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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
There are many things to be terrified of and one of them is losing a child - your own or someone else's. Heidi Perks taps into that fear in this title.
Charlotte is finally watching her best friend's daughter. She's been offering Harriet childminding for the whole of Alice's 4 years. Harriet has always declined. But finally, Charlotte is taking Alice for a whole day so Harriet can take some bookkeeping course. Charlotte is taking her kids and Alice to the school fair and it's going to be great.
Fast forward a few hours. Alice is missing and Charlotte is the one who lost her. The fear has become reality. Days pass and there are no clues as to where Alice disappeared to or with whom. Harriet and her husband, Brian, refuse to speak to Charlotte and Charlotte has become the village pariah. The family liaison officer, Angela, is helping Brian and Harriet cope through the long days absent of Alice's presence and giving them information about the search for her. A mistake has been made, however, and the question is - what will be the cost of the mistake?
This was a fast read. Not only did it read quick but it kept me so engaged that I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. The undercurrent that Perks creates tints the visible story with tension and figuring out the source of the tension is a slow build which I think lends to how fast the story reads.
This may have been my first title by this author but it won't be my last.
There are many things to be terrified of and one of them is losing a child - your own or someone else's. Heidi Perks taps into that fear in this title.
Charlotte is finally watching her best friend's daughter. She's been offering Harriet childminding for the whole of Alice's 4 years. Harriet has always declined. But finally, Charlotte is taking Alice for a whole day so Harriet can take some bookkeeping course. Charlotte is taking her kids and Alice to the school fair and it's going to be great.
Fast forward a few hours. Alice is missing and Charlotte is the one who lost her. The fear has become reality. Days pass and there are no clues as to where Alice disappeared to or with whom. Harriet and her husband, Brian, refuse to speak to Charlotte and Charlotte has become the village pariah. The family liaison officer, Angela, is helping Brian and Harriet cope through the long days absent of Alice's presence and giving them information about the search for her. A mistake has been made, however, and the question is - what will be the cost of the mistake?
This was a fast read. Not only did it read quick but it kept me so engaged that I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. The undercurrent that Perks creates tints the visible story with tension and figuring out the source of the tension is a slow build which I think lends to how fast the story reads.
This may have been my first title by this author but it won't be my last.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow and predictable
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Entertaining listen. I felt the end was missing a little something that would have left me more satisfied, but overall I still enjoyed the journey. I liked the structure and both women’s POV.
dark
mysterious
sad
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
This is one of the better suspense/mystery books I’ve read lately. The plot is very similar to the movie, “Sleeping with the Enemy,” but with a staged kidnapping thrown in.
After loving The Whispers, I knew I had to track down more books by Heidi Perks. And I'm glad I did.
I'll be honest: I figured out what was going on pretty fast. Basically the second Harriet was leaving the room to get away from Brian I began to think that maybe she staged the disappearance to escape her abusive husband. Though I expected physical abuse rather than Brian's gaslighting (fuck Brian).
But I still loved the book, even guessing the twist. I liked the way it was structured, I liked the little twists (Harriet's dad - :(, the Liaison Officer knowing what was going on, Harriet being pregnant, etc.)
It was a super fast listen that I plowed through in a day. A great time.
I'll be honest: I figured out what was going on pretty fast. Basically the second Harriet was leaving the room to get away from Brian I began to think that maybe she staged the disappearance to escape her abusive husband. Though I expected physical abuse rather than Brian's gaslighting (fuck Brian).
But I still loved the book, even guessing the twist. I liked the way it was structured, I liked the little twists (Harriet's dad - :(, the Liaison Officer knowing what was going on, Harriet being pregnant, etc.)
It was a super fast listen that I plowed through in a day. A great time.