Sins of the Father – Sharon Bairden

Lucas Findlay thinks he has struck gold when he marries Rebecca, but she married him for one reason only – to destroy him.

TRAUMA RUNS DEEP

When her past comes back to haunt her, Rebecca begins to disconnect from herself and the world around her. As secrets are unearthed, she begins to fear for her sanity… and her life.

TRUTH WILL OUT

With her world unravelling around her, Rebecca clings to her determination to make Lucas pay, whatever the cost.

FORGIVE HIS SINS

But someone must pay for the sins of the father…

 

 

My thanks to Meggy at Red Dog Press for my review copy and for the opportunity to join the blog tour for Sins of the Father.

 

Stand down cozy crime fans this one isn’t for you I am afraid. Sins of the Father is very much a dark and gritty story which tackles (amongst other things) domestic abuse, mental illness, murder and child abuse.

Still with me?  Good you should be as Sharon Bairden has delivered a powerful debut which takes an unflinching look at some of societies darker secrets and wrapped a story of betrayal and revenge around them.

The focus of the story is Rebecca. The first quarter of the book introduces the reader to her world and shows how Rebecca had always been a bit different – from a young age she could hear voices in her head who would try to take over from Rebecca and guide her to say or do things which she may not normally have considered.  The strongest of these voices was Samantha and Rebecca would often speak directly to her – essentially arguing with herself and allowing the reader to understand Rebecca’s conflicts.

Life isn’t easy for Rebecca, initially living alone with her mum the pair are close and determined to take on the world. Unfortunately for Rebecca her mother makes a new friend and starts to lose interest in her daughter, drink and drugs take over and soon a string of strangers will be at Rebecca’s home looking for time with her mother…and subsequently with Rebecca. The young vulnerable girl becomes too easy prey.

All too late the authorities catch up with what has been happening and Rebecca concludes her childhood in care and foster homes.  She is a shell of her former self and seemingly irrevocably damaged.

Yet we spin forward a few years and Rebecca has her demons mainly under control. She is a successful player in Glasgow’s charity sector and has married Lucas, a fellow charity worker. The pair appear happy but behind closed doors this is a badly damaged coupling and there is much more to this marriage than anybody would have thought possible.

But Lucas and Rebecca have bigger problems, even if they don’t know it yet. Someone is watching. Someone who has been waiting for an opportunity to right a wrong and someone who wants revenge. It may be too late for Lucas and Rebecca – is their world about to collapse around them?

Powerful, emotive and dark – this is one hell of a debut.

 

Sins of the Father will be published by Red Dog Press on 27 November 2020 and will be available in paperback and digital format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B088HGYLFF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0