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The Victim
He’s watching you … but should he be afraid? Leah should have been enjoying a night in with her best friend and housemate Claire, binging on chocolate and her favourite Netflix show.
But instead, she is suddenly forced to fight for her life when strong hands grab her. A knife is pressed to Leah’s throat and as tears run down her cheeks, she knows she will have to do as she is told if she wants to survive the night.
2 years on …
The community has forgotten about the woman so violently snatched from their midst. Leah’s best friend, however, can’t forget the person who was closer to her than a sister. Nor does she want to believe the shocking secrets she has unearthed about her friend in her absence.
Claire refuses to let go. She won’t forget the only person she ever really cared about. And she will never go about her life as if Leah never existed. She also knows that the danger that took her best friend still lurks unpunished in their hometown. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when Claire is snatched too.
But the last thing she intends is to become one more victim. She feels her abductor should be the one who should be afraid. Can Claire survive longer than one night? Will she ever discover what really happened to Leah?
The Victim is a gripping psychological thriller that will leave page-turning readers unable to put it down until the final breathtaking twist. Fans of K.L Slater, Shalini Boland, Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst will love the addictive twists and turns that will have them racing through the pages long into the night.
But instead, she is suddenly forced to fight for her life when strong hands grab her. A knife is pressed to Leah’s throat and as tears run down her cheeks, she knows she will have to do as she is told if she wants to survive the night.
2 years on …
The community has forgotten about the woman so violently snatched from their midst. Leah’s best friend, however, can’t forget the person who was closer to her than a sister. Nor does she want to believe the shocking secrets she has unearthed about her friend in her absence.
Claire refuses to let go. She won’t forget the only person she ever really cared about. And she will never go about her life as if Leah never existed. She also knows that the danger that took her best friend still lurks unpunished in their hometown. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when Claire is snatched too.
But the last thing she intends is to become one more victim. She feels her abductor should be the one who should be afraid. Can Claire survive longer than one night? Will she ever discover what really happened to Leah?
The Victim is a gripping psychological thriller that will leave page-turning readers unable to put it down until the final breathtaking twist. Fans of K.L Slater, Shalini Boland, Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst will love the addictive twists and turns that will have them racing through the pages long into the night.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2023
496 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Harrow
13 books136 followersRuth Harrow is known for her gripping psychological thrillers. Born and raised in England, Ruth discovered her passion for writing in 2018. Her debut novel, In Her Footsteps, swiftly became a bestseller, marking the beginning of her journey in the genre. She continues to captivate readers with her jaw-dropping twists. For exclusive updates on her latest releases, visit RuthHarrow.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 18, 2023
This is the third thriller I have read by Ruth Harrow. It’s fast paced, entertaining and kept me interested from start to finish. The plot alternating from past to present added to the level of tension and suspense. I only wish the story would have dove deeper into the motivation of the villain’s actions. Even with this being said, I enjoyed this thriller and look forward to future books from this author. Thank you BookSirens for my ARC.
June 3, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Victim is a dual timelined, fast-paced, heaet pounding, twisty read that keeps you gripped to the very end. Lea and Claire have been inseparable since they became friends at twelve years old. Each sees each other as the sister they never had and when Lea fails to return home from work to the home they rent together, Claires alarm bells start ringing. The police find Leahs belongings near a nature reserve but no sign of Leah. Claires left distraught and in limbo as she refuses to give up on her missing friend. When Leas maternal mother gets in contact with Claire, she begins to suspect that either someone is toying with her or she's losing her mind. Then Claire herself is taken, and she faces a fight for her life! This book was so well structured, and I found that just when I thought I'd guessed what direction it was headed in, I was thrown into another!
The Victim is a dual timelined, fast-paced, heaet pounding, twisty read that keeps you gripped to the very end. Lea and Claire have been inseparable since they became friends at twelve years old. Each sees each other as the sister they never had and when Lea fails to return home from work to the home they rent together, Claires alarm bells start ringing. The police find Leahs belongings near a nature reserve but no sign of Leah. Claires left distraught and in limbo as she refuses to give up on her missing friend. When Leas maternal mother gets in contact with Claire, she begins to suspect that either someone is toying with her or she's losing her mind. Then Claire herself is taken, and she faces a fight for her life! This book was so well structured, and I found that just when I thought I'd guessed what direction it was headed in, I was thrown into another!
July 6, 2023
Ruth Harrow is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.This book is one of those books that you get into from the first page .I wanted to read it in straight through to the end ,to find out whodunit but yet prolong it as didn't want it to end.Really is a very good mystery thriller between past and present which is very easy to follow.The characters are very likeable and the relationships between them are really interesting .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2023
★★★★ 4.5 stars
He’s watching you...but should he be afraid...?
Oh yes...be afraid. Be very afraid. That's what I would be telling Leah and Claire if I had a heads up. But would she listen? Probably not. One usually finds that people very rarely listen to such sound advice until it's too late...or they have genuine cause to. But then, this is the world of fiction isn't it? Where anything goes.
THE VICTIM is the third thriller I have read by Ruth Harrow and something of a unique concept that was original and very different. It is a fast paced and addictive read that kept me entertained (for want of a better word) from start to finish. The alternating between the past and the present simply added to the level of suspense and tension that was palpable throughout.
