A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon

 

Linda and Terry have recently moved from one part of a large housing estate to a better part of the estate. When Linda opens some mail addressed to the previous occupant by accident she becomes obsessed with the person, Rebecca, who lived in their house before them. It's only a catalogue for furnishings but Linda feels that Rebecca's life is so much more glamorous than her own hum-drum life.

Alongside this is a possible serial killer preying on young women on the estate. Curtains are twitching, especially when police officers start knocking on doors.

This is a difficult book to "like", neither Linda or Terry have any redeeming qualities. Terry is a "lump", your stereotypical working class man. He goes to work, comes home expecting his egg and chips to be on the table ready for him then spends the evening glued to the TV.

Linda is the central character. Her mother has never shown her any love and is still a very dominant character in her life. She's lonely and openly admits to having a "small" life, hence her fixation with the mysterious Rebecca. Linda also has history of trying to insert herself in police investigations. What is very obvious throughout is that Linda is socially awkward, she finds it impossible to read situations or people. If anyone shows her any sympathy or attention Linda is convinced they are now best friends and will go out of her way to manufacture meetings. Linda is one of those characters that makes your skin itch.

A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon will be published by Harper Collins UK on 28th April 2022 in hardback and ebook. My thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for a review copy.