Review: Do No Harm

Do No Harm by L.V. Hay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Do No Harm is a dark piece of domestic noir that will keep even the most astute of readers guessing right through to the end. With a focused and well crafted plot, a relatively small cast of characters and a straight forward style, the book is a fast read that kept the pages turning.

As the story opens. Lily and Sebastian are about to be married. Though they have only known each other a matter of months, they appear to be the perfect couple. With Lily’s young son Dennis, the product of a previous marriage, the little family is embracing what they hope will be a happy life together. Soon after the couple returns from their honeymoon, however, a number of events occur that shake them both to the core and threaten their relationship. Who is responsible is anyone’s guess. Lily’s best friend Triss is a shade too clingy, Sebastian’s mother, Fran, is painted as over protective, and Lily’s ex husband Maxwell is a sadistic ego maniac. All have seemingly ample opportunity and motive to disrupt the newly wedded bliss, and as the story unfolds, so grows the suspense. When the truth is finally revealed, no one is left unscathed.

The novel presents chapters told in first person (some from the perspective of Lily and others as told by the anonymous person behind the chaos), as well as chapters written in third person (limited) from the perspective of Sebastian. In the hands of a less capable author, this structure could have devolved into a tangled mess. Writer L.V. Hay, though, handles it beautifully, consistently staying true to the voice of the character speaking. The result is an easy to follow plot unencumbered by the weight of superfluous details.

As I was reading, I appreciated the focused storyline, but I always felt as if I was looking through a lens that wasn’t quite focused. Everything seemed a hair off center, somehow, a tick away from being fully realistic. The fast pace did, though, keep me from dwelling on the uneasy feeling and carried me through to the finish.

Overall, this was a one-sitting read that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre. Thanks to NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing for allowing me access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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