3.5 Stars
Published September 4th 2018 by William Morrow
I read mixed reviews of this book and wasn’t sure what to think. Once I started reading, I was up and down. From the first chapter, I was hooked, but there were huge sections that were a bit slow. Starting from the first page, we learn that someone is very angry. The letter this person is reading has sent him into a rage. He starts to make a plan… I do not want to go into the plot, because that would ruin the story for you, but it is the story of a mother (Lisa) and her daughter (Ava) and what happens to their lives when secrets come out.
This story is told using multiple points of view – Lisa, Ava, and Marilyn (Lisa’s best friend). This story focuses on Lisa and Ava, but includes chapters from Marilyn’s POV, which adds other detail to the story, it also shows us what others think about Lisa. This book is twisty and has a lot going on. For the most part, the reader is kept in the dark about what happened in Lisa’s past and who is behind the current troubles until the last quarter of the book. As I mentioned earlier, it was a slow build, then a rushed ending. It had a huge twist that surprised me, but not quite enough to make up for the slowness. I was a little disappointed in the ending, mainly because it felt too abrupt, but this was still a good psychological thriller. It was intense, suspicious, and twisted. There were unreliable narrators, a twisty plot, flawed characters, and a huge twist, in fact, more than one.
I listened to this book and the narrator had the same voice for all the female characters. I had to keep checking back at the table of contents often to verify who was speaking, that might have added to the slowness of the story for me. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read this one. If you are a fan of domestic suspense/thriller, you will probably enjoy this book. One warning for the reader, there are some descriptions of abuse in this story, so it that is a trigger for you, be ready.
About the Book (From Goodreads): Lisa lives for her daughter Ava, her job, and her best friend Marilyn, but when a handsome client shows an interest in her, Lisa starts daydreaming about sharing her life with him too. Maybe she’s ready now. Maybe she can trust again. Maybe it’s time to let her terrifying secret past go. Then her daughter rescues a boy from drowning and their pictures are all over the news for everyone to see. Lisa’s world explodes, and she finds everything she has built threatened. Not knowing whom she can trust, it’s up to her to face her past to save what she holds dear.
About the Author: Sarah Pinborough is the number one Sunday Times Bestselling and New York Times Bestselling author of the psychological thriller Behind Her Eyes (Jan, 2017). During her career she has published more than 20 novels and several novellas, and has written for the BBC. Her recent novels include the dystopian love story, The Death House, and a teenage thriller, 13 Minutes which has been bought by Netflix with Josh Schwartz adapting.
Behind Her Eyes has sold to nearly twenty territories so far and was sold at auction to the US in a significant deal to Flatiron, Macmillan. There are discussions on going with several movies studios about the film adaptation. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at @sarahpinborough.
Website:Â https://sarahpinborough.com/
January 23, 2019 at 12:31 pm
I’ve enjoyed one of her earlier books, so I think I’m going to keep this on my list for now. Love your honest reviews, Carla!
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January 23, 2019 at 2:56 pm
Thanks Myndi. I did not read her last book, but know it had great reviews. It was still a good story, just a bit slow. Again, I think reading it would probably have rated it higher.
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January 22, 2019 at 11:25 pm
I like your review and can tell it is not a good match for me. Thanks for sharing.
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January 23, 2019 at 10:28 am
Everyone has their own preferences, and I know this genre is not one you read. Thanks for taking time to read my review though.
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January 22, 2019 at 3:35 pm
hmmm, great review and appreciate the warning re abuse. still, doesn’t sound like a book that’d grab me.
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January 23, 2019 at 2:55 pm
It’s definitely not going to bd for everyone.
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January 22, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Great review, Carla! This is one that is not on my list to read. I think Norma has it but I am thinking she might not be getting to anytime soon. lol .
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January 23, 2019 at 2:54 pm
If you like a slow build up, then it will be right up your alley. I really think i might have rated it higher if i hsd read this one onstead of listening to it.
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January 22, 2019 at 11:39 am
Wonderful review, this book did have very mixed reviews and I haven’t read it yet, not sure if I will?
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January 22, 2019 at 11:47 am
Thanks Berit. Tough call, there are so many good books out there (4 and 5 stars), but you might be one who love it.
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January 22, 2019 at 9:14 am
I missed this book.. Seems like a fun read..
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January 22, 2019 at 9:16 am
I enjoyed this one, but it had mixed reviews. I know that you don’t especially like slow moving stories and this one is definitely that.
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January 22, 2019 at 9:21 am
Some days I read them but don’t review on blog
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January 22, 2019 at 8:35 am
Great review! I think this would be a good film too ! 🎥😀
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January 22, 2019 at 9:13 am
I agree
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January 22, 2019 at 9:14 am
I agree, it would make a great movie. There are so many good actors/actresses that I could see playing Lisa.
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