I Let You Go: A Twisted Tragedy Review

Warning: This book review tries to avoid giving spoilers, but nobody’s perfect.

I Let You Go is one of those psychological mystery thrillers that emphasizes the aftereffects of an unforeseen tragedy. Although the story starts off slowly, the narrator quietly knits the twists and turns of the novel. It was hard to get to it in the beginning, but the second half got me hooked and surprised. Here’s why you have to read it.

I Let You Go Synopsis

The novel opens with a the shocking scene of a five-year-old boy being killed in a devastating hit-and-run incident, witnessed by his own mother. I Let You Go follows Jenna Gray, a mother desperate to start anew after losing her son, and the detectives in charge of finding out the boy’s killer. Divided into two parts, Clare Mackintosh lays out the perfect structure of a mystery thriller.

Content warnings: death of a child, domestic abuse, emotional and mental abuse

Jenna Gray

Such a small impact on the world, yet the very centre of my own.

Mackintosh explores grief and tragedy through a new angle in this heartbreaking novel. The Protagonist, Jenna, wanted to escape her past, but some disturbing secrets are catching up on her, preventing her from running away. Will Jenna be able to put everything behind her and start a new life?

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The author wrote very a well-rounded character. Readers are able to follow the evolution of Jenna’s perspective from a frightened and doubtful girl to a determined woman. However, at times, her decisions were a bit questionable given her dreadful situation.

Jenna met a love interest in the novel but this felt like an unnecessary element to the story, looking at it overall. I wish the novel had explored more about the boy’s background story that readers could reflect back on.

Investigation

My steps feel lighter now and I realize it’s because I’m running toward something, and not away from it.

A separate perspective was given to the lead detective of the story. At times this unique storytelling captures the rawness of real crime. Other times, it just feels like a feeler side plot. Because of this, the investigation gives the reader the feeling that it is an unending and unsolvable offence.

Two parts

The grief I feel is so physical it seems impossible that I am still living; that my heart continues to beat when it has been wrenched apart.

I have to admit that the first part was very sluggish but because of the author’s ability to describe emotion, I could almost feel every bit of this aspect of the story. The first half focused more on the accident and the aftermath, which was the author’s way of laying out the webs that the readers would be stuck in during the second part.

The second half of the story blew me away. All the mysteries and doubts were answered in a very powerful way. Twists after twists kept me totally enthralled in the story. I Let You Go immerses readers in so many plot twist and turns that will leave them breathless.

The author gradually reveals every secret with her carefully crafted narrative. I love mystery novels and this one capture the essence of empathy. I Let You Go is one of those mysteries with a great sense of reality.

Final Thoughts

It is hard to describe the plot of I Let You Go without giving spoilers. My recommendation: get up and pick up this book immediately! It’s very slow during the first part but the second part made up for it. I Let You Go will make you think and feel for the characters. Be prepared for the various twists. If I read this sooner, I would have included it on my list of Books Like Gone Girl You Need to Unravel.