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Secret Smile
How could something as innocent as a smile lead to murder...?
When Miranda Cotton returns from work to find her new boyfriend, Brendan, reading her diary, she breaks off the relationship and throws him out of her flat. Getting Brendan out of her life, however, is not so easy.
Two weeks later her sister, Kerry, phones her in ecstasy. She's in love. She has a new boyfriend. He's called Brendan...
So Brendan is back in Miranda's life - with a vengeance. But why has he done this? And what does he want from her?
Soon what began as an embarrassment becomes like an infestation - and then more terrifying than her worst nightmares.
When Miranda Cotton returns from work to find her new boyfriend, Brendan, reading her diary, she breaks off the relationship and throws him out of her flat. Getting Brendan out of her life, however, is not so easy.
Two weeks later her sister, Kerry, phones her in ecstasy. She's in love. She has a new boyfriend. He's called Brendan...
So Brendan is back in Miranda's life - with a vengeance. But why has he done this? And what does he want from her?
Soon what began as an embarrassment becomes like an infestation - and then more terrifying than her worst nightmares.
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
274 people are currently reading
2508 people want to read
About the author
Nicci French
81 books3,659 followersNote: (Nicci Gerrard and Sean French also write separately.)
Nicci Gerrard was born in June 1958 in Worcestershire. After graduating with a first class honours degree in English Literature from Oxford University, she began her first job, working with emotionally disturbed children in Sheffield. In that same year she married journalist Colin Hughes.
In the early eighties she taught English Literature in Sheffield, London and Los Angeles, but moved into publishing in 1985 with the launch of Women's Review, a magazine for women on art, literature and female issues.
In 1987 Nicci had a son, Edgar, followed by a daughter, Anna, in 1988, but a year later her marriage to Colin Hughes broke down.
In 1989 she became acting literary editor at the New Statesman, before moving to the Observer, where she was deputy literary editor for five years, and then a feature writer and executive editor.
It was while she was at the New Statesman that she met Sean French.
Sean French was born in May 1959 in Bristol, to a British father and Swedish mother. He too studied English Literature at Oxford University at the same time as Nicci, also graduating with a first class degree, but their paths didn't cross until 1990. In 1981 he won Vogue magazine's Writing Talent Contest, and from 1981 to 1986 he was their theatre critic. During that time he also worked at the Sunday Times as deputy literary editor and television critic, and was the film critic for Marie Claire and deputy editor of New Society.
Sean and Nicci were married in Hackney in October 1990. Their daughters, Hadley and Molly, were born in 1991 and 1993.
By the mid-nineties Sean had had two novels published, The Imaginary Monkey and The Dreamer of Dreams, as well as numerous non-fiction books, including biographies of Jane Fonda and Brigitte Bardot.
In 1995 Nicci and Sean began work on their first joint novel and adopted the pseudonym of Nicci French. The Memory Game was published to great acclaim in 1997 followed by The Safe House (1998), Killing Me Softly (1999), Beneath the Skin (2000), The Red Room (2001), Land of the Living (2002), Secret Smile (2003), Catch Me When I Fall (2005), Losing You (2006) and Until It's Over (2008). Their latest novel together is What To Do When Someone Dies (2009).
Nicci and Sean also continue to write separately. Nicci still works as a journalist for the Observer, covering high-profile trials including those of Fred and Rose West, and Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr. Novels include Things We Knew Were True (2003), Solace (2005) and The Moment You Were Gone (2007). Sean's last novel is Start From Here (2004).
Nicci Gerrard was born in June 1958 in Worcestershire. After graduating with a first class honours degree in English Literature from Oxford University, she began her first job, working with emotionally disturbed children in Sheffield. In that same year she married journalist Colin Hughes.
In the early eighties she taught English Literature in Sheffield, London and Los Angeles, but moved into publishing in 1985 with the launch of Women's Review, a magazine for women on art, literature and female issues.
In 1987 Nicci had a son, Edgar, followed by a daughter, Anna, in 1988, but a year later her marriage to Colin Hughes broke down.
In 1989 she became acting literary editor at the New Statesman, before moving to the Observer, where she was deputy literary editor for five years, and then a feature writer and executive editor.
It was while she was at the New Statesman that she met Sean French.
