What do you think?
Rate this book
Awakening
An idyllic village is thrown into turmoil in the startling, heart-racing new thriller from the author of Sacrifice.
How did it all begin? I suppose it would be the day I rescued a new-born baby from a poisonous snake, heard the news of my mother's death and encountered my first ghost . . .
Veterinary surgeon Clara Benning is young and intelligent, but practically a recluse. Disfigured by a childhood accident, she lives alone and shies away from human contact whenever possible. But when a man dies following a supposed snake bite, the victim's post mortem shows a higher concentration of venom than could ever be found in a single snake.
Assisted by her softly spoken neighbour, and an eccentric reptile expert, Clara unravels sinister links to a barbaric ancient ritual, an abandoned house and a fifty-year-old tragedy that left the survivors fiercely secretive. Then the village's inventive attacker strikes again, and Clara's own solitary existence is brutally invaded.
For someone, the truth must remain buried in the past, even if they have to kill to keep it there.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
How did it all begin? I suppose it would be the day I rescued a new-born baby from a poisonous snake, heard the news of my mother's death and encountered my first ghost . . .
Veterinary surgeon Clara Benning is young and intelligent, but practically a recluse. Disfigured by a childhood accident, she lives alone and shies away from human contact whenever possible. But when a man dies following a supposed snake bite, the victim's post mortem shows a higher concentration of venom than could ever be found in a single snake.
Assisted by her softly spoken neighbour, and an eccentric reptile expert, Clara unravels sinister links to a barbaric ancient ritual, an abandoned house and a fifty-year-old tragedy that left the survivors fiercely secretive. Then the village's inventive attacker strikes again, and Clara's own solitary existence is brutally invaded.
For someone, the truth must remain buried in the past, even if they have to kill to keep it there.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2009
164 people are currently reading
7362 people want to read
About the author
Sharon J. Bolton
44 books4,569 followersSharon's newest book The Split is now available in both hardback and paperback in the UK!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...
Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.
She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.
She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...
Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.
She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.
She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 641 reviews
February 14, 2017
This was my first standalone novel by Sharon Bolton and also my PIFM READ for our group "A Good Thriller" for the month of January.
I'm finding this one difficult to review. On one hand, it wasn't as quick moving as her Lacey Flint series (as you can tell by the fact it took me 10 days to finish it); on the other, the story was intriguing and compelling enough to have me keep pushing forward due to the encouragement of friends who have read this before me. It definitely picked up in the second half.
Clara Benning is a vet who was disfigured as a child and is therefore reclusive. Living in a small town in England, the village begins experiencing very bizarre scenarios with snakes invading the homes of many residents. The neighbors call in Clara as an expert to comment on the weird happenings, and at first she is able to explain away some of the behavior of the large groups of snakes found. But people start dying, and things get more odd as the days pass. Will Clara and the police be able to solve who is truly behind these attacks?
This ended up being a pretty disturbing read on many levels. You have a story that includes snakes (this alone made it hard for me to read at night alone), religious fervor, stories of various animal attacks, and finally the revelation behind what caused Clara's disfigurement. Honestly, if the story had moved just a little more quickly and had cut a little extra fluff out, I likely would have given this 5 stars. This was a unique read for me as I really can't recall experiencing a thriller revolving around snakes. I was impressed with the character development and growth Clara experienced from beginning to end; I didn't connect with her immediately and I enjoyed warming to her as the story drew on. I was a little disappointed in how there didn't seem to be resolution in one of her relationships at the end. There was something thrown in at the climax that was never resolved fully which ticked me off a bit. Here you have this strong, female character who has never depended on anyone getting all wishy washy on me at the end.
Overall another strong plot from SJ Bolton, but Lacey Flint still is her reigning female character in my opinion.
I'm finding this one difficult to review. On one hand, it wasn't as quick moving as her Lacey Flint series (as you can tell by the fact it took me 10 days to finish it); on the other, the story was intriguing and compelling enough to have me keep pushing forward due to the encouragement of friends who have read this before me. It definitely picked up in the second half.
Clara Benning is a vet who was disfigured as a child and is therefore reclusive. Living in a small town in England, the village begins experiencing very bizarre scenarios with snakes invading the homes of many residents. The neighbors call in Clara as an expert to comment on the weird happenings, and at first she is able to explain away some of the behavior of the large groups of snakes found. But people start dying, and things get more odd as the days pass. Will Clara and the police be able to solve who is truly behind these attacks?
This ended up being a pretty disturbing read on many levels. You have a story that includes snakes (this alone made it hard for me to read at night alone), religious fervor, stories of various animal attacks, and finally the revelation behind what caused Clara's disfigurement. Honestly, if the story had moved just a little more quickly and had cut a little extra fluff out, I likely would have given this 5 stars. This was a unique read for me as I really can't recall experiencing a thriller revolving around snakes. I was impressed with the character development and growth Clara experienced from beginning to end; I didn't connect with her immediately and I enjoyed warming to her as the story drew on. I was a little disappointed in how there didn't seem to be resolution in one of her relationships at the end. There was something thrown in at the climax that was never resolved fully which ticked me off a bit. Here you have this strong, female character who has never depended on anyone getting all wishy washy on me at the end.
Overall another strong plot from SJ Bolton, but Lacey Flint still is her reigning female character in my opinion.
February 7, 2017
Another excellent novel by SJ Bolton. Some other reviews of this book find this novel a little slow paced but I really enjoyed it. I do enjoy fast paced novels but when a book is written so well I am also happy to take my time and enjoy it with no longing for it to finish.
In this novel a vet named Clara Benning who was disfigured as a child and has become a bit of a reclusive due to her disfigurement. The small town where she lives starts experiencing strange happenings with snakes invading the homes of many residents. Clare is called on to help where people have been attacked and also to capture the loose snakes. When people start to die the investigation turns to a murder hunt.
This is a well written novel that perhaps could do with a good edit but I was completely ok with it. Full of good characters and dialogue although maybe my one criticism is it does lack a touch of realism in places. But don't let that stop you from enjoying a very good fictional read. I really should read more of this authors work.
In this novel a vet named Clara Benning who was disfigured as a child and has become a bit of a reclusive due to her disfigurement. The small town where she lives starts experiencing strange happenings with snakes invading the homes of many residents. Clare is called on to help where people have been attacked and also to capture the loose snakes. When people start to die the investigation turns to a murder hunt.
