Whispers - Lisa Jackson

Sixteen years ago in Oregon, something strange was going down. A young man plunged from a cliff to his death. Another disappeared without a trace. A third man drowned in the waters of Lake Arrowhead. Surely they are all connected?

Now the mystery has reared it's ugly head again and is being investigated by a local journalist. At the centre of the original investigation were the Holland sisters, and with their father about to run for office, he wants all the skeletons out of the closet, or burying much, much deeper. Needing to know what could be uncovered, Holland hires a private detective to get to the bottom of this, before anyone else can.

The story is written in two section with the first part of the book as a flashback to the events at the Lake. The rest is written in present day and follows the investigation, the repercussions, and the solving of what actually happened all those years ago.

When I started reading this book, the story drew me in quite quickly. The plot made me start guessing who-dunnit almost immediately. This was a theme through out the whole book as I constantly changed my mind on who the culprit was! Who would have motive?

I did struggle with a couple of aspects of the book. The first was the writing (a biggie). There is a lot of repetition of particular words and phrases, It stood out like a sore thumb, the overuse of the phrase 'jumping at shadows' and the word 'sired'. Surely there are other words which could be used here? 

Secondly, it seemed that every female character in the book was only interested in men, only existed to please them. Making their man happy, getting the man, worrying what the man thought of them, bedding the man etc etc. This served only to make the women very one-dimensional and unrelatable. Surely these women have more going on in their brains?

I was pulled in by the novel and while the language and some characteristics frustrated me, the suspense was very effective. I might not rush to read Jackson again, but Whispers was a very readable book, with a good mystery.

The Girl On The Train - Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train was recommended to me when I  was struggling to decide what my holiday read would be. For years I used to get the train to work and spent a lot of that time looking into people's back gardens as we chugged by. A story about the drama that unfolds after seeing something untoward from the train window seemed like something I could enjoy! The synopsis intrigued me so I was sold!

Rachel is an alcoholic, unemployed, divorcee. Taking the train to 'work' every day to keep up the pretence that she is employed and avoid that discussion with her housemate. It is on one of these journeys that Rachel becomes more involved than she could have anticipated in the lives of a couple she has never met before. Police questioning, an angry ex-husband and a stranger's affection follow. Along with more wine. Well it is a lot to cope with.

This book is billed as a page-turning thriller and has been widely compared with 'Gone Girl'. The only similarity I can see would be the genre. The story itself bares no resemblance. And aside from the fact that Gone Girl is also told from several different narratives the writing styles aren't similar either.

I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately it didn't quite match up to them, I found the writing style to be clumsy and Hawkins often relied on the reader to make a leap in judgement as characters did unexplainable things or reacted unrealistically. I did stick with the book as the plot was good, but unfortunately I saw the twist coming from quite a way.

The Girl on the Train is a really easy read and has an interesting plot which gets you thinking and questioning your judgement, If you're not too fussy about writing styles then it might be worth a go, but for me this was a hard one to ignore. 

The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson

This story begins when Jon is contacted by a leading scientist who, along with many other professionals, has received a book in the mail. The book is puzzling and no-one knows why they have been sent it. The pooling of knowledge throws up many theories, but nothing is concrete. It is hoped that Jon's investigative skills will help them discover the meaning behind it.

Jon is propelled into an investigation of the human mind. Mainly that of psychopaths. Feeling that the country is essentially run by psychopaths, Jon starts to do some digging. Along the way we meet some very interesting characters and hear tales of people with mental disorders in society and some of the disturbing things they get up to. The way Ronson analyses the people he meets against the famous Bob Hare's 'Psychopath Checklist'  leads us to realise that people can very easily be misdiagnosed and, on the other hand, how some traits we see as greatness in people, could actually be a sign of psychopathy. Who is even running this country!?

I particularly enjoyed the way that this story is written with lots of cut-aways and side stories, it felt very informative and certainly didn't get stale.The humour kept it light when this could really be a much more sombre subject matter. I actually laughed out loud at one point, and that's something I rarely do with a book!

One thing I can take from this book, I don't *think* I'm a psychopath.

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

A time-travel novel with a difference, The Time Traveller's Wife is a heart-wrenching story of two people's love and how that love transcends the years.

Henry has a genetic disorder which causes him to unpredictably time-travel, leaving his wife to cope with his frequent absences and (as Henry has no idea where and when he will disappear to) sometimes dangerous experiences.

With lives that have been intertwined since she was a young girl, Clare feels that she knows Henry very well when he 'first' meets her at a time when she is 20 and he is 28-years-old. Chronologically this is the first time Henry has met Clare, but he soon learns that he is to visit her childhood many times in the years to come, which is how she knows him so well.

The story of Henry and Clare is one of true love. That is clear. But Henry's condition means that their relationship is not a traditional one, and while time-travel has it's perks, it also has huge downsides for the couple, causing huge rifts bewteen them at times.

This is the first book in a long time to really get in my head. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading the book in a much deeper way than usual.  This book does tug on the heartstrings and I'm not ashamed to admit, it made me cry on a couple of occasions!

