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fernweh85's review against another edition
2.0
This is the second of Hannah's books that I've read, the first being a few years ago but I remember enjoying it. Unfortunately I found this to be a huge waste of reading hours... The book drew me in at first and was really an intriguing concept, but I've never read such a padded out book in my life!!
Connie was extremely irritating and I had absolutely no sympathy for her, and I had no interest whatsoever in reading about the strange Zailer/Waterhouse dynamic. When we finally find out what on earth went on, we have to sit though pages and pages of Connie working it out, pages and pages of the police working it out, then yet more pages of explanation from the guilty party. I admit I skipped at the end, was dissatisfied with the ending and haven't rolled my eyes so much since the last time I read Jodi Picoult. I won't be reading Hannah again, I'm afraid.
Connie was extremely irritating and I had absolutely no sympathy for her, and I had no interest whatsoever in reading about the strange Zailer/Waterhouse dynamic. When we finally find out what on earth went on, we have to sit though pages and pages of Connie working it out, pages and pages of the police working it out, then yet more pages of explanation from the guilty party. I admit I skipped at the end, was dissatisfied with the ending and haven't rolled my eyes so much since the last time I read Jodi Picoult. I won't be reading Hannah again, I'm afraid.
embo970's review against another edition
2.0
Intriguing, but confusing. Totally unlikable characters.
scknitter's review against another edition
5.0
I am a huge fan of Sophie Hannah and her latest didn’t disappoint. She is definitely the queen of domestic suspense and psychological angst. When you throw together dysfunctional families, strong manipulative spouses and fragile egos you are bound to end up with someone in need of psychological help, but that doesn’t mean that just because you are paranoid something strange isn’t really happening. I also love the eccentric team from Spilling CID but this time I thought their story was superfluous to the main story and I skimmed a lot to get to the main characters and what was happening with them.
addy1991's review against another edition
4.0
Poor Connie. What she saw was certainly startling and quite unbelievable... made even more so by the fact that when she went to show her husband moments later, what she saw was no longer visible on the computer monitor. I'm sure I would have felt like she did initially, but I'm not sure that I would have gone as far as she did to get someone to listen to her story. It really gets you thinking about houses that go up for sale ~ why are the owners selling (moving, outgrowing the space, something more sinister) and what happens when dream homes can't become reality for a number of reasons (financial, location, etc.). Do they stay a pleasant dream in one's mind or do they become the stuff of nightmares? How do we try to reconcile ourselves with not being able to purchase our dream home? Do we try to find a new dream? Interesting thoughts brought about by reading and thoroughly enjoying this book.
woodheak's review against another edition
5.0
Sophie Hannah never disappoints!!!
This book follows the life of Connie Bowskill who finds an address programmed into her husband's SatNav as "Home" but it is not his home with her.
This psychological thriller is fast paced and full of characters that have plenty of depth and sub-plots.
If I ever see a Sophie Hannah novel, I have to read it!
This book follows the life of Connie Bowskill who finds an address programmed into her husband's SatNav as "Home" but it is not his home with her.
This psychological thriller is fast paced and full of characters that have plenty of depth and sub-plots.
If I ever see a Sophie Hannah novel, I have to read it!
harriettuite's review against another edition
3.0
Overly complicated storyline that dragged in the middle, but overall kept me reading to find out what happened at the end.
bgg616's review against another edition
3.0
I am giving this 3 stars as it was not easy to get through. It was confusing for most of the book, especially with the various house addresses which were important. At the same time, it was hard to put down.
mechapman80's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it. I generally love all of Sophie Hannah's books, they are just my sort of thriller. Even though a lot of the time things are a bit far-fetched, I'm still super drawn in and get hooked pretty quickly. I especially love that when things start to fall together, I don't always guess it right away. Sometimes, but not with this one. Not until the very last page. I want to give it 5 stars because I enjoyed it so much so I'm not sure why I hesitated and gave it 4...
rad_reads_123's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book in a charity shop with 'To Stefania, with best wishes', and felt bad that a book should ever be donated when somebody has gone to the trouble of writing a message in it for someone special. Reading the blurb, I was interested: 'Ok, how are they going to go about this virtual tour mishap?' Having made my way through the 440 pages of 'Lasting Damage', I now have a slightly better understanding as to why Stefania gave the book away.
This book was repetitive and disappointing. From the very beginning, it's quite clear that this book is going to be about Cambridge. Cambridge, Cambridge. Page after page is populated by Cambridge. It seems not only the characters of the book are obsessed with Cambridge, but rather the author as well. Is she trying to bring something sinister and slightly unnerving to the classic cobbled streets of the university city?
Throughout the book, chapters are accompanied by pieces about the Gilpatricks. While it is obvious to the reader that the family must be significant, these reminders are tedious; it is only on the final page that any real revelation is made, and by then, it is arguably too late.
There seems to be an attempt at a sub-plot; the drama of Charlie and her sister develops to a certain extent, yet disappears almost completely from view, with no resolution whatsoever. Will it continue in another book? Am I going to have to read another in order to find out what didn't really keep me interested in the first place?
Perhaps I am being too harsh. Apparently this is the sixth psychological novel to feature the character of Simon Waterhouse. I don't know whether this is a good thing or not. Is Hannah's storyline weaker than her previous instalments, or have the first five been as dull and unrewarding as this one?
It's strange: I was intrigued by another of Hannah's blurbs, I might read it if it were at hand. The blurb for 'Lasting Damage' held hope whereas the storyline only brought disappointment. Would I only be saying the same reviewing another of Hannah's novels?
Apologies: this is my first book review, it may not be up to scratch. Then again...neither was the book being reviewed.
This book was repetitive and disappointing. From the very beginning, it's quite clear that this book is going to be about Cambridge. Cambridge, Cambridge. Page after page is populated by Cambridge. It seems not only the characters of the book are obsessed with Cambridge, but rather the author as well. Is she trying to bring something sinister and slightly unnerving to the classic cobbled streets of the university city?
Throughout the book, chapters are accompanied by pieces about the Gilpatricks. While it is obvious to the reader that the family must be significant, these reminders are tedious; it is only on the final page that any real revelation is made, and by then, it is arguably too late.
There seems to be an attempt at a sub-plot; the drama of Charlie and her sister develops to a certain extent, yet disappears almost completely from view, with no resolution whatsoever. Will it continue in another book? Am I going to have to read another in order to find out what didn't really keep me interested in the first place?
Perhaps I am being too harsh. Apparently this is the sixth psychological novel to feature the character of Simon Waterhouse. I don't know whether this is a good thing or not. Is Hannah's storyline weaker than her previous instalments, or have the first five been as dull and unrewarding as this one?
It's strange: I was intrigued by another of Hannah's blurbs, I might read it if it were at hand. The blurb for 'Lasting Damage' held hope whereas the storyline only brought disappointment. Would I only be saying the same reviewing another of Hannah's novels?
Apologies: this is my first book review, it may not be up to scratch. Then again...neither was the book being reviewed.