This is a well written novel that perhaps could do with a good edit but I was completely ok with it. Full of good characters and dialogue although maybe my one criticism is it does lack a touch of realism in places. But don't let that stop you from enjoying a very good fictional read. I really should read more of this authors work.
April 13, 2017
Dear Reader,
I'll be the first to admit that no,I didn't do my homework on this one! If I had known beforehand that snakes played a huge part in this story,(yes,you read that correctly!), then I'm not sure I'd have read it.
'Why did I buy it?',I hear you ask! Simply because it was written by the wordsmith that is SJ Bolton!
Do I regret my impulsive purchase? Not in the least,as believe if or not I found this story very interesting and deeply compelling.
Clara Benning,a wildlife vet,lives in a small village,under the radar,preferring the company of species of the four legged variety rather than the two. Disfigured due to a childhood accident,she has carved out an existence rather than the life that any twenty-something should be living.
Strange incidents rattle her sedate routine with the appearance of snakes,some harmless,some extremely poisonous,found in the homes of her neighbours.
When the deaths of two elderly people are investigated,eyebrows are raised when it's discovered that their deaths were caused not by a snake bite but by..........
Clara's help is sought and so begins a wonderful adventure involving incidents from the past,a 'ceremony' that took place in a church in 1958 and the myriad consequences of such!!
This was an intriguing story,beautifully told with highly descriptive passages that swept the reader from their own home and supplanted them in the depths of the mysterious events as Clara and Matt delved deeper into memories and histories that some believed,were best left forgotten.
What of the Witcher clan,the Reverend Fain? Was there an Ulfred Witcher born into this community and if so,where does he reside today? Is he the one responsible for the recent deaths,is it his face Clara has seen,his strange voice she has heard muttering indecipherable nothings,or is there someone else,with dark and shadowy motives,a master puppeteer at work?
This was an enthralling story,one that urged me onwards to discover what exactly was happening and why.
Yes,snakes play a pivotal role in this story, but you should not let that deter you from what is,a highly satisfying and intriguing read!! Highly recommended!
I'll be the first to admit that no,I didn't do my homework on this one! If I had known beforehand that snakes played a huge part in this story,(yes,you read that correctly!), then I'm not sure I'd have read it.
'Why did I buy it?',I hear you ask! Simply because it was written by the wordsmith that is SJ Bolton!
Do I regret my impulsive purchase? Not in the least,as believe if or not I found this story very interesting and deeply compelling.
Clara Benning,a wildlife vet,lives in a small village,under the radar,preferring the company of species of the four legged variety rather than the two. Disfigured due to a childhood accident,she has carved out an existence rather than the life that any twenty-something should be living.
Strange incidents rattle her sedate routine with the appearance of snakes,some harmless,some extremely poisonous,found in the homes of her neighbours.
When the deaths of two elderly people are investigated,eyebrows are raised when it's discovered that their deaths were caused not by a snake bite but by..........
Clara's help is sought and so begins a wonderful adventure involving incidents from the past,a 'ceremony' that took place in a church in 1958 and the myriad consequences of such!!
This was an intriguing story,beautifully told with highly descriptive passages that swept the reader from their own home and supplanted them in the depths of the mysterious events as Clara and Matt delved deeper into memories and histories that some believed,were best left forgotten.
What of the Witcher clan,the Reverend Fain? Was there an Ulfred Witcher born into this community and if so,where does he reside today? Is he the one responsible for the recent deaths,is it his face Clara has seen,his strange voice she has heard muttering indecipherable nothings,or is there someone else,with dark and shadowy motives,a master puppeteer at work?
This was an enthralling story,one that urged me onwards to discover what exactly was happening and why.
Yes,snakes play a pivotal role in this story, but you should not let that deter you from what is,a highly satisfying and intriguing read!! Highly recommended!
April 7, 2022
I did enjoy this Sharon Bolton backlist book that I somehow missed. However it did feel a bit long and drawn out in places. But it was creepy as all with those snakes 😱
February 6, 2019
This is a story about a country vet, although, because it is written by the scarily brilliant Sharon Bolton, it is as far from the cozy blandness of James Herriot as it’s possible to be.
Because of a childhood accident, Clara Benning suffered a facial disfigurement and has subsequently tried to keep her human interactions to a minimum. However, she is a highly talented and dedicated vet. Clara lives in a remote village on the Dorset/Devon border, but the semblance of rural idyll is soon shattered when the village is infested by snakes: not just native grass snakes and adders, but a highly venomous tropical snake too. The whole phenomenon seems related to a large local family, the Witchers, a bizarre religious cult and the burning down of the parish church in 1958. It seems impossible for Clara to know whom to trust: neither her neighbour, a senior policeman nor a local renowned herpetologist.
After a series of unforeseen plot twists, the story builds to a thrilling climax during a severe storm, which has cut off all power to the village and blocked the access roads.
This novel bears all the hallmarks of classic Sharon Bolton: an unusual and endearing heroine, a remote and secretive location haunted by the past, a complex yet credible plot and plenty of moments of high drama. In a strange way, it’s also made me more sympathetic towards snakes.
Because of a childhood accident, Clara Benning suffered a facial disfigurement and has subsequently tried to keep her human interactions to a minimum. However, she is a highly talented and dedicated vet. Clara lives in a remote village on the Dorset/Devon border, but the semblance of rural idyll is soon shattered when the village is infested by snakes: not just native grass snakes and adders, but a highly venomous tropical snake too. The whole phenomenon seems related to a large local family, the Witchers, a bizarre religious cult and the burning down of the parish church in 1958. It seems impossible for Clara to know whom to trust: neither her neighbour, a senior policeman nor a local renowned herpetologist.
After a series of unforeseen plot twists, the story builds to a thrilling climax during a severe storm, which has cut off all power to the village and blocked the access roads.
This novel bears all the hallmarks of classic Sharon Bolton: an unusual and endearing heroine, a remote and secretive location haunted by the past, a complex yet credible plot and plenty of moments of high drama. In a strange way, it’s also made me more sympathetic towards snakes.
January 17, 2015
A very enjoyable murder mystery - 4.5 stars.
Clara is a wildlife vet who has hidden herself away in a rural village in England and avoids people as much as possible. This is because she is scarred on one side of her face and is sick of people staring, judging and being horrible to her.
Strange things start happening in her village and people are dying which forces Clara to confront her fears and her foes.
