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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Thursday's Children by Nicci French

I suppose you've heard the little poem predicting your future based on the day of the week that you were born.  It says:

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace;
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go;
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for its living;
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

I've really enjoyed reading the mystery series starring Dr. Frieda Klein.  Written by a husband and wife team that call themselves Nicci French, these are solid mysteries that carry the reader along the many walks and paths that the protagonist, Frieda, travels.  The title of 4th book in the series, Thursday's Children, seemed appropriate to describe Frieda herself - a woman who has far to go.  She has gone far away from the place she was born and raised, trained as a psychotherapist, crossed paths with damaged people, helped many of them, been involved with crime solving, been attacked, stalked, ridiculed, and shunned.  She has also been loved by her few friends and colleagues.  I've always known that this woman had some dreadful hurt in her past.  In Thursday's Children, we begin to see what Frieda walked away from and why.

Over a year has passed since the events of Waiting For Wednesday.  Life has continued and Frieda is back to seeing patients again.  She is contacted by someone from her past, a woman she knew when they were teenage girls in the small Suffolk coastal town where they grew up.  Maddie Capel's 15-year-old daughter, Becky, has been having all kinds of problems and Maddie asks Frieda to talk to the girl.  Becky is at first resistant, but soon she shares a horrific secret - she believes that she has been raped in her own bed by someone who whispered to her, "Don't think of telling anyone, sweetheart.  No one will believe you".  However, someone does believe her - Frieda sits numbly remembering a very similar incident from her own past - "No one will believe you".  The journey to discover the person who has attacked this young girl and perhaps Frieda herself takes Dr. Klein back to her home town.  She must face her teenage friends, her old teachers, and even her mother.  Frieda has been gone for over 20 years.  What can she find out after all this time?  Lots, it turns out.

Again, Dr. Frieda Klein is quite the favorite for me right now.  I've known from the beginning that she has dark places within her.  Her unnatural calm in the face of trauma has been honed because of events in her own life.  She does have feelings - deep feelings.  And, after meeting her mother in this book, well, I understand why she has needed to protect herself to a certain extent.  She goes the extra mile in some ways, but in others, she may seem callous.  If you've read these books, I'd love to know your opinion of her.  I find her fascinating.  And I love many of the secondary characters as well.  They won't let Frieda push them away and she has realized that and has come to depend on them over time.  This episode will cement further many of those ties.

Thursday's Children has not been published in US yet, so my copy was acquired from a used bookstore.  I am eagerly waiting on the next book, which I've preordered from the UK, Friday On My Mind.  It will be published in July.

I'll leave you once again with a quote.  Frieda is speaking to the teenage girl, Becky:
     'You're in control here.  It might not feel like it.  You can talk or be silent, you can leave whenever you want.  You can tell me things, and I'm not going to judge you or be shocked.  I'm here to help you to say things that you haven't been able to talk about.  Sometimes when you say things, acknowledge them, they become less frightening.'
     'Why?  They're just stupid words.  They can't change anything.'
     'It can be like shining a light into a dark corner.  Or perhaps it's more like staring long enough at the darkness so that you become accustomed to it and can make out the shapes it hides.  Fears that we don't have a name for have power over us.  Think of this time as an opportunity to gain some kind of control.'  

29 comments:

  1. I haven't read anything by Nicci French, but just a few days ago I noticed one of their books on the front display at my library and it caught my eye, but by the time I got back up to the front after finishing up my little trip it was already gone. I'm interested in reading something from them, but now I don't know where to start! :/

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    1. The first book for this series is Blue Monday and subsequent books have Tues, Weds, etc. in the titles. This author also has a number of standalone books, which I have not read as yet. Have heard some good things about them though.

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    2. Awesome, I think I'll start with one of the standalones, just to get a feel for what their writing is like. If I enjoy it, I'll take the plunge into this series.

      Oh! By the way, I just nominated you for the Liebster Award. I'm not sure if you've already been nominated in the past or if you want to participate, but if you do you can check out my post to get more info on what to do next. :D

      http://thedarlingbookworm.blogspot.ca/2015/05/the-liebster-award.html

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  2. This is such a fantastic series and my copy of this one is on the way - I'm planning to put it on the 20 books for summer shelf as I enjoyed the first three so much! Great review which has only served to make me want mine to arrive even more!

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    1. Cleo, I'm fairly certain that you will like it when you get it. I'll be watching your 20 books progress.

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  3. Ugh, I WISH this one was out here in the States. I'm going to have to special order a copy - I don't even see a release date here as of yet (unless the March 2016 paperback is it).

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    1. I'm really not sure when it will be available here, Becky. I guess 2016? That's why I went looking elsewhere. Sometimes, I just cannot wait. :-)

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  4. You're killing me with this series! This one sounds fantastic and I love when we get a peak into main character's past. Definitely on the TBR!

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    1. I know, Katherine. I kind of get started on a series and then just read them one after the other, or almost anyway.

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  5. Wow, this book sounds gripping!

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  6. I have never read Nicci French before, but I love know the name of a great new writer. I have a passion for mystery/thriller books, too, and I'll look for her name now. Thanks!

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    1. This series has become a favorite for me, as has the one by Susan Hill. And also the one by Jane Casey. It's been a good year for British crime novels for me.

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  7. Great review Kay. This sound like an intriguing series and Frieda sounds like a very interesting character with an interesting back story. I'm glad you are enjoying this series. I enjoyed the poem at the top - it's been ages since I've heard it.

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    1. Yes, I immediately thought of the poem when I read the book. Actually, Thursday's Children was the name of a rock group in the story.

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  8. I love this series, and each time a book comes out, I am so eager for it to be available here. Friday on My Mind is on my wish list for now, since it is not yet available here.

    I love that "days of the week" poem. I was born on a Sunday.

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    1. Glad to know this is a good series for you too. Wonder what they will do when they get to Saturday? I'm not sure what day of the week I was born. Ought to do some research on it. LOL

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  9. Nothing to say about the book as I've not read this series. I just wanted to say how much I love your header photo. So pretty! What are the flowers, Kay?

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    1. Thanks, Cath! They are Texas wildflowers that bloom in the spring. We have lots and lots of wildflowers here. I'm pretty bad about knowing the actual names but I think these are maybe what's called bitterweed.

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    2. Oh, right. Well, they are so pretty en masse like that.

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  10. I really, really need to start this series! I have heard good things and your review of this one has me really excited to give it a try. Great review!

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    1. I think you might like it. The first book is Blue Monday.

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  11. I love this series and have already read the first three. Frieda is a very fascinating character. She is a psychological study in and of herself. Thursday is on my reading list for the summer. Sounds like I will enjoy it!

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    1. If you liked the first 3, I suspect you will, Leslie.

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  12. I am glad you are enjoying this series, Kay. I love mysteries like this. And I really like the excerpt you shared at the end.

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    1. Thanks, Wendy! Parts of this were really poignant.

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  13. I'll buy any edition that releases first because I can't wait! ;-) This sounds like a gripping read! I'm glad you're enjoying this series, Kay.

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    1. I was really happy with it, Melody. Hope you will be as well when you read it.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!