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brownflopsy's review against another edition
5.0
Fifteen Years ago, Heidi was the victim of an attack that she barely survived; an attack that also left her little sister, Anna, missing and her best friend, Nina, dead. No one has ever been found guilty of these crimes.... and Anna has never been traced.
Heidi does not remember what happened that day. In fact there are big chunks of her memories missing, seemingly gone for ever, and she lives her life with little recollection of her history.
Now, for some reason that Heidi cannot fathom, she has started to remember bits and pieces from the past - memories of events, things and faces that might help solve the mystery of what happened all those years ago.
As Heidi follows the trail of clues, she uncovers a web of secrets, lies and betrayal that she is not prepared for. And there are some very dangerous people would rather their guilt stayed hidden....
************************************************************
Heidi is the victim of a horrible attack that left her best friend dead and her sister missing, but she cannot remember what happened or why. She lives her live as an outsider, afraid to get close to anyone, and unsure of who she really is and what she is capable of.
When flashes of memory start to come back to Heidi, she opens a whole can of evil worms connected to a paedophile ring that was involved in the abuse and disappearance of boys and girls around the time of her assault - and with the help of one of the detectives connected to the original investigation, it seems the chance may finally be here to find out who was responsible.
As the new investigation starts to take shape, it becomes clear that the original inquiry was seriously flawed - perhaps deliberately. Someone did not want the truth exposed.... and that someone is apparently still around and directing things behind the scenes. How far does this web of corruption reach and how far was Heidi herself involved?
As more and more of the past comes back to Heidi, she begins to feel that she may have been responsible in some way for Nina's death and Anna's disappearance, but the truth, when it comes, is so much worse than she realised.
What an absolutely cracking thriller! Monstrous Souls is a masterclass in perfect pacing and seamless plotting that will keep you turning the pages all the way to the shocking end. This is absolutely heart in your mouth stuff, full of secrets, lies, corruption, and betrayal - all beautifully packaged in a dark and compelling story.
And this is tale that has chilling echoes of some of the most distressing real life cases that have been in the news in recent years - stories of grooming and abuse of young people on a huge scale, especially those from socially deprived backgrounds, that involve perpetrators in positions of trust and power that were able to cover up their activities for years with a conspiracy of silence. This is also a book that asks some interesting questions about the nature of guilt and how much someone's silence can make them complicit in the acts of others - very thought provoking indeed.
For a debut thriller, this is a most impressive and accomplished book. I can't wait to see more from Rebecca Kelly.
Heidi does not remember what happened that day. In fact there are big chunks of her memories missing, seemingly gone for ever, and she lives her life with little recollection of her history.
Now, for some reason that Heidi cannot fathom, she has started to remember bits and pieces from the past - memories of events, things and faces that might help solve the mystery of what happened all those years ago.
As Heidi follows the trail of clues, she uncovers a web of secrets, lies and betrayal that she is not prepared for. And there are some very dangerous people would rather their guilt stayed hidden....
************************************************************
Heidi is the victim of a horrible attack that left her best friend dead and her sister missing, but she cannot remember what happened or why. She lives her live as an outsider, afraid to get close to anyone, and unsure of who she really is and what she is capable of.
When flashes of memory start to come back to Heidi, she opens a whole can of evil worms connected to a paedophile ring that was involved in the abuse and disappearance of boys and girls around the time of her assault - and with the help of one of the detectives connected to the original investigation, it seems the chance may finally be here to find out who was responsible.
As the new investigation starts to take shape, it becomes clear that the original inquiry was seriously flawed - perhaps deliberately. Someone did not want the truth exposed.... and that someone is apparently still around and directing things behind the scenes. How far does this web of corruption reach and how far was Heidi herself involved?
As more and more of the past comes back to Heidi, she begins to feel that she may have been responsible in some way for Nina's death and Anna's disappearance, but the truth, when it comes, is so much worse than she realised.
What an absolutely cracking thriller! Monstrous Souls is a masterclass in perfect pacing and seamless plotting that will keep you turning the pages all the way to the shocking end. This is absolutely heart in your mouth stuff, full of secrets, lies, corruption, and betrayal - all beautifully packaged in a dark and compelling story.
