Just My Luck by Adele Parks
Just My Luck is Adele Parks' latest novel available on 6April by MIRA books. The author of Lies, Lies, Lies is back with another thriller. This book is already in the process of being made into a movie! In my opinion the book is always better than the movie to be sure to read this one first. I have read Adele's books in the past and love her ability to capture the reader. I was thrilled to be asked to be part of this blog tour for my honest opinions. It is so important to support writers and books you love so they can create more books for us!
Description
Be careful what
you wish for...
After spending
happy hours, parenting classes and barbeques together for the last 15 years,
Lexi and Jake Greenwood have celebrated and shared almost everything with the
Pearsons and the Heathcotes, including their lottery numbers. Then one night,
the unthinkable happens. Someone has been telling lies – lies dark enough to
burn bridges and tear the tight group of friends apart. When the Greenwoods win
a stunning $23 million in the lottery with their group’s numbers shortly after
their dramatic falling out, the Heathcotes and Pearsons believe they’re
entitled to part of the prize... and the three couples will do anything to
claim what is theirs.
Reader beware:
the last chapter will change everything.
A compulsively
readable portrait of the fragility of friendship, the corrosiveness of sudden
wealth, and the dark side of good luck, Adele Parks’ latest domestic thriller
will make you think twice about trying your hand at the lottery.
Review
Winning the lottery is a dream come true for Lexi and Jake
Greenwood! However the dream does not last long as they battle their friends
for the winnings and are inundated by charity requests. The Greenwood’s and
their children enjoy the money but also find out being rich is not all they
thought it would be.
The author spoke with actual lottery winners to learn more about
what it is like to win the lottery. I loved this attention to detail as all we
see when someone wins the lottery is the happiness of winning. We don’t see
this can be a burden with everyone asking you for money, family expecting
money, and even a fear for your safety.
The description gives a hint that the ending is shocking and I can
verify that! I did not see the ending coming and it made me rethink the entire
book. I won’t spoil it, but don’t be surprised if you want to re-read this book
after the ending.
Q&A with Adel Parks
Q: What was your inspiration behind the book?
A: A friend of mine works for the lottery company in the UK. He was telling me fun stories about what winners spend on, what their reactions were to hearing the news they’ve won, how the lottery company has a duty of care towards the winners etc. It was all fascinating. Then he just casually commented, ‘We always offer to arrange security for their children if the win is seriously big’. I found that so interesting. Imagine, the best moment of your life, being handed a check for millions and then suddenly realizing your family were now at risk in a way they never had been before. That was the moment I thought, I really need to write about this!
Q: How much research do you do before beginning to
write a book? Do you go to locations, ride with police, go to see an autopsy,
etc.
A: For me, one of the best things about being a writer is that I get to poke around in so many different worlds. I am not limited to my own career or viewpoint. I can - and do - research so many other professions, lifestyles, businesses or scenarios. Over the years, I have shadowed people who worked in the TV industry, teachers, police, florists, charity workers, bankers, photographers, prison wardens, librarians…I pride myself on being as thorough as possible in my research, especially if someone else’s profession is involved. For example, with my novels that have any crime procedure included, I interview police people, I visit their places of work and I also ask them to read over the parts of the novel that relate to their world. It’s critical to me that I not only get the facts spot on, but also nail the tone of voice and language that might be used. For Just My Luck I worked closely with some people who work at the British lottery company, I also interviewed lottery winners.
I often join forums and support groups that relate to my plotlines, it’s a great way to research. I have joined forums for people who have won the lottery, others where the objective is to support alcoholics, forums for Alzheimer’s sufferers and those who care for them, and for people with rare specific genetic diseases. I always declare that I am an author doing research, because I think it’s only fair that people know who they are sharing with. I find people who have been through these challenging life situations are often looking to tell their stories.
I always visit the locations where I set my novels and become familiar with them. I research in galleries, museums and libraries too. I’m certain I’ll never attend an autopsy though; I’m fairly squeamish!
Q: What’s your favorite part of writing suspense?
A: I’m a great fan of the plot! I do pride myself on rather unexpected but utterly believable reveals and twists. The intellectual challenge of constructing plots is unquestionably my favorite part of writing. The best suspense novels continually astonish and defy the reader until the final page. How great is it when we think we’re heading in one direction, but the author spins us around and takes us somewhere else? That’s what I like to achieve, action that appeals to sharp, inquisitive minds.
I also love taking my readers on an emotional ride. It’s undoubtedly compelling for readers to track a seemingly ordinary family and then watch as something exceptional happens when they’re placed under extraordinary stress. I believe we’re all capable of horrendous actions under the right – maybe that should be wrong –circumstances. A fascination with darkness is part of being human. We all have light and dark in us but we’re not heartless, books provide a safe environment to explore these different lives without ruining our own or anyone else’s.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy?
A: First and foremost, I am a reader. I always have a book with me and most of my down time you will find me with my nose buried. I am also a big fan of upscaling furniture. I enjoy mooching around junk shops, vintage fairs and eBay. I am always buying bits of old furniture, which I then, strip, paint, stain, or have re-upholstered etc. I love finding something that is past it’s best and no longer loved, then breathing new life into it. I really value having unique one-off pieces, that have a story behind them, in my home. I also enjoy walking and practicing yoga.
If you want to stay up to date on Adel Parks’, you can follow her
at the below links:
Adel Parks' website: https://www.adeleparks.com/
Twitter: @AdeleParks
Instagram: @adele_parks
Facebook: @OfficialAdeleParks
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