'The Orphan Choir' was recommended to me by someone who has read all of Sophie Hannah's psychological thrillers. I read the first of her thrillers (Little Face) but was put off reading anymore.
I was quite curious to read this (mainly because of the blurb, the fact it's set in Cambridge where I live, and mainly because I love ghost stories) and I found myself charging through it, eager to get to the end, but also keen to never finish.
Louise and her husband Steve live in Cambridge. Their son Joseph is a boarder at the prestigious St Saviour's, which specialises in choristers and Louise misses him dreadfully. For a long time now, the next door neighbour has been causing havoc with his late night music playing, causing Louise to make many trips next door to complain. In particular, he appears to be favouring choir music, very like the type her son sings which causes her great upset.
Feeling like there is no way out, and heading for what can only be described as a nervous breakdown, Louise persuades Steve to buy them a second home in a beautifully tranquil gated community where noise is not an issue. Soon after moving in however, Louise starts to experience the same haunting choir music playing night after night; surely her neighbour from Cambridge hasn't tricked her or driven her mad? If so, why can't her husband hear it also? The twist is completely unexpected.
I loved it, and found it easy to read, although there were times when it was hard to empathise with Louise's frankly teenage mood swings and personality.
Started Saturday 11th January
Finished Monday 13th January
