Customer Rating: Summary: Just Ghastly... Comment: I'm surprised this was ever published, it's just that bad. The characters are paper thin, this could be forgiven if the story was compelling or the writing was good. Lets face it from the synopsis you would be led to thinking it has some potential. Do not be fooled.
I really struggled to pick it up and read, and gave up half way through. I could no longer tollerate the way it was written. The author frequently repeats himself, for instance "Coming back into the harbour I saw a short black woman in a pair of jeans and a leather jacket standing at the end of the dock as we came back into the harbour" ... come on, would you even have passed GCSE english writing like that?
Before you part with your cash ask yourself if you could put up with something so poor. Customer Rating: Summary: Better start than finish Comment: Really got into this book quickly, good starting suspense. Found the last third of the book a little lacking. Customer Rating: Summary: Lazy writing Comment: The book starts with a decent premise but the conclusion is steeped in cliche and the whole plot becomes lazy - you want there to be a really clever, suitable ending but the actual end leaves you feeling disappointed and cheated. Seen it all before in bad novels and TV movies. Read Harlem Coben instead - clever writing and innovative twists and turns. Customer Rating: Summary: Much better than expected Comment: Having bought this book by accident (long story!) I thought I would give it a read. I had no expectations, and the fact that it was a Richard and Judy summer read lowered my expectations further!
The opening is superb; it captures your imagination from the very beginning. Let's face it we've all been a teenager, and we can only imagine the situation Cynthia finds herself in.
The middle part, the build-up, gains momentum every chapter and there are no disappointing lulls.
The ending is very dramatic and filled with action - and I had tears in my eyes at the very end of the book, so there is emotional involvement as well.
The narrator is superb; an utterly believable character who tells the story in such an accessible way. There are also some great characters along the way who are described so little and yet become so deep and believable.
The only disappointment that makes this a 4/5 is that I guessed both of the twists! Customer Rating: Summary: No time for goodbye Comment: A nicely paced thriller and hopefully there will be more to come from this promising author. The plot moves along at pace although the explanation once revealed is slightly unlikely. I was also disappointed with the explanation of who was responsible for what happened to Tess & the private detective. It just never held water for me. I loved the character of Vince & I cared more about him than all the others.
Quite well written but I found the injection of humour to occasionally be mis-placed and slightly annoying.
More plusses than minuses & I can't wait to read his next novel.
