Friday 9 February 2018

The Surrogate by Louise Jensen

‘You know that feeling when you want something so badly you almost feel you’d kill for it?’

Be careful what you wish for…

The Surrogate is the latest offering from Louise Jensen and those followers of her writing will not be disappointed in this her latest novel.

The first couple of pages set the scene for the story with two bodies being found in a house in a comfortable neighbourhood. We almost forget the significance of this find until much later in the book when all is revealed.

The story follows the lives of Kat and her husband Nick, a young couple desperate to be parents but on the brink of giving up after several heart breaking attempts at adoption. Then a chance encounter (or was it?) with Lisa, an old friend seems to give them hope that they may have one last chance to achieve their dream. However there is a catch. Kat and Lisa have a past. Something bad happened 10 years ago that Kat has never forgiven herself for, a secret so bad that she has not even shared it with her husband, who also has secrets from his past. In fact every one of the main characters seems to have a secret. This lead to me being on edge for most of the book as the plot twisted and turned continuously. The suspense kept me guessing right to the shocking end.

I can’t say that I liked any of the main characters. Their neuroses and behaviours did not endear them to me at all. The topic of surrogacy is a topical one. As women wait longer to start a family, more increasingly intervention and alternatives are needed to bring the possibility of a family to fruition. A word of warning. If I were thinking of being a surrogate or finding one to carry my child, I really don’t think I would be reading this story!

Reviewed by Fiona Frost

Catalogue link: The Surrogate

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