This book is not without it flaws (a bit rambling in places and somewhat far-fetched) but I really enjoyed it and the narrator was very good. I liked Clara even though she could be very trying at times!
Warning - do not read this if you don't like snakes...creepy!
Clara is a wildlife vet who has hidden herself away in a rural village in England and avoids people as much as possible. This is because she is scarred on one side of her face and is sick of people staring, judging and being horrible to her.
Strange things start happening in her village and people are dying which forces Clara to confront her fears and her foes.
This book is not without it flaws (a bit rambling in places and somewhat far-fetched) but I really enjoyed it and the narrator was very good. I liked Clara even though she could be very trying at times!
Warning - do not read this if you don't like snakes...creepy!
September 21, 2018
This was an interesting tale of murder, fanatical religious fervour and exotic poisonous snakes, in England no less.
The pace is a slow methodical build up to the final moment of truth.
Sharon J. Bolton's writing is so engrossing that it’s a pleasure sit back and watch the events unfold.
When there is an infestation of Adders, Grass Snakes and the odd Taipan in a small English village, Clara Benning, the reclusive vet of an animal hospital is called in to investigate the cause of the infestation.
Elderly people are dying and the cause of death seems to be snake bits. At the same time peoples houses are being infested by snakes. As hard as Clara tries she’s finding it almost impossible to understand why the snakes are acting so out of character.
Clara, with help from an eminent snake expert and a neighbour, who happens to be a police officer, starts to untangle the mystery. What unfolds is a story religious fanaticism, greed and more than a touch of madness.
With out a doubt Sharon J. Bolton has a rare gift and this book is one of her gifts.
Highly recommended.
4/5 stars
The pace is a slow methodical build up to the final moment of truth.
Sharon J. Bolton's writing is so engrossing that it’s a pleasure sit back and watch the events unfold.
When there is an infestation of Adders, Grass Snakes and the odd Taipan in a small English village, Clara Benning, the reclusive vet of an animal hospital is called in to investigate the cause of the infestation.
Elderly people are dying and the cause of death seems to be snake bits. At the same time peoples houses are being infested by snakes. As hard as Clara tries she’s finding it almost impossible to understand why the snakes are acting so out of character.
Clara, with help from an eminent snake expert and a neighbour, who happens to be a police officer, starts to untangle the mystery. What unfolds is a story religious fanaticism, greed and more than a touch of madness.
With out a doubt Sharon J. Bolton has a rare gift and this book is one of her gifts.
Highly recommended.
4/5 stars
January 2, 2012
Rating Clarification: 3.75 Stars
RECIPE FOR A MODERN GOTHIC THRILLER:
Take 1 seriously sweet, sleeping baby,
add 1-2 lethal Papuan Tiapan snakes,
fold in 1 decrepit old spooky house in the bucolic English countryside,
add 1 pissed off Mute Swan,
and top with a cupful of seriously deranged snake handling wackjobs
Read without ceasing for 1-7 hours (time varies by cook), and, VOILA!, you have one seriously happy reader:
RECIPE FOR A MODERN GOTHIC THRILLER:
Take 1 seriously sweet, sleeping baby,
add 1-2 lethal Papuan Tiapan snakes,
fold in 1 decrepit old spooky house in the bucolic English countryside,
add 1 pissed off Mute Swan,
and top with a cupful of seriously deranged snake handling wackjobs
Read without ceasing for 1-7 hours (time varies by cook), and, VOILA!, you have one seriously happy reader:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2019
Absolutely loved this slick and vividly portrayed thriller!!
I was highly invested in the characters (and thought about them for some time after finished the book). The main characters were well developed, from the beautiful but damaged Clara, the mysterious Mr. North and the hunky and capable Matt, I could have gone on reading about all of them forever.
I appreciated how well researched this work was. The reptilian imagery was so well done, it will make you wary of what could be slithering around over in the corner. You will definitely want to look under your bed before you try to go to sleep after reading this one!
I was highly invested in the characters (and thought about them for some time after finished the book). The main characters were well developed, from the beautiful but damaged Clara, the mysterious Mr. North and the hunky and capable Matt, I could have gone on reading about all of them forever.
I appreciated how well researched this work was. The reptilian imagery was so well done, it will make you wary of what could be slithering around over in the corner. You will definitely want to look under your bed before you try to go to sleep after reading this one!
August 11, 2014
Rating: 4.5 stars
As my brother said when he was little: me no ikey nakes. They give me major heebie jeebies. They make me shudder. I can't even look at them on TV, and only a madman would even suggest I go into a reptile house.
So knowing this book has snakes as a main character, whatever made me read it? The answer is simple: SJ Bolton. I’ve read two of her tension-filled books this year (Sacrifice and Blood Harvest) and she’s become one of my fave authors. Snakes or not, I wasn’t going to miss out on a third.
That said, I could have bailed early on when ; I genuinely had a snake nightmare that night. But long before then, the story had me well and truly hooked, and I was going nowhere.
The story centres around an old deserted house, a mysteriously departed family, a ghostly re-appearance, a dark ancient ritual, death by venom, and a sinister 50-year-old village secret involving a burnt out church. Gothicky deliciousness. Trust no-one!
As with Bolton’s other books, the creepiness and tension are cranked up to the max. I just love the way she writes with such gripping, unpredictable, chilling subtlety. No-one freaks me out as beautifully as she does!
As my brother said when he was little: me no ikey nakes. They give me major heebie jeebies. They make me shudder. I can't even look at them on TV, and only a madman would even suggest I go into a reptile house.
So knowing this book has snakes as a main character, whatever made me read it? The answer is simple: SJ Bolton. I’ve read two of her tension-filled books this year (Sacrifice and Blood Harvest) and she’s become one of my fave authors. Snakes or not, I wasn’t going to miss out on a third.
That said, I could have bailed early on when ; I genuinely had a snake nightmare that night. But long before then, the story had me well and truly hooked, and I was going nowhere.
The story centres around an old deserted house, a mysteriously departed family, a ghostly re-appearance, a dark ancient ritual, death by venom, and a sinister 50-year-old village secret involving a burnt out church. Gothicky deliciousness. Trust no-one!
As with Bolton’s other books, the creepiness and tension are cranked up to the max. I just love the way she writes with such gripping, unpredictable, chilling subtlety. No-one freaks me out as beautifully as she does!
