Knowledge is power, but secrets are more powerful still...secrets have a life of their own and a way of working themselves to centre stage. When Kate Mayfield receives a letter from Mrs Ivanisovic, she realises that the secret she has kept for more than thirty years is not so safe as she imagined. Haunted by the echoes of a vanished summer which changed her life for ever, Kate is forced to confront memories she would rather forget...a dead white face in a flickering beam, not flinching when the soil hit it...Mrs Ivanisovic is dying and demands to be told the truth, but is Kate's story of love, lies and murder really what Mrs Ivanisovic wants to hear? And how much does she herself already know? The danger is always there that a secret is going to find a way out...
The Pull of The Moon
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Well written and constructed. --The Bookbag
A captivating read that injects new life into the familiar tales of murder, lies and love ... A truly gripping read. --Westmorland Gazette
A captivating read that injects new life into the familiar tales of murder, lies and love ... A truly gripping read. --Westmorland Gazette
About the Author
Diane Janes grew up in Birmingham. In between marrying and raising two children she worked in seemingly every field, from mortgages to engineering, until eventually she gave up the day job to write full time. This resulted in two shortlistings for the CWA Debut Dagger and subsequent publication. Diane has lived in the north of England for the last twenty years. When not writing or lecturing she enjoys travel and watching tennis.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By AR
VINE VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine Review
(What's this?)
Thirty years ago, Kate Mayfield spent the summer in a country house with her boyfriend, Danny, and his best friend, Simon. On a day trip to the beach, they met free-spirited Trudie, who came to live with them. Her addition to the party created tensions between the group, and jealousy and passions soon erupted, followed quickly by violence...In the present, Kate receives a letter from Danny's elderly mother, summoning her to a final meeting. How much can she possibly know about the traumatic summer that has haunted Kate ever since?
When I first started this book, I didn't think I would like it. For me, the beginning had an air of 'Surfacing', by Margaret Atwood, a novel I particularly hated, but it soon moved away from this. The book manages to evoke the Seventies atmosphere well, and I could imagine what it was like to be young in this time; plenty of Cat Stevens, cheesecloth clothes, long hair and sweeping skirts.
At first the story is a simple tale of youthful relationships, the mystery comes in the present day segments, where Kate dwells on her visit to Danny's mother, afraid of past secrets. As the story slowly unravels, through a combination of flashbacks and present-day discussion, a heavy, claustrophobic atmosphere emerges as the teenagers fight and loyalties change. The summer is unbearably hot, and the group are isolated from the outside world in a lonely house belonging to Simon's uncle. Whenever an outsider appears, their presence jarrs amongst the teenagers. The situation comes to a head with a mysterious death three-quarters of the way through the novel, and the remaining members of the group quickly descend into guilt and paranoia. Their feelings are convincingly drawn, and their petty disagreements and squabbles add realism to the story. Read more ›
When I first started this book, I didn't think I would like it. For me, the beginning had an air of 'Surfacing', by Margaret Atwood, a novel I particularly hated, but it soon moved away from this. The book manages to evoke the Seventies atmosphere well, and I could imagine what it was like to be young in this time; plenty of Cat Stevens, cheesecloth clothes, long hair and sweeping skirts.
At first the story is a simple tale of youthful relationships, the mystery comes in the present day segments, where Kate dwells on her visit to Danny's mother, afraid of past secrets. As the story slowly unravels, through a combination of flashbacks and present-day discussion, a heavy, claustrophobic atmosphere emerges as the teenagers fight and loyalties change. The summer is unbearably hot, and the group are isolated from the outside world in a lonely house belonging to Simon's uncle. Whenever an outsider appears, their presence jarrs amongst the teenagers. The situation comes to a head with a mysterious death three-quarters of the way through the novel, and the remaining members of the group quickly descend into guilt and paranoia. Their feelings are convincingly drawn, and their petty disagreements and squabbles add realism to the story. Read more ›
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Big Bertha
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine Review
(What's this?)
The idyllic summer of 1972 and four teenagers, Katy, Danny, Simon and Trudie are spending that summer house sitting at Simon's uncles house in the tranquil Hereford countryside. The tranquillity is brought to a sudden halt and things will never be the same again.
Thirty years later and Katy receives a letter from Danny's mother asking to see her, bringing the past and secrets buried there back to the present.
A well written book that drew me into the plot and kept me reading, intigued to find out what happened. The lazy summer hanging out of students was well depicted as were the relationships between the four characters, the undercurrents that threatened their friendship and the tranquil setting.
A good solid read that kept me intrigued from start to finish, I'll certainly be looking out for more by this author.
Thirty years later and Katy receives a letter from Danny's mother asking to see her, bringing the past and secrets buried there back to the present.
A well written book that drew me into the plot and kept me reading, intigued to find out what happened. The lazy summer hanging out of students was well depicted as were the relationships between the four characters, the undercurrents that threatened their friendship and the tranquil setting.
A good solid read that kept me intrigued from start to finish, I'll certainly be looking out for more by this author.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Amazon Customer
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine Review
(What's this?)
It's the summer of '72 and 3 students set off to house-sit for a relative. Their idyllic summer of love is soon interrupted by an uninvited newcomer and the mounting tension that arises from the oppressively warm summer and their inactivity and boredom eventually leads to tragic events that will change their lives forever.
