Scan barcode
sewfrench's review against another edition
3.0
A fascinating idea for a book but a 3 star might be generous. For the most part it was entertaining though not as suspenseful as I was expecting. It read as a YA book with predictable twists and turns. The ending just went bizarre and didn't feel like it was the original direction the author was planning to take.
curlyjessreads's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free through Goodreads.com First Reads giveaway.
This was a great book that kept me guessing from the beginning. Written from the first person perspective of the main character, Gen Loxley, you only know as much as she does the whole way through. As an outsider looking in you are able to pick up on some things she isn’t paying attention to, but I can tell you almost none of my predictions came true. I wasn’t able to figure out most of the twists. And the ending… Wow! Definitely didn’t see that one coming, kind of spooky too, but that’s all I’ll say on that. My husband started reading it after I finished and likes it so far as well. A great read!
This was a great book that kept me guessing from the beginning. Written from the first person perspective of the main character, Gen Loxley, you only know as much as she does the whole way through. As an outsider looking in you are able to pick up on some things she isn’t paying attention to, but I can tell you almost none of my predictions came true. I wasn’t able to figure out most of the twists. And the ending… Wow! Definitely didn’t see that one coming, kind of spooky too, but that’s all I’ll say on that. My husband started reading it after I finished and likes it so far as well. A great read!
ncrabb's review against another edition
4.0
Those who have endured the loss of a child or who have experienced a still birth walk in places the rest of us can’t comprehend. Geniver Loxley understands that dark desert place all too well. The fictional Geniver was a successful novelist with a happy marriage until the horrific day when her child was pronounced dead at birth. It was a little girl, they told her; she was too anesthetized to have been very alert. It had been a difficult birth, and they whisked the child away before Gen could even glimpse it.
For eight tragic years, Gen clung to her grief. Her writing career had stalled, and her once-happy marriage to successful businessman Art had taken a downward spiral, especially when he suggested that the couple just do more fertility treatments and have a child to replace Beth. Precious Beth! How could anyone replace her. Was it not disloyal to even think of having another child?
As Art and Gen are contemplating another round of fertility treatments, a woman contacts Gen to let her know that her child wasn’t stillborn after all; it had been born and the doctors had taken it away very much alive. Worse still, Art knew it.
Gen makes the frightening journey from disbelief to stunning confirmation that the woman had been right. Why did Art let them take her child? Where was it today? Why won’t he help her find it?
This book is going to feel a bit like a Lifetime movie, so if you don’t enjoy those, you may want to pass on it. I loved it for the twisty creep factor components in it. McKenzie is indeed a master of suspense psychological fiction. You will enter a world in which nothing is as it appears to be. People Gen thought she could trust are entirely unreliable. And the ending? Oh, the ending will have you screaming “Where’s the next book! Where’s the next book!”
For eight tragic years, Gen clung to her grief. Her writing career had stalled, and her once-happy marriage to successful businessman Art had taken a downward spiral, especially when he suggested that the couple just do more fertility treatments and have a child to replace Beth. Precious Beth! How could anyone replace her. Was it not disloyal to even think of having another child?
As Art and Gen are contemplating another round of fertility treatments, a woman contacts Gen to let her know that her child wasn’t stillborn after all; it had been born and the doctors had taken it away very much alive. Worse still, Art knew it.
Gen makes the frightening journey from disbelief to stunning confirmation that the woman had been right. Why did Art let them take her child? Where was it today? Why won’t he help her find it?
This book is going to feel a bit like a Lifetime movie, so if you don’t enjoy those, you may want to pass on it. I loved it for the twisty creep factor components in it. McKenzie is indeed a master of suspense psychological fiction. You will enter a world in which nothing is as it appears to be. People Gen thought she could trust are entirely unreliable. And the ending? Oh, the ending will have you screaming “Where’s the next book! Where’s the next book!”
kirstysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
This book Gen and Art who lost their daughter at birth. Years later a woman approaches Gen to say that her daughter didn't die and her husband was involved.
I thought that this book moved quite slowly. The pacing did pick up towards the end but it was a relatively slow moving book. I thought that the plot sounded really interesting and had a lot of potential. However, the culprit wasn't particuarly surprising but it did feel very unrealistic. This was McKenzie's first adult novel and I would have liked it to be a bit darker.
The ending was quite sinister and leaves the story open. I felt that I didn't really connect with any of the characters in this book. Overall this was an ok read but not a new favourite. I do intend to try more of McKenzie's books in the future.
I thought that this book moved quite slowly. The pacing did pick up towards the end but it was a relatively slow moving book. I thought that the plot sounded really interesting and had a lot of potential. However, the culprit wasn't particuarly surprising but it did feel very unrealistic. This was McKenzie's first adult novel and I would have liked it to be a bit darker.
The ending was quite sinister and leaves the story open. I felt that I didn't really connect with any of the characters in this book. Overall this was an ok read but not a new favourite. I do intend to try more of McKenzie's books in the future.
seddso's review against another edition
4.0
This book seems to be at opposite ends of the scale for us readers - I'm at the positive end of the scale- for me, it was a good thriller, great pace, kept me interested right up to the end
graciemel_26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0