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lucyawesomesaudible's Reviews (29)
I am a HUGE John Marrs fan. However, when I started this book I was intrigued to begin with as it had a good start. But it soon turned into a slow burning pot simmering on a low light. You hear from both wife Catherine and husband Simon in two different timelines. From when he disappeared onwards and then also flashes forward to the present day 25 years on.
I found their subsequent journeys at times to be a bit dull. Don't get me wrong it kept my attention throughout. There are a few moments along the way when you will be like wait they did what!? I stuck at it. Then at the end what a pay off. When the truths of the past come spilling into the present your jaw is left on the floor and the hits just keep coming. The slow burn to get you to the end is well worth it. It restored my faith in the genius of John Marrs nobody else I've read can quite end a book with revelations such as he does it. And so I give it a respectable 4 Lucy Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I found their subsequent journeys at times to be a bit dull. Don't get me wrong it kept my attention throughout. There are a few moments along the way when you will be like wait they did what!? I stuck at it. Then at the end what a pay off. When the truths of the past come spilling into the present your jaw is left on the floor and the hits just keep coming. The slow burn to get you to the end is well worth it. It restored my faith in the genius of John Marrs nobody else I've read can quite end a book with revelations such as he does it. And so I give it a respectable 4 Lucy Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely love John Marrs style of writing nobody can quite pull out a shock ending you didn't see coming like him. This is by far my favourite book of his so far that I've listened to. It is so dark and Laura really is something else as the main character. She really does take advantage of the vulnerable callers to End of the Line. Unfortunately for her some of her actions have consequences. I was on the edge of my seat listening to this book it has highs and devastating lows, twists and turns and a whole lot of sociopathic behaviours. It is just wonderful. I'd definitely rate it a full 5 Lucy Stars I completed it in just two sessions I was hooked. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have been a big fan of the Handmaid's Tale TV show for many years. I knew it was based on a book so I thought it was high time I got involved in the novels. I very much enjoyed the Handmaid's Tale, it is set in a bleak dystopian society where women are the bottom rung of the ladder. Men rein supreme. To be a handmaid is to be used to bear children for the husbands and wives of Gilead. This book is set in the narrative of June, however you never truly know her name in the book I only know this fact from the TV series. She has been taken prisoner and forced to become a handmaid.
Her husband is lost to her and her daughter is taken from her. I really enjoyed this book it was interesting to see in comparison how it differed to the TV adaptation. Truly harrowing tale. Brilliantly read by Elizabeth Moss herself. You sympathise with her and are routing for her to escape these horrors.
I give it 4 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Her husband is lost to her and her daughter is taken from her. I really enjoyed this book it was interesting to see in comparison how it differed to the TV adaptation. Truly harrowing tale. Brilliantly read by Elizabeth Moss herself. You sympathise with her and are routing for her to escape these horrors.
I give it 4 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Testaments was a follow up book as fans were crying out to know what happened next. It is set 15 years later. I think I enjoyed this book even more than the Handmaid's tale as it was all new to me. Finally you see how Gilead is brought to its knees. Through the bravery of these women it all comes to a head. I was riveted throughout and absolutely loved it. Aunt Lydia is a boss bitch!
I give it 4 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I give it 4 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely loved this book. It had me at the opening chapter. A death at the dinner table. Rachel with knife in hand, but is all as it seems and off it goes.
The characters were so well put together you are hearing the story unfold from the voices of Rachel and Charlie. And it goes back and forth between before the murder and back to the present day and on after the murder occurs. I enjoyed the anticipation of the events that lead up to that fateful evening. It helped build tension and made me want to keep reading on to see how they got to this point. I did this book in two listens it had me hooked. Some wonderful twists and turns I was convinced I had it sussed but then BLAM a revelation and I was oh so wrong I love books that manage this and keep you guessing.
It certainly made me think twice about joining a book club
The characters were so well put together you are hearing the story unfold from the voices of Rachel and Charlie. And it goes back and forth between before the murder and back to the present day and on after the murder occurs. I enjoyed the anticipation of the events that lead up to that fateful evening. It helped build tension and made me want to keep reading on to see how they got to this point. I did this book in two listens it had me hooked. Some wonderful twists and turns I was convinced I had it sussed but then BLAM a revelation and I was oh so wrong I love books that manage this and keep you guessing.
It certainly made me think twice about joining a book club
I absolutely loved these books. Read by the author himself Adam Kay, this brought that personal touch to the listening for me. I felt what he was feeling and describing through the way he read it to me. It enhanced my enjoyment of these books immensely. It is a no holds barred graphic depiction of life in the NHS it is just as it is described above. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking. I'd also throw in gritty, witty, honest and soulful. He is a very talented man that had lived a life in the NHS trenches delivering babies, exhausted and worked to the absolute bone while doing it. It really is amazing what doctors in hospitals have to live through on a daily basis. This is such a harrowing read at times it had me almost in tears and next minute laughing out loud.
I recently watched the BBC drama that was based on this book and they did such a great job transforming it from page to screen if you enjoyed the show you will love the books too.
I give a medically brilliant 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I recently watched the BBC drama that was based on this book and they did such a great job transforming it from page to screen if you enjoyed the show you will love the books too.
