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The Black Project
Book
Set in an English suburb in the early 1990s, The Black Project is the story of Richard's...
Generally speaking, if a book looks as though Germany, or somewhere in Germany, is going to have a reasonably central role, I’m going to read it. And Berlin didn’t disappoint.
Daphne has moved to Berlin, ostensibly to learn German, but as the book progresses it seems more likely that she’s trying to escape something. Trouble and strange occurrences seem to follow Daphne, and I was left wondering if it was in her imagination a lot of the time. Nothing is easy - from her German lessons, to her relationships and flat rentals.
Daphne is an unreliable narrator - and I think that’s all I need to say! Other than: it was a great read that I really enjoyed!
Daphne has moved to Berlin, ostensibly to learn German, but as the book progresses it seems more likely that she’s trying to escape something. Trouble and strange occurrences seem to follow Daphne, and I was left wondering if it was in her imagination a lot of the time. Nothing is easy - from her German lessons, to her relationships and flat rentals.
Daphne is an unreliable narrator - and I think that’s all I need to say! Other than: it was a great read that I really enjoyed!
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Woman in the Window in Books
Mar 2, 2018
Interesting but familiar
While there were familiar elements to this psychological thriller with the unreliable narrator and presence of male violence, there were some good twists to make it equally listenable.
Following the story of psychologist Dr Anna Fox, it shows how agoraphobia has taken over her life, not before she witnesses something horrific in pure Hitchcock fashion. Her new neighbours, the Russells, appear to be hiding a secret which she catches while spying with her camera from across the window.
With that said, there are some classic thrillers built into the book such as Vertigo, Rear Window, and Wait Until Dark. And the main character happens to be a fan of these films as well. Good, but nothing completely new.
Following the story of psychologist Dr Anna Fox, it shows how agoraphobia has taken over her life, not before she witnesses something horrific in pure Hitchcock fashion. Her new neighbours, the Russells, appear to be hiding a secret which she catches while spying with her camera from across the window.
With that said, there are some classic thrillers built into the book such as Vertigo, Rear Window, and Wait Until Dark. And the main character happens to be a fan of these films as well. Good, but nothing completely new.
Kristina (502 KP) rated In a Dark, Dark Wood in Books
Dec 7, 2020
I'm shell shocked. From page one, I was drawn in, and I couldn't stop reading - I just had to finish, but it's my own fault for starting a new book at 10 o'clock at night! Back and forth, back and forth I went. What really happened; who's the suspect; is Nora an unreliable narrator; is Nora using her skill as a writer to create an imaginary version of the real story or is she piecing together what happened with how she wants to believe it happened? So many thoughts and doubts! I could not fully decide on one person to blame. The ending was believable and yet still crazy. Definitely glad I finally chose to give this one a read!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Sometimes I Lie in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Takes unreliable narrator to a whole new level.
Amber wakes up in the hospital in a coma after an accident, which she cannot remember. She is paralyzed, unable to move or speak. She feels convinced that her husband, Paul, may have had something to do with it. Her visitors include Paul and her sister, Claire.
Well, this is an interesting one. The novel takes the unreliable narrator trope to the highest level. After all, Amber is in a coma, with memory issues. She also tells us, at the beginning of the novel, that she lies. Armed with this information, we are thrown headfirst into the story, trying to figure out exactly what has happened. The reader struggles along with Amber to learn what happened as she overhears snippets in her hotel room. It's quite the ride.
The novel is told in three parts: Amber's thoughts as she struggles to remember from within the coma, Amber telling events as they lead up to the accident, and snippets of childhood journal entries. The result is a confusing, suspenseful read that makes you instantly suspicious about everything and everyone. The novel is full of warning signs and creepy moments. It also features its share of impressive twists and turns. I was definitely shocked a couple of times.
I was, honestly, a little confused sometimes too. I have some weird feelings on this one. It's a great thriller. It keeps you guessing, and it surprises you. A lot, if you're me. I'm not sure I always enjoyed it, but I'm certainly impressed by it, if that makes any sense. No more details, as I highly recommend going in spoiler-free.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. More at https://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/.
Well, this is an interesting one. The novel takes the unreliable narrator trope to the highest level. After all, Amber is in a coma, with memory issues. She also tells us, at the beginning of the novel, that she lies. Armed with this information, we are thrown headfirst into the story, trying to figure out exactly what has happened. The reader struggles along with Amber to learn what happened as she overhears snippets in her hotel room. It's quite the ride.
The novel is told in three parts: Amber's thoughts as she struggles to remember from within the coma, Amber telling events as they lead up to the accident, and snippets of childhood journal entries. The result is a confusing, suspenseful read that makes you instantly suspicious about everything and everyone. The novel is full of warning signs and creepy moments. It also features its share of impressive twists and turns. I was definitely shocked a couple of times.
I was, honestly, a little confused sometimes too. I have some weird feelings on this one. It's a great thriller. It keeps you guessing, and it surprises you. A lot, if you're me. I'm not sure I always enjoyed it, but I'm certainly impressed by it, if that makes any sense. No more details, as I highly recommend going in spoiler-free.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. More at https://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/.
