#AnythingForHer #GJMinett #BlogTour #Review

ANYTHING FOR HER

G J MINETT

I have heard it said that an author’s third novel is often their best work; by book three they have perfected their style, found their voice, survived the pressure of being a debut and surpassed expectations with their ‘tricky second novel’.  It’s just a statement – it’s not mine, and for every author that proves this rule, there will be many more that challenge it. However, I have to say that Anything For Her is GJ Minett’s third novel and in all honesty, it is absolutely his best novel yet. It’s brilliant.

Minett’s previous novels Lie in Wait and The Hidden Legacy are also very well written, inhabited by complex characters and multilayered plots but somehow, Anything For Her surpasses both these titles – impressive when the bar was already set so high.

In this novel, we meet Billy Orr, returning to spend time with his sister Mia. Then after a chance encounter, his ex-girlfriend Aimi- his first love and the one woman he has never forgotten – asks for his help. Billy has never been able to refuse Aimi. He would do anything for her, even when it means helping her to escape her abusive husband by faking her own death. But it’s been a long time since he last saw Aimi. Is she the same girl she was all those years ago? 

She’s everything to Billy but can she be trusted?

This is a complex, intricate and incredibly well executed plot full of hidden layers, twists, sub plots and emotional journeys, all masterfully brought together in a highly readable and extremely satisfying thriller. It is very well constructed and although at the beginning there are several voices introduced and a dual timeline to navigate, there is no need to worry - you are in expert hands. Minett ably guides the reader along, ensuring everything is clearly established and the foundations of a compelling, multilayered story are firmly laid. The author has judged just how many voices to introduce, just at what point to change the setting and location and just how much intrigue and suspense is needed to fully engage the reader without overwhelming them or losing them. Once the reader is firmly embroiled in the novel and the depth of the plot is much more apparent, the reader can sit back and admire just what has been achieved and how well constructed this novel is. Anything For Her is ambitious, dark, fascinating and deeply rewarding.

This is a novel that tackles illness, perception, lies, relationships, families, power, death and trust. There is not one character who does not have a pivotal role, there is not one character who is without flaws and there is not one character who escapes our scrutiny. Each character is so three dimensional, so cleverly crafted with such attention to detail that they are vivid, unforgettable and completely convincing. Minett is able to convey so much through a specific detail or a comment and clearly enjoys painting images with words. It’s exciting to read a novel in which you feel drawn to so many characters and that you have enough time with them to fully explore their psychological issues, their dilemmas, their traumas and their lies. I found Minett’s descriptions absorbing and poignant, sophisticated yet exact.

"she's been wrapping Billy up in what she's regarded as cotton wool but which are really layers of deceit, telling herself she needs to do this to protect him from truths he's just not able to handle right now. ....these comfort blankets have hardened over the years into a carapace she can't seem to break through when she needs to get near him"

 The convergence of the characters' storylines and the way everything comes together at the end is impressive. Minett is clearly interested in the psychology of people, and I like that he creates such fascinating characters – often a protagonist on the edge of society – but always such an interesting study in people’s motives, ambitions, treatment of those around them and how they grapple with their own emotional issues. I found myself engaging with each of the characters, feeling sympathy, empathy and interest in them at each stage and probably let them into my head a little more than I should have, but there was something about Billy and Mia which really captured my imagination. I was intrigued by their relationship and the dynamics between them.

Minett’s prose is also exquisite. This is a compelling crime fiction thriller yet it is also full of beautifully written, detailed descriptive passages. The quote below is from the opening but there are numerous other paragraphs which helped to establish tension or created a moment to pause and reflect on a character.

"the rain and hail sluiced and skidded their way down the streets like mischievous children, puddles forming in seconds and inching their way towards each other to create a series of mini-lakes as the beast of the storm breathed its fury over the scene below"

It’s interesting to consider the genre of this novel as to me, it straddles crime fiction, psychological thriller and literary fiction. It will appeal to readers who love crime, who love thrillers, who love something dark, to readers who love great writing and to readers who are fascinated by character. There’s so much within these pages to consider, explore, enjoy and let yourself get caught up in. There are some passages from Billy’s childhood which I cannot forget and which have been haunting me days after I finished reading the book. Such is the real mark of a truly great book.

Yes I did love this book. Yes I do recommend it. Yes you should read it.

Anything For Her is available to buy here and was published by Bonnier Zaffre on 30th November 2017. 

*My huge thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of this novel and for inviting me to be part of the blog tour*

Don't forget to follow the rest of the blog tour and catch up with any stops you missed: 

GRAHAM MINETT 

G.J. Minett studied at Cambridge and then spent many years as a teacher of foreign languages. He studied for an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Chichester, and won the 2010 Chapter One Prize for unpublished novels with the opening chapter of The Hidden Legacy. You can follow him on Twitter @gjminett and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/grahamminettauthor

You can read my review of The Hidden Legacy here and Lie in Wait here