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I Confess: a gripping new thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat! by Alex Barclay
evemcelhone's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
flyingwithfaeries's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
laurenjayres's review against another edition
2.0
I went into this expecting a similar storyline to Lucy Foley’s books, but unfortunately this wasn’t as good.
Although there were chapters from different characters’ perspectives, there wasn’t enough personality for each one to be recognisable or distinct. If there wasn’t a name at the start of each chapter, you’d likely struggle to figure out who was narrating.
I liked the idea of the time jumps, and I think they would have worked better if there was more foreshadowing and more information given throughout the book. I feel as though I’m still left with questions and I wish motives and background were better explained.
Although there were chapters from different characters’ perspectives, there wasn’t enough personality for each one to be recognisable or distinct. If there wasn’t a name at the start of each chapter, you’d likely struggle to figure out who was narrating.
I liked the idea of the time jumps, and I think they would have worked better if there was more foreshadowing and more information given throughout the book. I feel as though I’m still left with questions and I wish motives and background were better explained.
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the publisher for a e-copy of the book. All thoughts are my own and unbiased.
When I started I confess, it felt like reading someone’s diary. It felt sneaky, it felt private and most of all it gave me a first-class ticket on someone’s personal ride to hell. There was a deep undercurrent of evil fizzling through the story, threatening to snap up to the surface, making its presence known, jolting everyone back to the past. You just knew that something sinister was going to invade everyone’s space. The cover sent a chill down my spine.
A reunion, seven friends…what could go wrong?
Seven friends reunite, and recount stories of days gone by. They are marred by past events, what happened? For many of the seven characters childhood was a battleground. They drink, become merry, have a laugh, a jibe and reminisce. It was all supposed to be fun, the lines weren’t supposed to become blurred. Just how wrong do things need to become for the group to leave and never be the same again? We all develop and become products of our childhood and adolescence but not allowing it to determine the rest of your life is what is important
Edie and Johnny. They have renovated a site of remarkable childhood importance and have transformed it into a luxury Inn. It’s impressive. Situated in Beara in West Cork they both decided to invest, but not before getting a good friend to give it the once over for them, Patrick. Great financial strain and paperwork don’t stand in their way and they develop it fantastically. Where else would be the perfect backdrop for their reunion for her best friend, Helen’s birthday. Edie is such a kind and caring soul who in my estimation puts incredible amounts of pressure on herself to be the perfect hostess to their friends. She wants them to love the place, but she also wants her friends to be happy. Johnny, Edie’s husband is a strange one for me. He constantly seems on edge and nervy, keeps disappearing into the basement. He also seems to have a bit of a problem with Patrick. Just what has gone on between them? What will transpire as the night goes on? I went into the novel with an open mind, I let it lead me blind even though I could feel the spirits of days gone past all around me.
The friends, Helen, Laura, Claire, Murphy and Patrick arrive, and you get a sense of pride in their friend. Each character has complex layers and as the night develops we get to see them stripped bare. Motives and behaviours being unleashed under stress and panic. Murphy was by far my favourite character and his uncanny sense of humour which could be devilishly dark and self-deprecating kept the group alive. Even during the scenes when everyone else was lashing out and becoming more and more defensive, Murphy just couldn’t stop making hilarious comments, probably due to his nerves. As the night continues on, we get POV’s of all the characters when they were young. It’s a foreshadowing, its intricate and it just leaves the reader with more questions than it answers. Things get complicated when the power goes out, the tension is fraught and sizzling with electricity and then they discover a body…
The body is the catalyst for the group to basically implode. Home truths are thrown around, doubts start creeping into their minds and the fear is palpating around them. This discovery feels like a ten-tonne weight that seven individuals are trying carry. It’s heavy, it’s a burden and it threatens to destroy them all. The past has come back to haunt them. You can’t outrun your past. The luxury Inn is where the past becomes the present. The novel had me guessing until the very end, no-one was safe, everyone was potentially a threat. Alex Barclay writes with a honed skill that leaves devastation in her path. She writes every-day normal people with such an authentic sense of foreboding. I had my suspicions, but I was entirely proven wrong, I liked that the author dropped the mic on me. I felt the fear, how vivid scenes became, dancing in my vision.
I Confess, is dripping in eerie rawness. You can feel the clock ticking and your heart racing and the dread creeping up your spine. A book that will give you papercuts with the speed of the page turning.
When I started I confess, it felt like reading someone’s diary. It felt sneaky, it felt private and most of all it gave me a first-class ticket on someone’s personal ride to hell. There was a deep undercurrent of evil fizzling through the story, threatening to snap up to the surface, making its presence known, jolting everyone back to the past. You just knew that something sinister was going to invade everyone’s space. The cover sent a chill down my spine.
A reunion, seven friends…what could go wrong?
Seven friends reunite, and recount stories of days gone by. They are marred by past events, what happened? For many of the seven characters childhood was a battleground. They drink, become merry, have a laugh, a jibe and reminisce. It was all supposed to be fun, the lines weren’t supposed to become blurred. Just how wrong do things need to become for the group to leave and never be the same again? We all develop and become products of our childhood and adolescence but not allowing it to determine the rest of your life is what is important
Edie and Johnny. They have renovated a site of remarkable childhood importance and have transformed it into a luxury Inn. It’s impressive. Situated in Beara in West Cork they both decided to invest, but not before getting a good friend to give it the once over for them, Patrick. Great financial strain and paperwork don’t stand in their way and they develop it fantastically. Where else would be the perfect backdrop for their reunion for her best friend, Helen’s birthday. Edie is such a kind and caring soul who in my estimation puts incredible amounts of pressure on herself to be the perfect hostess to their friends. She wants them to love the place, but she also wants her friends to be happy. Johnny, Edie’s husband is a strange one for me. He constantly seems on edge and nervy, keeps disappearing into the basement. He also seems to have a bit of a problem with Patrick. Just what has gone on between them? What will transpire as the night goes on? I went into the novel with an open mind, I let it lead me blind even though I could feel the spirits of days gone past all around me.
