The Second Life of Amy Archer by RS Pateman

Orion, July 2013.

Released by Orion, July 2013.

I wanted to read this from the moment I read the blurb. I found the story idea so interesting. How could a child, who had been missing suddenly reappear after ten years – having not aged a day? Straight away, it pulls you into a mystery you’re immediately trying to solve.

I couldn’t put this book down (even when I was supposed to be doing other things, like sleeping.)

The Second Life of Amy Archer follows Beth’s story. It’s told entirely from her viewpoint so you do get a really good look into her mental state. It helps bring across the loneliness she is feeling at the beginning of the book as you start to learn about Amy’s disappearance.

Libby arrives on Beth’s doorstep ten years after Amy disappeared with the news that her ten-year-old daughter, Esme, is in fact, Amy.

Beth then goes on a rollercoaster of emotions, switching between belief and disbelief and I felt as though I was on her journey with her. I’m not sure how receptive I’d be if this happened to me or who I would trust.

This book gets you invested in the story as it is so well plotted (if I didn’t know, I wouldn’t think it was RS Pateman’s debut novel.) 

Beth is a complex and unpredictable character (maybe a little cold to start with but with what she’s been through, it’s not surprising.)

Libby and Esme are convincing but I wasn’t sure whether to believe them at first. I wanted to get through the book to find out what was going on.

The reincarnation idea is an intriguing one and it’s threaded well into the story. The mystery of Amy’s disappearance is unraveled as the book progresses and is revealed at a good pace.

Overall, I really liked this book. A great debut novel and I look forward to reading more from RS Pateman. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.