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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Fast-moving quick read from Starr that offers thrills and mystery.
4.5 stars.
Savage Lane was a memorable read a couple of years ago, and on the strength of that I decided to read this from the same author. That novel is also referenced a couple of times in here, which didn't go unnoticed.
This almost feels like a novella, but with all the action of a full-length novel. It moves quickly from scene to scene, ratcheting up the horror and mess every few minutes. It starts with a bad decision and quickly escalates into a nightmare 'what if' that shows how fast a life can unravel.
Jack Harper is a recovering alcoholic, he adores his son but his marriage is somewhat stale. Not happy in his work as an estate agent either, he is tempted to look into an extramarital 'cheating' website but a client he knows from his music days, and soons forms a connection with a like-minded married woman that he uneasily agrees to meet.
But when the meeting goes as badly as it is possible to go, Jack quickly finds himself a wanted man, with more than he realised to lose.
Of course, as a reader you will most likely, like me, be telling Jack not to use the website, not to talk to the woman, not to meet the woman. So when he goes against our 'advice' and does so, you know he's asking for trouble. But still, you do feel for Jack. He's flawed, but he's human. He may be slightly naive:
"Soon things would return to normal. I'd get another chance, and this time I wouldn't make the mistake I'd made before."
His naivety becomes a little annoying actually, lasting a long way into the book.
We don't see as much of the wife and son for the majority of the book to think of them as much other than background, so it's Jack and a zealous police officer who command our time and attention. The hunter and the hunted. Jack keeps digging his own grave a little deeper, making bad decisions and exasperating me somewhat.
But of course, his situation leaves him with few options. It's a rollercoaster ride, fast and furious, a life changed in minutes, a mystery for Jack to solve whilst trying to rebuild his fractured existence, and as a parent, I did identify with his desperate need to see and reassure his son.
Not as biting as Savage Lane, entertaining though and darkly humorous, a good popcorn thriller with psychological elements and surprises that would play well on a screen.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample e-copy.
4.5 stars.
Savage Lane was a memorable read a couple of years ago, and on the strength of that I decided to read this from the same author. That novel is also referenced a couple of times in here, which didn't go unnoticed.
This almost feels like a novella, but with all the action of a full-length novel. It moves quickly from scene to scene, ratcheting up the horror and mess every few minutes. It starts with a bad decision and quickly escalates into a nightmare 'what if' that shows how fast a life can unravel.
Jack Harper is a recovering alcoholic, he adores his son but his marriage is somewhat stale. Not happy in his work as an estate agent either, he is tempted to look into an extramarital 'cheating' website but a client he knows from his music days, and soons forms a connection with a like-minded married woman that he uneasily agrees to meet.
But when the meeting goes as badly as it is possible to go, Jack quickly finds himself a wanted man, with more than he realised to lose.
Of course, as a reader you will most likely, like me, be telling Jack not to use the website, not to talk to the woman, not to meet the woman. So when he goes against our 'advice' and does so, you know he's asking for trouble. But still, you do feel for Jack. He's flawed, but he's human. He may be slightly naive:
"Soon things would return to normal. I'd get another chance, and this time I wouldn't make the mistake I'd made before."
His naivety becomes a little annoying actually, lasting a long way into the book.
We don't see as much of the wife and son for the majority of the book to think of them as much other than background, so it's Jack and a zealous police officer who command our time and attention. The hunter and the hunted. Jack keeps digging his own grave a little deeper, making bad decisions and exasperating me somewhat.
But of course, his situation leaves him with few options. It's a rollercoaster ride, fast and furious, a life changed in minutes, a mystery for Jack to solve whilst trying to rebuild his fractured existence, and as a parent, I did identify with his desperate need to see and reassure his son.
Not as biting as Savage Lane, entertaining though and darkly humorous, a good popcorn thriller with psychological elements and surprises that would play well on a screen.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample e-copy.
maroderbossnr1's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
What would you do if your life feel senseless, with no purpose; a marriage with no love and a boring job, that’s how Jack Harper feels about his life, the only thing that matters to him is his son. He feels that he is the only thing that brings happiness to his life. But when an old friend appears telling the “great” advantages of having an affair, he can not resist to take a look at a dating website and try to connect with someone… Of course everything will start getting to the wrong direction when he meets this woman, because he will find her dead and he will be the main suspect! Really, I don’t think Jack can have worst luck even if he was searching for it!
