About the Book:
No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead.
Fifty-six days ago
Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores.
Thirty-five days ago
When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who – and what – he really is.
Today
Detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside.
Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?
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My Review:
This is my second book set during the Coronavirus pandemic and while it was very different from my first book (Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult), I absolutely loved it!
56 Days is set during the early days of lockdown in Dublin, Ireland. The main characters Ciara and Oliver decide to move in together mostly as a result of the sudden and drastic quarantine measures imposed during the very beginning stages of their relationship. They truly do like each other and enjoy being together. It seems like a good idea, but how much do they really know about each other?
Told both during the present day, as well as different flashbacks at different times, this thriller managed to both be poignant and incredibly suspenseful at the same time. The story is gripping and engaging and managed to surprise even this seasoned thriller reader!
The author also uses different perspectives on the plot, so that we hear from both Ciara and Oliver as well as the police detectives investigating a crime that has occurred in Oliver’s apartment. The Irish narrator Alana Kerr Collins was perfect for this story and added authenticity to the characters’ voices.
The book’s synposis tells you all you need to know about this story because I can’t say much more about the plot without giving away any spoilers. The fact that this fantastic mystery was set during the early days of the pandemic did not scare me away from this book, and is in no way graphic or frightening.
I felt so many emotions while listening to the audiobook and was engrossed until the very end. I also loved the Author’s Note at the end, explaining a bit about her inspiration for writing this book. If you like thrillers where no one is what they seem, I highly recommend 56 Days. The answers are not found until the very last minutes of the book! I only wish I had picked this one up sooner.
