Nicci French: Latest outings not up to their usual standard

A little bit of background📃

I've been reading books by writing duo Nicci French for about 20 years now. Their psychological thrillers are beautifully executed and fascinating to read, providing insight into the dark side of human nature. I love their Frieda Klein series - one book for each day of the week - which explores the psychologist's consultant input into criminal cases in London. I would also count some of Nicci French's earlier standalone novels as my favourite psychological thrillers. Ordinary people with psychopathic tendencies are totally my reading jam.

I'm always excited to pick up a new Nicci French novel and I never thought I'd say that I found their stories lacking. I was shocked to discover that The unheard and The favour are not a patch on their earlier novels.

The unheard | Published April 2021 | Read March 2022

The story📖

Tess is divorced and her ex-husband, Jason, has remarried. Their daughter, Poppy returns from a weekend visit with her father tired and withdrawn. Poppy shows Tess a crayon drawing she has made that hints at violence. Poppy can only say, "He did kill her."

Tess is certain Poppy saw something - or something happened to her - that she's too young to understand. Jason insists that everything is fine. Tess is told that Poppy may be reacting to her parents' separation. And as the days go on, even Poppy's disturbing memory seems to fade. Tess is sure something happened, and is determined to get to the bottom of it.

My thoughts on the book💭

At first, The unheard reminded me of Secret smile, the authors' 2003 novel about a woman gaslit by a former partner when she breaks up with him and he starts dating her sister. That novel is so well crafted. Unfortunately, The unheard isn't anywhere near as good as Secret smile. The unheard just doesn't make a lot of sense. I never really understood how Poppy witnessed The Bad Thing. I also could not work out the motives of the eventually-revealed perpetrator. Tess is kind of annoying as well and the other characters didn't draw me in, either.

In sum📝

This is my beloved Nicci French and I had no expectations the book wouldn't work for me. But it didn't. I would go as far as to say the book doesn't feel like a Nicci French novel at all. It lacks depth. The story descends into a bog standard thriller where a bunch of people are each explored as possible suspects. The book is devoid of Nicci French's usual clever storytelling and characterisation. There is no real payoff for crawling through to the end. I have given the book only two stars. I never thought I'd rate a Nicci French novel so low!

Rating: ⭐⭐

The favour | Published October 2022 | Read September 2023

The story📖

Jude, a newly minted medical doctor, is called upon by Liam, an old boyfriend she hasn't seen for years, to do a strange favour for him. Liam asks Jude to collect him at a country train station but she must keep the favour a secret. Jude, a supposedly clever woman, does this strange favour without question, lying to her fiancé in the process. Liam is murdered before Jude can complete her task and Jude is naturally a suspect. She has to face the lies she told her fiancé and she becomes entangled in Liam's unconventional life.

My thoughts on the book💭

The favour is a more like the Nicci French books I've grown to love although still not up there with earlier stellar stories. The book is beautifully written, despite it flaws, and evokes a strong sense of place and space, as the authors' usual style. Bonus points for the setting in Walthamstow where a good friend of mine was living at the time of reading and a part of London I now know well.

After Liam's murder, the story revolves around an ensemble of eccentric characters, none of whom is likeable, and a bunch of odd decisions by Jude that make her unrelatable. This is even after the reason for her performing the favour is revealed. Jude becomes enmeshed in the bizarre lives of Liam's friends just for the fun of it, when it doesn't seem like much fun at all. I couldn't understand how Jude could be drawn to these people, especially with a murder at the heart of her connection to Liam.. The favour causes her relationship with her fiance to unravel, too, so why does she stick with these hideous people?

In sum📝

The crime itself and the personal reasons behind it make sense, I just wasn't connected on an emotional or psychological level to the story or the characters. I will still look out for the next Nicci French novel, though, as they remain a big part of my reading life. It's just disappointing that the latest two offerings are not up to their usual high standard.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Post update: Thankfully, Nicci French are back to their best in their 2023 novel, Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? Check out my review! And they continue their quality work in their 2024 book, The last days of Kira Mullan.