Beneath the Skin

By: Caroline England

Narrated by: Laura Hobson

No-one remembers your past. But you do.

‘Antonia, Antonia. My name is Antonia.’

It’s been her name for many years. But sometimes, like tonight, she forgets.

Antonia has a secret. A secret so dark and so deep that she can barely admit it to herself. Instead, she treats herself to Friday night sessions of self-harm while her husband David is at the pub, and her best friend Sophie is drinking too much wine a few doors down.

Nobody close to her knows the truth about what the teenage Antonia saw all those years ago. No-one, that is, except her mother. But Candy is in a care home now, her mind too addled to remember the truth. Antonia is safe. Isn’t she?

The lies start small. They always do. But when the tightly woven story you’ve told yourself begins to unravel, the truth threatens to come to the surface. And then what’s going to happen?

Critic reviews

‘Gripping, immersive, horribly believable, Beneath the Skin asks can we trust our friends? Should we believe our lovers?’ SANJIDA KAY, AUTHOR OF BONE BY BONE

‘Four couples with interlocking histories; eight individuals, all with secrets that are ready to explode. Set in the lush heartland of the Cheshire countryside, this is a tautly elegant psychological thriller, razor-sharp and utterly believable. I loved it.’ SARAH JASMON, AUTHOR OF THE SUMMER OF SECRETS

‘I loved Beneath the Skin. It's so beautifully written and kept me hooked right to the end. Caroline England knows her wonderful cast of characters inside out. I didn't want this book to end.’ LIBBY CARPENTER, AUTHOR OF 99 RED BALLOONS

'I loved this book. A clever, glamorous, observational, page turning read which pulled me in right from the start until the pivotal, and most satisfying end. Beneath the Skin transcends the ordinary crime genre, taking it to another level.' AMANDA ROBSON, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF OBSESSION

‘Beneath the Skin is a startling debut. It slowly put me under its spell, until I was absolutely beneath its skin. With characters that pulsate off the page, complex relationships, and dark mysteries, this novel follows the lives of four couples. Their dramas are revealed slowly, patiently, and beautifully, until the breath-taking climax. I can’t recommend this enough.’ LOUISE BEECH, AUTHOR OF HOW TO BE BRAVE

Disappointed

This book was very hard to stay in. Jumping from character situation to another situation within minutes of each other. No consistent story line. I finished it hoping there would be a huge twist that would make the chaos worth it but there was not. The narrator did an exceptional job.

Waste of time

This is a very VERY boring story. Nothing about the “plot” or characters draws you in. I kept looking at how many pages were left thinking at some point SOMETHING intriguing will occur. And then the big reveal occurs and it’s as predictable as rain when it’s already raining. The ONE thing I held on for...the paternity reveal...NEVER HAPPENED. Shallow characters,dragging story, and the narrator does not pause long enough between sections to alert the listener that character perspective has changed.

Disappointing!

Could not follow

I tried to connect and follow this book but just couldn't. To many characters to keep up with and no direction.