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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Yet another domestic thriller. This book centers on Helen, in the midst of a successful pregnancy after many miscarriages. At a prenatal class, she meets Rachel, who is odd to say the least (she suggests they drink wine right after a birthing class.) Things only get more strange as time goes on.
The book alternates between Helen’s point of view, Serena, Helen’s sister in law & Kate, Helen’s friend who also has an on and off relationship with her brother Charlie. I feel like this book has been done before. There was nothing overly exciting about it. By the time the author reveals everything, you really don’t even care anymore because it takes so long to get there.
The book alternates between Helen’s point of view, Serena, Helen’s sister in law & Kate, Helen’s friend who also has an on and off relationship with her brother Charlie. I feel like this book has been done before. There was nothing overly exciting about it. By the time the author reveals everything, you really don’t even care anymore because it takes so long to get there.
Greenwich Park is an upscale neighborhood in London. Helen Thorpe is living in her large childhood home with architect husband Daniel. Her brother Rory and his wife Serena live nearby. Both women are pregnant. This highly entertaining thriller begins with a letter sent to Helen from prison. The sender is unknown to the reader. Helen attends her first prenatal class. Daniel is stuck at work leaving Helen alone. The sudden appearance of single mother-to-be Rachel seems like a perfect occurrence as Helen now has someone to partner with in the class. Rachel soon appears everywhere Helen is and thrusts her way into her life. Helen is feeling lonely as Daniel is constantly working so Helen starts spending time with Rachel and confides in her. This intriguing story has three narrators - Helen, Serena and friend Katie. Serena is worried that her husband is having an affair. Katie is a reporter covering a high profile rape case which has a connection to an older rape case which took place near Cambridge University around the time Helen, Daniel, Rory and Serena were students there.
Greenwich Park starts slow. But about half-way through, when Helen’s seemingly perfect life starts to unravel, the book takes off. The suspense level builds and builds as unsettling things start to happen within the world of these characters. And while you think you know what’s going to happen next, author Katherine Faulkner, in a very impressive debut, turns the tables making this a very satisfying ride.
Greenwich Park starts slow. But about half-way through, when Helen’s seemingly perfect life starts to unravel, the book takes off. The suspense level builds and builds as unsettling things start to happen within the world of these characters. And while you think you know what’s going to happen next, author Katherine Faulkner, in a very impressive debut, turns the tables making this a very satisfying ride.
What an incredible story! I love mysteries and thrillers but sometimes they start to feel all a bit the same. This one was unique and in a category all its own. I genuinely got connected to the characters and story of their lives. The mystery was an added bonus.
This was so well written. I’ve seen a lot of people calling this a “slow burn,” and I can see why, but I hesitate to call it that because I couldn’t put it down. It hooked me from page one with that letter!
The only negative I have is that the ending felt more like a recap and I would rather have seen some of it play out since I was so invested. But this wasn’t a typical reveal and I appreciate that.
*Thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was so well written. I’ve seen a lot of people calling this a “slow burn,” and I can see why, but I hesitate to call it that because I couldn’t put it down. It hooked me from page one with that letter!
The only negative I have is that the ending felt more like a recap and I would rather have seen some of it play out since I was so invested. But this wasn’t a typical reveal and I appreciate that.
*Thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
3 3/4. Solid but somewhat convoluted. I didn’t find Helen to be too sympathetic of a character and found much of what many characters did throughout the book unrealistic.
Eh, started super slow but the second half was pretty good.
(1.5/5) I don't understand all the positive reviews because this was probably one of the most boring books I've ever read, almost DNF. Helen, our protagonist, pretty much deserves all the terrible things that happen to her. Right from the start, she's a pushover with no conception of boundaries and a complete inability to assert her agency. From whining about how her sister-in-law seems to have more friends than her, to passive-aggressively dealing with Rachel (and then getting annoyed when she doesn't take the hint), Helen is simply an unlikeable character, and not in a fun, antihero kind of way. The story plods on and is extremely slow going until the last few chapters. Save your time and go read something else.
