Disclaimer became one those great books that becomes impossible to put down and makes you feel a little bereaved when you finish it. It is very hard to believe that it is Renée Knight's debut novel; the narrative is addictively intriguing. Holding you its hostage from the very first page, it is a thriller to the very end.
Married documentary maker Catherine Ravenscroft finds a book in her new home that she does not remember buying, a book that turns out to reveal her deepest secret. Tormented by The Perfect Stranger, she strives to cover up her twenty-year old mistakes, but the author will not stop at just the book. Widower Stephen Brigstocke is determined to take his revenge after finding a manuscript written by his late wife. He is intent on destroying Catherine's relationships with the people she loves the most and the seemingly idealistic life she has created, but not everything is as straightforward as it seems. It is a complicated story of loss and pain, in which both love and trust are put to the test.
It could be said that the secret is slightly disappointing and not as sinister as you originally expect from the beginning, but you can forgive Knight for this as the rest of the book makes up for it entirely. And don't get me wrong, the twist is still a surprise and the ending far less dark than I anticipated (you can choose whether this is a good thing or not). The writing standard never wavers, and in this way, Disclaimer stops any disappointment from seeping in and ruining what is otherwise a remarkable novel.
Knight has a real talent for making the simple discovery of a book's existence seem like a death threat. She keeps you wondering what Catherine's secret is for most of the book, never losing your interest and without the waffling that can occur from a debut novel. Disclaimer is full of twists and turns that keep you switching your allegiance back and forth between characters; Knight has you wrapped around her little finger and you barely notice, let alone care. And the cherry on the cake? Renée Knight is English, and an author we should be incredibly proud of.
Married documentary maker Catherine Ravenscroft finds a book in her new home that she does not remember buying, a book that turns out to reveal her deepest secret. Tormented by The Perfect Stranger, she strives to cover up her twenty-year old mistakes, but the author will not stop at just the book. Widower Stephen Brigstocke is determined to take his revenge after finding a manuscript written by his late wife. He is intent on destroying Catherine's relationships with the people she loves the most and the seemingly idealistic life she has created, but not everything is as straightforward as it seems. It is a complicated story of loss and pain, in which both love and trust are put to the test.
It could be said that the secret is slightly disappointing and not as sinister as you originally expect from the beginning, but you can forgive Knight for this as the rest of the book makes up for it entirely. And don't get me wrong, the twist is still a surprise and the ending far less dark than I anticipated (you can choose whether this is a good thing or not). The writing standard never wavers, and in this way, Disclaimer stops any disappointment from seeping in and ruining what is otherwise a remarkable novel.
Knight has a real talent for making the simple discovery of a book's existence seem like a death threat. She keeps you wondering what Catherine's secret is for most of the book, never losing your interest and without the waffling that can occur from a debut novel. Disclaimer is full of twists and turns that keep you switching your allegiance back and forth between characters; Knight has you wrapped around her little finger and you barely notice, let alone care. And the cherry on the cake? Renée Knight is English, and an author we should be incredibly proud of.
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