A heroic act brings unwanted attention for a high school teacher!
3.5.
When a former student, Mark LeDrew, enters Lodge High where Richard Boyle works, A heroic act brings unwanted attention for a high school teacher!
3.5.
When a former student, Mark LeDrew, enters Lodge High where Richard Boyle works, wearing explosives, Richard manages to talk him down. But while retreating Mark accidentally removes his finger from the trigger, detonating the bomb, killing only himself in the blast. Richard is unwittingly a hero – praised by his family, school and community for his actions and bravery.
But his moment in the spotlight brings enemies out of the woodwork, all of whom hold grievances against Richard. To protect his reputation, Richard attempts to resolve the matters himself. It's his first of many mistakes, because Richard has much more to lose than just his reputation.
I Will Ruin You (love the title) was an exhilarating, fast-moving, exciting, quick read. Honestly, Linwood Barclay has always reminded me of Harlan Coben, and vice versa – not enough for me to mix up the two authors – but their writing styles and types of plots share commonalities. There were some rollercoaster chapters cliffhangers, but unfortunately the final reveal was kind of obvious. Also, there were several sub-plots that were either resolved too easily or fizzled out which made me wonder if they were only included to distract from the perpetrator and add more suspects. Which didn’t work on me. Even though drug-dealing isn’t my preferred plot in a domestic thriller there were some great twists in that storyline.
All in all, an above average read which kept me entertained and glued to its pages....more
3.5 Rounded Up to 4. As much as I enjoyed reading ‘If Something Happens to Me’, I had some issues with the plot that I just couldn’t overlook!
Leavenwo3.5 Rounded Up to 4. As much as I enjoyed reading ‘If Something Happens to Me’, I had some issues with the plot that I just couldn’t overlook!
Leavenworth, Kansas – Five years ago, Ryan Richardson and Alison Lane were two high school seniors in love, with their whole lives ahead of them. Until that faithful rainy night when while parked at Lovers Lane in Ali’s father’s BMW, Ryan was knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant, and when he regained consciousness, Alison, and the car, were gone.
At the time, no one believed Ryan’s story and since he was Alison’s boyfriend, as well as the last person to see her alive, all roads led to him as the prime suspect in her disappearance. Even when DNA evidence was later uncovered at the campsite of a known, and now deceased, serial killer, there were still those in Ryan’s small town (and beyond) who were still convinced he killed his girlfriend.
Then a grisly discovery shreds new light on the investigation. Alison’s car has been discovered submerged in Suncatcher Lake. And, in its backseat are two bodies, neither of which belong to Alison Lane.
If Something Happens to Me was fast-paced and action-packed – there was never a dull moment, and I was on an adrenaline high the entire time I was reading. At only 337 pages I zipped through this in record time, and when I was forced to put it down, the plot occupied my thoughts. The chapters were short and to the point, and nearly every single one ended on a cliffhanger, which definitely kept me turning the pages on my kindle’s touchscreen. All the characters were charismatic and unforgettable with compelling backstories, especially Ryan and Poppy. In fact, if Alex Finlay decides to turn this novel into a series featuring Poppy, Ryan, and others, in Leavenworth then I’m all for it. Just saying!
But unfortunately, I did have some issues with one twist, one plot line, and a plot thread that seemingly led nowhere and wasn’t wrapped up to my satisfaction. The latter two are spoilers so I can’t provide any more detail. The twist that was meant to be one of the novels biggest reveals I had worked out by the 30% mark. I wasn’t that bothered as it was a great twist, and to be fair I have read a lot of thrillers, but perhaps a couple of the clues were a tad obvious?
To sum up, I was thoroughly entertained overall, I guess that’s why I’m being so picky over details. After loving Every Last Fear and then being disappointed by The Night Shift, my positive experience with If Something Happens to Me means I will definitely continue to read this author. Especially if this is the first in a series. *Hint, hint!*
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Head of Zeus, and Alex Finlay for the e-ARC.
If Something Happens to Me is only six days away from being released in the US, but this edition (the UK one) is out 6th June 2024....more
Brrrrrrrom brrrrrrrom… (although on second thoughts, these cars don’t actually make that noise) Killer cars on the loose!
4 rounded up to 4.5.
The residBrrrrrrrom brrrrrrrom… (although on second thoughts, these cars don’t actually make that noise) Killer cars on the loose!
4 rounded up to 4.5.