I see that this book has quite a bad rap, but I honestly didn't see a single things wrong with it. I'd stand by it if recommending it to others, which I already have done. Now to find myself a copy of the DVD!

Room - Emma Donoghue

Five-year-old Jack has spent his whole life in a single room. He and his mother are held captive in a small outbuilding with a little kitchen, a bathtub, a bed and very little else. Not wanting her son some to realise the despair they are living in she protects him from the truth. Jack is oblivious to the situation and therefore he is happy. He is healthy, clean and clever. He doesn't know that Ma was kidnapped seven years ago and that he is the the product of Ma being raped by her abductor.

When their kidnapper loses his job and is set to lose the house, Ma realises that he will rather kill them than set them free, so she comes up with a plan to escape. Given that Jack knows nothing of the world outside the room, enlisting his help on this is very risky.

Donoghue tells this story from Jack's point of view. The writing is beautiful and the naivete of this boy who has never left the room really does come through. Jack has a very innocent soul and this shines through in the writing, without having him sound like an obnoxious or precocious little boy.

Jack thinks of every object in the room, such as Rug and Melty Spoon, as a friend with characteristics and they are referred to as proper nouns. This is a wonderful writing tool. It emphasises Jack's youth and vulnerability at every turn, as well as showing his caring nature.

While the first section of the book can be a little tedious (hey, they have a day-to-day routine and live in one room, how exciting can it be!?) it is absolutely worth sticking with. The story is compelling, the writing is creative and overall I really enjoyed this book.

We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver

Eva is very unmaternal. She never wanted children and they weren't part of her life-plan. So when she fell pregnant with Kevin a huge weight landed on her shoulders, one she has carried through her life, not helped by the fact that her son is cold and unlovable.

Kevin's story comes to a head two days before his sixteenth birthday when he murders nine people in a high school crossbow shooting. It seems he's been planning this for a long time.

Two years after the event Eva writes a series of letters to her now estranged husband, and it is these letters that form the novel.

The twist at the end, well from what I've read online it seems a lot of people saw this coming. Maybe I just read this quite naively (I'm normally quite on top of plot twists) but I didn't see this one coming at all. Not wanting to potentially reveal anything, I'll leave that one there!

When starting up with this book I did make a few false-starts. Shriver didn't really engage with me for the first 100 pages or so. It's a really slow starter. I can't tell you what made me stick with it. Maybe curiosity, or maybe it was the fact that it had been so highly recommended, I didn't want to miss anything. Either way, it paid off.

If you can slog through the first few pages, the rest of the novel is very engaging, with the last quarter of the book being fast paced and very eventful. There's no denying that the subject matter is sensitive, and at times can be very graphic, but I feel that the gruesome-ness was justified as a way of painting Kevin's character to us. It was needed to help us understand.

Heart-wrenching at times. but worth the read.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon

This novel tells us of an adventure undertaken by Christopher Boone. Christopher is 15 years old and he has with Asperger's Syndrome. He lives with his dad, and they have a very close relationship. This adventure begins when Christopher finds a neighbour's dog murdered on the lawn. Disappointed by the lack of concern that the local adults have after this crime, he sets about trying to find the culprit himself. The journey turns his whole world around.

This innocent and honest boy is forced to make some brave decisions, and when his investigations require him to travel away from home, he must face his fears to solve the mystery.

A curious book indeed, this story is written in a first person narrative and so we get to experience the inner workings of Christopher's mind. The way in which Haddon writes is both insightful and moving, and not at all patronising. Christopher's Asperger's Syndrome is handled sensitively, but without shying away from the difficulties faced by parents and carers, as well as the difficulties faced by those with the condition when integrating with others.

The plot itself is quite tame whilst never being boring, but it is the writing around it that makes this such a magical story, promoting understanding and patience.

Given that this is now a West End show I'm not sure how this has been translated to stage. Most of the book is spent in Christopher's thoughts, so I'm very intrigued to see how they managed that. I'd very much like to see this in theatre though.

One Day - David Nicholls

One Day tells the story of Emma and Dexter and all that goes on in their lives. Their story starts the morning after the night that they meet, proceeds through many years of friendship, details what they are doing on 15th July at intervals through their lives. The way that their lives intertwine is mesmerising, the ups and downs are all in there. They clearly belong in each-other's lives, but in what capacity? It makes you realise how much one person can influence another.

Nicholls writes in a way that flows from beginning to end, which is even more impressive considering that the narrative is written from the perspective of both the lead characters. An ability to tap in to the silly, insecure, totally barmy musings of women meant that I saw a lot of myself in Emma. I really did like her!

Luckily for me, this isn't a mushy romantic love story. That's not my thing at all. It is realistic! The characters are very endearing and I found myself longing for them to be happy!

From the very first page I was enthralled. I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. Totally un-put-down-able! Not a bad word to be said. Also, if you weren't aware, One Day has since been made into a film starring the lovely Anne Hathaway. Has to be worth a watch after what I thought was an amazing novel.

This is definitely me!