I give a medically brilliant 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
T' was the Nightshift Before Christmas is much shorter and is his diary entries for all Christmas/new year's he worked. The style of writing and sense of humour is continued and it also is as delightful and awful to read as This Is Going to Hurt. Adam Kay is a very brave man for sharing his experiences with the world. NHS workers are marvellous.
A well deserved 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A well deserved 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sorrow and Bliss is a truly wonderful book. It is an emotional rollercoaster of a read. I think there should be more books addressing mental health issues as a main theme of a book. Having suffered with depression myself I found I could really relate to some of the things Martha goes through and says in her narrative. I also really admire the author Meg Mason for deciding to not reveal the actual diagnosis of what Martha has in the book it is simply abbreviated with a dash _ . In the audio book it is referred to as X. By some of her behaviours and symptoms you could probably diagnose what you think it may be. But I love that for every different reader it could be something different and you can interpret it as you wish. I found some of it to be very harrowing and left me feeling all the sorrow but there truly are some real heart warming bits of bliss too. And so the title is absolutely spot on. I think for those who haven't had first hand experience with depression or can't really understand what it is to live with, this book really is wonderfully descriptive and describes some of the emotions and thoughts beautifully. With Emilia Fox reading the audiobook it makes it even more divine with her soft and wonderful voice. Very well read indeed. Cannot recommend it enough. I give it the full 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is something else told by 4 different narratives
Ted Bannerman who lives in a ramshackle house and is haunted by memories of his past and has frequent blackouts.
Lauren his teenage daughter who only comes to visit very rarely but is not allowed to leave the house.
Olivia Ted's Cat. Yes his cat. She loves her comfort, is religious and loves Ted.
Delilah who moves in over the road. Her little sister was abducted ten years earlier and she has been looking for her ever since. She suspects Ted to have been involved in her kidnap.
What a twisty and turny read this book was. It took me quite a few chapters to get into the flow of it with all 4 characters. I found the cats narrative to be quite funny and charming to begin with but soon started to lose interest when her chapters came round. I enjoyed getting to know the other characters. There is a lot of guess work and predictions to be had throughout this book as it jumps backwards and forwards through time. I was convinced I had this book sussed but turns out I didn't at all. I enjoyed how the different narratives were layered. As far as thrillers/horror goes it didn't have me hooked in until almost half the way into it. I'd definitely describe it as a slow burner. However once it gets going you want to keep reading to get to the books end. The last 2 hours is definitely well worth the wait when it all comes to a head and you learn the real truths you are left reeling with the revelations. Expertly read by Christopher Ragland. He manages to differentiate his voice for each character wonderfully.
I'd give it a solid 4 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ted Bannerman who lives in a ramshackle house and is haunted by memories of his past and has frequent blackouts.
Lauren his teenage daughter who only comes to visit very rarely but is not allowed to leave the house.
Olivia Ted's Cat. Yes his cat. She loves her comfort, is religious and loves Ted.
Delilah who moves in over the road. Her little sister was abducted ten years earlier and she has been looking for her ever since. She suspects Ted to have been involved in her kidnap.
What a twisty and turny read this book was. It took me quite a few chapters to get into the flow of it with all 4 characters. I found the cats narrative to be quite funny and charming to begin with but soon started to lose interest when her chapters came round. I enjoyed getting to know the other characters. There is a lot of guess work and predictions to be had throughout this book as it jumps backwards and forwards through time. I was convinced I had this book sussed but turns out I didn't at all. I enjoyed how the different narratives were layered. As far as thrillers/horror goes it didn't have me hooked in until almost half the way into it. I'd definitely describe it as a slow burner. However once it gets going you want to keep reading to get to the books end. The last 2 hours is definitely well worth the wait when it all comes to a head and you learn the real truths you are left reeling with the revelations. Expertly read by Christopher Ragland. He manages to differentiate his voice for each character wonderfully.
I'd give it a solid 4 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely love Chris Carter. This is my second book of his I've read and I'm already in love with the detective duo team of Hunter and Garcia. Angela Wood is a very well written and likeable character and makes the biggest mistake of her life stealing the journal of a serial killer. It had me at hello, I was hooked in right away.
Hunter and Garcia set to work to try to track down the author of the death journal. They begin to uncover a slew of bodies, all killed on different ways and means. Some really gruesome and descriptive writing. Carter really is one of the masters of Thrillers and crime writing. You also get some narrative with the killer himself. I listened to this book through Borrow Box and it was read by Thomas Judd. He really mixes it up with different accents and styles of speech for each individual character. I especially enjoyed his gruff portrayal of the killer. Added a bit more atmosphere and terror to it all. I look forward to reading more books in the Hunter and Garcia series. I give this one a solid 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hunter and Garcia set to work to try to track down the author of the death journal. They begin to uncover a slew of bodies, all killed on different ways and means. Some really gruesome and descriptive writing. Carter really is one of the masters of Thrillers and crime writing. You also get some narrative with the killer himself. I listened to this book through Borrow Box and it was read by Thomas Judd. He really mixes it up with different accents and styles of speech for each individual character. I especially enjoyed his gruff portrayal of the killer. Added a bit more atmosphere and terror to it all. I look forward to reading more books in the Hunter and Garcia series. I give this one a solid 5 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