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    Precious Thing
    Precious Thing
    Precious Thing
    Audiobook11 hours

    Precious Thing

    Written by Colette McBeth

    Narrated by Penelope Rawlins

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    I know her inside out. I know what she’s thinking, I know what she wants. So I can’t give up on her, she knows I never will.

    Some friendships fizzle out. Rachel and Clara promised theirs would last forever.

    They met in high school when Rachel was the shy, awkward new girl and Clara was the friend everyone wanted. Instantly, they fell under each other’s spell, and nothing would be the same again. Now they are in their late twenties, and Rachel has the television career, the apartment, and the boyfriend, while Clara’s life is spiraling out of control. Despite everything, they remain inextricably bound. Then Rachel’s news editor assigns her to cover a police press conference, and she is shocked when she arrives to learn that the subject is Clara, who has been reported missing. Is it an abduction, a suicide, or something else altogether?

    Imagine discovering something about your oldest friend that forces you to question everything you’ve shared together. The truth is always there. But only if you choose to see it.

    In Colette McBeth’s mesmerizing debut, the story of a friendship and a missing person investigation are expertly wound tighter and tighter from the opening lines until the final, stunning conclusion.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateMar 4, 2014
    ISBN9781480574595
    Precious Thing
    Author

    Colette McBeth

    Colette McBeth was a BBC TV crime reporter for ten years. She lives in West London with her husband and three young children. She attended the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course in 2011. Precious Thing is her first novel.

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    Reviews for Precious Thing

    3.5/5

    64 ratings10 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Absolutely riveting novel. An intense psychological thriller that kept me guessing the truth behind all the lies. This book was a page turner. The characters of Clara and Rachel were spellbinding in their mystery. Discovering the connections was like untying a knot... What would come of their ties and how did they bind together? The dark history and bleak future that theses two friends shared was thrilling to unravel. The ties that bind can never be severed and this novel proves that beautifully. The form this book took- written as a long winding letter, was exciting. It added to the mystery and allowed the questions of sanity to bubble to the surface. This was a great read that haunts and is disturbing in its final chapters. Highly recommended!
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Precious Thing by debut author Colette McBeth is a riveting psychological drama about a missing woman and the subsequent investigation into her disappearance. This intriguing mystery has plenty of dark secrets but it is the exciting twists and turns that make it such a brilliant read.

      Rachel Walsh and Clara O'Connor formed a tight friendship as teenagers but lost touch following a traumatic loss. Now in their late twenties, they have begun to pick up the pieces of their tattered relationship, but the closeness from their childhood eludes them. After making plans to meet Rachel and a couple other friends, Clara fails to show up and the next thing Rachel knows, Clara has gone missing. The ensuing investigation reveals very disquieting information and Rachel uncovers several shocking secrets about her friend.

      Told in first person from Rachel's point of view in the form of a letter to Clara, it quickly becomes apparent that Rachel might not be the most reliable narrator. Rachel has achieved a measure of success as a TV reporter and she lives with her boyfriend Jonny, but she holds back vital information right from the beginning of the investigation. Her tangled past with Clara is revealed through flashbacks and shows that what began as a close friendship quickly turned to obsession. Rachel recounts the events leading up to Clara's disappearance, but can her account be trusted?

      In the beginning, it is easy to view Rachel as a sympathetic and likable character. She has overcome a dysfunctional past and she has an enviable life with a successful career and a wonderful man. She has tried very hard to recapture the tight friendship she once shared with Clara and Rachel paints a very compelling portrait as the injured party in their fractured relationship. But as the story progresses, disturbing events begin to show a pattern of manipulation that certainly raises doubts about both women. By the story's end, it is almost impossible to discern whose version of events can be believed or if either character is deserving of the reader's pity.

      In Precious Thing Colette McBeth weaves a twisted tale of betrayal and revenge that is quite compelling. Surprising plot twists make the story impossible to predict and the ending is satisfying but there is just enough ambiguity to leave readers wondering what really happened between Rachel and Clara.
    • 4/5

      Precious Thing by Colette McBeth is a psychological thriller that is highly recommended.

      It is September 2007 and Rachel Walsh begins writing a letter to her very best friend, Clara O'Connor, in the opening of Precious Thing by Colette McBeth. Then the narrative jumps back in time to January 21st, the day Rachel, a news reporter living in London, travels to Brighton to cover the disappearance of a 28-year-old woman. Unbeknownst to Rachel, the missing woman turns out to be Clara, her childhood best friend. What on earth could have happened to Clara? It's true that the young women haven't done a lot together recently, but a friendship as strong as theirs is can survive anything, can't it?