May 28, 2019
Another great book by S.J. Bolton, this one is really a 3.5 star rating for me but I don't have that option and it's closer to a 4 star than a 3 star book. As always I can connect well with the characters in the book, especially Clara who is central to the book. I find that it's easy to read her books and the pace of the book cracks along. The research done into snakes for this book is impressive and I am now fairly well versed in many things snake related, I might even be able to know what type of snake I was facing in my bedroom! God forbid.
I did find towards the end some scenes a little bit unrealistic, like Clara taking on major detective work herself rather than calling the police for involvement, not sure if all vets would go to that extreme, nevertheless it's a cracking good read. Unlike some who have reviewed this book, the final outcome was not clear to me, I think it could have ended in a number of ways. This is the second of S.J. Bolton's books I have read and I did prefer Blood Harvest for it's slightly more creepy element.
The book is very well written and I am looking forward to reading more of S.J's books in the future. If you like a good read with a focus on mystery with strong characters, then this one is for you.
I did find towards the end some scenes a little bit unrealistic, like Clara taking on major detective work herself rather than calling the police for involvement, not sure if all vets would go to that extreme, nevertheless it's a cracking good read. Unlike some who have reviewed this book, the final outcome was not clear to me, I think it could have ended in a number of ways. This is the second of S.J. Bolton's books I have read and I did prefer Blood Harvest for it's slightly more creepy element.
The book is very well written and I am looking forward to reading more of S.J's books in the future. If you like a good read with a focus on mystery with strong characters, then this one is for you.
August 8, 2025
Hep betimlenen kadın karakterden biraz farklıydı.
Dışarıdan kalıplaşmış dış görünüşün insanın hayatındaki olumsuz etkisini ve ruhsal olabilecek olumsuz durumları gerçekçi bir şekilde kaleme almış. Alkol, din, tarikatlar, akran zorbalığı, genç suçlular alt metin olarak insanlığa güzel bir ders olabilecek nitelikteydi. Karakterimizin bütün olumsuz hayatına rağmen bir anda hayatında olan "zehir" etkisi hem kendini hem de bölgelerindeki suçluyu bulma yolundaki azmi, kararlılığı ve korkusuzluğu okuma zevkini kat ve kat arttırdı diyebilirim.
Kitabı okurken sadece iki olumsuz yan vardı bana göre. Kitabın başından beri yılan zehri ve yılanlar adına bilgi verirken bazen çok uzatmış gibilerdi. Bu kadar bilgiyi okumak güzeldi ama bir süre sonra olaya dön artık dedirttirdi. Ama yılanı kullanan tarikat vurgusu ve açıklamaları da insanı daha da araştırma isteğine sevk etti diyebilirim. Bu konuda pek ortası yok gibiydi. Bence diğer olumsuz yan da konu güzel bir şekilde bitirilse de karakterin son kısmı biraz bizlere bırakılmış gibiydi. Kendi yolunu bulması ve görünüşünün hayatına engel olamayacağına karar vermesi umut doluydu. Ama bittiğinde bir eksiklik hissi ile kendimi karşı karşıya buldum. Devamı gelse şaşırmazdım doğrusu.
Genel olarak kitap merak ettirip birçok konuya değindi diyebilirim. Sıkmadan, elimden kitabı bırakmadan saatler geçti. Bu yüzden bir şans verilebilir.
Dışarıdan kalıplaşmış dış görünüşün insanın hayatındaki olumsuz etkisini ve ruhsal olabilecek olumsuz durumları gerçekçi bir şekilde kaleme almış. Alkol, din, tarikatlar, akran zorbalığı, genç suçlular alt metin olarak insanlığa güzel bir ders olabilecek nitelikteydi. Karakterimizin bütün olumsuz hayatına rağmen bir anda hayatında olan "zehir" etkisi hem kendini hem de bölgelerindeki suçluyu bulma yolundaki azmi, kararlılığı ve korkusuzluğu okuma zevkini kat ve kat arttırdı diyebilirim.
Kitabı okurken sadece iki olumsuz yan vardı bana göre. Kitabın başından beri yılan zehri ve yılanlar adına bilgi verirken bazen çok uzatmış gibilerdi. Bu kadar bilgiyi okumak güzeldi ama bir süre sonra olaya dön artık dedirttirdi. Ama yılanı kullanan tarikat vurgusu ve açıklamaları da insanı daha da araştırma isteğine sevk etti diyebilirim. Bu konuda pek ortası yok gibiydi. Bence diğer olumsuz yan da konu güzel bir şekilde bitirilse de karakterin son kısmı biraz bizlere bırakılmış gibiydi. Kendi yolunu bulması ve görünüşünün hayatına engel olamayacağına karar vermesi umut doluydu. Ama bittiğinde bir eksiklik hissi ile kendimi karşı karşıya buldum. Devamı gelse şaşırmazdım doğrusu.
Genel olarak kitap merak ettirip birçok konuya değindi diyebilirim. Sıkmadan, elimden kitabı bırakmadan saatler geçti. Bu yüzden bir şans verilebilir.
November 15, 2015
After reading Bolton's Flint series, it is hard not to compare this earlier work. While it was well written and I enjoyed it, the suspense didn't really kick in until more than half way into the book. I think the beginning groundwork might have been a bit too long.
June 7, 2012
In a way, S. J. Bolton's second published novel AWAKENING is a coming-of-age story. The protag and narrator of the tale is a reclusive wildlife veterinarian, Clara Benning, unmarried daughter of an archdeacon. She practices in a remote British village and prefers her mute swans and baby owl chicks to people. But several invasions of snakes into the village and the death of three old people, once parishioners of a church burned to the ground fifty years prior, change her life.
Additionally, the novel is a quintessential gothic crime thriller. It is no coincidence that Bolton was dubbed the "high priestess of rural gothic crime" in Harrogate the summer of 2011. Her third novel Blood Harvest was shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier mystery of the year, an award given only to British and Irish crime writers. Bolton was the only female writer nominated. All the gothic elements are richly detailed in AWAKENiNG:
An isolated British village "creeping with snakes and mystery." An abandoned and old, rambling residence, Witcher House. A burned skeleton of a church never rebuilt.
A disfigured female. In this novel, the narrator herself with a side of her face scarred by a horrendous childhood accident.
Old family secrets. The four, maybe five Witcher brothers, once pillars of the community. Strange religious rituals fifty years ago at a church, burned and never restored...a Church of the Latter Rain.
