Reviews

The Taking of Annie Thorne by C.J. Tudor

kirsty26's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ziiemvee's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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nai98's review against another edition

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2.0

É o segundo livro de C. J. Tudor que eu me permito ler e me arrependo, uma encheção de linguiça que me deu preguiça. No fim, só Deus sabe o que aconteceu com Annie, queria explicações mas ganhei um final aberto e traumas. Avaliação de 1.5 ainda é elogio.

anzelotte's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

finny_noopie's review against another edition

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4.0

The more I think about all the quotes in this book, the more I'm loving the story and the book. ♡

batsinthecastle's review against another edition

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4.0

I didn't like this one quite as much as The Chalk Man, but I'm still thinking about it a few days later. Fantastic audiobook.

bonniel116's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

frinsreads's review against another edition

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4.0

*3.5 stars rounded up*

After reading and loving The Chalk Man earlier this year I was excited to read The Taking of Annie Thorne. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much (hence the 3.5 stars rather than 4) but it was still a solid mystery thriller

This book follows Joe, a forty year old man who has decided to return to the small Nottinghamshire town where he grew up. We soon learn there are many mysteries surrounding the town, and Joe himself, which are slowly revealed and pieced together throughout the book. The biggest mystery being the disappearance of his little sister. Where did she disappear to for 48 hours? And why is she not acting like the same little girl as before?

As with The Chalk Man this book is well written. Details are released to us slowly, at the perfect moment to keep the story moving forwards. Joe, our protagonist, is the perfect combination of unlikable, unreliable, but still an intriguing and compelling narrator

This book reminded me quite heavily of The Chalk Man and The Whisper Man by Alex North. All three have similar small town, English settings with male protagonists and the POVs of young boys. I think if you liked either of those two you'll definitely like this one

*This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

adele420's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

vineela0705's review against another edition

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2.0

Set in a sleepy village with mines with terrible secrets, The Taking of Annie Thorne follows Joe Thorne, a jaded, deadbeat man with a hidden past who returns to his hometown in search of secrets. Sounds familiar. Is it [b:It|830502|It|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1334416842l/830502._SY75_.jpg|150259], or some other Stephen King novel? Or [b:The Grownup|26025580|The Grownup|Gillian Flynn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441679582l/26025580._SY75_.jpg|45948939]? Could be any book in the market. Plot following an unsuccessful protagonist with a repressed past returning to dark, dull hometown are a dime to the dozen. Even the author's debut work, [b:The Chalk Man|35356382|The Chalk Man|C.J. Tudor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568852018l/35356382._SY75_.jpg|52592002] follows mostly the same storyline.


The story takes its sweet time in deciding to be a horror story. A bad one, at that. Creeping cold and crittering noises alone do not make a horror story. A pity, considering the gory prologue that first reeled me into reading the book. The mystery was tepid at best. It was fairly obvious that the mine/pit had something to do with all the tragedies.


The author seems to be inspired by Stephen King's work. Bullying teenagers, mysterious towns with a bad history, nothing original. I could have just read Stephen KIng's novels instead. At least they're much more creepy and dark.