Search
Search results
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Safe Haven in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Wow! This book was a powerhouse. About halfway through, it got so good I couldn't put it down for anything. The ending built up suspense in such a wonderfully tantalizing way. I was so sucked in to the story that I really did find myself transported to another place. It is truly a rare book that can do that.
I found myself wanting to kill Kevin myself. I was rooting like crazy for Katie. She was so likable...strong & vulnerable all at once. I could really feel her pain & ached to see her finally happy. But I also found myself, much like her, waiting for the other shoe to drop as it seemed inevitable. Alex was a great character too. If I were to describe him you'd likely think of him as that dream guy that doesn't exist in the real world. And you'd be right, he does sound too good to be true. Yet at the same time, he did seem real & so genuine.
The plot was well written. I was kept guessing for some time as the pieces gradually fell into place. Once they did it started to make sense, but it wasn't too predictable either. All in all it was a fantastic read!
I found myself wanting to kill Kevin myself. I was rooting like crazy for Katie. She was so likable...strong & vulnerable all at once. I could really feel her pain & ached to see her finally happy. But I also found myself, much like her, waiting for the other shoe to drop as it seemed inevitable. Alex was a great character too. If I were to describe him you'd likely think of him as that dream guy that doesn't exist in the real world. And you'd be right, he does sound too good to be true. Yet at the same time, he did seem real & so genuine.
The plot was well written. I was kept guessing for some time as the pieces gradually fell into place. Once they did it started to make sense, but it wasn't too predictable either. All in all it was a fantastic read!
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Girl Last Seen in Books
May 15, 2018
I like to listen to audiobooks while I game, which means I ended up reading Girl Last Seen by chance. It is the first book I’ve read by Nina Laurin and may very well be the last – harsh, I know. When I choose to read a thriller, suspense, or mystery book, I expect… well, the elements of those genres. Girl Last Seen was devoid of any excitement whatsoever and a bit too stereotypical for my taste.
Time and time again, I’ve made it clear that I hate slow plots. I want to feel urgency in a book, especially if it deals with a kidnapped child. In Girl Last Seen, the characters were underwhelming. It becomes obvious early on that things are going to go exactly the way the reader feels they are: girl disappears, guy everyone knows is at fault, oh dear god how can it possibly be. The main character is more unlikable than her own despicable mother, considering she’s drug addicted. There’s even a sex scene that’s a bit on the descriptive side thrown in for what feels like the hell of it. And that annoys me.
Fortunately, the narrator is an excellent choice and I would gladly listen to more books read by her.
Time and time again, I’ve made it clear that I hate slow plots. I want to feel urgency in a book, especially if it deals with a kidnapped child. In Girl Last Seen, the characters were underwhelming. It becomes obvious early on that things are going to go exactly the way the reader feels they are: girl disappears, guy everyone knows is at fault, oh dear god how can it possibly be. The main character is more unlikable than her own despicable mother, considering she’s drug addicted. There’s even a sex scene that’s a bit on the descriptive side thrown in for what feels like the hell of it. And that annoys me.
Fortunately, the narrator is an excellent choice and I would gladly listen to more books read by her.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Tuesday's Gone (Frieda Klein, #2) in Books
May 10, 2018
Dr. Freida Klein is a psychotherapist and a "consultant" with the London police. She is helping the police solve the murder of Robert Poole, whose body was found in the apartment of a mentally unstable woman, Michelle Doyce. The police are ready to close the case. With Michelle unfit to stand trial, she will spend her time in a mental institution....Case Closed! But Freida saw past all that into something much more. Putting her life on the line and confronting witnesses without the help of the police, are just part of what makes up Dr. Klein. And, you'll never guess who did it. The book had me on the edge of my seat from page one.
Can't wait to read more in this series and really bummed that I didn't read [b:Blue Monday|10940958|Blue Monday (Frieda Klein, #1)|Nicci French|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327188223s/10940958.jpg|15858219] first, but it has been add to my "To Read" list.
The part about this book that made me give it five stars is that it had me from the beginning and it was hard to figure out who the killer was. Too many people had a motive. Nicci French did a really amazing job of keeping the suspense.
Can't wait to read more in this series and really bummed that I didn't read [b:Blue Monday|10940958|Blue Monday (Frieda Klein, #1)|Nicci French|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327188223s/10940958.jpg|15858219] first, but it has been add to my "To Read" list.
The part about this book that made me give it five stars is that it had me from the beginning and it was hard to figure out who the killer was. Too many people had a motive. Nicci French did a really amazing job of keeping the suspense.
Ross (3282 KP) rated A Quiet Place (2018) in Movies
Feb 4, 2019
A good, tense thriller of a film
A Quiet Place is a tame horror film where monsters roam the world and will attack anything that makes a noise. Why they do this is never explained, but that suits me fine. The film follows a family trying to survive in this world, who have learned to live in almost complete silence and live off the land. I was worried in the first few minutes that it was going to be almost complete silence, but thankfully it wasn't. An interesting twist was that one of the family's children is deaf so the family can already communicate in sign language.
