Gripping and intriguing – an introduction worthy of note
I must admit that I was originally drawn in by both the cover and the write up. The cover takes some looking at to see what is going on, creating an atmosphere of secrecy which is continued through the write-up. The fact that every time you look at the cover it reveals a new element (the two women in the bottom right, the shadow of the person on the diving board etc) automatically makes me want to read this book as it promises questions that need to be answered.
The synopsis backs up the feelings created by the cover, hinting at a story with multiple twists and turns that has the potential to shock.
The first look provides a well written and thought out introduction to the characters and their relationships to each other. The writing style is clear and concise, reminding me of authors such as Laura Marshall and Jane Harper. We are given the bare bones (pun intended) of the story that is about to unfold, but it is an interesting read with enough to hold my interest as we are introduced to the main players. However, there is a lot of telling rather than showing in the introduction and I would be interested to see if this is continued throughout the novel, as I prefer stories that work with flashbacks written into the narrative rather than presented as dialogue. Otherwise, a great introduction that promises an interesting read.
The synopsis backs up the feelings created by the cover, hinting at a story with multiple twists and turns that has the potential to shock.
The first look provides a well written and thought out introduction to the characters and their relationships to each other. The writing style is clear and concise, reminding me of authors such as Laura Marshall and Jane Harper. We are given the bare bones (pun intended) of the story that is about to unfold, but it is an interesting read with enough to hold my interest as we are introduced to the main players. However, there is a lot of telling rather than showing in the introduction and I would be interested to see if this is continued throughout the novel, as I prefer stories that work with flashbacks written into the narrative rather than presented as dialogue. Otherwise, a great introduction that promises an interesting read.