Thank you so much to Ecco Press for providing my free copy – all opinions are my own.
“Tangier and Lucy were the same, I thought. Both unsolvable riddles that refused to leave me in peace. And I had tired of it – of the not knowing, of always feeling as though I were on the outside of things, just on the periphery.”
Book Description:
The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the accident at Bennington, the two friends—once inseparable roommates—haven’t spoken in over a year. But there Lucy was, trying to make things right and return to their old rhythms. Perhaps Alice should be happy. She has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy—always fearless and independent—helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country.
But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice—she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice’s husband, John, goes missing, and Alice starts to question everything around her: her relationship with her enigmatic friend, her decision to ever come to Tangier, and her very own state of mind.
“The feelings I had felt toward Lucy, I often thought, were something like this – something sharper than a normal friendship, something that I felt threatened to overwhelm and, quite possibly, destroy. There were moments when I had thought that I did not so much as want her, as I wanted to be her.”
My Review:
This is a stunning psychological suspense debut that reminds me so much of Patricia Highsmith who I LOVE! And for full transparency I should disclose that I am a categorical fan of the psychological thriller genre, and TANGERINE is one of my new top favorites! Gorgeous, mysterious prose that you can just sink your teeth into.
The story is set in the 1950’s and centers on a friendship between Alice Shipley and Lucy Mason. Alice moves to Tangier, Morocco with her new husband, and Lucy, an old college roommate, just shows up one day uninvited. As it becomes apparent that Lucy has no plans to leave, tension rises. What happened in the past that made her come to Tangier?
The novel is divided up into three parts and the chapters alternate between Alice and Lucy. The descriptive language and imagery give a full color visual of the setting and the character development is superb. I absolutely love Mangan’s writing style and as we delve into the women’s past, I enjoyed slowly peeling back the layers of this story. With a devious, chilling, and murderous plot, I thoroughly devoured this book in one sitting! And can we just take a moment to appreciate this BEAUTIFUL cover?!! It’s breathtaking!
“I did not ask her where she had spent her day, or whom she had spent it with. I did not ask what she was doing in Tangier, why she was here, what she wanted – still too afraid of the answers I might receive.”
My rating is 5 / 5 stars!
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