Please note that I received this via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
So this was a little all over the place, but honestly it works in the end. The book jumps around a lot and it's hard to trace some stuff, but after we get to the 60 percent point things start to hang together. The ending/reveal was a surprise and I liked it.
"Greenwich Park" follows mom to be, Helen. Helen is happily married to Daniel and after some disappointing miscarriages, it seems her latest pregnancy will go okay. Even though her husband seems distant, and something at his firm with her brother Rory seems to be stressing him out. Helen feeling a bit lost meets another mom to be, Rachel, at her pre-natal class. Before she knows it, she is hanging out with Rachel all of the time, and Rachel has somehow moved into her home. When Rachel disappears though, the police, and Helen's friends wonder what happened to Rachel and could it be linked back to something that happened years ago.
Faulkner follows Helen, her sister in law, Serena, and her other brother's girlfriend Katie throughout this book. We also get some quick chapters with an unknown narrator at times too.
I thought Helen was a bit of a mess and unreliable narrator. But as the book goes on you start to realize something is going on there. Something not good.
I actually felt for Serena throughout the book since Helen seems exhausting, and she realizes something is up with her husband.
Katie is kind of the audience stand-in. She's a reporter delving into a case of rape and meeting a detective who is leading that case. And then she starts to investigate when Rachel goes missing.
I thought the writing at times was quite lyrical and I thought Helen's points of views more than most puts you into the book at times.
The flow though was a bit off here and there as I started off. I didn't know where things were going, but started to feel annoyed by Helen. But as I kept reading I found myself becoming more engaged in the story and wanting to know what was going on with Rachel and how she tied into these other people in this book.
The setting of Greenwich Park at times feels magical and then sinister. Helen's home which she is so proud of at times seems as if it is falling apart and I just thought that was a pretty nice sense of symbolism as she tries to keep it clean, but someone is always dirtying it up.
The ending was very good. You get a partial reveal and then you things are over until you get to the final chapter. Then things come out in the open and you feel a bit like you were had.
So this was a little all over the place, but honestly it works in the end. The book jumps around a lot and it's hard to trace some stuff, but after we get to the 60 percent point things start to hang together. The ending/reveal was a surprise and I liked it.
"Greenwich Park" follows mom to be, Helen. Helen is happily married to Daniel and after some disappointing miscarriages, it seems her latest pregnancy will go okay. Even though her husband seems distant, and something at his firm with her brother Rory seems to be stressing him out. Helen feeling a bit lost meets another mom to be, Rachel, at her pre-natal class. Before she knows it, she is hanging out with Rachel all of the time, and Rachel has somehow moved into her home. When Rachel disappears though, the police, and Helen's friends wonder what happened to Rachel and could it be linked back to something that happened years ago.
Faulkner follows Helen, her sister in law, Serena, and her other brother's girlfriend Katie throughout this book. We also get some quick chapters with an unknown narrator at times too.
I thought Helen was a bit of a mess and unreliable narrator. But as the book goes on you start to realize something is going on there. Something not good.
I actually felt for Serena throughout the book since Helen seems exhausting, and she realizes something is up with her husband.
Katie is kind of the audience stand-in. She's a reporter delving into a case of rape and meeting a detective who is leading that case. And then she starts to investigate when Rachel goes missing.
I thought the writing at times was quite lyrical and I thought Helen's points of views more than most puts you into the book at times.
The flow though was a bit off here and there as I started off. I didn't know where things were going, but started to feel annoyed by Helen. But as I kept reading I found myself becoming more engaged in the story and wanting to know what was going on with Rachel and how she tied into these other people in this book.
The setting of Greenwich Park at times feels magical and then sinister. Helen's home which she is so proud of at times seems as if it is falling apart and I just thought that was a pretty nice sense of symbolism as she tries to keep it clean, but someone is always dirtying it up.
The ending was very good. You get a partial reveal and then you things are over until you get to the final chapter. Then things come out in the open and you feel a bit like you were had.
a slow start but wowowww the second half of the book had me SHOOK. a page turner for sure
Easy to read story that you don’t want to put down. I picked it as a random library book that looked interesting and it was a great choice! I liked the characters and the mystery
A solid fast paced mystery! I don’t know why but I have not been too enthused with this genre lately!