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teameak's review
3.0
Short and sweet. Interesting, well written. Fast paced as necessary with a small twist that I hadn't expected. Will look up more quick reads for between-books!
jacki_f's review
4.0
Before you order this, you should be aware that it is not a full length novel, but only a novella which will take you maybe an hour - if that - to read.
Nevertheless it's a nifty little story about a con artist who poses as a psychic. She makes a living by visiting the relatives of missing people and extorting money from them in exchange for invented facts about their missing relatives. In this instance, her target is the anxious husband of a missing woman, whose fate we already know. The story unfolds alternating between the perspectives of different characters, with a couple of nice twists to hold your interest.
I applaud Linwood Barclay for recognising it as the simple story that it is, rather than trying to stretch it out into a longer format. The perfect commuter read.
Nevertheless it's a nifty little story about a con artist who poses as a psychic. She makes a living by visiting the relatives of missing people and extorting money from them in exchange for invented facts about their missing relatives. In this instance, her target is the anxious husband of a missing woman, whose fate we already know. The story unfolds alternating between the perspectives of different characters, with a couple of nice twists to hold your interest.
I applaud Linwood Barclay for recognising it as the simple story that it is, rather than trying to stretch it out into a longer format. The perfect commuter read.
inspirationalley's review
4.0
This was the first book I'd read by Linwood Barclay and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick easy read with a few twists to the plot. I did think it was slightly predictable, but this was actually part of its charm.
novelesque_life's review
3.0
3 STARS
Ellie Garfield, wife and mother of a pregnant girl, has not returned home and her family is worried. Wendell and Melissa take to the air begging for their mother/wife's return. Enter Keisha Ceylon psychic or con artist tries to beat Winonna (another psychic) to the Garfield home to help locate Ellie. What Keisha, Wendell and Melissa don't know in this case might just hurt them!
A fun short story BUT I wanted more. A great story for those who like a good suspense/mystery. It actually reminded me of an episode of Dateline Mysteries - where you just get the bare bones of the case.
Ellie Garfield, wife and mother of a pregnant girl, has not returned home and her family is worried. Wendell and Melissa take to the air begging for their mother/wife's return. Enter Keisha Ceylon psychic or con artist tries to beat Winonna (another psychic) to the Garfield home to help locate Ellie. What Keisha, Wendell and Melissa don't know in this case might just hurt them!
A fun short story BUT I wanted more. A great story for those who like a good suspense/mystery. It actually reminded me of an episode of Dateline Mysteries - where you just get the bare bones of the case.
ilaria_14's review
3.0
A thriller short novel with a good pace, intriguing plot and unexpected ending.
A light but enjoyable reading.
A light but enjoyable reading.
jennyjones's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
claudetteb's review against another edition
1.0
This is billed as a "novella", but doesn't even come close to that. It reads like it was either a plot outline for a future book that just didn't go anywhere, or perhaps a portion of a novel that ended up not fitting in, so was cut.
I'm glad I borrowed this from the library and didn't buy it, because I would be pretty upset! This is just an unfinished story of some sort, and certainly not up to Linwood Barclay's standards. Very disappointing.
I'm glad I borrowed this from the library and didn't buy it, because I would be pretty upset! This is just an unfinished story of some sort, and certainly not up to Linwood Barclay's standards. Very disappointing.
elysian_mess's review
2.0
I didn't think it was written well, fairly predictable and overall just was not into it :/