Those We Left Behind by Stuart Neville

Description from Goodreads:

“When twelve-year-old Ciaran Devine confessed to killing his foster carer it sent shock waves through the nation. He said his older brother Thomas had tried to stop him, but the killing rage had burned too brightly. Seven years later, Ciaran’s release will set a new and even more deadly chain of events in motion.

DCI Serena Flanagan, then an ambitious Detective Sergeant, took the boy’s confession after days and weeks spent earning his trust. He hasn't forgotten the kindness she showed him – in fact, she hasn't left his thoughts in all the years he’s been locked away.

Probation officer Paula Cunningham, reluctantly tasked with helping Ciaran re-enter society, suspects there was more to this case than the police or the prosecutors uncovered. Soon she wonders if Ciaran really committed the murder at all. His confession saved his brother Thomas from a lengthier sentence, and Cunningham sees the unnatural hold Thomas has over Ciaran.

When she brings her concerns to DCI Flanagan, the years of lies begin to unravel, leading to a truth stranger than anyone could have imagined.”

**************************************************

I haven’t read any of Stuart Neville’s books before but I have heard good things so was pleased when I was sent an ecopy of “Those We Left Behind” from NetGalley and the Publisher - Random House UK / Vintage Publishing, in return for an honest review and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

The story is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and is a dark, psychological thriller as well as a police procedural. The main premise of the story is one I imagine to be difficult to write about - child murderers - but Mr Neville does so in a tactful way being careful not to sensationalise it or demonise the perpetrators.

All the main characters are complex, interesting and credible with each one being expertly developed. This is the first book which features the main protagonist, DCI Serena Flanagan. She is a very strong personality with many dimensions to be explored in future books.

The storyline is compelling and believable and despite it being set over two timelines, it does not become confusing but adds to the understanding of the characters and further enhances the reading experience. The story flows from the beginning to the end at a good pace with many a tense moment which will have you turning the pages at a rapid rate to find out the truth of what really happened.

Overall, a really good read which keeps you guessing until the end and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend to anyone who likes this genre.