The Origins of Iris, Beth Lewis
The Origins of Iris, Beth Lewis
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The Origins of Iris
The compelling, heart-wrenching and evocative new novel from Beth Lewis, shortlisted for the Polari Prize 2022

Author: Beth Lewis

Narrator: Stephanie Cannon

Unabridged: 11 hr 14 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/19/2021

Synopsis

Wild meets Sliding Doors, with a healthy dose of darkness thrown in, as Iris meets an alternate version of herself in the woods after escaping her abusive wife.

'I opened my eyes and the woman wearing my face opened hers at the same time.'

Iris, desperate to escape her unhappy marriage to her beautiful but controlling wife Claude, flees New York City for the remote Catskill Mountains. When she was a child, Iris and her father found solace in the beauty and wilderness of the forest and now Iris needs time and space to clear her head and come to terms with the mistakes which have led her here. But what Iris doesn't expect in this journey of survival and self-discovery is to find herself - quite literally.

Trapped in a neglected cabin deep in the mountains and with rapidly dwindling supplies, Iris is grudgingly forced to come face-to-face with a seemingly happier, prettier, better version of herself. An Iris who made difference choices in life and love. But is this other Iris all she seems? Can she be trusted? What is she hiding? And why did she end up here if her life went down such a different path?

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

About Beth Lewis

Beth Lewis was raised in the wilds of Cornwall and split her childhood between books and the beach. She has travelled extensively throughout the world and has had close encounters with black bears, killer whales, and Great White sharks. She has been, at turns, a bank cashier, fire performer, juggler, and is currently the Publishing Manager at Rebellion. She lives in Oxford with her wife and daughter.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Carole on October 12, 2021

This review can also be found at [URL not allowed] This was really good! I read and enjoyed The Wolf Road by the same author so I was eager to give this book a try. This is a very different book than that one was and I love that this author’s work is so varied. This is a thriller that pa......more

Goodreads review by Liz on May 18, 2021

Beth Lewis has pulled off something of a magic trick here, her first two novels were my no 1 reads of their years and gosh if she hasn't once again put me in a position where it will be very difficult for me to pick anything except The Origins of Iris for my No 1 of 2021. The Origins of Iris is an ex......more

Goodreads review by Karen on August 17, 2021

My first Beth Lewis, and it won’t be my last. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in advance of publication, and now to find a copy of The Wolf Road. The Origins of Iris is like Sliding Doors for adults, where the focus is on the choices we make and how they affect us and those around us. Th......more

Goodreads review by 8stitches 9lives on August 19, 2021

The Origins of Iris is a captivating novel set against the backdrop of atmospheric, haunting and remote scenery. It is while staying in an isolated cabin in the wilderness, Iris confronts her past in this thought-provoking, evocative thriller. Startlingly, Iris comes face to face with an alternate v......more

Goodreads review by Grace on August 26, 2021

The story chronicles the emotional toll an abusive relationship can have on an individual and how one can lose their identity. Going into this story, I didn't really know what I was getting into, as this is one of those books where the cover caught my attention. And now that I've read the story, it......more

Quotes

An empathic, brave exploration of serious themes. Daily Mail

Extraordinarily raw, gripping and totally unforgettable - Peterborough Telegraph Peterborough Telegraph

Gosh, this original and thought-spinningly intricate yet quietly simple read speared my emotions. I found myself utterly consumed ... and absolutely adored every word. LoveReading.co.uk

A beautiful reflection on the great conundrum of choices made and abandoned, loves pursued and betrayed Sophie Ward, author of the Book Prize longlisted Love and Other Thought Experiments

Evocative and unexpected, tender and fierce, The Origins of Iris is unlike any other thriller I've read in years . . . Outstanding' Sarah Hilary, award-winning author of Someone Else's Skin

This novel is like a dream, from the haunting narrative to the beautiful prose to the way Iris and her wilderness kept making their way into my subconscious at night. It is everything I could want from a book Anna Bailey, Sunday Times bestselling author of Tall Bones

Reviews
5
Compelling, original and highly readable Kate Hamer, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Girl In The Red Coat

Atmospheric, thought-provoking, complex. A haunting exploration of one woman's journey into the dark heart of herself Tamar Cohen, bestselling author of When She Was Bad

A tale of wonder, heartbreak and mystery, beautifully told. Loved every word Emma Haughton, author of The Dark

Evocative, transportive writing telling a story of regrets, choices, loss, and love in many forms. This is a lyrical, dark, and beautiful book Amanda Jennings, author of The Storm

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