Since the beginning Jack is not a nice character, is not easy to like or to understand, having an affair to make you life happier is not a good choice, if you don’t love your wife divorce, but don’t start an affair, is never the best idea. But as we enter to the story we start feeling pity for Jack, he is not a lucky man, everything he does seems to be wrong, his choices are not the best, but he doesn’t have bad intentions. He just wants to be with his son and try to repair his marriage, even if his wife is not really good, or seems to be interested in him at all.
On the other hand, there’s the detective that is investigating the murder, he is not interested in discovering what has really happened, but to make Jack’s life worse than he is, complicating his marriage and job, simply because he can. I do really hope that the real detectives are much more centred in the investigation than bothering the suspects!
This had been an addictive read, it was easy to know what was really happening, so the twist at the end was not really a twist, but the book was interesting and it kept you glued to the story since the first page. If you are searching for an interesting read, addictive and twisted, this is your next book!
Since the beginning Jack is not a nice character, is not easy to like or to understand, having an affair to make you life happier is not a good choice, if you don’t love your wife divorce, but don’t start an affair, is never the best idea. But as we enter to the story we start feeling pity for Jack, he is not a lucky man, everything he does seems to be wrong, his choices are not the best, but he doesn’t have bad intentions. He just wants to be with his son and try to repair his marriage, even if his wife is not really good, or seems to be interested in him at all.
On the other hand, there’s the detective that is investigating the murder, he is not interested in discovering what has really happened, but to make Jack’s life worse than he is, complicating his marriage and job, simply because he can. I do really hope that the real detectives are much more centred in the investigation than bothering the suspects!
This had been an addictive read, it was easy to know what was really happening, so the twist at the end was not really a twist, but the book was interesting and it kept you glued to the story since the first page. If you are searching for an interesting read, addictive and twisted, this is your next book!
jamvb1467's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-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
1.5
blueraspberry26's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder
engagedelefant's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
dcrice's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting plot and could have been a good read but the writing was terrible. And the ending rushed , unbelievable and silly. It was a quick read though. Good if you’re in the mood for something mindless.
onion's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Death, Blood, Murder, Medical content, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity
missmesmerized's review against another edition
5.0
Schon länger kriselt es in der Ehe des Immobilienmaklers Jack Harper und seiner Frau Maria. Als ihm ein alter Kumpel die Dating App Discreet Hookups empfiehlt, kann er schließlich nicht widerstehen und meldet sich an. Schnell lernt er dort eine Frau kennen, die ihn offenbar versteht und sich in einer ähnlich verfahrenen Ehe zu befinden scheint. Sie vereinbaren ein Treffen, doch als Jack am Townhouse der mysteriösen Unbekannten ankommt, macht er eine böse Entdeckung: Sophie Ward wurde ermordet. Er versucht noch, sie wiederzubeleben und wählt dann erst den Notruf, nicht ahnend, dass er selbst nun als Hauptverdächtiger bei der Polizei gilt. Während Jack noch darüber grübelt, wie er seine Frau den nicht erfolgten Seitensprung beibringen kann, zieht sich die Schlinge um seinen Hals langsam zu und die Illusion, dass er Maria die Situation erklären könnte, muss er schon bald begraben, als er nämlich vor verschlossener Wohnungstür steht, zu der seine Schlüssel nicht mehr passen. Er beginnt zu verzweifeln, denn er kann nur noch mit ansehen, wie sein komplettes Leben – Ehe, Beruf, einfach alles auseinanderbricht und ihm zugleich die Polizei seine Version nicht glauben will. Doch dies ist nur der Anfang einer unheilvollen Serie von Ereignissen.