There are moments of true edge of the seat suspense, when someone has accidentally made a noise and they just have to wait for the inevitable attack. And there are elements where we know something is going to happen and you are waiting for it (the nail for example).
One thing that bugged me is that these creatures can apparently hear a pin drop from miles away but can't hear breathe or a heartbeat from mere feet? Hmmm. Regardless, this was an interesting concept and, somewhat unlike Bird Box, was well delivered.
Well acted throughout.
There are moments of true edge of the seat suspense, when someone has accidentally made a noise and they just have to wait for the inevitable attack. And there are elements where we know something is going to happen and you are waiting for it (the nail for example).
One thing that bugged me is that these creatures can apparently hear a pin drop from miles away but can't hear breathe or a heartbeat from mere feet? Hmmm. Regardless, this was an interesting concept and, somewhat unlike Bird Box, was well delivered.
Well acted throughout.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Present Danger in Books
Feb 15, 2019
I got to page 206 then decided to stop reading the book; I had to face it, I wasn't enjoying it overly much. At over the halfway point, the story neither had much romance nor suspense to keep me reading, and really, I wasn't attached to any of the characters and didn't care what happened, I might as well stop while I'm ahead. I also had a hard time reading this because Aunie and Lola had their accents phonetically spelled for the reader, so it could repeatedly be beaten into the reader's head that one character is apparently from Scarlett O'Hara's Atlanta (and not present-day Atlanta) and the other hails from Jamaica; I get it, they have accents, move on. One other thing, the descriptions of Aunie's perfect and petite looks became nauseating, and low-and-behold, she doesn't see what the big deal is! Puh-lease! I rather have a heroine vain than oblivious. Aunie was such a Mary Sue I could gag. I was disappointed that the Pacific Northwest didn't play into the book much, or at least as far as I read. Oh well. The author is going to have to do a better job to keep me reading another book of hers.
Brecoles Nine (16 KP) rated Godzilla (2014) in Movies
Mar 12, 2019
Godzilla (2014) Review
Contains spoilers, click to show
Godzilla (2014) was a really good movie, it had a lot action and a lot suspense. However it didn't really contain too many scenes with Godzilla, it had a lot of facial expressions from Aaron Taylor Johnson, and by a lot I mean the same expression. ? <- That one.
The whole movie, I believe was definitely a set up for Godzilla: King of the Monsters due out in 2019, though it could have used a little bit more "monster" in it. I liked it though, but it's missing some key elements to make it Godzilla, but once you get passed the obvious problems with it, it proves to be a really great film. The roar they created for this new take on Godzilla is by far my favorite aside from the 1999 Toho film. America has finally done Godzilla justice however, especially compared to the Matthew Broderick starring Godzilla in the early 2000's whom is now labeled as simply "Zilla." Great film to watch, get caught up before Godzilla: King of the Monsters hits theaters on May 31, 2019.
The whole movie, I believe was definitely a set up for Godzilla: King of the Monsters due out in 2019, though it could have used a little bit more "monster" in it. I liked it though, but it's missing some key elements to make it Godzilla, but once you get passed the obvious problems with it, it proves to be a really great film. The roar they created for this new take on Godzilla is by far my favorite aside from the 1999 Toho film. America has finally done Godzilla justice however, especially compared to the Matthew Broderick starring Godzilla in the early 2000's whom is now labeled as simply "Zilla." Great film to watch, get caught up before Godzilla: King of the Monsters hits theaters on May 31, 2019.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Nowhere Child in Books
Mar 14, 2019
Kimberley Leamy lives in Melbourne, Australia is shocked when a man approaches her while at the college where she teaches photography. He claims that she is his sister, Sammy who had been abducted when she was two years old from Manson Kentucky USA. Stuart Went gives her irrefutable evidence as to who she really is.
The Nowhere Child is the first novel by award-winning Australian author, Christian White.
This just an amazing and powerful debut novel. Such an amazing twist on the missing child genre. This is a dark, intense and somewhat chilling psychological thriller. The author has managed to weave a dark, intense and somewhat chilling psychological thriller filled with a number of different emotional themes throughout. With all of this combined it makes for an emotional, suspense filled explosive novel.
This wonderful new author cleverly weaves the past and present so clearly and has packed so much emotion into this novel. I love how the pace of the novel flows and how the characters develop throughout.
The ending of the book is just so unexpected and I can only hope we see more to come from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC copy of this book
The Nowhere Child is the first novel by award-winning Australian author, Christian White.
This just an amazing and powerful debut novel. Such an amazing twist on the missing child genre. This is a dark, intense and somewhat chilling psychological thriller. The author has managed to weave a dark, intense and somewhat chilling psychological thriller filled with a number of different emotional themes throughout. With all of this combined it makes for an emotional, suspense filled explosive novel.
This wonderful new author cleverly weaves the past and present so clearly and has packed so much emotion into this novel. I love how the pace of the novel flows and how the characters develop throughout.
