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just_kristen's review against another edition
4.0
I read most of this book in a day. Couldn't wait to work out what was going on as I couldn't figure it out most of the way through! Fantastic thriller. Will definitely be reading more of Hannah's books in the future.
tharina's review against another edition
4.0
As unpredictable, but far more plausible than the previous book in the series. As far as the relationship between Charlie and Simon goes, I agree with some of the other reviewers that it seems to be the greatest mystery in the series overall! It's an awkward, adolescent mess of a relationship that has little to no apparent love to it.
intplibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
A novel FULL of OMGWTFs.
As always, Hannah's latest is chock full of twists and turns and edge-of-the-seat WTFs. And with the recurring characters Charlie and Simon, those are both WTF-is-WRONG-with-these-people types as well as WTF-I-wasn't-expecting-that types.
You should know that unless you start at the beginning of the series the Charlie+Simon relationship will make no sense. Nor, I suppose, will a lot of the side comments about others at the police station, come to think of it.
However, if you've been reading the series all along, this is a great addition. It's the 6th in the series and unlike lots of series books, a later addition doesn't mean a worse work. I haven't actually thought to rank all of the series, but this is one of the best ones so far.
Oh, and for American readers, be ready to look up some phrases and words. :-)
As always, Hannah's latest is chock full of twists and turns and edge-of-the-seat WTFs. And with the recurring characters Charlie and Simon, those are both WTF-is-WRONG-with-these-people types as well as WTF-I-wasn't-expecting-that types.
You should know that unless you start at the beginning of the series the Charlie+Simon relationship will make no sense. Nor, I suppose, will a lot of the side comments about others at the police station, come to think of it.
However, if you've been reading the series all along, this is a great addition. It's the 6th in the series and unlike lots of series books, a later addition doesn't mean a worse work. I haven't actually thought to rank all of the series, but this is one of the best ones so far.
Oh, and for American readers, be ready to look up some phrases and words. :-)
sanchwrites's review against another edition
3.0
My review: http://bondwithbooks.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/lasting-damage/
the_resa_p's review against another edition
3.0
Kit and Connie are living the perfect life…until Connie finds a different address programmed into Kit’s GPS as “home.” Since that day Connie’s life hasn’t been the same. She watches the house in an attempt to see her husband and catch him living a double life, and when the house goes up for sale Connie knows exactly what she has to do, go online and see what it looks like on the inside. Once on the real estate website Connie sees a dead body in the middle of the lounge and starts a crusade to find the dead woman and the killer. The only problem is she’s the only one who saw the dead body and no one believes she’s telling the truth.
This is the first book I’ve read by Sophie Hannah, but after going to one of her book talks and hearing her describe the process that went in to creating this book I expected a little more than what I got. The sub-plot with the detectives was well written and I think I would have appreciated it more if I had read the previous books and known these characters a little better so I’m not going to talk too much about that. The main plot is also done well, the idea of “if I saw this would anyone believe me” is an interesting premise and one that could easily be seen in real life even if the situation here is unique. As a whole these two parts of the novel work well together and advance the plot, unfortunately these aren’t the only plots Hannah brings into the novel.
As a heroine Connie is a little frustrating at times, but she feels like a real person. Even if I didn’t always like her throughout the book, or wished she’d be a little more decisive, I thought she was believable and I was on her side throughout the book. The villain of the book is written just as well, and turns out to be an even more complex character than I’d originally thought, very well planned out on Hannah’s part. The sub plot with the Gilpatricks, however, isn’t nearly as well done and adds very little to the story. The scraps of grocery lists and school work scattered throughout the story don’t even function well as red herrings, they just seem out of place and part of a story that’s never fully developed. I understand what Hannah was getting at, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark and adds a lot of unnecessary confusion to the story rather than misdirection.
Other than the somewhat failed Gilpatrick subplot I through the mystery was done excellently, up until the last chapter, which added a whole new dynamic to the mystery while contradicting a lot of what had already been wrapped up. I’m not sure if it was Hannah’s intent to leave the reader with something to think about, but this final revelation really didn’t fit with the rest of the plot. I normally try to keep my reviews spoiler free so I won’t comment on specifics, but this final piece of evidence bothered me not because it was so improbable, but because it was so out of place, like Hannah felt the need to add just one more sub-plot before she finished.
