Cass Bainbridge moves from London and a stable relationship to Brighton where she has taken a job as a lecturer at the university. Initially, I couldn’t quite understand why she had moved - she is still in touch with her partner who seemed as mystified as I was by her decision to start a new life in Brighton. However, as the book progresses we learn of Cass’s childhood and gradually her story unfolds
She is nervous of her new position, and enjoying having her own flat although obviously not used to doing things herself. Her partner ‘it transpires’ was her tutor and she has been with him she since she was at university, so it is in essence the first time she has really been on her own as an adult.
Her first days in her new job don’t go quite as smoothly as she would have wished, although she does gain a champion in that one of her students Beth is clearly impressed by her - hanging as it were on her every word. Conversely one of the male students seems to have taken an instant dislike to her, and challenges her every word. Then she starts to receive anonymous and threatening emails, and feels that she is being watched. Could someone mean her harm and if so why - is she a random victim or is she being specifically targeted? .
I tried to be as objective about this book as I possibly could, but the protagonist did strike me as being rather stupid.. Within minutes of reading an email about the importance of personal security following an attack on campus of a student by an unknown assailant, she goes off into a dark unlit area and is nearly scared to death. Surprise! Given that the protagonist is a history lecturer and thus has, one would assume, some level of intelligence, the many episodes illustrating her stupidity are simply amazing.
I admit that I am a character-driven reader, and try as I might I could not
like Cass Bainbridge. Gabrielle did a credible job and did keep me listening
to the end. I suspect that if I had been reading the book I may well have given
up early on.
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Lizzie Hayes