My review
A story on the backdrop of dangers of social media, with 3 women taking centre stage, is what beckoned me to this book.
The mother, Toni, overprotective about her daughter, Rosie, lives with the cool aunt Bridget. Toni and Bridget have their own secretive past, which they can never talk about. Rosie is growing up and at 15, tests the limits of her independence. Till social media shows its dangerous side…
My first book by the author S. E. Lynes, though her third, it was an entertaining read but lesser than what I had expected. The story is narrated from the three women’s point of view, looking back into the past for most times. It does switch between past and present till about 70% of the book, then it is all in the present and the thrilling moments begin…
For me, I wanted to love the characters, but I couldn’t connect with any. There were too many disjointed thoughts of each. I loved that this book dealt with the dangers of social media where we like, follow, and become close to strangers (Read: ‘extra-close’ to unknown men)
The author has presented those dangers in the background of fiction, but it serves as a warning to the kids and teenagers and even to the adults, how the trap is laid ever so slowly and the victims are drawn. The story has its twists and turns, and there are moments when adrenaline does thrum through, but no sudden rush with heart pumping and palms sweating.
There were a few niggles, the book did not deliver what was promised on the blurb. The secrets of the sisters had very little bearing to the present story. I found it pretty slow, it didn’t keep me hooked on, the book went at a slower pace. And I saw the end coming, as there were a lot of hints throughout the story. I didn’t feel it worked as a psychological thriller as it didn’t get into my mind.
Read it (took me 4 days), enjoyed it (had its twisty moments), forgot it (could have been so much better). Onto the next!!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating : 3 stars
About the Author
After graduating from Leeds University, S E Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen where she worked as a producer at the BBC before moving with her husband, Paul, and two young children to Rome. She now combines writing with lecturing at Richmond Adult Community College and bringing up her three children. She lives in Teddington.
Her debut novel, VALENTINA, was published by Blackbird July 1st 2016. VALENTINA is a psychological thriller set in Aberdeenshire. MOTHER was published by Bookouture in November 2017 and her third novel, THE PACT would be out on 27th February 2018.
Book blurb
You made a promise to your sister. It could destroy your daughter.
15-year-old Rosie lies in hospital fighting for her life. She’s trying to tell her mother what happened to her, and how she got there, but she can’t speak the words out loud. Rosie’s mother Toni has a secret. She had a traumatic childhood, and she and her sister Bridget made each other a promise thirty years ago: that they could never speak the truth about what they went through as children.
Having lost her husband in a tragic accident, Toni has dedicated her life to keeping Rosie safe from harm. But Rosie has plans that her mother doesn’t know about. She has dreams and ambitions – of love, of a career, of a life beyond the sheltered existence that her mother has created for her. But the secrets Rosie has been keeping have now put her life in danger.
In order to save Rosie, Toni may have to break her lifelong promise to her sister… and open doors to her past she hoped would remain closed forever.
Product Details
Publication date : 27th February, 2018
Publisher : Bookouture
Language : English
Available on Amazon
Social media based thriller
45 Responses
Hey, this sounds interesting! I could do with a fresh read (after the exams get over of course : ).
Great review! : D
Hahaha… Yes it would release by then so you can read it. By March the price would come down too..
And good luck for all your exams, girl
Thank you!😊
Nice review
Hey Vijay, thank you… How’s your Sunday going on?
Great review, Shalini. This one sounds good, but sorry it fell short for you. Hope you love your next. 💗
I hope so too…. I am going to read something different…
I really wanted to love this book, everyone is raving about it.. But it didn’t capture me
Just seen two movies back to back.
Wow… I am taking your advice and seeing some movie on sun TV
Ohhh cool
Recently you haven’t been more reviews. I used see at least two reviews in day.
I am busy with work. So no time to read.
Oo back to practice???
I have been practicing just I have decreased quite a bit because of violence and politics
Violence??
Yes…
Politics exists in every field but violence was unexpected.
Well… Yes… That’s why I decreased my practice
Sorry for that. So now I feel being practicing and reviewing at the same time is tough. Multitasking . Cool
Hahaha not at the same time… But when I have surgery, I go for that. When I am free I read
Great. So no more asking about reviews I will just wait for reviews from you doctor.
Ayya… Call me Shalini, Vijay SIR
Just joking shalini.
Me too Vijay 😉
Et oui, c’est la vie! You cannot love every books equally… But I do love reading you very much and I appreciate your honest book reviews. Here’s the link to the award you have been nominated for that I recently told you about. Have a lovely week my friend: https://3cstyle.com/
https://3cstyle.com/2018/02/17/one-groovy-award-for-myself/
Tight, concise, and to the point. Good review!
Thank you so much. I am glad you liked it
Nice review, although I was hoping to see 5 stars since I have this one coming up myself.
Carrie, it had 5 star and 4 star reviews everywhere, I re read the first few chapters again to check if I missed anything, but I just couldn’t connect with them. I took 4 days to read this thriller. So I think it may be purely me, the blurb was so exciting but sadly I didn’t find it so
I have had that happen to me before so I know exactly what you mean. It’s not fun to be in the minority but some times a book just doesn’t connect the same way it did for others so hopefully your next will be better and hopefully I might feel a bit better when I get to this one. 🙂
I have read your reviews, you do like most books. I think you will like this one. I want a book with an adrenaline rush now. Let’s see what I get…
I should be reading it very soon, I’ve got myself in a bit of a rush this week with a bunch coming out on the 27th so the better it is the faster I’ll read. LOL
Enjoy and let me know. I still think I am in the minority of 1
Will do. I’ve been there plenty of times myself and while it’s not fun I suppose it just can’t be helped either as not every story is going to be loved by every one.
True that
Nice review
Thank you so much how are you feeling now? How’s your health?
Welcome mam, feeling not better now due to cold and also a fever
Oh take care of yourself and your health. Get well soon
Thank you mam
I am confused by the ending of Toni being in a wheelchair? What was that about ?
I have no idea why . I read it then forgot it, better books ahead
KC I’m with you I missed something did it happen in the car accident that killed her husband or did have something to do with Uncle Eric
I thought uncle Eric, but that secret didn’t have much to do with the present story. Just made the mother paranoid.
So I read it and stopped analysing it