amy_da1sy's review against another edition
3.0
A really good book with so many different plot points it’s insane. I kind of guessed the different plot twists very soon through the book and I think it’s because of how well the book is written. I only gave it three stars because of the ending and because of how Martin and Sheila know who’s who for the end.
morgandief13020's review against another edition
4.0
This author has a dark edge (which I love) and he is very accessible and connected to his readers.
silenttwg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Martin Savage is a true crime writer hunted by a serial killer who escaped prison and has threatened the life of him and a former lover. This sends both of them running to his childhood home, a small town on an island, full of forgotten memories and something ancient, predatory. As the layers of enchantment fall from their eyes, they recognize there are worse killers than the one dogging their heels.
I really enjoyed this. It took me a while to get through because it's been a busy last couple of weeks, but once I settled in, I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed the game of cat and mouse and the unveiling of how all the pieces connected. Martin's kind of a selfish butt who thinks a lot with his downstairs and not enough with his brain, but he grows up through the revelations of his childhood and what has helped bring him into the world. I liked Sheila, enjoyed how she stood up to those she considered backwards and didn't back down in the face of death. I loved the family dynamics and watching how they changed and developed throughout the book. This was an adventure with killers moving throughout the pages.
Some of the pacing was slow and took a little bit to work through. I mentioned it earlier but Martin was so entranced by a good bed experience that he often overlooked red flags smacking him in the face, and that got annoying. Like, dude, you're a writer, you've got a brain, override the dumb stick blindness.
Despite those moments though, the story unfolded beautifully and really sucked me in. There were a few scenes that left me cringing and I liked that our narrator was an unreliable viewpoint so we got to remember his childhood with him instead of it already being spelled out.
I read this as an e-book but will be purchasing a physical copy and would recommend you get in there too.
I really enjoyed this. It took me a while to get through because it's been a busy last couple of weeks, but once I settled in, I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed the game of cat and mouse and the unveiling of how all the pieces connected. Martin's kind of a selfish butt who thinks a lot with his downstairs and not enough with his brain, but he grows up through the revelations of his childhood and what has helped bring him into the world. I liked Sheila, enjoyed how she stood up to those she considered backwards and didn't back down in the face of death. I loved the family dynamics and watching how they changed and developed throughout the book. This was an adventure with killers moving throughout the pages.
Some of the pacing was slow and took a little bit to work through. I mentioned it earlier but Martin was so entranced by a good bed experience that he often overlooked red flags smacking him in the face, and that got annoying. Like, dude, you're a writer, you've got a brain, override the dumb stick blindness.
Despite those moments though, the story unfolded beautifully and really sucked me in. There were a few scenes that left me cringing and I liked that our narrator was an unreliable viewpoint so we got to remember his childhood with him instead of it already being spelled out.
I read this as an e-book but will be purchasing a physical copy and would recommend you get in there too.
linde99's review against another edition
5.0
I got this book from NetGalley for a honest review
First of all, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC for this book. The Midwives is a horror book that is absolutely amazing. I loved it. 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend it. We follow true crime writer Martin Savage and forensic phycologist Sheila Tanner when James Barclay - aka the Witch Hunter, the subject of Martin’s latest book and insane serial killer who has something against Martin - escapes and is determined to kill them both. Martin and Sheila themselves flee to Martins to Barrow’s Bay, which is the island where Martin grew up. They stay with Martin’s mother Ruby and aunt Norma, who raised him. However, Barrow’s Bay is not what it seems to be, and especially the Midwives who birth every baby on the island. There are a lot of secrets that are uncovered on this island.
This is my first horror book that I’ve read, and I’m pleasantly surprised. It is incredibly creepy, but not overboard. It’s incredibly addicting, to the point that I was reading this book in the middle of the night. And did not get nightmares, surprisingly. I loved every second of this book. I highly recommend it. If you want to get into horror, this is the book to start with, as it’s absolutely perfect. Or you want a good creepy book, as it’s very creepy. I won’t look at midwives the same ever again. Thank you for ruining them for me.
