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jettie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
emcoffin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
noontje's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
craftyemma's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was intrigued by the title and the beginning of the book detailed a secret panic room in a Cornish mansion that may contain someone who is watching the innocent estate agent and housekeeper staying in the house.
Unfortunately at around page 200 it became very boring with no moving forward with the story. I began to skim read, but found nothing interesting and the ending was inconclusive too. Such a shame as this could have been a brilliant idea for a story.
Unfortunately at around page 200 it became very boring with no moving forward with the story. I began to skim read, but found nothing interesting and the ending was inconclusive too. Such a shame as this could have been a brilliant idea for a story.
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
Panic Room is an entertaining thriller. Set in Cornwall, one Robert Goddard's favourite locations, the story revolves around Blake, the housekeeper for a multimillionaire at his Cornish clifftop mansion and its mysterious locked panic room. The plot stretches credibility to breaking point at times, but it's pacey and keeps you turning the pages. Not one of his best, but still enormous fun.
lozellwood_'s review against another edition
1.0
The book started off with great potential but it just became tiresome and I lost interest with the characters and the plot. The twists weren’t anything special and a lot of the main storylines weren’t actually answered by the end of the book.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Just got this but I again had one of those mornings where I was up dead early to phone abroad and so I read this whilst waiting. It woke me up for sure! A house on a cliff in Cornwall with something akin to a panic room inside, maybe something in it, the owner unknown, the housesitter a bit of a character and a dubious estate agent.....
I normally read novels set in Cornwall that involve men on horses, romantic tales or historical reads so this was as refreshing!
And oh my...wait till you see inside the panic room....!!!
I normally read novels set in Cornwall that involve men on horses, romantic tales or historical reads so this was as refreshing!
And oh my...wait till you see inside the panic room....!!!
mrsruthiewebb's review against another edition
4.0
This book had me gripped. It wasn’t a dark psychological thriller as I’d first guessed but a mystery novel with some really gritty drama. Russian hitmen, a village witch, a lost person and a panic room that gave no clues to its contents.
At the end of each reading session, I looked forward to the next time I’d pick it up.
Whilst the storyline could get quite complicated at times, there were lots of characters, I managed to keep up. There were two personalities telling the story throughout and I enjoyed their different experiences. They were very different but both relatable.
Once we got some answers at the end, it really did make me ponder. It felt like a very relevant topic with recent events across the world.
The panic room is central to the story and yet not at all. I really liked this contrast. A very good read!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
At the end of each reading session, I looked forward to the next time I’d pick it up.
Whilst the storyline could get quite complicated at times, there were lots of characters, I managed to keep up. There were two personalities telling the story throughout and I enjoyed their different experiences. They were very different but both relatable.
Once we got some answers at the end, it really did make me ponder. It felt like a very relevant topic with recent events across the world.
The panic room is central to the story and yet not at all. I really liked this contrast. A very good read!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
ciska's review against another edition
3.0
Slow but steady was the first thing that came to my mind when I started writing this review. It is clear Goddard knows how to capture his audience and keep it close.
The story is very interesting. You have to know what that panic room is about and why everybody is after it. And that everybody is a bit of a problem with this book.
There are a lot of people involved. The (maybe or maybe not) rich owner of the house, Blake the house sitter, Don the estate agent, the family of the missing girl, a witch from town, some Italian guy and a few mobsters. All get their story line and it is a lot. It could have done with half the people involved and be just as interesting.
Then there is the switching narrative. It makes it interesting to see the story from different points of view but both the narratives are troubled making it hard to connect to either one of them. Moving between two stressed out people does help with setting the atmosphere but did not give me time to breath. In the end that might not even be so bad.
The story is very interesting. You have to know what that panic room is about and why everybody is after it. And that everybody is a bit of a problem with this book.
There are a lot of people involved. The (maybe or maybe not) rich owner of the house, Blake the house sitter, Don the estate agent, the family of the missing girl, a witch from town, some Italian guy and a few mobsters. All get their story line and it is a lot. It could have done with half the people involved and be just as interesting.
Then there is the switching narrative. It makes it interesting to see the story from different points of view but both the narratives are troubled making it hard to connect to either one of them. Moving between two stressed out people does help with setting the atmosphere but did not give me time to breath. In the end that might not even be so bad.