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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
I’ve heard so much about The Whisper Man, one of Alex North’s previous books, so I was keen to read this newest release.
"Everything that happens in life is preordained. We have no choice in anything. We are all just playing out our roles, like actors in a script that was written long before we were born."
The Half Burnt House by Alex North is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of fate, free will, guilt, redemption and obsession. The story focuses on Katie Shaw, who attempts to assist her brother Chris who is implicated in a heinous murder. Chris was assaulted six years ago and left with scars on his face and in his mind. He has not communicated with Katie since then.
"There are some things that can't be fixed, no matter how hard you try. Some wounds that never heal. Some scars that never fade."
The murder victim is Alan Hobbes, a distinguished and wealthy philosophy professor who resided in a half-burnt mansion and was intrigued by a local serial killer. Detective Laurence Page investigates the case and discovers a network of secrets, lies and fate that connect the characters.
"We all have secrets, don't we? Things we keep hidden from the world, from ourselves. Things we are ashamed of, or afraid of. Things we hope no one will ever find out."
The author employs multiple timelines and perspectives to gradually reveal the connections between the characters and their secrets. Featuring complex characters that are flawed and realistic. The feel was dark and atmospheric, and I felt the sense of dread and tension while reading it. The plot also has some astonishing twists, and my expectations changed all the time. The book also has some disturbing scenes that are horrifying and chilling, especially involving The Angel Maker and his gruesome methods.
"The truth is rarely simple or straightforward. It's messy and complicated and full of contradictions. Sometimes it's easier to believe a lie than to face the reality."
The book has a slow pace that may bore some readers who prefer a faster and more action-packed story. I did struggle to keep up with the timelines, it was a bit challenging following the switches between past and present, and between different characters' points of view.
"The past is always with us, whether we want it to be or not. It shapes us, moulds us, haunts us. Sometimes it even saves us."
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with themes of fate, free will, guilt, redemption, and obsession.
With thanks to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
"Everything that happens in life is preordained. We have no choice in anything. We are all just playing out our roles, like actors in a script that was written long before we were born."
The Half Burnt House by Alex North is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of fate, free will, guilt, redemption and obsession. The story focuses on Katie Shaw, who attempts to assist her brother Chris who is implicated in a heinous murder. Chris was assaulted six years ago and left with scars on his face and in his mind. He has not communicated with Katie since then.
"There are some things that can't be fixed, no matter how hard you try. Some wounds that never heal. Some scars that never fade."
The murder victim is Alan Hobbes, a distinguished and wealthy philosophy professor who resided in a half-burnt mansion and was intrigued by a local serial killer. Detective Laurence Page investigates the case and discovers a network of secrets, lies and fate that connect the characters.
"We all have secrets, don't we? Things we keep hidden from the world, from ourselves. Things we are ashamed of, or afraid of. Things we hope no one will ever find out."
The author employs multiple timelines and perspectives to gradually reveal the connections between the characters and their secrets. Featuring complex characters that are flawed and realistic. The feel was dark and atmospheric, and I felt the sense of dread and tension while reading it. The plot also has some astonishing twists, and my expectations changed all the time. The book also has some disturbing scenes that are horrifying and chilling, especially involving The Angel Maker and his gruesome methods.
"The truth is rarely simple or straightforward. It's messy and complicated and full of contradictions. Sometimes it's easier to believe a lie than to face the reality."
The book has a slow pace that may bore some readers who prefer a faster and more action-packed story. I did struggle to keep up with the timelines, it was a bit challenging following the switches between past and present, and between different characters' points of view.
"The past is always with us, whether we want it to be or not. It shapes us, moulds us, haunts us. Sometimes it even saves us."
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with themes of fate, free will, guilt, redemption, and obsession.
With thanks to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
A professor is brutally murdered. As the detective starts to investigate ties to a former religious fanatic and serial killer start to appear. Meanwhile, a sister gets an anxious call that her brother is missing, the brother she failed to protect in a malicious attack when he was a teen. Are the detective and the sister looking for the same person? This is my third Alex North book and I will say that it had a different feel than the others. While there were times of horror that kept me riveted, the storyline just seemed to move along slower than before. The plot was ok though a bit too busy but overall I enjoyed this book. I'm giving it 3.5 starts rounded up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
Yes
I am a huge fan of Alex North and will read anything they write. I was incredibly intrigued by the premise of this book and was very excited to read it. While this did not end up being my favorite Alex North book, it is still very much worth a read.