And this is tale that has chilling echoes of some of the most distressing real life cases that have been in the news in recent years - stories of grooming and abuse of young people on a huge scale, especially those from socially deprived backgrounds, that involve perpetrators in positions of trust and power that were able to cover up their activities for years with a conspiracy of silence. This is also a book that asks some interesting questions about the nature of guilt and how much someone's silence can make them complicit in the acts of others - very thought provoking indeed.
For a debut thriller, this is a most impressive and accomplished book. I can't wait to see more from Rebecca Kelly.
jessplayin's review against another edition
3.0
A solid but flawed debut thriller. Be aware that there is a lot of content that could be distressing to readers including child abuse and lots of violence towards women and children. Even though the plot was fairly predictable Rebecca really has a solid prose style that makes reading Monstrous Souls a breeze. The only thing that slows you down is the darkness of the content. I wish the characters were a little more fleshed out, they often feel two dimensional and have to react stupidly to certain events in order for plot advancement. This usually would detract but as a first novel it's a solid go.
Thanks to Netgalley, Rebecca Kelly, and Agora Books for the ARC copy.
Thanks to Netgalley, Rebecca Kelly, and Agora Books for the ARC copy.
sjpreads's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bergamotandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 STARS
Over a decade ago, Heidi was the victim of a brutal attack that left her hospitalized, her younger sister missing, and her best friend dead. But Heidi doesn’t remember any of that. She’s lived her life since then with little memory of her friends and family and no recollection of the crime.
Now, it’s all starting to come back.
As Heidi begins retracing the events that lead to the assault, she is forced to confront the pain and guilt she’s long kept buried. But Heidi isn’t the only one digging up the past, and the closer she gets to remembering the truth, the more danger she’s in.
When the truth is worse than fiction, is the past worth reliving?
.
.
.
MONSTROUS SOULS is a dark, gritty read that centres around some very touchy subjects (TW: child abuse and neglect.) However, as soon and I started reading I knew that I wasn't going to be able to put it down...and I didn't. I read this one in one sitting! Kelly's writing drew me in immediately and kept me riveted for it's entirety.
The plot swapped back and forth between 2001 (the year of the attack) and 2016 (present day) and because of this there were some points where I, as the reader, knew more than Heidi did (due to her amnesia.) I really enjoyed watching her memories slide in to place - even when I already knew the outcome of a few, and felt like this was an excellent added twist. Although most of the reveals weren't mind blowing, MONSTROUS SOULS still kept me on the edge of my seat. And the ending? Yup. That last paragraph almost did me in.
Highly recommended if you enjoy dark, gritty thrillers (and can stomach some of the triggers.)
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for granting my wish and sending me an ARC!
Over a decade ago, Heidi was the victim of a brutal attack that left her hospitalized, her younger sister missing, and her best friend dead. But Heidi doesn’t remember any of that. She’s lived her life since then with little memory of her friends and family and no recollection of the crime.
Now, it’s all starting to come back.
As Heidi begins retracing the events that lead to the assault, she is forced to confront the pain and guilt she’s long kept buried. But Heidi isn’t the only one digging up the past, and the closer she gets to remembering the truth, the more danger she’s in.
When the truth is worse than fiction, is the past worth reliving?
.
.
.
MONSTROUS SOULS is a dark, gritty read that centres around some very touchy subjects (TW: child abuse and neglect.) However, as soon and I started reading I knew that I wasn't going to be able to put it down...and I didn't. I read this one in one sitting! Kelly's writing drew me in immediately and kept me riveted for it's entirety.
The plot swapped back and forth between 2001 (the year of the attack) and 2016 (present day) and because of this there were some points where I, as the reader, knew more than Heidi did (due to her amnesia.) I really enjoyed watching her memories slide in to place - even when I already knew the outcome of a few, and felt like this was an excellent added twist. Although most of the reveals weren't mind blowing, MONSTROUS SOULS still kept me on the edge of my seat. And the ending? Yup. That last paragraph almost did me in.
Highly recommended if you enjoy dark, gritty thrillers (and can stomach some of the triggers.)
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for granting my wish and sending me an ARC!
kazza27's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Agora Books for my invitation to the tour for this book and also for my digital copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.
