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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
This was a random purchase at Brighton Train Station when I finished my other book early. The Bones of You is about a teenage girl that goes missing and all the secrets that surround her family and life.
I really enjoyed the pace of this book. From the start I was hooked and I couldn't wait to find out the young girl's fate. As always, no character appears as they seem and the secrets are revealed thick and fast with twists and turns aplenty. I also enjoyed the two sides of the story. We are taken back through Rosie's life to certain events that all link to her disappearance.
To a point I liked Kate, the main character, a local gardener and good friend to Rosie's mum, Jo. She is interesting and her curiosity propels the story along. However, as with most crime fiction, that does not feature a detective, the lead character can come across as nosy. Half of the time I wanted to shout at her to mind her own business. Plus some of the things she did made me roll my eyes more than once.
Overall, a decent thriller with an interesting concept, however I worked out who the culprit was before the very end and that always disappoints me.
I really enjoyed the pace of this book. From the start I was hooked and I couldn't wait to find out the young girl's fate. As always, no character appears as they seem and the secrets are revealed thick and fast with twists and turns aplenty. I also enjoyed the two sides of the story. We are taken back through Rosie's life to certain events that all link to her disappearance.
To a point I liked Kate, the main character, a local gardener and good friend to Rosie's mum, Jo. She is interesting and her curiosity propels the story along. However, as with most crime fiction, that does not feature a detective, the lead character can come across as nosy. Half of the time I wanted to shout at her to mind her own business. Plus some of the things she did made me roll my eyes more than once.
Overall, a decent thriller with an interesting concept, however I worked out who the culprit was before the very end and that always disappoints me.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
This was a book that the library reading group I belong to picked out because she was a local author. I was a bit concerned that I was going to be the only one who found the characters to be incredibly one-dimensional, and I struggled but couldn't care less about any of them. The victim was a "good girl," with a mysterious side to her, the murderer was predictable and the I had to push myself to read it but luckily appalling commutes to and from my job meant that I had plenty of time stuck in one place!
It got good discussion going in the reading group as we analysed the writing and contemplated other books of a similar style, and I am glad I tried out a new genre (for me) but this isn't a book that I would purchase or read again. Sorry :(
It got good discussion going in the reading group as we analysed the writing and contemplated other books of a similar style, and I am glad I tried out a new genre (for me) but this isn't a book that I would purchase or read again. Sorry :(
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Grief
*SPOILER*
It was too long when it was too obvious who did it. You would get it immediately because the apple tree. It was unnecessarily long, like prolonging-my-agony long. Reading about Joanna was a sad roller coaster ride.
What I love about this is the human + pet connection.
It was too long when it was too obvious who did it. You would get it immediately because the apple tree. It was unnecessarily long, like prolonging-my-agony long. Reading about Joanna was a sad roller coaster ride.
What I love about this is the human + pet connection.
This was okay. I finished it. But it took a long time.
It spans over quite a long period of time so you just get into one bit and then it’s like a few months later.
I also think the ending was predictable but that might just be me!
It spans over quite a long period of time so you just get into one bit and then it’s like a few months later.
I also think the ending was predictable but that might just be me!
Couldn't put it down but guessed the real murderer too soon before the end
A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THE BONES OF YOU, dark psychological suspense thriller debut by Debbie Howells, a haunting novel of deceit and lies. A young girl’s murder and one woman’s obsession with uncovering dark secrets in this idyllic English village, drawing you into this intriguing world of mystery. A taunt chilling novel which will keep you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning.
“Stars are the souls of dead poets, but to become a star, you have to die.” Vincent van Gogh
“It’s true, what they say about when you die. In the final, terrible seconds of my life, eighteen years flash before my eyes. It’s when I understand the difference between life and death.”
Rosie has gone missing. . as the book opens. Rosie is looking at the movie of her life. THE BONES OF YOU, is an intense character driven novel---readers get an inside glimpse into all the people surrounding the life of Rosie Anderson, an eighteen-year-old teen who has been murdered. Their dark secrets, lies, fears, and deceit (and there are many) are slowly unraveled piece by piece.
Rosie “There are always two camps. Good and evil. Beautiful and ugly. Winners and losers. Andersons are never losers, just as they’re never anything less than perfect."
Gripping and tragic, flashing back and forth from Rosie, narrator, as she plays back the events of her life, to Kate, narrator, and sister, Delphine--readers slowly learn of all the suspects which touched Rosie’s short life.
Living on opposite sides of a small village with daughters at the same school, Jo and Kate belong to a group of mothers who meet now and then. Jo is married to Neal, a renowned journalist, who reports from the middle of war zones. They have a nice house and nice cars; however, Kate is drawn to Rosie. She is the same age as her daughter Grace. Rosie is also deeply drawn to Kate and her horses.
