whistberry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Nothing gets my goat and makes me turn pages faster than a truly despicable and seemingly unstoppable villain and there is a classic one in this thriller with a twist. Thought I was getting into a typical abusive husband with wife desperate to escape his clutches type scenario, but there are surprises along the way that take this in an unexpected direction. Whether you buy into them or not will vary by reader, I imagine but I thoroughly enjoyed having my expectations upended by the original touches included here. Gloria is lucky (maybe unrealistically lucky?) to meet some of the most generous souls and helpers on her journey to save her daughter and herself, but I loved this glimpse of a world where people are willing to sacrifice their own comfort and safety to help a near stranger. We could use a lot more of that in our modern societies. Keeps up the suspense until the very end with a satisfying conclusion. Recommend for fans of thrillers who can appreciate an emotional and endearing view of the possibilities of humanity and kindness in an often cruel world.
annettenis's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
snappydog's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book.
It's more interesting, I think, than many suspense/thriller stories because of its focus on its main character's growth (sure, that happens in all good books, but something about the way it's done here really resonates) and because of a bit of a twist that puts it into very slight speculative territory. It never becomes a sci-fi book, though; it's more just that there's a science-adjacent motivation that informs the antagonist's reasons for chasing Gloria and bolsters her resolve to escape.
I thought it was well-written throughout; the prose feels of a really high standard and professional quality. It's not a long book, and when the end came I found myself wishing we'd spent a little more time with some of the characters (there's one major character introduced in probably the last 20%, and having known about them earlier might've made their appearance feel more significant), but I think the pacing is spot-on for keeping the tension right up while giving just enough breathing space.
It's more interesting, I think, than many suspense/thriller stories because of its focus on its main character's growth (sure, that happens in all good books, but something about the way it's done here really resonates) and because of a bit of a twist that puts it into very slight speculative territory. It never becomes a sci-fi book, though; it's more just that there's a science-adjacent motivation that informs the antagonist's reasons for chasing Gloria and bolsters her resolve to escape.
I thought it was well-written throughout; the prose feels of a really high standard and professional quality. It's not a long book, and when the end came I found myself wishing we'd spent a little more time with some of the characters (there's one major character introduced in probably the last 20%, and having known about them earlier might've made their appearance feel more significant), but I think the pacing is spot-on for keeping the tension right up while giving just enough breathing space.
albie95's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.75
I think I liked the initial idea of the plot but overall didn’t enjoy the book. I don’t mind a simple writing style but I just found 90% of the thoughts and actions of the characters entirely unbelievable. I wasn’t convinced that people would react that way in real life and found it hard to suspend my disbelief. It all just seemed a bit too far-fetched. I read this for a book club I attend and I feel it probably isn’t a book I’d have picked out of my own accord. It was a really easy, quick read though if you’re looking for something like that, and did have me asking a few questions throughout.
sarah_bell's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A great thriller with an relatable character at its heart. I was rooting for Gloria all the way and Shaw does a great job of keeping the tension up, to the point where I was legit anxious reading this at times.
I also loved the character exploration aspect of this book. It was interesting to learn more about Gloria as the book progressed, and how she had ended up in this situation, and then watch her slowly build in confidence.
My one small gripe is that I never fully understood Greg's plan. To me, it felt there was surely an easier, less elaborate, way of achieving what he wanted. I suspect the answer though might just be 'he did it because he's an evil controlling b******' - which yeah, unfortunately plausible...
Overall, a great read that definetely delivers on it subtitle of suspense and self-discovery.
I also loved the character exploration aspect of this book. It was interesting to learn more about Gloria as the book progressed, and how she had ended up in this situation, and then watch her slowly build in confidence.
My one small gripe is that I never fully understood Greg's plan. To me, it felt there was surely an easier, less elaborate, way of achieving what he wanted. I suspect the answer though might just be 'he did it because he's an evil controlling b******' - which yeah, unfortunately plausible...
Overall, a great read that definetely delivers on it subtitle of suspense and self-discovery.
More...