The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes.

The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes. 

Paperback edition. Penguin, April 2013. 

Helen Walsh doesn’t believe in fear. She thinks it’s just something invented by men to get more money and better jobs, yet she’s sinking. Her job as a PI has dried up, she’s lost her flat and has had to move back in with her parents and now some old demons have resurfaced – her ex-boyfriend, Jay for starters. 

Jay turns up with a load of cash and a missing persons case. Having no money herself, Helen is forced to help Jay find Wayne Diffney, ‘the wacky one’ from boy band, Laddz. 

Helen’s not happy about having to work with Jay. Things didn’t end well with him plus Helen has a new boyfriend now – the very sexy Artie Devlin. Jay’s reappearance is stirring up way too many feelings Helen thought she’d left behind. 

Helen is drawn into a dark and glamorous world where her worse enemy is her own head and where she only really feels connected to Wayne, a man she’s never met. 

This book was my first introduction to Marian Keyes. Yes, it does deal with depression, (mental health is something that’s still not discussed or accepted enough in my opinion,) and this book handles it in an unique, open and sensitive way. I liked Helen. She seemed real to me. She’s having to deal with her own head (i’ve been known to be in mine a little too much.) There was a mystery to solve which is also one of my favourite types of stories and I felt as though I went on a bit of a journey with Helen. Clues are threaded nicely throughout the plot and had me turning the page until the very end. 

Jay isn’t a bad character, just flawed. Artie seems sweet and a good balance for Helen’s level of crazy. 

I liked this book overall and am looking forward to Marian’s next book. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.