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kitty_kat21's review
2.0
I did not enjoy this thriller. I guessed the whole plot extremely early on, and I found the institutionalised homophobia in the modern day police completely unbelievable. It was just so boring and not my cup of tea. Forgettable.
always_need_more_books's review
4.0
Poor Rose suffers from dreadful insomnia which started after the birth of her twin girls, Violet and Lily 10 years previously. Despite being barely able to stay awake, she takes her girls in a football game and then on the way home looses control of the car when she drops to sleep for a second. The car plunges into a river and she only manages to get Lily out of the car – Violet drowns.
4 years on from the accident, and Rose is still suffering from insomnia and also agonising guilt. Her husband Christian can’t bare to look at her, blaming her for the loss of Violet and Lily can’t stand to be in the same room as her. When One dark evening she collides with a man who quickly vanishes but Rose finds a diary at her feet.
When she opens it in the hope of being able to return it to its owner, she reads the words “My name is Finn Matthews. If you’re reading this then I’m dead.” Rose decides to dedicate her sleepless nights trying to discover what happened to Finn, especially as the police don’t seem to think their is anything to investigate, despite there being a spate of other disappearances.
Goodness, this is the fastest I’ve read a book for a while. I’ve been aware of Jack Jordan after winning his previous book Before Her Eyes in a giveaway and I know a lot of readers rate his books highly. I thought the insomnia descriptions were done really well and I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to live like that. And the scene where she crashed her car and lost Violet was just heart-breaking.
On the back of this tragedy, we have a great thriller in which Rose believes Finn to be dead, but on being dismissed by the police takes it upon herself to try and find out what happened, giving her a sense of purpose that she hasn’t had for many years. As well hearing from Rose, the narrative is interspersed with entries from Finn’s diary who we soon discover is being stalked and terrorised by a man he rejected and we quickly see how scary this is and how quickly it destroys Finn’s life.
I was shocked by the homophobia on display in this novel, especially from the police. In my naivety, I thought this sort of behaviour, didn’t happen in this day and age and even messaged the author to ask him about it. He sent me a link to an article you can find here.
I really enjoyed this thriller – the pacing was good and the threads that brought it all together were well placed. I had so much sympathy for Rose and what she had been through and I think that is what set this apart from other thrillers. Sometimes you get given a little backstory to the main protagonist but Rose is set up so well as a character, I ended up feeling really invested in her and ended up feeling much more involved in the book than I would have done normally.
4 years on from the accident, and Rose is still suffering from insomnia and also agonising guilt. Her husband Christian can’t bare to look at her, blaming her for the loss of Violet and Lily can’t stand to be in the same room as her. When One dark evening she collides with a man who quickly vanishes but Rose finds a diary at her feet.
When she opens it in the hope of being able to return it to its owner, she reads the words “My name is Finn Matthews. If you’re reading this then I’m dead.” Rose decides to dedicate her sleepless nights trying to discover what happened to Finn, especially as the police don’t seem to think their is anything to investigate, despite there being a spate of other disappearances.
Goodness, this is the fastest I’ve read a book for a while. I’ve been aware of Jack Jordan after winning his previous book Before Her Eyes in a giveaway and I know a lot of readers rate his books highly. I thought the insomnia descriptions were done really well and I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to live like that. And the scene where she crashed her car and lost Violet was just heart-breaking.
On the back of this tragedy, we have a great thriller in which Rose believes Finn to be dead, but on being dismissed by the police takes it upon herself to try and find out what happened, giving her a sense of purpose that she hasn’t had for many years. As well hearing from Rose, the narrative is interspersed with entries from Finn’s diary who we soon discover is being stalked and terrorised by a man he rejected and we quickly see how scary this is and how quickly it destroys Finn’s life.
I was shocked by the homophobia on display in this novel, especially from the police. In my naivety, I thought this sort of behaviour, didn’t happen in this day and age and even messaged the author to ask him about it. He sent me a link to an article you can find here.
I really enjoyed this thriller – the pacing was good and the threads that brought it all together were well placed. I had so much sympathy for Rose and what she had been through and I think that is what set this apart from other thrillers. Sometimes you get given a little backstory to the main protagonist but Rose is set up so well as a character, I ended up feeling really invested in her and ended up feeling much more involved in the book than I would have done normally.
noveldeelights's review
5.0
Goodness gracious me.