Leah and Claire met when they were 12 year olds and have grown together as best friends. They are more like sisters, particularly since Leah's mum Helen adopted Claire after several years or care homes and the two women barely remember a world without the other in it. Even after leaving home they moved into a two bedroom flat Leah's uncle Tony lets them rent at below cost.
And then one evening Leah fails to return home from work.
At first Claire isn't worried. She may have been held up with a customer or got waylaid helping someone. That's just who Leah is. But as the minutes tick into hours, Claire begins to panic. Something has happened. It is unlike her friend not to let her know if she was waylaid. Besides, Leah is so structured in her routine and punctuality. Something is wrong.
And then the police find Leah's phone and bag on the path alongside the nature reserve she loves so much and Claire's fears are confirmed.
Over the ensuing months which then turns into a year and then eighteen months, Claire refuses to give up on her friend. She continues to search for answers as to what happened to Leah on that fateful evening...and where she may be now.
Then in the midst of all that is going on around her, Claire's birth mother makes contact making her wary. What is she after? Or is it even genuine? The message came via social media from a private account with only a name and no profile photo...it could be anyone. Is someone toying with Claire?
And then just when she thinks she may be closing in, Claire herself is taken. And it is then that her fight for survival really begins...
There isn't much more I can add to this without giving the good bits away...lol There are plenty of twists to be had in this book though, to be honest, I did figure them all out. But that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book because it was one hell of a thrill ride! It reminded me of a "Criminal Minds" episode (yes, another one). Those who have seen it will recall it also when reading this.
THE VICTIM definitely has a sinister vibe about it. It is creepy and chilling in parts that the fear felt by the characters is so palpable it had my heart racing. The setting in this particular instance was perfect. It simply added to that feeling of helplessness and ultimate fear. And the short snappy chapters really ramped up that tension and added to the suspense. I couldn't swipe my kindle fast enough.
I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did but...well, I did! The format in which the author delivered the story to us is executed with perfection. The Then and Now chapters that alternate throughout keeps the pace moving at the speed of light without bogging us down with boring detail. We are given enough information with each chapter to keep us turning the pages until the very end. Simply put, I couldn't put it down.
Overall, THE VICTIM is an intense thriller with a tension that is palpable throughout keeping readers entertained and engaged from beginning to end.
I would like to thank #RuthHarrow, #Netgalley and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheVictim in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
He’s watching you...but should he be afraid...?
Oh yes...be afraid. Be very afraid. That's what I would be telling Leah and Claire if I had a heads up. But would she listen? Probably not. One usually finds that people very rarely listen to such sound advice until it's too late...or they have genuine cause to. But then, this is the world of fiction isn't it? Where anything goes.
THE VICTIM is the third thriller I have read by Ruth Harrow and something of a unique concept that was original and very different. It is a fast paced and addictive read that kept me entertained (for want of a better word) from start to finish. The alternating between the past and the present simply added to the level of suspense and tension that was palpable throughout.
Leah and Claire met when they were 12 year olds and have grown together as best friends. They are more like sisters, particularly since Leah's mum Helen adopted Claire after several years or care homes and the two women barely remember a world without the other in it. Even after leaving home they moved into a two bedroom flat Leah's uncle Tony lets them rent at below cost.
And then one evening Leah fails to return home from work.
At first Claire isn't worried. She may have been held up with a customer or got waylaid helping someone. That's just who Leah is. But as the minutes tick into hours, Claire begins to panic. Something has happened. It is unlike her friend not to let her know if she was waylaid. Besides, Leah is so structured in her routine and punctuality. Something is wrong.
And then the police find Leah's phone and bag on the path alongside the nature reserve she loves so much and Claire's fears are confirmed.
Over the ensuing months which then turns into a year and then eighteen months, Claire refuses to give up on her friend. She continues to search for answers as to what happened to Leah on that fateful evening...and where she may be now.
Then in the midst of all that is going on around her, Claire's birth mother makes contact making her wary. What is she after? Or is it even genuine? The message came via social media from a private account with only a name and no profile photo...it could be anyone. Is someone toying with Claire?
And then just when she thinks she may be closing in, Claire herself is taken. And it is then that her fight for survival really begins...
There isn't much more I can add to this without giving the good bits away...lol There are plenty of twists to be had in this book though, to be honest, I did figure them all out. But that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book because it was one hell of a thrill ride! It reminded me of a "Criminal Minds" episode (yes, another one). Those who have seen it will recall it also when reading this.
THE VICTIM definitely has a sinister vibe about it. It is creepy and chilling in parts that the fear felt by the characters is so palpable it had my heart racing. The setting in this particular instance was perfect. It simply added to that feeling of helplessness and ultimate fear. And the short snappy chapters really ramped up that tension and added to the suspense. I couldn't swipe my kindle fast enough.
I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did but...well, I did! The format in which the author delivered the story to us is executed with perfection. The Then and Now chapters that alternate throughout keeps the pace moving at the speed of light without bogging us down with boring detail. We are given enough information with each chapter to keep us turning the pages until the very end. Simply put, I couldn't put it down.
