Eloise by Judy Finnigan.

From Goodreads

Yesterday I almost saw her.

I was standing on the sun deck, looking out to sea, revelling in the unexpected warmth of the February sun. A butterfly trembled on a nearby buddleia and suddenly I smelled her perfume.

She wasn't there, of course. How could she be when I had seen her lying in her coffin just two weeks ago, the day before she was buried, her casket surrounded by the scented candles she loved?

She lay in Cornish ground now...

She was a daughter, a wife, a mother. She was a friend. But what secrets did Eloise take to her grave?
Compulsively readable and haunting, this is the Sunday Times bestselling debut novel from Book Club champion, Judy Finnigan.

My review

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

It's not the first time that I've read a book written by a celebrity and some of the ones that I've read haven't been that good.  However, I found this not a bad read at all.  Whilst it won't win any literary awards it was an entertaining easy read.  This is Judy Finnigan's debut novel. 

I enjoyed the premise of the book and the fact that Cathy's haunting by her friend Eloise was often seen as part of her mental illness.  Eloise had passed away but she haunted Cathy during her sleep mostly and was adamant that Cathy should be very wary of 'him'.  Who was the 'him' in question and as you read the story your mind changes several times. Is it her pyschiatrist husband Chris, who in my eyes makes Cathy appear more mentally ill than she is most of the time by his actions or is it Ted the controlling and odd husband of Eloise? 

Cathy does come across as weak at times but she is stronger than you think and is insistent about Cathy haunting her despite what others think.  As the story evolves and events in Eloise's past come to light the story picks up pace nicely, others are soon drawn in and perhaps what Cathy is talking about isn't all in her head.

As the story draws to a close the action notches up a gear and things are not all as they seem.  I found that I was surprised by the ending a little, which was a bonus for me.

If you like stories that are part pyschological, with a little mystery thrown in to curl up with on a dark wintery night then this is the book for you.

3.5* (7/10).  I will read further books if any are written.