Be Careful What You Wish For | Book Review

 Review of Lorraine Murphy's book - Be Careful What You Wish For

• Title - Be Careful What You Wish For
• Author –Lorraine Murphy
• Year published – 20 August, 2023
• Publisher - Inkubator Books
• Pages - 253
• Genre – Fiction
• Format - ebook

A mother determined to hide the truth. A sister about to expose it.

When Tara Ryan gets the results of a DNA test one rainy afternoon, all her dreams come true. She discovers she’s not an only child, she has a long-lost sister, Cassie.

What she doesn’t know is that Cassie is homeless, strung out, and praying for a break.

As socially awkward Tara lets street-wise Cassie into her life, shocking secrets come to the surface – a dark web of illegal adoptions, betrayal and death. All is rooted in a horrifying children’s home scandal that occurred many years before.

Has Tara’s mother been deceiving her for her entire life, or is Tara looking to the wrong person for the truth?

Someone is lying - and they must pay the ultimate price.

Be Careful What You Wish For is a gripping tale of lies and deceit that will astound and enthrall until the very last page.

 

Tara Ryan is an only child and her routine revolves around her job and the evening responsibility of caring for her mother. A twist of fate occurs when a colleague introduces a DNA test kit into the workplace, prompting Tara to consider taking one for herself. Though steeply priced, Tara takes the plunge. Her anticipation escalates as she waits for the result. The outcome reveals a match!

The DNA test discloses a connection between Tara and someone named Cassandra Blake. Motivated by this revelation, Tara messages Cassandra[Cassie]. The intrigue and excitement grow urging Tara to send a follow-up message, her impatience superseding her initial restraint.

The following day, Cassie contacts Tara and they set a rendezvous for that evening. However, Cassie arrives more than an hour behind schedule and visibly intoxicated. Unbeknownst to Tara, Cassie conceals her struggles with alcoholism, homelessness, and unemployment, rendering her penniless.

Upon the return journey, Tara discovers her wallet is nowhere to be found. Thankfully, the considerate guard, familiar with her daily commute, permits her to board even in the absence of her wallet.

From this point, the narrative takes an intriguing twist when Cassie unexpectedly appears at Tara's workplace, causing a scene. Bizarrely, she possesses Tara's wallet without any recollection of how she acquired it. This unfolding of events leads to a series of incidents, ultimately resulting in Cassie moving in with Tara. From this juncture, the story propels readers into a captivating roller-coaster ride of emotions and experiences.

The portrayal of Tara and Cassie in this narrative deserves commendation. Their dispositions, struggles, inner conflicts, resilience, and sentiments are vividly illustrated. I found Tara's character appealing from the outset, and as the plot unfolded, I even developed a sense of empathy towards her. Conversely, upon encountering Cassie's introduction, a certain unease settled in me, prompting doubt about her trustworthiness. The ensemble of supporting characters is also skillfully crafted.

One aspect of this book that I particularly liked is its narrative style. While the initial pacing is slightly gradual, the story swiftly gains momentum, compelling readers to scrutinize every move by Cassie and question Tara's decisions. Despite the evident disparity in their personalities, it is heartwarming to witness Cassie's unexpected displays of concern for Tara.

In some instances, the storyline followed predictable patterns, yet the author's deft handling of the narrative progression remained engaging. As anticipated in a thriller, the story weaves through the anticipated twists and turns, seamlessly integrating them into the overarching plot.

In all, a compelling thriller that will keep you guessing, captivate your senses, and leave you astonished. A 4/5 star read.

Lorraine Murphy takes everyday situations and twists them into terrifying tales. She is the author of Into the Woods and numerous published, and winning, flash fiction stories.

A software engineer by profession, she’s had many careers including slimming club leader, adult educator, charity co-founder, chairperson, activist and entrepreneur. As a teenager, she adored Stephen King and later found herself on the jury of an infamous murder trial.

When she’s not writing, Lorraine is always into something, whether it be competing in/for her local Toastmasters club or jumping out of a fully functional airplane. She lives in Westmeath, Ireland with her husband Brendan and three taller children.

This is her second psychological thriller with Inkubator Books.

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