Sean French was born in May 1959 in Bristol, to a British father and Swedish mother. He too studied English Literature at Oxford University at the same time as Nicci, also graduating with a first class degree, but their paths didn't cross until 1990. In 1981 he won Vogue magazine's Writing Talent Contest, and from 1981 to 1986 he was their theatre critic. During that time he also worked at the Sunday Times as deputy literary editor and television critic, and was the film critic for Marie Claire and deputy editor of New Society.
Sean and Nicci were married in Hackney in October 1990. Their daughters, Hadley and Molly, were born in 1991 and 1993.
By the mid-nineties Sean had had two novels published, The Imaginary Monkey and The Dreamer of Dreams, as well as numerous non-fiction books, including biographies of Jane Fonda and Brigitte Bardot.
In 1995 Nicci and Sean began work on their first joint novel and adopted the pseudonym of Nicci French. The Memory Game was published to great acclaim in 1997 followed by The Safe House (1998), Killing Me Softly (1999), Beneath the Skin (2000), The Red Room (2001), Land of the Living (2002), Secret Smile (2003), Catch Me When I Fall (2005), Losing You (2006) and Until It's Over (2008). Their latest novel together is What To Do When Someone Dies (2009).
Nicci and Sean also continue to write separately. Nicci still works as a journalist for the Observer, covering high-profile trials including those of Fred and Rose West, and Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr. Novels include Things We Knew Were True (2003), Solace (2005) and The Moment You Were Gone (2007). Sean's last novel is Start From Here (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 499 reviews
June 2, 2012
I enjoyed this book but after finishing it, I can't help but feel like there's something missing. The end is rather abrupt and rushed, like something else was originally supposed to happen, but at the last minute, it was changed. I don't know how I expected the story to end, but I just expected *more*.
The story itself (girl meets boy, girl dumps boy, boy turns out to be a psycho) is interesting, no doubt. Of course, it's been done so many times that it's hard to make the idea fresh or new, though I certainly couldn't put this book down. Brendan Block has to be the most despicable antagonist I've ever seen in a story like this -- part of the reason I kept reading was because I just wanted to see how much worse he could get.
I might have given this book more stars if not for the fact that every single character was annoying. Brendan, of course, was supposed to be, so I don't really count him -- he was a well-written psycho whom we obviously all wanted to see get his in the end. But Miranda and her entire family are stone dumb idiots -- there's so much wrong with what Miranda does and doesn't do in this story that I just found myself getting so completely frustrated with her while I read. And her family members are worse, especially her parents. Despite the fact that they raised Miranda, and they're apparently such a close family, they choose to believe Brendan's words over Miranda's. This man whom they've only known for a little while, who went from dating one sister to the other, who obviously makes Miranda uncomfortable. Did the parents really see nothing weird about him? I could understand if Miranda had been painted as a pathological liar or something, but she wasn't -- she was a normal woman who had a normal relationship with her family, yet her family just says, "Oh hey, stop trying to ruin everyone's happiness, we know Brendan is a really good guy."
I've never wanted to punch fictional characters as much as I wanted to punch Miranda's sister and parents.
All in all, I *did* enjoy the story, truly. But the rushed ending and the fact that nobody ever apologizes to Miranda for not believing her just left me more frustrated than anything.
The story itself (girl meets boy, girl dumps boy, boy turns out to be a psycho) is interesting, no doubt. Of course, it's been done so many times that it's hard to make the idea fresh or new, though I certainly couldn't put this book down. Brendan Block has to be the most despicable antagonist I've ever seen in a story like this -- part of the reason I kept reading was because I just wanted to see how much worse he could get.
I might have given this book more stars if not for the fact that every single character was annoying. Brendan, of course, was supposed to be, so I don't really count him -- he was a well-written psycho whom we obviously all wanted to see get his in the end. But Miranda and her entire family are stone dumb idiots -- there's so much wrong with what Miranda does and doesn't do in this story that I just found myself getting so completely frustrated with her while I read. And her family members are worse, especially her parents. Despite the fact that they raised Miranda, and they're apparently such a close family, they choose to believe Brendan's words over Miranda's. This man whom they've only known for a little while, who went from dating one sister to the other, who obviously makes Miranda uncomfortable. Did the parents really see nothing weird about him? I could understand if Miranda had been painted as a pathological liar or something, but she wasn't -- she was a normal woman who had a normal relationship with her family, yet her family just says, "Oh hey, stop trying to ruin everyone's happiness, we know Brendan is a really good guy."
