BOOK CLUB: Fear

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Fear by author Gillian Wells is the second book I’ve read by this talented author and she delivers an awesome read yet again with her novel “Fear”. 

There’s a small-town bushfire, rumours of a murder victim and the abduction of a child — just to name a few things that occur. 

Isla is a recent divorcee and she and her two young daughters move to a remote country town. They find themselves feeling totally isolated and estranged from Isla’s parents and sisters who all still mourn the freak death of their brother when they were children many years ago.

Someone in this small town wants Isla and her kids gone, but who is it and why? This is a book that ended all too soon and left me wanting more.

If you like Fear, check out Travelling, Lost and Alone by the same author.

A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading Fear by Gillian Wells. You can read their comments below or add your own review.

7 thoughts on “BOOK CLUB: Fear

  1. Thank you Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read Fear by Gillian Wells.

    I really enjoyed this drama.

    It’s got mystery, murder and great characters.

    It will keep you turning those pages to find out who did it!

    Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  2. Fear by Gillian Wells is the story of Isla and her youngish daughters Josie and Mia. Isla has had a messy split from her husband and decided hurriedly to relocate to a country town for a receptionist job at the doctors office. There is an old house included with the job which works out well for her – at first. People around town don’t always take kindly to an outsider in their midst and attitudes are not always good. Then strange things happen at the house, including her closest neighbour staring at her and the children from across the paddock. The situation escalates from there and Isla wonders whether it is worth staying. She finds out the man has been in jail for murdering his wife, and even though he denies it he definitely doesn’t want Isla and her daughters in the house. She has made one or two friends and Josie has a close pal, but that may not make up for the harder times. Moving to the country has been stressful on them all and with no family close it is made even harder. Isla hasn’t been close to her parents since a tragedy long ago, but when things take a turn for the worse may it be the thing that helps them heal. This was an interesting read with many twists and turns to keep me wanting to know what happens next. I couldn’t work out where the story would go next, and really enjoyed Gillian’s writing style which kept me interested all the way through. I would thoroughly recommend for anyone who likes a bit of mystery and not knowing where the journey will take them. I’ll definitely be looking up more of Gillian’s books.

  3. “Fear” by Gillian Wells is a novel that gives the impression it needed more drafts to enable it to reach its’ full potential. Despite this handicap, some readers will find it an interesting depiction of a woman facing multiple challenges as she tries to start a new life.

    Following her divorce, Isla has impulsively uprooted her two youngish daughters, moving from Brisbane to a small country town. She has a new job, which includes use of an old house.

    Isla finds the town largely unwelcoming. The old man who lives opposite is creepy, recently released from serving a jail term for murdering his wife, townspeople are either cold or intrusive, and the house is pretty run down.

    Before long unpleasant things start happening. Noises at night, intrusions, someone moving things in the house and garden. Isla is determined to make a new start, but she’s beginning to wonder if she’s made a mistake picking this town.

    There is a lot packed into this novel – perhaps a bit too much, given it’s quite slender. There’s issues associated with Isla’s divorce and new start; there is trauma associated with past family events; there’s a hint of romance; and there are plot threads which lean towards the thriller genre.

    Unfortunately Wells lacks the skills to make any of these elements compelling. She tells us a great deal, and some readers will find it empathetic. However, none of them fully engaged me.

    I found the novel fairly lacklustre. It’s not well written, and is hindered by the fact that either Wells genuinely doesn’t know the meaning of various words, or the novel has been very shoddily proofread (possibly both as there are also missing words and wayward punctuation). Either way, it’s distracting when I’m making mental corrections on every single page.

    Wells shows a talent for characterisation, with Isla and her daughters coming to life. Their feelings and behaviours are very believable, with the girls in particular portrayed in an age appropriate fashion.

    This is a different perspective on country life, and as someone who’s a bit skeptical about the unrelenting positivity of some books (few towns are full of that many warm, outgoing people who go out of their way to welcome new people), I appreciated this. It’s not all negative by any means, but it does feel better balanced than some depictions.

    I did not enjoy this novel. It’s poorly written and just didn’t connect with me. However, it has some positives, and those may be enough for some readers to find this enjoyable.

  4. Thank you Beauty and Lace for the offer to review Fear by Gillian Wells.

    The book revolves around Mum Isla and her daughters Josie and Mia. Isla has split from her husband and has moved from Brisbane to a town in the country working as a receptionist. With her job she has the offer of a house to move into with her daughters. Isla does find that the town is not very friendly including her neighbour. A short time ago he was released from jail for killing his wife. Strange behaviours are also happening at the house she has moved into.

    I did enjoy the book especially reading a book set in Australia by an Australian author.

  5. Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Shawline Publishing Group for my copy of Fear to read and review.

    Isla and her two young daughters move to a remote country town after her divorce for a fresh start. Within a short time strange things start to occur around their property and it unsettles them all.

    This book has it all, abduction, murder, bush fires and of course a bit of love interest thrown in. The characters are well portrayed and the Australian bush setting was well described.

    Although it does need a bit of editing it was an enjoyable read.

  6. Fear by author Gillian Wells is the second book I’ve read by this talented author and she delivers an awesome read yet again with her novel “Fear”. There’s a small – town bushfire, rumours of a murder victim and the abduction of a child – just to name a few things that occur.
    Isla (a recent divorcee) and her 2 young daughters move to a remote country town. Isla and her 2 young daughters find themselves feeling totally isolated in this town and estranged from Isla’s parents and sisters who all still mourn the freak death of their brother when they were children many years ago. Someone in this small town wants Isla and her kids gone – but who is it and why? This is a book that ended all too soon and left me wanting more.
    Thanks to Beauty and Lace book club and Shawline Publishing Group for my copy of Gillian Wells’ novel Fear.

  7. Her divorce finding her needing change, Isla moves her girls from the city to a remote country town. The general practice she has her new job at has provided a rental for them, a basic home with potential, all be it remote even to the town. Isolation bringing up fear of noises and strange events.
    Little did she know the danger she was in, the history the town raising its head.
    A story with an unexpected twist, thank you for the opportunity to indulge in.

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