Review: I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Publisher: Berkley
Pub. Date: May 3rd, 2016
Pages: 384

Genres: Crime Procedural / Suspense / Thriller / Mystery

Synopsis 

On a rainy afternoon, a mother's life is shattered as her son slips from her grip and runs into the street . . .


I Let You Go follows Jenna Gray as she moves to a ramshackle cottage on the remote Welsh coast, trying to escape the memory of the car accident that plays again and again in her mind and desperate to heal from the loss of her child and the rest of her painful past.

At the same time, the novel tracks the pair of Bristol police investigators trying to get to the bottom of this hit-and-run. As they chase down one hopeless lead after another, they find themselves as drawn to each other as they are to the frustrating, twist-filled case before them. 

What Did I Think About the Story?

I Let You Go starts with a horrible accident - a young boy dying on a rainy street after being hit by a car -  and then alternates chapters with Jenna Gray trying to recover from this horrible event and Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and his team trying to solve the mystery of who was driving the car and why they didn't stop to help the boy or come forward after the crash. After the initial shocking accident I have to admit that I began to wonder where all the "thrill" and "suspense" was hiding as it started shaping up into quite the sedate story of a mother trying to rebuild her life and an Inspector trying to keep his own family, as well as his growing affection for a colleague, in check. Then - BAM! - out of nowhere a twist is revealed, one that made me realize I had been reading the story all wrong and had been completely tricked! This doesn't happen too often in novels so I always get a little thrill when it does. The last time I can remember feeling this thrown by a twist was in Gone Girl, so the comparisons to that novel, in this case, seem appropriate.

Beyond this big twist, I really enjoyed the in-depth behind the scenes look at police procedures and the bureaucracy behind them. I've never been much for TV police procedurals but I enjoyed this written peek and it made me really appreciate the minute attention to details needed as well as the slow moving speed of following up on those details involved. With all the red tape involved against the flash-quick nature of violence it's amazing any crime can be solved with enough time to save anyone (just a little hint of what you'll find after the "big twist").

All in all, I found I Let You Go to be an exciting read once the action picks up about half way through. I was much more interested in Jenna's story and the shocking twists involved with it then the family drama associated with Inspector Stevens.  Still, I think it was a great mystery full of surprises and  is perfect for those that crave shocking revelations.

What Did I Think About the Cover?

I like it, even though it's quite simplistic. You won't know it until reading the story, but the writing in the sand does play a part, a part that helps move along the mystery and action. The darker, muted colors also represent for me the darker, dreary feel of the story. 

My Rating: 4.0/5.0 

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for a free copy of I Let You Go in exchange for an honest review.  You can find more reviews and links to where you can purchase a copy of the book on Goodreads.