Katie Shaw grew up living a very charmed life until a violent attack on her younger brother changed the course of her life and her family forever. She has put the pieces of her life back together and now has a child of her own. He life seems to be going well until she gets a call that her brother is missing and needs her again. At the same time, there is a violent murder of a professor that seems to tie to the attack on her brother all those years ago.
I love how North is able to tie together the past and the present to create a beautifully woven story. North is a master at creating a cohesive and emotional story over multiple timelines and does not disappoint with The Angel Maker. Where this story differs for me from North’s previous books it in the connection to the characters. In North’s previous books I have been deeply attached to the characters which has created stories I cannot forget. I found with the Angel Maker, I was not particularly attached to the characters. While the was enjoyable while I was reading it, it was ultimately forgettable.
Katie Shaw grew up living a very charmed life until a violent attack on her younger brother changed the course of her life and her family forever. She has put the pieces of her life back together and now has a child of her own. He life seems to be going well until she gets a call that her brother is missing and needs her again. At the same time, there is a violent murder of a professor that seems to tie to the attack on her brother all those years ago.
I love how North is able to tie together the past and the present to create a beautifully woven story. North is a master at creating a cohesive and emotional story over multiple timelines and does not disappoint with The Angel Maker. Where this story differs for me from North’s previous books it in the connection to the characters. In North’s previous books I have been deeply attached to the characters which has created stories I cannot forget. I found with the Angel Maker, I was not particularly attached to the characters. While the was enjoyable while I was reading it, it was ultimately forgettable.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
mysterious
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
book club book - 2 brothers (good and evil), evil dad-cultish. Bad son murdered. Good son let his son be adopted. Sister helps discover secret and save her brother from these 2. Twisty, good, long.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was an action packed, fast paced, dark thriller. The plot was engrossing and the mystery about whether there was actually a supernatural element contributing to events was really interesting. I liked that the main characters were complicated and flawed (apart from a couple characters who were just evil). It was a bit confusing figuring out the setting. It mostly seemed American (maybe just the fact that the two detectives weren’t referred to as detective inspector/detective sergeant/etc), but there were a handful of times something was written that seemed more British (use of the word posh, some British turns of phrase) and that made me a bit confused. After rereading the summary I realized the settings actually is England, but that’s not very clear throughout the story. Also, the truth about Alan Hobbes son was a bit strange considering the age gap. It almost would have made more sense for the son to actually be the grandson.
This is the third book I’ve read from this author and I’ve enjoyed them all, although I think Whisper Man was my favorite of the three. I think anyone who enjoyed his other books will probably enjoy this one as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!
This is the third book I’ve read from this author and I’ve enjoyed them all, although I think Whisper Man was my favorite of the three. I think anyone who enjoyed his other books will probably enjoy this one as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!
If you loved The Whisper Man than you are in for a real treat with this one!
Starting off in the past, Kate was meant to be looking after her younger, timid, brother Chris, but on a spur of the moment decision she let him make his way home from school on his own. It is that decision that still haunts the family years later.
Set in different time frames, this story starts with a murder and introduces us to a whole cast of characters, all fleshed out, all connected in a whole host of different ways, some self explanatory, others that take you further into this dark, suspenseful thriller to find out the connections.
With both likeable and despicable characters, scenes set in high definition and a storyline that sucks you in, it might not be the fastest paced book, but it is a creeper, slowing working its way beneath your skin and working its insidious plot into your brain!
For all fans of thrillers and suspenses this is going to be a book you really aren’t going to want to miss, it could even be put forward for the winner of thriller of the year 2023! That’s how good it is!
Starting off in the past, Kate was meant to be looking after her younger, timid, brother Chris, but on a spur of the moment decision she let him make his way home from school on his own. It is that decision that still haunts the family years later.
Set in different time frames, this story starts with a murder and introduces us to a whole cast of characters, all fleshed out, all connected in a whole host of different ways, some self explanatory, others that take you further into this dark, suspenseful thriller to find out the connections.
With both likeable and despicable characters, scenes set in high definition and a storyline that sucks you in, it might not be the fastest paced book, but it is a creeper, slowing working its way beneath your skin and working its insidious plot into your brain!
For all fans of thrillers and suspenses this is going to be a book you really aren’t going to want to miss, it could even be put forward for the winner of thriller of the year 2023! That’s how good it is!