Dorothy doesn’t usually linger on the race of her characters. She allows the reader to get to know their personality traits first. However, in The Brighton Mermaid were are told earlier than usual because race is imperative to the characters’ experiences I think. It is a riveting book that any thriller aficionado will enjoy but I think it may resonate deeper with anyone who has ever experience prejudice. This book crosses the genres of thriller/drama/domestic noir/crime/contemporary fiction and I think would appeal to a wide audience because of this. Written from the perspectives of two sisters you see a dark, twisted tale unfold as a terrible event rips a family apart and the far-reaching consequences this has for all involved.

Mermaid | Beauty Salon in Seven Dials, Brighton and Hove Mermaid | Beauty Salon in Seven Dials, Brighton and Hove

Fiction and storytelling were still a HUGE passion of mine and I continued to write short stories and novels every spare moment that I got. In 2001 I had the idea for The Cupid Effect and my career as a published novelist began. And it's been fantastic. In 2006, third novel, My Best Friend's Girl was published. It was incredibly successful - selling nearly 90,000 copies within its first few weeks on sale. Six weeks later, it was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads Book Club and the book went on to sell over 500,000 copies. Oh, there I go again, this is meant to be about me, not my novels.They are being led by local storyteller Cathy Roberts of Literally A Bookshop, who will recite the tale as they go. The trail will begin at 11am. It takes time for the story to build and fully detail just why Nell has quit her job and the continued threat of John Pope to her wider family, however the story is so absorbing along the way largely because there are so many aspects to it - family dynamics, the bond between sisters and the lasting effects on both sisters, from Nell’s trust issue and closed off attitude to men through to Macy’s anxieties and bitterness. All of this adds depth to the characterisation and the story is a journey for both women each with a persona, secret motivating their individual behaviours which often results in a relationship full of resentment and frustration. The secondary characters all leave memorable impressions and play a critical role in the story despite the main focus on Nell and Macy and even with the denouement in sight Koomson takes time to resolve their own individual stories and tie up loose ends. In truth there was just one character whose behaviour I found a little at odds with their true nature and retained some scepticism about. I must admit it was doing well for the first chapters but then it started going everywhere and nowhere at the same time, turning a promising plot into what I like to call the Pinball Multi-ball Effect. Hundreds of sparkly activists are set to stroll down the promenade to the tune of drums and whistles on Saturday, July 1. Twenty-five years on, Nell is forced to quit her job to find out who the Brighton Mermaid really was – and what happened to her best friend that summer.

New Brighton Mermaid Trail - Tripadvisor New Brighton Mermaid Trail - Tripadvisor

If your wandering around New Brighton your sure to pass a very unique and distinctive feature of this pretty seaside resort. The Mermaid Trail is a set of six identical Mermaid statues situated in key locations across New Brighton. They have each been individually decorated, four of them by local schools, one by a community group and one by the local artist who designed and sculpted the statues, Barry Canning-Eaton. Both the design and decoration have been kept a closely guarded secret in the lead up to the unveilings. Please note this is a strictly no smoking property due to noise complaints from neighbours. You are welcome to vape inside but no smoking outside on the terrace or front of the property. If you still don't hear from the owner, Tripadvisor recommends that you send enquiries to other properties.

The book follows the fallout from a tragic event in 2 sisters childhood. Nell and her best friend Jude found the body of The Brighton Mermaid, after they had crept out for a night out. Nell's dad comes to collect them from the police station and tries to stop the policeman in charge 'bullying' the girls. He has his own nightmare following this event and eventually moves to a more remote village where Macy has troubles of her own.