REVIEW: SATURDAY REQUIEM, BY NICCI FRENCH

 

 

 

Frieda Klein is a London psychotherapist who has, in the past, assisted the police in a consultant role on some of their cases involving psychiatric disorders. In recent years, there have been troubles between Frieda and some higher-ups on the force. Nevertheless, some still consider her intuitive approach to be worth the risk.

In Saturday Requiem, the sixth novel in the series, Frieda has been asked to assess a young woman, Hannah Docherty, who has been held in Chelsworth Hospital for the past thirteen years for killing her family: mother, stepfather, and brother. What Frieda finds is appalling. Not only is Hannah almost mute, but she is covered with bruises and heavily medicated. What is happening to her behind closed doors? And why does Frieda find so many irregularities when she studies the case files? Was the case against Hannah mishandled? If so, why? Who is covering up the truth?

From the first page, I was thoroughly engaged with Frieda’s quest for answers, and not at all surprised that she met many obstacles and dangers along the way. As she connects with possible witnesses and interviews many of the same people the police talked with years ago, she meets resistance from almost everyone. But slowly a picture emerges, and as Frieda finds clarity, I held my breath, wondering how it would all play out.

Twists and turns are an understatement for the path Frieda follows to find a solution. But will she find out the truth soon enough? An alternate narrator, unknown to the reader, is spinning another plot from within the institution, and someone has nefarious plans for Hannah. 5 stars.

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