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in Books
Jul 2, 2019
A good book for its time
It takes a while to get into this book mostly because of the narrative voice. It is the narrative voice that makes the book as good as it is. Written in 1st person, the unreliable narrator fools the reader into just how uneducated he is (he did write a book after all). Huck has bags of common sense but relies on Tom for silliness. There is however, a lot of innocence in Huckleberry and a huge desire for freedom but I do think he secretly wants to civilised. The last few chapters of the book are more like a children's adventure story showing the child like Huckleberry compared to the innocent and uncivilised boy at the start of the book. I liked this. I enjoyed the ending very much.
Skye (14 KP) rated The Girl on the Train in Books
Jul 30, 2017
Great suspense.
This is a good book and I would recommend it to mystery/suspense fans. However, I found the main character, Rachel annoying. She whines often and many times is just off the rail. But, I like the writing and believe this is done intentionally. Rachel hates herself, she is often angry with herself, she is hitting rock bottom, and why would the reader not feel the same way in light of a first person narrative. The writing makes you feel for Rachel, your embarrassed for her, confused, angry, upset, you pity her, in a way you come to understand her, and it adds to the narrative of the novel. You think you have it figured out (and you might the clues are there), but at times your not sure (Rachel is an unreliable narrator). This book is worth a read.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Sometimes I Lie in Books
Feb 7, 2019
Better than expected
I was very much expecting this book to be your average by the book predictable thriller, and as it started out, that was exactly how it appeared to be going. However towards the final third, there were some twists I didn't see coming which made this a much better read.
The plot itself was intriguing and entertaining, and I think the whole story was very well written and worked well jumping between different periods in time. It was different to read a book from the point of view of a very unreliable narrator and a character who wasn't entirely likeable. It's not without its flaws - the final ending was a bit like overkill - but overall it was a surprisingly good and absorbing read. Makes a change for me to read something and not be able to predict the ending, which was very refreshing.
The plot itself was intriguing and entertaining, and I think the whole story was very well written and worked well jumping between different periods in time. It was different to read a book from the point of view of a very unreliable narrator and a character who wasn't entirely likeable. It's not without its flaws - the final ending was a bit like overkill - but overall it was a surprisingly good and absorbing read. Makes a change for me to read something and not be able to predict the ending, which was very refreshing.
The Watcher
8.5
Rate It
Book
The Girl on the Train meets Rear Window. The Watcher is an absolutely addictive and on trend...
crime fiction
Isabel Smith (34 KP) rated Our Kind of Cruelty: A Novel in Books
Jun 22, 2018
Our Kind of Cruelty is an engrossing, in-depth case study of the weirdly obsessive and detrimental love story between Mike Hayes and Verity Walton. Author Araminta Hall only provides readers with Mike’s point of view, so there are some limitations into what we can glean about Verity’s thoughts, motivations, and behaviors. Nevertheless, seeds of doubt are sown from the beginning of the story about both characters’ integrity and reliability.
Mike and Verity have been inseparable since meeting at university and starting up their one-of-a-kind relationship. During their early years they established a disturbing game which they referred to as the Crave, in which they always benefited at the expense of others. It is unclear who started the game, as Verity will say Mike did and vice versa. Similarly, a number of other relevant events in their tumultuous relationship are clouded with duplicity, right down to the moment when one of their so-called Crave victims ends up dead. What ensues is a riveting trial in which a jury (and readers) must navigate through the he-said/she-said testimonies and decide who the guilty party is.
In the ever-growing mound of psychological thrillers that have skyrocketed since the release of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Araminta Hall’s latest work really stands out due to the fact that she’s changed up the ever popular unreliable narrator trope. In Our Kind of Cruelty, the central unreliable narrator is a male; typically readers have been treated to unpredictable and untrustworthy females. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this twist. I also really enjoyed the court procedural part of the book; reading the conflicting accounts between Mike and Verity was like watching a riveting tennis match where the ball is whacked mercilessly back and forth between both parties. Check this book out today if you’re in the mood for something dark yet intriguing, something that will leave you thinking and wondering long after you’ve finished the book.
Mike and Verity have been inseparable since meeting at university and starting up their one-of-a-kind relationship. During their early years they established a disturbing game which they referred to as the Crave, in which they always benefited at the expense of others. It is unclear who started the game, as Verity will say Mike did and vice versa. Similarly, a number of other relevant events in their tumultuous relationship are clouded with duplicity, right down to the moment when one of their so-called Crave victims ends up dead. What ensues is a riveting trial in which a jury (and readers) must navigate through the he-said/she-said testimonies and decide who the guilty party is.
In the ever-growing mound of psychological thrillers that have skyrocketed since the release of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Araminta Hall’s latest work really stands out due to the fact that she’s changed up the ever popular unreliable narrator trope. In Our Kind of Cruelty, the central unreliable narrator is a male; typically readers have been treated to unpredictable and untrustworthy females. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this twist. I also really enjoyed the court procedural part of the book; reading the conflicting accounts between Mike and Verity was like watching a riveting tennis match where the ball is whacked mercilessly back and forth between both parties. Check this book out today if you’re in the mood for something dark yet intriguing, something that will leave you thinking and wondering long after you’ve finished the book.