Overall, THE VICTIM is an intense thriller with a tension that is palpable throughout keeping readers entertained and engaged from beginning to end.
I would like to thank #RuthHarrow, #Netgalley and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheVictim in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this, it was completely different and went where you were not expecting it to go. I didn't even mind the frequent timeshifts as they gave more information.
For me a definite afternoon read as needed to finish to the end
For me a definite afternoon read as needed to finish to the end
September 14, 2023
This book was not for me. The plot required too much suspension of disbelief (especially the working FitBit) and generally lost me once the second abduction happened. The big "reveal" at the end was too over the top; in general, I didn't understand how Carole as a character advanced the plot in any significant way.
In addition, the book needs major editing. There are missing words, misspelled words, extra letters in words, a wrong dog name (i.e., did the author start a draft with a different dog name then change her mind but didn't replace all the references or did the author just forget what she decided to name the dog as she was writing the book), confusing sentences, incorrect grammar (e.g., using "I" instead of "me") and an uncapitalized name. It's disappointing when an author doesn't care enough about the reader to have the book proofread.
In addition, the book needs major editing. There are missing words, misspelled words, extra letters in words, a wrong dog name (i.e., did the author start a draft with a different dog name then change her mind but didn't replace all the references or did the author just forget what she decided to name the dog as she was writing the book), confusing sentences, incorrect grammar (e.g., using "I" instead of "me") and an uncapitalized name. It's disappointing when an author doesn't care enough about the reader to have the book proofread.
May 31, 2023
So many twists right until the end.
May 24, 2023
Leah and Claire have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They don't even remember a world without the other in it. You might say they are like sisters, especially since Leah's mom adopted Claire at twelve years old to save her from the foster system. When Leah doesn't come home from work one day, Claire immediately panics. Leah is so regimented, so particular with her timing, that something must be off. When police find Leah's cell phone and belongings on the side of the road, Claire's worst fears are confirmed. Claire will stop at nothing to find answers as to what led to Leah's disappearance. But while Claire is still longing for her missing friend, she goes missing too…
The reading experience: I LOVED reading this book. Reading it on my Kindle at nighttime in the dark was the best experience. The fears of the characters are so realistic and well written. The short chapters really added to the suspense. I was on-edge the entire time.
Although I loved the twists and turns this book took, I didn't fall in love with any of the characters. For as determined Claire is throughout the book, I didn't find her to have many qualities that made me root for her. Same with Leah: I didn't feel like Leah's character was developed enough to make what happened to her such a huge part of the storyline. I also wish some "side characters" either had more of a story or were excluded, as I felt they were at times bordering between being unnecessary and making me want more information.
Timeline: This book is in a Then & Now format which I really enjoyed. I think it added information without boring the reader. It was well organized as well, which is sometimes hard to achieve in this format.
Special thank you to Ruth Harrow and Book Sirens for an advance review copy which I received for free. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
The reading experience: I LOVED reading this book. Reading it on my Kindle at nighttime in the dark was the best experience. The fears of the characters are so realistic and well written. The short chapters really added to the suspense. I was on-edge the entire time.
Although I loved the twists and turns this book took, I didn't fall in love with any of the characters. For as determined Claire is throughout the book, I didn't find her to have many qualities that made me root for her. Same with Leah: I didn't feel like Leah's character was developed enough to make what happened to her such a huge part of the storyline. I also wish some "side characters" either had more of a story or were excluded, as I felt they were at times bordering between being unnecessary and making me want more information.
Timeline: This book is in a Then & Now format which I really enjoyed. I think it added information without boring the reader. It was well organized as well, which is sometimes hard to achieve in this format.
Special thank you to Ruth Harrow and Book Sirens for an advance review copy which I received for free. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
August 17, 2023
This was a fast paced book which starts with a bang and keeps the pace throughout. It’s not hard to follow and I managed to read the entire thing at the airport waiting for a flight. The plot takes some twists and turns which keep it interesting. I found a fair few errors within the text on the kindle edition, which bugged me! Overall an easy quick read to keep you busy for a while but not overly memorable.
July 5, 2023
Wow what a book. I really enjoyed this one and thank you to BookSirens for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy). It was very fast paced and kept me intrigued the whole time I was reading it. The book was very hard to put down. It had some twists to the plot that were very unexpected. I would definitely recommend this book to others and the rating I gave was a 5 star book. Thank you Ruth Harrow. It was an intense thriller.
October 16, 2023
4.5 stars! This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat! Excellent writing and character development.
June 3, 2023
The Victim is a psychological thriller about two young women that are friends. When one of them gets abducted, the other one is left wondering why. Then we go forward two years and she gets abducted. What is going on?
With a very shocking ending, we find out who is behind the abductions.
All in all, a interesting and intriguing psychological thriller.
@shortbookthyme
With a very shocking ending, we find out who is behind the abductions.
All in all, a interesting and intriguing psychological thriller.
@shortbookthyme
May 27, 2023
First, I want to thank Ruth Harrow and Zooloo Book Tours for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
WOW!! I am a huge fan of books that revolve around missing people! However, I think that Ruth Harrow’s The Victim has to be one of my favorites that I have read!! It is a fresh new spin on missing cases told from the best friend perspective. This book is packed with mystery, suspense, heartbreak, and surprising moments that wowed me! You must go out and get this book to put on the top of your TBR list.
