AFTER HE DIED

AFTER HE DIED by Michael Malone. September 2018. Orenda books. £8.99. 300pp. Paperback. ISBN: 978-1912374335.

Books by Michael Malone always take you on an emotional roller coaster ride and this, his tenth creation, is no exception. Dealing with another painful topic - death of a spouse - and managing to skilfully turn the aftermath of the tragic event into a psychological thriller is no mean feat. Once again I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, mixed with the exhaustion of closely experiencing someone else’s agonies. Malone’s work continues to go from strength to strength and I am delighted to have been introduced to this first rate author’s work.

When we first meet Paula she has just had her world ripped from under her. Her husband has had a heart attack and died. Suddenly and unexpectedly and far too young. She finds the funeral extremely difficult - all the well meaning faces of people she doesn’t know - and longs to escape. When a young woman secretly slips her a note and disappears, Paula is confused. But not as confused as she will become soon after, when she reads the note and goes on to discover that her late husband is not the person she thought he was. Thomas, the successful business man, seems to have been involved in criminal activities in Glasgow, accrued vast wealth through less-than-savoury dealings and may even be responsible for murder. Paula refuses to believe it but is forced into taking action when her home is broken into and her safety threatened.

With her life in danger and her world turned upside down, can she get to the bottom of everything and somehow still hold onto her memories of her husband being the good man she always thought he was, or has she truly been deceived for years? Paula must dig deep into her memories to search for clues to the truth as well as find some strength to continue, when all she wants is to sleep.

A fabulous book. Full of twists and shocks, for you as well as for Paula. A timely reminder for all of us that not everything, or everyone, is as it first appears.

If you have yet to read anything by Michael Malone, then AFTER HE DIED is an excellent place to start. Next please!

Extremely Highly Recommended.