A hint of romance. Both a kind neighbor and a TV celebrity and noted herpetologist befriend Clara.
And snakes. As in other novels, Bolton has well researched the other villains of this story...snakes. She lists five tomes of snake science in the acknowlegements along with a special thank you to the curator of lower vertebrates and invertebrates at the Chester Zoo. She also imagines a improbable grass snake swarm in chilling prose:
"How best to describe what happened next? It was though I were in the midst of a wide, swift river. Water was rushing towards me, ebbing and swirling occasionally but...flowing relently onwards...a field of wind-blown grass. I watched that flow of - water...grass...what on earth was it? - coming towards me.
Snakes...dozens of them...maybe hundreds. They were rippling through the long grass like ribbons flowing from a child's streamer. Their bodies gleamed slick and wet, shining in the moonlight. They moved over the land with a collective purpose...
It was a grass-snake swarm. Young snakes, slim as pencils, moved alongside adults over five feet long. I saw dark snakes, pale snakes, could even make out the markings on their backs...It was beautiful, extraordinary; quite wonderful..." (219-220)
Bolton's imaginative prose is beautiful, extraordinary and wonderful, too. She is indeed the high priestess of modern gothic crime.
Additionally, the novel is a quintessential gothic crime thriller. It is no coincidence that Bolton was dubbed the "high priestess of rural gothic crime" in Harrogate the summer of 2011. Her third novel Blood Harvest was shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier mystery of the year, an award given only to British and Irish crime writers. Bolton was the only female writer nominated. All the gothic elements are richly detailed in AWAKENiNG:
An isolated British village "creeping with snakes and mystery." An abandoned and old, rambling residence, Witcher House. A burned skeleton of a church never rebuilt.
A disfigured female. In this novel, the narrator herself with a side of her face scarred by a horrendous childhood accident.
Old family secrets. The four, maybe five Witcher brothers, once pillars of the community. Strange religious rituals fifty years ago at a church, burned and never restored...a Church of the Latter Rain.
A hint of romance. Both a kind neighbor and a TV celebrity and noted herpetologist befriend Clara.
And snakes. As in other novels, Bolton has well researched the other villains of this story...snakes. She lists five tomes of snake science in the acknowlegements along with a special thank you to the curator of lower vertebrates and invertebrates at the Chester Zoo. She also imagines a improbable grass snake swarm in chilling prose:
"How best to describe what happened next? It was though I were in the midst of a wide, swift river. Water was rushing towards me, ebbing and swirling occasionally but...flowing relently onwards...a field of wind-blown grass. I watched that flow of - water...grass...what on earth was it? - coming towards me.
Snakes...dozens of them...maybe hundreds. They were rippling through the long grass like ribbons flowing from a child's streamer. Their bodies gleamed slick and wet, shining in the moonlight. They moved over the land with a collective purpose...
It was a grass-snake swarm. Young snakes, slim as pencils, moved alongside adults over five feet long. I saw dark snakes, pale snakes, could even make out the markings on their backs...It was beautiful, extraordinary; quite wonderful..." (219-220)
Bolton's imaginative prose is beautiful, extraordinary and wonderful, too. She is indeed the high priestess of modern gothic crime.
January 21, 2016
Solid 4...maybe even a 4.5.
Sharon Bolton is a very talented writer who can pen a tale of mystery and suspense with the best of them. Not only are her prose a pleasure to read, but her characters are generally interesting and multidimensional. This particular story line is well-developed and believable. In this tale of snakes (both reptile and human), her attention to detail is quite impressive. She obviously spent a lot of time researching snakes, and it paid off.
This was a little slow at first, but once things got going, it was full steam ahead.
Sharon Bolton is a very talented writer who can pen a tale of mystery and suspense with the best of them. Not only are her prose a pleasure to read, but her characters are generally interesting and multidimensional. This particular story line is well-developed and believable. In this tale of snakes (both reptile and human), her attention to detail is quite impressive. She obviously spent a lot of time researching snakes, and it paid off.
This was a little slow at first, but once things got going, it was full steam ahead.
November 21, 2018
‘Awakening’ by Sharon Bolton really lived up to its title! I sure had an awakening. Never before have I read a mystery novel so overrun with snakes. And, never have I managed to read one filled to the brim with snakes almost at one sitting! If you, like me, have an aversion to snakes don’t let that put you off. Take heart and follow the socially phobic protagonist, Dr. Clara Benning, veterinarian, down a multi-faceted plot laced with - well, snakes!
Sharon Bolton weaves everything to do with snakes, venomous and non-venomous, such as their natural habitat, their feeding habits, their reproduction, the illegal exportation of them, their venom and the effects of their venom, into the plot. This intense background, together with characters who work with them and others who use them for nefarious purposes, makes for a fascinating read.
Sharon Bolton weaves everything to do with snakes, venomous and non-venomous, such as their natural habitat, their feeding habits, their reproduction, the illegal exportation of them, their venom and the effects of their venom, into the plot. This intense background, together with characters who work with them and others who use them for nefarious purposes, makes for a fascinating read.
March 25, 2019
"Op zich wel een goed boek, maar ik miste de Sharon Bolton van in Bloedschande echt wel!" https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2019...
April 17, 2011
Someone really needs to teach S.J. Bolton how to use red herrings properly. When Matt was introduced it seemed like he was being set up as the love-interest-who-is-actually-the-villain. Lots of heavy-handed clues to support this theory were dropped, such as when Clara and Matt have to collect all the snakes in the Poulsons' house. Matt knows exactly where the master bedroom is, and is confident and experienced in handling snakes even though he claims never to have done it before -- two things that Clara finds suspicious. However, this is never explained. Matt turns out not to be the villain after all, and the only twist is that he has a girlfriend. This is supposed to break Clara's heart but to be honest I wasn't sure why, as I didn't get any real sense of her feelings for him from the writing.
A particularly ludicrous moment happens near the conclusion, when Clara is sitting in her car in a storm, trying to work out whodunnit. The reverend comes and knocks on her window and invites her to go for a walk in the pouring rain and gale-force winds. The car park is right next to a cliff, but that doesn't seem to bother Clara! Out she hops, and they go beyond the fence marking the safe point. The reverend is steering her closer and closer to the edge of a cliff! Clara is uneasy! The reverend grabs her arm -- and they decide to go back, as it's unsafe. Yeah, seriously. I thought that Clara deserved to get pushed off that cliff for being so stupid, but alas, I was denied that pleasure.
