The Good Liars

The prologue set in 1920 features two separate scenarios: in the first, an unnamed grieving mother is devastated when her donation to a village’s war memorial is rejected and, in the second, a police inspector arrives at Darkacre Hall, asking members of the Stillwell family questions about a local lad who went missing prior to the war, in 1914.
 
Nurse Sarah Hove arrives at the Hall to assist in caring for Leonard Stillwell, who was left severely disabled after fighting in the trenches. Currently looking after him are his brother, Maurice, and long-time family friend Victor Monroe. Maurice’s wife, Ida, has been forced to attend to domestic chores since they were left without staff and Sarah must also help with these.
 
It's not long before sinister, brooding undertones to life at the Hall become evident. Sarah starts to experience strange psychic phenomenon, seeing what may be ghosts. Ida is unhappy with the choices she has made and can’t understand why the villagers hate her so much. Maurice is having nightmares, slipping back into the mental instability caused by shellshock. Leonard battles depression and feels life isn’t worth living. Victor seems to be the only voice of reason. When another policeman arrives to continue the investigation into the missing boy and asking more disturbing questions about the past, fractures start to appear in the family façade as their lies slowly unravel.
 
This immensely readable novel is part claustrophobic old-house-gothic ghost story, part Agatha Christie murder mystery, part reflection on class and social attitudes and what we now call PTSD following the ravages of war. In spite of her unease with the atmosphere, Sarah remains stoic and competent when compared to the rest of the family. Ida is difficult to like and Victor displays dismissive treatment of weakness in the others although he still remains loyal. Both Maurice and Leopold are victims of their experiences and one has to find some sympathy for them in spite of what it transpires they might have done.
 
Some readers may pick up early on subtle clues as to the murder mystery, but it is very cleverly crafted and thus the whole novel makes for compelling reading. This is the second book I’ve read by Anita Frank and although quite different from “The Return”, which I read and reviewed previously, it is just as good and highly recommended.

Five stars

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