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dacy's review against another edition
3.0
About 1/3 of the way through I figured out Nerine had either a split personality or was just evil. However, I was hoping for a better ending for Meg, who was a genuinely nice person who was trying to do the right thing. I think the end result was realistic but also so bleak and unfair for her.
vkoka89's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars rounded down! Shelter by Catherine Jinks is an intense thriller set in rural Australia. Meg lives alone on a small property outside of town with her dog Esme. She is dealing with a messy divorce settlement with her emotionally abusive husband and her daughter moved to England to get away from both her parents. Everything is all good until Nerine comes along. Nerine is on the run from her physically abusive husband with her two young children. Meg takes them in for shelter and, soon, everything goes terribly wrong.
For the first 80%, I was totally engrossed. Nerine's increasing paranoia that her horrible husband will find her puts Meg on edge and she starts to become suspicious of everything and everyone. Who's messing with the windchimes at night? Who left the gate open? Whose footprints are those outside the bedroom window? Is it Meg's husband Keith harassing her like usual? Is it the old neighbor with dementia? Or has Nerine's vicious husband actually found them? There were some suspenseful moments that honestly had me biting my nails. However the ending left me less than satisfied. I didn't mind the big reveal, although I guessed it early on since there were little clues, but it could have been executed better. I just didn't find it very believable. Also, the character development was a bit flat for me and I often found the characters to be pretty irritating.
Nonetheless, this is a fun, fast read that kept me on the edge of my seat. It may be too intense for some sensitive readers though. TW: Domestic abuse, child abuse, animal abuse, rape.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning: Domestic abuse, animal abuse, child abuse, rape.
For the first 80%, I was totally engrossed. Nerine's increasing paranoia that her horrible husband will find her puts Meg on edge and she starts to become suspicious of everything and everyone. Who's messing with the windchimes at night? Who left the gate open? Whose footprints are those outside the bedroom window? Is it Meg's husband Keith harassing her like usual? Is it the old neighbor with dementia? Or has Nerine's vicious husband actually found them? There were some suspenseful moments that honestly had me biting my nails. However the ending left me less than satisfied. I didn't mind the big reveal, although I guessed it early on since there were little clues, but it could have been executed better. I just didn't find it very believable. Also, the character development was a bit flat for me and I often found the characters to be pretty irritating.
Nonetheless, this is a fun, fast read that kept me on the edge of my seat. It may be too intense for some sensitive readers though. TW: Domestic abuse, child abuse, animal abuse, rape.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning: Domestic abuse, animal abuse, child abuse, rape.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
Violent exes and lives torn apart by fear. Meg lives nearly alone on rough land. She has a nice job she enjoys, an older dog she loves and a few hens she adores. Her life isn't easy and it isn't always peaceful but it's hers and she likes it.
But our story moves very quickly to a pass off - a women with 2 children on the run from a violent husband. She is passed off to Meg to hide at her house for a few weeks before the next house and pass off point opens up.
However, this new mother is testing Meg's boundaries and patience right off. The mom on the run is paranoid, afraid of every noise and is keeping Meg both up all night and up early in the morning. She is calling all hours at her job - she's positive someone is around the house, someone is watching. She's sure her husband has found them.
It was interesting to try to work around what was happening. I spent time trying to piece apart everyone's stories and enjoyed learning Meg's backstory because it finished rounding out the whole story. This is a well written, fast moving story.
But I'm disappointed by the end. I wish it had ended differently.
But our story moves very quickly to a pass off - a women with 2 children on the run from a violent husband. She is passed off to Meg to hide at her house for a few weeks before the next house and pass off point opens up.
However, this new mother is testing Meg's boundaries and patience right off. The mom on the run is paranoid, afraid of every noise and is keeping Meg both up all night and up early in the morning. She is calling all hours at her job - she's positive someone is around the house, someone is watching. She's sure her husband has found them.
It was interesting to try to work around what was happening. I spent time trying to piece apart everyone's stories and enjoyed learning Meg's backstory because it finished rounding out the whole story. This is a well written, fast moving story.
But I'm disappointed by the end. I wish it had ended differently.
emmjaygib's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Blood
pages_and_cacti's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Shelter by Catherine Jinks
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meg lives alone in the Australian bush. Her past abusive relationship has drawn her to work with abused women. Secretly, some of her acquaintances are help battered women who want to stay out of the system. Meg decides to take in Nerine and her two children who are running from her husband. Nerine seems more that paranoid at times and insists that her husband has found them. Things start to happen around the house, Meg wonders if it him or her husband, who is known to have caused issues in the past.
While I enjoyed this one, it lacked something and never really drew me in deep along the way. Once things started really moving towards the end, it gets more interesting. Still a good read, just needed a bit more early on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Shelter by Catherine Jinks is a poignant mystery set in the Australian bush.
