Jane Corry appreciation post

I've read four of Jane Corry's ten novels to date. Corry is a British author with a background as a magazine feature writer and creative writing tutor. She was once a writer-in-residence at a high security male prison! I have loved the books I've read so far. Corry writes relatable but complex and flawed characters who are transplanted into dark, psychological thriller stories. Her stories have intricate plots but never stray too far into unbelievable territory. Corry's characters are complex (and not always likable) and she takes on some sensitive topics in a genuine and heartfelt way.

I read the four novels in 2023 but waited to re-read one of them before writing this post as I needed to refresh my memory. Here is my review of all four.

My husband's wife | Published May 2016 | Read April 2023

My husband's wife is my least favourite of the four I have read, and I had to read it again to write this review to remind myself of how it all panned out. I've read other reviewer's comments that align with mine, as I, too, had mixed feelings about this one. The book is told in two halves and from two different points of view, Lily's and Carla's.

The first half covers when Lily and Ed are first married and living in a London flat, starting out in their careers. Lily is a newly-minted solicitor, taking on a case to defend a man who was accused of killing his girlfriend. Professional boundaries are tested as Lily feels strangely drawn to her client, while Ed is struggling to build a career as an artist. Carla is 9 years old in part 1, living with her mother, Francesca, in the same building as Lily and Ed who end up babysitting Carla while her mother works. Francesca, an Italian immigrant, struggles to make ends meet and embarks on an affair with a married man. Carla becomes the focus of a painting that Ed creates that is important to the story later. Lily and Francesca's worlds collide at the end of part 1 (will not spoil as to the reason why) and the result is that Francesca and Carla move back to Italy.

The second half of the book jumps ahead 15 years or so, where we find Lily a successful lawyer still married to Ed but now with an autistic son. Ed has made a fortune out of Carla's painting and Carla returns to London dead set on revenge for what Lily did to have her sent back to Italy. I know I said at the outset that Corry's books do not fall into the trap of many thrillers of being completely unbelievable, but this one kind of does. It's hard to write about what transpires in the second half without giving it all away. I will just say that there are lots of twists and turns. It's not so much that they are unbelievable, it's just that the characters' actions were extreme in their reactions to what happened to them to cause these reactions.

There are threads throughout the novel that address infidelity, insecurity, and society's treatment of women who do not conform to the norm. I didn't much like any of the characters but I was still drawn into the story. I could see the skill in Corry's storytelling, I just couldn't connect with the characters' actions or motivations. I would say that the reader's values and view of the world would impact on their reaction to the story. I appreciated its complexity and the connections between the characters and I couldn't put the book down, but I still struggled to be invested in the outcome. I still liked the book, though, as I could appreciate Corry's storytelling and characterisation.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Blood sisters | Published June 2017 | Read November 2023

Blood sisters was a much better offering by Corry. The story centres around Alison, who is consumed by guilt about an incident from her childhood that left her sister, Kitty, brain damaged after Kitty was hit by a car. Kitty lives in a care home while Alison is an art teacher. Corry does a nice job of writing about Kitty's disabilities in a genuine and compassionate way. Unfortunately, Kitty is a nasty person and as a reader I had a hard time feeling sorry for her.

The story moves along as someone seems to be watching Alison and Kitty. The plot moves into revenge territory, and explores sibling rivalry and long-kept secrets. Corry's experience as a writer-in-residence is evident in portraying Alison's job as an art teacher in an open men's prison. Those parts of the book felt authentic.

Corry's writing skills are well on display in Blood sisters. The novel is expertly written with a complex and intricate plot. I had no idea what was going on so I found the book to be super suspenseful I loved Alison and felt connected to her story so I was glad of the ending for her character. Blood sisters is clever, sinister, full of twists and turns, and I was completely invested in it from the outset.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I looked away | Published June 2019 | Read November 2023

I can honestly say that I looked away will haunt me forever. It is a book that shocked and saddened me and I will never forget it.

Ellie is at the centre of the story. She's 49 and married to a university professor who is a complete pig. She looks after her grandson every Monday but one day she is distracted and something terrible happens.

There are frequent flashbacks in the novel to Ellie's childhood where she was treated appallingly by her new stepmother and her father after her mother died of cancer. Ellie ends up marrying a complete b*****d who senses her vulnerabilities and abuses them. He's a controlling, narcissistic serial cheater and the chapters that describe his behaviour towards Ellie are heartbreaking and hard to read.

There's a separate thread running through the book of the story of Jo, a homeless woman. She travels around England throughout the book and meets a bunch of interesting characters. Corry presents a sympathetic and authentic portrayal of life on the streets and I was invested in Jo's journey.

Both Jo and Ellie's narratives are beautifully crafted. Corry writes a captivating thriller that unveils the truth about what happened to Ellie's grandson. There's a connection between the two main characters as the past and present timelines converge. The book is quite intense, as both women experience mental anguish and hardship. Ellie in particular has a strong sense of undeserved happiness, drummed into her by her nasty stepmother and cruel husband. The ending had me reeling as I didn't guess what was going to happen. I kept thinking about this book long after I had finished it.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The lies we tell | Published June 2021 | Read March 2023

The lies we tell was actually the first book of Corry's that I read. It's an interesting approach to the psychological thriller genre as it starts with Sarah and Tom, who have been married for some time, discovering that their son, Freddie, has killed someone when he comes home at 3am one morning. The book then goes back to when Sarah and Tom first met and how their marriage has changed over time, more distant now and with secrets kept from each other. Corry crafted an interesting story - less complex than the others of hers I have read but still well put together - and as usual tackled tough subjects with sensitivity and compassion.

The book is mostly about how two different people ended up together and how, understandably, they react differently to Freddie's confession. Corry explores how far a parent might go to protect their child, no matter what they have done. I liked this approach to the story but it felt more like a character study and domestic drama than a thriller. That said, the character exploration was detailed and I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Tom's journey. I have seen other reviewers say that it was tedious. I didn't think so!

Things ramp up when Freddie has to face up to what he's done and Sarah is confronted with a huge moral dilemma. It was interesting to see how the family dynamics played out and where Sarah, Tom and Freddie ended up as they dealt with Freddie's actions. I was rooting for good things for Sarah as I really felt she deserved them. As I've found with the other novels I've read of Corry's, I didn't guess what would happen and I like that in my thrillers. The ending wasn't particularly mind blowing, but it made sense within the context of the story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'll keep an eye out of the other books in Corry's collection as the four I have read so far definitely have me interested in this author. I always admire writers who can craft intricate stories and I like to be surprised by the direction they take without having a crazy, over-the-top ending. If you like books that explore interesting social topics, then give Jane Corry a try.