The ending of the book is just so unexpected and I can only hope we see more to come from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC copy of this book
Misery - Stephen King
Contains spoilers, click to show
Gripping, suspenseful, terrifying.
I never would have thought a book about humans, with nothing paranormal, could be so utterly disturbing. Annie Wilkes is as terrifying to us, the reader, as she is to Paul. Like him, we never know when she will snap, what will upset her, what she will do. Discovering Annie's past with Paul had me reading and turning the pages with him, I was as afraid as he was when she nearly discovered him.
We never leave Paul Sheldon, so at every moment, we know as much as he does. Not knowing what is happening outside Annie's home adds to the suspense and horror. Is anyone looking for him? Does anyone care? Has anyone thought to suspect Annie? I really enjoyed that we were never shown any external details.
This is the second Stephen King novel I've read, and it was incredible. His style is immediately recognisable, and while it took some getting used to at first, once I had a flow going I could not put the book down. His use of remembering and repetition, and the language he uses, all evoke an astounding reality of a codeine-addicted man held hostage as a psychopaths pet writer.
I never would have thought a book about humans, with nothing paranormal, could be so utterly disturbing. Annie Wilkes is as terrifying to us, the reader, as she is to Paul. Like him, we never know when she will snap, what will upset her, what she will do. Discovering Annie's past with Paul had me reading and turning the pages with him, I was as afraid as he was when she nearly discovered him.
We never leave Paul Sheldon, so at every moment, we know as much as he does. Not knowing what is happening outside Annie's home adds to the suspense and horror. Is anyone looking for him? Does anyone care? Has anyone thought to suspect Annie? I really enjoyed that we were never shown any external details.
This is the second Stephen King novel I've read, and it was incredible. His style is immediately recognisable, and while it took some getting used to at first, once I had a flow going I could not put the book down. His use of remembering and repetition, and the language he uses, all evoke an astounding reality of a codeine-addicted man held hostage as a psychopaths pet writer.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Girl Next Door in Books
May 22, 2019
One little lie just became deadly…
Perfect mother. Perfect wife. Jane Goodwin has spent years building her picture-perfect life in the quiet village of Ashdon. So when sixteen-year-old Clare Edwards is found murdered in Sorrow's Meadow, Jane knows she must first protect her family.
Every marriage has a few white lies and hers is no exception. Jane's worked hard to cover up her dark secret from all those years ago - and she'll do anything to keep it hidden..
Appearances can be deceptive, can't they?
This story is told from multiple points of view and are taken on the journey of what happened on the fateful day and also the aftermath.
This story has so many secrets that are revealed throughout. The village setting is so perfect but is it really all it seems?
The pace and plot were just perfect for this story. Great characters and the suspicions just keep mounting.
The ending has such a shock twist and revelation that will leave you stunned.
Perfect suspense throughout!!
Highly recommend reading!
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review
Perfect mother. Perfect wife. Jane Goodwin has spent years building her picture-perfect life in the quiet village of Ashdon. So when sixteen-year-old Clare Edwards is found murdered in Sorrow's Meadow, Jane knows she must first protect her family.
Every marriage has a few white lies and hers is no exception. Jane's worked hard to cover up her dark secret from all those years ago - and she'll do anything to keep it hidden..
Appearances can be deceptive, can't they?
This story is told from multiple points of view and are taken on the journey of what happened on the fateful day and also the aftermath.
This story has so many secrets that are revealed throughout. The village setting is so perfect but is it really all it seems?
The pace and plot were just perfect for this story. Great characters and the suspicions just keep mounting.
The ending has such a shock twist and revelation that will leave you stunned.
Perfect suspense throughout!!
Highly recommend reading!
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review
Danielle Chaplin (81 KP) rated Uprooted in Books
Jun 4, 2019
Just yes!
I was a bit skeptical about this book but thought I'd give it a go because it sounded a bit like a take on St George and the Dragon or Beauty and the Beast and I am so glad I did as this is now one of my favourite books to re-read!
I loved that it wasn't easy for the main character to learn magic, that the characters progressed in a more likely timeline than other books I've read and that it wasn't always a happy ending for the characters in the book. I don't like to give spoilers away but I nearly ripped apart the prince in the book for what he was about to do and for how pig headed he is in sacrificing so many for one person that is very likely heavily corrupted and unsaveable.
The world is incredibly vivid without over explaining or being over descriptive. I know what is going to happen in the book but I am constantly in suspense over what is going to happen next in the book every time I read it... I will have to re-read it again soon after this review as I now have it on my mind.
I loved that it wasn't easy for the main character to learn magic, that the characters progressed in a more likely timeline than other books I've read and that it wasn't always a happy ending for the characters in the book. I don't like to give spoilers away but I nearly ripped apart the prince in the book for what he was about to do and for how pig headed he is in sacrificing so many for one person that is very likely heavily corrupted and unsaveable.
The world is incredibly vivid without over explaining or being over descriptive. I know what is going to happen in the book but I am constantly in suspense over what is going to happen next in the book every time I read it... I will have to re-read it again soon after this review as I now have it on my mind.