The Turnout by Megan Abbott (Little, Brown Book Group UK)

Sisters Dara and Marie run their mother's ballet school together with Dara's husband Charlie since their parents died in an accident. They balance their whole lives around ballet. 

Every year they do the Nutcracker and they are starting to rehearse it with their classes. They also lived together in their parents old house until Marie moved out in the attic of the ballet school. One night a fire breaks out, so they have to hire a constructor to fix their school while they are rehearsing. Dara finds this guy threatening as he seems to have an odd interest in their family house. However - Marie is attracted to this much older and brute man.

The story is dark, tense, slow and even claustrophobic at times with many hints that something bad will happen. The unusual bond between Durants makes the reader uncomfortable and yet wants to unveil their secrets.

Overall good read.

3/5