Member Reviews
Helen is attending pre-natal classes when she’s befriended by Rachel, another mom-to-be. But as Rachel gets more involved in Helen’s life, her family and friends become suspicious of Rachel, as long held secrets come to life. Greenwich Park is a captivating, edge of your seat thriller, and as more layers are added, you’ll be flipping the pages faster and faster. Told in alternating POV’s, this one kept me guessing all the way to the end. Excellent read. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner was another page-flipping thriller, graciously offered by NetGalley.
It is about three wealthy (thanks to their parents’ passing) siblings, mainly Helen, pregnant and distant from other women in her cushy Greenwich Park community, suddenly bamboozled by a quirky stranger she met at a pre-natal class. Soon the storyline envelops her whole family.
I love this genre, and Greenwich Park had all of my favorite components: short and multiple point-of-view chapters, elite lives turned upside down by secrets, and a narrative that kept me guessing up until the very last chapter. 5 stars!
Superior writing, superior characters and a superior plot produces a dazzling five star novel. Fabulous read you will want to rush through to discover the truth while trying to slow down and savor the writing while never wanting it to end. A deep, richly written, psychological novel swirling around a family in upper crust London and a unpredictable streetwise stranger Rachel upending their idyllic lives. Twists, turns, red herrings, and various suspects depending on who is narrating the story. Debut novel, with, I hope many more to come.
OH. MY. GOSH. WOW.SERS. This book, you guys, I could not put it down. It captivated me from page 1 all. 👏 the. 👏 way. 👏 to. 👏 the 👏 end. 👏
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect out of this book, and from the first few chapters I felt a little meh about it. I thought I had everything worked out in my head but wow it just kept coming & then I could not put it down!
The premise is a pregnant woman befriends another pregnant woman at a weekly baby class and keeps randomly bumping into her in the neighborhood.
I loved this book & how the little details gave some hints but then also some would lead you to think it was someone else until the end where you’re completely in awe!
Absolutely stunning first novel with Lisa Jewell vibes. I will be looking for more from Katherine Faulkner.
Such a quick, fast read! I loved this book. It left me feeling trepidation like something was going to happen, and boy did somethings happen! Wowow how creepy and strange was Rachel! Very well written. 1000% recommend. What a thrill! This will end up being a movie, right?
I read this book in one sitting, it was so enticing and hard to put down! I went into this book knowing very little, but the cover and synopsis were so intriguing I decided to give it a go, and am so glad I did.
Katherine Falkner has done a fantastic job at setting an intense Scottish/English atmosphere. The description of Greenwich Park and the opulent luxury of the main characters was crafted well, making the reader instantly feel slightly put off by the narrators and setting a tone that things are being hidden from the reader right off the bat. None of the main characters felt fully reliable, and as the story continued to unravel it was hard to trust which tale of events are truthful.
While I was able to guess some of the twists, I think the author did a great job at weaving in multiple different subplots that kept the me guessing until the very end. I think this book will be great for fans of Ruth Ware. Highly recommend.
Thank you for NetGalley and the Publishers for providing me an Advanced Readers Copy of Greenwich Park.
Content Warning: abuse, infidelity, rape, pregnancy loss, depression
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is an excellent debut novel! It was definitely a book that I felt like I had to pay close attention to. There were different POV's throughout and even some anonymous narrations... many parts I didn't understand fully at the time, but I could tell they were significant to the story. Once the resolution became clear, so did many of those murky parts of the book and all the pieces fell into place.
Helen is finally pregnant after a number of losses. When Helen's husband, Daniel fails to show up to the birthing class, she meets Rachel and they partner up. I wouldn't say they become instant friends.... but Rachel certainly seems to latch onto Helen. As the plot develops, It becomes apparent that there is an ulterior motive SOMEWHERE.... but there are so many questions of who, what, and why... the suspense is fantastic!
While I didn't think the situations were entirely realistic or even believable at some points, I did think the author did a wonderful job of developing the characters The narcissists, abusers, doormats, family dynamics, and trauma all seemed very believable.
Overall, I think this is a fabulous debut novel and I will definitely be looking for more from Katherine Faulkner in the future!
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner #twentysixthbookof2021 #arc Thank you to #NetGalley and #GalleryBooks for the advance copy. Pub date 1/4/22
CW: adultery, rape, violence, murder, mention of lost pregnancies
I can’t believe this book is the author’s first. This story had me on edge from the very beginning. Main character Helen is pregnant and begrudgingly makes a new friend at her birthing class. The story revolves around her new relationship with Rachel and since this is a thriller, things devolve once Rachel starts showing up everywhere. What is the connection to a local rape case? Why doesn’t Helen’s husband seem concerned that their remodel is taking forever? Why is Helen so trusting?
One of the things that drives me nuts in books is couples that don’t talk to each other about basic things, and the problems that blossom from that lack of communication. This book is chock full of that trope, and it makes me batty. So many of Helen’s questions and issues could be solved if she would just PAY ATTENTION to what’s going on around her.
That said, I really enjoyed this book and its mystery and I read it very quickly, dying to know how it was all connected and who was responsible for what. I loved the denouement and the perspective of the last chapter that tied it all up.
@netgalley @gallerybooks #greenwichparkbook
I devoured this book in one day. I would put it down and find myself picking it right back up. Helen meets Rachel in a baby birthing class and Rachel quickly entwined their two lives. So much so that soon she is living in Helen's house with Helen and her husband, Daniel. Unexpected twists and an inventive plot. I loved it.