A particularly ludicrous moment happens near the conclusion, when Clara is sitting in her car in a storm, trying to work out whodunnit. The reverend comes and knocks on her window and invites her to go for a walk in the pouring rain and gale-force winds. The car park is right next to a cliff, but that doesn't seem to bother Clara! Out she hops, and they go beyond the fence marking the safe point. The reverend is steering her closer and closer to the edge of a cliff! Clara is uneasy! The reverend grabs her arm -- and they decide to go back, as it's unsafe. Yeah, seriously. I thought that Clara deserved to get pushed off that cliff for being so stupid, but alas, I was denied that pleasure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2011
This is the second of this author’s books I’ve read and her writing has made me a fan. I found her first book Sacrifice equally compelling and readable.
This well paced thriller, set in small English village introduces us to a young, reclusive, veterinary surgeon who has been deeply scarred by an event from her childhood. A number of strange occurrences involving snakes draw Clara into investigating the mysteries with interesting results.
I was impressed with the amount of interesting facts about snakes the author managed to incorporate into the narrative without boring me. I love animals and appreciated the character’s compassion for these often misunderstood creatures.
If you enjoy a good mystery and love animals then this is a great book to spend a weekend with.
This well paced thriller, set in small English village introduces us to a young, reclusive, veterinary surgeon who has been deeply scarred by an event from her childhood. A number of strange occurrences involving snakes draw Clara into investigating the mysteries with interesting results.
I was impressed with the amount of interesting facts about snakes the author managed to incorporate into the narrative without boring me. I love animals and appreciated the character’s compassion for these often misunderstood creatures.
If you enjoy a good mystery and love animals then this is a great book to spend a weekend with.
May 18, 2021
3.75 stars. I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book. I like Bolton’s writing and would probably try anything written by her. The resolution IMO of this was too long and had too many scenes that were hard for me to read. I would have liked to hang on a bit longer after she tied up the story and see what happened to some of the main characters vs spending so much time figuring out why the snakes were showing up in places we don’t normally expect to see them.
If you have a fear of snakes you should probably avoid this book but for everyone else, I recommend it. Particularly if you’d like to be immersed and swept away by a thriller taking place in the British countryside. The main character is someone I really enjoyed getting to know and you can skim the parts at the end that get a little graphic, if that bothers you.
As far as I know, no audio exists for this book, which is part of the reason it took me so long to finish. Busy time of year. Also, this author deserves to have every one of her titles in audio format. She is terrific and I can’t seem to get enough of her writing. This is one of her earlier books and she definitely gets better with experience.
If you have a fear of snakes you should probably avoid this book but for everyone else, I recommend it. Particularly if you’d like to be immersed and swept away by a thriller taking place in the British countryside. The main character is someone I really enjoyed getting to know and you can skim the parts at the end that get a little graphic, if that bothers you.
As far as I know, no audio exists for this book, which is part of the reason it took me so long to finish. Busy time of year. Also, this author deserves to have every one of her titles in audio format. She is terrific and I can’t seem to get enough of her writing. This is one of her earlier books and she definitely gets better with experience.
October 20, 2023
Setting: Dorset, UK; modern day.
Clara is a wildlife vet based in an isolated Dorset village where she has settled to avoid as much human contact as possible due to her self-inflicted social isolation following a childhood accident that left her with severe facial scarring. Although quite an expert in reptiles, especially snakes, Clara prefers the more sedate life as vet in the local wildlife hospital. But after a local man bitten by a snake later dies in hospital and a neighbour calls for her help when she finds an adder in her baby daughter's cot, Clara and the local medical and law enforcement professionals realise that something is not right locally. As incidents involving snakes escalate, attention turns to a local old house, apparently abandoned, and the family who lived there for generations before...
This is another excellent stand-alone novel from this author, although it made me cringe somewhat as I'm not really keen on snakes - certainly not a book for readers who have a more serious aversion!! Great characters and a twisty and unpredictable storyline make this a great read - 8.5/10.
Clara is a wildlife vet based in an isolated Dorset village where she has settled to avoid as much human contact as possible due to her self-inflicted social isolation following a childhood accident that left her with severe facial scarring. Although quite an expert in reptiles, especially snakes, Clara prefers the more sedate life as vet in the local wildlife hospital. But after a local man bitten by a snake later dies in hospital and a neighbour calls for her help when she finds an adder in her baby daughter's cot, Clara and the local medical and law enforcement professionals realise that something is not right locally. As incidents involving snakes escalate, attention turns to a local old house, apparently abandoned, and the family who lived there for generations before...
This is another excellent stand-alone novel from this author, although it made me cringe somewhat as I'm not really keen on snakes - certainly not a book for readers who have a more serious aversion!! Great characters and a twisty and unpredictable storyline make this a great read - 8.5/10.
June 20, 2016
Bolton writes in this novel a gothic-esque story about a protagonist, a reptile expert whose face was scarred since birth, getting involved in investigating snakes killing people in her small village.
(It's midnight, I'm tired, and I'm going to be very short and hopefully succinct in my review.)
I've grew a bit out of gothic horror and I'm not a fan of stories centered around religious nutcases, dank, dark cellars, and brothers with mental impairments used as killing tools, so by what should have been the climax of the mystery I was scrolling through pages so fast. The descriptions of the church, the abandoned house, and the cellar should have interested me - it was well-written, no doubt - but it didn't. Religious events and stories really bore me, and if I knew this will be centered around a church somewhat I wouldn't have picked it up.
The story picks up fast at the start; exciting deaths and almost-deaths were quickly introduced, along with the snakes, of course. The snakes interested me, and I loved that I could learn a thing or two about snakes from the book. However, I felt that the characters were very one-sided, with no depth whatsoever. While that was alright for the side characters - they serve the story - I thought that the protagonist could be better written. She started off interesting. Horrid scar on her face, as a result introverted and avoidant of social interaction, has issues regarding trust and self-worth, the whole shebang. She was not very likable - spends a lot of the book restating how much she hated people and talking to people. Eventually she starts realising her own self-fulfilling prophecy, which was a good way to bring about character development, sadly though it was spurred by the most cliche way possible - two men subtly flirting with her by getting too close and trying to find ways to get too close to her and telling her in subtle ways that she is very pretty ~despite~ her scar. That ruined it for me.
