Many thanks to Rachel and Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on this Blog Tour.
This was quite a story which got progressively thrilling as the suspense tightened in the latter half. The first half had Charlotte being scared and made to feel crazy.
It all started with her mother’s suicide, father’s loss of reality, boyfriend Alex convincing her about Russian mafia, and dead bees sent as gifts. A photograph found in the attic increased the mystery in the tale.
My first book by Jane Holland, the story was bee-themed. The author’s writing built up the suspense wherein Charlotte was slowly and surely boxed in from all sides. Each chapter had both comforting and threatening sides shown. I could find myself empathizing with her.
Charlotte was quite interesting. Being scarred in a fire in childhood and a stammer coming through in moments of stress, I liked her vulnerability. Her relationship with Alex seemed to be her focal point. She was a good daughter, trying to do right by her dementia suffering father. I would have loved her more if she had been more proactive.
I am not fond of bees so found the book to be too bee-centric. But the second half was certainly buzzing with adrenaline. That made this book a fun read!!
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and publisher, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be read here
Jane Holland is a Gregory Award winning poet and novelist. Her thriller GIRL NUMBER
ONE hit #1 in the UK Kindle store in 2015, and again in 2018, catapulting her into a life of crime.
She’s published dozens of novels with major publishing houses under various pseudonyms, including: Beth Good, Victoria Lamb, Elizabeth Moss, Hannah Coates, and JJ Holland, and also self publishes.
Scarred by fire from infancy, with a persistent stammer, Charlotte has always been in the shadow of her glamorous theatrical parents. So it’s a shock when her mother commits suicide.
Left to care for her sick father in the dark maze of her childhood home, Charlotte begins to unravel. First, there’s the mysterious arrival of a box of dead bees. Then buzzing noises in the attic. People are watching her. Listening to her.
Everyone thinks she’s losing her mind. But an old photo suggests another, more sinister possibility …
Publication Date: 1st July 2019
11 Responses
great review, Shalini! I too like bold characters. As long as they learn from their experience fast, I don’t mind vulnerable characters.
I wanted her to investigate more about the people trying to scare her instead of depending so much on her boyfriend
This is coming up in my review calendar – I adore Jane
I havent read any. You better get buzzzzzzzing with this book
This is great! I love your review. I’m on this tour too ❤
Hope you buzz with excitement 😂😂
😂😂😂😂
Great review Shalini. I agree, this was definitely a character that suffered some trauma, but became docile in her life because of it. I loved the second half of this book.
Me too… But I want my characters to be more active, maybe because for most of my life I have been passive..
I agree, but for some it is not in their make-up. I was pretty passive for most of my life as well and still am in a lot of ways. However, when I am reading, I will shout at the characters to do something when I get frustrated.
Me too… Weird noises