I’ve been on a Mel Sherratt binge this week and finished off Behind a Closed Door last night.
Synopsis:
Housing office Josie Mellor loves the community spirit of the notorious Mitchell Estate – when it doesn’t involve benefit cheats, aggression, or murder and mayhem, that is.
But it isn’t exactly a party for some of her tenants. Kelly Winterton thinks Josie is sticking her nose in where it’s not wanted. Her partner’s just been packed off to prison and she’s left worrying how to fend for herself and her young daughter. Charlotte Hatfield has fled from her violent partner. With four children in tow, she lives in fear of him finding her again. Amy Cartwright has learning difficulties. She finds it hard enough looking out for herself and her six-month-old baby without being taken advantage of.
In the midst of it all, Josie has secrets of her own. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she struggles to escape her controlling husband and, as her home life deteriorates, she realises only a thin line separates her from the people she’s trying to help. Can Josie save herself and return the estate to relative normality when a spate of burglaries causes havoc and deadly violence erupts? Or will both she and her tenants become victims of violence that no one will see?
This is the second book in The Estate Series, which begins with SOMEWHERE TO HIDE but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
My review
I really wasn’t sure when I started this series, if I’d like it or not as I’m a crime/psychological thriller kinda gal! However, I have been pleasantly surprised; I love how this series makes you feel like a “neighbour” on the estate and how you get to know your neighbours, their secrets, their dark lives and the sadness that exists; but also how you feel as though you are a part of the tight knit community that does exist on The notorious Mitchell Estate – yes it has it’s fair share of neighbours from hell but when you scrape beneath the surface there is a whole lot of hurt and damage that has led to this and you cannot help feeling as though you are cheering them on to better things!
Josie, the Housing Officer whom we met in book one, is the main focus for this book and things are not as they appear on the outside when we are taken into Josie’s life in the book; life behind closed doors is very different than others perceive it to be! And that’s what i love about this series – it could be any estate anywhere in the UK – we all have our perceptions and judgements – but when you open the door that the books provide then you get a wee glimpse of what is really going on!
You could read this series as stand alones but I’d recommend reading in order because it gives a greater insight into the characters that you will meet.
Continuing my binge with book number 3 in the series!
A definite 4 star read from me!
Scottish Crime Fiction Blogger and Author 