I’m beginning to think there is some sort of competition going on between authors of crime and psychological thrillers on who can make me reach for the tissues the most. These types of books don’t normally make me all emotional but lately it’s been one after the other and I’m not sure I approve. (I kid. Of course I approve!)
Poor Rose Shaw has been struggling with insomnia for years, with devastating consequences. One evening, she collides with a man on the street. In his hurry to get away, the man drops a journal. This journal belonged to a young man called Finn Matthews, who was convinced someone was out to kill him. Rose decides to spend her sleepless nights on trying to discover what happened to Finn.
Cue emotional rollercoaster ride and balled up tissues all over the place. At its base, Night By Night is a psychological thriller but it is SO much more than that! There is an incredible amount of depth to this story and its characters. As a fellow insomniac, I could completely relate to Rose’s brain fog, which goes far beyond wondering where you left your keys. It doesn’t just affect her, but her entire family in the most devastating way.
Both Rose and Finn pulled at my heartstrings and I quickly became invested in both of their lives. I shared Rose’s anxiety and frustration, I shared Finn’s distress and fear, and I was often left to feel immensely sad and extremely angry. There is just so much to get worked up about in this story. Injustice, ignorance, homophobia, abuse of power, … the list is almost endless and sadly all too realistic and believable.
These characters will pull you in from the start. The suspense and tension builds up along the way, quickly making Night By Night so insanely addictive that I struggled to put it down. It’s such a chilling, disturbing, harrowing and haunting story. One of those that just gets under my skin, making these characters and the things they go through utterly unforgettable.
I came to Jack Jordan’s books rather late and this is only the second one I’ve read by him. He’s firmly on my radar now though and he should be on yours too. With such brilliant and vivid writing, such evocative and thrilling storytelling, such absolutely incredible characterisation, he really is a gifted and talented author and his name has now firmly been written down on my list of go-to authors. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next! In the meantime, I highly recommend you go out and grab yourself a copy of Night By Night!
I’m beginning to think there is some sort of competition going on between authors of crime and psychological thrillers on who can make me reach for the tissues the most. These types of books don’t normally make me all emotional but lately it’s been one after the other and I’m not sure I approve. (I kid. Of course I approve!)
Poor Rose Shaw has been struggling with insomnia for years, with devastating consequences. One evening, she collides with a man on the street. In his hurry to get away, the man drops a journal. This journal belonged to a young man called Finn Matthews, who was convinced someone was out to kill him. Rose decides to spend her sleepless nights on trying to discover what happened to Finn.
Cue emotional rollercoaster ride and balled up tissues all over the place. At its base, Night By Night is a psychological thriller but it is SO much more than that! There is an incredible amount of depth to this story and its characters. As a fellow insomniac, I could completely relate to Rose’s brain fog, which goes far beyond wondering where you left your keys. It doesn’t just affect her, but her entire family in the most devastating way.
Both Rose and Finn pulled at my heartstrings and I quickly became invested in both of their lives. I shared Rose’s anxiety and frustration, I shared Finn’s distress and fear, and I was often left to feel immensely sad and extremely angry. There is just so much to get worked up about in this story. Injustice, ignorance, homophobia, abuse of power, … the list is almost endless and sadly all too realistic and believable.
These characters will pull you in from the start. The suspense and tension builds up along the way, quickly making Night By Night so insanely addictive that I struggled to put it down. It’s such a chilling, disturbing, harrowing and haunting story. One of those that just gets under my skin, making these characters and the things they go through utterly unforgettable.
I came to Jack Jordan’s books rather late and this is only the second one I’ve read by him. He’s firmly on my radar now though and he should be on yours too. With such brilliant and vivid writing, such evocative and thrilling storytelling, such absolutely incredible characterisation, he really is a gifted and talented author and his name has now firmly been written down on my list of go-to authors. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next! In the meantime, I highly recommend you go out and grab yourself a copy of Night By Night!
mandylovestoread's review
4.0
"If you are reading this, I'm dead" - what a way to hook you in!! Night by Night by Jack Jordan was a book that I could not wait to read after reading and loving previous books by Jack Jordan. The story tackles some tough but relevant subjects in today's society and is not always easy to read but is written in a way that you just can't put it down.
