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constantreader471's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to the publisher and author for sending me this book. The book is about a reporter, Kate Rafter, who has returned to England from Syria to settle her deceased mother's affairs. She suffers from PTSD and has recurring nightmares caused by horrific memories of people blown up and shot. One especially terrible memory is of a child who is shot in the head when he runs out into the street to get his football.
While she is staying in her mother's house she is awakened several times in the night by sounds in the back garden. She sees a little boy and goes out to investigate. She calls the police when she is convinced that the boy is in danger. The woman next door denies that there is a child living there. Kate loses control and grabs the woman, trying to get her to admit that there is a boy. The police arrest Kate.
The narrative goes back and forth for the first 2/3rds of the book between Kate's interrogation at the police station, under the Mental Heath law, and Kate's experiences leading up to the arrest.
Kate tries to reconcile with her estranged sister, Sally, who is an alcoholic.
Pros: The author does provide a good ending, with all plot threads tied up. She also provides a realistic portrayal of the PTSD affecting Kate and points out that it is an under recognized problem among war reporters.
Cons: The blurbs describe this book as a compulsive read, but I thought that the first half of the book dragged on way too long. If you are interested in the PTSD issue, then this book is for you. However if you are a mystery/thriller fan, you may be disappointed. I realized who the villain was about halfway through. It took me forever to read this book and I almost gave up.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to the publisher and author for sending me this book. The book is about a reporter, Kate Rafter, who has returned to England from Syria to settle her deceased mother's affairs. She suffers from PTSD and has recurring nightmares caused by horrific memories of people blown up and shot. One especially terrible memory is of a child who is shot in the head when he runs out into the street to get his football.
While she is staying in her mother's house she is awakened several times in the night by sounds in the back garden. She sees a little boy and goes out to investigate. She calls the police when she is convinced that the boy is in danger. The woman next door denies that there is a child living there. Kate loses control and grabs the woman, trying to get her to admit that there is a boy. The police arrest Kate.
The narrative goes back and forth for the first 2/3rds of the book between Kate's interrogation at the police station, under the Mental Heath law, and Kate's experiences leading up to the arrest.
Kate tries to reconcile with her estranged sister, Sally, who is an alcoholic.
Pros: The author does provide a good ending, with all plot threads tied up. She also provides a realistic portrayal of the PTSD affecting Kate and points out that it is an under recognized problem among war reporters.
Cons: The blurbs describe this book as a compulsive read, but I thought that the first half of the book dragged on way too long. If you are interested in the PTSD issue, then this book is for you. However if you are a mystery/thriller fan, you may be disappointed. I realized who the villain was about halfway through. It took me forever to read this book and I almost gave up.
elizzy_91's review against another edition
Zusammengefasst
Eine Geschichte die so aktuell wie auch erschreckend ist. Kate ist Kriegsreporterin und unterwegs in Syrien und anderen Kriegsländern. Bei ihren Reportagen erlebt sie viel Grausames und kann dieses nur schwer wieder von sich abschütteln. Denn auch als sie zurück in ihre Heimat reist, ist der Krieg ein ständiger Begleiter. Sie hört Stimmen, sieht Dinge, die nicht wahr sind und kommt nur schwer in den Alltag zurück. Ihre Familie ist zerrüttet und ihre Kindheit war alles andere als schön. Doch Kate ist stark und lässt sich so schnell nicht klein kriegen.
Darüber Gedanken gemacht
Das Thema des Buches ist wirklich sehr schwierig und obwohl man sich bewusst ist, das der Krieg real ist, verdrängt man diese Tatsache im Alltag doch sehr oft. Besonders tragisch ist der Gedanke, dass besonders Kinder unter dem Krieg leiden und viele gar nicht wirklich verstehen wieso dies alles geschieht.
Wir ärgern uns über banale Dinge, wie zum Beispiel, dass zu spät kommen der Bahn oder über ein paar nervige E-Mails und in anderen teilen der Welt, versteckt sich ein Kind unter einem Tisch, weil die Erde bombardiert wird und ein anderes weint seinen Beinen nach. Für mich ist diese Vorstellung unerträglich und deshalb war dies für mich ein sehr erschütterndes Buch.
Gefiel mir sehr
Die Tatsache, dass das Buch im Präsens geschrieben wurde fand ich durchaus gelungen, denn so blieb die Spannung durchweg erhalten. Auch die Art wie sich die Kapitel untereinander abwechselten fand ich sehr passend und konnte so gut mehrere Stunden am Stück lesen.
Gefiel mir nicht
Das Ende war mir zu unvollständig und ich hätte gerne ein paar Erklärungen mehr gehabt.
