Book Review

Basic Details:

Book Title: Haunted By The Past

Subtitle: (Friends In Crisis #1)

Author: Lucy Appadoo

Genre: Crime/Thriller/Suspense

Part of a series? Yes

Order in series: 1

Best read after earlier books in series?

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49185612-haunted-by-the-past

Overall score:

I scored this book 5/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

I read this series out of the usual order as I read the third book first. Fortunately, this series allows you to do so as the books are stand-alone within the series. The earlier books are, however, referenced within the next ones.

In this book, we meet Bella, a young woman and counsellor. During her youth she was bullied by peers and parents alike and she still struggles with this in her current life. Then the past returns to haunt her as a previous classmate is murdered. Bella receives strange and threatening messages. Can the police and her friends keep her safe?

What I liked about the book:

The book was action-packed and I couldn’t put it down.

What I didn’t like about the book:

I enjoyed the entire book.

My favourite bits in the book:

The unexpected twists and turns.

My least favourite bits in the book:

I enjoyed the entire book.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

This is the first book in the Friends in Crisis series.

What books could this be compared to and why?

This is a great thriller with romance mixed in. It’s not quite in the same league as the Karen Rose books, but it isn’t far off.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children No

Young Adult Possibly

Adult Yes

If you like suspense, crime and romance, this book may be the book for you.

I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.

Book Description by Author:

It begins with a message.

Twenty-seven year-old Bella Carismo is only looking to help people. Working as a psychologist in her hometown of Williamstown, she wants to expand her private counselling practice.

But those plans come to a screeching halt when she receives the first message. It comes from a person Bella doesn’t know, but who is extremely interested in her. Soon she’s bombarded with more emails and text messages that quickly escalate to vandalism and a physical attack on her life.

With the harassment steadily increasing, Bella crosses paths with Marco Petrazini, a senior detective who might be able to help her stop the stalker.

But Bella isn’t the only one facing attacks. When a girl from Bella’s past is murdered, Bella and Marco work together to solve the crimes, while trying to navigate their growing attraction to each other. As they fall deeper into uncovering the truth, they realise it could be more than either of them is willing to face.

Despite how they feel about each other, with Marco on Bella’s case, their budding romance is strictly forbidden. And every day that passes is one where the stakes are higher and the stalker grows bolder, resulting in a tragedy that shatters Bella’s world.

With more people turning up dead, her closest friends becoming targets, and the suspects piling up, Bella and Marco soon find that their lives, and the lives of those around them, are in serious danger.

About the Author:

Lucy is an author of romantic suspense, historical fiction/coming of age, short story thrillers, and non-fiction books. She is also a Registered Counsellor/Wellness Coach, and works as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for the Australian Government.

Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.

Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).

Lucy’s interests include meditation, exercising, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.

Check out more about Lucy at her website: www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au

If interested in her holistic health and well-being blog, coaching services, and non-fiction books, check out her website: www.holisticallylucy.com