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joelkarpowitz's review against another edition
2.0
Weird. Not as bad as some of the reviews indicate, but definitely weird, and with a horrible ending. I was interested to. See where it was going, but when it got there I don't think it was worth the journey. 2.5 stars, but a little closer to the two side of things....
georgesreads's review against another edition
3.0
Pig Island by Mo Hayder is a cracker of a book, with a plot I can only describe as flabbergasting. This one is marketed as a thriller, but really- with the countless supernatural going-ons, nail-biting tension, and graphic imagery, horror fans will absolutely get their fix too.
The infamous Pig Island is home to the Psychogenic Healing Ministries cult, founded by the even more infamous pastor Malachi Dove. Furthermore, rumour says that something not quite human roams the island... a hoax that journalist Joe Oakes is determined to debunk. Intrigued by the alien creature who supposedly inhabits Pig Island, and still bitter following a public drama with Pastor Dove, Joe and his girlfriend/ co-narrator Lexie travel to the site- and SURPRISE SURPRISE something is wrong.
This book had five star potential. Some scenes truly had my stomach doing back flips- hence why I would argue that Pig Island borders on horror. What knocked this one down for me was the ending. Following the perfect slow-burn, just-right prose, and heart-racing twists and turns- my expectations for the ending were high, and unfortunately not quite met.
One reviewer stated "The most erratic book I've ever read," and I really can't agree more. It's insane, and has you questioning everything all the time, hence my bitter disappointment that the ending fizzled out and fell flat.
All in all, Pig Island is incredibly underrated, and for some reason has been left in the horror/ thriller gutter. It's far from perfect, but the creepy vibes are spot on, and the writing is easy to follow for my fellow stop-start readers.
The infamous Pig Island is home to the Psychogenic Healing Ministries cult, founded by the even more infamous pastor Malachi Dove. Furthermore, rumour says that something not quite human roams the island... a hoax that journalist Joe Oakes is determined to debunk. Intrigued by the alien creature who supposedly inhabits Pig Island, and still bitter following a public drama with Pastor Dove, Joe and his girlfriend/ co-narrator Lexie travel to the site- and SURPRISE SURPRISE something is wrong.
This book had five star potential. Some scenes truly had my stomach doing back flips- hence why I would argue that Pig Island borders on horror. What knocked this one down for me was the ending. Following the perfect slow-burn, just-right prose, and heart-racing twists and turns- my expectations for the ending were high, and unfortunately not quite met.
One reviewer stated "The most erratic book I've ever read," and I really can't agree more. It's insane, and has you questioning everything all the time, hence my bitter disappointment that the ending fizzled out and fell flat.
All in all, Pig Island is incredibly underrated, and for some reason has been left in the horror/ thriller gutter. It's far from perfect, but the creepy vibes are spot on, and the writing is easy to follow for my fellow stop-start readers.
jau's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A good book, but the ending left me wishing it didn't wrap up so suddenly and with so little information on points it makes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Suicide, and Rape
mcintoshheidi's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of the Psychogenic Healing Ministries Foundation and their off-the-rails cult leader, Malachi Dove. This secretive religious community live in isolation on Pig Island. In the face of accusations of devil-worship and Satanism, a journalist, Joe Oakes, is invited out to meet them. Little does he realise that things are going to get very personal...
Like all good thrillers, this book has got some real heart-stopping moments, and plenty of twists and turns along the way. It is told alternately from the perspective of Joe, and that of his slightly delusional wife, Lexie. Normally this would irritate me in a book, trying to keep track of who is speaking, but in this book it kind-of works, as you get the story from different viewpoints. the writing style is a bit clunky and heavy-handed. I read on the back that the author teaches courses in Creative Writing, and it feels very much as though she has thrown things in to tick boxes of "what makes good writing", rather than it flowing naturally. However, the book does whisk you up in the story, gripping as it is, so in terms of escapism it is a real treat!
Like all good thrillers, this book has got some real heart-stopping moments, and plenty of twists and turns along the way. It is told alternately from the perspective of Joe, and that of his slightly delusional wife, Lexie. Normally this would irritate me in a book, trying to keep track of who is speaking, but in this book it kind-of works, as you get the story from different viewpoints. the writing style is a bit clunky and heavy-handed. I read on the back that the author teaches courses in Creative Writing, and it feels very much as though she has thrown things in to tick boxes of "what makes good writing", rather than it flowing naturally. However, the book does whisk you up in the story, gripping as it is, so in terms of escapism it is a real treat!
neiryn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Overall great book, definitely worth the read but the ending lacked what I was seeking to know. I was left wanting more and unfortunately there is no sequel.
forsakenfates's review against another edition
4.0
This book was wonderfully confusing, creepy and dark. I'm not sure why there are so many negative reviews. The only other Mo Hayder book I've read is Gone (Jack Caffery, #5) and I loved that book. This book was not your typical crime novel, but it had the same dark atmosphere as Gone.
I really struggled with what to rate this because I was so frustrated with the end and the lack of closure, but I ended up with the four stars because I think any book that makes me this vexed deserves a high rating. I literally went to my roommate to rant to her about this book.
I will definitely continue to read more of Mo Hayder's books in the future.
I really struggled with what to rate this because I was so frustrated with the end and the lack of closure, but I ended up with the four stars because I think any book that makes me this vexed deserves a high rating. I literally went to my roommate to rant to her about this book.
I will definitely continue to read more of Mo Hayder's books in the future.
chava_in_oz's review against another edition
1.0
A real disappointment this book. I didn't even finish it. Maybe I need to retread as I attempted it a few years back
saltycorpse's review against another edition
3.0
Good on gore, cults, and unstable characters, but I would have appreciated some more robust context in the end. I'm all for letting the reader fill in the gaps, but in this instance the gaps felt a bit too wide to be enjoyable. I mean, it's obvious what happens but I felt like there could have been more intriguing 'hints' leading up to it.