Rosie is a shy girl, quieter than Grace and share a love of horses with Kate. A feeling of foreboding hits Kate, a fear, a raw panic engulfs her and she is terrified, and she senses Rosie’s voice screaming her name. Rosie was murdered. Her body was discovered in the woods. Evidence of struggle, suffering several blows to her head, before being stabbed viciously a number of times. She was found in the same clearing where Kate fell off horse Zappa and she did not see her.
Everyone begins to speculate the reasons behind her murder. An unnamed boyfriend, the mother, perhaps the father with many faces, the charming one, or friends? A stranger? Are they all suspects? Behind the façade of constrained smiles and familiar exchanges there is a shift in the village. They could have a murderer in their midst.
A secret boyfriend, Alex, a younger sister, Delphine, Jo, the mother, Neal, the father, Emma or Grace, friends, Kate, perhaps? “Lies are like dough, or malignant tumors. They get bigger.“ Kate becomes almost obsessive about finding the murderer and the Anderson family. While she desires to comfort her friend, Jo, her husband, Angus is not thrilled with her involvement.
My favorite parts were those from Rosie; her words are haunting, yet magical, leading to the explosive finale; the story behind the story. The part of the story no one knows. Hate, lies, toxic behavior, and the truth.
Written in an almost lyrical prose, clever and scary, in the theme of Lovely Bones and Reconstructing Amelia, a haunting debut for lovers of psycho-thrillers and Gone Girl. British author Howells is an author to follow!
JDCMustReadBooks
**Blog Tour Stop June 11.** Join Me Here!
THE BONES OF YOU, dark psychological suspense thriller debut by Debbie Howells, a haunting novel of deceit and lies. A young girl’s murder and one woman’s obsession with uncovering dark secrets in this idyllic English village, drawing you into this intriguing world of mystery. A taunt chilling novel which will keep you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning.
“Stars are the souls of dead poets, but to become a star, you have to die.” Vincent van Gogh
“It’s true, what they say about when you die. In the final, terrible seconds of my life, eighteen years flash before my eyes. It’s when I understand the difference between life and death.”
Rosie has gone missing. . as the book opens. Rosie is looking at the movie of her life. THE BONES OF YOU, is an intense character driven novel---readers get an inside glimpse into all the people surrounding the life of Rosie Anderson, an eighteen-year-old teen who has been murdered. Their dark secrets, lies, fears, and deceit (and there are many) are slowly unraveled piece by piece.
Rosie “There are always two camps. Good and evil. Beautiful and ugly. Winners and losers. Andersons are never losers, just as they’re never anything less than perfect."
Gripping and tragic, flashing back and forth from Rosie, narrator, as she plays back the events of her life, to Kate, narrator, and sister, Delphine--readers slowly learn of all the suspects which touched Rosie’s short life.
Living on opposite sides of a small village with daughters at the same school, Jo and Kate belong to a group of mothers who meet now and then. Jo is married to Neal, a renowned journalist, who reports from the middle of war zones. They have a nice house and nice cars; however, Kate is drawn to Rosie. She is the same age as her daughter Grace. Rosie is also deeply drawn to Kate and her horses.
Rosie is a shy girl, quieter than Grace and share a love of horses with Kate. A feeling of foreboding hits Kate, a fear, a raw panic engulfs her and she is terrified, and she senses Rosie’s voice screaming her name. Rosie was murdered. Her body was discovered in the woods. Evidence of struggle, suffering several blows to her head, before being stabbed viciously a number of times. She was found in the same clearing where Kate fell off horse Zappa and she did not see her.
Everyone begins to speculate the reasons behind her murder. An unnamed boyfriend, the mother, perhaps the father with many faces, the charming one, or friends? A stranger? Are they all suspects? Behind the façade of constrained smiles and familiar exchanges there is a shift in the village. They could have a murderer in their midst.
A secret boyfriend, Alex, a younger sister, Delphine, Jo, the mother, Neal, the father, Emma or Grace, friends, Kate, perhaps? “Lies are like dough, or malignant tumors. They get bigger.“ Kate becomes almost obsessive about finding the murderer and the Anderson family. While she desires to comfort her friend, Jo, her husband, Angus is not thrilled with her involvement.
My favorite parts were those from Rosie; her words are haunting, yet magical, leading to the explosive finale; the story behind the story. The part of the story no one knows. Hate, lies, toxic behavior, and the truth.
Written in an almost lyrical prose, clever and scary, in the theme of Lovely Bones and Reconstructing Amelia, a haunting debut for lovers of psycho-thrillers and Gone Girl. British author Howells is an author to follow!
JDCMustReadBooks
**Blog Tour Stop June 11.** Join Me Here!