At the outset, I would like to thank Betty, the Geeky Bibliophile, whose awesome review gave me the push to read this book. Thank you, Betty.
My review
This book pulled me in from the first few pages. A husband Leon shot in the head with a nail gun and suddenly collapsing, the wife Jane, subsequently finding herself in a financial ruin along with an amnesiac violent husband, finds her world collapsing. The entire scenario has the vividness of a world which has changed in a split second. And nobody knows why!!
My first book by Paula Daly, and the book was a heck of a ride for most parts. Jane’s normal world spun out of control when post surgery, her husband could not remember her and wanted his ex. I loved the shock and the desperation. The secrets which then started rolling made Jane’s life a living terror with unstable neighbors, their weird son, a lost cat, a felon’s threat, the behind the scenes scam.
What I especially found enthralling was the main character Leon was an author before the trauma, who was accused of plagiarism, then came deliberate negative reviews on Amazon to bring down an author’s career, the bots and false websites. Everything described was so close to real life happenings. I loved this bit of reality.
Then there were my niggles, the prose did not feel complete there were a few barely discernable plot holes and a rushed explanation.
But on the whole, the author kept me hopping on my toes, longing to know the perp, so I can endorse this book as one of the enjoyable reads in the thriller genre.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Transworld Digital, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating : 4 stars
About the Author
Paula Daly is the critically acclaimed author of five novels. Her work has been sold in fifteen countries, shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year award, and her books are currently being developed for television. She was born in Lancashire and lives in the Lake District with her husband, three children, and whippet Skippy.
Book blurb
Jane doesn’t like confrontation. Given the choice, she’d prefer to focus on what’s going well, the good things in life.
But when her husband, Leon, is brutally attacked in the driveway of their home, in front of their two young children, Jane has to face reality. As he lies in a coma, Jane must open her eyes to the problems in her life, and the secrets that have been kept from her, if she’s to find out who hurt her husband – and why.
Product Details
Publication date : 26th July, 2018
Publisher : Transworld Digital
42 Responses
Wow, once again a book that truly sounds both terrifying and amazing at the same time. It’s so true though, your life can sometimes really change in the blink of an eye, both for good and for bad. Which is why I think it’s best to live each day to the fullest. Well, even though the book has some things in it that causes those niggles again (love that word lol), it still sounds overall like a great read! As always, terrific post! 😘😊
My niggles are gonna be forever in my reviews… This was scary… And fun a roller coaster ride
Haha, well…I’m gald those niggles are in your reviews 😊 (And I’m pretty sure that most of the niggles I have are the same😊).
Yeah…it sounded like it: both the scares, and the fun roller coaster ride 😊
Lovely review, Shalini! I really want to read this one! I hope the niggles won’t bug me, too! ♥️
No it won’t, Jennifer. Hahaha my niggles are getting more popular than me
… Was this book giving you some ideas on how to bring down certain authors?? Was there inspiration behind reading this one? 😘😂😂 Sounds like a crazy premise!
I liked that nail gun concept… Into the skull and then it keeps tweaking into the brain… Sounds like a medical thriller but this takes turns…
Hahaha this had a lot of truths about things happening amongst authors… I realized in a scary the good authors are good and they just write their novels… But the bad are aplenty and boy, are they vicious.
I was very sweet, I just deleted all my reviews… Since my words get misunderstood by an author… Dumbass😉😉😂😂🤣🤣🙆🙆🤷🏻🙅
Ya. Sometimes you just have to role with the punches… It’s humanity… They can’t ALL be good!! 😘
I am tired of rolling with punches… Now I want a roll in the hay 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂
Ya…. That sounds like a plan!! I’ll bring BOB! 😜😂😂
Hahaha 😂😂😂😂😂
Great review! This one sounds really good! Your review has me adding it!
This was totally a fun book.. I loved it totally with few minor niggles!!
Really nice review, Shalini. I may well check out this book!
Thank you so much Stephen…
ooh! i love thrillers and that great review of yours had me hunting NG for a copy. YES! …uh, except, did i get the right one? the cover is different (same author). well, we’ll see.
Yes, different covers in different countries. It is fun read. How you doing, Gin
Hey, Shalini, great review! So happy that you enjoyed you as much as I did. 🙂 And thank you for mentioning my review at the beginning. I really appreciate that!
Well… Betty you did give me the encouragement to read and your review was awesome. So I had to read the book. So my review us dedicated totally to you
Aw, that is so sweet! Thank you! 💜
Great review and seems like a good read 🙂
Thank you so much. It was a fun thriller
Thank you for the review. My most sought after reviews
🙏🙏😁
You know, Shal, I find it curious how you always seem to end up with books that have SO MUCH happening. You’re a magnet for crazy drama! 😂😘
Hahaha… I get selected for such books and rejected for the rest😉😉😂😂 blame NG
That nail gun, and then the man wants his ex?! How very sad. This book sounds good, Shalini. A few plot holes and a rushed ending, huh? 🤔 But I’m glad you still liked it. 😊
As always, excellent review!
It was a fun read… Something different in the story. Nail gun – – > amnesia – – > wanting ex
😂
Fab review, Shalini. I had decided to skip this one because I didn’t like the author’s previous title, The Trophy Child which was a bit too slow for me. However, your review has convinced me to give this one a try. I am glad that you enjoyed it despite the issues with the plot.
I didn’t like the trophy child too.. I kind of left it halfway to be read another day.. Ya I DNFed it… But thanks to Betty, this I liked. Plot was crisp. And the nail gun was great. No big plot holes, but the slight feeling I got, that maybe it needed something more. But I didn’t analyse it further.
Wonderful review Shalini. It is nice when there is that bit of reality that is so timely with the review nonsense. This sounds like one I would enjoy. Here I go again. 😗
I have been visiting amazon so frequently, I feel they should pay me for these hourly visits or have a weekend sale so that I can buy the books in my TBR
Wouldn’t a weekend sale be amazing. All books on the site for 99 cents for one day only. I would go on a spending spree for sure.
We don’t get any sale so… Maybe one day we will get what world gets
That would be wonderful for you.
I see the niggles of Shalini have unfortunately appeared in this one too! Such dark books, you read! I like that Fiona Barton is quoted on the front cover. Have you read her books? I’ve actually read both The Widow and The Child. I wonder how she’ll do in her next book. 😀 Great review again, Shalini!
My niggles are infamous now… They appear to make me complete… As a friend told me, probably it gives me more peace to write the word. A sense of completion if you will.
I have read reviewed Fiona Barton…
This seems an interesting read. A very well written review.
Loving your own domain.
Yayyyyy, could you see it? How and when and where? And why can’t I see my domain sheesh… I need to learn from you…
Explain how you came to know please