      Rachel writes: "SEPTEMBER 2007 Officially, I don’t think of you anymore. I am one hundred percent focused on the future. When anyone asks how I’m doing—and they do regularly—I’m fond of using the terminology of war—it adds drama don’t you think? I am conquering my demons; I am battling the dark thoughts that have been twisting inside me. Sometimes, if the situation lends itself to it, I’ll lean forward, fix them with a steely look and say with as much reverence as I can muster: I am a survivor, I will beat the past. In return I get a sympathetic nod, a concerned smile. I can almost hear the whissh of relief blowing through them. I can see the checklist of worries being ticked off in their minds. She’s making progress." Location 20

      As Rachel clearly states for the reader the whole novel is a letter from her to Clara, telling their story, from her point of view. Rachel not only covers what is happening currently, but also tells us what has happened in the past and her perception of events. Rachel and Clara met in 1993 when they were 14 and 15. Rachel was the new girl at school and she and Clara immediately hit it off. They were fast friends until Clara was hospitalized in a psychiatric institution seven years ago. After that she traveled before returning home. Even through Rachel and Clara have gone their separate ways, their friendship is the kind that endures forever. Clara's disappearance is mind boggling.

      Rachel writes: "I don’t blame you for thinking otherwise. I blame the people who’ve poisoned you with their lies. But listen to your heart. Trust your instincts. Think of the beautiful, precious thing that we have shared. Know that something so pure could never be bad. That’s why I’m writing to you. So you’ll understand. I don’t know how it will reach you, but I’ll find a way. No one knows about the letter; its content doesn’t fit with my “moving on” narrative. So if you do read it, let it be our secret. Just imagine me close to you, whispering it in your ear—our story, in my words. And maybe at the end we will work out how we lost each other and how we can find each other once more." Location 42

      Clearly most readers will recognize that the narrow point of view can make for an unreliable narrator. As details of the girl's past emerge in Rachel's letters, astute readers will likely guess many of the secrets long before they are revealed. Certainly the tone of the novel gets darker as it progresses. McBeth does a nice job building tension as more information is disclosed and more suspicions about the truth arise.



      Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for review purposes.
    • 3/5
      This book is fun. It's another book that will be described as being in the genre of Gone Girl and though it is a thoroughly enjoyable read it has the same problems as Gone Girl and others in the genre. The primary problem is that the story feels incredibly contrived.

