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gracingyouwithbooks's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
tracyjw66's review against another edition
3.0
Another romp through Mo Hayder's twisted mind. My goodness, this woman is messed up, and I love her for that. The story starts on one disturbing track, and ends up on an entirely different one. I did, however, see the turn coming and although I knew what was happening, I still enjoyed the ride to the end.
I'm not going to say much because Robert might read the book. :-)
I'm not going to say much because Robert might read the book. :-)
neilwill's review against another edition
3.0
Probably would have given it 3.5 if I could, was an enjoyable read, got a little gruesome in parts.
michellemellonwerch's review against another edition
3.0
This is a thriller set in in England. I read it a few months ago, but it is about a cult, or rather the cults leader, that obsesses the main character. He becomes a journalist who specializes in debunking cults and myths, especially religious ones. The cult's leader is a healer and typically fundamentalist. I found most of the characters lacking. Even the wife of the main character, a pathetic shrill looney was not too interesting. I found most of the story strange and disconnected until the daughter of the cult leader appears. I don't want to give any more away, so I can't say much, but the ending left me shocked. It wasn't the writing that compelled me, but the twist at the end that left my mental mouth hanging open for days. I wouldn't have picked this book up if a bookobsessed.com friend hadn't recommended it, and it's definitely not my favorite as it was hers, but if you like this type of sick thriller, you would probably like this one.
canadianbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
This was the first book I have read by this author and she is a very good writer.
Here the journalist Joe Oakes has made his career by exposing supernatural hoaxes all over the world. This interest of his began as a young man when a loved aunt was convinced by a charlatan to forego traditional medical treatment for her cancer and use his meditative methods instead. She died in agony. Joe and his cousin Finn set out to find the man and expose him, and though Finn lost interest, Joe finally wrote about him. The man, Malachi Dove swore that Joe would be sorry and that when he died it would be after running rings around Joe. It is now twenty years later and Joe has been given the opportunity to visit the island where Dove and his followers have holed up. There have been strange sightings of what looks like a cross between a man and a beast on the island and Joe is determined to get to the bottom of it. Joe's wife is trying to both hold onto him and get closer to a doctor she is enamoured of. As they move closer to the truth, Joe is no longer sure of anything.
This book was scary not from the gore, although there was lots of that, but from the manipulation and psychological goings on.
Here the journalist Joe Oakes has made his career by exposing supernatural hoaxes all over the world. This interest of his began as a young man when a loved aunt was convinced by a charlatan to forego traditional medical treatment for her cancer and use his meditative methods instead. She died in agony. Joe and his cousin Finn set out to find the man and expose him, and though Finn lost interest, Joe finally wrote about him. The man, Malachi Dove swore that Joe would be sorry and that when he died it would be after running rings around Joe. It is now twenty years later and Joe has been given the opportunity to visit the island where Dove and his followers have holed up. There have been strange sightings of what looks like a cross between a man and a beast on the island and Joe is determined to get to the bottom of it. Joe's wife is trying to both hold onto him and get closer to a doctor she is enamoured of. As they move closer to the truth, Joe is no longer sure of anything.
This book was scary not from the gore, although there was lots of that, but from the manipulation and psychological goings on.
sarah42783's review against another edition
1.0
This book just didn't do it for me. I didn't find it particularly thrilling or scary and didn't like the author's style & the way the story was told. I didn't feel any empathy for any of the characters and it the end just couldn't finish the book. I found it pretty boring and didn't care much how it ended. It's the first Mo Hayder book I read and from what I hear she's supposed to be a very successful author so I guess her other novels are much better than this one.