I instantly fell in love with The Victim’s book cover! The graphics were spot on and just screamed at me!!!
One of the main themes in The Victim was the true friendship between Claire and Leah. Ruth showed us not told us how strong their bond was. They were as close as two sisters could be.
I commended Claire for being incredibly brave and expressing her true feelings for Leah! I know it couldn’t have been easy for her. However, I was rooting for her all the way!
Needless to say, my two favorite characters in the book were Claire and Leah. My least favorite character was Tony. He was just shady and gave me the creeps.
OMG! So many emotions riled up as I felt all the feelings Claire did! There were some climatic scenes that made me so happy one minute and yelling at my Kindle the next! I just wanted to jump into the book and give Claire a huge hug!
WOW!! I am a huge fan of books that revolve around missing people! However, I think that Ruth Harrow’s The Victim has to be one of my favorites that I have read!! It is a fresh new spin on missing cases told from the best friend perspective. This book is packed with mystery, suspense, heartbreak, and surprising moments that wowed me! You must go out and get this book to put on the top of your TBR list.
I instantly fell in love with The Victim’s book cover! The graphics were spot on and just screamed at me!!!
One of the main themes in The Victim was the true friendship between Claire and Leah. Ruth showed us not told us how strong their bond was. They were as close as two sisters could be.
I commended Claire for being incredibly brave and expressing her true feelings for Leah! I know it couldn’t have been easy for her. However, I was rooting for her all the way!
Needless to say, my two favorite characters in the book were Claire and Leah. My least favorite character was Tony. He was just shady and gave me the creeps.
OMG! So many emotions riled up as I felt all the feelings Claire did! There were some climatic scenes that made me so happy one minute and yelling at my Kindle the next! I just wanted to jump into the book and give Claire a huge hug!
June 5, 2023
Having just read - and loved - The Silent Wife, I was really excited to be reading another book by Ruth Harrow.....and this once again did not disappoint!
This grabs you from page one and again had me on the edge of my seat throughout! I literally could not put this down and read it in 2 sittings!
2 years ago Claire's friend, Leah, was taken. Still unexplained, Claire has never given up looking for clues and answers. When Claire is also taken things take on a different perspective as she refuses to become another victim and the abductor needs to watch out!
I liked that the stories were told over the two timelines, so as we flipped between them, more information came to light - but only in small doses to keep you guessing - and eventually brings us right up to date with a brilliant conclusion.
The characters were well thought out and developed over the timeline - I really connected with their emotional back-story and found myself rooting for them and willing things to turn out well.
This was so fast-paced that you didn't get chance to relax at any point - great to hold the attention and keep you drawn in until the very last page.
Another perfect, thrilling, twisty read. Can't wait to read more by this author.
This grabs you from page one and again had me on the edge of my seat throughout! I literally could not put this down and read it in 2 sittings!
2 years ago Claire's friend, Leah, was taken. Still unexplained, Claire has never given up looking for clues and answers. When Claire is also taken things take on a different perspective as she refuses to become another victim and the abductor needs to watch out!
I liked that the stories were told over the two timelines, so as we flipped between them, more information came to light - but only in small doses to keep you guessing - and eventually brings us right up to date with a brilliant conclusion.
The characters were well thought out and developed over the timeline - I really connected with their emotional back-story and found myself rooting for them and willing things to turn out well.
This was so fast-paced that you didn't get chance to relax at any point - great to hold the attention and keep you drawn in until the very last page.
Another perfect, thrilling, twisty read. Can't wait to read more by this author.
May 31, 2023
The Victim is fast paced, intense and completely had me on the edge of my seat from the prologue.
Told between a now, and then timeline, the story alternates so the reader is constantly bounced between before Leah was missing and the present day. This works really well as a hook because each chapter is really short and I couldn't stop turning the pages to return to the other timeline.
In both timeliness, things are very sparsely revealed. Enough to tantalise and leave me wanting more without giving the game away or revealing too much, too early.
Claire and Leah's relationship is such an emotional one with a lot of history between then. When Leah goes missing, it's heartbreaking to see through Claire and Ruth's (mum) eyes.
The Victim is so suspenseful and a one sitting read. There's a malevolent vibe all the way through that left me suspicious and paranoid about everyone. I love that in a book! A very enjoyable and tense missing person plot with a racing pace
Told between a now, and then timeline, the story alternates so the reader is constantly bounced between before Leah was missing and the present day. This works really well as a hook because each chapter is really short and I couldn't stop turning the pages to return to the other timeline.
In both timeliness, things are very sparsely revealed. Enough to tantalise and leave me wanting more without giving the game away or revealing too much, too early.
Claire and Leah's relationship is such an emotional one with a lot of history between then. When Leah goes missing, it's heartbreaking to see through Claire and Ruth's (mum) eyes.
The Victim is so suspenseful and a one sitting read. There's a malevolent vibe all the way through that left me suspicious and paranoid about everyone. I love that in a book! A very enjoyable and tense missing person plot with a racing pace
May 28, 2023
When Claire's best friend Leah disappears into thin air when walking home from work one day, she is distraught. Leah and her mother adopted Claire after her she was taken away from her addict mother. She sees Leah as her sister, and maybe even something more.
