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cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
2.0
First I want to thank netgalley and the author for for an advanced copy. I really struggled with this book there was a lot of bouncing around and I felt like the story dragged. The book began with Emma a collage student who is kidnapped by a man wearing a clown mask whose been stalking her and she had no idea. She wakes up in a sound proof room locked in with only a camera and the creepy clown mask telling her he’s going to do what he wants with her and to call
Him master. The story started good but it really wasn’t for me I couldn’t connect with the characters and all and all two stars
Him master. The story started good but it really wasn’t for me I couldn’t connect with the characters and all and all two stars
aly36's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very creepy but great book! I was glad I got a chance to listen to it. I loved it. It was scary and I was pulling for Emma the whole book. I was hoping she made it. I think the characters were believable in this book and the plot was scary. "This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."
birminghambooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first John Nicholl book i have read. It started off good, then got a bit odd at one point which i think even for me was a step to far. The ending was pretty short and snappy, i think i would have prefered a different one, however, it was a fitting end. I Will read more of his books.
leona_omahony's review against another edition
5.0
Oh WOW WOW. John Nicholl has done it again with this his third book. Absolutely brilliant. Having read and loved both 'White is the coldest colour ' and 'When Evil Calls your name' I was a little bit nervous about reviewing this one in case it didn't live up to the other two. Well I had nothing to fear. This book for me was absolutely brilliant. It was a sick, stomach churning, chilling psychological thriller. This book kept my attention from the very first word right up to the final word of the book. John Nicholls books keep getting better and I can't wait to read more by this extremely talented author.
My thanks to TBC and John for a review copy in return for an honest review.
My thanks to TBC and John for a review copy in return for an honest review.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
Portraits of the Dead is the authors third novel and a stand alone. Having read the authors previous two novels, of which White is the Coldest Colour was in my top ten reads of 2015, I knew I was going to be in for a gripping and entertaining read.
The majority of the story is told through the work of the detectives which gave a slight crime thriller series feel to it all. Gravel and Rankin are brilliant characters and the author far from sugar coats their roles. He keeps them very real which brought them very much to life for me and I loved how we were allowed inside their heads to see what they were thinking.
Even though Emma and what she is going through is probably only a smaller portion of the story, this was not an issue at all. The parts with her horrifying situation are exactly that, horrifying. The true nightmare of what Emma is going through flows through the authors writing and clings to the reader, so that what she is going through while the police hunt for her and her abductor, is at the front of the readers mind at all times.
The abductor and killer himself is pure evil through and through. There is never any scope in feeling sorry or liking the bad guys in this authors novels. He makes sure his readers are as scared and as full of hate for them as much as the villains victims do.
Portraits of the Dead is a gripping thriller with more than a few surprises in store. It actually had me reminiscing of the old television show, Tales of the Unexpected. If you watched the show and when you’ve read the book I think you will understand but won’t say anymore than that in fear of giving to much away.
Another brilliant offering from an author who is certainly one to watch out for.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The majority of the story is told through the work of the detectives which gave a slight crime thriller series feel to it all. Gravel and Rankin are brilliant characters and the author far from sugar coats their roles. He keeps them very real which brought them very much to life for me and I loved how we were allowed inside their heads to see what they were thinking.
Even though Emma and what she is going through is probably only a smaller portion of the story, this was not an issue at all. The parts with her horrifying situation are exactly that, horrifying. The true nightmare of what Emma is going through flows through the authors writing and clings to the reader, so that what she is going through while the police hunt for her and her abductor, is at the front of the readers mind at all times.
The abductor and killer himself is pure evil through and through. There is never any scope in feeling sorry or liking the bad guys in this authors novels. He makes sure his readers are as scared and as full of hate for them as much as the villains victims do.
Portraits of the Dead is a gripping thriller with more than a few surprises in store. It actually had me reminiscing of the old television show, Tales of the Unexpected. If you watched the show and when you’ve read the book I think you will understand but won’t say anymore than that in fear of giving to much away.
Another brilliant offering from an author who is certainly one to watch out for.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
tish9130's review against another edition
5.0
Fab read
Fab read that had me desperately flipping pages from the first till the last. Off to see what more this author has to offer :)
Fab read that had me desperately flipping pages from the first till the last. Off to see what more this author has to offer :)
cheryl59's review against another edition
5.0
Oh where to start, this book was phenomenal. At times the dark depraved nature of the perpetrator was hard to stomach, but I am so glad I persevered. There were twists galore and I held my breath on more than one occasion wondering what would happen next. A thoroughly good read and I will be reading more by this author.
kitsune's review against another edition
5.0
Contrary to other opinions, I actually enjoyed this more than the author's other books.
