Book Review: One Down by Diana Wilkinson

I am pleased to be welcoming Diana Wilkinson to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, One Down.

I’m not being paranoid! It’s all there in the crossword clues…in black and white. There’s no doubt the threat is real. Today, the answers spell out my murder.

May Third. Amanda. Silver Birch. Noontime. Assassination.

Is Nathan, my estranged crossword-setter husband, really planning to kill me? Or is it someone closer to home?

I check the door is bolted, slither to the ground, and count down the seconds to noon. There’s nothing left to do, and no one I can call. Who’d believe me anyway? The lady on the ground floor has already left the building, and my new boyfriend is on holiday. Or is he?

A tread of footsteps. A rap at the door, and I close my eyes, hold my breath…

*****

Completing the crossword puzzle is a part of Amanda’s daily routine, a thing she does to distract herself from temptation. 

However, when she starts to see clues that are meant for her, anxiety and need for alcohol increases. 

Is it her ex husband setting the clues? A man who blames her for a horrible accident? Whoever it is, they mean to cause paranoia or even worse, her death. 

I was intrigued by this novel and so was pleased to be on the blog tour for One Down. 

Having not read anything by Diana Wilkinson before, I didn’t fully know what to expect so was keen to get started. 

Amanda is an interesting character and evoked a few emotions. She’s tragic, vulnerable, frustrating and relatable all at once. She’s an interesting case study for addiction and the hold it can take on a person. One moment, I wanted to hug her and the next, I wanted to jump in and shake some sense into her. She certainly didn’t always make good life choices but who does all of the time? She didn’t deserve to have the experiences she had. 

Nathan likes to think he’s strong but, like Amanda, he battles insecurities and addiction. They just manifest differently. I felt that there was definitely a narcissistic streak in him but I couldn’t figure out if he was a good guy or a bad guy. The same with Joseph. 

In fact, Diane Wilkinson threads seeds of doubt all the way through and at one point, I was suspecting everyone! Well, everyone except Teddy. Who is behind the clues is something I hope you’ll discover for yourself. 

Told mainly from the point of view of Amanda and Nathan, the plot is unique and develops well. It had me well and truly hooked and reading all night – that thing of one more chapter, ok, one more. You know what I’m talking about. 

It’s so hard to talk about this novel without giving away big spoilers. 

One Down is a compelling, dark, twisted, clever psychological thriller about addiction and revenge. If you like puzzles or are looking for a gripping read, this book is perfect. 

(Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.)

About Diana Wilkinson –

Diana Wilkinson is a graduate of Durham University, spending a short spell in teaching before taking up a full-time career in tennis development.

A former Irish international player, she finally stepped off the tennis court to become a full-time writer.

Say hello to Diana via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

One Down was released by Boldwood Books on 16th January 2023. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.