I liked the main characters and was rooting for them and for a happy ending. The story flicks between past and present and gives back story leading up the disappearance and the subsequent search until both time lines converge into a thrilling conclusion.
I would say perhaps a couple of the story lines are a little far fetched or unnecessary but it doesn't detract from it at all. It could also have done with a more thorough edit. These are minor points though.
Read this in one go as i couldn't put it down and what could you ask for from a psychological thriller
I liked the main characters and was rooting for them and for a happy ending. The story flicks between past and present and gives back story leading up the disappearance and the subsequent search until both time lines converge into a thrilling conclusion.
I would say perhaps a couple of the story lines are a little far fetched or unnecessary but it doesn't detract from it at all. It could also have done with a more thorough edit. These are minor points though.
Read this in one go as i couldn't put it down and what could you ask for from a psychological thriller
December 15, 2023
This was a good thriller. It kept me engaged, and suspicious. This dual timeline novel works through two best friends as one of them goes missing. One timeline of when she went missing and the other of the best friend trying to figure out what happened. There were some great twists in this, and I enjoyed it. It could have used a bit more editing, but still an enjoyable read.
Claire and Leah have been best friends since school. Leah’s mom even took Claire in and adopted her. They live together and have settled into a routine, and when Leah doesn’t arrive home from work, Claire raises the alarm. Police aren’t concerned until later, when they find her phone on a nature trail on her walk home from work. Who took her, and why? Will Claire and Leah’s mom find her? And what danger are they putting themselves in by looking for her?
Thanks to BookSirens for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Claire and Leah have been best friends since school. Leah’s mom even took Claire in and adopted her. They live together and have settled into a routine, and when Leah doesn’t arrive home from work, Claire raises the alarm. Police aren’t concerned until later, when they find her phone on a nature trail on her walk home from work. Who took her, and why? Will Claire and Leah’s mom find her? And what danger are they putting themselves in by looking for her?
Thanks to BookSirens for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
June 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, and it had me on my toes, wondering who the culprit was. The book follows Claire, whose best friend was kidnapped, but never found, so assumed dead. After two years, Claire is struggling coming to terms with what has happened with her friend, when she is kidnapped herself and finds herself on a remote island, with another victim, and a psychopathic guy who wants to play 'games' with his victims. There are so many twists and turns in this book. and the final twist had me gasping with shock. A big downfall with this book is the poor grammar and spelling that is throughout. One line even reads 'I dated blacked before', I assume the author means blokes? It definitely could do with another round and being republished. I am interested in reading more from this author.
June 3, 2023
Thank you @ZooloosBT and @ruth_harrow for letting me be part of this tour and reviewing this book. The Victim is a psychological thriller that is written in the past and future. The main character is Claire and her best friend Leah goes missing. In the chapters, Clare goes back to the past where Leah goes missing to the present day. The story is at good pace and there are some good twists and turns in the book. I did not see the twist at the end which was a shock and I do love it when this happens. The story well-written and has a good plot that kept me hooked. I have not read any books from Ruth Harrow before but I am glad I read this book and will be looking for her next one. There was good suspense running through the book. This is a thrilling and gripping read. 5 stars.
May 31, 2023
The Victim by Ruth Harrow.
Leah should have been enjoying a night in with her best friend and housemate Claire, binging on chocolate and her favourite Netflix show.
But instead, she is suddenly forced to fight for her life when strong hands grab her. A knife is pressed to Leah’s throat and as tears run down her cheeks, she knows she will have to do as she is told if she wants to survive the night.
Absolutely brilliant read. Read in one sitting. Twisty and gripping. 5*.
Leah should have been enjoying a night in with her best friend and housemate Claire, binging on chocolate and her favourite Netflix show.
But instead, she is suddenly forced to fight for her life when strong hands grab her. A knife is pressed to Leah’s throat and as tears run down her cheeks, she knows she will have to do as she is told if she wants to survive the night.
Absolutely brilliant read. Read in one sitting. Twisty and gripping. 5*.
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October 27, 2023Struggled with the relationship dynamics
Really wanted to get into this story, but the relationship dynamics didn't work for me. Sisters and best friends can love and be bonded on such a deep and soulful level, so why couldn't that be enough? The sibling romance just felt off and kind of incestuous to me and didn't feel like it fit.
Really wanted to get into this story, but the relationship dynamics didn't work for me. Sisters and best friends can love and be bonded on such a deep and soulful level, so why couldn't that be enough? The sibling romance just felt off and kind of incestuous to me and didn't feel like it fit.
June 10, 2023
The plot was ok however this book needs a good proof reader. Some sentences were indecipherable to me even after reading them several times, missing words, sentences with words in a strange order and using 'of' instead of 'off'. Disappointing.
June 4, 2023
Claire and Leah become friends at secondary school and soon Leah’s mum Helen, adopted Claire as her daughter which was the best thing that could have happened to Claire. It got her out of the care system that she had been in since she was four years old when she was taken away from her mum who was a drug addict. Claire and Leah were really close, almost like sisters and told each other everything. When they got older, they shared a house together and everything was going well.
