Customer Rating: Summary: no time for goodbye Comment: A real page turner. I lost myself for a couple of days wanting to know the next chapter, but at some point it became predictable, probably two thirds through... a really good start to a film, loved the bones of the plot and some of the characters. I found the last third too hurried and intent on tying up loose ends. Shame as it had such potential... Customer Rating: Summary: Not great if you're a big fan of thrillers... Comment: When I first saw an ad in a train station a few months ago, I was fascinated with the idea that a woman seeks to solve the mystery of the abrupt disappearance of her whole family one morning. I read it half a year later finally, and I fount it disappointing. Well, it had a great idea and it makes sense to an extent at the last page, despite some unconvincing chain of actions in hindsight. What bored me most was that there was too much repetition of describing what happens first and then what is summarized or interpreted on and on by the hero guy. The main characters are mainly frustrated and scared, while doing nothing active or interesting to solve the mystery until three quarters through. Even what happens afterwards isn't that original either, sadly. Perhaps it would still be a good thriller to some readers, but if you are used to watching lots of excellent films or reading good thriller books, this won't satisfy you at all. Customer Rating: Summary: Brilliant- couldn't put this book down!! Comment: I was quite surprised to read that other people did not enjoy this book.....I thought it was excellent. I am quite a slow reader and after seeing this book on Richard and Judy I thought I would give it a go and to my surprise saw myself speeding through it- I couldn't put it down. Really got into the story and thought it was clever how all the bits linked together so well. A really good plot and great suspense throughout. Would definitely recommend this book!! Customer Rating: Summary: Boring beyond belief Comment: I picked this up in a charity shop last week and the blurb sounded promising. Even the first few chapters weren't half bad though the language is rather simplistic. I managed 100 pages, about a quarter of the book before I finally gave up because I was just bored. Bored with the plot, the characters, the fact that it wasn't going anywhere. Don't bother spending money on this book but if you have to pick it up from a charity shop for 50p - I've since spotted it in the book section of every single charity shop I've been too (at least half a dozen). As some other disappointed reader said before, if this is how Linwood Barclay writes he does not deserve to be published. Or maybe he was trying to write a 400-page book using just the same 100 words over and over.... Customer Rating: Summary: Half Decent Comment: I'm in agreement with all those reviewers who have said the following; that it's a good idea for a story; that it starts off really well but then goes downhill quickly nearly exactly at the half-way point; and that is feels & reads like one of those American made-for-tv-movies.
It makes for a good commuting book when you don't have to engage too many braincells and want to pass the time a bit more constructively than just staring out of the window.
The characters, good & bad, seem a bit too contrived, and the dialogue between them also. The final showdown also seems rushed and all the questions neatly answered.
Read somewhere too that style is along the lines of Harlan Coben, hope not, I spent money there, only borrowed this.
