Lauren North

Hold your breath, jaw dropping read? Definitely!

Oh my gosh! More twists in this peppered read than a pretzel. Cohesive control, and then some, stalks the pages until you don’t know who’s what, and where you’re headed.
This is a five star read but in my head I found it hard to come to grips with that because I don’t like the subject matter. Cohesive control is real and creepy. This novel is brimming with both.
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that turns you inside out and more, this is the read for you. Who is the predator and who is the prey? Hmmm! Find out—maybe!

A Bookouture ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.… (mais)

Although this was really quite good, it was let down by poor editing. A message for North's editor: read your grammar book and you won't miss 'was sat, was stood', you'll learn the difference between lay and lie (argh!), and learn about object pronouns: 'Dylan gave Tim and I'. ('And me', for heaven's sake!...another argh!) But as an editor, you should know all this already.

Unfortunately, this was in present-tense narrative. Bad choice at any time, but especially with first person POV.

But, but, but, this is a compelling story about tragically widowed Tess Clarke, so desperately immersed in her grief and loss that she struggles to look after herself, let alone her son, Jamie. The effects are devastating and serious for her.

The circumstances of Tess's husband echo the real-life crash in the French Alps six years ago, and the ending has some similarities to a certain film starring Bruce Willis (I'll leave it there!). Nonetheless, it's a gripping book, and poor editing aside, it's a healthy start to a writing career.

Will I read any more of North's books? I'm not sure. I don't suffer bad editing gladly.
… (mais)

To what lengths would you go to protect your children from the person stalking you?
Jenna, an emergency room physician, is being stalked and despite reporting everything to the police, nothing is being done. She's seen her stalker on numerous occasions so when he presents to her ER, she has to decide to save him or let him die.
Jenna's character is well developed and I had a true sense of the terror she felt on a daily basis and of the way it affected her family. From the other mom's at the school, to her children, to her husband, everyone was affected by the stalker.
Told from 2 different points of view, we are also watching the events unfold from Sophie. In the beginning, we are unsure how Sophie fits into the plot, but find that she's facing her own monsters in life.
As the book progresses, different connections and relationships are revealed, such as that of Sophie and Jenna.
From the time I started this book, I quickly read through it. I certainly hadn't figured out all the answers and was pleasantly surprised. While not necessarily thrilling, I enjoyed this book.
Anyone interested in mild thrillers, this would be the perfect place to start.
Thank you for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion… (mais)