      However, Precious Thing is still awesomely enjoyable. Sit back, suspend reality, and enjoy the ride.
    • 4/5
      Rachel and Clara have been friends from school when Rachel was the shy chubby newcomer and Clara was the girl everyone wanted to be friends with. Things have changed over the years. Rachel is now a successful news reporter with the perfect life and boyfriend. But the one thing that has not changed is her friendship with Clara. Then Clara disappears and Rachel is determined to do everything she can to find her. But when it is learned that Rachel’s boyfriend has also disappeared, the stakes are even higher as Rachel goes from best friend to murder suspect and she has to question everything she thought she knew about her best friend if she is to save herself.Precious Thing is a complex and, on occasion, creepy psychological thriller about how friendships can go terribly wrong. It’s written partly in the form of a letter from Rachel to Clara as Rachel writes about how their friendship started and grew, about their families, and about the bond between them. However, as we learn more about the characters of the two girls, the narrative switches to third person past tense. We begin to learn more details about the darker side of their relationship, raising questions about what is really going on and who the real victim is here.There are enough twists and turns and subtle hints to keep the reader guessing right until the end. My one criticism of the book is how much of what happens depends on a rather too convenient coincidence but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. Precious Thing is a real page turner and should be on the TBR list of fans of Gillian Flynn and SJ Watson. Guaranteed they won’t be disappointed.
    • 4/5
      This book is filled with so many twists it just might give you whiplash. Precious Thing is about two childhood friends who reunite as adults and are then torn apart again. Rachel, who was shy and awkward as a child, now works as a news reporter and her life can't get any better. The same can't be said for her childhood best friend Clara. As a child Clara was the girl that everyone wanted to be friends with but as an adult her life is starting to spiral out of control. When Rachel is sent out on a story, which just happens to be the news of Clara's disappearance, her whole life is turned upside down and memories from her past come back to haunt her.Rachel and Clara have a very complex friendship and you can see that throughout the book. They start their friendship being inseparable as children and like some friendships they grow apart as they get older. This isn't a normal friendship though, they grow apart because of some dark reasons. Those reasons kept being alluded to throughout the book and at times I became a bit frustrated because I was dying to know what they were. When they were finally revealed I was not disappointed.I liked most of the twists of this book but sometimes it felt like a bit much, like overkill. Just when you thought you knew what was going on you realized that really you had no idea. I really enjoyed all the happened at the ending of the book and how readers finally get to see the characters as they really are. Overall I really enjoyed Precious Thing but at times felt a bit impatient to know what had happened.Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the galley.
    • 5/5
      From the first sentence of Colette McBeth’s debut novel, “Precious Thing,” I was pulled into this quietly terrifying story. The shadowy, mysterious Clara wraps herself around you and doesn’t let go until the final moments, and the claustrophobic atmosphere, along with the heightening tension, pulled me along in a desperate race to the finish.Almost from the first, you start to distrust and question everything Rachel says as you begin to realize that there are many versions of the truth, and does anyone ever really tell the absolute truth? All of our memories are subject to emotions, dreams, wants, longings, love and fear. Everyone in this novel has something to hide and uncovering the lies, half-truths and dysfunctional relationships between friends, parents, lovers and siblings will take you on a terrifying journey through a twisted mind.
    • 4/5
      I received an e-copy from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! I give this novel 4.5 Stars.I had no idea what to expect from this novel and was pleasantly surprised. I literally could not put it down! It's a psychological thriller/mystery with lots of twists and turns. It's a first-person narrative written as a letter a best friend. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something would happen that would make me realize what a well-written book this is. Sometimes I would think: "Wow! I wasn't expecting that!"I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the various locations. The characters are strong, well-developed, and make you either like or hate them. I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy this type of book. I am looking forward to more novels by Colette McBeth.
    • 3/5
      "You can be so close to someone for a lifetime and not know who they really are."This book is a long letter from Rachel to Clara, lifelong friends. On Rachel's first day in a new school she sits next to Clara thus starting this seeming innocent friendship. Each would do anything for the other. Now the girls are in their late 20s and things have changed. Clara and Rachel had an argument that got out of hand. Rachel, as a successful news editor, is sent to cover the story of a missing woman. The woman turns out to be Clara. Rachel was supposed to have met up with Clara the previous evening but Clara did not show. What has happened to Clara and why? There are secrets the two friends held from and about each other. Will those secrets destroy their friendship? Rachel must try to determine what happened to Clara -- murder? suicide? Or was she kidnapped, and why? Can you be a lifelong friend with someone - be soulmates - and really not know that person?I gave this book only three stars in spite of a good storyline. It seemed a bit predictable in several places. Some of the story dragged along, and at times there was excessive descriptions. The book is written in first person and at times just did not really flow easily. However, the first person narrative did keep you only withing Rachel's head, thus not knowing what was happening in Clara's head.I received an advance copy of this book compliments of BookBrowse.
    • 3/5
      [Cross-posted to Knite Writes]I have a lot of different thoughts on this book.Let me start with the structure.The entire book was written like a long letter to Clara from Rachel, which I thought was a very interesting take on a thriller novel. You’re aware the entire book that the events have already taken place, and that Rachel is writing the story with the express knowledge of what happens at the end. She knows all the twists and turns of the plot, so she can portray them however she pleases.This results in a lot of information about Rachel’s true personality being kept under wraps, except for a few places at the end where it leaks through. For most of the novel, she portrays herself as a successful career woman horribly wronged and accused of something she didn’t do. You really have to pay attention to the subtext of what Rachel is saying to get a glimpse at the hidden personality issues beneath the pity-me news reporter.I really like this aspect of the book because you have always an underlying sense that something is very wrong with the protagonist’s depiction of events, but you can’t quite point out what it is until the final few chapters. It’s an eerie feeling, knowing that you, the reader, are being manipulated and can do nothing to resolve it until you reach the end of the book. I think the structure of the story lends quite a lot to the “thriller” aspect. It keeps you guessing. And mildly disturbed as the protagonist’s behavior and thoughts gradually reveal the truth.However, the ambiguity of the plot’s resolution bothered me somewhat.You’re led to believe that certain elements of the story have been deliberately (or not) falsified by the protagonist, but at the end, it’s revealed that most of the protagonist’s story is in fact true. I was expecting an incredible twist at the end, but then the plot backtracked and settled on Rachel’s version of events as the story’s canon. I thought this was a very strange choice, and while I do appreciate originality, the story’s conclusion left me feeling like I was missing out on some huge revelation. A lot of the “reveals” of the story are heavily foreshadowed, and I guessed most of them ahead of time, so when I reached the last page, I felt a bit let down. There was no “thrilling” element in the plot’s climax.Now, the ending.This ending is definitely a “love it or hate it” situation. Some readers are going appreciate the implications that the ending has, while others will feel like they’ve been cheated out of a definitive resolution to the conflict. I’m somewhere in the middle. I understand why the ending was the way it was. It makes sense, on many levels, given the nature of the story. However, because I felt like I missed out on some “big reveal,” the ending came off as a bit of a let down, too. I knew it was going to happen, as soon I reached the end of Rachel’s letter to Clara, so it wasn’t a surprise so much as it was a confirmation of the nature of the story itself.Precious Thing is largely a psychological dissection of an obsessive friendship gone awry. And on many levels, it works. There are places where the story is sufficiently disturbing in its portrayal of Clara and Rachel’s personality issues. The way that their friendship ultimately self-destructs and how that destruction played into the plot was perfectly done.My only real issues with the story are the way that the destruction is resolved: the inevitable showdown between Clara and Rachel, the one you expect for the entire story, lacks the excitement I would expect in a thriller. It just sort of…fizzles out. The final act that determines the story’s real conclusion is off screen. You see only a brief news report about it, and then the story ends. You are left with only with the implication of that final act. After an entire story of ambiguity and hidden truths, I wanted some kind of definitive conclusion, and I didn’t get it.Overall, though, I thought the story had a lot of merit as a subtle thriller and a frighteningly possible dramatic account of how a friendship can go horribly, horribly wrong.____// DisclosureI received a free e-book copy of this title from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.