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nick_rowe's review
5.0
I wasn't entirely sure what I was in for when I started reading this. Yes, there are clues on the back cover: man in relationship; use of a cellar. And the title, of course. We also know early on that something bad is happening.
But the author teases the story out, suggesting and hinting, with flash-forwards to the present.
One of the most fascinating aspects is that it's written from Steve's perspective. Having met the author, she's about as far away from Steve as you can get, but she channels a very convincing and complex personality into the reader. The book is set around 2008-ish with Steve in his mid-thirties, just a few years younger than me at that time and many of the references of his childhood in the 70s hit the mark. He is a very believable character but we also pick up some very odd vibes from his inner monologue.
This isn't a 'traditional' thriller about captivity from the victim's perspective. It's also not some kind of examination into power-play relationships. Steve is a sad, lonely and above all confused character. When the best thing in his life is about to disappear he begins to lose his already tenuous grip on morality and reality. Following him on that journey to the end is gripping and disturbing.
But the author teases the story out, suggesting and hinting, with flash-forwards to the present.
One of the most fascinating aspects is that it's written from Steve's perspective. Having met the author, she's about as far away from Steve as you can get, but she channels a very convincing and complex personality into the reader. The book is set around 2008-ish with Steve in his mid-thirties, just a few years younger than me at that time and many of the references of his childhood in the 70s hit the mark. He is a very believable character but we also pick up some very odd vibes from his inner monologue.
This isn't a 'traditional' thriller about captivity from the victim's perspective. It's also not some kind of examination into power-play relationships. Steve is a sad, lonely and above all confused character. When the best thing in his life is about to disappear he begins to lose his already tenuous grip on morality and reality. Following him on that journey to the end is gripping and disturbing.
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