The Sham, Nicole Barrell
The Sham, Nicole Barrell
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
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The Sham

Author: Nicole Barrell

Narrator: Carlotta Brentan, Julia Atwood

Unabridged: 9 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/05/2023

Synopsis

After her parents' deaths on Cape Cod, reclusive 20-something Margo Sharpe lives alone in a crap apartment in South Boston. One problem: she can't afford it. So she rents her spare bedroom to Lucy Somers, a shy, allergic-to-everything schoolteacher. At first, they peacefully coexist; Margo manages to keep Lucy at arm's length. But Lucy starts to ask questions about Margo's past. Too many questions. Then, money goes missing. Relationships are hijacked. Dead rats appear all over the house. And it becomes clear, far too late, that Margo chose...poorly.

The Sham is a gripping, head-spinning game of cat and mouse, a nightmare union based on obsession and revenge—a complete sham. Because neither is whom she seems. Who is Lucy Somers, and what exactly does she want?

And who, for that matter, is Margo Sharpe?

About The Author

Nicole Barrell is the author of the psychological suspense The Hollow, called an "admirable debut...an engaging journey into a troubled mind, a promising novel" (Kirkus). Prior to her current writing and teaching career, Nicole worked in digital marketing, having earned her M.A. from Emerson College and her B.A., summa cum laude, from the honors college at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Nicole is a native of Cape Cod, where most of her stories are set. She now teaches there and lives outside Boston with her husband, toddler son, and dog-daughter, Lily the lab.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Tanyajk on October 10, 2023

Well that was a mind f. I was second guessing myself until the very end. I can get behind an unreliable narrator, but Maggie aka Margo and Lucy - two deeply complex characters contained multitudes. I was constantly going back and forth on who I trusted. Well, not Gary. I will always trust Gary. Not......more

Goodreads review by A Look Inside: Reviews and Interviews on December 10, 2024

Nicole Barrell’s The Sham delivers a gripping tale that explores identity, trauma, and interpersonal manipulation. Set in South Boston, this psychological thriller explores the fine line between appearances and reality. Barrell’s sharp prose and intricate character work make this a memorable additio......more

Goodreads review by Keila (speedreadstagram) on September 17, 2023

Margo is a reclusive 20-something who recently bought a crappy place in South Boston. In order to make ends meet, she decides to rent out her spare bedroom. She rents to Lucy…who’s shy and allergic to everything. Margo keeps Lucy at arm’s length, but strange things start happening and Margo begins t......more

Goodreads review by Torrie on October 20, 2023

This book has likely secured a place among my top 10 reads of the year! It was an engaging read and one of the fastest I've devoured in recent months. Initially the first few chapters appeared somewhat predictable: the main character carried a mysterious secret, and the supporting characters seemed......more

Goodreads review by Mary on December 27, 2023

The Sham is an intricately plotted page-turner about how the long-term effects of past trauma can set our lives on an unexpected - sometimes unhealthy - course. The novel’s main characters are drawn together by secrets in their past, which are satisfyingly revealed bit by bit. The author knows how t......more

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