Bolton's style is very readable and clear. Her descriptions of things may have seemed a bit like fillers sometimes, but other than that I did enjoy the ease at which I can picture the story in my head. Overall, though, it was another average mystery that didn't stay with me for long.
(It's midnight, I'm tired, and I'm going to be very short and hopefully succinct in my review.)
I've grew a bit out of gothic horror and I'm not a fan of stories centered around religious nutcases, dank, dark cellars, and brothers with mental impairments used as killing tools, so by what should have been the climax of the mystery I was scrolling through pages so fast. The descriptions of the church, the abandoned house, and the cellar should have interested me - it was well-written, no doubt - but it didn't. Religious events and stories really bore me, and if I knew this will be centered around a church somewhat I wouldn't have picked it up.
The story picks up fast at the start; exciting deaths and almost-deaths were quickly introduced, along with the snakes, of course. The snakes interested me, and I loved that I could learn a thing or two about snakes from the book. However, I felt that the characters were very one-sided, with no depth whatsoever. While that was alright for the side characters - they serve the story - I thought that the protagonist could be better written. She started off interesting. Horrid scar on her face, as a result introverted and avoidant of social interaction, has issues regarding trust and self-worth, the whole shebang. She was not very likable - spends a lot of the book restating how much she hated people and talking to people. Eventually she starts realising her own self-fulfilling prophecy, which was a good way to bring about character development, sadly though it was spurred by the most cliche way possible - two men subtly flirting with her by getting too close and trying to find ways to get too close to her and telling her in subtle ways that she is very pretty ~despite~ her scar. That ruined it for me.
Bolton's style is very readable and clear. Her descriptions of things may have seemed a bit like fillers sometimes, but other than that I did enjoy the ease at which I can picture the story in my head. Overall, though, it was another average mystery that didn't stay with me for long.
July 16, 2015
I’m a massive Sharon Bolton fan and for the longest of times I’ve been missing this book from my collection. Having now picked it up, I can say that all her books are truly brilliant. If you have never picked up a Sharon Bolton book I highly recommend doing so: they really are great. Whilst Awakening may not be my favourite of her books, it is another gripping tale.
A tale which is no good for those individuals who have a fear of snakes, may I quickly point out.
Awakening starts off slower than other Bolton books, but once it gets going it is just as gripping as all her other pieces of work. As always, Bolton offers us a mystery which is nowhere near as straightforward as many may perceive it to be. With lots of questions regarding the characters and the events which are unfolding, you will be second guessing throughout.
We’re given the usual full works with Bolton: multidimensional characters, mysteries piled upon mysteries, amusing moments, questionable events, and a crime which is not at all easy to work out.
If you enjoy this work I really do suggest picking up her other books, in particular her Lacey Flint series. I promise you, you will not regret becoming a Bolton fan!
A tale which is no good for those individuals who have a fear of snakes, may I quickly point out.
Awakening starts off slower than other Bolton books, but once it gets going it is just as gripping as all her other pieces of work. As always, Bolton offers us a mystery which is nowhere near as straightforward as many may perceive it to be. With lots of questions regarding the characters and the events which are unfolding, you will be second guessing throughout.
We’re given the usual full works with Bolton: multidimensional characters, mysteries piled upon mysteries, amusing moments, questionable events, and a crime which is not at all easy to work out.
If you enjoy this work I really do suggest picking up her other books, in particular her Lacey Flint series. I promise you, you will not regret becoming a Bolton fan!
September 12, 2013
Hi,
After reading four SJ Bolton books in a row, although this is the most successful of her books, I found it the weakest.
You expect the standard to be high, and this was only her second book, Sacrifice meaning her first.
But I think she had got stronger with her last three books.
I found this one a little heavier and slower, and a little over the top.
But it did still build to a fast paced last few chapters.
Now reading Sacrifice.
Her new novel is also just out.
regards
Sean
After reading four SJ Bolton books in a row, although this is the most successful of her books, I found it the weakest.
You expect the standard to be high, and this was only her second book, Sacrifice meaning her first.
But I think she had got stronger with her last three books.
I found this one a little heavier and slower, and a little over the top.
But it did still build to a fast paced last few chapters.
Now reading Sacrifice.
Her new novel is also just out.
regards
Sean
November 26, 2017
This was a disturbing story involving dangerous and poisonous snakes but soon its clear that there's more at stake... Quite original storyline, just as having the heroine who's scarred and reclusive.
January 5, 2013
4.5
No wonder The Times dubbed S.J. Bolton the “high priestess of rural gothic crime” after this novel was published – “Awakening” is an atmospheric, eerie, original and well-plotted mystery which kept me enthralled until the very last page. What better way to start the new year with such an excellent read!
Clara Benning, a young veterinarian disfigured in a horrific childhood accident, is living as a virtual recluse in a small village in Dorset, preferring the company of animals to that of her human counterparts. Her expertise and knowledge of reptiles prompts the local hospital to ask for Clara’s help when a local man dies from what initially looks like a snake bite, but turns into suspicious circumstances when blood tests reveal unusually high doses of lethal snake venom in his blood. The same morning Clara is asked to rescue a baby from a venomous snake curled up in her cot, and other snakes are being spotted in various households around the neighbourhood, including a deadly tropical taipan not native to the area. With villagers panicking and law enforcement trying to track down the cause of the sightings, Clara gets drawn further and further into the investigation into the mysterious happenings around town. With the help of a local policeman and a famous herpetologist, Clara conducts her own enquiries into the snake sightings, and discovers a possible link to events which occurred in the village over fifty years ago. As she draws closer to solving the mystery, Clara herself must be careful not to become the next victim.
With Clara Benning the author has created a fresh and interesting protagonist, whose knowledge of all creatures great and small provides fascinating background information to this creepy (crawly) mystery. With insight and compassion Bolton introduces a heroine who is so mentally and physically scarred that she has been avoiding human contact most of her life. As Clara gets drawn into helping solve the mysterious happenings in the village, she also slowly emerges from her self-imposed exile, growing as a person and finding that forgiveness and love may be possible for her after all. As Clara uncovers old mysteries, she also discovers truths about herself, and it was heart-warming to see her come out of her shell and grow as a person as the novel progresses.
