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amy_da1sy's review
5.0
I really really liked this book. It had me hooked from the very start with the changing povs.
sooky's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
Great story idea, but fell short on the execution. It seems, nowadays the term "psychological thriller" gets thrown around frequently, even when it's not the case.
There was very little suspense in the story. The chapters alternate between Laura and Daniel, and we find out quite early on why the kidnapping happened, even though the blurb made it sound like this will the most burning question in the book. Laura clearly suffers from some sort of a mental illness, but it's hardly thrilling, mostly just sad. Despite getting to know her back story, I just couldn't empathize with her, and I had a feeling that I was supposed to.
Daniel was not much more likable either, but I could at least get behind his anger, frustration and confusion.
The way the plot unfolded was rather far fetched, and I can't help but feel that it took away from the potential suspense. It's just my opinion, but I think the revelation about Laura not being his mother could have been more powerful if he stumbled across it by accident, thus confirming his suspicion, as opposed to the way it actually happened.
His "big reveal" at the end, his "real reason" for hating his so-called-mum, was not a reveal at all. It was clearly coming from miles away. Sometimes I wonder though... Am I reading too many of these types of books and I just got to know the formula, or is it really that obvious?
The dialogues were a pain to read. What is with this constant name calling? Why do you have to repeat the person's name you are talking to in every other sentence? If anyone talked to me like that for real, I'd rip them a new butthole for sure.
For some reason all the people Daniel encounters in the story are some wise sages, full of understanding and patience, and great advice that could compete with a skillful psychologist, and yet, nobody in the book thinks that seeing an actual therapist could actually help. No way! What is more, they all seem to think that seeing one would actually be more harmful than anything.
Ian mentions seeing the doctor, pills, getting proper help, and I understand exactly what he means. Well, I won’t do it. I’m not going to allow some fresh-faced graduate whose experience of life is all from a textbook to probe around in my thoughts. Someone older wouldn’t be any better either. I doubt any of them would have dealt well with the crap I endured in my early life; what right would they have to throw clichés like ‘broken childhood home’ and ‘unresolved issues’ at me?
Laura going through all sorts of horrors from an early age, mentally unstable, but a psychologist would surely not understand any of it, nobody could. Well, aren't you a special snowflake? Real mum, suffocating with guilt from the loss of her child, but no skilled professional would be able to help with this. A female friend of Daniel, who goes through some other sort of horrific, life changing experience, where a therapist would be absolutely zero help... Daniel? "I'd rather have a beer and a shag, thank you." Obviously...
In conclusion, I'm not saying the book is terrible. I see why this kind of story appeals to people, but it's not something I appreciate.
Great story idea, but fell short on the execution. It seems, nowadays the term "psychological thriller" gets thrown around frequently, even when it's not the case.
There was very little suspense in the story. The chapters alternate between Laura and Daniel, and we find out quite early on why the kidnapping happened, even though the blurb made it sound like this will the most burning question in the book. Laura clearly suffers from some sort of a mental illness, but it's hardly thrilling, mostly just sad. Despite getting to know her back story, I just couldn't empathize with her, and I had a feeling that I was supposed to.
Daniel was not much more likable either, but I could at least get behind his anger, frustration and confusion.
The way the plot unfolded was rather far fetched, and I can't help but feel that it took away from the potential suspense. It's just my opinion, but I think the revelation about Laura not being his mother could have been more powerful if he stumbled across it by accident, thus confirming his suspicion, as opposed to the way it actually happened.
Spoiler
That whole thing with him having green eyes, while Laura's are blue and the alleged father's brow starting a whole drama with DNA testing is just beyond annoying. I'm the living example of a green eyed person with a blue eyed mom and a brown eyed dad, an no, I was not found in a dumpster...His "big reveal" at the end, his "real reason" for hating his so-called-mum, was not a reveal at all. It was clearly coming from miles away. Sometimes I wonder though... Am I reading too many of these types of books and I just got to know the formula, or is it really that obvious?
The dialogues were a pain to read. What is with this constant name calling? Why do you have to repeat the person's name you are talking to in every other sentence? If anyone talked to me like that for real, I'd rip them a new butthole for sure.
For some reason all the people Daniel encounters in the story are some wise sages, full of understanding and patience, and great advice that could compete with a skillful psychologist, and yet, nobody in the book thinks that seeing an actual therapist could actually help. No way! What is more, they all seem to think that seeing one would actually be more harmful than anything.
