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emmagbsn9's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
stephanierachel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Slow read but good ending
bbrown0526's review against another edition
4.0
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a new layer would be uncovered. It’s a slow burn thriller but kept me turning pages nonetheless.
paulabrandon's review against another edition
3.0
Laura and Kit are eclipse chasers (well, Kit particularly) and in 1999, during an eclipse in Cornwall, Laura witnesses the rape of Beth by rich boy Jamie. Incensed at the idea he'll get off because of his wealthy connections, Laura lies in the witness stand. She worries about how the lie will affect her relationship with Kit, and the mere fact she did lie has her developing severe stress and anxiety. Jamie is found guilty and goes to prison, but when he lodges an appeal, this brings Beth back into Laura and Kit's lives.
Fifteen years later, in the present, Laura and Kit live completely off the grid, in fear and paranoia, wondering if Beth is going to find them again. Laura is now pregnant, and Kit is traveling with a friend to the Faroe Islands for another eclipse. The book sets about slowly unraveling what happened between Laura, Kit and Beth that now has them so fearful of her.
After a very slow start, this settles into a reasonably diverting thriller. Unfortunately, the chapters set in the present are extremely dull, as they amount to little more than filler as we wait for the events in the past to unfold. Basically, events in the present can't progress until we know what has happened previously, so it's little more than Laura sitting around the house worrying about Kit, or dull details from Kit about his trip and the eclipse.
You'll learn a lot about eclipses here. You'll have them described to you a lot as well. Probably more than you'd like.
The story-line set in the past is far more interesting and suspenseful. Unfortunately, it is hindered somewhat by the fact that there are simply too many psychological thrillers out there nowadays. Authors are struggling to find anything new. Although I know full well Erin Kelly hasn't pilfered anybody elses material,. So therefore, I think a crowded market causes this one to lose a lot of its impact and be predictable, as opposed to an author without any fresh ideas.
If you can get past the dreary start and the interminable present-day chapters, this is fairly engaging, with excellent characterisation, some good suspense, and a very satisfying ending. However, it could have done with being about fifty pages shorter and, no matter how well-written it is, it can't escape the fact that there are so many similar books out there, so it still fails to stand out from the pack.
Fifteen years later, in the present, Laura and Kit live completely off the grid, in fear and paranoia, wondering if Beth is going to find them again. Laura is now pregnant, and Kit is traveling with a friend to the Faroe Islands for another eclipse. The book sets about slowly unraveling what happened between Laura, Kit and Beth that now has them so fearful of her.
After a very slow start, this settles into a reasonably diverting thriller. Unfortunately, the chapters set in the present are extremely dull, as they amount to little more than filler as we wait for the events in the past to unfold. Basically, events in the present can't progress until we know what has happened previously, so it's little more than Laura sitting around the house worrying about Kit, or dull details from Kit about his trip and the eclipse.
You'll learn a lot about eclipses here. You'll have them described to you a lot as well. Probably more than you'd like.
The story-line set in the past is far more interesting and suspenseful. Unfortunately, it is hindered somewhat by the fact that there are simply too many psychological thrillers out there nowadays. Authors are struggling to find anything new. Although I know full well Erin Kelly hasn't pilfered anybody elses material,
Spoiler
the scenario of Laura letting Beth live with them despite barely knowing her, and Kit's barely disguised hostility over it, is virtually identical to the scenario in The Sister by Louise Jensen, as is the twist that Kit's hostility is due to the fact he slept with Beth in CornwallIf you can get past the dreary start and the interminable present-day chapters, this is fairly engaging, with excellent characterisation, some good suspense, and a very satisfying ending. However, it could have done with being about fifty pages shorter and, no matter how well-written it is, it can't escape the fact that there are so many similar books out there, so it still fails to stand out from the pack.
azwahine_reads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lifeinthebooklane's review against another edition
3.0
"Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive" (W. Scott)
And oh what a tangled thread of misconceptions, lies and deceit this proved to be. On Goodreads I consider 3 stars to be a positive review (I liked it). Thrillers are not my 'natural' genre, although I recently read Wasp by Fiona Quinn and that held me enthralled. As I received an arc through Netgalley I felt obliged to finish this book, and only did so after reading reviews that said the book picked up pace and interest in the second half (which it did).