Now, I did enjoy the book for the most part and I will read more of Hannah’s work in the future. Her plot was complex, at some points unnecessarily so, but she brings an inventiveness and creativity to the mystery that helps it stand out from the standard mystery/crime plots out there. I don’t think her books are for everyone though, and the lover of the classic mystery novel will come away disappointed. You almost need to read this book from a psychological stand point and expect more manipulation than murder.
This is the first book I’ve read by Sophie Hannah, but after going to one of her book talks and hearing her describe the process that went in to creating this book I expected a little more than what I got. The sub-plot with the detectives was well written and I think I would have appreciated it more if I had read the previous books and known these characters a little better so I’m not going to talk too much about that. The main plot is also done well, the idea of “if I saw this would anyone believe me” is an interesting premise and one that could easily be seen in real life even if the situation here is unique. As a whole these two parts of the novel work well together and advance the plot, unfortunately these aren’t the only plots Hannah brings into the novel.
As a heroine Connie is a little frustrating at times, but she feels like a real person. Even if I didn’t always like her throughout the book, or wished she’d be a little more decisive, I thought she was believable and I was on her side throughout the book. The villain of the book is written just as well, and turns out to be an even more complex character than I’d originally thought, very well planned out on Hannah’s part. The sub plot with the Gilpatricks, however, isn’t nearly as well done and adds very little to the story. The scraps of grocery lists and school work scattered throughout the story don’t even function well as red herrings, they just seem out of place and part of a story that’s never fully developed. I understand what Hannah was getting at, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark and adds a lot of unnecessary confusion to the story rather than misdirection.
Other than the somewhat failed Gilpatrick subplot I through the mystery was done excellently, up until the last chapter, which added a whole new dynamic to the mystery while contradicting a lot of what had already been wrapped up. I’m not sure if it was Hannah’s intent to leave the reader with something to think about, but this final revelation really didn’t fit with the rest of the plot. I normally try to keep my reviews spoiler free so I won’t comment on specifics, but this final piece of evidence bothered me not because it was so improbable, but because it was so out of place, like Hannah felt the need to add just one more sub-plot before she finished.
Now, I did enjoy the book for the most part and I will read more of Hannah’s work in the future. Her plot was complex, at some points unnecessarily so, but she brings an inventiveness and creativity to the mystery that helps it stand out from the standard mystery/crime plots out there. I don’t think her books are for everyone though, and the lover of the classic mystery novel will come away disappointed. You almost need to read this book from a psychological stand point and expect more manipulation than murder.
samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve always wondered why Sophie Hannah isn’t more popular in Australia – she writes fantastic psychological thrillers that look at a case from both the victim and police point of view. They’re the type of thriller that keeps you reading through the night and into the early morning. Each book of hers is well researched and original. So why do many bookstores here stock only one (or none!) of her books? The only reason I found this book was because it was at the $5 bookstore. I hadn’t seen it elsewhere. It’s not cool – Sophie Hannah deserves a much wider audience, up there with Tess Gerritsen, Minette Walters and other thriller writers.
So why should you read this book? Apart from that it’s a darn fine read that questions the seemingly normal Connie Bowskill’s mental health, it’s different to other thrillers. We have alternate chapters from Connie, who thinks she saw a murdered woman in a real estate home open video, and the Spilling CID (mainly Simon and Charlie, but Sam plays a smaller role). This is the sixth book in the Spilling CID series, but it doesn’t matter which order you read them in (I’ve read them completely out of order depending on availability). The only thing that remains constant is the presence of the police characters (Simon and Charlie are the main ones). The crime and victims are always different.
Connie Bowskill is described by others as sensitive and nervous – someone who needs looking after. So when she sees the dead body on the screen and no one else can, her mind is called into question. Why would she be looking at for sale websites – she’s not planning on moving. Connie is certain of what she saw and starts researching on her own, culminating in a tense finale. The language focuses on the action, but the insight into the character’s thoughts and setting description are more detailed than many of the other books in this genre.
Some aspects of the plot are possibly a little too coincidental for real life, but that’s the beauty of fiction. All those seemingly disparate clues come together beautifully – it will have you thinking about how everything fitted together long after you closed the book. It’s suspenseful and some of the characters are delightfully creepy in their descriptions and actions. Connie in particular is a different character to judge – did she really see the dead body? Is this a call for attention or something more sinister? The way Connie’s family treats her is disgusting and as we see that, we start to think there might be something to it after all… I felt awful that I had been sucked into doubting Connie, but it’s also a very good skill that Hannah has to create empathy for a fairly weak-willed character.