Greenwich Park is a debut thriller told by Helen, Serena, and Katie. Helen is married to Daniel and very pregnant after several miscarriages. Helen takes a prenatal class that she's invited her pregnant sister-in-law, Serena, but Serena backs out at the last minute. Helen's husband, Daniel, says he can't make the class due to working late.at the office. Rachel shows up for the prenatal class and introduces herself to Helen. Rachel seems to always be around. Every time Helen goes somewhere, Rachel is there and Helen begins to find this new friendship creepy.
The other two POV's are Katie, the girlfriend to Helen's troubled brother, Charlie. Katie is a reporter who is covering a recent rape case in town. The third POV is Serena, who is married and pregnant with Rory, Helen's oldest brother. All 3 POV's intertwine with each other giving backstories and current events.
This was a fast and fun read with major plot twists throughout the book. Just when you think you've figured it out, something else happens to get you off track. I couldn't put the book down as I was desperate to see how the plot played out! Complete rollercoaster ride! Definitely will recommend this book who loves a good thrill ride!
Lastly, I commend Katherine Faulkner, author of Greenwich Park, for doing a terrific job on a debut novel! I am looking forward to her future novels.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Love the cover of the book!! Greenwich Park is a debut novel about an extended family, Helen is married to Daniel, her brother Rory is married to Serena, and her other brother Charlie & his on again off again girlfriend Katie, who is a journalist. Helen and Serena are both pregnant. Serena agrees to go to a prenatal class with Helen, but doesn't show up and neither does Helen's husband Daniel. Another unaccompanied pregnant girl, Rachael does show up though and so Helen & Rachael are grouped as a couple. Here is where the story gets more than a bit strange. Rachael brings wine to the prenatal class. WHAT?! A pregnant woman not only is drinking but brings wine to the class, and not only does she bring it but she pours a glass for Helen and she pretends to drink it. The teacher would allow this?? As the story goes on Rachael also smokes. Helen has had several miscarriages in the past so you would think she would be appalled at Rachael's behavior and would distance herself, but no they become friends. I thought this was too much of a stretch to be authentic so as I did continue to read, I am thinking okay...whatever.... I don't like that at all. Overall it was a decent read, and it is a debut novel but where is the editor, does there not need to be any authenticity in a novel anymore? I want to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for a honest opinion.
This book starts a bit slow but definitely picks up the pace as it goes along. You find yourself wondering what twist is next and what is about to happen.
Wow! I have a lot to say...but the ending! I smiled a wicked Grinch smile because the ending was so good!
Never before have I read a thriller that ties everything up so sublimely, so perfect. This book was IT. At first I really puzzled over how each of the character’s stories interconnected. And then once you find the remaining puzzle piece, it all connects and it’s like a spark goes off in your brain and you begin to scramble. I loved it. I loved every wild twist and turn. Read this NOW.
Creepy. This book gives you the sense you should look over your shoulder. Helen and Rachel are realistic characters, but the plot itself seemed pretty contrived. 3.5 stars
A complex family thriller that keeps you on your toes, Katherine Faulkner's Greenwich Park does not disappoint. I look forward to reading whatever she puts out next!
This was a fast and fun read, with a sense that something bad is getting ready to happen almost the whole way through. It centers on Helen, who is heavily pregnant with her first child after having a series of miscarriages. She meets Rachel at a pre-natal class and gets sucked into Rachel's vortex without ever really making the decision to be friends with her. The book gives great insight into those dynamics, as well as Helen's relationships with her husband, brothers, and her brothers' wives and girlfriends.
There are a lot of characters but it's not hard to keep everyone straight, and it was fascinating to read about their shared history that ends up pulling the whole story together by the end. I did find myself frustrated with Helen, who should probably have learned to stand up for herself at this stage in her life, but I also felt sorry for her as secrets came to light.
I had all kinds of ideas about what was really going on but the ending threw me for a loop when it was all revealed. There are some pieces that I kind of figured out but I was legitimately surprised by the biggest secret. The author did a great job of tying up loose ends and pulling it all together by the end. I feel like this is a book that will stick with me and I'd recommend it to those who like psychological thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A fantastic debut novel I was wound up on what is wrong with Helen being so gullible. I loved how everyone was suspect, but why. It has plenty of characters, and I kept right up with everyone. It was crazy how my jawed dropped the last few chapters. The book was a pandora's box ...and finished wrapped in the bow. Amazing for me.
I really enjoyed this slow-burning, character driven thriller by talented newcomer Katherine Faulkner. This book has all the ingredients I like in a slow-burn thriller: complex and thoughtful characterization, twists and turns, suspicious friends and intimate partners, and excellent writing.
I was intrigued by this story from the start and never wanted to put it down. Faulkner ably casts a sense of dread and foreboding over the story from the beginning - something a lot of less capable writers are unable to do in the glut of thrillers out these days. The story centers on Helen, who meets a mysterious and somewhat sketchy woman named Rachel in her prenatal class. As Rachel insinuates herself into Helen’s life, you, the reader, will be screaming at Helen “STOP! Do not trust her!” and yet, you’ll sympathize with Helen and the web she’s suddenly caught in with this strange new and imposing friend as her long-awaited baby grows inside her.
Oh, and did I mention Helen’s dear husband is acting strangely? And so are several of her other friends and relatives. Faulkner does an impressive job in balancing suspect motives, red herrings, and potential villains, particularly for a debut author. There was never a moment I wasn’t interested in the characters ant Faulkner does a great job unfolding the mystery at the center of the story. The story moves from a slow burn to a faster burn, and the ending really satisfies. I did not have it fully figured out, and was pleasantly surprised, but I had enough of it figured out to make me feel smart, which is always fun.
A very impressive and compelling debut by a talented writer to watch. I’ll be excited to be on the lookout for Faulkner’s next book and I hope it’s another thriller. 4.5 stars for this well-written mystery.
Thanks to Gallery Books, NetGalley and the author for the ARC.