Book review: Death Comes First, by Hilary Bonner

Review by Richard Beesley.

When Joyce Mildmay's husband is killed in a tragic boating accident, her world is torn apart. With their three children desperately missing their father and she missing her soul mate, she tries to bring some sense of normality to all their lives. Living as they do in a secure gated community just outside Bristol, with her family in similarly luxurious houses on the same development, Joyce is surrounded by those she loves.

But when a letter arrives from her husband six months later, delivered belatedly in the event of his death, her life is shattered. The letter contains a frightening warning, that all is not as it seems. That her father, Henry Tanner, and his business has secrets that present a danger to her and her children. Her family has always been shrouded in secrecy, and she knows little of the truth behind the letter. Yet she knows she cannot confront her father, that her mother is unlikely to support her against him, and there is no one else to turn to.

This is a truly exciting adventure. Part way through I felt the 'big reveal' was too soon and that some of the mystery was lost - but I was happy to be proved wrong. The twists and turns kept coming right to the last page, and as the plot emerged I had no idea which way it was going to go.

I loved this book. Really well written, and plenty of suspense. It's impossible to tell who is being honest, and what is really going on until the end in this tense novel.

Death Comes First, by Hilary Bonner, is published by PanMacmillan and is available from their website.

Disclosure: Pan Macmillan sent me this book to keep for the purposes of review. All opinions are our own.