Definitely one of the better thriller writers out there now, Sophie Hannah’s next book, The Carrier, will be released in Australia in February 2013.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
So why should you read this book? Apart from that it’s a darn fine read that questions the seemingly normal Connie Bowskill’s mental health, it’s different to other thrillers. We have alternate chapters from Connie, who thinks she saw a murdered woman in a real estate home open video, and the Spilling CID (mainly Simon and Charlie, but Sam plays a smaller role). This is the sixth book in the Spilling CID series, but it doesn’t matter which order you read them in (I’ve read them completely out of order depending on availability). The only thing that remains constant is the presence of the police characters (Simon and Charlie are the main ones). The crime and victims are always different.
Connie Bowskill is described by others as sensitive and nervous – someone who needs looking after. So when she sees the dead body on the screen and no one else can, her mind is called into question. Why would she be looking at for sale websites – she’s not planning on moving. Connie is certain of what she saw and starts researching on her own, culminating in a tense finale. The language focuses on the action, but the insight into the character’s thoughts and setting description are more detailed than many of the other books in this genre.
Some aspects of the plot are possibly a little too coincidental for real life, but that’s the beauty of fiction. All those seemingly disparate clues come together beautifully – it will have you thinking about how everything fitted together long after you closed the book. It’s suspenseful and some of the characters are delightfully creepy in their descriptions and actions. Connie in particular is a different character to judge – did she really see the dead body? Is this a call for attention or something more sinister? The way Connie’s family treats her is disgusting and as we see that, we start to think there might be something to it after all… I felt awful that I had been sucked into doubting Connie, but it’s also a very good skill that Hannah has to create empathy for a fairly weak-willed character.
Definitely one of the better thriller writers out there now, Sophie Hannah’s next book, The Carrier, will be released in Australia in February 2013.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
infinitezest's review against another edition
4.0
What a delicious thriller. I stayed up way too late because I couldn't go to bed without finding out the truth! This story of a woman completely obsessed with someone else's home had me constantly trying to decide whether she was in serious danger or completely crazy. The story has plenty of surprising twists, its characters are well drawn and its conclusion is satisfying. I can't wait to read more of Sophie Hannah's books.
quynh23's review against another edition
2.0
Công bằng mà nói thì ý tưởng gốc của cuốn này khá hay, nhiều nhân vật được xây dựng thông minh và cá tính. Song cách triển khai cốt truyện thì có điều đáng bàn.
Mình không yêu cầu một cuốn thiên về trinh thám tâm lý phải gay cấn và có tiết tấu nhanh như trinh thám hành động. Nhưng trời đất thiên địa ơi, bà tác giả cần biết tiết chế để không làm độc giả mệt nhoài với các khổ văn dài tận nửa trang (có khổ còn dài gần cả trang luôn). Hơi dư các chi tiết liên quan đến đời sống riêng của nhân vật, vì chúng không giúp phát triển nhân vật hay phục vụ vụ án. Một số tình tiết thiếu logic. Phần cuối truyện đọc hấp dẫn hơn phần đầu. Mình không thấy nhân vật nào khó chịu hay đáng ghét, nhưng cũng không ưa thích ai cả.
Tóm lại, nếu cuốn này co lại còn 3/4 thì đọc sẽ hay và dễ chịu hơn nhiều.
Mình không yêu cầu một cuốn thiên về trinh thám tâm lý phải gay cấn và có tiết tấu nhanh như trinh thám hành động. Nhưng trời đất thiên địa ơi, bà tác giả cần biết tiết chế để không làm độc giả mệt nhoài với các khổ văn dài tận nửa trang (có khổ còn dài gần cả trang luôn). Hơi dư các chi tiết liên quan đến đời sống riêng của nhân vật, vì chúng không giúp phát triển nhân vật hay phục vụ vụ án. Một số tình tiết thiếu logic. Phần cuối truyện đọc hấp dẫn hơn phần đầu. Mình không thấy nhân vật nào khó chịu hay đáng ghét, nhưng cũng không ưa thích ai cả.
Tóm lại, nếu cuốn này co lại còn 3/4 thì đọc sẽ hay và dễ chịu hơn nhiều.
keetha's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. I expected to love this book. It wasn't awful but --
I'd just finished Broken Harbor, and before that Gone Girl, mostly it probably suffered in comparison.
I'd just finished Broken Harbor, and before that Gone Girl, mostly it probably suffered in comparison.