Return to Blackwater House

Return To Blackwater House is the fourth of Vikki Patis' books that I have enjoyed. It features a minor character, Kate, from her earlier thriller novel, The Diary, now in a significant role as the Family Liason Officer assigned to Ava's case when the teenager mysteriously disappears from a New Year's sleepover. Other than this link, however, the two novels are standalone stories. I'd highly recommend reading them both!

While I didn't feel that Return to Blackwater House had quite the same degree of tension as The Diary, it is still a cracking good read with an original and convincingly plausible plotline. We see most of the story from Rebecca's perspective with Kate taking over narrating for some chapters. I loved being inside Rebecca's thoughts because she is somewhat of an unreliable narrator and carries a lot of demons from her neglected childhood. Patis deeply explores how our formative experiences shape our adult psychology, and how we often recreate the familiar even when such scenarios are self destructive. The relationship between Rebecca and her husband, Daniel, is brilliantly portrayed and I appreciated how Blackwater House almost becomes a character in its own right. The memories that just being there again dredge up for Rebecca add a great depth to her character and the atmosphere of this isolated place perfectly focuses the tone for this whole novel. There's a strong sense of Cornishness throughout Return To Blackwater House as well - true Cornwall, not just cute holidays!

I don't want to say too much more about this book and then inadvertently spoiler something. The more I think back over the story though, the more enthusiastic I get in remembering how well plotted and written it is. If you enjoy psychological thrillers depicting strong, realistic women then Return To Blackwater House will be a rewarding read.