The residents of Garrett Island are halfway through a month long trial experiment. They’ve swapped their usual cars for brand spanking new Arrivals (named after the company that manufactured them) – autonomous, electronic, affordable, with a state-of-the-art onboard computer system, where comfort, safety, and efficiency are paramount. Even the police force are in on the action – swapping their usual vehicles for black-and-white Arrivals.
It’s Press Day, and the media have swarmed to the Island for a Press Conference to showcase the Arrivals various benefits and features. But, uh-oh, someone is about to enter a command into the Arrival program that will cause the cars systems to go haywire. And, oopsie-daisy, all the regular cars are in a parking lot on the mainland. As is the island’s ferry, and not only that, a fog is rolling in. To make matters one hundred times worse, the cars aren’t just going berserk, they’re deliberately seeking out as many people to kill as possible. And, they’re getting smarter at it!
Linwood Barclay’s latest novel was a mix of thriller, horror, and action. It was fast-paced, exciting, heart-pounding and nail-biting. Some suspension of belief was required, but it was all in good campy fun, and it was an enjoyable read from start to finish. The main character’s were phenomenal, which really elevated the material, considering the plot was occasionally silly in terms of what these smart cars were capable of. I cared deeply for these characters, and was praying they’d make it out alive. There were some surprising twists as well. And, I loved the island setting – how they were trapped and cut off by geography and metereology, and had to come up with inventive ways to outsmart, escape, and avoid the rampaging Arrivals.
Look Both Ways brought to mind several horror movies while reading. Does anyone remember the 1980’s slasher movie Chopping Mall? Well, basically, the Mall security robots get struck by lighting, and roll around terrorising teens after hours? And, let’s just say there were some similarities between that movie and this book. There was even a Mall connection. What about the movie Tremors from 1990, starring Kevin Bacon? Well, the cars in this reminded me of the giant worms, in that they came up with increasingly smarter ways to stalk their prey, as well as anticipate what they might likely do next. Then, there’s the commonality with Jurassic Park (you’ve all heard of that one right? If not, then you’ve been living under a rock). In both they were being pursued by something deadly, dangerous, unpredictable, and unexpected, they had island settings, with bad guys trying to escape said island before they could be found out, and bad weather also caused chaos.
This was unlike anything Linwood Barclay has ever written, although it is his second tech thriller, the first being Elevator Pitch which I couldn’t even make it 30% of the way through. If you liked Jeffrey Deaver’s – The Steel Kiss, or John Marr’s – The Passengers, or Chopping Mall/Tremors/Jurassic Parks, or action-driven (pun intended) near-future, tech horror thrillers, or even just cars in general, then this is the novel for you. Highly recommended!
I’d like to thank Netgalley, HQ Australia, and Linwood Barclay for the e-ARC.
‘I had come to Hillview looking for a hero and instead I’d found a villain.’
In 1980 Carl Iverson raped and murdered a fourteen4.5 rounded up to 5.
‘I had come to Hillview looking for a hero and instead I’d found a villain.’
In 1980 Carl Iverson raped and murdered a fourteen-year-old girl.
After serving thirty years in prison he is paroled to a retirement home (Hillview Manor) following a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Enter, University of Minnesota student Joe Talbert, in desperate need of an elderly person to interview for an English assignment he’s been putting off starting.
When, the Receptionist of Hillview suggests Carl Iverson as a potential interview subject, Joe can’t help but be intrigued by the suggestion. Sure, the man may be a monster, but at least his biography paper will be anything but dull.
Joe should’ve been careful what he wished for though, because Carl’s life story contains a lot more excitement than he bargained on, and pretty soon the college student is in way over his head.
What a phenomenal start to a series! Consider me a new fan. This book had so much heart. I loved the writing, the protagonist, and all the supporting characters. I appreciated how Joe was written. How he’s had to grow up fast, and take on a lot of responsibility at a young age, and now aged twenty all he wants is a normal regular college experience free from the burden of his family. Sure, sometimes he came across as selfish, but it was completely understandable given his circumstances and upbringing, as well as age appropriate. I also thought the way in which Joe’s mother’s came up with the idea of naming her son’s was kind of cruel, but also amusing and highly original.
Okay, so the mystery was pretty predictable, but I adored the various unique ways Joe and co. deciphered the clues, the action-packed last 40%, and the emotional closing chapter. My only minor issue was that at times Joe’s problem-solving abilities were a little implausible – think MacGyver. Sexism alert, but this is the third book I’ve read this year written by a male author containing a protagonist such as this, and the third time I’ve brought it up.
