Call Me Star Girl by Louise Beech
Published by Orenda Books
Publication Date: 18 February 2019 (ebook)
18 April 2019 (paperback)
Genre: Psychological Thriller
272 pages
Book Description:
Stirring up secrets can be deadly … especially if they’re yours…Pregnant Victoria Valbon was brutally murdered in an alley three weeks ago – and her killer hasn’t been caught.
Tonight is Stella McKeever’s final radio show. The theme is secrets. You tell her yours, and she’ll share some of hers.
Stella might tell you about Tom, a boyfriend who likes to play games, about the mother who abandoned her, now back after fourteen years. She might tell you about the perfume bottle with the star-shaped stopper, or about her father …
What Stella really wants to know is more about the mysterious man calling the station … who says he knows who killed Victoria, and has proof.
Tonight is the night for secrets, and Stella wants to know everything…
With echoes of the Play Misty for Me, Call Me Star Girl is a taut, emotive and all-consuming psychological thriller that plays on our deepest fears, providing a stark reminder that stirring up dark secrets from the past can be deadly…
Tonight is Stella McKeever’s final radio show. The theme is secrets. You tell her yours, and she’ll share some of hers.
Stella might tell you about Tom, a boyfriend who likes to play games, about the mother who abandoned her, now back after fourteen years. She might tell you about the perfume bottle with the star-shaped stopper, or about her father …
What Stella really wants to know is more about the mysterious man calling the station … who says he knows who killed Victoria, and has proof.
Tonight is the night for secrets, and Stella wants to know everything…
With echoes of the Play Misty for Me, Call Me Star Girl is a taut, emotive and all-consuming psychological thriller that plays on our deepest fears, providing a stark reminder that stirring up dark secrets from the past can be deadly…
My Review:
My thanks to Anne Cater for the opportunity to review this book and feature as part of the blog tour for Louise Beech and Orenda Books. It's not the kind of book I would usually choose going by the cover (I am guilty of choosing a book by its cover) but I have to say I enjoyed reading about Stella and the relationships which made her who she is.
Stella McKeever is a radio presenter who hosts a late night phone-in show. The main focus of the book is the murder of a young woman, pregnant with her first child. The murder happens a mere stone's throw from the studio where Stella works so when a man phones in to Stella's show saying he knows what happened that night, Stella is drawn in to the dilemma of what to do with this information. Because Stella herself has information about that night which could be of interest to those looking into the case.
Stella's mum Elizabeth is back in her life again after a 14 year absence, and seems to want to make amends for the missing years. During their meetings it appears that Elizabeth has things she's holding back from telling Stella - including the fact that she has a connection to Stella's boyfriend Tom. Why is Elizabeth still keeping secrets from her daughter now that the biggest question of Stella's life has been answered?
The writing of this book I found to be cleverly atmospheric, the description of Stella's radio voice seemed to add to the tension which built up gradually to her final broadcast where she invites people to ring in with their secrets. The pace is perfect - reflecting that calmness which seems to accompany a late night phone-in show on the radio however there's always that touch of adrenalin present with regard to what subject the caller will want to discuss. There are secrets hiding behind each of the characters which will either shock you or explain another aspect of the story, and the author does well to keep that edge which keeps you turning the pages in search of the truth.
I recommend this book - it is a murder mystery, however the way the case is solved barely involves the police at all which makes for an unusual angle on working out "whodunnit" for the reader.
About the Author:
Stella McKeever is a radio presenter who hosts a late night phone-in show. The main focus of the book is the murder of a young woman, pregnant with her first child. The murder happens a mere stone's throw from the studio where Stella works so when a man phones in to Stella's show saying he knows what happened that night, Stella is drawn in to the dilemma of what to do with this information. Because Stella herself has information about that night which could be of interest to those looking into the case.
Stella's mum Elizabeth is back in her life again after a 14 year absence, and seems to want to make amends for the missing years. During their meetings it appears that Elizabeth has things she's holding back from telling Stella - including the fact that she has a connection to Stella's boyfriend Tom. Why is Elizabeth still keeping secrets from her daughter now that the biggest question of Stella's life has been answered?
The writing of this book I found to be cleverly atmospheric, the description of Stella's radio voice seemed to add to the tension which built up gradually to her final broadcast where she invites people to ring in with their secrets. The pace is perfect - reflecting that calmness which seems to accompany a late night phone-in show on the radio however there's always that touch of adrenalin present with regard to what subject the caller will want to discuss. There are secrets hiding behind each of the characters which will either shock you or explain another aspect of the story, and the author does well to keep that edge which keeps you turning the pages in search of the truth.
I recommend this book - it is a murder mystery, however the way the case is solved barely involves the police at all which makes for an unusual angle on working out "whodunnit" for the reader.
About the Author:
Louise Beech is an exceptional literary talent, whose debut novel How To Be Brave was a Guardian Readers’ Choice for 2015. The follow-up, The Mountain in My Shoe was shortlisted for Not the Booker Prize. Both of her previous books Maria in the Moon and The Lion Tamer Who Lost were widely reviewed, critically acclaimed and number-one bestsellers on Kindle. The Lion Tamer Who Lost was shortlisted for the RNA Most Popular Romantic Novel Award in 2019. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice. Louise lives with her husband on the outskirts of Hull, and loves her job as a Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012.
Social Media:
Twitter - @LouiseWriter
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Huge thanks for the blog tour support Sandie x
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome Anne. Thanks for your support in being so organised and supporting my review as always x
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