The book starts in 2001 just after the attack on Heidi which leaves her with no memory her best friend is dead and her younger sister missing.
The book then switches between the present 2016 and 2001, Heidi is now an adult and after years of not being able to remember anything about the attack. She starts to have some flashbacks, small things to begin with but they get bigger. Heidi was horribly injured in the attack and left for dead.
There are people in the story from the past that do not want her to remember and are watching from a distance to see if she does and have plans to deal with her if she does.
This book is dark and you know from the beginning that it is going to expose a lot of bad things about what happened and the person who did it. It is an unsettling read but yet I felt compelled to read on knowing that it would probably be horrific. The conclusion was really shocking and I did not see that coming.
If you like your crime dark, twisty and unsettling then this is the book for you.
The book starts in 2001 just after the attack on Heidi which leaves her with no memory her best friend is dead and her younger sister missing.
The book then switches between the present 2016 and 2001, Heidi is now an adult and after years of not being able to remember anything about the attack. She starts to have some flashbacks, small things to begin with but they get bigger. Heidi was horribly injured in the attack and left for dead.
There are people in the story from the past that do not want her to remember and are watching from a distance to see if she does and have plans to deal with her if she does.
This book is dark and you know from the beginning that it is going to expose a lot of bad things about what happened and the person who did it. It is an unsettling read but yet I felt compelled to read on knowing that it would probably be horrific. The conclusion was really shocking and I did not see that coming.
If you like your crime dark, twisty and unsettling then this is the book for you.
joo13's review against another edition
4.0
Heidi was brutally attached as a teenager 15 years ago and lost her memory. Now it is coming back as she remembers her fried bing killed and her sister disappearing.
This was a readable psychological thriller where you get to read the pieces of Heidi's past as she starts to get bits of her memory back. I quite enjoyed this book.
This was a readable psychological thriller where you get to read the pieces of Heidi's past as she starts to get bits of her memory back. I quite enjoyed this book.
crystal7's review
4.0
This book had me gripped from the first few pages.....
Heidi is brutally attacked as a teenager, her best friend is murdered and her sister is taken.
The story jumps between before the attack and 15 years after the attack, when her memory starts to return, it also switches between characters - this is all really well done and it is easy to keep track of the story which has many interesting twists and turns.
Child abuse is mentioned within the story but this is handled very well, nothing is graphic and a lot is left to the readers imagination.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.
Heidi is brutally attacked as a teenager, her best friend is murdered and her sister is taken.
The story jumps between before the attack and 15 years after the attack, when her memory starts to return, it also switches between characters - this is all really well done and it is easy to keep track of the story which has many interesting twists and turns.
Child abuse is mentioned within the story but this is handled very well, nothing is graphic and a lot is left to the readers imagination.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.
always_need_more_books's review
4.0
What if you knew the truth but couldn’t remember?
The story opens with two detectives, Brenda and Denise visiting a teenage girl in hospital. 13-year-old Heidi was found badly beaten and left for dead in parkland. Her best friend was found dead next to her and her 7-year-old sister Anna is missing.
Moving forward to 2016, we find Denise is still in touch with Heidi who has no memory of what happened to her on that day or why. Her sister has never been found and her mum has never recovered from the trauma of what happened to Heidi and loosing Anna and is in a psychiatric unit, so Heidi is very much alone. Heidi’s memory is starting to return, frustratingly slowly and she wants to know more information about the case.
After Denise has filled Heidi in on what she knows, Heidi starts to do her own digging, starting by visiting Nina’s family who still live next door to her old childhood home. There she meets Nina’s mum and some of her now grown up siblings, who help to fill in some the gaps.
Mostly from Heidi’s point of view we hear from her at the age of 13, about her friendship with Nina and the old bunker they use a secret den. We also hear from her as a grown up as she starts to uncover the shocking events that led to her attack. As Heidi’s memory starts to come back, she is aware that she is being followed and her life is again at risk, as people become nervous about her remembering too much.
