The Heights by Louise Candlish

​   This is my third read by the author who continues to make a strong impression. It isn’t just that she’s a very engaging writer who can draw you into the story – a lot of people can do it, especially with thrillers – it’s that her writing is so much cleverer than the average thriller might offer, nay, that an average book of any genre might offer.
    To be fair, what Candlish writes are technically more of crime dramas than outright thrillers, which denotes a stronger dramatic component. And though this might not be her favorite of mine, because I don’t care for “mommy thrillers” i.e. stories powered by the potency of mother’s love, there’s so much more to love here.
     Technically, this is also a “daddy thriller”, almost thought not quite in equal proportions. So, let’s go with parental devotion drive work instead. The parents of Lucas adore him and think the world of him. They disapprove of the new kid his prestigious school has paired him up with, a kid from less advantageous circumstances, a kid seemingly determined to steer their precious baby boy in the wrong direction.
      And sure enough, Lucas and Kieran become fast friends and Kieran goes on to seemingly return the animosity Lucas’ mom proceeds to develop towards him. Difficult few years of parenting, but sure enough soon Lucas is off to the university, Kieran stays behind, life returns to normal. Until the two get reunited for a party weekend over the Christmas and that reunion ends in tragedy.
      And Mommy cannot let it go. No punishment is enough. No consolation is there to be found. She becomes obsessed with a revenge-style form of justice and that obsession drives the entire story.
       There are side players there, her family, Kieran’s cobbled together family, people who really just don’t have enough power to curb a mommy on the mission. She is desperate, determined and (ever so slightly) demented. It seems like a one-way trip into the darkness, but Candlish is too smart, too nuanced of an author to let that stand. Instead, she pivots the story about midway through to Lucas’ dad, to provide a completely different perspective on the events. And it won’t be the last pivot, either. Because what Candlish has such a terrific understanding of is that every story has angles to it, not just the traditional she said/he said dichotomy, but a proper multifacetedness. In other words, it’s fifty shades of grey on the moral scale and then some.
        And so, the games unfold. Twisting and turning until the very end. Candlish covers all the conventional aspects of the thriller genre, but her approach is slower, more measured, more complex – hence me saying this is more of a crime drama – so I’m not sure it’s right for every fan of conventional thrillers. But if you’re into it for the dark psychology, excellent character writing and nuances…step right up. This book will thrill you. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.