I'm sorry but there was just way to much waffle and unnecessary scene setting. This book could have a good 1/3 cut out from it without affecting the story. And this extra third made it a very, very long book. However when you get to the faster paced chapters where you can feel the action starting to happen, the book is good, not amazing, but good. There were some amazing twists and turns in the book, and when I got to the end of the book scenes much earlier in the book (thinking upper deck scene here) had new meaning. Whilst I can accept some type of prosecution on the second case (towards the end of the book) I found the actual charge very unlikely - real life has shown a lesser charge or very often no charge in these situations. However this links to the last line of the book, so perhaps the author did this to have a greater impact.
And I HATED that last sentence, I had been a little ambivalent towards the character, whose 'line' it was, for a chunk of the book but that compounded the dislike that had been building for several chapters. I could not understand their reaction to one lie when they too had been feeling guilty about lying for so long. This wasn't a book where I particularly warmed to ANY of the characters (at one point Mac seemed to be the most likeable of the lot!). The last 8 - 10 chapters drastically changed my view of MOST of the main characters and by the end the only character I had any time for was the only genuine victim in the whole book.
If your a fan of the author, or psychological thrillers, you may enjoy this. The writing style is good, easy to read and flows naturally, as does the dialogue. It was just the slow pace and not terribly likeable characters that made this an 'ok' read for me.
And oh what a tangled thread of misconceptions, lies and deceit this proved to be. On Goodreads I consider 3 stars to be a positive review (I liked it). Thrillers are not my 'natural' genre, although I recently read Wasp by Fiona Quinn and that held me enthralled. As I received an arc through Netgalley I felt obliged to finish this book, and only did so after reading reviews that said the book picked up pace and interest in the second half (which it did).
I'm sorry but there was just way to much waffle and unnecessary scene setting. This book could have a good 1/3 cut out from it without affecting the story. And this extra third made it a very, very long book. However when you get to the faster paced chapters where you can feel the action starting to happen, the book is good, not amazing, but good. There were some amazing twists and turns in the book, and when I got to the end of the book scenes much earlier in the book (thinking upper deck scene here) had new meaning. Whilst I can accept some type of prosecution on the second case (towards the end of the book) I found the actual charge very unlikely - real life has shown a lesser charge or very often no charge in these situations. However this links to the last line of the book, so perhaps the author did this to have a greater impact.
And I HATED that last sentence, I had been a little ambivalent towards the character, whose 'line' it was, for a chunk of the book but that compounded the dislike that had been building for several chapters. I could not understand their reaction to one lie when they too had been feeling guilty about lying for so long. This wasn't a book where I particularly warmed to ANY of the characters (at one point Mac seemed to be the most likeable of the lot!). The last 8 - 10 chapters drastically changed my view of MOST of the main characters and by the end the only character I had any time for was the only genuine victim in the whole book.
If your a fan of the author, or psychological thrillers, you may enjoy this. The writing style is good, easy to read and flows naturally, as does the dialogue. It was just the slow pace and not terribly likeable characters that made this an 'ok' read for me.
heatherl98's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a definite 5/5 for me, the whole way through - I was gripped, amazed and taken into a whole new world by the writing.
But the final section just completely died for me. Everything after Jamie in the kitchen just seemed really clunky and underwhelming.
I’m not sure what sort of ending I was expecting, but I really just felt disappointed.
Overall, it was a very good book and I did enjoy it
But the final section just completely died for me. Everything after Jamie in the kitchen just seemed really clunky and underwhelming.
I’m not sure what sort of ending I was expecting, but I really just felt disappointed.
Overall, it was a very good book and I did enjoy it
vshoenecke's review against another edition
Trigger - Rape and the legal case seemed to head in a direction I was not liking. I needed to get out of that story.
bethl28's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
Eclipse chasers, no one to root for