Schreibstil & Cover
Ich fand den Schreibstil flüssig und spannend. Mir gefiel die Ich-Perspektive sehr gut, denn so war man nah an der Protagonistin dran. Das Cover gefällt mir sehr gut und es sieht in echt viel besser aus!
Fazit
Ein spannender Thriller mit einem schweren Thema. Auf jeden Fall eine Leseempfehlung für zwischendurch.
Bewertung
Buchlänge ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)
Schreibstil ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)
Botschaft ♥♥♥ (3/5)
Lesevergnügen ♥♥♥♥ (4/5)
Eine Geschichte die so aktuell wie auch erschreckend ist. Kate ist Kriegsreporterin und unterwegs in Syrien und anderen Kriegsländern. Bei ihren Reportagen erlebt sie viel Grausames und kann dieses nur schwer wieder von sich abschütteln. Denn auch als sie zurück in ihre Heimat reist, ist der Krieg ein ständiger Begleiter. Sie hört Stimmen, sieht Dinge, die nicht wahr sind und kommt nur schwer in den Alltag zurück. Ihre Familie ist zerrüttet und ihre Kindheit war alles andere als schön. Doch Kate ist stark und lässt sich so schnell nicht klein kriegen.
Darüber Gedanken gemacht
Das Thema des Buches ist wirklich sehr schwierig und obwohl man sich bewusst ist, das der Krieg real ist, verdrängt man diese Tatsache im Alltag doch sehr oft. Besonders tragisch ist der Gedanke, dass besonders Kinder unter dem Krieg leiden und viele gar nicht wirklich verstehen wieso dies alles geschieht.
Wir ärgern uns über banale Dinge, wie zum Beispiel, dass zu spät kommen der Bahn oder über ein paar nervige E-Mails und in anderen teilen der Welt, versteckt sich ein Kind unter einem Tisch, weil die Erde bombardiert wird und ein anderes weint seinen Beinen nach. Für mich ist diese Vorstellung unerträglich und deshalb war dies für mich ein sehr erschütterndes Buch.
Gefiel mir sehr
Die Tatsache, dass das Buch im Präsens geschrieben wurde fand ich durchaus gelungen, denn so blieb die Spannung durchweg erhalten. Auch die Art wie sich die Kapitel untereinander abwechselten fand ich sehr passend und konnte so gut mehrere Stunden am Stück lesen.
Gefiel mir nicht
Das Ende war mir zu unvollständig und ich hätte gerne ein paar Erklärungen mehr gehabt.
Schreibstil & Cover
Ich fand den Schreibstil flüssig und spannend. Mir gefiel die Ich-Perspektive sehr gut, denn so war man nah an der Protagonistin dran. Das Cover gefällt mir sehr gut und es sieht in echt viel besser aus!
Fazit
Ein spannender Thriller mit einem schweren Thema. Auf jeden Fall eine Leseempfehlung für zwischendurch.
Bewertung
Buchlänge ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)
Schreibstil ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)
Botschaft ♥♥♥ (3/5)
Lesevergnügen ♥♥♥♥ (4/5)
tobyyy's review against another edition
4.0
Omg. One of the best thrillers I've read in quite awhile. It was not perfect, and I think that if you go into this book looking for tropes, you may have more suspicions about whodunit than I did. I was more interested in the psychological portion of this book, however, focusing on the hallucinations and delusions and dissociation than anything else, and therefore didn't have a clue as to whodunit until the reveal.
Definitely recommend. This book was compared to Girl On The Train but that does a disservice to both My Sister's Bones and Girl On The Train in my eyes. Different styles, different topics. Both enjoyable books.
Definitely recommend. This book was compared to Girl On The Train but that does a disservice to both My Sister's Bones and Girl On The Train in my eyes. Different styles, different topics. Both enjoyable books.
marsetta's review against another edition
3.0
Kate Rafter is a successful war reporter. She's the strong one. The one who escaped Herne Bay and the memories it holds. Her sister Sally didn't. Instead, she drinks.
But when their mother dies, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on her first night she is woken by a terrifying scream.
What secret has Kate stumbled upon?
And is she strong enough to uncover the truth . . . and make it out alive?
This is a debut novel by Nuala Ellwood and overall it's not bad. The first part is rather slow, with very little happening and I was starting to wonder if it was going to go anywhere at all. In part two it starts to pick up a bit but I found it rather predictable and unfortunately quite quickly guessed where it was going and how it was going to end.
While the start is slow mostly switching between Kate's past life in Syria and during a present day psychiatric hold interview, it does pick up in part two. It seems that most action starts around 60% in. But if you like slow-burning psychological drama, then My Sister’s Bones is worth a read. I would definitely read a further book by this author but hopefully the action starts a bit sooner in the next one!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK and Nuala Ellwood for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
To read this and other reviews like and follow me at
https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/crimemysteryboo
www.facebook.com/crimeandmysterybooksreview
But when their mother dies, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on her first night she is woken by a terrifying scream.
