When Martha loses her job, the reaction of her mother opens the lid on a web of lies that means her life is not as it seems. And as she uncovers one lie, there always seem to be another waiting to be unearthed...
This intriguing premise provides the basis of the latest psychological thriller novel written by St John’s-based author Rona Halsall.
’Her Mother’s Lies’ was released yesterday (Wednesday), and is already receiving four and five-star reviews, with online critics calling the book ’amazing, phenomenal and un-put-downable’ and ’easily one of the best books I have read this year’.
The plot follows Martha as she weaves her way through her complicated family history, finding out that her real father isn’t the man she grew up thinking he was, and that her past is built on a web of falsehoods and fabrications.
Specialising in creating gripping, suspenseful page-turners, full of surprise plot twists and turns, built on clever and meticulously-crafted storylines, and carefully created characters, Rona has carved out her own niche in the already-busy psychological thriller novel genre.
Such a market is already heavily-populated in authors trying to come up with original and unique storylines, and Rona admits that she has to work hard on her books to keep ahead of the market.
’I find that the hard thing is to keep coming up with new and original ideas,’ said Rona.
’The psychological thriller genre and market is pretty chock-a-block with writers at the moment, and I have to constantly think and ask myself "what can I do that hasn’t already been done before?". That is the tricky bit.
’My publishers have said to me that I am very good at coming up with original ideas, and I am very aware of the market place. I am constantly looking at what books are coming out and what is selling well.
’There are some story lines that I would not go near, and they are often repeated, or can be a bit grim.
’I want to tackle ideas that haven’t been thought about much.’
Rona has attracted fans from all over the world with her ability to deftly weave together complicated and fast-paced storylines whilst managing to avoid many of the clichés that many similar books fall into.
’I create my characters and then I make the story to put the characters in,’ she said.
’Every morning, I read the BBC news site and through that I often find stories that triggers my imagination.
’There comes a point where the characters I have start to fit storylines that I have thought of, and then the book starts to take shape.
’I try and plot it out, but when I write it, other things come to mind, things I haven’t planned for happen to the characters, and I find lots out myself as I go along.
’Inevitably, characters just develop, and you only understand who they are and what they are capable of when you out them into situations.
’You have to think about how they react, but as long as you are clear about their motivations, and what they are trying to do, hide or find out, then all the little bits fall into place.
’There is a really sad bit in this book, which I just didn’t know was going to happen until it became obvious.
’I remember looking at it after writing the piece and thinking "my god, what have I just done?".’
Having only started writing relatively recently, ’Her Mother’s Lies’ is Rona’s fourth novel in less than two years.
She released her first book, ’Keep You Safe’ in August 2018, which was quickly followed by ’Love You Gone’, with her third novel, ’The Honeymoon’ coming out earlier this year.
’When I wrote the first one, I was just thinking how nice it would be to get a book published. That was it,’ she said.
’After being given my first two-book contract, I thought that I had to write another one, and I have to make it a good one too. But I was well aware that that might be it.
’My second book has now sold 60,000 copies, and the third one has done really well too.
’It has just been number one in the Amazon charts for Australia. The charts update every so often, but at one point I was there at number one.
’I have been number one in the psychological thriller charts on Amazon too, number 37 in Canada, as well as being in the top 100 in the UK. It’s doing pretty well.
’Sometimes you have to stop yourself and tell yourself that that is quite good and something to be proud of.’
’Her Mother’s Lies’ is published by Bookoture, and is available to buy in paperback at Bridge Bookshops.
It is also available through most online booksellers.
by Mike Wade
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