Now for the content warnings. There were some graphic passages regarding crimes against women, and war violence. They were few and far in between, the violence was as minimal as the author could possibly make it, and the crimes depicted were essential for plot and character developmental.
My one regret is that I should have read this series a lot sooner, but at least I get to enjoy if this year. If like me, you haven’t gotten around to this incredible series yet, then this could be the year for you too....more
2017 – Aidan Faith is excited to have his sister Scarlett visit him in Seattle, all the way from UK. It’s the fifteen-year-olIt’s a thumbs up from me!
2017 – Aidan Faith is excited to have his sister Scarlett visit him in Seattle, all the way from UK. It’s the fifteen-year-old’s first trip abroad, and Aidan plans to show her all the local sights – The Space Needle, Viretta Park, the Museum of Pop Culture, Bellevue Square. But, everything goes horribly wrong when Scarlett vanishes without a trace.
2019 – Scarlett is still missing, but Aidan has never given up hope that she is out there somewhere. Then, he receives a potential lead from a reliable witness via the FindScarlettFaith.com website he set up. One that sees him travelling all the way to a small town in Northern California. He knows it’s a long shot, but Aidan will leave no stone unturned to get to the truth of what happened to his sister – no matter how much danger it places his own life in.
Mark Edwards latest thriller could have easily backfired, as it was a thriller trope that has been done countless times before. What made it different though was the way in which the author used a current, relevant crisis as a dire warning/cautionary tale. Definitely made things more disturbing, tense, and believable. There were multiple twists and misleads – a couple which were a little predictable, but the majority were shockers. And, that was one hell of a clever opening chapter – a unique way to set the stage. Further to this, what were later revealed to be the two main themes, were eluded to in some very subtle, blink-and-you-would have missed it, ways. Another highlight were the psychological games, manipulation, and deception.
Due to personal preference this one wasn’t a 5 star read for me as my favourite Mark Edwards books are the one’s with a supernatural vibe. As the title suggests, No Place to Run was more of an action thriller with lots of shoot-outs, gun violence, running, hiding and evading, and car and foot chases. You get the picture. Having said that, there was a chapter involving a local abandoned house that gave me the spooky feels.
The plot moved at a fast pace, particularly the last half – always a major plus in my book. Just to forewarn you, No Place to Run does deal with some pretty serious crimes, therefore may be triggering for some readers. This one seemed more graphic than his previous books – maybe because things like this do happen, whereas, due to the supernatural aspect, his other books were more fantastical?
I have no hesitation in recommending this action-packed, cat-and-mouse, adrenaline-pumping domestic thriller.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Amazon Publishing UK, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.
Molly Raven lives her life in constant fear of what might happen.
Everything and everyone is a potential threat.
For instance, she won’t leave the 3.5.
Molly Raven lives her life in constant fear of what might happen.
Everything and everyone is a potential threat.
For instance, she won’t leave the room while her phone is charging just in case it bursts into flames.
Charging it on a ‘soft surface’ is also a big no no, for the same reason.
Extensive, meticulous, up-to-date planning, organisation, and research allows Molly to stay abreast of disaster, and mitigate catastrophe.
She envies her carefree twin sister Katie (KT), who doesn’t have an anxious bone in her entire body. She would never be able to do something as brave as moving all the way from London to Manhattan to study. But, that’s just what her twin did the previous year.
When, Molly receives a phone call from her parent’s (currently visiting KT in NYC) to break the devastating news that Katie is dead, murdered in her apartment, Molly is forced to confront her phobia of flying, to make the trip to New York to console her parents, wrap up KT’s affairs, and, more importantly, find out who killed her twin.
From the opening sentence, the evocative, enticing writing drew me in, and, even though it was a slow burn, the first 50% saw me fully immersed, emotionally invested, and constantly guessing.
Will Dean perfectly captured the vibe of “the city that never sleeps” – the various landmarks, scenery, layout, skyline and architecture, and mouth-watering cuisine, made me want to pack my bags and jump on the next flight.
