Uncle Paul, by Celia Fremlin - Milly
First published in 1959, Uncle Paul, feels like a masterclass in suspense. Author Celia Fremlin proves her writing abilities by taking the set up of the seaside holiday, and creating an atmosphere of menace and dread that easily stands the test of time.
Following the lives of three sisters, Meg, Isabel, and Mildred, we see Meg receive an urgent plea to join her two elder sisters on their caravan holiday. As soon as Meg arrives, the feeling of impending danger is inescapable. The sisters fear the return of Uncle Paul, Mildred's ex husband, who the sisters discovered was a bigamist that deliberately married rich women and then murdered for their money.
Fifteen years later, the sisters are convinced of Paul's return, like a lurking, frightening dark shadow, waiting out of sight and preparing for his moment to strike. Mildred has returned to the coastal cottage that she and Paul once shared as husband and wife - where she is convinced he will find her, seeking his revenge. As Meg pursues the truth and struggles to put the ghost of Uncle Paul to rest, she reluctantly is forced to stay at the cottage, and quickly finds herself being drawn further into the web of impending peril. As the tension rises and the nights draw in, the awful truth of Uncle Paul is waiting to be revealed.
Uncle Paul is the perfect book for summer holidays. Once you start this book, you won't be able to stop turning the pages until the very end. It is a powerful, addictive read, with just the right amount of spine tingling tension to make you shiver.
This is a classic in every way. Highly recommended.
Milly