Ian mentions seeing the doctor, pills, getting proper help, and I understand exactly what he means. Well, I won’t do it. I’m not going to allow some fresh-faced graduate whose experience of life is all from a textbook to probe around in my thoughts. Someone older wouldn’t be any better either. I doubt any of them would have dealt well with the crap I endured in my early life; what right would they have to throw clichés like ‘broken childhood home’ and ‘unresolved issues’ at me?
Laura going through all sorts of horrors from an early age, mentally unstable, but a psychologist would surely not understand any of it, nobody could. Well, aren't you a special snowflake? Real mum, suffocating with guilt from the loss of her child, but no skilled professional would be able to help with this. A female friend of Daniel, who goes through some other sort of horrific, life changing experience, where a therapist would be absolutely zero help... Daniel? "I'd rather have a beer and a shag, thank you." Obviously...
In conclusion, I'm not saying the book is terrible. I see why this kind of story appeals to people, but it's not something I appreciate.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.0
Finished reading: November 27th 2016
“Sometimes the people who touch our lives the most are only passing through.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
Spoiler
The main reason I decided I wanted to read His Kidnapper's Shoes by Maggie James is the whole idea of a story that is partly written from the kidnapper's view sounded both intriguing and refreshing. And it definitely turned out to be another great psychological thriller with an interesting twist. The character development in His Kidnapper's Shoes is probably the most interesting part of this story, as we see how both the kidnapper and her 'son' evolve over time and deal with everything that happens in their lives. The characters are not exactly likeable, but they are well developed and the author took her time explaining the why behind the kidnapping and the woman's motive. The story switches between past and present and touches some very sensitive topics; you've been warned. That said, it's without doubt an interesting psychological thriller for those who enjoy the genre. With it's fast pace and easy-to-read prose it is an entertaining read despite the sensitive topics.
Deep down Laura Bateman knows something is wrong and that her relationship with her son isn't what it should be. Their relationship is actually based on lies, but bad things have happened to Laura in the past that have changed her forever. When twenty-six-year-old Daniel finds out the truth about his mother, he doesn't know what to do with it. His world has turned upside down, and he is left with nothing but questions... Why did Laura do what she did? And can Daniel ever forgive her?
If you like reading psychological thrillers as much as I do, you will probably enjoy His Kidnapper's Shoes as well. It's a fast-paced read with a refreshing new angle that adds a lot of dept to the story. It's interesting to learn more about both Laura and Daniel and how they ended up in their current situation. I don't want to reveal too much to avoid spoilers, but it's definitely worth the try.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
em11ys's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
1.5
I really wanted it to be better than what it was. The story line was predictable and the writing was repetitive. I did however like the concept.
kalkie's review against another edition
2.0
Another OK read. Not exactly a gripping page turner, but a decent enough story. The chapter titles annoyed me though (it’s the little things!). Would have been much better to use the characters’ names and “Now” / “Then” so you had a placeholder. Especially when picking the book up again as it ended up taking a second or two to realise who was narrating the chapter and which time they were in.
itsdanixx's review against another edition
2.0
I’m obviously in the minority here as it has so many glowing 5 star reviews, but I just wasn’t into this book. I thought it was kind of boring with no suspense or twists, unlikeable characters and it was a struggle to finish. Sorry Maggie James. But a lot of people clearly loved it so maybe it’s me 🤷🏻♀️
hisdarkmaterials's review against another edition
1.0
One of the worst books I've ever, ever read. Poor writing. Poorly fleshed out unsympathetic characters. Why were so many characters raped? Forgiveness seemed to be a running theme through this book but I just wasn't feeling it. One unbelievable plot line after the next. Beyond far fetched, just ludicrous.
secre's review
3.0
This is certainly a novel with promise, but it doesn’t quite deliver on it. It’s well written but relies heavily on a series of increasingly unbelievable co-incidences for the narrative thread to unspool. Because of the high reliance on coincidental meetings, you can more or less guess what happens next by what would move the story along easily meaning it is predicable. There was only one coincidence that wasn’t, and yet that was perhaps the most unbelievable one of all.
I also thought the author missed a trick with her points of view. Being told from the perspective of Laura Bateman, past and present and her son Daniel in the present, it seemed rather two dimensional. There was never any tension and until the last quarter of the book I had no understanding of the other family except through the skewed gaze of Laura. I think it would have worked better with Laura and Daniel in the present and either the original mother or the babysitter in the past... or not tell the past first person at all.