Jason Starrs Romane sind vielfach ausgezeichnet worden, neben seinen Krimis ist er in den vergangenen Jahren vor allem in der Zusammenarbeit mit Marvel und deren Comic-Universum erfolgreich gewesen. „Seitensprung“ ist die Rückkehr zum Spannungsgenre. Neben der clever konstruierten Handlung hat mich vor allem die Figur des Protagonisten überzeugt. Jack Harper ist sicher kein Held, Starr verpasst ihm mit dem Beruf des „Immobilienmaklers“ auch ein besonders zweideutiges Profil, dass er darin zudem nicht erfolgreich ist, komplettiert das Bild nur noch. Als trockener und geläuterter Alkoholiker und gescheiterter Rockstar, hat er jedoch eine interessante Vergangenheit, die maßgeblich zu seinem Abstieg beiträgt. Schritt für Schritt entgleitet ihm das Leben, mit jedem neuerlichen Rückschlag verliert er mehr die Kontrolle und seine ansonsten unterdrückten Aggressionen übernehmen. In seiner Verzweiflung weiß er sich nicht zu helfen und verschlimmert seine Lage, egal was er tut, bis er schließlich den Tiefpunkt erreicht und nur noch der Suizid als Lösung im Raum steht.
Die Spannung entsteht nicht nur aus der Frage, wer den Mord begangen hat, sondern vor allem daraus, welche falsche Entscheidung Jack als nächstes treffen und wie diese ihn weiter in die Tiefe ziehen wird. Seine Angst, sich nicht mehr aus dem Chaos befreien zu können, nimmt zunehmend mehr Raum ein und schließlich muss er sich fragen, ob er nicht derjenige ist, der sich etwas vormacht, vielleicht ist er ja doch schuldig und hat die Tat nur verdrängt. Obwohl er nur wenig offenkundig Sympathisches an sich hat, ist man doch irgendwie auf seiner Seite, allein schon, weil man wie er die große Ungerechtigkeit der falschen Beschuldigung empfindet. Am Ende ist doch als ganz anders als man dachte und auch wenn man irgendwann vorhersehen kann, wie sich die Ereignisse tatsächlich zugetragen haben, tut dies der Spannung keinen Abbruch, denn nur, weil man weiß, wer die Fäden zieht, ist das noch lange nicht das Ende der Geschichte.
Jason Starrs Romane sind vielfach ausgezeichnet worden, neben seinen Krimis ist er in den vergangenen Jahren vor allem in der Zusammenarbeit mit Marvel und deren Comic-Universum erfolgreich gewesen. „Seitensprung“ ist die Rückkehr zum Spannungsgenre. Neben der clever konstruierten Handlung hat mich vor allem die Figur des Protagonisten überzeugt. Jack Harper ist sicher kein Held, Starr verpasst ihm mit dem Beruf des „Immobilienmaklers“ auch ein besonders zweideutiges Profil, dass er darin zudem nicht erfolgreich ist, komplettiert das Bild nur noch. Als trockener und geläuterter Alkoholiker und gescheiterter Rockstar, hat er jedoch eine interessante Vergangenheit, die maßgeblich zu seinem Abstieg beiträgt. Schritt für Schritt entgleitet ihm das Leben, mit jedem neuerlichen Rückschlag verliert er mehr die Kontrolle und seine ansonsten unterdrückten Aggressionen übernehmen. In seiner Verzweiflung weiß er sich nicht zu helfen und verschlimmert seine Lage, egal was er tut, bis er schließlich den Tiefpunkt erreicht und nur noch der Suizid als Lösung im Raum steht.
Die Spannung entsteht nicht nur aus der Frage, wer den Mord begangen hat, sondern vor allem daraus, welche falsche Entscheidung Jack als nächstes treffen und wie diese ihn weiter in die Tiefe ziehen wird. Seine Angst, sich nicht mehr aus dem Chaos befreien zu können, nimmt zunehmend mehr Raum ein und schließlich muss er sich fragen, ob er nicht derjenige ist, der sich etwas vormacht, vielleicht ist er ja doch schuldig und hat die Tat nur verdrängt. Obwohl er nur wenig offenkundig Sympathisches an sich hat, ist man doch irgendwie auf seiner Seite, allein schon, weil man wie er die große Ungerechtigkeit der falschen Beschuldigung empfindet. Am Ende ist doch als ganz anders als man dachte und auch wenn man irgendwann vorhersehen kann, wie sich die Ereignisse tatsächlich zugetragen haben, tut dies der Spannung keinen Abbruch, denn nur, weil man weiß, wer die Fäden zieht, ist das noch lange nicht das Ende der Geschichte.