Scan barcode
sierrainstitches's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It started off strong, but didn’t take the direction I would have liked. The only predictable part was the end, everything else was completely out of left field. I don’t dig how MH ends some of her novels before everything’s wrapped up. It would also be nice to come across a likable character in one of their books at least one, lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Ableism
ttolbert915's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sooz_767's review against another edition
2.0
Not one for me at all, I'm afraid. the characters were unlikeable, the plot was just terrible. It was just all wrong. I like the Jack Caffrey series so may just stick to that.
toellandback's review against another edition
4.0
Journalist Joe Oakes is invited to a remote Scottish Island to sort myth from fact regarding a reclusive religious community, however an old adversary, Malachi Dove, is living on the island and Oakes had previously proven Dove as a conman years ago under an alias and past and present are about to collide in spectacularly violent fashion.
A grainy video seems to show an animal with human characteristics prowling the island and the journalistic nose of Oakes wants to know more, despite the reservations of various members of the community, and when Oakes oversteps the mark, things turn very bad, very quickly.
This is almost three individual stories in one which combine well with the community, the “animal” and the subsequent aftermath all linked together by Oakes and, to a lesser extent, Dove, who remains secretive and elusive throughout, although the reader is left in little doubt of how dangerous he is.
Oakes isn’t afraid to proverbially steps on toes to get his questions answered, making him the sort of character that is easy to dislike despite willing him to get what he craves in the shape of a good story for his employers. The story(s) are told from both the viewpoint of Oakes and his increasingly frustrated wife, Alex (Lexie) and both their sides weave together nicely.
Although it's a slow burner to begin with, it takes a sudden turn around half way which completely surprised me and leads nicely into the third “section” of the book set partially away from Pig Island itself. Some sections are very graphic, shocking and difficult to read and there are a couple of neat little twists which will catch some people (me included!) out.
It's not for the faint hearted and it did seem to end quite suddenly but, as it's the first Mo Hayder novel I've read, courtesy of my local library, it will encourage me to seek out more of her work in the future.
A grainy video seems to show an animal with human characteristics prowling the island and the journalistic nose of Oakes wants to know more, despite the reservations of various members of the community, and when Oakes oversteps the mark, things turn very bad, very quickly.
This is almost three individual stories in one which combine well with the community, the “animal” and the subsequent aftermath all linked together by Oakes and, to a lesser extent, Dove, who remains secretive and elusive throughout, although the reader is left in little doubt of how dangerous he is.
Oakes isn’t afraid to proverbially steps on toes to get his questions answered, making him the sort of character that is easy to dislike despite willing him to get what he craves in the shape of a good story for his employers. The story(s) are told from both the viewpoint of Oakes and his increasingly frustrated wife, Alex (Lexie) and both their sides weave together nicely.
Although it's a slow burner to begin with, it takes a sudden turn around half way which completely surprised me and leads nicely into the third “section” of the book set partially away from Pig Island itself. Some sections are very graphic, shocking and difficult to read and there are a couple of neat little twists which will catch some people (me included!) out.
It's not for the faint hearted and it did seem to end quite suddenly but, as it's the first Mo Hayder novel I've read, courtesy of my local library, it will encourage me to seek out more of her work in the future.
booksemmaread's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
zzzrevel's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite a Jack Cafferty novel, and it is not
all that good for most of its length. The redeeming
thing to me is the Grrreat Twist at the end of
the book.
all that good for most of its length. The redeeming
thing to me is the Grrreat Twist at the end of
the book.