Rose has been an insomniac for 10 years now, ever since her twin girls Lily and Violet were born. Her nights are long and her days made harder by her lack of sleep. She is irritable and feels like she is letting her kids down. On their way home from sport one wet morning a tragic accident will change the families life forever. Rose was at fault and her remaining daughter resents her and her husband can't even look her in the eyes anymore. She is a broken women. She has faced a lot of hard times in her life and this just adds to it. Then when walking home one night she bumps into a mystery man who drops a journal at her feet and runs off. She can't help but read it and discovers that she may have evidence of a crime on her hands. When she takes it to the police she realises that they are not interested and sets about to find out what has happened, putting her life and that of her family at risk.
Thanks to Jack Jordan and the TBC Reviewers Group on Facebook for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Rose has been an insomniac for 10 years now, ever since her twin girls Lily and Violet were born. Her nights are long and her days made harder by her lack of sleep. She is irritable and feels like she is letting her kids down. On their way home from sport one wet morning a tragic accident will change the families life forever. Rose was at fault and her remaining daughter resents her and her husband can't even look her in the eyes anymore. She is a broken women. She has faced a lot of hard times in her life and this just adds to it. Then when walking home one night she bumps into a mystery man who drops a journal at her feet and runs off. She can't help but read it and discovers that she may have evidence of a crime on her hands. When she takes it to the police she realises that they are not interested and sets about to find out what has happened, putting her life and that of her family at risk.
Thanks to Jack Jordan and the TBC Reviewers Group on Facebook for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
yvo_about_books's review
3.5
Finished reading: February 1st 2021
“But at night, she wasn't a wife or a mother; she was a woman marooned on her own deserted island, waiting for the sun to rise.”
I've been meaning to read Night By Night ever since it came out in 2019, but somehow I never did. In a way I probably should have waited a little while longer as psychological thrillers and me don't seem to get along lately, and I might have enjoyed it even more... But even so, I still ended up having a great time with this one. I've been a fan of his writing ever since I first read one of his books, and Night By Night is no exception. It is one of those stories that draws you straight in, and with plenty of twists and a healthy dose of suspense it will be very easy to keep turning those pages. There are quite a few heavy topics incorporated into the plot, including homophobia, hate crime, death, suicide, grief, insomnia, stalking and mental health issues... Turning this into quite a harrowing read, but the different themes are well incorporated. I can't say I actually liked the main character though, which put a minor damper on things, but the plot itself mostly made up for that. The flashbacks and Finn's journal entries were also a nice touch. All in all a great read that without doubt has a very explosive ending!
liisp_cvr2cvr's review
5.0
True to Jack Jordan style, he knocks it out of the park again with a story that is utterly gripping and, excuse the cliché, unputdownable! Talk about a racy read! I was really grumpy that I had to stop every now and again, and heaven’s forbid, go to work. All you bookworms know what this feels like- utter torture!
True to Jack Jordan style, there was yet again quite a few moving pieces that I couldn’t wait to see fall into place: the insomniac housewife, her own grief and family-life shrouded in suffocating darkness; the local police force that may or may not be quite bloody questionable; the mystery of a journal filled with someone’s most agonizing thoughts that would scare anyone; the motive! Man, always the motive! And what a motive Night by Night delivers!
I really don’t know how all the different threads simply fit so perfectly in this story- Jordan is a magician with words, with storylines, with the ability to captivate! I am seriously fan-girling here, by the way!
And you’ll have to know that Jordan’s books are never a superficial reading experience with the aim to simply make that heart beat faster in your chest with a bit of action and who dunnit. Jordan’s stories always have an important societal element or two to them. This is how these books can become relatable for many, and important, and difficult to read, as is the case with Night by Night. But true to Jack Jordan style – there will be no pussyfooting around a topic. It’s as realistic and as horrible as it has to be… because this is how things are sometimes! Snippets of reality, of someone’s most unbearable days have been put to paper. Reading about Rose’s insomnia made my chest ache! Reading about Finn’s situation, a situation that is way bigger than you can ever imagine, made me anxious and frustrated because- what the fffuuuuu!
