Narrated by Siiri Scott 🎧The Spires by Kate Moretti provides a slow burn thriller with an interesting and unexpected twist. Sit back, relax and take a journey into the world of murder, lies and revenge......
The Spires tells the tale of five friends, (Penelope, Wilma, Bree, Jack and Flynn) who lived in a converted church building. However, all was not well as jealousy, obsession, resentment and unrequited feelings reigned among these friends. Then the unthinkable happened during one night of partying. The building burned to the ground, leaving death in its wake and ripping the friends apart.
Fast forward twenty years later, Penelope is a wife and a mother of two. All appears to be going well, but then Willa seeking to escape an abusive husband sought refuge with Penelope. A move which poses a threat to Penelope’s marriage, family and ultimately her sanity.
The story moved between the past and the present. I found the section of the story set in the present fascinating, while that set in the past bored me. The storyline set in the past focuses on the relationship between the five friends and was necessary in the plot's development. I never connected with the characters showcased in the past, as their actions annoyed me. In the present, the characters, though unlikeable, were more tolerable and quite fascinating.
The POVs of both Penelope and Willa in the present captured my attention. It would have been great if Willa’s POV received more page time, though. Penelope allowing Willa to move into her home after twenty years of no communication baffled me. Especially knowing that Penelope wanted to keep that part of her life hidden. I understood the need to help her, but moving in with her should have been a last resort.
The Spires was marketed as a thriller, therefore I expected a fast-paced and suspenseful read. However, it fell way below my expectations. Despite the slow pacing, the story had some interesting aspects, which kept me listening. I was curious to know Willa’s endgame and how it tied in with the events from the past. As the end drew near, an unexpected and explosive twist occurred.
Narration
Siiri Scott provided the narration. It was my first time listening to her. Her male and female voices were not unique, and there were a few instances of mispronunciations. Despite the monotony of her delivery, she provided a fairly enjoyable listen. I would listen to her narration again if the opportunity arises. I listened at a speed of 1.3x
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, 🎧The Spires delivered an interesting tale of lies, secrets, revenge and murder. Fans of slow paced thrillers will enjoy this latest offering from Kate Moretti.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading