1. Walter Scott's quote "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!" was my first thought. Kee5 Reasons to pick up Keep Quiet
1. Walter Scott's quote "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!" was my first thought. Keep Quiet is a hot mess of LIES and angst and implausible extreme lengths but I was hooked, cringing but hooked.
2. If you want an unexpected character to loathe, Jake's wife Pam is the most hypocritical, sanctimonious, judgmental bitch I've come across in a while.
3. Ron Livingston 'fit' Jake well. I think the audio lightened up writing flaws and repetitive angst. My first Lisa Scottoline and my first Ron Livingston narration ... I'd go there again.
4. Moral dilemma ... hmm, well at the risk of sounding sanctimonious, I don't think there's much to debate. This was not 'protection' ...
5. It's twisty and fast-paced and despite the flaws you go along for the ride ... it's the trainwreck you can't look away from. ...more
It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain's writing and I jumped at the opportunity to read The Silent Sister. And in part it didn't disappoiIt's no secret I'm a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain's writing and I jumped at the opportunity to read The Silent Sister. And in part it didn't disappoint; The Silent Sister was a compelling, twisty read, a difficult one to put down, but the ending was just too 'pat' for me taking the shine off an otherwise gripping read.
It's a story about the destructive nature of secrets; a dysfunctional family, a life built on secrets and lies ... the damage caused and scars left. When Riley cleans out her father's home following his death, tidying up her father's estate becomes a search for truth.
You know from reading the synopsis Riley's sister Lisa is alive. Clues are drip-fed to the reader, but in such a way you're impatient and twitchy for the next, then a few unlikable characters muddy the plot further.
However once the pieces of the jigsaw fit together and you see the final picture, well there's nothing wrong with that picture but the ending ... it just felt 'meh'. Not predictable ... more like; really. is that it? but what about? ... ...more
I fell in love with the beautiful cover of The Mourning Hours before even reading the synopsis. I'm an avid suspense/thriller reader albeit 4.5 stars
I fell in love with the beautiful cover of The Mourning Hours before even reading the synopsis. I'm an avid suspense/thriller reader albeit a little jaded, I don't like to be dished up obvious red herrings, and I don't like to have it all worked out early on, to find out I'm actually right, it spoils all the fun. This wasn't the case for me with The Mourning Hours ... I really didn't see it coming and I loved that.
Debut author Paula Treick DeBoard gets it right with so much ... the small town feel, the rural landscape, dual time frame and a family torn apart by suspicion. It's a highly evocative read as much for the first person narration of keenly observant 9 year old Kirsten as the growing tension and turmoil following the disappearance of Johnny's girlfriend Stacy.
Another favourite point is the pace, slow simmer and compulsive reading, what a wonderful combination. I thoroughly recommend The Mourning Hours if you're partial to a compelling mystery and equally so, if you're enthralled by the study of relationships and the complexities of human nature.
Hysteria is a pacey read, part psychological thriller, part mystery, part mess ... what I enjoyed was the sinister undercurrent and eerie almost gothiHysteria is a pacey read, part psychological thriller, part mystery, part mess ... what I enjoyed was the sinister undercurrent and eerie almost gothic feel. What didn't really work for me was the lack of cohesion between the two mystery story lines.
Mallory is an unreliable narrator, the trauma of killing her boyfriend and subsequent gaps in her memory contribute to the reader’s uncertainty – questioning sanity, truth or lie, hysteria or reality - I do like feeling off balance.
One of my favourite things in Hysteria was Mallory and Colleen's friendship, their loyalty was tested and their friendship stayed strong, a refreshing quality in contemporary YA. Not so enjoyable were the school stereotypes ... definite *yawn*
All up I liked Hysteria, but for me the things lacking prevented it being a great read. On the plus side, the creepy factor kept me turning the pages. ...more
The Shadowy Horses was my first Susanna Kearsley even though I have The Winter Sea, Marianna and The Rose Garden sitting on my bookshelves *s4.5 stars
The Shadowy Horses was my first Susanna Kearsley even though I have The Winter Sea, Marianna and The Rose Garden sitting on my bookshelves *shamed face* lol
The Shadowy Horses is a beautiful blend of mystery, history and romance, throw in a ghost, and a boy with second sight and it's a match made in heaven.
I don't think I need to say much more, I recommend this one without hesitation and here's just a few reasons why I loved it -
- set in Eyemouth, Scotland ... the Scottish borders area of Scotland; wild, rugged beauty
- who can resist the Scots brogue *swoon* ... not me
- or a Scotsman for that matter ;)
- the Scots terminology, slang, colloquialisms, the dry humour
- just enough archeological detail
- loved the Scottish history - the Herring Queen Festival, The Great Disaster of 1881 and the tapestry made by Eyemouth women to record in stitches the names of the 189 lost fishermen on Black Friday.
Susanna Kearsley's writing reminds me a little of one of my all time favourite authors Barbara Erskine, that beautiful, lyrical, haunting style I love. If her other books are anything similar then I know this author will fast become a favourite. My biggest dilemma ... which book next??...more
I was enthralled with Heather Gudenkauf's debut novel, The Weight Of Silence so jumped at the chance to review the author's newest book, These Things I was enthralled with Heather Gudenkauf's debut novel, The Weight Of Silence so jumped at the chance to review the author's newest book, These Things Hidden. It surpassed my expectations, dragged me kicking and screaming through a gamut of emotions and had me gasping til the last page.
