Isabel Ashdown has written ten novels now and you can’t go wrong reading her books if you like a police procedural wrapped in a dark psychological thriller, with interesting and endearing characters at its heart. Set in the Dorset countryside, “One Girl, One Summer” is a multi layered story focusing on teenager Nell and her mother Cathy, their family and the business at the Golden Rabbit holiday park.  When Nell witnesses a fatal tragedy strike the holiday park, guilt overcomes her and she starts to emotionally unravel as events tumble out of her control. Along with an event that’s put her at her lowest ebb ever, she befriends her adopted cousin to help solve her distressing issue. 

 

My heart went out to Nell and her circumstances and sadly her story is all to modern and believable. I liked how DS Ali Sampson displayed empathy for her and even put her own life on the line to help solve the crime committed against her. 

 

There were mentions of the ‘Starlings’ in the story, which focused heavily in the authors previous novel “Home Coming” and was nice to see the continuity (although absolutely no need to read any of her novels in order to enjoy). 

 

I did feel a few of the coincidences a little too convenient but then it wouldn’t have been the story it was, if they weren’t. The various individual character stories that are portrayed throughout, needed these overlapping coincidences to work and the wonderful, almost spiritually guided romance between two of the characters, was like an angel had been sent from heaven. 

 

A great read indeed, which I certainly enjoyed and I look forward to reading some of Isabel Ashdown’s other novels that I’ve previously missed. 

 

#OneGirlOneSummer - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️