A Small Affair by Flora Collins

 

A Small Affair by Flora Collins is a thriller that follows an independent and ambitious woman in the fashion industry. Whose life falls apart when the wealthy older man she matched with on an exclusive dating app, is found dead. Vera is blamed for the death of the older man and his wife. She is casted as a murderer which sends her life into a downward spiral. Fast forward to a year later, Vera is invited to the memorial anniversary of the ex-wife, Odilie. Hesitant to go, Vera plucks up the courage to meet the friends and family of Odilie but feels uncomfortable as she still hears the whispers of what people think of her. Befriended by the younger sister Page, Vera is confused by the friendship but also finds the need to understand the lives that once belonged to Odilie and Tom. Secrets are revealed, scandals are unfolded, and the truth will finally be told. 

I had the pleasure to meet Flora Collins at a book event where she discussed her second published book, A Small Affair. Flora Collins wrote A Small Affair in the middle of the pandemic with a one year deadline. Like the rest of the world, she was binge watching shows on Netflix since the only place you could be, was in your home. She was watching a documentary about a man who had murdered his entire family as well as himself. Flora Collins wanted to know the mindset behind such a gruesome act and decided to write about something similar. Learning the inspiration behind this story I was automatically captivated. Unfortunately, the story did not live up to my expectations. Majority of the book is dull and seems to drag on. Certain parts were unnecessary and other parts needed more explanation. I do admire a story that is broken up into parts, if everything makes sense in the end. A Small Affair is separated into three parts and also has a dual timeline. Part I is Vera present day and Vera year ago. Part II is Vera present day and Odilie 10 years ago. Part III is Tom a year and a half ago and Vera present day. This story did not need to have parts split up, especially Part III. Reading about Tom’s point of view with such a small explanation didn’t make any sense. I would have preferred just a dual timeline that would intertwine in a more efficient way. The story does have some suspense and shocking moments. Though it was realistic, I am not a fan of how the story ended. It seemed like a rushed ending that needed more thrill. 

Let’s dive into some of these characters, shall we. The main character Vera MacDonald is portrayed as a ruthless, beautiful woman who will not let anyone get in the way of her success. She’s knowledgeable in the fashion industry and worked her way up the ladder quickly. Vera did whatever it took to get her way and came across aggressive, rude at times and self-indulgent. Having these traits may have caused Vera bad karma, but she seems to find her way back up where she belongs. The next character we have is Odilie Patterson. She is portrayed as timid at first but then finds her gumption. I have mixed feelings about Odilie’s character. She becomes obsessed with becoming a different person or rather someone she always wanted to be; classy, ruthless and lively. The background story on Odilie could have been more intriguing. There were parts of her story that needed more excitement. It wasn't until the very end where her character turned a bit riveting. Lastly, we have Tom Newburn. The wealthy older man who lied about being separated from his wife and went on a date with Vera. Tom is a character where the story could have taken a darker turn. The last few chapters of the book left me confused. There needed to be a better explanation about Tom's company and the relationship between him and Odilie. These characters weren't ones you could fall in love with, but maybe certain people can relate. I definitely cannot.

    Overall rating, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars. I expected to be more intrigued with the story but was left with disappointment. When learning the inspiration behind this novel, I anticipated the story to be more dark and twisted. I also felt this story was all over the place, needed more explanation with certain scenes and needed better transitions. The name of the book could have also been more thought out. This is one of those books that are not a MUST READ, but if you want to add it to your TBR list, go for it. 

Happy Reading!