The story unfolds as a combination of flashbacks to that summer and present day in the life of one of the housesitters who is now a single, middle-aged, retired teacher. We as readers are not fully aware of what exactly happened till the very end (although most experienced crime readers probably have a pretty good idea) which in a less gifted author's hands could prove really annoying and unnecessarily complicated. However, I think it works rather well in this instance. By mixing the past and present, the author manages to convey the consequences these events still have in the lives of the survivors and just how deeply it has affected not only those directly involved, but their families and futures as well.
As some of the other reviewers have already mentioned, this kind of storytelling is not new or innovative, but Diane Janes does it very convincingly. She has managed to create an oppressive and suffocating atmosphere around the past as well as the present and it makes for an entertaining and gripping read.
The story unfolds as a combination of flashbacks to that summer and present day in the life of one of the housesitters who is now a single, middle-aged, retired teacher. We as readers are not fully aware of what exactly happened till the very end (although most experienced crime readers probably have a pretty good idea) which in a less gifted author's hands could prove really annoying and unnecessarily complicated. However, I think it works rather well in this instance. By mixing the past and present, the author manages to convey the consequences these events still have in the lives of the survivors and just how deeply it has affected not only those directly involved, but their families and futures as well.
As some of the other reviewers have already mentioned, this kind of storytelling is not new or innovative, but Diane Janes does it very convincingly. She has managed to create an oppressive and suffocating atmosphere around the past as well as the present and it makes for an entertaining and gripping read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Maya300
Format:Kindle Edition
I bought this for my kindle as it sounded like it might be a good read. It turned out to be a fantastic read with lots of twists and turns and in the end i just had to finish it in one sitting. I liked the smooth changes from the past to present day. All in all it was very well written and i really got involved with the characters. I'm now looking for something to fill the void i have now that this is finished!! Well worth a read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By L. Fairhurst
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wonderful read,brilliantly written, couldn't put it down. Very atmospheric, I was completely drawn in as the story of events from a long-ago summer unfolded. Freedom, first love, deception, death....
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Diane Janes usually writes non-fiction, this is her first published work of fiction, and a very good first novel too. Janes is quite obviously an experienced author, the book is well-written and although quite slow at the start, soon packs up the pace, she weaves a great story and I found myself reading faster and faster towards the end.
The story is told in flash-backs by Kate, a middle-aged single retired teacher. Kate has received a letter out of the blue from the mother of a boy spent the summer of 1972 with. She recounts the story of that summer which was spent staying in an isolated country house. Initially there were just the three of them; Kate, her boyfriend Danny and his university friend Simon. Then Trudie turns up - mysterious, young, spiritual, she soons changes the whole atmosphere of the house.
There is a certain feeling of dread, impending doom, the thought that something tragic is about to happen. The descriptions of the long, hot summer days, the old dusty house and the assorted and quite different characters work so well.
I enjoyed every page of this thriller, slow-paced but well told and it makes you wonder just how well do you know anyone?
The story is told in flash-backs by Kate, a middle-aged single retired teacher. Kate has received a letter out of the blue from the mother of a boy spent the summer of 1972 with. She recounts the story of that summer which was spent staying in an isolated country house. Initially there were just the three of them; Kate, her boyfriend Danny and his university friend Simon. Then Trudie turns up - mysterious, young, spiritual, she soons changes the whole atmosphere of the house.
There is a certain feeling of dread, impending doom, the thought that something tragic is about to happen. The descriptions of the long, hot summer days, the old dusty house and the assorted and quite different characters work so well.
I enjoyed every page of this thriller, slow-paced but well told and it makes you wonder just how well do you know anyone?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
First book read by this author.
Enjoyed this book, This is the first by this author that I have read but I have one other of hers already on my tbr. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Williamson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down.
Great book. A real page turner. Found it hard to put it down and when I did I was looking
forward to the next opportunity to pick it up again. Recommended.
forward to the next opportunity to pick it up again. Recommended.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs E E Gartland
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly enjoyable
I really enjoyed reading this book. Well written, every page told the story and had me wanting to get to the next bit. Highly recommended.
Published 1 month ago by Doxy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good storyline made enjoyable reading-I would reccomend this book...
Very good storyline made enjoyable reading-I would reccomend this book to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable story to read
Published 4 months ago by frederickfidler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting atmosphere
I couldn't put this one down! There was such a dark and brooding atmosphere throughout the story. Just loved it.
Published 5 months ago by Carol
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unexpected murder
It was well written kept you interested and guessing almost to the end. A very enjoyable read with a twist.
Published 5 months ago by Joan Broad
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to start but ok in the end
I was intrigued by the synopsis of the book, however it took me a long time to get past the beginning of the book. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Lilyfae
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of twists and turns
Although the student summer of love psychological thriller theme has been done before (Barbara Vine's A Fatal Inversion being the front runner and the more recent Erin Kelly's The... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Rossi
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Pull of the Moon
Retired teacher Katy receives a letter from the mother of her boyfriend Danny, who died more than thirty years before. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2011 by Moonlit
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rather depressing!
This isn't a bad book by any means. I liked the twists and turns, and the way we are flitting between the present day and the time of the 'action', about 30 years before. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2011 by A. Lucas
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