Reviews

Come a Little Closer by Karen Perry

tatterededges's review against another edition

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2.0

I found this book dry and much longer than it should have been. Or maybe it was just that it was hard to get into and harder still to muster up much of a care factor for any of the characters?

None of the characters had any redeeming features. I had guessed the big twist well before the halfway mark and spent most of the book just wishing they’d get to the point already.

Meanwhile, Anton is supposed to be this womaniser who charms women into his bed and then tires of them but honestly, there was nothing about the man that would indicate he could pull that off. No charisma, no charm, uninteresting and dull.

All in all, this book fell flat for me.

windy_witch's review

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4.0

Come a little closer, has a great beginning that leaves you wanting to know what has happened to a little boy that appears in the park covered in blood.

20 years later, the truth starts to emerge when the little boy’s father is released from prison for serving time for killing his wife. He moves back to his old house but has lodgers staying in his downstairs flat. The past slowly comes back to haunt him and his actions from 20 years ago.

This is not the first Karen Perry novel I have read and it was a great read.

mickysbookworm's review

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dark tense medium-paced

3.0

purplelauren's review

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

4.25

mandylovestoread's review

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4.0

Come a Little Closer by Karen Perry is a book that I read in a day. It was a twisty, fast story that I just could not tear myself away from. I wasn't sure where the story was going to go and didn't see the ending coming. As with other Karen Perry books you are drawn into the lives of this community and the relationships of the characters. It is hard to know who is lying to protect themselves and who is honest.

Leah and Jake move into their new basement flat to start their life together. But Leah is still competing with Jakes ex and his son. She befriends Anton, the old man upstairs, not knowing that he has just been released from prison for the murder of his wife Charlotte - a woman who looked a lot like Leah. This is neighbourhood where everybody knows everybody and the gossip soon reaches Leah but is it too late? Anton claims to be innocent, but his actions seem to prove his guilt.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK, Michael Joseph for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

mazza57's review

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2.0

It is around 20 years since Anton was convicted of his wife's murder despite hie pleas of innocence he has served his time. As he is released from prison Leah and Jake move into the basement flat of his home unaware of its history. In the Irish town that he lives again emotions are stirred on his return. The book reads easily enough but I would describe it as a unexciting narrative without the building of real thrill. I could feel myself sighing at the stupidity of the characters- as we learn more about each of them their own histories seem somewhat unbelievable and it is difficult to really fall into the storyline - "I kept wanting to say oh come on - really".

It was Ok but not the best read

nayt001's review

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4.0

A mixture of feelings about this read. It was good, and I was griped at time. I kind of guess the ending half way though... well writen, and overall a well enjoyed read.

snazzybooks's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

 I first read this book three years ago, but realised I never wrote a review at the time – and it was such an intriguing book I was happy to read it again!

Come A Little Closer starts with a bang – a young boy appears from nowhere covered in blood in a park.

We follow Leah and Jake as they move into a basement flat belonging to Anton, who has been in prison for 19 years for killing his wife – but Anton maintains his innocence. Before Leah knows about Anton’s past, she spends some time with him and is shocked when she finds out what he was accused of (and found guilty of!)

As well as Leah and Anton’s, we also get inside the mind of neighbour Hilary, who knew Anton and his wife Charlotte before she died.

Slowly, through all of their narratives, we start to unpick what really happened back then – the secrets and lies plaguing the people in this neighbourhood. There are twists and turns as we find out more, and a surprise at the end. The plot is satisfyingly complex without feeling too convoluted, and alhough there’s drama and intrigue, it never feels too ridiculous.

I hugely enjoyed Come A Little Closer – it’s a gripping read, which is no surprise seeing as it’s written by the brilliant Karen Perry! 

melanie_galea's review

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2.0

First half of the book was unnecessarily drawn out and I had pretty much already figured out who was the killer around the 200 page mark. It was nice to see how the events in the latter half of the book played out though.

leona_omahony's review

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5.0

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last . An unputdownable psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat . I absolutely loved it . A brilliant start and a superb ending . Highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers.