* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *
Colleen Hoover is the bestselling author of more than 20 books, but would you believe this is my first? Verity by Colleen Hoover is a standalone thriller and Verity of the title is a successful author of a series of books. After a terrible accident leaves her unable to complete the series, her publisher is on the hunt for a writer to collaborate with Verity. Lowen is hired to ghost write the last 3 books and she stays with the family to go through Verity's office and work materials, in preparation to write the remaining books.
Lowen is a struggling writer and this is an opportunity of a lifetime but after discovering a secret autobiography, she starts to sense a feeling of unease in the house. Excerpts from the autobiography are dispersed throughout the novel and they were thrilling and exciting to read.
Here's the intro to the autobiography (or book within the book):
"The thing I abhor most about autobiographies are the counterfeit thoughts draped over every sentence. A writer should never have the audacity to write about themselves unless they're willing to separate every layer of protection between the author's soul and their book. The words should come directly from the center of the gut, tearing through flesh and bone as they break free. Ugly and honest and bloody and a little bit terrifying, but completely exposed. An autobiography encouraging the reader to like the author is not a true autobiography. No one is likable from the inside out. One should only walk away from an autobiography with, at best, an uncomfortable distaste for its author. I will deliver." Page 61If that doesn't make you want to read on, I don't know what will.
My only reason for holding back on a fifth star was the twist at the end. It was dramatic and impactful, but the letter at the end was overkill. The letter was repetitive while drumming into us the big reveal to make sure every single reader understood the development. It was just too heavy handed and somewhat jarring after such a tightly composed thriller.
Verity is an engaging psychological thriller and I found myself thinking about the characters throughout the day. It's also wonderfully creepy and incredibly sexy with some steamy scenes that keep the pages flying.
Verity is an engaging psychological thriller and I found myself thinking about the characters throughout the day. It's also wonderfully creepy and incredibly sexy with some steamy scenes that keep the pages flying.
If you enjoyed The Girl On The Page by John Purcell or The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, then this is for you!