I've never wanted to punch fictional characters as much as I wanted to punch Miranda's sister and parents.
All in all, I *did* enjoy the story, truly. But the rushed ending and the fact that nobody ever apologizes to Miranda for not believing her just left me more frustrated than anything.
March 30, 2009
Definitely not one of Nicci French's best books... most of the book you just feel outraged at how dumb the main character is and how badly she's handling situations. You almost don't want her to prevail in the end.
October 15, 2021
It's a good book in the sense that it got under my skin, it annoyed me a lot ;)
November 26, 2017
Έχοντας διαβάσει 3 απο τα βιβλία τους με πρωταγωνίστρια τη Freida Klein, ήμουν περίεργη να διαβασω κατι δικό τους αλλα διαφορετικό και προγενέστερο (μεταγενέστερο εχω διαβάσει ήδη Επιστροφή από το σκοτάδι ).
Η πλοκή ειναι γρήγορη και εξελίσσεται αλλά νομίζω ότι κάτι έλειπε για να απογειωθεί η ιστορία. Μετά τη μέση κάνει κοιλιά και το τέλος μου φάνηκε βιαστικό.
Η πλοκή ειναι γρήγορη και εξελίσσεται αλλά νομίζω ότι κάτι έλειπε για να απογειωθεί η ιστορία. Μετά τη μέση κάνει κοιλιά και το τέλος μου φάνηκε βιαστικό.
July 20, 2021
Why why why did I read this book?! The whole point of reading reviews is to ascertain whether books appeal to me or not and LOADS of people said the main character is annoying and stupid.
Well, the main character is REALLY ANNOYING!
Sorry guys, I feel bad giving a rubbish review but I hated this book - thank goodness it is short else I would never have made it.
EDITING ME FROM 2021 : Although this book wasn't for me I have since read several books by Nicci French and really enjoyed them so don't be put off by this review!
Well, the main character is REALLY ANNOYING!
Sorry guys, I feel bad giving a rubbish review but I hated this book - thank goodness it is short else I would never have made it.
EDITING ME FROM 2021 : Although this book wasn't for me I have since read several books by Nicci French and really enjoyed them so don't be put off by this review!
October 12, 2021
Heel spannend. Miranda heeft een korte relatie met Brendan, maar als ze hem op een dag betrapt dat hij in haar dagboek zit te lezen, zet ze hem de deur uit. Korte tijd nadien heeft Brendan verkering met haar zus Kerry. Brendan heeft een heel andere draai aan het verhaal gegeven, hij vertelt dat hij Miranda gedumpt heeft, en nu slaagt hij erin om haar als een zielepoot af te schilderen, die hem maar niet kan vergeten en die het er erg moeilijk mee heeft dat hij nu met haar zus is. Zo gaat het eigenlijk het hele boek door, er gebeuren verschillende dingen, en altijd weet Brendan het zo te keren dat hij de 'goede' is, de helpende hand, terwijl Miranda er van overtuigd is dat hij steeds de hand heeft in de onaangename dingen die gebeuren.
Brendan blijft steeds opduiken in Miranda's leven, maar als hij dan eindelijk verdwijnt, is het nu echt zo dat Miranda hem wil terugvinden, om te zien wat hij uitspookt, omdat ze bang is dat hij nog meer slachtoffers zal maken. Maar zelfs de politie is op Brendan's hand, Brendan is zelfs 'bevriend' geraakt met de politie-inspecteur, en bijna iedereen is er van overtuigd dat Miranda psychische hulp nodig heeft. Tot....
Spannend tot de laatste bladzijden, waar het verhaal toch nog een onverwachte wending krijgt!
Een boek om van te genieten!