These Things Hidden is one of those rare books that has you holding your breath in shock and horror, weeping in despair and sighing with hope and relief. Ms Gudenkauf portrays the complexities of the human spirit with sensitivity and a mesmerising clarity ... frailties on one hand and selflessness and goodness on the other.
The lives of four women are intricately woven to create an intense, brilliantly crafted story. I read with my heart in my mouth, so completely immersed in the story and invested in these women's lives that I had to know the outcome.
I can't say too much without giving away spoilers but suffice to say the characters tug at your heartstrings. I liked Allison, her strength and goodness shone through despite her tragic past. I really admired Claire and Charm too, their love, compassion and honesty were portrayed with emotion and realism. I loathed Mr and Mrs Glenn for their shallow expectations and emotional barrenness and can see how their coldness shaped the lives and decisions of Allison and Brynn.
A favourite read for 2011, I urge you to run out and buy These Things Hidden; it's that good!
Life After 187 grabbed me from the first page, which is just as well because it is a very quick read. It's obvious that Halverson writes what he knowsLife After 187 grabbed me from the first page, which is just as well because it is a very quick read. It's obvious that Halverson writes what he knows, and does it well. Intense and authentic, the author's simple but direct style of writing plays almost like a movie. I thought the fight scenes were great and I would have liked to see more (which surprised me.) However this isn't just an action-packed adrenaline ride, there are moments of quiet, where the bond of friendship and honour between Kane, Si and Val are at the forefront of this novel bringing about the light and shade, essential to a good story!
Kane, along with Chinese monk Si'Ling and Valentino, a bad-ass Mexican are all serving consecutive life sentences for murder. I felt a huge amount of sympathy for Kane early in the story but must admit I was surprised to be rooting for the 'bad' guys from the beginning; testament to the great job Halverson does portraying these characters. Violence, pain and despair are combined with friendship, loyalty, respect, honour and a strong moral code, traits which make these atypical heroes so easy to like.
An entertaining read with strong characters more than making up for any implausible plot scenes. Thoroughly recommended for fans of no-holds-barred action. ...more
Depressingly good! That's the first words that spring to mind when reflecting on The Weight of Silence. Not a feel good story by any stretch 4.5 stars
Depressingly good! That's the first words that spring to mind when reflecting on The Weight of Silence. Not a feel good story by any stretch of imagination but a sensitive often painful exploration of family, alcoholism, abuse, secrets, and friendship.
I'm glad I listened to this one on audio, it gave the multiple narrations clarity and depth. The only narration I didn't care for was the voice of Petra's father, Martin; but that's probably a matter of personal taste. The story isn't overly graphic but obviously any novel dealing with the tragedy of emotional and physical abuse is difficult to read and particularly sad to listen to.
Calli, Ben & Petra are characters that tug at your heartstrings, Calli and Ben for what they have been through with an abusive, alcoholic father and Petra for providing Calli with a voice and loving her best friend unconditionally. The reader is educated about the heartbreaking circumstances behind Calli's selective mutism but her silence also adds another element of suspense to this mystery.
The Weight Of Silence is definitely a story that stays with you and I'm looking forward to reading Heather Gudenkauf's new novel, These Things Hidden. ...more
Kiss Me, Kill Me is the first book in Lauren Henderson's Scarlett Wakefield series although I didn't realise this when I borrowed it from the3.5 stars
Kiss Me, Kill Me is the first book in Lauren Henderson's Scarlett Wakefield series although I didn't realise this when I borrowed it from the library. (I picked it up based solely on the cover lol.) It's an interesting mix, kind of Mean Girls meets Nancy Drew with emphasis on the power of cliques and the desire to belong or fit in & concern over body image. While the story at first seemed a little implausible, Ms Henderson's inspiration for Kiss Me, Kill Me came from an article in the Canadian press about a boy who dropped dead after kissing his girlfriend.
I enjoyed the snooty British private school setting and the characters, even though I didn't really connect with any of them. Scarlett Wakefield and her best friends Luce & Alison are not part of the popular in-crowd at St Tabitha's, they stick to competitive gymnastics rather than competing for a position in Plum Saybourne's posse. Well that is until Plum, head princess and mega biiitch, invites Scarlett to a party at Nadia Farouk's penthouse apartment. The lure of acceptance and the thought of spending time with heart throb Dan McAndrew proves too much for Scarlett, leading to this very interesting excerpt:
I don't believe any of this is happening. It can't be me who's bending to the bench to pick up my bag; who's managing to avoid making eye contact with Luce and Alison, because I know the fury and betrayal I'll see if I catch their eyes. It can't be me who's turning to Nadia, throwing a casual "See you tomorrow" over my shoulder at the girls, ignoring their deafening silence. It can't be me crossing the road, walking side by side with Nadia Farouk, Plum's number-one sidekick, heading for the fountain.
But it is me betraying my friends, selling them out, leaving them behind the second something more glossy and shiny beckons. Ninety-nine percent of me is fizzing with excitement when I allow myself to think that the golden doors are really opening to me, that I can at last be part of the world I've always wanted to join.
But the last one percent is saying: Someone who would do this deserves everything she gets.
No prizes for guessing which part of me was right.
This is a good, fast read and the flash-back style narration by Scarlett is unusual and quite well done in my opinion. I'm looking forward to reading more about misfit Taylor and hunky gardener Jase Barnes, Scarlett's new allies at Wakefield Hall & of course I'm hoping that some of the major loose ends are tied up in the next book. While Kiss Me, Kill Me didn't blow me away, it was certainly enjoyable enough to pick up Kiss and Tell which was released January 2009 and Kiss in the Dark coming out January 2010. ...more
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