Who Did You Tell?: A Novel by Lesley Kara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
June 16, 2020
NetGalley digital ARC
Random House /Ballantine Books
304 pages
Mystery, thriller, suspense
ISBN: 9781787630055
ISBN: 9780593156902
Original Pub UK
1/9/20 Transworld, 489 e-pages
1/9/20 Bantam 304 pages
6/27/20-6/29/20
Author of The Rumor
*Trigger warning: This story discusses drug and alcohol abuse and related sequela of this lifestyle including the lasting physical and psychological effects. The struggles with success and failures at becoming sober.
In London, Hilary “Astrid” Phelps is a 32 years old who was a rebellious teen who left home at 17 to escape the restraints of living the norm. She meets Simon at a bar and they begin a whirlwind relationship which included drug and alcohol abuse. Eventually, they separate and reunite until it drastically ends with him taking his own life.
Hilary changed her name to Astrid back when she was a teen because it meant “divine strength” which was the antithesis of everything from which she was running. It’s when she wakes up in a hospital with her mother by her side that she decides to start over. She moves in with her mother in her childhood town of Flinstead-by-Sea which was the last place she ever wanted to be. Her mother provides her with the “tough love” to remain sober after she is discharged from Rehab. Amongst the conditions for her living situation is that Astrid continue to attend regular AA meetings.
It’s at AA where she encounters a variety of characters with their own life stories and reasons which led them to AA. At the meetings Astrid is hesitant to reveal much of her story and is leery of the other members. Rosie is a member who has poor boundaries and always offering unsolicited advice. She works at a charity thrift store and currently homeless. Astrid begins to build a friendship with Helen another member of the group who avoids Rosie whenever she can. Similarly, Rosie cautions Astrid about Helen’s history and tendencies for relapse.
Although they caution in AA to avoid relationships after rehab, Astrid chats with Josh who was surfing where she likes to walk the beach. He asks her to meet for coffee which she accepts since it seems casual and she doesn’t need to disclose her alcoholism. Of course, her mother’s friend Pam seems to notice everything in their small town and reports back to her mother about this man. Astrid reassures her mother that she has no plans to venture off her path of sobriety.
Since Astrid returned home she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched and followed. The paranoia remains as she is still trying to make sense of life as a sober person. Blackouts and hallucinations were some experiences which continue to plague her memory. Additionally, she carries the emotional burden of feeling responsible for Simon’s death.
Eventually, Astrid discovers that someone was following her which leads to a confrontation regarding her past decisions. With clarification regarding past events, Astrid attempts to understand its implications for her future. Not wanting to disclose her alcoholic past with Josh, she resorts to trusting Rosie and Helen from AA who have seemed to be supportive.
Consequently, secrets and lies always have a way of surfacing when least expected. Astrid’s biggest secret she thought died with Simon which raises the question, “Who did you tell?” It seems that the past is again back to disrupt whatever peace she may have found. How does Astrid cope during all this pressure and revelations? Can past mistakes be forgiven or amended? Is it possible to ever leave the past behind?
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