Brendan blijft steeds opduiken in Miranda's leven, maar als hij dan eindelijk verdwijnt, is het nu echt zo dat Miranda hem wil terugvinden, om te zien wat hij uitspookt, omdat ze bang is dat hij nog meer slachtoffers zal maken. Maar zelfs de politie is op Brendan's hand, Brendan is zelfs 'bevriend' geraakt met de politie-inspecteur, en bijna iedereen is er van overtuigd dat Miranda psychische hulp nodig heeft. Tot....
Spannend tot de laatste bladzijden, waar het verhaal toch nog een onverwachte wending krijgt!
Een boek om van te genieten!
September 6, 2019
WOW – what an intense book! I don’t think that Nicci French books are good for my blood pressure! Anyone who chats with me on Instagram may have read my rant as I was halfway through this book and in the grip of some very strong emotion:
“I feel so outraged right now. Shocked. Sickened. Physically ill. I have such a bad feeling about this!”
This was around the 50% mark and I have to say that the feeling persisted until the very end, and I am still not totally vindicated.
Miranda may have believed that after a short and foolish fling, she is finally rid of creepy Brendan for good, but now he has firmly inserted himself like a big fat cuckoo’s egg right into the heart of her family. Brendan is out for revenge, but no one believes her. They have all fallen for his charm. Nothing good can possibly come from this ...
Take it from me when I say that this book is not to be entered into lightly. Brendan may be one of the most sinister everyday characters I have ever encountered. I am so glad that I am no longer in the dating game, or I may feel tempted to take up a hermit’s life in a mountain cave with ten cats because who would like to tempt fate? I felt intense anger through most of this book and at one stage I vividly remember yelling out loud and having to put the book aside for fear that my head may explode.
So why did this man get under my skin like this? Burrowed his way into my psyche like a parasite? It’s no accident that I am a huge Nicci French fan, because this writer duo sure know how to tap into our worst fears and nightmares. With a keen eye for detail and an eerie insight into the dark places of the human psyche, the story rolled out slowly but with such a sinister undertone that I was feeling truly frightened for poor Miranda the whole time. Miranda, who is the only one who can see where this is all headed. Miranda, who everyone thinks is paranoid and a bit crazy. How terrible would it be to see an imminent train wreck but everyone laughs off your fears? I shudder at the thought. I found it interesting how Miranda blamed herself for unleashing this evil on her friends and family – and saw it as her moral duty to fix it. I think I would have run for the hills!
If you are a fan of slow burning mysteries that look deeply into the dark places of the human heart, and enjoy an evil, psychopathic main character, then enter this one at your own risk. I am still feeling a little bit of simmering anger like a fire that has not been fully extinguished when I think about this book. Such is the genius of Nicci French. Bye bye Brendan, I may see you in my nightmares ...
Very highly recommended, but make sure to take your blood pressure meds!
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
“I feel so outraged right now. Shocked. Sickened. Physically ill. I have such a bad feeling about this!”
This was around the 50% mark and I have to say that the feeling persisted until the very end, and I am still not totally vindicated.
Miranda may have believed that after a short and foolish fling, she is finally rid of creepy Brendan for good, but now he has firmly inserted himself like a big fat cuckoo’s egg right into the heart of her family. Brendan is out for revenge, but no one believes her. They have all fallen for his charm. Nothing good can possibly come from this ...
Take it from me when I say that this book is not to be entered into lightly. Brendan may be one of the most sinister everyday characters I have ever encountered. I am so glad that I am no longer in the dating game, or I may feel tempted to take up a hermit’s life in a mountain cave with ten cats because who would like to tempt fate? I felt intense anger through most of this book and at one stage I vividly remember yelling out loud and having to put the book aside for fear that my head may explode.
So why did this man get under my skin like this? Burrowed his way into my psyche like a parasite? It’s no accident that I am a huge Nicci French fan, because this writer duo sure know how to tap into our worst fears and nightmares. With a keen eye for detail and an eerie insight into the dark places of the human psyche, the story rolled out slowly but with such a sinister undertone that I was feeling truly frightened for poor Miranda the whole time. Miranda, who is the only one who can see where this is all headed. Miranda, who everyone thinks is paranoid and a bit crazy. How terrible would it be to see an imminent train wreck but everyone laughs off your fears? I shudder at the thought. I found it interesting how Miranda blamed herself for unleashing this evil on her friends and family – and saw it as her moral duty to fix it. I think I would have run for the hills!