After her divorce from her abusive husband, Keith, Meg Lowry starts over with the couple's only daughter, Emily. But when Emily moves away, Meg purchases land and a house outside the small town of Bulwell. She does not have much but she is content working a couple of days a week in town. Given her own struggle to escape her marriage, Meg is quick to say yes when a friend asks her to allow Nerine and her two daughters to stay with her for a short time. Meg soon has serious reservations about Nerine who is jittery and frightened her violent husband Duncan will find her and their daughters, Analiese and Colette. Exhausted and worried, will Meg give in to Nerine's pressure to borrow a gun to protect them?
Meg has serious regrets about not leaving Keith sooner so she does not hesitate to help Nerine. She knows the detrimental effects abuse has on children, so she does not allow her own concerns to change her mind about assisting Nerine and the girls. While Nerine is difficult to calm down, Meg adores Ana and Colette.
Nerine does not like the isolation and wide open spaces which make up Meg's property. She has wild mood swings and she refuses to believe Meg's reassurances they are safe. As strange things begin to occur around her house, Meg cannot decide whether her Keith is to blame or if Duncan has found them. Nerine is fixated on obtaining a gun and Meg's resistance begins to wane. Will borrowing a gun calm her temporary houseguests fears?
Shelter is a dark and gritty mystery that has a unique plot and an atmospheric setting. Meg is a sympathetic character who is flawed yet likable. Nerine is irritating but her children are absolutely adorable. Meg's property and the surrounding area spring vibrantly to life. With stunning plot twists, Catherine Jinks brings this riveting mystery to bittersweet conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this brilliant mystery to fans of the genre.
Shelter by Catherine Jinks is a poignant mystery set in the Australian bush.
After her divorce from her abusive husband, Keith, Meg Lowry starts over with the couple's only daughter, Emily. But when Emily moves away, Meg purchases land and a house outside the small town of Bulwell. She does not have much but she is content working a couple of days a week in town. Given her own struggle to escape her marriage, Meg is quick to say yes when a friend asks her to allow Nerine and her two daughters to stay with her for a short time. Meg soon has serious reservations about Nerine who is jittery and frightened her violent husband Duncan will find her and their daughters, Analiese and Colette. Exhausted and worried, will Meg give in to Nerine's pressure to borrow a gun to protect them?
Meg has serious regrets about not leaving Keith sooner so she does not hesitate to help Nerine. She knows the detrimental effects abuse has on children, so she does not allow her own concerns to change her mind about assisting Nerine and the girls. While Nerine is difficult to calm down, Meg adores Ana and Colette.
Nerine does not like the isolation and wide open spaces which make up Meg's property. She has wild mood swings and she refuses to believe Meg's reassurances they are safe. As strange things begin to occur around her house, Meg cannot decide whether her Keith is to blame or if Duncan has found them. Nerine is fixated on obtaining a gun and Meg's resistance begins to wane. Will borrowing a gun calm her temporary houseguests fears?
Shelter is a dark and gritty mystery that has a unique plot and an atmospheric setting. Meg is a sympathetic character who is flawed yet likable. Nerine is irritating but her children are absolutely adorable. Meg's property and the surrounding area spring vibrantly to life. With stunning plot twists, Catherine Jinks brings this riveting mystery to bittersweet conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this brilliant mystery to fans of the genre.
textpublishing's review against another edition
The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Shelter
'Catherine Jinks’s latest work is a tense thriller that explores gaslighting, the different kinds of abuse people inflict upon one another and the way this abuse can ripple through generations...Shelter is an engrossing read that calls to be finished in one sitting.’
Books+Publishing
‘[Jinks] is a masterful storyteller, able to easily carry the narrative exigences of plot and character regardless of genre…[she] knows how to dole out the tension, letting the suspense slacken and then ramping up the terror lest you become complacent for a few minutes.'
Guardian
‘Cranking up the suspense with methodical focus, [Shelter is] a brutally effective potboiler.’
Big Issue
‘A masterful grasp of tension.’
SA Weekend
'Shelter is a propulsive thriller that is also distinctive in its plot, vision and style. Jinks has a painterly eye: her images, even in a pared-back thriller, are always arresting and acute…Masterfully developed.’
ABR
'Assured, unsettling… Jinks’s sensitive exploration of the theme of trust between women who share similar trauma will resonate with many.’
Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
'Catherine Jinks’s latest work is a tense thriller that explores gaslighting, the different kinds of abuse people inflict upon one another and the way this abuse can ripple through generations...Shelter is an engrossing read that calls to be finished in one sitting.’
Books+Publishing
‘[Jinks] is a masterful storyteller, able to easily carry the narrative exigences of plot and character regardless of genre…[she] knows how to dole out the tension, letting the suspense slacken and then ramping up the terror lest you become complacent for a few minutes.'
