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samstillreading's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed the first Sophie Hannah book I read (Hurting Distance), so I was surprised to see so many of her books on Borders’ shelves during the last days of their closing down sale. Perhaps she isn’t as well known in Australia? (Perhaps that might explain why I bought another of her books for $5 at the $5 bookstall). I think she is really underrated here – she’s a first class thriller writer. Mystery, police, psychological drama and murders – she has it in one. Fans of Minette Walters or The Hand that Rocked the Cradle would enjoy her books.
Don’t be put off that the police characters (namely Charlie and Simon) are recurring. I’m reading the books completely out of order and it doesn’t matter at all. There was ‘something’ between them in the past (possibly even before the series started) and now we have missed opportunities and sexual tension. While you may be beginning to think ‘oh no here we go again’, that really isn’t the case. What makes Hannah’s books stand out is that the main characters of the books are victims or near victims. The police are secondary and are there so you know both sides of the story.
The majority of this story is told by Sally Thorning. Sally’s a harried mum with a job, a lovely husband and a messy house. The previous year, she was meant to attend a conference which was cancelled. So, instead of telling her family, she went to a hotel for a week of peace. There, she met Mark Bretherwick and had a dalliance with him. So when Mark’s wife and daughter are murdered, Sally is upset. But the man on the television report isn’t the man Sally knows. The only thing is, she can’t tell anyone what she knows without jeopardising her marriage…
The novel presents a very different view of motherhood from what is commonly portrayed in the media – we have the perfect mother, the busy mother and the uncaring mother all portrayed. It explores as much the psychological aspect of raising a child as it does the murders. Some may be offended at having to confront their own feelings about being a parent. (Perhaps this is why some have ranked this book poorly?) You certainly won’t guess the murderer beforehand! Hannah weaves red herrings, blind alleys and chance clues together skilfully so that you’ll stay up all night reading this. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books!
(Note that this book was also published under the title of The Wrong Mother).
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Don’t be put off that the police characters (namely Charlie and Simon) are recurring. I’m reading the books completely out of order and it doesn’t matter at all. There was ‘something’ between them in the past (possibly even before the series started) and now we have missed opportunities and sexual tension. While you may be beginning to think ‘oh no here we go again’, that really isn’t the case. What makes Hannah’s books stand out is that the main characters of the books are victims or near victims. The police are secondary and are there so you know both sides of the story.
The majority of this story is told by Sally Thorning. Sally’s a harried mum with a job, a lovely husband and a messy house. The previous year, she was meant to attend a conference which was cancelled. So, instead of telling her family, she went to a hotel for a week of peace. There, she met Mark Bretherwick and had a dalliance with him. So when Mark’s wife and daughter are murdered, Sally is upset. But the man on the television report isn’t the man Sally knows. The only thing is, she can’t tell anyone what she knows without jeopardising her marriage…
The novel presents a very different view of motherhood from what is commonly portrayed in the media – we have the perfect mother, the busy mother and the uncaring mother all portrayed. It explores as much the psychological aspect of raising a child as it does the murders. Some may be offended at having to confront their own feelings about being a parent. (Perhaps this is why some have ranked this book poorly?) You certainly won’t guess the murderer beforehand! Hannah weaves red herrings, blind alleys and chance clues together skilfully so that you’ll stay up all night reading this. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books!
(Note that this book was also published under the title of The Wrong Mother).
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
mikewa14's review against another edition
4.0
Another gripping (and disturbing) story from the series - full review here
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-point-of-rescue-sophie-hannah.html
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-point-of-rescue-sophie-hannah.html
whatemmaread's review against another edition
5.0
A clever thriller, with a great twist. Kept me guessing.. not quite until the end.. but for a lot longer than most books usually do.
gldnhaze's review against another edition
2.0
Die Idee des Plots ist wirklich gut, aber es hapert an der Umsetzung. Die vielen Charaktere, vor allem von der Polizei, sind sehr verwirrend. Außerdem war die Schreibweise nicht schön. Schade eigentlich.
jenlywan's review against another edition
4.0
The premise of book is on this lady who one day chanced upon a breaking news on tv where the wife and young daughter of a man was dead. Although it shouldn't bother her in normal circumstances, she was shocked when she saw the name of the husband on the tv screen. The name was familiar, but one which she wasn't keen to remember.
She knew the name but the face on the screen was a stranger.
The fact that the person on the tv screen who claimed to be the husband and father of the dead mother and daughter wasn't the person she thought he should be was more shocking to her than the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Confused, she was forced to face the reality and decide if she should let her secret tryst out to the cops.
Comments: These are usually the genres that I like and thus I may sound biased if I say its a good read. There is of course a slight twist at the end and the author, Sophie Hannah, didn't let it slip until almost the end. There are parts of the book which is boring, but there are also instances where it keeps you going.
However, after three of her books, I somehow could sense a similar pattern in her writing.
She knew the name but the face on the screen was a stranger.
The fact that the person on the tv screen who claimed to be the husband and father of the dead mother and daughter wasn't the person she thought he should be was more shocking to her than the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Confused, she was forced to face the reality and decide if she should let her secret tryst out to the cops.
Comments: These are usually the genres that I like and thus I may sound biased if I say its a good read. There is of course a slight twist at the end and the author, Sophie Hannah, didn't let it slip until almost the end. There are parts of the book which is boring, but there are also instances where it keeps you going.
However, after three of her books, I somehow could sense a similar pattern in her writing.
lottie_c's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nikel_kaz's review against another edition
3.0
I had this book with me for over two years but I didn't feel like reading it. So in this lockdown I have choice left but to read it. Then I realised the mistake I made. J shouldn't have waited this long. The book is amazing. Intresting crime story and fine ending. No doubt [a:Sophie Hannah|232473|Sophie Hannah|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1593689337p2/232473.jpg] handled [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1589991473p2/123715.jpg] books well.
kath61's review against another edition
3.0
I am afraid that the main problem was that I couldn't keep up with who was who and which character was writing which part. That meant that the twists and turns were somewhat lost on me. There was no character that I warmed to and whilst motherhood is no picnic I was irritated by the selfish mother parts. Different completely to the brilliant 'We need to talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver. There were parts that could have been chilling but somehow I didn't care enough to mind.