a must read Heidi has lost her memory her best friend was murdered her sister was taken .but what happened and why cant Heidi remember . but little bits are coming back why did her best friend runaway why does somebody want Heidi dead what happened how all the pieces come together is just brilliant i cried .

This is a fantastic novel. It's a gritty psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. I read through this book so fast, I just needed to know the truth.

It covers some touchy subjects but does so in a respectful way.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book. Normally I don’t like reading through the killer’s perspective, but I thought that this was done very well. Normally it gives too much away for me and leaves me being bored. I felt the killer’s perspective helped eliminate some of the killer choices without making it overly obvious who it was. The ending was really good and heart wrenching. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Kelly is a talented writer and her debut novel, Monstrous Souls, is a well-written thriller that will appeal to the fan of the genre. The dual timeline of flashback is well-plotted and the pace will keep the reader hooked throughout. Difficult themes are explored by the author and they could be hard for some readers.

Beautifully written, slow burn, building to a explosive finale. Kept my interest all the way through. Heidi, the main character, is hugely sympathetic, and the friendship between her and Nina rings so true.
Enjoyed reading this immensely. Will be looking out for future books by Rebecca Kelly.

I received this book from
netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think that this is a great book - i’d definitely recommend it! Holly has severe memory loss from an incident that occurred when she was in her teens, which affected the lives of everyone around her. However, very slowly, her memory is starting to return, and the ramifications of this may spread wider than she can imagine.

It’s very well written, with believable, well fleshed out characters. They’re interesting and well described, no one is ‘perfect’ they have normal flaws and attributes which really added to the story. The actual story is well paced, there are twists and turns but not so many as to make the story unbelievable. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it!

From the dissociative mindscape of its opening chapter to the heartbreaking image of its last line, Monstrous Souls is as much a contemplation on Freedom as it is a compelling psychological thriller. Given its dark and intense subject matter, however, it should come as no surprise that Freedom is a relative term; a hard-fought compromise rather than a happy resolution.

No one epitomises this more than the novel’s central character Heidi Bevan who, after suffering a terrifying childhood attack that leaves her best friend Nina dead and her sister Anna missing, is further punished by the loss of her memory. Fifteen years later, Denise Gilzeen, now a senior police officer who cut her teeth on the case, is driven to re-open the investigation when Heidi begins to recover fragments of the attack, prompting a mutual quest for closure.

It’s a tantalising if not ultimately original premise, but what elevates Rebecca Kelly’s debut novel from the usual police procedurals, is her skill in exploring the relationships contained therein. The 2001 timeline - which charts Nina and Heidi’s peri-adolescent friendship - is especially good in this respect, capturing the nuances of teenage angst in all its painful glory: the scrabble for popularity; the fear of rejection or usurpation that gives rise to secrets and complicity. In this regard I was at times reminded of Bella Bathurst’s extraordinary novel “Special”. I particularly enjoyed Heidi’s inner tension at this age; torn between the safety of her loving, supportive home and her desire to sympathise with the circumstances of Nina’s less than ideal upbringing. The dynamic is ripe for conflict, which Kelly mines with great skill and sensitivity to catastrophic effect.

There is a definite assuredness about the writing; an accumulation of detail that creates a very vivid mise-en-scene without ever compromising pace. Her set pieces are both beautiful and immersive with one in particular - where a pursued Heidi is forced to conceal herself overnight in a forest - a masterclass in tension that really gets the reader’s heart pumping.

This is a quick and easy read; the chapter breaks mined for full effect to keep the reader turning the pages late into the night. Yet in spite, and perhaps because of this, I did occasionally find myself at one remove from the characters, rooting for their success yet almost from a distance. The unrelenting pace of the plot contributes to this, sometimes at the expense of more contemplative moments that would have benefited my investment in Heidi and Nina’s respective plights. As a habitual reader of literary fiction I claim these tics as my own, but given the quality of the writing here, it was for me, a notable omission.

Strangely, the closest Kelly comes to fulfilling this desire is through one of the other characters - ironically, the unnamed narrator of several chapters - whose sinister opening motivations become clearer and more sympathetic as the story unfolds. Though neither their identity nor their denouement came as a surprise, I found the gradual revelation of their narrative both satisfying and highly persuasive in its inner logic adding, as it did, to the overall theme of freedom versus psychological imprisonment and the idea that sometimes in life there are actually fates worse than death.

The novel in general is very good at avoiding cliches, with Denise especially, suffering none of the alcoholism-induced neuroses of similar characters in the genre. Despite this, it would have been nice to have seen her obvious selection as both female and a person of colour to have had some impact on the narrative, either via her professional interactions or, indeed, as a woman dealing with such a devastating caseload. It’s a shame that her seeming detachment, whilst an equally valid response in itself, was never quite explored enough for me to quite come across as a deliberate choice.

These are minor flaws, however, in a thoroughly compelling and well-written novel that absolutely marks Kelly out as an author to watch. Highly recommended to readers of psychological suspense and crime. Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers, Agora, for the ARC in return for a fair review.

Content warnings for references to child torture, paedophilia and murder.

The novel didn't start off as the page-turner it morphed into. Patience is required at the start, with a slower pace as the scene is set between 2001 and 2016. But the further you get, the urgency begins to burn and you won't put this down without finishing the second half of this taut, disturbing, and quite excellently written debut thriller.

Rebecca Kelly eventually creates the right narrative to keep you hooked until the final chapters, and forces so many emotions on the reader of sadness, horror, shock, and an element of satisfaction.

A highly recommended read. Bravo Ms Kelly.

Thirteen years ago an investigation began regarding a crime that took place on a late summer’s evening. Heidi was thirteen at the time. She suffered a head injury that caused amnesia. All she knew at the time was her friend Nina died and her sister Anna was missing. Heidi couldn’t remember anything that took place. After thirteen years some of the pieces were starting to fall in place.
Heidi is the key witness and the only one left with the knowledge of who did it. But she needs to trigger the right memories.
A cold case from fifteen years ago is reopened due to Heidi’s memories coming back.

Overall:
This didn’t have the best opening chapter for this type of story. It was a confusing starting point. I had to reference back a few times to grasp what I was reading and who the focus was placed on.
The chapters with the killers point of view was a great way to rule out the other many suspicious characters in the story. Yet at the same time it didn’t shed any light why Heidi continued living for as long as she did.
The information is there, but I wasn’t particularly fond of the delivery. Switching between the past and the present wasn’t the concern. It’s the way the author uses her words to tell the story. As the investigation progressed so did Heidi’s memories, yet the way the information was shared didn’t feel like an investigation. I didn’t feel like Heidi was triggering any memories but rather the author sharing the past circumstances and passing them off as recovered memories.
The premise seemed so promising. I love the concept but not the execution. I’m having a difficult time understanding why it took fifteen years before Heidi could remember anything when nothing triggered her memories. What was the trigger?
Everything

I have questions in regards to two characters and why they were not taken care of. Why leave them? The loose ends of keeping them doesn’t make sense. I didn’t get the closure I had hoped to gain from this ending. There were many unanswered questions regarding the minor characters in this book.