Guardian
‘Cranking up the suspense with methodical focus, [Shelter is] a brutally effective potboiler.’
Big Issue
‘A masterful grasp of tension.’
SA Weekend
'Shelter is a propulsive thriller that is also distinctive in its plot, vision and style. Jinks has a painterly eye: her images, even in a pared-back thriller, are always arresting and acute…Masterfully developed.’
ABR
'Assured, unsettling… Jinks’s sensitive exploration of the theme of trust between women who share similar trauma will resonate with many.’
Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
bookshelfbybee's review against another edition
4.0
...this book was A LOT, in an extremely delightful way. Even as I read the book in a public place, my eyes were pricking with tears of fear. I was genuinely frightened. For Meg, for Nerine, and for the girls. I’ve only read about 3 thrillers where the writing has given me goosebumps, and this was one of them.
The narrative was unique and intriguing. Throughout the whole book, I kept flipping between two “suspects” and just couldn’t choose. Jink’s did a fantastic job of planting doubt in my mind. Towards the end, the main plot twist felt a little cheap and lazy, and I was admittedly a bit disappointed. However, as I read more, the plot twists kept coming and the narrative deepened. (As a side note, the reason why this isn’t rated higher is because I desperately wanted the “whodunnit” to turn out a different way)
The characters were strong and Jinks did a good job of not over-describing through dialogue. Instead, the character’s actions screamed. Every glance, every jump of the hand, every detail. Nothing felt unnecessary.
The ending was wrapped in a neat bow to an extent, but I enjoyed how realistic it was... the outcome for Meg wasn’t necessarily reflective of the endings written for typical thriller protagonists.
When to Read - If you want a book that will make your skin crawl.
The narrative was unique and intriguing. Throughout the whole book, I kept flipping between two “suspects” and just couldn’t choose. Jink’s did a fantastic job of planting doubt in my mind. Towards the end, the main plot twist felt a little cheap and lazy, and I was admittedly a bit disappointed. However, as I read more, the plot twists kept coming and the narrative deepened. (As a side note, the reason why this isn’t rated higher is because I desperately wanted the “whodunnit” to turn out a different way)
The characters were strong and Jinks did a good job of not over-describing through dialogue. Instead, the character’s actions screamed. Every glance, every jump of the hand, every detail. Nothing felt unnecessary.
The ending was wrapped in a neat bow to an extent, but I enjoyed how realistic it was... the outcome for Meg wasn’t necessarily reflective of the endings written for typical thriller protagonists.
When to Read - If you want a book that will make your skin crawl.
philomath_in_phila's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
Nerine needs a place to hide from her abusive, violent husband. She found a chain of women willing to help. One of the stops is with a fellow abusive survivor, Meg, who opens up her quiet, off the beaten path, bouse to Nerine and her two young children. Meg starts noticing things and wonders if Nerine' ex tracked them down, if her own ex-husband is still tormenting her, and if they are in danger.
Shelter, the latest by Catherine Jinks, best-known for her young adult work, especially her Genius series, took a while for me to get into. Once I did, I could not put it down.
While Catherine Jinks is best known for her young adult series, this book is not YA. It is classified as a mystery and thriller novel. It is dark and gritty and includes adult themes. It focuses on a few strong women who survived abuse and help others in the same situation. It also involves gaslighting and manipulation.
I am interested in knowing if the legal ramifications are the same in the United States. If so, I think the outcome would have been different. Either way, Shelter is a slow burn but enjoyable read.
This 200-word review will be published on Philomathinphila.com.
Nerine needs a place to hide from her abusive, violent husband. She found a chain of women willing to help. One of the stops is with a fellow abusive survivor, Meg, who opens up her quiet, off the beaten path, bouse to Nerine and her two young children. Meg starts noticing things and wonders if Nerine' ex tracked them down, if her own ex-husband is still tormenting her, and if they are in danger.
Shelter, the latest by Catherine Jinks, best-known for her young adult work, especially her Genius series, took a while for me to get into. Once I did, I could not put it down.
While Catherine Jinks is best known for her young adult series, this book is not YA. It is classified as a mystery and thriller novel. It is dark and gritty and includes adult themes. It focuses on a few strong women who survived abuse and help others in the same situation. It also involves gaslighting and manipulation.
I am interested in knowing if the legal ramifications are the same in the United States. If so, I think the outcome would have been different. Either way, Shelter is a slow burn but enjoyable read.
This 200-word review will be published on Philomathinphila.com.
celiapie's review against another edition
4.0
probably 3.5.
Fast paced and a quick read with plenty of tension. Found it got a bit gruesome and disturbing towards the end.
Fast paced and a quick read with plenty of tension. Found it got a bit gruesome and disturbing towards the end.