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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
I don't normally enjoy suspenseful books, but this was an interesting read. Great characters, good plot development and easy to read. Definitely enjoyable.
It is remarkable how much power Paullina's writing has over me.
There is quite a lot of 'God' involved in this as the main character named Didi, who gets kidnapped by a very unstable young man, is religious. Normally I would have minded this as I am one of those who believe that God, if he is out there, is rather a bystander and doesn't get involved in the matters of humans and our drama (most of which is self-inflicted). But - it read so well. Every element of the story worked exceptionally well and I ended up really connecting with pregnant Didi, her desperate husband Rich and the FBI agent who was helping find her. I also wanted to absolutely smother Lyle but as I couldn't figure out why exactly he was doing what he was doing, reading about him was as fascinating as watching documentaries about serial killers is (you hate them all but you can't get enough of the most sordid, horrifying stories; must admit that is best done from the comfort of your couch, with a blanket, cat and a glass of wine so you feel REALLY safe).
Paullina never disappoints!
I would recommend it to her fans who has never read it before (as I hadn't for the longest time!) and for those who enjoy thrillers and/or mysteries and don't get spooked if there's talk about God in books. The writing is captivating, as always.
There is quite a lot of 'God' involved in this as the main character named Didi, who gets kidnapped by a very unstable young man, is religious. Normally I would have minded this as I am one of those who believe that God, if he is out there, is rather a bystander and doesn't get involved in the matters of humans and our drama (most of which is self-inflicted). But - it read so well. Every element of the story worked exceptionally well and I ended up really connecting with pregnant Didi, her desperate husband Rich and the FBI agent who was helping find her. I also wanted to absolutely smother Lyle but as I couldn't figure out why exactly he was doing what he was doing, reading about him was as fascinating as watching documentaries about serial killers is (you hate them all but you can't get enough of the most sordid, horrifying stories; must admit that is best done from the comfort of your couch, with a blanket, cat and a glass of wine so you feel REALLY safe).
Paullina never disappoints!
I would recommend it to her fans who has never read it before (as I hadn't for the longest time!) and for those who enjoy thrillers and/or mysteries and don't get spooked if there's talk about God in books. The writing is captivating, as always.
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I got to 49% and could not continue. Bland, generic characters and plot. One of the worst thrillers I have read.
Not my fav but I got a little bit more into it as I kept reading I aka big fan of Simons and normally I can't put her books down but this one was hard! Different to her other books as well!!
‼️TW: r*pe and graphic details and descriptions‼️
This book was a pleasant surprise. My beautiful friend lent it to me and I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about it. And while this book might be more than twenty years old, it still felt incredibly relatable and the fears that the characters experience are very much real and present in today’s world. We follow a kidnapping of a pregnant woman and how her husband works with law enforcement to try and find her within eleven hours. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat the entire time
This book was a pleasant surprise. My beautiful friend lent it to me and I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about it. And while this book might be more than twenty years old, it still felt incredibly relatable and the fears that the characters experience are very much real and present in today’s world. We follow a kidnapping of a pregnant woman and how her husband works with law enforcement to try and find her within eleven hours. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat the entire time
I could not be more pleasantly surprised with this novel! A gripping novel that flies off the pages. I literally could not put this book down! As a woman, the events are even more terrifying. I was so engrossed in this novel, which was super fast paced. This psychological thriller in the same vein as "Gone Girl." Such an amazing novel.
This is a book that was hard to put down. The tension rose. Poor Didi! From shopping the mall, munching on almond pretzels, her day just went steadily downhill. The pain, the thirst, the worry, the heat, the dirt and the blood all mounted up, and the poor reader is trapped there with her. It's an uncomfortable and unpleasant ride, but there's no escape. Not until the end. The suspense was killing.
I read it as quickly as I possibly could. Within the span of a day, which is pretty good for me now.
Didi and the kidnapper were entirely credible. Well, mostly. The kidnapper was crazed enough to make his odd behaviour understandable. He had a plan to follow and he was following it, even if Didi was making things difficult.
Didi. Geez. Don't get in the car! You're nine months pregnant, a few minutes away from having lunch with your husband, there is nothing good coming out of a car ride with a strange man who spooks you out. And I don't care how strong he is, he's not going to be able to carry or drag a nine-month pregnant screaming woman through a car park without interference.
After that, well, the violence keeps her in line.
What jarred was the police/FBI side of things. The police sounded realistic enough, but the FBI end of it was way out of whack. As Megan notes, the husband isn't going to be that closely involved. Questioned closely, sure, but his place then is at home, looking after the kids and keeping the relatives calm. He's not going to go flying around in helicopters, dressing up in combat vests and fiddling around in crime scenes, destroying evidence.
Sure, it gives the reader a lot of dialogue with him and the cocky FBI agent - and why just one? Wouldn't there be a team of a dozen or so, manning an office full of ringing phones and buzzing computers? Sure, it keeps the reader in he action seat, looking at the developing crisis from both sides. But it's so terribly unrealistic.
My feeling is that this is a movie script in book form. It's got Hollywood all over it, with the simplistic setups and the talky philosophical debates. and the violence.
Right. I read it quick, but I didn't like it much. I'm not inspired to go out and read more of this author. Not unless she does a whole heap more research.
I read it as quickly as I possibly could. Within the span of a day, which is pretty good for me now.
Didi and the kidnapper were entirely credible. Well, mostly. The kidnapper was crazed enough to make his odd behaviour understandable. He had a plan to follow and he was following it, even if Didi was making things difficult.
Didi. Geez. Don't get in the car! You're nine months pregnant, a few minutes away from having lunch with your husband, there is nothing good coming out of a car ride with a strange man who spooks you out. And I don't care how strong he is, he's not going to be able to carry or drag a nine-month pregnant screaming woman through a car park without interference.
After that, well, the violence keeps her in line.
What jarred was the police/FBI side of things. The police sounded realistic enough, but the FBI end of it was way out of whack. As Megan notes, the husband isn't going to be that closely involved. Questioned closely, sure, but his place then is at home, looking after the kids and keeping the relatives calm. He's not going to go flying around in helicopters, dressing up in combat vests and fiddling around in crime scenes, destroying evidence.
Sure, it gives the reader a lot of dialogue with him and the cocky FBI agent - and why just one? Wouldn't there be a team of a dozen or so, manning an office full of ringing phones and buzzing computers? Sure, it keeps the reader in he action seat, looking at the developing crisis from both sides. But it's so terribly unrealistic.
My feeling is that this is a movie script in book form. It's got Hollywood all over it, with the simplistic setups and the talky philosophical debates. and the violence.
Right. I read it quick, but I didn't like it much. I'm not inspired to go out and read more of this author. Not unless she does a whole heap more research.