A review by chloeandherbooks
The House of One Thousand Eyes by Michelle Barker
3.0
* I was sent an advanced readers copy via net galley however this doesn’t not affect my opinion *
3.5 stars
“They’re hunters , Lena. They know how to watch and wait , and they know big game when they see it. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t get caught.”
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of sexual abuse.
This is a novel set in East Germany in the 1980’s. It follows Lena a young woman who is being raised by her Aunt after her parents died in an accident. She also spends time visiting her Uncle Erich who is an author however one day he disappears along with all traces of him. His books and even record of his birth are missing and every time she attempts to discuss her uncle she is told he does not exist. So she starts her own investigation. Lena works at night in the Stasi headquarters so the people in East Germany do not trust her as they believe she is a spy. In a heart-breaking twist in the end Lena was put back in the hospital and she was not able to escape however after the Berlin Wall fell her Aunt is then able to get her out from the hospital. This is a well written novel that had a tense and moving plot. However it took me a while to get into it and I felt the plot really slowed down in the middle but I became invested in the plot during the last 75% - I was completely gripped and I was hoping that Lena had the chance to escape. I also think that this is a well researched novel. Throughout the whole novel I felt bad for Lena for everything she was going through. I loved the character of Uncle Erich and I was devastated when it was revealed that he had died.
However there were a few comments throughout the book with regards to mental health and body image that were problematic and made me uncomfortable.
Overall this is a well-researched novel that I enjoyed but it took me a while to get into and the plot slowed down in the middle.
3.5 stars
“They’re hunters , Lena. They know how to watch and wait , and they know big game when they see it. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t get caught.”
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of sexual abuse.
This is a novel set in East Germany in the 1980’s. It follows Lena a young woman who is being raised by her Aunt after her parents died in an accident. She also spends time visiting her Uncle Erich who is an author however one day he disappears along with all traces of him. His books and even record of his birth are missing and every time she attempts to discuss her uncle she is told he does not exist. So she starts her own investigation. Lena works at night in the Stasi headquarters so the people in East Germany do not trust her as they believe she is a spy. In a heart-breaking twist in the end Lena was put back in the hospital and she was not able to escape however after the Berlin Wall fell her Aunt is then able to get her out from the hospital. This is a well written novel that had a tense and moving plot. However it took me a while to get into it and I felt the plot really slowed down in the middle but I became invested in the plot during the last 75% - I was completely gripped and I was hoping that Lena had the chance to escape. I also think that this is a well researched novel. Throughout the whole novel I felt bad for Lena for everything she was going through. I loved the character of Uncle Erich and I was devastated when it was revealed that he had died.
However there were a few comments throughout the book with regards to mental health and body image that were problematic and made me uncomfortable.
Overall this is a well-researched novel that I enjoyed but it took me a while to get into and the plot slowed down in the middle.