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redheadreader73's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down. A psychological thriller with in-depth characters that feel real and imperfect. Loved all the pieces slowly coming together and never suspecting the actual outcome. Just going to find another Sharon Bolton book…
pagesplotsandpints's review against another edition
3.0
<b>Read Completed 6/15/24 |</b> 3 stars
This sounded like a really unique read and it really ended up falling into a serious thriller trope.
I really liked that this took place in a unique location and had an interesting concept! I figured this would be like a locked room thriller sort of a vibe from the synopsis that had a good twist. It describes Felicity working on a remote Antarctic island trying to escape someone from her past who has now gotten out of prison and came to find her. I was expecting that to be the basis of the book where we have a high octane, heart-pounding thriller as Felicity is chased. I assumed she also had something to hide, etc etc.
Then Part 2 of the book comes in and we spend the majority of the time back in Cambridge before all of this started. Part 3 of the book follows, still in Cambridge, and then we wrap back up in present day. I was pretty disappointed to flash back in huge chunks and not be in the setting that the synopsis promised. The writing and the story were still fine, things were getting interesting, but I felt like I was tricked. It was also an adjustment to follow a few of these different characters and I didn't get how some of them connected for a while, nor did I care.
I didn't really like any of the characters. Felicity is an unreliable narrator with gaps in her memory and sometime's she's hard to root for. Joe is her psychologist and a terrible one at that. He was unethical, unprofessional, and he was supposed to be a good guy trying to help Felicity but I really didn't like him either.
Where the book really lost me was where the twist came in...Felicity has DID (dissociative identity disorder) and they suspect her "alters" are who are killing the homeless. There's also a history of abuse in her family and I hated that they included rape of her mother AND HER AT THREE YEARS OLD. Now was that really necessary. I hate reading about child abuse and more so, I absolutely hate reading about sexual abuse of a child. Rape at three years old was for shock value and it was disgusting. That wasn't necessary for the story and I hated it.
I really didn't like the ending but I did enjoy some of the read and I liked how Sharon Bolton had me interested in all of the confusing things that were going on. I would have rated this lower if I hadn't liked the writing style and vibe, because some of the choices here were things I really, really didn't like. I like her writing style better than a lot of other thriller authors but because of her choices in plot here and a couple of her character decisions, I don't know if I'll pick up another book from her.
This sounded like a really unique read and it really ended up falling into a serious thriller trope.
I really liked that this took place in a unique location and had an interesting concept! I figured this would be like a locked room thriller sort of a vibe from the synopsis that had a good twist. It describes Felicity working on a remote Antarctic island trying to escape someone from her past who has now gotten out of prison and came to find her. I was expecting that to be the basis of the book where we have a high octane, heart-pounding thriller as Felicity is chased. I assumed she also had something to hide, etc etc.
Then Part 2 of the book comes in and we spend the majority of the time back in Cambridge before all of this started. Part 3 of the book follows, still in Cambridge, and then we wrap back up in present day. I was pretty disappointed to flash back in huge chunks and not be in the setting that the synopsis promised. The writing and the story were still fine, things were getting interesting, but I felt like I was tricked. It was also an adjustment to follow a few of these different characters and I didn't get how some of them connected for a while, nor did I care.
I didn't really like any of the characters. Felicity is an unreliable narrator with gaps in her memory and sometime's she's hard to root for. Joe is her psychologist and a terrible one at that. He was unethical, unprofessional, and he was supposed to be a good guy trying to help Felicity but I really didn't like him either.
Where the book really lost me was where the twist came in...
I really didn't like the ending but I did enjoy some of the read and I liked how Sharon Bolton had me interested in all of the confusing things that were going on. I would have rated this lower if I hadn't liked the writing style and vibe, because some of the choices here were things I really, really didn't like. I like her writing style better than a lot of other thriller authors but because of her choices in plot here and a couple of her character decisions, I don't know if I'll pick up another book from her.
kerry_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jessica_reading_writing's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
Overview: Okay so this book has been on my shelf for over a year. I just didn't pick it up for ages...and then I read a review with a spoiler. And it made me go "ooh!" So I picked it up and read it, but thanks to the spoiler I knew the main twist right from the start which diminished the excitement for me. Granted, there was a surprise at the end, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to save it. I blame the person who wrote a review with a spoiler and didn't put up a warning first!
Good Points: I did enjoy the writing style. It was different to what I'm used to so it did take me a while to adjust. The first 1/4 of the book was probably the best bit.
Not so Good Points: I wish I could review this book without having known the spoiler. It really ruined it for me. So I shouldn't really say anything negative because it's not the books' fault! There were a few things about Felicity I didn't like, but I can't go into detail without spoiling it (and I won't do that!) The character's weren't really that memorable either.
A decent psychological thriller that's worth a read. However it didn't blow me away.
Overview: Okay so this book has been on my shelf for over a year. I just didn't pick it up for ages...and then I read a review with a spoiler. And it made me go "ooh!" So I picked it up and read it, but thanks to the spoiler I knew the main twist right from the start which diminished the excitement for me. Granted, there was a surprise at the end, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to save it. I blame the person who wrote a review with a spoiler and didn't put up a warning first!
Good Points: I did enjoy the writing style. It was different to what I'm used to so it did take me a while to adjust. The first 1/4 of the book was probably the best bit.
Not so Good Points: I wish I could review this book without having known the spoiler. It really ruined it for me. So I shouldn't really say anything negative because it's not the books' fault! There were a few things about Felicity I didn't like, but I can't go into detail without spoiling it (and I won't do that!) The character's weren't really that memorable either.
A decent psychological thriller that's worth a read. However it didn't blow me away.
nastian's review against another edition
5.0
There are probably some issues I've overlooked, but since the story reached the flashback to the UK I couldn't put it down so for that - 4.5/5 but I'll round up.
Maybe naive in parts, maybe slow start, my only qualm really was the 3 lines about photography at the start.
"I'm a photographer," he tells her.
"Me too," says a man who's just arrived. "What shutter speed are you planning for the birds in flight?"
Just a bit funny and it makes me wonder how many "missing-the-mark" passages I don't notice because I don't know anything about the subject matter. Like all the glacier stuff in this book.
But lemme tell you no photographer would be asking another what shutter speed they'd be using for such and such first thing
Maybe naive in parts, maybe slow start, my only qualm really was the 3 lines about photography at the start.
"I'm a photographer," he tells her.
"Me too," says a man who's just arrived. "What shutter speed are you planning for the birds in flight?"
Just a bit funny and it makes me wonder how many "missing-the-mark" passages I don't notice because I don't know anything about the subject matter. Like all the glacier stuff in this book.
But lemme tell you no photographer would be asking another what shutter speed they'd be using for such and such first thing
reviewsbyamy's review against another edition
4.5
Great use of multiple POV's to help build an image of what's happening whilst also being sneaky. The FMCs symptoms that are spoken about and described within the story are very much akin to those I've seen in previous Service users, Clients and Patients and therefore I interpreted the book differently to others and therefore wasn't surprised by the diagnosis. I did however enjoy the unforseen twists towards the end. Overall a great pyschological thriller with a touch of romance.
andrea_k's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lavins's review against another edition
2.0
You know the book is less than you expect when I can figure out the diagnose of the sick person and figure out the ending in the first chapter.
The book is trying to be exciting and thrilling, but it turns out to be confusing with all these voice, all the events, the past and the present....There are things that give away part of the ending right from the start...
The book is trying to be exciting and thrilling, but it turns out to be confusing with all these voice, all the events, the past and the present....There are things that give away part of the ending right from the start...
therapywithjess's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
lucyhollywood93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW: Mental Illness
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness