Who She Was by Tony Parsons

 

A mysterious young woman, Clementine, turns up early one morning on the beach of St. Jude's in Cornwall. The residents of the small fishing community quickly treat her as one of their own. Clementine has recently been widowed and she is seeking a new life away from London. When her husband turns up, we learn that Clementine faked her own death to escape an abusive relationship. However, her husband is determined that she will return home with him.

I would describe Who She Was from Tony Parsons as a "slow burner", there's nothing dramatic in the early part of the story but you have this nagging doubt that there's something not quite right. We meet Tom, a journalist who gave up his job in London in order to open a restaurant in the Cornish village ten years before. Life for Tom sounds idyllic; he's doing a job he loves and has been accepted as a member of the community.

When Clementine turns up she has a strange effect on the residents. Her beauty and mystery seem to be a magnet for most of the men, and the women willingly accept her. There are hints of jealousy as some of the men vie for Clementine's attention, but none of it is hostile. This ability to play with people's affections is what makes you wary of the character. Initially I felt sympathetic, particularly when I learnt about her husband's death,  but this changed as she proved to be fickle.

The appearance of Clementine's husband is the catalyst for the story. You immediately begin to question everything she has said. As both sides of the relationship give their version of events you really do begin to wonder who, if anyone, is telling the truth. The more we learn about Clementine you begin to wonder if she is a masterful manipulator, particularly where men are concerned.

A momentary lapse leads to devastating consequences and we see the community rally together to protect its own. You feel the tension coming off the page in waves but there is always that niggle, a doubt, that we're still missing something. The conclusion finally reveals a number of twists, one of which is satisfying and another that has been there all along, just out of sight.

The Cornish coastline has to be mentioned as it's like a character itself. Beautiful and alluring but with hidden depths that are full of danger, waiting to drag the unsuspecting down. It is impossible not to make comparisons between the landscape and Clementine.

Who She Was by Tony Parsons will be published on 17th August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.