If you are a fan of slow burning mysteries that look deeply into the dark places of the human heart, and enjoy an evil, psychopathic main character, then enter this one at your own risk. I am still feeling a little bit of simmering anger like a fire that has not been fully extinguished when I think about this book. Such is the genius of Nicci French. Bye bye Brendan, I may see you in my nightmares ...
Very highly recommended, but make sure to take your blood pressure meds!
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
May 1, 2018
They stopped outside a door between a bicycle shop and an all-night grocery and broke apart while the girl fumbled in her pocket for the key. Her flat then, I thought. That made sense. Brendan was the cuckoo in other people’s nests...
Miranda works as an interior decorator in her uncle’s London business, and meets Brendan through friends at the ice rink. They date a few times, but when she returns home to find that he has let himself in to her flat and is reading her diaries, she throws him out, except Brendan is not one to accept rejection. Soon she finds herself in a difficult position when he dates her sister, Kerry, and in a whirlwind romance the pair plan to marry.
The parents are charmed by him, even though he doesn’t seem to have a job, though Troy, her special-needs younger brother has difficulty with him. The parent’s house is being renovated, and when the flat Brendan and Kerry are to move into falls through, they end up staying in Miranda’s flat only for a few days.
Miranda is unsettled by his behaviour towards her, and moves out to stay with her best friend Laura and partner Tony. When tragedy strikes the family it is her behaviour that is drawn into question and threatens the friendship. But that’s only the start of her troubles, as Brendan closes in on his next target...using her as an alibi.
Two-thirds of the way through I felt a bit let down as Miranda – who handles a sanding machine, brings down walls and paints cornices, and who gets up in the early hours to go for a run – struggles with her emotions, not helped by her family in denial about the charmer who wormed his way into their lives. At rock bottom she seeks professional help, but it is only when working for a client she finds someone who believes her, and warns her to stay well away from Brendan.
But Miranda believes that by putting it behind her, she is allowing the same to happen to another unsuspecting victim. The game-changer is when she bumps into a familiar face; giving her the impetus to find out who Brendan really is and to stop him before he harms someone else.
This is the first novel I have read by couple Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, and at first it was an amusing take on family relationships and social mores, which takes on a sinister turn. All the characters are believable, ordinary people charmed into believing what they want to, with the main character placing herself at risk to bring justice. The ending is a cracker.
Verdict: cat and mouse.
Miranda works as an interior decorator in her uncle’s London business, and meets Brendan through friends at the ice rink. They date a few times, but when she returns home to find that he has let himself in to her flat and is reading her diaries, she throws him out, except Brendan is not one to accept rejection. Soon she finds herself in a difficult position when he dates her sister, Kerry, and in a whirlwind romance the pair plan to marry.
The parents are charmed by him, even though he doesn’t seem to have a job, though Troy, her special-needs younger brother has difficulty with him. The parent’s house is being renovated, and when the flat Brendan and Kerry are to move into falls through, they end up staying in Miranda’s flat only for a few days.
Miranda is unsettled by his behaviour towards her, and moves out to stay with her best friend Laura and partner Tony. When tragedy strikes the family it is her behaviour that is drawn into question and threatens the friendship. But that’s only the start of her troubles, as Brendan closes in on his next target...using her as an alibi.
Two-thirds of the way through I felt a bit let down as Miranda – who handles a sanding machine, brings down walls and paints cornices, and who gets up in the early hours to go for a run – struggles with her emotions, not helped by her family in denial about the charmer who wormed his way into their lives. At rock bottom she seeks professional help, but it is only when working for a client she finds someone who believes her, and warns her to stay well away from Brendan.
But Miranda believes that by putting it behind her, she is allowing the same to happen to another unsuspecting victim. The game-changer is when she bumps into a familiar face; giving her the impetus to find out who Brendan really is and to stop him before he harms someone else.
This is the first novel I have read by couple Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, and at first it was an amusing take on family relationships and social mores, which takes on a sinister turn. All the characters are believable, ordinary people charmed into believing what they want to, with the main character placing herself at risk to bring justice. The ending is a cracker.
Verdict: cat and mouse.
