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A review by christajls
Hanging Hill by Mo Hayder
4.0
This review originally posted at Hooked on Books
Hanging Hill is a gruesome story with so many twists and turns it'll keep you guessing right until the last page.
This story starts out on an interesting note. A high school student is murdered in a sick and disturbing way. Many mystery writers would take this one plot point and run with it, but not Mo Hayder. Instead Mo Hayder weaves this first murder into such a complex and detailed spiderweb, it's amazing she could keep everything straight. Furthermore, she takes the mystery into a direction I would have never foreseen. There are many unique and interesting developments that set it apart from other mysteries.
In addition to the amazing storytelling, there is also an incredible amount of detail to this book. From the description of the dead body, to the play by play of some suspect porn, to an incredibly disturbing rape scene. Nothing is left unaccounted for. This is one story that doesn't shy away from the unpleasant. At times it was a little hard to read, but it definitely made for an authentic reading experience.
Hayder then extends that amazing detail to her characters - particularly Sally. I think Sally is (arguably) the character that goes through the most changes. She goes from being meek and mild (I think pushover is the ideal word here) to someone who is strong, independent and frankly a little scary. Not all the characters develop as extensively as Sally but she's such an important character that it really stands out.
Mo Hayder is a master when it comes to suspense and thrills, and Hanging Hill certainly lives up to this legacy. It will thrill you, surprise you and stay with you long after you've finished reading it. I know I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling, terrified, long into the night.
Hanging Hill is a gruesome story with so many twists and turns it'll keep you guessing right until the last page.
This story starts out on an interesting note. A high school student is murdered in a sick and disturbing way. Many mystery writers would take this one plot point and run with it, but not Mo Hayder. Instead Mo Hayder weaves this first murder into such a complex and detailed spiderweb, it's amazing she could keep everything straight. Furthermore, she takes the mystery into a direction I would have never foreseen. There are many unique and interesting developments that set it apart from other mysteries.
In addition to the amazing storytelling, there is also an incredible amount of detail to this book. From the description of the dead body, to the play by play of some suspect porn, to an incredibly disturbing rape scene. Nothing is left unaccounted for. This is one story that doesn't shy away from the unpleasant. At times it was a little hard to read, but it definitely made for an authentic reading experience.
Hayder then extends that amazing detail to her characters - particularly Sally. I think Sally is (arguably) the character that goes through the most changes. She goes from being meek and mild (I think pushover is the ideal word here) to someone who is strong, independent and frankly a little scary. Not all the characters develop as extensively as Sally but she's such an important character that it really stands out.
Mo Hayder is a master when it comes to suspense and thrills, and Hanging Hill certainly lives up to this legacy. It will thrill you, surprise you and stay with you long after you've finished reading it. I know I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling, terrified, long into the night.