First of all, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC for this book. The Midwives is a horror book that is absolutely amazing. I loved it. 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend it. We follow true crime writer Martin Savage and forensic phycologist Sheila Tanner when James Barclay - aka the Witch Hunter, the subject of Martin’s latest book and insane serial killer who has something against Martin - escapes and is determined to kill them both. Martin and Sheila themselves flee to Martins to Barrow’s Bay, which is the island where Martin grew up. They stay with Martin’s mother Ruby and aunt Norma, who raised him. However, Barrow’s Bay is not what it seems to be, and especially the Midwives who birth every baby on the island. There are a lot of secrets that are uncovered on this island.
This is my first horror book that I’ve read, and I’m pleasantly surprised. It is incredibly creepy, but not overboard. It’s incredibly addicting, to the point that I was reading this book in the middle of the night. And did not get nightmares, surprisingly. I loved every second of this book. I highly recommend it. If you want to get into horror, this is the book to start with, as it’s absolutely perfect. Or you want a good creepy book, as it’s very creepy. I won’t look at midwives the same ever again. Thank you for ruining them for me.
netslummer's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars rounded up.
This was an interesting read. It pretty much went how I expected it to go but it was a fun ride to go on. From a crazed serial killer to some weird demonic witchy cannibals...this book was a lot of fun to read.
Highly recommend!
This was an interesting read. It pretty much went how I expected it to go but it was a fun ride to go on. From a crazed serial killer to some weird demonic witchy cannibals...this book was a lot of fun to read.
Highly recommend!
pbanditp's review against another edition
4.0
Summary- The serial killer James Barclay has escaped prison and has promised to “leave a trail of blood” leading to Martin Savage, the true crime novelist who wrote about Barclay, and Sheila Tanner, the criminal psychologist who testified during his trial.
After one of Martin’s friends is brutally murdered, Martin and Sheila decide to hide out in Martins island home town of Barrows Bay. Martin remembers very little of the small community since he left there at only 5 years old and he has never discussed it before.
Barrows Bay is a quirky village with a long history of using midwives to deliver babies since there are no medical facilities on the island. Martins own mother Ruby is the head of the midwives and all of them are elderly and mysterious. One of them is even blind.
This is a hard review to write without giving spoilers but Duncan does a great job with characters and setting. I could picture myself traveling on the island with Martin and Sheila. The town folk give Barrows Bay a New England vibe of homeyness. During the story Martin does a few things that I don’t think normal people would do and I was starting to question the realness of his character, however as you read the entire book and learn his history, what he did makes sense.
So, Martin and Sheila escape from a serial killer to the small island but little do they know, Barclay was the least of there worries and the island and the midwives are not what they seem.
After one of Martin’s friends is brutally murdered, Martin and Sheila decide to hide out in Martins island home town of Barrows Bay. Martin remembers very little of the small community since he left there at only 5 years old and he has never discussed it before.
Barrows Bay is a quirky village with a long history of using midwives to deliver babies since there are no medical facilities on the island. Martins own mother Ruby is the head of the midwives and all of them are elderly and mysterious. One of them is even blind.
This is a hard review to write without giving spoilers but Duncan does a great job with characters and setting. I could picture myself traveling on the island with Martin and Sheila. The town folk give Barrows Bay a New England vibe of homeyness. During the story Martin does a few things that I don’t think normal people would do and I was starting to question the realness of his character, however as you read the entire book and learn his history, what he did makes sense.
So, Martin and Sheila escape from a serial killer to the small island but little do they know, Barclay was the least of there worries and the island and the midwives are not what they seem.
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
5.0
As I did with my first foray into the work of Duncan Ralston, this was a purchase I bought strictly because of the cover. I had alot of reading obligations i put myself under for review copies I accepted, so like most of the books I bought, I had to put it on the back burner. After finding out that I was going to be having another baby, the time seemed like now or never. Damn, I'm glad I checked this one out when I did.