September 27, 2021
This is an early novel by the crime writing duo Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. An addictive read that is a fast paced page turner. I found quite a few of the characters annoying but made an interesting read all the same.
Kerri has started dating Brendan, an handsome man who can charm the birds off the trees’ They are getting along famously but the problem is Brendan was going out with Kerri’s sister Miranda just a few week’s ago. Miranda broke off the affair when she caught Brendan reading her diary.
Due to Brendan’s demeanour everyone gets on with him so when he claims that it was he who ended their short-lived relationship, everyone believes him. Now Brendan and Kerri are like two love birds and announce their engagement which pleases everyone except Miranda, who has serious concerns about Brendan’s intentions. Kerri and Brendan beg Miranda to let them live in her apartment until their new home is ready and against her better judgment, Miranda agrees.
Once they are living under the same roof Brendan starts causing trouble for Miranda, invading her privacy and disrupting her relationships with her family and friends. And that’s just for starters…
Brendan’s charm convinces people that it is Miranda who is unstable and all the blame is put on her. He is very careful and ingenious with his mind games and the family start to question Miranda’s mental stability and accuse her of the very thing she believes drives Brendan, obsession. Miranda is about to fight back and the consequences will be terrifying.
There were a lot of things I liked about this book, well written, fast paced, interesting if not annoying characters although I was not fully convinced with the climax.
Kerri has started dating Brendan, an handsome man who can charm the birds off the trees’ They are getting along famously but the problem is Brendan was going out with Kerri’s sister Miranda just a few week’s ago. Miranda broke off the affair when she caught Brendan reading her diary.
Due to Brendan’s demeanour everyone gets on with him so when he claims that it was he who ended their short-lived relationship, everyone believes him. Now Brendan and Kerri are like two love birds and announce their engagement which pleases everyone except Miranda, who has serious concerns about Brendan’s intentions. Kerri and Brendan beg Miranda to let them live in her apartment until their new home is ready and against her better judgment, Miranda agrees.
Once they are living under the same roof Brendan starts causing trouble for Miranda, invading her privacy and disrupting her relationships with her family and friends. And that’s just for starters…
Brendan’s charm convinces people that it is Miranda who is unstable and all the blame is put on her. He is very careful and ingenious with his mind games and the family start to question Miranda’s mental stability and accuse her of the very thing she believes drives Brendan, obsession. Miranda is about to fight back and the consequences will be terrifying.
There were a lot of things I liked about this book, well written, fast paced, interesting if not annoying characters although I was not fully convinced with the climax.
May 26, 2011
I read it in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. It was like reading a manual on emotional/psychological abuse. The authors depicted it so clearly you could just go back and underline every instance yet see clearly why only the reader and Miranda are the only ones to notice. The characters are FRUSTRATINGLY realistic, I wanted them, specially Miranda, to do more, but it's always easy to blame the victim for their circumstances instead of concentrating on the psychopath who wormed his way into a family by preying on their vulnerabilities.
However, I was disappointed by the ending. Very, very disappointed. I found absolutely nothing in the book that would've made me believe he had cracked. Too fantastical; it just didn't go with the rest of the novel.
However, I was disappointed by the ending. Very, very disappointed. I found absolutely nothing in the book that would've made me believe he had cracked. Too fantastical; it just didn't go with the rest of the novel.
February 16, 2012
I'm thoroughly irritated with Miranda. Instead of investigating her creepy 2 week week ex, she seems to spend her time drinking and sleeping with men that she just met, while the creepy 2 week ex is whispering creepy vulgar things to her. It seems Miranda didn't think to google creepy 2 week ex or to hire a private investigator. Miranda's entire family seems stupid and naive. Apparently, her family members would rather take the words of a man they just met a month ago over their own daughter.
The ending was rushed. I found it hard to believe that she goes from drinking and sleeping with men she just met to planning an elaborate setup to frame creepy 2 week ex.
The ending was rushed. I found it hard to believe that she goes from drinking and sleeping with men she just met to planning an elaborate setup to frame creepy 2 week ex.
April 14, 2011
I REALLY want to give this five stars because I so loved it! I was immersed from beginning to end. Very suspenseful, very great writing! I enjoyed it thoroughly! I adore suspense and this is one of the very best I've read in a long time.
