stalking

by

Review: The Silent Wife – Karin Slaughter

The Silent Wife

Will Trent #10

Karin Slaughter

Harper Collins Australia

ISBN: 9781460757048

 

Description:

He watches.

 

A woman runs alone in the woods. She convinces herself she has no reason to be afraid, but she’s wrong. A predator is stalking the women of Grant County. He lingers in the shadows, until the time is just right to snatch his victim.

He waits.

A decade later, the case has been closed. The killer is behind bars. But then another young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead, and the MO is identical.

He takes.

Although the original trail has gone cold — memories have faded, witnesses have disappeared — agent Will Trent and forensic pathologist Sara Linton must re-open the cold case. But the clock is ticking, and the killer is determined to find his perfect silent wife …

 

My View:

I really enjoyed this dual time line narrative that brings back characters from the start of the Grant Country series, characters that provide a tension in the protagonist relationship and spotlights crime scenes and policing from that earlier period – Slaughter weaves this complex narrative together seamlessly.  As always, this a stunning read.

 

In the final pages of the book Karin Slaughter addresses the reader, don’t be tempted to read this first up, there are spoilers, but do read. Karin makes some significant  points: “In the beginning of my career…I made the decision that what I was writing would matter from one book to the next…that’s why I decided to write frankly about violence against women…it was important to openly describe what that violence actually looks like, and to explore the long-lasting effects of trauma in as realistic way as possible. If I’ve done anything with these two series, I hope that people will look at them as an honest telling of stories we do not often hear about survivors, fighters, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, friends, and rogues. “

 

I think Karin Slaughter has succeeded.

 

A thought that remains me after reading this book, listen to your intuition.

 

** This is a stunning and at times hilarious interview with Karin Slaughter by Dervla McTiernan  https://www.facebook.com/50377417167/videos/622600778612826 

 

by

Review: Strangers – C.L. Taylor

Strangers

CL Taylor

Avon:

Harper Collins Publishers

ISBN: 9780008222468

 

Description:

Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before.

 

Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life.

 

Gareth’s been receiving strange postcards.

 

And Alice is being stalked.

 

None of them are used to relying on others – but when the three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide, there’s only one thing for it: they have to stick together. Otherwise, one of them will die.

 

Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.

 

The million-copy bestseller returns with a gripping new novel that will keep you guessing until the end.

 

 

My View:

With multiple story lines, I love how all the different characters and their worlds collide in one tense standoff. This is a mystery that will keep you guessing whilst simultaneously reminding you that what you “see” on the outside often does not reflect the inner,  the real person – their turmoils and challenges.

This quietly written book is disturbing, a great character driven mystery.

 

 

by

Post Script: Where Love Begins – Judith Hermann

Where Love Begins

Where Love Begins
Judith Hermann
Translated by Margaret Bettauer Dembo
Allen & Unwin Australia
The Clerkenwell Press
ISBN: 9781781254707
RRP A$27.99

Description:
Stella is married, she has a child and a fulfilling job. She lives with her young family in a house in the suburbs. Her life is happy and unremarkable, but she is a little lonely-her husband travels a lot for work and so she is often alone in the house with only her daughter for company. One day a stranger appears at her door, a man Stella’s never seen before. He says he just wants to talk to her, nothing more. She refuses. The next day he comes again. And then the day after that. He will not leave her in peace. When Stella works out that he lives up the road, and tries to confront him, it makes no difference. This is the beginning of a nightmare that slowly and remorselessly escalates. Where Love Begins is a delicately wrought, deeply sinister novel about how easily the comfortable lives we construct for ourselves can be shattered.
About the author:
Judith Hermann was born in Berlin in 1970. She is the author of Alice,The Summer House, Later and Nothing but Ghosts, which have received a number of literary awards including the Kleist Prize. She lives and works in Berlin.

 

My View:
I like the sparseness of the narrative and the dialogue. No words are wasted and if you look a little closely at some of the prose you will find some brilliant insights/reflections on relationships, life, death and love. There is something intense, an anticipation of what is to come, a sinister creepiness that keeps you glued to the pages.
This is unlike any book I have read before – there is something about the simplistic prose, the sparseness of the words – yet the words are not empty, they convey so much feeling. I think the feeling of dread is summoned more from what is not said, than what is said. The same still is applied to the description of love. Such small details, such insignificant things, like the holding of hands, the rhythm of breathing have so much meaning. “That evening Stella sits by Ava’s bed until Ava falls asleep. Ava’s breaths changing from sighs, questioning sounds, into a slow rhythm that Stella listens to for a long time. Breathing as if there was nothing to fear in the world” (p.93). Every parent will recognise the emotions here. Beautifully written.
And then there is the stalking.

by

Post Script: The Mistake I Made – Paula Daly

Perfect! I loved every minute the book!

cover The Mistake I Made

The Mistake I Made

Paula Daly

Random House UK, Transworld Publishers

Bantam Press

ISBN: 9780593074497

 

Description:

We all think we know who we are.

What we’re capable of.

 

 

Roz is a single mother, a physiotherapist, a sister, a friend. She’s also desperate.

 

Her business has gone under, she’s crippled by debt and she’s just had to explain to her son why someone’s taken all their furniture away.

 

But now a stranger has made her an offer. For one night with her, he’ll pay enough to bring her back from the edge.

 

Roz has a choice to make.

 

 

My View:

Perfect! I loved every minute the book!

 

This book draws you in gently; first we get the poignant history of the life of our protagonist Roz. Her life is busy, exhausting, frustrating and full of financial difficulties (racked up by her irresponsible ex-husband and compounded when her small business fails). Life as a single parent supporting her child and servicing the debts she has have pushed her to the brink of sanity – her story is credible and I do not doubt there are many women in this real life situation right now. To be consumed by financial difficulties sucks the life out of …life.

 

Full engaged in this story of despair and frustration I was shocked when this narrative took a huge turn and suddenly I was in the midst of a fascinating psychological drama! And what a great dram it is – at each turn of the page I was advising the protagonist to back off, keep away, don’t meet up with him – I could see the obsessive controlling nature of this narcissistic beast so clearly – Roz did not seem to notice nor did she hear me.

 

A great narrative, credible characters…I really loved this book! And the conclusion was very satisfying.

 

PS I loved the details re Roz’s work as a physiotherapist – this added such depth to her characterisation and situation.