Debut ‘grip-lit’ thriller a standout
FICTION Roz Nay draws the reader in with dark themes, suspense
In the wake of blockbuster books such as “The Girl on the Train” and “Gone Girl,” we’ve witnessed an explosion of “grip-lit” titles. Seemingly every aspiring author out there is now busy capitalizing on the trend, crafting dark psychological thrillers with unreliable female narrators and wild plot twists. It’s increasingly difficult, then, to stand out in this crowded market. Especially for unknown writers.
All of this is why first-time author Roz Nay’s debut “Our Little Secret” is so impressive. The British-born, Nelson, B.C.-based talent has not just managed to get her debut on shelves — she’s also penned one of the best grip-lit titles of the year.
“Our Little Secret” centres on twenty-something Angela, who lives in small-town Vermont, where “life is like the lid of a Christmas cake tin.” Alarmingly, we find her detained in an interrogation room. Her ex-boyfriend’s wife has been reported missing, and police suspect Angela might be involved. During the hours she sits across from the grim-faced Detective Novak, her story slowly emerges.
Calm, cool Angela spins a captivating tale, starting with her unlikely high school friendship with HP, moving on to their monthslong romance, and, ultimately, landing at the arrival of Saskia, who derails everything. But this love triangle is not a straightforward one; it’s steeped in doubt. The reader is forced to question: is Angela the victim here, or is she the villain?
The writing, it must be said, is supremely seductive. Nay draws the reader in with compelling characters, deliciously dark themes, clever turns of phrase and heightened levels of suspense. What’s more, the intimate bond that Angela shares with charismatic, sun-kissed swim captain HP is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Nay has a colourful background that will serve her well in this next chapter of her life as a professional author. Oxford-educated, she spent years living abroad, working as a snowboard videographer in Vermont, an underwater fish counter in Africa, and a high school teacher in Australia. In other words: there’s lots more material where this came from. And that’s a good thing, because one suspects she’ll soon have an army of fans champing at the bit, eager to read whatever she writes next.