the reading guide

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Six years ago Melody Pieterson was attacked and left for dead. She survived by locking herself away
and burying her memories, confident that her attacker was convicted and imprisoned. Then the body
of another woman is discovered in identical circumstances. Like Melody, she has blond hair and green
eyes. Like Melody she is found holding a gold bird cage chain.
Her name is Eve Elliot.
The women were strangers, so Melody thinks. But Eve knew all about Melody’s life. And most importantly, she knew the man who attacked them had never been caught.
Eve has left behind her story, the clues that will force Melody to confront her own lies and those she’s
been told.
The clues that will put her life in danger all over again.
BACKGROUND TO THE AUTHOR AND THE BOOK:
Colette McBeth was a BBC TV News Correspondent for ten years. She lives in West London
with her husband and three young children. Her first novel, Precious Thing, was published in 2013.
WHY I GOT INTERESTED IN CRIME:
My first inkling that I had written a crime novel came a few days after I landed a book deal. My agent
told me I had been invited to an event hosted by Headline for their crime and thriller writers. I was
honoured if a little surprised. I hadn’t set out to write crime. I didn’t think my novel fitted snugly in to
that category. I had simply gone about writing the story that had been buzzing around in my head for
years. Turns out my head was a much darker place than I had originally thought.
In hindsight it makes sense. I spent a good part of my journalism career covering crime. And crime
stories are really stories about the human condition, a reminder that we are all flawed. What compels
those people who live double lives, the perfectly respectable members of society who abuse, commit
murder and plot terrorist atrocities? How do they hide it from those closest to them? And are we all
capable of much darker acts than we’d care to believe? These are the questions that fascinate me. Perhaps that’s why you won’t find much violence in my books. Because it’s not the act of violence itself but
the workings of the mind that drives a person to it that holds the intrigue. To root around inside that
mind, unravel the layers of deceit and understand how a character manipulates those around them is,
for me at least, where the real terror lies.
READING GROUP QUESTIONS:
1. The Life I Left Behind has an unusual and complicated structure of voices, with which
you piece together what has really happened. How do you think Colette McBeth
manages to sustain the narrative drive, while keeping the suspense going?
2. Melody manages to control her new life with order. Do you think this is a normal
reaction to living through a traumatic event?
3. Colette McBeth uses very contemporary language and references throughout her
writing. Do you find this makes the story feel real and alive?
4. How successful do you think novels are that use an ‘unreliable’ narrator?
5. One of the keys to clever suspense writing is keeping the reader hooked, while
making the characters very credible. Which characters did you find you really
believed in?
6. Science is used as much as psychology in solving a crime or outlining a criminal
profile. How do you think the blend of science and nature works in this novel?
7. Each of the women in this novel feels guilty about something, which influences
ensuing actions in their lives. Do you think that a sense of guilt is a particularly
female trait?
8. The Life I Left Behind has a very real sense of place and period. Do you feel location
is important in contemporary novels of this sort?
9. Which is more important to you as a reader: hook, plot, character or twist?
10. If you left something behind to denote your character, what would it be?
Q & A WITH COLETTE MCBETH:
When I was a child I wanted to be…
Prime Minister. I was a very opinionated and could argue with my own shadow. I remember when I
was nine we had a mini General Election at school and I was a candidate. I lost out to my friend. That
says it all.
The moment that changed me forever…
Having my children.
A book that changed me…
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. I read it in my early teens. It opened my eyes and
made me believe anything is possible.
My favourite form of exercise…
Running, although I do it mainly in my boot camp sessions now. I try to go at least three times a week
because I’m forced to work much harder than I ever would myself. It’s also very sociable which is a
nice contrast to working on my own.
My go-to recipe…
Lately anything from the Persiana cookbook. Spice perfumed shoulder of lamb goes down amazingly
well.
If I could take one track…
That’s a difficult ask. Probably one that reminds me of my clubbing days. ‘Gat Decor Passion’ is a classic.
If I have time to myself…
I take a book to the coffee shop round the corner from my house. They do very good coffee and I’m
not distracted by piles of washing.
My house is…
A work in progress. I have a thing for renovations. As soon as we’re finished one I start looking for a
project on Rightmove.
My most treasured possession…
The cards my kids have made me. I keep them in a drawer in my desk.
My guilty pleasure is...
Country and western music. I wanted ‘Islands in the Stream’ for the first dance at my wedding. Funnily
enough my husband refused.
My favourite ‘it doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it’ DVD is...
Dirty Dancing. I’m very suspicious of anyone who doesn’t share my love of it.
My special place is…
The beach and the sea. I grew up next to it and I still find living in a city tough sometimes. As soon as
I go to the coast my head clears.
In 10 years’ time I hope to…
Be writing more novels and better novels.
What I’d like to leave behind…
A smile.
Where I’d like to be now…
On a beach of course.
My life in six words…
Busy, messy, loud, full, scary, satisfying.
REVIEWS FOR COLETTE MCBETH:
‘Colette McBeth delivers twists and shocks with superb timing. An impressive debut’ The Times
‘An excellent storyteller… more than deserving of a place on the modern thriller bookshelf ’
Sunday Express
‘This is the best of the bunch. A suspenseful novel of female jealousy and revenge set in London and
Brighton, it’s the tale of a reporter who becomes a player in her own story when she is called upon to
cover the story of the disappearance of her best friend’ Mail on Sunday
‘An interesting and original page-turner’ Literary Review
‘An intriguing debut’ The Sun
‘A gripping psychological thriller that will have you holding your breath’ Candis Magazine