One night, Claire was home getting everything ready for their girls night in, ordering the takeaway, getting the cosy cover for when they were watching the film and setting up netflix. Then when she was making the cups of tea, she realised that Leah was late home from work. She waited, and waited, and waited, until the next day when they reported her missing with the police. Helen was in bits and so was Claire. Where could she be? They mounted plenty of searches and public appeals, put it on Facebook as well but to no avail. There was no trace of Leah, anywhere. Any leads Claire took to the police turned into nothing. One lead she shared with Helen and Helen acted on it by breaking into his home. She got arrested. Claire picked her up from the police station and was always worried that Helen would do something else.
After a couple of years and still no news, Claire doesn’t know whether to mourn her friend or still keep her hopes alive. She keeps getting told to move on with her life but she finds she can’t. One night she goes to the pub for a drink and a dishy man looks at her hopefully, like she might be interested in him, She decides to finish her drink and go home before he can get any ideas. On her way Claire keeps glancing over her shoulder but she doesn’t see anything so she thinks all is ok, then she hears a noise behind her. Before she can do anything, she is caught from behind with an arm circling her throat and soon she sees stars, her bag drops to the floor but Claire knows no more, she is out of it.
How long is it before Claire will be missed? Is it the same abductor as for Leah? What happened to Leah?
This was a brilliant read, I really enjoyed it. I read this in one sitting. It is a now and then storyline which is a type of story that I like and it tells you which time frame you are in.
This is the second Ruth Harrow book I have read recently and I enjoy her style of writing and plot lines, they are very good. This is some really good descriptive writing and you can see it all in your mind’s eye as you are reading.
One night, Claire was home getting everything ready for their girls night in, ordering the takeaway, getting the cosy cover for when they were watching the film and setting up netflix. Then when she was making the cups of tea, she realised that Leah was late home from work. She waited, and waited, and waited, until the next day when they reported her missing with the police. Helen was in bits and so was Claire. Where could she be? They mounted plenty of searches and public appeals, put it on Facebook as well but to no avail. There was no trace of Leah, anywhere. Any leads Claire took to the police turned into nothing. One lead she shared with Helen and Helen acted on it by breaking into his home. She got arrested. Claire picked her up from the police station and was always worried that Helen would do something else.
After a couple of years and still no news, Claire doesn’t know whether to mourn her friend or still keep her hopes alive. She keeps getting told to move on with her life but she finds she can’t. One night she goes to the pub for a drink and a dishy man looks at her hopefully, like she might be interested in him, She decides to finish her drink and go home before he can get any ideas. On her way Claire keeps glancing over her shoulder but she doesn’t see anything so she thinks all is ok, then she hears a noise behind her. Before she can do anything, she is caught from behind with an arm circling her throat and soon she sees stars, her bag drops to the floor but Claire knows no more, she is out of it.
How long is it before Claire will be missed? Is it the same abductor as for Leah? What happened to Leah?
This was a brilliant read, I really enjoyed it. I read this in one sitting. It is a now and then storyline which is a type of story that I like and it tells you which time frame you are in.
This is the second Ruth Harrow book I have read recently and I enjoy her style of writing and plot lines, they are very good. This is some really good descriptive writing and you can see it all in your mind’s eye as you are reading.
June 17, 2023
I am always looking for new thriller authors to hook me, and Ruth Harrow’s The Victim had me curious and hopeful of a gateway into work that would have me powering through the author’s backlist. Unfortunately, The Victim did not work for me.
At first, there was some curiosity about The Victim. The story throws the reader right into events and the storyline flickers back and forth between then and now, leaving the reader to create theories about how things connect. While I’m sure this will grip many, I found my interest was not held due to the way many elements were introduced that did not have that much of an impact on the story. It would have been fine if these details had been a way to add depth to the characters, yet I spent the whole story finding them rather flat. When they were not flat, there were stereotypical elements that had me mentally rolling my eyes. Maybe I read too much of this genre, but there was nothing in this one that made me stop and think wow.
A part of me did consider giving this a two-star rating, but then a personal pet peeve of mine made me realise why I was extra annoyed throughout my reading of this story. The Kindle page count claims to be close to four hundred pages, yet it took me about two hours to read. I know I’m a quick reader, but it takes me more than two hours to read a story that is almost four hundred pages long. When I stopped to think about it, I realised this was one of those cases where a lot of the time each new sentence was a new paragraph. Such is a huge pet peeve for me for a number of reasons – especially when it happens to the extent it happened in this. It also explains why I managed to get through the story so quickly and why the style of it annoyed me throughout.
Everyone else seems to have adored this one, and that just proves that this is one of those cases where I was not the right reader for the story. I expected this to be something that wowed me – it sounded perfect for me – but it seemed we were not the right match.
At first, there was some curiosity about The Victim. The story throws the reader right into events and the storyline flickers back and forth between then and now, leaving the reader to create theories about how things connect. While I’m sure this will grip many, I found my interest was not held due to the way many elements were introduced that did not have that much of an impact on the story. It would have been fine if these details had been a way to add depth to the characters, yet I spent the whole story finding them rather flat. When they were not flat, there were stereotypical elements that had me mentally rolling my eyes. Maybe I read too much of this genre, but there was nothing in this one that made me stop and think wow.