The friends, Helen, Laura, Claire, Murphy and Patrick arrive, and you get a sense of pride in their friend. Each character has complex layers and as the night develops we get to see them stripped bare. Motives and behaviours being unleashed under stress and panic. Murphy was by far my favourite character and his uncanny sense of humour which could be devilishly dark and self-deprecating kept the group alive. Even during the scenes when everyone else was lashing out and becoming more and more defensive, Murphy just couldn’t stop making hilarious comments, probably due to his nerves. As the night continues on, we get POV’s of all the characters when they were young. It’s a foreshadowing, its intricate and it just leaves the reader with more questions than it answers. Things get complicated when the power goes out, the tension is fraught and sizzling with electricity and then they discover a body…
The body is the catalyst for the group to basically implode. Home truths are thrown around, doubts start creeping into their minds and the fear is palpating around them. This discovery feels like a ten-tonne weight that seven individuals are trying carry. It’s heavy, it’s a burden and it threatens to destroy them all. The past has come back to haunt them. You can’t outrun your past. The luxury Inn is where the past becomes the present. The novel had me guessing until the very end, no-one was safe, everyone was potentially a threat. Alex Barclay writes with a honed skill that leaves devastation in her path. She writes every-day normal people with such an authentic sense of foreboding. I had my suspicions, but I was entirely proven wrong, I liked that the author dropped the mic on me. I felt the fear, how vivid scenes became, dancing in my vision.
I Confess, is dripping in eerie rawness. You can feel the clock ticking and your heart racing and the dread creeping up your spine. A book that will give you papercuts with the speed of the page turning.
irish_bookfairy's review against another edition
4.0
"I confess" is my first book by Alex Barclay and it got me out of my reading slump. The story is about 7 friends reminiscing about the past before shit hits the fan. Nothing can make a reunion with friends better than a storm and a murder. Obviously one of the friends did it so it become a game of Clue.
I like the writing style, the flashbacks gave us a look into the characters' past and it wasn't predictable. The fact that almost the complete character list got killed was also something I didn't see coming. So it wasn't a "happily ever after" story. ..
I like the writing style, the flashbacks gave us a look into the characters' past and it wasn't predictable. The fact that almost the complete character list got killed was also something I didn't see coming. So it wasn't a "happily ever after" story. ..
kirkw1972's review against another edition
4.0
A very fast paced thriller that switches between events over the course of one evening in modern day and flashbacks to events of the people involved some of which make sense and some of which I’m not sure needed to be part of it. I enjoyed it but it did feel like there were a few too many characters. A couple of the women felt superfluous to the plot & I ended up completely confused during the epilogue with all the dads suddenly appearing in a flashback sequence.
I did like it though. It’s very twisty and you never know what will happen next. The killer is revealed about 60% in and then it’s a race to see what happens next and if he gets caught. I ended up reading it in one go, sitting up late to finish despite the previous mentioned negative points. This is my first Alex Barclay book & I will probably read more
I did like it though. It’s very twisty and you never know what will happen next. The killer is revealed about 60% in and then it’s a race to see what happens next and if he gets caught. I ended up reading it in one go, sitting up late to finish despite the previous mentioned negative points. This is my first Alex Barclay book & I will probably read more
soniavr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Awful. Absolutely do not recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
lianareadsblog's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I must admit that I was confused for the first quarter of the book , but as soon as I got a hold of what really happens, I was so invested that I have finished it in one sitting.
The story is told in multiple points of view from multiple characters, as in what happens now in present when they get back together and then, many years back and the secrets that everyone is hiding or somehow choose to forget about them over the years.
The story it’s very good, there are so many layers that are unfolded and the author managed to surprise me at times with some turns of events that I didn’t see them coming.
I’ll definitely recommend it for the thrillers lovers .
I must admit that I was confused for the first quarter of the book , but as soon as I got a hold of what really happens, I was so invested that I have finished it in one sitting.
The story is told in multiple points of view from multiple characters, as in what happens now in present when they get back together and then, many years back and the secrets that everyone is hiding or somehow choose to forget about them over the years.
The story it’s very good, there are so many layers that are unfolded and the author managed to surprise me at times with some turns of events that I didn’t see them coming.
I’ll definitely recommend it for the thrillers lovers .
jessthebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
A group of old friends meet up at a luxury inn that one of them has just opened. It is a dark and stormy night, and the inn is the site where a terrible accident happened when they were children.
They start to relive their childhood memories, leading back to some horrific things which occurred.
Then it becomes clear that there is a murderer among them. How well do they really know each other?
This was a quick read. Not a bad book for this type of genre.
They start to relive their childhood memories, leading back to some horrific things which occurred.
Then it becomes clear that there is a murderer among them. How well do they really know each other?
This was a quick read. Not a bad book for this type of genre.