Title: Platform SevenAuthor: Louise Doughty
Published: August 2019
Source: NetGalley
Star Rating: 5
Platform Seven at 4am: Peterborough Railway Station is deserted. The man crossing the covered walkway on this freezing November morning is confident he's alone. As he sits on the metal bench at the far end of the platform it is clear his choice is strategic - he's as far away from the night staff as he can get.
What the man doesn't realise is that he has company. Lisa Evans knows what he has decided. She knows what he is about to do as she tries and fails to stop him walking to the platform edge.
Two deaths on Platform Seven. Two fatalities in eighteen months - surely they're connected?
No one is more desperate to understand what connects them than Lisa Evans herself. After all, she was the first of the two to die.[Goodreads]
What the man doesn't realise is that he has company. Lisa Evans knows what he has decided. She knows what he is about to do as she tries and fails to stop him walking to the platform edge.
Two deaths on Platform Seven. Two fatalities in eighteen months - surely they're connected?
No one is more desperate to understand what connects them than Lisa Evans herself. After all, she was the first of the two to die.[Goodreads]
My Thoughts:
I adored Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty so I was highly
anticipating this new release. This was such a fascinating set-up for a story
as Doughty perfectly blends a ghost story with a mystery thriller.
Two suicides have taken place at Platform Seven at
Peterborough Station in the last 2 years and as the book begins it looks like a
third is about to take place. Narrating the story is the ghost of Lisa, the
victim of the second death at the station. This was so well done – I’m not
normally a fan of the interweaving of paranormal aspects with thriller fiction
but this was fantastic.
I loved that this was set in a train station. It grasped the
exact underlying feeling of menace and danger that exists around standing near
to railway lines as a high speed train goes past. This thoroughly creeped me
out and added to the haunting air of the whole book.
As the story unfolds we learn of Lisa’s life when she was
still alive and her toxic relationship. These parts of the book were disturbing
and so well-written. One of the things I loved most about Apple Tree Yard was
Doughty’s ability to write such realistic characters, and it’s exactly the same
for this book. As the reader learns more about Lisa’s life the suspense builds
up and I was completely hooked on finding out exactly what had happened to her.
All this culminates in an emotional and unnerving read that not only looks at
vitally important issues within our society but also proves to be a compulsive
page-turner.
I highly recommend this one, the whole novel was very
atmospheric and unsettling and would make a perfect Autumn read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