Credit: http://slowrobot.com/i/63345

The Shining - Stephen King

Down-on-his-luck author, Jack Torrence, takes on the job of hotel caretaker through the chilling winter months. The hotel becomes isolated from civilisation due to heavy snowfall, leaving the Torrence family totally at the mercy of the Overlook Hotel and the strange things which start happening.

Supernatural forces which inhabit the Overlook start to influence Jack, putting his wife and son at risk.With nowhere to turn, they are in a very dangerous place, with a very dangerous man.

Knowing full well that King is royalty among horror writers, I set about reading this book full of expectation. It is the first Stephen King book I've read and I wasn't let down! The Shining is packed full of suspense and tension and is  very hard one to put down!

Having seen the movie, I had a rough idea of what to expect...I was wrong.

The movie and the book seem to tell two such different stories it seems foolish to mention them both in the same article! The film is one of the best horror films I've seen and I would always recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre. The book however, tells another tale altogether, a much creepier and chilling one. The character development and descriptive writing in the novel put you in the hotel itself and allow you to feel the atmosphere.

While I did feel that the first third of the book was a little lengthy and over-explanatory, once the action started I was hooked. It's easy to see why King has such a reputation!

The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling

Life in Pagford is pleasant, friendly and charming. That is, until the death of Parish Councillor, Barry Fairbrother, causes a Casual Vacancy on the council and brings out the ugly side to village life.

Backstabbing, sabotage and deceit are just some of the measures the villagers are willing to employ in order to get their way, and who cares the consequences!

Being a naturally nosey person I enjoyed greatly the 'curtain twitching' feel I got from learning what was going on behind the closed doors of the picturesque village. 

Rowling doesn't shy away from those darker social issues that can be found in most communities. Tackling drugs, rape, racism and self-harm, to name a few, the book is certainly not for children and a brilliant step away form the Fantasy genre.

I did find it difficult to put this book down. A need to know how one strand tied into the other and a wanting to know how each story was resolved lead to me powering through this book with great joy.

Now I must find the TV version and give it a watch!

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Claire North

A time-travel novel with a difference!

After every death Harry August is reborn, back in the 1920's on the floor of a railway station bathroom, with all the knowledge of his previous lives.

'As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside. ‘I nearly missed you, Doctor August,’ she says. ‘I need to send a message.’

When Harry is told by a fellow 'kalachakra' (person who is constantly reborn) that the world is destined to end, he realises that he and others like him must act to stop it. The story of Harry's lives holds the fate of humankind.

Claire North (Or should I say Catherine Webb) bravely takes on existential questions, belief systems, science and history to produce a very sympathetic and very sensitive story.

I did, at times, struggle with the flow of this book as it can be quite heavy with technical information. I also feel that anyone who didn't have a little knowledge of post-WWII Germany may have trouble with context while reading parts of 'Harry August'.

Overall I found it to be an enjoyable read, and a really interesting concept. It got my brain working at times, which is good! I just couldn't quite gel with the story, though the idea intrigued me enough to keep reading

Moriarty - Anthony Horowitz

My first experience of Anthony Horowitz' writing was definitely an enjoyable one. Moriarty is penned as part of the Sherlock Holmes series, and fits so well with Conan Doyle's original style. The essence of Victorian England pours from the pages and it is very easy to put yourself in the scene.

Following the death of Sherlock Holmes and his arch-enemy, Moriarty, this novel follows the escapades of the American criminal mastermind, new in town, intent on filling the gap in the market. Private detective Frederick Chase and Scotland Yard Inspector Athelney Jones set about unearthing this mystery man.

With pages of horror and action, the story flows very easily, leaving you wanting to read 'just one more page'. While I didn't see the exact plot twist coming (of course there is one!), it was obvious toward the end of the novel that I'd missed something and I found myself anxiously awaiting the big reveal!

Overall, I am now a big fan of Horowitz's writing and will look forward to reading more of his work.

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

This gritty tale of a missing woman kept me hooked from start to finish. Gillian Flynn paints a very realistic picture of Nick and Amy's once-rosy relationship which is now starting to fray at the edges. Things are tough for them and then Amy disappears. It looks like there has been a struggle and as we all know, the police look to the husband first.

Not wanting to give too much away for anyone who hasn't read this, I won't delve too much into the actual plot with you. I will say that putting this book down proved difficult with a fast-moving storyline that kept pulling me in. The structure that this book was written to is very good and it drip-feeds information to you. The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Amy and Nick, meaning you often visit the same event from differing viewpoints. I'm particularly fond of this way of writing as I like seeing a different perspective to a scene.

This book really had me second-guessing myself from start to finish. Will she? Won't she? Did he? Didn't he? Who did? I absolutely love that.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the writing and the structure, the one thing that didn't quite clinch it for me was how the story ended. Again, not wanting to give anything away here, I'll keep it vague. I didn't get the closure I thought I deserved after the mental torture I'd been through!

The film is definitley worth a watch too, though I would recommend reading the book first. The stories do differ slightly but that is always to be expected when books are translated to the big-screen.

One I've been recommending to people, and will continue to do so.