I found the subject matter of Monstrous Souls highly uncomfortable to read about, but it was a thrilling read none the less. The dual timeline worked really well – we as the reader are finding out about Heidi’s past at the same time as she is. Quite early on we learn that Nina is unhappy at home and dislikes her stepfather immensely – she wants to run away and begs Heidi to come with her. When is comes to light that Nina is being abused by her step father, Heidi’s safe, comfortable world is shattered. I felt so sad for the 13-year-old Heidi having to deal with these huge issues alone.
A gritty, dark and shocking read, Rebecca Kelly handles the subject matter with sensitivity and threw in a few extra twists that I did not see coming! A strong and confident debut.
The story opens with two detectives, Brenda and Denise visiting a teenage girl in hospital. 13-year-old Heidi was found badly beaten and left for dead in parkland. Her best friend was found dead next to her and her 7-year-old sister Anna is missing.
Moving forward to 2016, we find Denise is still in touch with Heidi who has no memory of what happened to her on that day or why. Her sister has never been found and her mum has never recovered from the trauma of what happened to Heidi and loosing Anna and is in a psychiatric unit, so Heidi is very much alone. Heidi’s memory is starting to return, frustratingly slowly and she wants to know more information about the case.
After Denise has filled Heidi in on what she knows, Heidi starts to do her own digging, starting by visiting Nina’s family who still live next door to her old childhood home. There she meets Nina’s mum and some of her now grown up siblings, who help to fill in some the gaps.
Mostly from Heidi’s point of view we hear from her at the age of 13, about her friendship with Nina and the old bunker they use a secret den. We also hear from her as a grown up as she starts to uncover the shocking events that led to her attack. As Heidi’s memory starts to come back, she is aware that she is being followed and her life is again at risk, as people become nervous about her remembering too much.
I found the subject matter of Monstrous Souls highly uncomfortable to read about, but it was a thrilling read none the less. The dual timeline worked really well – we as the reader are finding out about Heidi’s past at the same time as she is. Quite early on we learn that Nina is unhappy at home and dislikes her stepfather immensely – she wants to run away and begs Heidi to come with her. When is comes to light that Nina is being abused by her step father, Heidi’s safe, comfortable world is shattered. I felt so sad for the 13-year-old Heidi having to deal with these huge issues alone.
A gritty, dark and shocking read, Rebecca Kelly handles the subject matter with sensitivity and threw in a few extra twists that I did not see coming! A strong and confident debut.
nortoang's review
5.0
Just had to keep reading till the end
I found this book really engaging and just had to keep reading despite the ever evolving disturbing storyline that was unraveling. Shocking storyline but still believable and amazing that this was the authors debut novel. She has developed the storyline and interaction with police so well. I would definitely look out for her next one.
Thanks to #NetGalley for a preview of this book to read and review.
#MonstrousSouls I would recommend this for a great read.
I found this book really engaging and just had to keep reading despite the ever evolving disturbing storyline that was unraveling. Shocking storyline but still believable and amazing that this was the authors debut novel. She has developed the storyline and interaction with police so well. I would definitely look out for her next one.
Thanks to #NetGalley for a preview of this book to read and review.
#MonstrousSouls I would recommend this for a great read.
lianareadsblog's review
4.0
4.5 stars
A debut story full of moments that will take you on a rollercoaster ride without doubt.
It's so interesting how our brain has a life of it's own and makes us forget or just block out sensitive and trauma moments from our life.
The story is told in then, 2001, and now 2016 scenes, with multiple pov, with so many triggering topics but these are bringing more awareness of how cruel the world we live in can be at times.
It's a brilliant thriller that many readers will enjoy all the edge of the seat, dark and twisted scenes , some predictable, some very unexpected, a hard to digest story at times but a must read novel for sure.
NetGalley arc, all opinions are my own
A debut story full of moments that will take you on a rollercoaster ride without doubt.
It's so interesting how our brain has a life of it's own and makes us forget or just block out sensitive and trauma moments from our life.
The story is told in then, 2001, and now 2016 scenes, with multiple pov, with so many triggering topics but these are bringing more awareness of how cruel the world we live in can be at times.
It's a brilliant thriller that many readers will enjoy all the edge of the seat, dark and twisted scenes , some predictable, some very unexpected, a hard to digest story at times but a must read novel for sure.
NetGalley arc, all opinions are my own