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Saturday 4 February 2017

*Blog Tour* Dare to Remember by Susanna Beard

 
About Dare to Remember
 
Reeling from a brutal attack that leaves her best friend dead and her badly injured, Lisa Fulbrook flees to the countryside to recuperate. With only vague memories of the event, she isolates herself from her friends and family, content to spend her days wandering the hills with her dog, Riley.
However, Lisa is soon plagued, not only by vivid flashbacks, but questions, too: how did their assailant know them? Why were they attacked? And what really happened that night?

As she desperately tries to piece together the memories, Lisa realises that there's another truth still hidden to her, a truth she can't escape from. A truth that may have been right in front of her all along.
 
 
My review of Dare to Remember
 
Dare to Remember is described as a psychological crime drama, and that is exactly what this book is, a gripping psychological read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. From the very first page I knew that I would just love this book. It is a psychological drama, rather than a thriller, in that this is a gentler read, with in-depth characterisation that explores deep psychological issues. There are wonderful insights along the way, but we share this journey with the protagonist, Lisa. There were no gasp out loud shocks for me, but I liked this aspect very much. I wanted to learn the truth at the same time as Lisa. It is a clever, and thought provoking read about the human condition.
 
Lisa and Ali shared a flat, and had done so for many years. They were happy, carefree and loving life. They were young women with their whole life ahead of them. All of this changed one night when they were attacked in their own home by a man. Lisa was savagely attacked and left traumatised, while her friend died. But what Lisa cannot remember is the attack itself, nor the events leading up to the attack. Everything is a complete blur. The book therefore revolves around Lisa and how she coped following the attack, with her believing that the only way she can live a normal live  is by retreating to the countryside, away from people she knows and where life is simpler and quieter. I loved the descriptions of life in this sleepy village, such as the everyday tasks that she did, like walking the dog, as she desperately tried to gain some sort of normality.
 
Throughout the book we realise that Lisa is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, as the result of being a victim to such a violent attack. She has flashbacks that allow her to slowly piece together what happened. She receives therapy, and this aspect of the book I found completely believable. It was very obvious that the author had done her research and clearly knew what she was talking about. The emphasis is very much that of Lisa being on a personal journey, where she must live through the trauma in order to pass through it.
 
Dare to Remember deals with some hard hitting issues, such as violent crime, control and misogyny. But on the flip side it also deals with the issues of friendship and trust. There is balance to this book, and the message is that of hope. It is a hugely enjoyable read with interesting and captivating characters, but ultimately it works, as we live and breathe Lisa's life through the duration of the story.
 
This is a slow burner of a book, with much attention to detail. If you love to read psychological dramas, that give great insight into human psychology and have thought provoking themes running throughout them, then Dare to Remember is the book for you. It's also a cracking good story.
 
Dare to Remember is published on 1st Feb by Legend Press and can be found on Amazon here
 
With thanks to Legend Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.
 
 
Follow the blog tour below.
 
  
 
 
 
About the Author
 
 
 
 
 
Originally a linguist, I've always loved words and writing. My career to date both demands and celebrates writing. 
 
"I discovered that the slope of writing to order is a slippery one, and that the descent is in fact pleasurable." Elena Ferrante. 
 
Writing fiction is new and joyous for me. It offers a freedom from constraint which is refreshing and full of wonder.
 
I like dark, contemplative stories with a twist. I'm fascinated by the psychology of relationships and the impact of insignificant events on people's lives.

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