This is a book full of unpleasant characters doing unpleasant things to each other. There was so much I didn't like about this book, but I was invested enough to want to know what happened to Nicole and who had killed her. (Mind you, by the end, I wish I hadn't bothered). It tried to deal with some major issues (female/female bullying, male/female bullying rape, stalking, violence against women) but it failed to deal with any of them significantly.
***SPOILERS AHEAD*****DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS REVIEW UNLESS YOU HAVE EITHER READ THE BOOK OR JUST WANT A SHORT CUT TO WHAT HAPPENED****
What I liked about this book:
1. Once you got used to the writing style (which did take some getting used to, see below) then this had the potential to be a very good thriller. The plot was complicated enough to draw you in and, for the majority of the book, I wanted to know who had killed Nicole, how and why.
2. The character of Isla. She overcame her difficulties and had the strength to find her own future. She was well-written and empathetic. I especially enjoyed her side of the story (hence the 2 stars rather than 1). Isla really redeemed this book for me.
What I didn't like about this book:
1. The writing style (until I got used to it). The constant time-jumping to before and after the murder meant that it took me a while to follow the plot. However, once I got used to it, then it wasn't so bad.
2. All the female characters, bar one (Isla) are so annoying (Freya), nasty (Nicole, Freya), weak (Ruth, Nicole) etc etc. They are mainly caricatures of the bad side of women. Yes, I understand some of them went through bad times, but it doesn't really justify their behaviour.
3. The male characters are also pretty awful. They are either sexual predators (Jay and Julian) or largely irrelevant. Apart from Simon, who was lovely (and I'm glad he and Isla got together at the end).
4. The ending, which totally ruined the whole book. I mean, I was happy enough with Kate being the killer (that made some sort of sense) but, the final chapter, when it was revealed that Nicole was killed by none other than Freya herself and was allowing Kate to take the blame because Kate's family were rich and could afford good lawyers was utterly preposterous (not to say, extremely unbelievable and annoying). I just couldn't buy into it.
So, all-in-all, this wasn't a good read for me. Sorry, but it's not one I can recommend. (less)
***SPOILERS AHEAD*****DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS REVIEW UNLESS YOU HAVE EITHER READ THE BOOK OR JUST WANT A SHORT CUT TO WHAT HAPPENED****
What I liked about this book:
1. Once you got used to the writing style (which did take some getting used to, see below) then this had the potential to be a very good thriller. The plot was complicated enough to draw you in and, for the majority of the book, I wanted to know who had killed Nicole, how and why.
2. The character of Isla. She overcame her difficulties and had the strength to find her own future. She was well-written and empathetic. I especially enjoyed her side of the story (hence the 2 stars rather than 1). Isla really redeemed this book for me.
What I didn't like about this book:
1. The writing style (until I got used to it). The constant time-jumping to before and after the murder meant that it took me a while to follow the plot. However, once I got used to it, then it wasn't so bad.
2. All the female characters, bar one (Isla) are so annoying (Freya), nasty (Nicole, Freya), weak (Ruth, Nicole) etc etc. They are mainly caricatures of the bad side of women. Yes, I understand some of them went through bad times, but it doesn't really justify their behaviour.
3. The male characters are also pretty awful. They are either sexual predators (Jay and Julian) or largely irrelevant. Apart from Simon, who was lovely (and I'm glad he and Isla got together at the end).
4. The ending, which totally ruined the whole book. I mean, I was happy enough with Kate being the killer (that made some sort of sense) but, the final chapter, when it was revealed that Nicole was killed by none other than Freya herself and was allowing Kate to take the blame because Kate's family were rich and could afford good lawyers was utterly preposterous (not to say, extremely unbelievable and annoying). I just couldn't buy into it.
So, all-in-all, this wasn't a good read for me. Sorry, but it's not one I can recommend. (less)