What secret has Kate stumbled upon?
And is she strong enough to uncover the truth . . . and make it out alive?
This is a debut novel by Nuala Ellwood and overall it's not bad. The first part is rather slow, with very little happening and I was starting to wonder if it was going to go anywhere at all. In part two it starts to pick up a bit but I found it rather predictable and unfortunately quite quickly guessed where it was going and how it was going to end.
While the start is slow mostly switching between Kate's past life in Syria and during a present day psychiatric hold interview, it does pick up in part two. It seems that most action starts around 60% in. But if you like slow-burning psychological drama, then My Sister’s Bones is worth a read. I would definitely read a further book by this author but hopefully the action starts a bit sooner in the next one!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK and Nuala Ellwood for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
To read this and other reviews like and follow me at
https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/crimemysteryboo
www.facebook.com/crimeandmysterybooksreview
mjmreynolds's review against another edition
2.0
The easy predictability of this novel would have earned only one star from me, but since the protagonist is a war journalist who travels back and forth to Aleppo, there is some relevance that I appreciated. Her excruciating description of life in Syria earned another star from me.
luellen1990's review against another edition
4.0
My Sisters Bones by Nuala Ellwood
Title: My Sisters Bones
Author: Nuala Ellwood
First Published: Sept 2017
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 400
Price on Amazon: Paperback £7.99 Kindle: £0.99
ISBN:0241977266
If you can't trust your sister, Can you trust anyone?
Kate has spent her life running from her past, she left home and went to university, became a journalist and never looked back. Then one day her mother dies and all of a sudden she has no choice but to return to Herne Bay, the place she grew up, the place her sister never left.
With Kate living a successful life, a budding journalist, travelling the world, running into war zones to get the hottest stories and finding a voice for those who can't speak up themselves. Sally on the other hand never left Herne Bay, drinks too much, won't admit she drinks too much, her marriage is in shatters and her daughter is long gone.
Two sisters living two very different lives. But is all as it seems? Is Kate seeing things and hearing voices? What is going on in the house next door to Kate and Sally's mum's house? And is everyone who they make out to be?
I got this book as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster at Alton towers and I loved it. Just when you think you have it all worked out you realise you don't. I could not put this book down I read it in a single sitting overnight it was that good. Would defiantly recommend to anyone looking for their next great psychological thriller. The plot is well-written and easy to follow. The characters have you screaming inside wanting them to realise what is happening at times and at other times it has you wishing you could read faster to find out whats happening.
A really great read, four out of five stars very well deserved, leaves you wanting more. Can't wait for more from this author.
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley,
My Blog at www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog.co.uk
Links to this review can be found on:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Tumblr: lusreviewsblog
Flikr: Lu's Reviews
Title: My Sisters Bones
Author: Nuala Ellwood
First Published: Sept 2017
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 400
Price on Amazon: Paperback £7.99 Kindle: £0.99
ISBN:0241977266
If you can't trust your sister, Can you trust anyone?
Kate has spent her life running from her past, she left home and went to university, became a journalist and never looked back. Then one day her mother dies and all of a sudden she has no choice but to return to Herne Bay, the place she grew up, the place her sister never left.
With Kate living a successful life, a budding journalist, travelling the world, running into war zones to get the hottest stories and finding a voice for those who can't speak up themselves. Sally on the other hand never left Herne Bay, drinks too much, won't admit she drinks too much, her marriage is in shatters and her daughter is long gone.
Two sisters living two very different lives. But is all as it seems? Is Kate seeing things and hearing voices? What is going on in the house next door to Kate and Sally's mum's house? And is everyone who they make out to be?
I got this book as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster at Alton towers and I loved it. Just when you think you have it all worked out you realise you don't. I could not put this book down I read it in a single sitting overnight it was that good. Would defiantly recommend to anyone looking for their next great psychological thriller. The plot is well-written and easy to follow. The characters have you screaming inside wanting them to realise what is happening at times and at other times it has you wishing you could read faster to find out whats happening.
A really great read, four out of five stars very well deserved, leaves you wanting more. Can't wait for more from this author.
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley,
My Blog at www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog.co.uk
Links to this review can be found on:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Tumblr: lusreviewsblog
Flikr: Lu's Reviews
panda27's review against another edition
5.0
What the.
This book started out slowly but wow I devoured it in a day after getting into it. I'm just mind boggled
This book started out slowly but wow I devoured it in a day after getting into it. I'm just mind boggled
sueotwell's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me a minute to get into but it was a page turner. It was very intense and I really enjoyed it!
k_west1984's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book an a really good twist that I never saw coming
twentytworeader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0