A former Customs and Police Officer, Andrew Hill’s first book in a crime series set in the New Forest, where he lived for 30 years, will be published in Spring 2022. An avid reader across the crime genre and regular at crime writing festivals, he now lives in West Sussex and works in property.
Three couples, each with a secret; one that they cannot or dare not, share with their partners, and so starts this dark tale.
We have Antonia with her perfect home, perfect figure and face that could launch a thousand ships. We have David her husband who has a great job, a ‘hail fellow and well met’ demeanour and easy manner.
We have Sophie, Antonia’s best friend and who has ready wit, a handsome husband and her glass is always half full. We have Sami who is married to Sophie. He has model looks, designer suits, a fast car and wants to start a family.
We have Olivia who has two children, a doting and good looking husband with a baby on the way. We have Mike who is married to Olivia and a favourite with the secretaries at his office. He’s trying to be a good dad and husband.
Beneath the Skin is an adroit dissection of what friendship is and isn’t. The author surgically removes the layers of good manners, blokeish banter, politeness and lack of sincerity as the eponymous title alludes to.
Like deconstructing a mille-feuille pastry, the author slowly reveals the depths that these well-delineated characters plumb and is contrasted against the shallow nature of their relationships. The narrative uncovers the darkness that is concealed within each of the character’s hearts. There is convergence as the crimes committed in the past reflect the crimes being committed in the present. Lies are told to cover up a terrible act, lies are told so that someone doesn’t get hurt and lies are told because the truth is a relative proposition.
This might be a first novel, but Caroline England she has hit the ground running with this intriguing debut.