The last half moved at a frantic pace, with plenty of action and excitement, but this was when things steadily felt apart for me. Sadly, it was just too outrageous, preposterous and convenient for my liking. (view spoiler)[I’m not overly fond of character’s who have endless resources, finances, and assistance at their disposal, prefer when they have to rely on their wits and smarts. And some of this was – and I really relished those parts. (hide spoiler)] I still look forward to reading The Last Thing to Burn, as the author’s writing was exception, and I’ve heard it’s quite different from this one.
I had a lot of fun reading First Born with a group, and our theories and discussions were fascinating, and engaging.
Available now in New Zealand and Australia....more
It’s US Release Day, and The Drift is Not to be Missed!
Never a dull moment. The Drift was complex, intricate, nightmarish, fast-paced, and action-It’s US Release Day, and The Drift is Not to be Missed!
Never a dull moment. The Drift was complex, intricate, nightmarish, fast-paced, and action-packed, and the snowball twists just kept on being thrown at me.
Hannah survived the impact of the accident. Others weren’t so lucky. The coach she was travelling in is half-buried in a snowdrift, sealing off the exits. Hannah, and six others are trapped inside – and the drop in temperature is the least of their worries…
Meg awakens from a drug-induced sleep. She’s lying on the floor of a stopped cable car with five other people. They are locked inside, in the mist of a snowstorm. None of them have any idea how they got there, or who’s responsible. And, one of their group isn’t moving, isn’t waking up…
Carter and six other people live at ‘The Retreat’. For three years it has been their safe haven from the outside world. And, there are many threats – the weather, the deadly virus, wild animals, the Mafia-like-boss who resides in the closest village and controls supplies and the airport, scientists and military, doomsday cultists and science skeptics, and worst of all, ‘The Whistlers’ who inhabit the dark, dark woods. Then, one of their group goes missing…
To be honest, I was close to giving up on C.J. Tudor. She started on a high, delivering two phenomenal 5 star reads – both The Chalk Man, and especially, The Taking of Annie Thorne (a.k.a The Hiding Place) were deliciously dark and disturbing, and I was highly anticipating what the author had in store for me next. But, then came The Other People and The Burning Girls, which were decidedly tame and non-scary by comparison. What had happened to the C.J. Tudor that I knew and loved – whose previous novels had chilled me to the bone? But, the premise of The Drift contained so many elements that I love – apocalypse/dystopian/pandemic/horror, not to mention, not one, not two, but three locked-room mysteries – so it was with some trepidation that I decided to give her one last try. And I’m so relieved and grateful that I did, because without a doubt, The Drift is her best book to date. That’s right readers – C.J. Tudor is well and truly back in my favour – a return to form.
The three mysteries, and the bigger overall mystery – I can’t even – I’m rendered speechless over how incredible, complex, and ingenious it all was. I was equally invested in Hannah’s, Meg’s, and Carter’s story arcs, and every chapter ended on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, not to mention all the shocking reveals contained within chapters. The coach accident and the cable car both gave off escape room vibes – characters working, banding together, solely relying on their intelligence, wits, physical and emotion strength – vying, competing, and arguing amongst themselves, desperate to find a way out. Of course these escape rooms were life or death situation, and neither fun nor exciting – well for me they were. And, I don’t need to tell you, because it goes without saying that The Retreat storyline screamed Agatha Christie’s – And Then There Were None. Love, love, love.
If you hate dystopian resulting from an apocalyptic event then I’d steer clear of this one. Same goes for a deadly virus that has decimated the world’s population – it may be too soon for some, which is completely understandable. Warning for violence, sexual violence, mutilation, blood, guts, and gore. This was true horror – and it was bleak, depressing, and hopeless. Having said that, I laughed out loud a few times, particularly when certain characters received their comeuppance (payback’s a bitch!) however that may just be my sick sense of humour. The Drift shared some commonalities with Justin Cronin’s, The Passage, and Richard Laymon’s, One Rainy Night (avoid like the plague if you don’t like very disturbing horror). I highly recommend both.
I pre-ordered the audiobook via audible, and all three narrators blew me away. If I had to choose though, Richard Armitage was the stand-out. One of the best audio readings I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. So glad I own it. The various accents and voices definitely helped me remember the characters as they were introduced, as there were quite a lot of them.
The Drift is the second book this month I’ve rated 5 stars (The first being, I Have Some Questions For You - Rebecca Makkai). I’m certain The Drift will make my 2023 top reads, and I’ve already added it to my all-time favourites list in my profile. Books this amazing are why I read....more
Captain Bill Hoffman is piloting a plane from LAX to JFK airport, when he receives a notification from his wife’s emailThe toughest of moral dilemmas!