The sexual crudity put me off as well; I understand that Daniel uses sex as a coping mechanism but it’s pushed on you from so many angles it gets tiresome. Sometimes it’s because he wants a hard screw, other times because he’s actually getting attached to someone... but in the most irrelevant of places you suddenly get a sexual reference and it’s unnecessary. I’d got the point by the third or forth reference. I did not need the next three hundred.
And finally, the characters seemed a little too perfect, a little two dimensional in their make up. They all - with no exceptions - had tragic life stories, but they seemed to interact very coldly with the world. They didn’t have the harsh edges that real people have and therefore they never quite seemed well... real.
That said, I did enjoy the book, but it is certainly nothing to rave about.
I also thought the author missed a trick with her points of view. Being told from the perspective of Laura Bateman, past and present and her son Daniel in the present, it seemed rather two dimensional. There was never any tension and until the last quarter of the book I had no understanding of the other family except through the skewed gaze of Laura. I think it would have worked better with Laura and Daniel in the present and either the original mother or the babysitter in the past... or not tell the past first person at all.
The sexual crudity put me off as well; I understand that Daniel uses sex as a coping mechanism but it’s pushed on you from so many angles it gets tiresome. Sometimes it’s because he wants a hard screw, other times because he’s actually getting attached to someone... but in the most irrelevant of places you suddenly get a sexual reference and it’s unnecessary. I’d got the point by the third or forth reference. I did not need the next three hundred.
And finally, the characters seemed a little too perfect, a little two dimensional in their make up. They all - with no exceptions - had tragic life stories, but they seemed to interact very coldly with the world. They didn’t have the harsh edges that real people have and therefore they never quite seemed well... real.
That said, I did enjoy the book, but it is certainly nothing to rave about.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what a thought provoking and emotional read.
His Kidnapper’s Shoes is told in alternating chapters by Daniel, who has just recently found out that Laura is not his mother, and Laura, whose chapters are in the past and leading up to and after kidnapping Daniel.
I think for anyone it would come as a shock to find out that you’re parents are not really you’re parents, but for poor Daniel he has to try and come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t taken away from his family for his sake but for the sake of the person that he came to call mum.
It’s really interesting to get to see both sides. As with most of us, I think we are quick to judge people without fully understanding what has gone on in that persons life to make them do what they have. It certainly gave me a better understanding to Laura and even though I know she was very wrong for what she did, I could certainly empathise with her.
Daniel is understandably affected the worst. He is very mixed up and is filled with anger, frustration as well as questions. He has so much to deal with and as his story got further on, my heart really went out to him.
His Kidnapper’s Shoes is a story that quickly draws you in. In parts, it makes for a truly uncomfortable read but those parts really need to be in there to get the full impact of the emotions that the characters are going through. At some points the characters emotions overwhelmed me as I was so wrapped up in their stories and I felt like I was personally involved in what was going on in their lives. A truly harrowing and at times, heart breaking read.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
His Kidnapper’s Shoes is told in alternating chapters by Daniel, who has just recently found out that Laura is not his mother, and Laura, whose chapters are in the past and leading up to and after kidnapping Daniel.
I think for anyone it would come as a shock to find out that you’re parents are not really you’re parents, but for poor Daniel he has to try and come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t taken away from his family for his sake but for the sake of the person that he came to call mum.
It’s really interesting to get to see both sides. As with most of us, I think we are quick to judge people without fully understanding what has gone on in that persons life to make them do what they have. It certainly gave me a better understanding to Laura and even though I know she was very wrong for what she did, I could certainly empathise with her.
Daniel is understandably affected the worst. He is very mixed up and is filled with anger, frustration as well as questions. He has so much to deal with and as his story got further on, my heart really went out to him.
His Kidnapper’s Shoes is a story that quickly draws you in. In parts, it makes for a truly uncomfortable read but those parts really need to be in there to get the full impact of the emotions that the characters are going through. At some points the characters emotions overwhelmed me as I was so wrapped up in their stories and I felt like I was personally involved in what was going on in their lives. A truly harrowing and at times, heart breaking read.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
edengatsby's review
1.0
Ummmm, what? Where was the suspense? There was no mystery, no plot twist, nothing interesting. The book could have ended somewhere around the half way mark for me. The rest was a pointless waste of time. And I’m sick of the word redress. I don’t get the hype. Nope