Review: The Bad Things by Mary-Jane Riley

Alex Devlin’s life changed forever fifteen years ago when her sister Sasha's two small children were snatched in broad daylight. Little Harry’s body was found a few days later, but Millie’s remains were never discovered.
Now Jackie Wood, jailed as an accessory to the twins’ murder, has been released, her conviction quashed by the Appeal Court. Convinced Jackie can reveal where Millie is buried, Alex goes to meet her.
But the unexpected information Wood reveals shocks Alex to the core and threatens to uncover the dark secret she has managed to keep under wraps for the past fifteen years. Because in the end, can we ever really know what is in the hearts of those closest to us?

Shona's review 5 of 5 stars

I am blown away. Honestly, the level of writing in this book is astounding. And yes I know how patronising that sounds, like a writer cant come up with the goods in their first book, but Riley DOES. I didn't even know this was her first novel until I had finished the book and read the acknowledgements in the back.

There's so much I want to say about this book, about my suspicions, about the actual outcome, about my feelings about that. How my emotions changed throughout the book, sympathy, empathy, sadness, disbelief, anger... I cant give you specifics because I absolutely hate spoilers.... and if I say to much this will be ruined. Riley has done an amazing job of weaving the twists and turns into this tale. Just as soon as you think you have it figured out she hits you with another twist and you're right back at square one.

This book had me on the edge of my seat, turning the metaphorical pages (I was reading on my Kindle), so engrossed in the tale that I couldn't put it down until the story was done.
There was a little thing that bothered me... Malone and his 'secret' (again with the spoilers), I really wanted his answers and felt a tad disappointed that I didn't get them.

If this is the standard of Riley's work then call me a fan, I cant wait to see what she has in store for us next time.