Captain Bill Hoffman is piloting a plane from LAX to JFK airport, when he receives a notification from his wife’s email address. A photo attachment shows his wife, son, and daughter – bound and gagged.
A second email contains a FaceTime video – the terrorist kidnapper’s instructions are crystal clear – crash the plane and your family will live. Fail to do so, and they will be killed.
The choice is Bill’s.
Falling was a fast-paced, ticking-clock, high stakes thriller. The non-stop action in the air, and on the ground, was intense and heart-pounding. And if you are willing to suspend your disbelief this will likely work for you. Unfortunately , I struggled to do this, and I found it all somewhat cheesy and corny.
The characters were fairly stereotypical, but admittedly I enjoyed the POV’s, particularly the flight attendants – they were the definite highlight. Also, don’t be put off by the violent, grisly opening dream sequence – the remainder of the novel was decidedly non-violence. Having finished, I have no idea why the ‘prologue’ was included? A premonition of what was to come maybe? A way to introduce Bill’s fears and vulnerabilities? Either way, it didn’t really work for me. And what was up with those weird italicised flashbacks that keep popping up in the middle of dramatic scenes? Very jarring.
An average read, an easy read, a quick read, but it was all a bit underwhelming. I’m definitely the outlier though, so make sure to check both the positive and negative reviews before deciding.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Australia, and T.J. Newman for the e-ARC....more
A very dramatic and unexpected conclusion. The final few chapters felt a bit rushed, but I have faith that once I've read 'Home' (which I plan to readA very dramatic and unexpected conclusion. The final few chapters felt a bit rushed, but I have faith that once I've read 'Home' (which I plan to read next) I will receive the answers I need. Reading 'Win' did fill in some of the blanks, and I'm picking the last current book in the Myron Bolitar series will fill in the rest....more
If you’re on the hunt for an adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced, action-packed thriller, with an original premise then Find You First definitely ticked alIf you’re on the hunt for an adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced, action-packed thriller, with an original premise then Find You First definitely ticked all those boxes for me.
Imagine a society where the victim of a crime (or their family) is expected to accommodate the convicted person responsible in a prison cell in their Imagine a society where the victim of a crime (or their family) is expected to accommodate the convicted person responsible in a prison cell in their own home?
In the near future UK prisons are a thing of the past. In their place, a focus on restorative justice and an emphasis on rehabilitation instead of mass incarceration for those who break the law.
Jem murdered Hannah's husband.
Now he's locked in a cage situated in Hannah's kitchen.
His sentence is twenty years.
Hannah is responsible for all his needs for the next two decades.
Then she uncovers several red flags regarding her husband's past.
And the more she gets to know Jem the less convinced she is that he is a killer.
But if Jem didn't murder her husband, then who did?
And how much danger is Hannah placing herself to get to the truth.
Holy cow! This unique, expertly-crafted futuristic thriller sure knocked me for six. The terrifying reality these characters inhabited makes me grateful for our current prison system. Okay so it may be lacking in some respects but this is not in any way an acceptable or healthy alternative. I was utterly impressed and shell-shocked by how everything came together in the end. The last 20% was nail-biting non-stop action suspense.
The Captive is mainly crime, mystery, and domestic noir, but sci-fi as well since the technology used doesn't currently exist in mainstream society. I’m also classing it as dystopian, which may seem a bit odd since life in general pretty much mirrored ours, however the justice system did not, and as a result it was definitely a country governed by a rigid set of rules, not to mention control, fear, loss of freedoms, and powerlessness that affected the majority of the population. And there was even time for romance, but there's nothing I can share about that subplot without spoiling it.
I love that the author took her time explaining the rules of the home prison system rather than bombarding me with an overload of information, yet it was always abundantly clear how the scheme worked. She even included personal accounts of situations where the current system had failed prisoners and victims, horror stories of all the ways things had gone disturbingly wrong, which made the whole thing even more scarily real.
Hannah and Jem were the main narrators, and Jem's chapters also included flashbacks to his childhood. I bonded with both characters and felt for their plight. The writing was straightforward, immediately drew me in, held my attention, and kept me invested emotionally.
Last year I added Deborah O’Connor's, The Dangerous Kind to my tbr, but never got around to reading it. After this phenomenal read I'll definitely be bumping it up my list.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Bonnier Books/Zaffre and Deborah O'Connor for the e-ARC.