John Nicholl has quite an interesting writing method of switching fluidly between character viewpoints mid scene, but in a way that never leaves you in any doubt as to who is narrating.
I do agree with another reviewer in that there were an awful lot of adjectives - I don't think it's always necessary to describe things to this level of detail!
I really liked the ending - I finished this last night and I'm still thinking about it. Without spoiling it, there's a couple of different ways you could take it... I have my own theory nut of course, this isn't the place to share that!
John Nicholl has quite an interesting writing method of switching fluidly between character viewpoints mid scene, but in a way that never leaves you in any doubt as to who is narrating.
I do agree with another reviewer in that there were an awful lot of adjectives - I don't think it's always necessary to describe things to this level of detail!
I really liked the ending - I finished this last night and I'm still thinking about it. Without spoiling it, there's a couple of different ways you could take it... I have my own theory nut of course, this isn't the place to share that!
bernluvsbooks's review
4.0
An intense & dark psychological thriller that will make you shudder.
Portraits of the Dead by John Nicholl starts off exceptionally creepy with 19 year old college student Emma Jones being abducted by a sadistic serial killer who awaited his perfect opportunity, hidden silent and unmoving in her wardrobe. I swear the scene was right out of my worst nightmares! What a way to hook you in!
Emma awakens naked, bruised and bloody, finding herself in a windowless room adorned with portraits of girls who look just like her and no way out. Emma finds herself at the mercy of her captor who thinks of her as his plaything. Unfortunately the "Master's" games are brutal, horrific and sadistic. I rather enjoyed the scenes between Emma and her depraved captor. Emma was described as an intelligent, hard-working girl and that was definitely apparent during her interactions with the Master. Although she was forced to degrade herself for his enjoyment time and time again, she was always thinking, trying to earn his trust to stay alive and ultimately find a way out.
DI Gareth Gravel and DS Clive Rankin are investigating Emma's disappearance and quickly begin to tie her case to the killing of five young women whose bodies are discovered scattered in the woods. Will they find Emma in time before she becomes number 6?
Honestly, I did figure out fairly quickly who the "Master" was and was ready to give the book 3 stars for various reasons. First, the relationship with the mother was twisted and creepy but I just didn't fully buy into it. Secondly, DS Clive Rankin - what the??? I can't say more without spoilers but that threw me and I was upset with how it ended.
So where did the 4 star rating come from? The ENDING! It totally changed my mind. It was not what I was expecting and it was such a GOOD surprise. I found myself cheering and feeling quite satisfied in that crazy "You Go Girl!" way.
Portraits of the Dead by John Nicholl starts off exceptionally creepy with 19 year old college student Emma Jones being abducted by a sadistic serial killer who awaited his perfect opportunity, hidden silent and unmoving in her wardrobe. I swear the scene was right out of my worst nightmares! What a way to hook you in!
Emma awakens naked, bruised and bloody, finding herself in a windowless room adorned with portraits of girls who look just like her and no way out. Emma finds herself at the mercy of her captor who thinks of her as his plaything. Unfortunately the "Master's" games are brutal, horrific and sadistic. I rather enjoyed the scenes between Emma and her depraved captor. Emma was described as an intelligent, hard-working girl and that was definitely apparent during her interactions with the Master. Although she was forced to degrade herself for his enjoyment time and time again, she was always thinking, trying to earn his trust to stay alive and ultimately find a way out.
DI Gareth Gravel and DS Clive Rankin are investigating Emma's disappearance and quickly begin to tie her case to the killing of five young women whose bodies are discovered scattered in the woods. Will they find Emma in time before she becomes number 6?
Honestly, I did figure out fairly quickly who the "Master" was and was ready to give the book 3 stars for various reasons. First, the relationship with the mother was twisted and creepy but I just didn't fully buy into it. Secondly, DS Clive Rankin - what the??? I can't say more without spoilers but that threw me and I was upset with how it ended.
So where did the 4 star rating come from? The ENDING! It totally changed my mind. It was not what I was expecting and it was such a GOOD surprise. I found myself cheering and feeling quite satisfied in that crazy "You Go Girl!" way.