London science teacher Elliot Foster first meets veterinary nurse Gemma when she tours his Cuckoo Lane garden during a local Open Gardens Day. Two months later, they marry.
Everything is great, until one day, her parents and 28-year-old sister — Jeff and Lizzy Robinson, and Chloe — return from France and move in with them for a couple of weeks. Right from the start, they establish a mutually irritating and complicated relationship.
The Robinsons are sloppy and overbearing. They’re authoritative, rude and impolite. They are boorish, curt and cunningly insulting. Their clothes are often on the floor and they don’t flush the toilet. Lizzy has allergies and has problems with his cat Charlie. It doesn’t help that their granddaughter Katie shies away from them.
And Chloe. Something’s terribly wrong with her, despite her parents’ protestations. She’s always submissive, secretive, reclusive and terrified.
The Robinsons have secrets, slowly revealed through intermittent flashbacks. Elliot has reason to suspect them of child abuse and the brutal murders of his neighbors — a retired doctor and his wife. A short visit to the town where Gemma grew up reveals quite a bit, thanks to a chat with two fishermen in the local pub.
It becomes intolerable when they refuse to move out and take over the house. Things get ugly. Very ugly. Gemma, it turns out, had plans of her own all along.
There are a few story transitions that could be improved, but this is not too bad a read. Well, except that the first third of the book was rather irritating as the Robinsons’ characters were established. Their behavior reminded me of spoiled bratty kids that bully others. But I guess in this case, it’s a good thing, huh?
Grade: C+
Here to Stay
Author: Mark Edwards
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Thomas & Mercer (2009)
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