And this makes me think that Jordan has become a bit of an advocate through the thriller, through suspense, through his books- to raise awareness! Awareness around mental health, and people being able to hide so much pain and suffering under their straining smile. Or, the fact that when someone is not coping, then it doesn’t give anyone a green light to automatically judge without knowing the circumstances. Night by Night really took the lifestyle that many of us think of as their main goal in life and showed the reader the ugly side of it. On high horses, with a bit of power- we get blind or dangerous… hmm…
I have read EVERY Jack Jordan book published. I have LOVED each of them for their own specific reasons. I will CONTINUE to read anything that Jordan writes and shares with the readers because – damn! DAMN! – I can’t get enough! Um, yes- GET. THIS. BOOK! Liz over and out
True to Jack Jordan style, there was yet again quite a few moving pieces that I couldn’t wait to see fall into place: the insomniac housewife, her own grief and family-life shrouded in suffocating darkness; the local police force that may or may not be quite bloody questionable; the mystery of a journal filled with someone’s most agonizing thoughts that would scare anyone; the motive! Man, always the motive! And what a motive Night by Night delivers!
I really don’t know how all the different threads simply fit so perfectly in this story- Jordan is a magician with words, with storylines, with the ability to captivate! I am seriously fan-girling here, by the way!
And you’ll have to know that Jordan’s books are never a superficial reading experience with the aim to simply make that heart beat faster in your chest with a bit of action and who dunnit. Jordan’s stories always have an important societal element or two to them. This is how these books can become relatable for many, and important, and difficult to read, as is the case with Night by Night. But true to Jack Jordan style – there will be no pussyfooting around a topic. It’s as realistic and as horrible as it has to be… because this is how things are sometimes! Snippets of reality, of someone’s most unbearable days have been put to paper. Reading about Rose’s insomnia made my chest ache! Reading about Finn’s situation, a situation that is way bigger than you can ever imagine, made me anxious and frustrated because- what the fffuuuuu!
And this makes me think that Jordan has become a bit of an advocate through the thriller, through suspense, through his books- to raise awareness! Awareness around mental health, and people being able to hide so much pain and suffering under their straining smile. Or, the fact that when someone is not coping, then it doesn’t give anyone a green light to automatically judge without knowing the circumstances. Night by Night really took the lifestyle that many of us think of as their main goal in life and showed the reader the ugly side of it. On high horses, with a bit of power- we get blind or dangerous… hmm…
I have read EVERY Jack Jordan book published. I have LOVED each of them for their own specific reasons. I will CONTINUE to read anything that Jordan writes and shares with the readers because – damn! DAMN! – I can’t get enough! Um, yes- GET. THIS. BOOK! Liz over and out
melaniesreads's review
4.0
This is a thriller that packs a grief stricken punch. How much can one person take ? With homophobia and corruption at its core this is far from an easy read. I did a little research after reading this and discovered shocking statistics.
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/lgbt-britain-hate-crime-and-discrimination
This book starts off with a heartbreaking accident and then gets more and more brutal until you realise you’ve been holding your breath. The last stave was especially gripping and I found myself rooting for Rose .
I am writing this review with the privilege of never having known discrimination or hate and hoping the current stalking laws include lgbtqia.
I hope anyone who reads this book takes away from it the same things I did and that is everyone should be free to love whom ever they choose without fear .
Thank you to Jack Jordan and Pigeonhole for a thought provoking read.
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/lgbt-britain-hate-crime-and-discrimination
This book starts off with a heartbreaking accident and then gets more and more brutal until you realise you’ve been holding your breath. The last stave was especially gripping and I found myself rooting for Rose .
I am writing this review with the privilege of never having known discrimination or hate and hoping the current stalking laws include lgbtqia.
I hope anyone who reads this book takes away from it the same things I did and that is everyone should be free to love whom ever they choose without fear .
Thank you to Jack Jordan and Pigeonhole for a thought provoking read.
rosie_24601's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
leona_omahony's review
4.0
Yet again Jack Jordan has written a brilliantly disturbing psychological thriller and one which I loved. This book gripped me right from the very first sentence and kept me hooked until the end .