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celtic67's review against another edition
4.0
What a dark, compelling read this is.
A mash of various time frames and points of view. It is a skillfully woven tale that sucks the reader in and wont let go.
John and Marion, are siblings and a product of a controlling father and an ineffectual mother.
John has a future and dark secrets shared with his father; whilst Marion is offered no encouragement, hope and is left to bumble through life at the command of her father and later John who seems to be his father incarnate.
This is a book that blurs the lines between the genres and the author is very skillful at this and she takes the reader on her ride and what a roller coaster it is.
This is an author who has set her bar high and it is hard to believe it is a debut novel and what a debut this is!
A well written dark, disturbing and claustrophobic novel. Very creepy with a cast of bizarre characters who leap off the page and into your mind.
I would recommend this novel and look forward to reading more from this author. Though it is hard to see how she can top this.
Well done Catherine!
A mash of various time frames and points of view. It is a skillfully woven tale that sucks the reader in and wont let go.
John and Marion, are siblings and a product of a controlling father and an ineffectual mother.
John has a future and dark secrets shared with his father; whilst Marion is offered no encouragement, hope and is left to bumble through life at the command of her father and later John who seems to be his father incarnate.
This is a book that blurs the lines between the genres and the author is very skillful at this and she takes the reader on her ride and what a roller coaster it is.
This is an author who has set her bar high and it is hard to believe it is a debut novel and what a debut this is!
A well written dark, disturbing and claustrophobic novel. Very creepy with a cast of bizarre characters who leap off the page and into your mind.
I would recommend this novel and look forward to reading more from this author. Though it is hard to see how she can top this.
Well done Catherine!
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
3.0
I found the book to be pretty interesting overall. It was a little slow in the beginning and I even thought about DNFing it early on because I just didn't know what the story was about and there wasn't much holding my attention. I think the set-up could have been way shorter or we could have been given something early on to keep us engaged and interested through the setup.
I did think some of the set-up was interesting but I wasn't sure what the point was, and the few hints at the overall story just wern't gripping enough to really make me care. That being said, once we got to the point of the story, I was pretty interested. I wanted to know what would happen and how things would play out. I dont know how i feel about how they did play out and I wouldn't necessarily say that I like the way it ended either. Although I don't hate it.
So, basically it was an interesting read, I didn't love it, I didn't hate it.
I did think some of the set-up was interesting but I wasn't sure what the point was, and the few hints at the overall story just wern't gripping enough to really make me care. That being said, once we got to the point of the story, I was pretty interested. I wanted to know what would happen and how things would play out. I dont know how i feel about how they did play out and I wouldn't necessarily say that I like the way it ended either. Although I don't hate it.
So, basically it was an interesting read, I didn't love it, I didn't hate it.
jerbil's review against another edition
2.0
I really don’t know how I feel about this book after finishing it. It kept my interest but the ending was disappointing and no justice is ever served. It felt like you were supposed to root for Marion at some moments or at least feel for her. I guess the author wanted the reader to have that experience of sympathizing for Marion but also having a bad feeling about wanting her life to turn around cause she truly didn’t deserve it.
Wish there wasn’t a happy ending for the bad characters. The only good part was Judith becoming haggard cause that was the only kind of justice in this story’s world.
Wish there wasn’t a happy ending for the bad characters. The only good part was Judith becoming haggard cause that was the only kind of justice in this story’s world.
sare1125's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Confinement, Violence, and Mental illness
kiminindy's review against another edition
4.0
So this book was a little intense and a little disturbing. I really grew to like Marion and feel sorry for her. There are a couple of surprises and the ending is a little disconnected. Overall I would highly recommend and will look for other books by this author.
lovelydeadgirl's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Animal death, Rape, and Child death
kayleem93's review against another edition
5.0
Heavens above that was bleak. This is some really dark fiction with one of those endings that just makes you scrunch up your nose and leaves a awful taste in your mouth (in the good, intentional way).
The synopsis makes it sound deceptively simple. It isn't. There is a lot more going on here than a dark basement. Can't say much without spoilers but we have some heavy topics being touched upon in here. Nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted. Love a good unreliable narrator. Some nice flashback/memory scenes too which I felt added an extra layer to the atmosphere of doubt.
Do not pick this up if you want a cosy read and an ending all tied up in a bow. This is Stephen King level nasty. Absolutely brilliant in my opinion, any fan of dark psychological thrillers should pick this up.
I recieved this copy from Netgalley this in no way effected my review.
The synopsis makes it sound deceptively simple. It isn't. There is a lot more going on here than a dark basement. Can't say much without spoilers but we have some heavy topics being touched upon in here. Nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted. Love a good unreliable narrator. Some nice flashback/memory scenes too which I felt added an extra layer to the atmosphere of doubt.
Do not pick this up if you want a cosy read and an ending all tied up in a bow. This is Stephen King level nasty. Absolutely brilliant in my opinion, any fan of dark psychological thrillers should pick this up.
I recieved this copy from Netgalley this in no way effected my review.
debtat2's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of suspense and it’s a very hard book to put down once you start reading. Very well written and I really enjoyed it .
I will be keeping my eye out for other Catherine Burns's novels now.
I will be keeping my eye out for other Catherine Burns's novels now.
nixsticks's review against another edition
5.0
This was worth five stars for the writing and the suspense but I never want to read it ever again. That last part is both a compliment and not a compliment.