‘The Woman from Bookclub’ by Carrie Hughes

Published by Hera Books London,
6 November 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-83598 342-3 (PB)

It would appear that Emma has it all: a handsome, affluent husband, Elliot; reasonably well-behaved, teenage twin daughters; a lively dog and a beautiful house in a pretty village. Emma, along with her twin sister Jules, and friends Lucy, Rosa and Marianne, all belong to a book club. They meet in each other’s houses where they discuss their latest book choice whilst consuming posh nibbles and wine. Everything was running along smoothly until Lydia, a glamourous gold-digger, wormed her way into the group. She sets her sights on Elliot and all hell is let loose.

In the first sentence of the prologue Emma tells us that she was arrested for murdering Elliot. We are then taken back six weeks earlier to see how and why this startling event had come about. A tremendous lot then occurs very quickly over a comparatively short period with the  story being told by Emma and Lydia in segments alternating between each of their points of view.

We listen as Lydia shamelessly sets out to seduce Elliot and force Emma out of her home - a fate that the docile Emma seems surprisingly willing to accept.  Thankfully, Emma was not such a doormat as she first appeared to be. Once she starts working and meets a potential new partner, the planning and plotting behind her arrest is slowly revealed. Helped by Jules, Lucy, Marianne and Rosa, Elliot’s character and work ethics are exposed. He is not so nice after all.  Then he is killed.

The Woman from Bookclub is easy to read, and thanks to Carrie Hughes’ excellently drawn characters, distinguishing between the five members of the group presents no problems. The setting may sound idyllic, but not all of the characters have the relaxed and happy lives that those looking in from the outside might attribute to them. I found Lydia’s behaviour truly horrible, though who knows how they would behave if they were in her impecunious position? I just hope that none of us end up with Lydia’s doppelgänger in our book groups.  Suffice to say Emma is definitely not such a wimp as her initial easy acceptance of her fate might suggest. She is also fortunate to have technically adept and feisty friends. The message from this book is clear: choose your book club members carefully.
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Reviewer Angela Crowther.

Carrie Hughes lives in West Sussex, where she is a copywriter and guest lecturer in creative writing. She can often be found dreaming up stories, communing with dogs and visiting the dark side. She loves creating female characters who are stronger than they appear and forcing them into difficult situations.  

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.