Read the first 10 chapters of He Said/She Said! In the summer of 1999, Kit and Laura travel to a festival in Cornwall to see a total eclipse of the sun. Kit is an eclipse chaser; Laura has never seen one before. Young and in love, they are certain this will be the first of many they’ll share. But in the hushed moments after the shadow passes, Laura interrupts a man and a woman. She knows that she … and a woman. She knows that she saw something terrible. The man denies it. It is her word against his.
The victim seems grateful. Months later, she turns up on their doorstep like a lonely stray. But as her gratitude takes a twisted turn, Laura begins to wonder–did she trust the wrong person?
15 years later, Kit and Laura married are living under new names and completely off the digital grid: no Facebook, only rudimentary cell phones, not in any directories. But as the truth catches up to them, they realize they can no longer keep the past in the past.
From Erin Kelly, queen of the killer twist, He Said/She Said is a gripping tale of the lies we tell to save ourselves, the truths we cannot admit, and how far we will go to make others believe our side of the story.
more
This was a stunning novel full of twists and suspense. I liken it to Hansel and Gretel – bread crumb being laid leading somewhere – and not always where you think. I will definitely look for more from this author.
The premise: Eclipse-chasing couple witness something horrible at a 1999 eclipse in Cornwall, UK, and their lives are forever changed by it.
This was a well-written dual POV novel that swings back and forth through time to give the reader a slow reveal of what happened in the past to justify what’s being done in the present. Keeping up with this for a writer can be hard, but Kelly has done it well here (and edited it very well) so that the story flows without mistakes.
The drawback with this kind of reveal (especially of something you know may be tragic) is the long, slow buildup and potential rehashing of ideas –no matter how great the writing is. It can be emotionally-draining or just feel long and drawn-out. There was a moment about 71% in this book where I wanted to be done with this well-written, but emotionally-draining book. I felt like it was rehashing plot. But then a plot twist happens, and I had to stay for the end. Nice trick, Erin Kelly.
Definitive characters, an unusually horrendous crime, the see-saw of two perspectives – plus the third of an intrusive person who happens to be the crime’s victim. This story has it all. Written tightly with dialogue you pay attention to, and yet still come to learn you misinterpreted or missed something. I couldn’t read it fast enough, yet wanted to savor it slowly to make it last. Several twists you didn’t see coming, with an ending to match. I’m still thinking about it weeks later, and imagine I will for quite some time.
Very enjoyable, kept one in suspense , seemed predictable but a Surprise ending.
I couldn’t put this book down. The whole book kept me guessing from start to finish. It had loads of twists that I didn’t see coming and that shocked me. My feelings changed so much, it really was an emotional rollercoaster. At the end, I felt great sympathy for Beth and Laura and I’m glad it ended the way it did. I’m unsure still about Kit. I feel a lot of sympathy towards him despite everything that happened. I loved this book and want to look more into the author’s books.
Events can look different to different people seeing the same event.
This book has many good reviews, hence why I got it. But I found it to be tedious and repetitious. Basically same thing…eclipse, not a good eclipse, eclipse, maybe a good one; again and again and again. Finally got interesting in last few chapters. Character development was one-note. Just didn’t like it at all, though ending was unexpected.
I couldn’t put it down. I’m adding Erin Kelly to my author list. Well written!!
This book will take the reader on a twisting and turning journey between friends & those who pretend to be. A jolting ending that will surprise the reader! Very cleverly written.
This is a brilliantly plotted book. It is full of unexpected twists and turns and, for those of us who enjoy a psychological thriller, I highly recommend it.
One of those multi-layered stories I really love. The further you read, the more you realize things are not what they seem and then the layers start peeling back.
Enjoyed the twists. The only criticism I have is the character/date shift for each chapter.
I could to put it down! So many plot changes!
Recent graduate and astronomy fanatic Kit has fallen in love with Laura, who is the kind of smart, beautiful and clever girl he’d have thought would be forever out of his reach. But – amazingly – Laura falls in love with Kit, too.
Kit is somewhat obsessed by eclipses and, inspired by his enthusiasm, Laura agrees to join him at the Lizard in Cornwall to witness her very first total eclipse of the sun. As the moon begins to cover the sun, Laura hopes to be enthralled. But clouds make this particular eclipse a far from perfect experience for Laura, and what happens next dismays her even more. She and Kit stumble across a couple having energetic sex in the half-light, and Laura is convinced the girl was being raped.
The man – Jamie – insists the sex was consensual, then he disappears into the crowd of eclipse-watchers. The girl – Beth – seems too traumatised even to speak, but later she insists she was brutally raped. When Jamie is caught and the case comes to trial, Laura is subjected to a punishing examination by the barrister acting for the accused, and she begins to have doubts. What if Jamie is telling the truth? What if he is innocent and the admittedly rough sex Laura witnessed was consensual? But then, goaded by Jamie’s counsel and feeling a sisterly affinity with the apparent rape victim, Laura tells a lie. A lie that could land her in prison and ruin her life.
She’s not the only one who is lying. As the story unfolds, it appears several other people have something to hide.