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PERFECT HUSBAND. PERFECT FATHER. PERFECT LIAR? ‘You'll devour this terrific debut like the rest...
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Seven Days in Books
Oct 12, 2019
Oh my goodness ... you have got to read this book!!!
Harrowing, hopeful, heart wrenching, gripping, thrilling and full of tension, this is one of those books that you won't forget in a hurry. It's absolutely gripping from the very first paragraphs and takes you through all manner of emotions from anger, disgust and hatred to love, sympathy and hopefulness. Although a very difficult subject-matter, it is dealt with carefully and without sensationalism; it felt authentic and believable and, unfortunately, is only too real.
You quickly become invested in the plight of Maggie and her son, Max; the strength of her human spirit and the will she has to keep her son safe whatever the cost oozes from the pages. It doesn't stop there though, oh no, her family are as big a part in this book as Maggie and Max and they embark on their own roller coaster ride in which you are a but a passenger.
Written from different perspectives and covering different timelines, you might think that this would be confusing ... it is anything but. With short chapters, great pace and easy writing, this book is a gem of a read and, cliché I know, hard to put down. I couldn't read it fast enough and thank goodness I was coming towards the end on a Saturday evening so it didn't matter if I slept in the next day!
This is most definitely a 5 star read for me and highly recommended.
Eternal thanks go to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Harrowing, hopeful, heart wrenching, gripping, thrilling and full of tension, this is one of those books that you won't forget in a hurry. It's absolutely gripping from the very first paragraphs and takes you through all manner of emotions from anger, disgust and hatred to love, sympathy and hopefulness. Although a very difficult subject-matter, it is dealt with carefully and without sensationalism; it felt authentic and believable and, unfortunately, is only too real.
You quickly become invested in the plight of Maggie and her son, Max; the strength of her human spirit and the will she has to keep her son safe whatever the cost oozes from the pages. It doesn't stop there though, oh no, her family are as big a part in this book as Maggie and Max and they embark on their own roller coaster ride in which you are a but a passenger.
Written from different perspectives and covering different timelines, you might think that this would be confusing ... it is anything but. With short chapters, great pace and easy writing, this book is a gem of a read and, cliché I know, hard to put down. I couldn't read it fast enough and thank goodness I was coming towards the end on a Saturday evening so it didn't matter if I slept in the next day!
This is most definitely a 5 star read for me and highly recommended.
Eternal thanks go to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Dark (Lacey Flint #5) in Books
May 29, 2022
Lacey Flint is back for another gripping story but don't worry if you haven't read any of the series before, it doesn't matter too much as Sharon Bolton does a great job of getting you up to speed with the characters without you getting bogged down in the back story.
Lacey is a complex character with secrets some of which are highlighted in the prologue. She is strong yet vulnerable, fearless and yet fearful as the opening chapter shows when a baby is snatched and set adrift on the River Thames and a pram is thrown off a bridge. What? Why? Who would do such a despicable thing?
The dark web is buzzing with the story and threatening of more to come; the incels (involuntary celibates) have had enough and want to make sure that every woman, no matter their age, knows it. The pressure to catch those behind the terrorist movement ramps up as the attacks become ever more commonplace and when it becomes clear that Lacey herself is a target, the tension becomes palpable but who are the people behind this and how can they be stopped when every man is a potential threat?
An absolutely gripping read with a scary concept that is all too frighteningly plausible that had me swiping my screen desperate to see what happened next but not wanting it to end ... and that ending ... I hope Sharon Bolton doesn't leave it as long for the next instalment is all I can say!
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Dark and to share my thoughts.
Lacey is a complex character with secrets some of which are highlighted in the prologue. She is strong yet vulnerable, fearless and yet fearful as the opening chapter shows when a baby is snatched and set adrift on the River Thames and a pram is thrown off a bridge. What? Why? Who would do such a despicable thing?
The dark web is buzzing with the story and threatening of more to come; the incels (involuntary celibates) have had enough and want to make sure that every woman, no matter their age, knows it. The pressure to catch those behind the terrorist movement ramps up as the attacks become ever more commonplace and when it becomes clear that Lacey herself is a target, the tension becomes palpable but who are the people behind this and how can they be stopped when every man is a potential threat?
An absolutely gripping read with a scary concept that is all too frighteningly plausible that had me swiping my screen desperate to see what happened next but not wanting it to end ... and that ending ... I hope Sharon Bolton doesn't leave it as long for the next instalment is all I can say!
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Dark and to share my thoughts.
Sarah Seymour (3 KP) rated The Expanse - Season 1 in TV
Nov 26, 2017
Gripping and believeable
On a Netflix troll one night we gave this a whirl and ended up binge watching it because we were gripped from the first episode. I loved Firefly and although the plot is very different it reminds me of that show because of how well drawn the characters and world are. Its classed as a space opera so whilst an obvious choice for sci fi fans to give a go I think it would also be worth trying if you just enjoy a good pot-boiler
Book Divas (227 KP) rated Look Past in Books
Dec 12, 2017 (Updated Dec 12, 2017)
This read had me feeling a range of emotions; from heartache to anger to pride. Avery was born in the wrong body and has always identified as a male. That in itself is already hard to deal with as people and his peers are constantly giving him grief and calling him all sorts of things from freak to queer but now he also has to deal with an unforeseen tragedy that has everyone reeling.
