Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant

 

Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant.

Published 2nd June by Hodder and Stoughton.

From the cover of the book:

Ali is a woman hiding many secrets. This summer, in the heat of the south of France, they are all about to rise to the surface ... 

SUN DAMAGE is the sensational new thriller from the universally acclaimed Sabine Durrant and is destined to be the thriller of summer.

The heat is intense.
The secrets are stifling.
She just needs to escape . . .

Nine guests arrive at a remote villa in the south of France.
They know each other well. Or think they do.
But at least one of them has plenty to hide - and nowhere to run.

Under the relentless sun, loyalties will be tested, secrets revealed, and tensions pushed to the point of no return.

***********

Ali has been trying to escape her traumatic upbringing for most of her life. Drifting and living on her wits, she does not picture herself having a cosy happy-ever-after, and has convinced herself that a life without ties is all that she needs. For the last three years she has been travelling with con-man Sean, acting as his accomplice in a series of profitable scams. Sean has taught Ali all he knows about being able to spot a mark, but he is careful to ensure she knows he is in charge at all times - and the constant fear of violence is starting to wear a bit thin.

When a con in France goes horribly wrong, Ali knows the time has come to escape once more. In an attempt to drop off the radar, she assumes the identity of someone who bears a striking resemblance to her, and falls in with a group of holidaymakers in a luxury villa in the South of France. These people live a very different kind of life to Ali, and she must keep her secrets close if she is to avoid being found by Sean. Her situation is complicated by the fact that everyone here seems to have secrets of their own - secrets that she knows exactly how to use to her advantage.

Sun Damage is an entertaining thriller that evokes all those tense, summer of secrets vibes. As the story unfolds, we come to learn about Ali's difficult past, how she has become prey to the despicable Sean, and the regrets that are starting to haunt her. The suspense builds in a lovely slow-burn when Ali is forced to flee and hide out among a quirky mix of characters who all have secrets of their own, and she has to stay on her toes to pull off the biggest con of her life.

Although the blurb promises an out-and-out thriller, this is actually something of a different beast, with lots of surprising depth. For me, the most interesting element is the way in which Ali, with all her special skills, is able to discern that everyone around her in the villa has a little con of their own going on - although their privileged status would never allow them to look at their behaviour in this way. This has an unexpected effect on her, and she finds her control slipping until a lovely couple of twists throw everything into disarray... but no spoilers from me.

This is an absorb in one sitting book, full of themes about pretence, insecurity, and the lies we tell ourselves and others. It would make a perfect beach read, and if I had not been reading it in sections for a readalong I would have polished it off in double quick time. Sabine Durrant is a new author to me, and I love her engaging writing style. I can't wait to explore her other books!

Sun Damage is available to but now in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a hardcover copy of this book in return for an honest review, and to Tandem Collective UK for inviting me to be part of this readalong.

About the author:

Sabine Durrant is the author of five psychological thrillers, Under Your Skin, Remember Me This Way, Lie With Me, a Richard and Judy Bookclub selection and Sunday Times paperback best seller, Take Me In and Finders Keepers.

Her previous novels are Having It And Eating It and The Great Indoors, and two books for teenage girls, Cross Your Heart, Connie Pickles and Ooh La La! Connie Pickles. She is a former features editor of the Guardian and a former literary editor at the Sunday Times, and her writing has appeared in many national newspapers and magazines. 

She lives in South London with her partner and three children.