A part of me did consider giving this a two-star rating, but then a personal pet peeve of mine made me realise why I was extra annoyed throughout my reading of this story. The Kindle page count claims to be close to four hundred pages, yet it took me about two hours to read. I know I’m a quick reader, but it takes me more than two hours to read a story that is almost four hundred pages long. When I stopped to think about it, I realised this was one of those cases where a lot of the time each new sentence was a new paragraph. Such is a huge pet peeve for me for a number of reasons – especially when it happens to the extent it happened in this. It also explains why I managed to get through the story so quickly and why the style of it annoyed me throughout.
Everyone else seems to have adored this one, and that just proves that this is one of those cases where I was not the right reader for the story. I expected this to be something that wowed me – it sounded perfect for me – but it seemed we were not the right match.
June 8, 2023
The Victim is a captivating psychological thriller filled with unexpected revelations as Claire searches for her sister Leah who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Leah's mother adopted Claire out of the foster system when she was 12 years old and she and Leah have been best friends ever since. Claire refuses to believe that Leah is never coming home and continues to follow every lead possible.
This story grabbed my interest from the very first page and I didn't want to stop reading. The only issue I had, and it's probably simply one of personal preference, is that I wish the chapters had been longer. Because the story is told from a "Now and Then" perspective, and every chapter changes perspective, the short chapters give it a choppier feel than I like. I think if the chapters had been longer there would have been more of a feeling of continuity. As it was, I felt that about the time I was getting involved with what was going on the chapter ended and I found myself in another time; either Now or Then.
Another reviewer commented that they had difficulty bonding with the characters because there didn't seem to be any rationale behind their actions, especially the actions of the perpetrator. Some possible reasons for the perpetrator's actions were alluded to, but there wasn't a full complete explanation. I think that is reasonable, as there are rarely any explanations for any serial killer's actions.
I highly recommend this book and will be looking for other books by Ms. Harrow to check out.
I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.
This story grabbed my interest from the very first page and I didn't want to stop reading. The only issue I had, and it's probably simply one of personal preference, is that I wish the chapters had been longer. Because the story is told from a "Now and Then" perspective, and every chapter changes perspective, the short chapters give it a choppier feel than I like. I think if the chapters had been longer there would have been more of a feeling of continuity. As it was, I felt that about the time I was getting involved with what was going on the chapter ended and I found myself in another time; either Now or Then.
Another reviewer commented that they had difficulty bonding with the characters because there didn't seem to be any rationale behind their actions, especially the actions of the perpetrator. Some possible reasons for the perpetrator's actions were alluded to, but there wasn't a full complete explanation. I think that is reasonable, as there are rarely any explanations for any serial killer's actions.
I highly recommend this book and will be looking for other books by Ms. Harrow to check out.
I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.
May 23, 2023
Told between alternating chapters of Now and Then, this is a really great way to pass a weekend in the sun, well away from the grey misery of the setting of the book and the sense of unease that creeps over you whilst reading parts of this book!
There isn’t a great deal I feel I can add to about the book’s description as the blurb has that pretty well covered and I would hate to drop a spoiler in there, and trust me, there are quite a few. Especially in the latter half of the book!
It definitely changed into something completely unexpected from where I thought it was heading. And as for the twists, well it certainly throws a good few of those at you! You may think you’ve worked out some, and it’s probable you might get one, or two if you’re as devious as the author, but as for the others - No chance!
Even the ending will throw you a curve ball!
I will be honest, I didn’t think I would end up enjoying this book as much as I did. For me personally the middle lost a bit of traction, but by god, once it picked up the pace again it stepped up several gears, genuinely sucking me in as it galloped along, not letting you off the ride until the last page was turned!
I can definitely see why it’s received so many glowing five star reviews and mine will be another one added to that growing list!
The Victim was published on the 16 May 2023 so grab yourself a copy now, you certainly won’t regret it! It is even available to read for free with Kindle Unlimited or just £0.99 on Kindle.
There isn’t a great deal I feel I can add to about the book’s description as the blurb has that pretty well covered and I would hate to drop a spoiler in there, and trust me, there are quite a few. Especially in the latter half of the book!
It definitely changed into something completely unexpected from where I thought it was heading. And as for the twists, well it certainly throws a good few of those at you! You may think you’ve worked out some, and it’s probable you might get one, or two if you’re as devious as the author, but as for the others - No chance!
Even the ending will throw you a curve ball!
I will be honest, I didn’t think I would end up enjoying this book as much as I did. For me personally the middle lost a bit of traction, but by god, once it picked up the pace again it stepped up several gears, genuinely sucking me in as it galloped along, not letting you off the ride until the last page was turned!
I can definitely see why it’s received so many glowing five star reviews and mine will be another one added to that growing list!
The Victim was published on the 16 May 2023 so grab yourself a copy now, you certainly won’t regret it! It is even available to read for free with Kindle Unlimited or just £0.99 on Kindle.