The Midwives is another slam dunk for Ralston, a self published author who really should be on everyones radar if he isn't. The attention to detail he puts into his work shows, from the cover to the words on the page. But what about the words themselves? The Midwives is a sprawling book. It's long, and there is alot of world building in it. At 400 pages, I wasn't sure what to think, I usually tire of books around the 300 mark or so. After finishing the book, I actually came away quite impressed. This MIGHT be my favorite book by the author so far. Ralston expertly weaves a couple story threads together here. The folk horror around the midwives, and a plot thread involving a serial killer. The main thread, of course is that of the midwives, and for much of the book the serial killer thread takes a back seat. That particular thread does get its time to shine though, and never felt like it was abandoned, it just is not as prevalent.
By the time that i finished the book, i felt completely satisfied and I liked the way the author wrapped the story up. Ralston has become a must buy for me, and I encourage you all to check out his works.
The Midwives is another slam dunk for Ralston, a self published author who really should be on everyones radar if he isn't. The attention to detail he puts into his work shows, from the cover to the words on the page. But what about the words themselves? The Midwives is a sprawling book. It's long, and there is alot of world building in it. At 400 pages, I wasn't sure what to think, I usually tire of books around the 300 mark or so. After finishing the book, I actually came away quite impressed. This MIGHT be my favorite book by the author so far. Ralston expertly weaves a couple story threads together here. The folk horror around the midwives, and a plot thread involving a serial killer. The main thread, of course is that of the midwives, and for much of the book the serial killer thread takes a back seat. That particular thread does get its time to shine though, and never felt like it was abandoned, it just is not as prevalent.
By the time that i finished the book, i felt completely satisfied and I liked the way the author wrapped the story up. Ralston has become a must buy for me, and I encourage you all to check out his works.
deathbywords's review against another edition
5.0
I picked The Midwives after reading Voom because although I didn’t enjoy voom as much as I had wanted, I wanted to give the author another chance. After all, writing is it’s own form of art and each story can provoke different thoughts and feelings.
I liked the Midwives. There are seemingly two storylines at the same time and while I sometimes found parts of the book to be redundant, I enjoyed the overall dark and magical theme. I don’t like reviews with spoilers so all I will say is I found parts of the end predictable, yet it had a few really good surprises!
Would definitely consider another book by the author!
I liked the Midwives. There are seemingly two storylines at the same time and while I sometimes found parts of the book to be redundant, I enjoyed the overall dark and magical theme. I don’t like reviews with spoilers so all I will say is I found parts of the end predictable, yet it had a few really good surprises!
Would definitely consider another book by the author!
mk_oldman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Martin Savage is a true crime writer. One serial killer, the Witch Hunter, escapes and targets Martin and anyone close to him, forcing Martin and his friend Sheila to go into hiding. Unsure of anywhere else, they flee to the small island town which he left as a young boy, after his mother was sent to a psychiatric facility.
All is not as it seems in Barrows Bay. Martin and Sheila find the seemingly idyllic town to be more and more disturbing. Everyone in town seems to revere "the midwives". The apparently innocent, elderly women have assisted the birth of everyone in town. As time goes on, Martin and Sheila begin to think that perhaps they would be safer away from Barrows Bay after all, even if there was a deranged killer hunting them down.
I don't know why I waited so long to read this book. That cover had me at first glance and the premise was right up my alley. I suppose I was afraid to be let down after having built it up in my head so much. I was not let down. In fact, this held my attention from cover to cover. If you enjoy small town horror, don't think, just buy it.
radicalrachelreads's review against another edition
5.0
I knew I was getting into something good - I mean, come on, look at that cover - but I had no clue how good! When I first saw the audiobook version is eleven hours I became a bit nervous it wouldn’t hold my attention. I’ve only listened to a handful of audiobooks and they were all under four hours. Well, from the first sentence to the last, I was hooked. Seriously, when I wasn’t listening, I wanted to be. This is an example of a great premise that is taken to the limits. I expected scary and fun but this was so much more than I had anticipated. What a creepy and imaginative ride! My favorite characters were The Midwives themselves, of course. Mwhaha
This was my first Duncan Ralston but will definitely not be my last.
Thank you to Duncan Ralston for gifting me an audio copy (I had already purchased the ebook)!
This was my first Duncan Ralston but will definitely not be my last.
Thank you to Duncan Ralston for gifting me an audio copy (I had already purchased the ebook)!