Reviews

Quite thrilling and it plays with emotions a lot. Nervously curious, gripping with unresolved murder that leaving me with unknown where-it-will-go narratives. The idea was amazing that the twist somehow really unexpected although it started a bit mundane at first-- going back and forth from three years ago to current plot. I honestly like Jack. I felt a serious empathy towards him, being so young and surviving, taking care of his both little sisters and the part about his father was really surprising to me, such twist. The characters development was done well, narratives flow beautifully with suspense leaving me footsteps on the case and Jack helping out was one of my favorite scene. It was dark and tragic, and I love the ending so much. I think the author did well in giving appropriate disclosure to Jack.

shropgirl's review against another edition

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5.0

Snap is quite a tough read with its theme of child neglect. Jack, the book's protagonist, and his two sisters were travelling in a car with their mother, when the car breaks down on the hard shoulder of a motorway. Told by his pregnant mother to remain in the car until she returns she goes to call motor assistance. She does not return and eventually the police find Jack and his sisters walking alongside the road. Their mother's body is found and she has been murdered.
Several years later, Jack now 15 years of age is looking after his two sisters in the family home as their father, who has struggled to come to terms with the loss of his wife, walks away from the home and leaves the children to their own devices. Jack, who's mother's last word to him was to look after his sisters knows that if the authorities learn of their situation they will be split up and taken into care. He therefore turns to a life of petty crime in order to support them all.
The children all have their own mental health issues which are well described and plausible. Another part of the plot involves several policemen who are investigating a series of house break-ins as well as the cold case of Jack's mothers' murder.
This was extremely well written, a plot with many strands all of which came together satisfactorily but the only part which I found slightly implausible was the return of the father to the family without any repercussions from the authorities.
This book was nominated for the Man Booker prize in 2018, an unusual choice as crime novels are not the usual fare for the prize.
This was a good read which I thoroughly enjoyed despite it's subject matter.

chloehasty's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 STARS ⭐️ I absolutely loved this book, it had a slightly different premise to other books I’ve read and from arouuund page 161 I really started to gobble it up.

Pros;
- Mosaic story telling, I really enjoy watching characters develop and wondering how they’ll come together.
- Interesting circumstances from the get go, immediately intriguing.
- Fairly accurate Policing references throughout.

Cons;
- There’s mention of Jack using a torch on his phone to search in the lorry if I remember rightly? As it’s 2001 and given his circumstances I’m surprised Jack would have a mobile phone and I didn’t think they had torches then? I may have misread.
- Slightly slow start.
- Some far fetched plot lines BUT IT’S ENTERTAINMENT SO WHO CARES?
- The very end felt somewhat rushed and unsatisfying.

Overall I really really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend.

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