Amazon:
LONDON: On a fine avenue of grand houses, big cars and electronic gates, lies a neglected urban wasteland.
It is nearly midnight, and very cold. Yet in this dark place of long grass and tall trees where cats hunt and foxes shriek, a girl is waiting…
When Saffyre Maddox was ten something terrible happened and she’s carried the pain of it around with her ever since. The man who she thought was going to heal her didn’t, and now she hides from him, invisible in the shadows, learning his secrets; secrets she could use to blow his safe, cosy world apart.
Owen Pick is invisible too. He’s thirty-three years old and he’s never had a girlfriend, he’s never even had a friend. Nobody sees him. Nobody cares about him.
But when Saffyre Maddox disappears from opposite his house on Valentine’s night, suddenly the whole world is looking at him. Accusing him. Holding him responsible.
Because he’s just the type, isn’t he? A bit creepy?
My reading experience:
Firstly I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my free ARC.
Very clever. All of the characters are invisible, or could be invisible in a city filled with anonymous neighbours.
A series of unfortunate events on an idyllic, twinkle lit landscape, and Owen suddenly filled with self doubt, is a criminal. Equally Saffyre our victim in all senses of the word finds herself suddenly metaphorically as well as physically disappearing into the darkness. By contrast Roan is deliberately hiding in the shadows to conduct his secret life and Cate, his wife, is hiding in his shadow.
I found this tale to be compelling and yet sometimes difficult to read, as I watched the inevitable unfurl and the plot take left and right turns in an extremely satisfying read.
Utterly enjoyable and indulging, I highly recommend The Invisible Girl.
Appletree Books 