Cross Survivor with One of Us is Lying, throw in some Lord of the Flies, and you have The Island.
Jessie, Danny, Honor, Milo, Meg, and Jeffers have beCross Survivor with One of Us is Lying, throw in some Lord of the Flies, and you have The Island.
Jessie, Danny, Honor, Milo, Meg, and Jeffers have been friends since birth. Their parents met in antenatal class and the families have vacationed together every year since. Now that the teens are seventeen, Jeffers father has arranged a special treat for them – nine days on an uninhabited tropical island off the coast of Thailand learning bush craft survival skills – just the six of them and an expert guide.
Sitting around the campfire their first night they decide to share their phobias.
The next morning their guide drops dead of a stroke.
Then they discover the starter chord of their speed boat has been sabotaged.
And when Milo falls into a booby-trapped hole, and is almost bitten by a deadly snake (his phobia is snakes) the group realise they are not alone on the island, and that someone is using their worst fears to scare them to death.
The Island was an intense, fast-paced read full of excitement and danger. The characters were given thorough backstories and childhood memories, distinct personalities, and the group dynamics were clearly defined. Secrets, grief, loyalty, friendship, paranoia, resentment, mental illness and obsession were the prominent themes. The conclusion, and explanation, were very different to what I was expecting, but I was completely on board with the direction the plot went in.
As an adult reader the juvenile behaviour of the six did at times get on my nerves. One of the teens tried to swim to shore even though it was an hour-long boat trip? And instead of focusing on getting off the island the teens decided to get drunk despite being low on food rations, and even when their lives were threatened tended to focus on their love life, squabbling, and blaming each other. I'm not saying this isn't how teens would act in this situation, in fact they likely would, but teenagers gone awry grew somewhat tedious.
C.L. Taylor excelled at writing teen viewpoints, which I'm not surprised by as her adult novels often feature young people. The Island had me emotionally invested in the lives and wellbeing of these six seventeen-year-olds. I'm looking forward to reading her previous YA installment – The Treatment.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, HQ, and C.L. Taylor for the e-ARC.
Fans of everything from slasher films such as Wolf Creek, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Wrong Turn through to Criminal Minds, sit up and take noticFans of everything from slasher films such as Wolf Creek, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Wrong Turn through to Criminal Minds, sit up and take notice.
Now – Frank owns and runs The Roadhouse – a combination gas station, diner, and convenience store in a remote area of Victoria. There's nothing else for miles, and that's the way he likes it.
Then – Melbournite, Simon is on a road trip, and he's determined to see and experience the ‘real' Australian outback.
Both are about to encounter the same young woman in different scenarios.
They'll quickly wish they hadn't.
Because, their lives (along with a handful of others) are about to turn into the stuff of nightmares. And it's going to be a bloodbath.
When I think of the Australian Outback I envision the adventure of a lifetime, a dream scenic vacation in a beautiful, vast, unspoiled wilderness, but The Hunted painted a very different savage, uncivilised picture, and showed just how quickly things can turn threatening and deadly in such isolated surroundings. Horrific and terrifying, with twists and turns galore, my heart was pounding for the entire 288 ‘non-stop action-packed thrill-ride’ pages.
Right from the get go my hackles were raised, my anxiety high, as character's gut-instincts warned them something was very wrong but they ignored their unease, didn't want to believe they were in danger. For others, it was an unfortunate case of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The characterisations were fantastic. The good guys ranged from brave to cowardly, relying on their wits and resourcefulness to outsmart and survive. The psychopathic baddies were truly evil and their dialogue, mannerisms and behaviour were spot-on. They showed no mercy, lived by a cultish mentality, perpetrated their own sick moral code, and even when they were pretending to be friendly and kind, they oozed revulsion and creepiness. I loved Frank and his evolving relationship with his Granddaughter, Allie (who was visiting him for a few weeks). A third character was very memorable too, but I can't spoil who it was.
As you've probably figured, there were some graphic kill scenes, high body count, and as you would expect, not everyone made it, so not for the faint-hearted. But the humour the author injected into the writing toned down the grimness, and it helped that the goriest deaths were reserved for the bad people.
While reading I kept thinking that The Hunted would make an amazing movie. Well, guess what, it is being made into a film – yippee! Gabriel Bergmoser, you hit the mark with this adrenaline-pumping, incredible read. It sure did scare me!...more
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