June 8, 2023
This was an interesting book to read. The story itself was good, the back and forth between now and then made the story in my estimation a bit choppier and more frustrating to read. The back and forth though well documented made me just want to skip the then and go to the now and get to the guts of the story. This book was about a girl (Leah) who was kidnapped, and the family kept working on leads both themselves and with the police to keep the story alive. Claire, her sister by adoption, is both in love with Leah and has a desperate need to find out what happened to her sister. The emotions are real and raw and the writing grabbed the utter despair the family fells when they just don’t know if Leah is alive or dead. I enjoyed the background and the here and now emotions in the book and thought many times how would I feel if it were my kid who was kidnapped, and I had no idea where she was? I didn’t like the organization of the story as I felt it took away from the flow, but I loved the story itself. Suffice to say it ends well but the amount of therapy will be life long and then what’s normal anymore for any of the captives? The book is worth a shot to read and it does make you think what you would do or to what lengths you would go to to get your child back.
June 25, 2023
Just a week or so ago I read another book by the same author. I enjoyed the book so much that of course, I had to read another one of her books right away!
This too was a fast-paced and gripping read, a real page-turner. When I see another book by Ruth Harrow out, I know I will be the first one to read it too, as those two books I have read so far were impressively well-written.
The book feels creepy at times, it is twisty and there are some horrible people in it, there is a sinister vibe all through it.
And the ending was… unexpected, to say the least. Yes, it was a good one. but still, unexpected.
And, a bonus: it is a fast read. I’d say the short chapters make it a fast read. It has this “ok, just one more chapter before I go to sleep” and then boom and it is morning already and you have finished reading the book. All just because those short chapters lull you into the delusion of “one more chapter”. But we all know that this “one more chapter” is just a lie we keep telling ourselves. The shorter the chapters, the more they suck you in and make you believe that this indeed is going to be just this one more chapter this time. Sneaky!
This too was a fast-paced and gripping read, a real page-turner. When I see another book by Ruth Harrow out, I know I will be the first one to read it too, as those two books I have read so far were impressively well-written.
The book feels creepy at times, it is twisty and there are some horrible people in it, there is a sinister vibe all through it.
And the ending was… unexpected, to say the least. Yes, it was a good one. but still, unexpected.
And, a bonus: it is a fast read. I’d say the short chapters make it a fast read. It has this “ok, just one more chapter before I go to sleep” and then boom and it is morning already and you have finished reading the book. All just because those short chapters lull you into the delusion of “one more chapter”. But we all know that this “one more chapter” is just a lie we keep telling ourselves. The shorter the chapters, the more they suck you in and make you believe that this indeed is going to be just this one more chapter this time. Sneaky!
May 27, 2023
I read the whole book and am still trying to figure out the point of the plot. There seemed to be no real rhyme or reason for the events that happened. There is some connection at the end but it still doesn’t explain why these characters behaved the way they did.
Claire’s best friend Leah ends up missing and two years go by with everyone in Leah’s life wondering what happened to her. The story is told in chapters that alternate between then and now (until the last several that are all “now”) so you’re getting some unfolding of the overall events as the book goes on.
Unfortunately, this one fell kind of flat for me. It just wasn’t that interesting. I found myself not really caring what happened to these women… perhaps because there was absolutely no real explanation for why they were where they were and what the point was. Instead I found myself thinking “this is totally unrealistic” more than anything else.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Claire’s best friend Leah ends up missing and two years go by with everyone in Leah’s life wondering what happened to her. The story is told in chapters that alternate between then and now (until the last several that are all “now”) so you’re getting some unfolding of the overall events as the book goes on.
Unfortunately, this one fell kind of flat for me. It just wasn’t that interesting. I found myself not really caring what happened to these women… perhaps because there was absolutely no real explanation for why they were where they were and what the point was. Instead I found myself thinking “this is totally unrealistic” more than anything else.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 9, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
I think the back and forth in timeline between Then and Now worked well in building suspense. I enjoyed the tension and suspense of Claire’s story as she tries to navigate her escape and also try to learn more about her missing best friend. We are fed information bit by bit leaving us wanting for more. I enjoyed the story. There were enough red herrings to keep me hooked. I was suspicious of everyone 😂I had a theory that popped up halfway and I’m glad I was wrong!
A minor critique was that I didn’t understand Carole’s, Claire’s birth mothers inclusion in the story. She pops in and out of the story and then we learn that she’s only looking for money. And then comes back to make the big reveal in a long text to Claire at the end of the book? The reveal in itself didn’t do much for me. Especially given that she just deletes the text.The story stood well on its own. I don’t think it was needed.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I think the back and forth in timeline between Then and Now worked well in building suspense. I enjoyed the tension and suspense of Claire’s story as she tries to navigate her escape and also try to learn more about her missing best friend. We are fed information bit by bit leaving us wanting for more. I enjoyed the story. There were enough red herrings to keep me hooked. I was suspicious of everyone 😂I had a theory that popped up halfway and I’m glad I was wrong!
A minor critique was that I didn’t understand Carole’s, Claire’s birth mothers inclusion in the story. She pops in and out of the story and then we learn that she’s only looking for money. And then comes back to make the big reveal in a long text to Claire at the end of the book? The reveal in itself didn’t do much for me. Especially given that she just deletes the text.The story stood well on its own. I don’t think it was needed.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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