This author's gripping tale of lost love, tragedy, bigotry and acceptance captured me from the very beginning with a beautifully written story line and characters that draw you in. As the mother of a teenager that identifies as a female I highly recommend this to everyone and thank the author for this well written book.
This author's gripping tale of lost love, tragedy, bigotry and acceptance captured me from the very beginning with a beautifully written story line and characters that draw you in. As the mother of a teenager that identifies as a female I highly recommend this to everyone and thank the author for this well written book.
Hannah (27 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 1 in TV
Jun 7, 2017
Talented actors (2 more)
Keeps you hooked
Great plot
Fantastic series!
I wasnt really sure what this series was going to be like when I started watching it, but it's really great! It's gripping, interesting, tense and will keep you hooked! I watched it very quickly, each episode leaves you wanting more.
The actors are mostly children, but this doesn't dampen the series at all; they're brilliant!! I actually found it very refreshing to watch a series with talented child actors and loved the entire cast! I really liked Winona Rider in this series also.
The plot itself felt very original and can be quite scary at times! It's very intriguing and will absolutely keep you hooked! I haven't watched or read anything quite like it, so definitely interesting. Definitely worth watching!!
The actors are mostly children, but this doesn't dampen the series at all; they're brilliant!! I actually found it very refreshing to watch a series with talented child actors and loved the entire cast! I really liked Winona Rider in this series also.
The plot itself felt very original and can be quite scary at times! It's very intriguing and will absolutely keep you hooked! I haven't watched or read anything quite like it, so definitely interesting. Definitely worth watching!!
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Nocturnal Animals (2016) in Movies
Jul 26, 2017
Jake Gyllenhaal (2 more)
Michael Shannon
Aaron Johnson
Overrated (1 more)
Amy Adams
The Disturbing Side of The Mind's Eye
When this movie was released, critics were falling over themselves to praise it and while I did enjoy certain aspects of the movie, as a whole I feel that it is quite overrated. The movie is split into two sections, the real world and the fictional world that takes place within the book that Gyllenhaal's character is writing. The story that takes place within the book is gripping and exciting, but the artsy real world setting annoyed me everytime that they cut back to it, I also found Amy Adams to be quite wooden in this performance. The stand out in the movie is definitely Michael Shannon and he steals every single scene that he is in.
Kate (355 KP) rated You Were Gone in Books
Mar 8, 2019
Saw this when it first came out in the bookshops and thought it looked interesting, and then saw it in the library last week and remembered that it was on my to read list. Sorry but I gave up half way through, yes it is gripping and makes you what to read more than a page at a time, but as the book went on, I started thinking of all the books with the same plot line where someone just disappears suddenly. Is it the neighbour, doctor, lodger, best friend? You know it is going to be one of those and I skipped to the last few pages and found the answer but I am not going to tell you, find out yourself, you may have a different opinion.
Film and stuff (30 KP) rated Backtrack (2015) in Movies
May 15, 2019 (Updated May 15, 2019)
Fails to deliver
Director: Michael Petroni
Writer: Michael Petroni
Stars: Adrien Brody, Jenni Baird, Bruce Spence and Sam Neill
What's it about?
Peter Bower is a Psychiatrist who discovers all of his clients are ghosts that died in a train accident that he was witness to as a child. Whilst revisiting his home town where the incident took place, he begins to discover the truth behind the accident with the help of the victims spirits
Is it scary?
Nah. Tension fails to really build and the jump scares are very predictable
Does it have any redeeming features?
Well acted and a mildly gripping ending
.
How does it compare to other horrors?
It makes the sins by being neither entertaining or so bad that it's funny
Writer: Michael Petroni
Stars: Adrien Brody, Jenni Baird, Bruce Spence and Sam Neill
What's it about?
Peter Bower is a Psychiatrist who discovers all of his clients are ghosts that died in a train accident that he was witness to as a child. Whilst revisiting his home town where the incident took place, he begins to discover the truth behind the accident with the help of the victims spirits
Is it scary?
Nah. Tension fails to really build and the jump scares are very predictable
Does it have any redeeming features?
Well acted and a mildly gripping ending
.
How does it compare to other horrors?
It makes the sins by being neither entertaining or so bad that it's funny
David (771 KP) rated Terminal Rage in Books
Feb 5, 2018
Fantastic, gripping thriller
Fantastic, this is not my usual genre for reading but for watching, I would. This book is screaming to be made into a successful film. The plot twists and turns then all connects together at the end like completing a jigsaw and seeing the finished picture. The locations are described so well you may as well be standing next to the character. The characters, good and bad are made so real and you feel their emotions. This review is honest and unbiased even though I won a paperback copy of the book, signed by the talented author himself (which I will treasure) but I had previously purchased the kindle edition too. Highly recommended whether you are a fan of political thrillers or not, you won't be disappointed.