If you are an ophiophobic you may disagree, but I found the facts about snakes and snake venom contained in this book utterly fascinating. Living in Australia, snakes are a constant presence in my life, though luckily none quite as deadly as the exotic taipan described in “Awakening”. To use snake venom – linked to an old ritual – as a murder weapon must be one of the most original plots of a murder / mystery I have read in a long time. My favourite part was when Clara walks through a field in the middle of the night and witnesses the following scene:
“Snakes … dozens of them … maybe hundreds. They were rippling through the long grass like ribbons flowing from a child’s streamer. Their bodies gleamed slick and wet, shining in the moonlight. They moved over the land with a collective purpose, a common goal, driven by an instinct I could never begin to understand. It was a grass snake swarm.[…]”
Apart from the very likeable plucky Clara, the novel swarms with other strange or slightly eccentric characters, including the Steve Irwin like herpetologist Sean North, who shares Clara’s love of reptiles. There are also some ghostly apparitions and damp haunted mansions on full-moon nights, adding an extra creep-factor to the story. Rural gothic crime indeed – I loved it, and would eagerly read more of the same genre!
“Awakenings” worked much better for me than Sacrifice, partly because for me Clara was a much more likeable protagonist – so I would highly recommend starting with it if you have never read any S. J. Bolton books. I will certainly be looking for more books from this author.
September 4, 2013
Öncelikle bir kaç cümleyle konuya değineyim;
Küçük bir kasabada yaşayan Clara Benning, son derece içine kapanık, yüzünde ciddi sorunları olan işkolik bir veteriner. Sıradan bir gününde komşusu, Clara'dan bebeğinin yatağında bulunan yılan için yardım istiyor. Clara bu durumu garipsese de, pek önemsemiyor. Akşamın geç saatlerinde başka bir komşusunun evini basan zehirsiz yılanların arasında, dünyanın en zehirli yılanlarından biri olan taipan yılanını bulunca, bir şeyler döndüğünü anlıyor. Bundan önce yılan tarafından sokulan başka bir komşusu ölüyor, üstelik yılanın kendisi sokmadığı halde. Yılan olaylarının yanı sıra Clara'nın sürekli olarak evine giren bir adam da ortaya çıkıyor ve Clara bunu polislere ispatlayamıyor, çünkü adamın eve girebileceği tüm yollar kilitli. Tüm bu artan yılan olaylarının arkasında neler var? Doğal denge mi yoksa kasıtlı olarak yapılan bir komplo mu? Clara'nın evine giren adam ondan ne istiyor? Ve yılanlarla bu adam arasındaki bağlantı ne?
Son derece akıcı, ürkütücü bir kitaptı. Kitabı elimden bırakamadım, okuyamadığım anlarda bile yanımda taşıma isteği duydum sürekli. Aslında bu kitaba başlamayı düşünmüyordum. Şöyle birkaç sayfasını okuyup bırakacaktım ama yatmam gerektiğini farkettiğimde 'birkaç' sayfayı çoktan geçmiştim. O derece sürükleyici yani :)
Son olarak kitap boyunca benim halim;
Küçük bir kasabada yaşayan Clara Benning, son derece içine kapanık, yüzünde ciddi sorunları olan işkolik bir veteriner. Sıradan bir gününde komşusu, Clara'dan bebeğinin yatağında bulunan yılan için yardım istiyor. Clara bu durumu garipsese de, pek önemsemiyor. Akşamın geç saatlerinde başka bir komşusunun evini basan zehirsiz yılanların arasında, dünyanın en zehirli yılanlarından biri olan taipan yılanını bulunca, bir şeyler döndüğünü anlıyor. Bundan önce yılan tarafından sokulan başka bir komşusu ölüyor, üstelik yılanın kendisi sokmadığı halde. Yılan olaylarının yanı sıra Clara'nın sürekli olarak evine giren bir adam da ortaya çıkıyor ve Clara bunu polislere ispatlayamıyor, çünkü adamın eve girebileceği tüm yollar kilitli. Tüm bu artan yılan olaylarının arkasında neler var? Doğal denge mi yoksa kasıtlı olarak yapılan bir komplo mu? Clara'nın evine giren adam ondan ne istiyor? Ve yılanlarla bu adam arasındaki bağlantı ne?
Son derece akıcı, ürkütücü bir kitaptı. Kitabı elimden bırakamadım, okuyamadığım anlarda bile yanımda taşıma isteği duydum sürekli. Aslında bu kitaba başlamayı düşünmüyordum. Şöyle birkaç sayfasını okuyup bırakacaktım ama yatmam gerektiğini farkettiğimde 'birkaç' sayfayı çoktan geçmiştim. O derece sürükleyici yani :)
Son olarak kitap boyunca benim halim;
November 26, 2009
A very exciting page-turner with some well-handled side-lights and carefully researched lore, primarily about snakes, but also about snake-handling Protestant sects. The protagonist is Clara Benning, a young, country veterinarian in the southwest of England, who (we gradually learn) has spent her life avoiding humans because of her terribly disfigured face. We only gradually learn about the cause and extent of her scarring, and the author paces the revelations very artfully. Clara unwillingly becomes involved in a series of snake-human interactions, some of which rather mysteriously result in the human's death. After a great amount of derring-do (there were a few too many manufactured episodes down dark and deserted lanes, in dark and deserted tunnels, in dark and deserted caves, and in dark and deserted mansions), Clara avoids being arrest herself for the murders and meanwhile learns the identity of the villain and the causes of the killings. Some very touching moments as she is slowly drawn out of herself by loving acquaintances, and there are the beginnings of a tender romance. The book had a few too many needless woman-in-jeopardy episodes, and it would have benefited from being in the third person. If Clara herself is writing the book, why should I worry about her fate in dangerous situations? But overall a very memorable read.
August 13, 2010
Snakes alive! I couldn't resist that opening, as snakes abound in this thrilling tale of Bolton's. There is so much beyond the great mystery to absorb in this novel. I learned much about snakes, other wildlife, and the extreme Pentecostal church branches. I was especially taken with the character development of Clara, her metamorphic transformation. A defining quality of Bolton's writing is the strong female lead, something that she does exceedingly well. Now that I've read all three of S.J. Bolton's novels, I find myself in that unhappy place of wanting more and unable to acquire it yet.
November 25, 2015
Snakes, strong sense of place, and American Pentecostal faith: this is a creepy, clever, and chilling book. I found myself loving Clara and her vulnerability mixed with profound competence and strength. It's a great read and one that fans of suspense will adore. If you're afraid of snakes, this is either a great or a terrible book for you!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 641 reviews