However, a few things really got to me. One, Miranda was an idiot during a large portion of the book. I was so angry with her so many times for being such a doormat! Since I want to think this book is perfect, I attributed her behavior to differences in culture. The story takes place in London; I am in the US. I thought that maybe women in London are just too polite & proper to make noise against their family members? Most American women would be throwing a FIT in her situation! It was just hard for me to believe that she would go through what she did strictly out of 'politeness'.
Also, I am left with a million questions. I don't think that all the loose ends were tied up well enough by the end. This could have been done much better.
But what bothered me most of all - WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THE INSANE THINGS HE DID just because she broke up with him after only just a few dates? A mental condition was suggested lightly then forgotten. I just think it would have been more believable if there were a better motive for all of this behavior. I was craving some kind of explanation & was feeling let down that I never did get it.
Still, I was able to get past the few prickles I had and really, really enjoyed the book! Never having travelled abroad, I'm fairly limited on my cultural knowledge due to lack of experience. I loved the difference in language - it was so much fun! Our pants are their trousers, our pharmacy is their chemist, and on and on. It was really fun to 'visit' London in my mind & that was done very well via verbality.
I would LOVE to read another Nicci French novel! I will most definitely be on the look for more from this pair of authors. I had heard brief mention of the authors name here and there lately which is why I picked this one up in the first place...along with that the story sounded really great too!
This comes very highly recommended by me - as long as you have the ability to see past a few pretty major boo-boos.
However, a few things really got to me. One, Miranda was an idiot during a large portion of the book. I was so angry with her so many times for being such a doormat! Since I want to think this book is perfect, I attributed her behavior to differences in culture. The story takes place in London; I am in the US. I thought that maybe women in London are just too polite & proper to make noise against their family members? Most American women would be throwing a FIT in her situation! It was just hard for me to believe that she would go through what she did strictly out of 'politeness'.
Also, I am left with a million questions. I don't think that all the loose ends were tied up well enough by the end. This could have been done much better.
But what bothered me most of all - WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THE INSANE THINGS HE DID just because she broke up with him after only just a few dates? A mental condition was suggested lightly then forgotten. I just think it would have been more believable if there were a better motive for all of this behavior. I was craving some kind of explanation & was feeling let down that I never did get it.
Still, I was able to get past the few prickles I had and really, really enjoyed the book! Never having travelled abroad, I'm fairly limited on my cultural knowledge due to lack of experience. I loved the difference in language - it was so much fun! Our pants are their trousers, our pharmacy is their chemist, and on and on. It was really fun to 'visit' London in my mind & that was done very well via verbality.
I would LOVE to read another Nicci French novel! I will most definitely be on the look for more from this pair of authors. I had heard brief mention of the authors name here and there lately which is why I picked this one up in the first place...along with that the story sounded really great too!
This comes very highly recommended by me - as long as you have the ability to see past a few pretty major boo-boos.
June 11, 2020
2014 view Miranda has a brief fling with a man, Brendan and then dumps him. The problem is, he takes it personally, real personally and sets about exacting revenge, starting with dating her sister, and that's just the start. 6 out of 12.
2009 view: Another Nicci French almost stress inducing suspense thriller… with a smart charming amiable yet psychotic protagonist that smashes people's lives, and mean utterly messes up people's live completely... and gets away with it. The writing pair that is Nicci French unleash an abominable antagonist on to the streets of London, 6 out of 12
2009 view: Another Nicci French almost stress inducing suspense thriller… with a smart charming amiable yet psychotic protagonist that smashes people's lives, and mean utterly messes up people's live completely... and gets away with it. The writing pair that is Nicci French unleash an abominable antagonist on to the streets of London, 6 out of 12
August 8, 2021
I’ve read several Nicci French books in the past, but nothing prepared me for this. The other books I’ve read have been good but fairly standard crime novels, but this, about the aftermath of a short relationship, was totally different. I found the main character, Miranda, very believable and I wanted to yell at her every time she failed to assert herself or took a wrong turn. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me wonder how I’d missed this book before – turns out it was made into a TV series in 2005: I wonder if it was as good as the book?
September 16, 2021
I've read about 10 of Nicci French's books by now and have enjoyed them all, however Secret Smile seems like someone else entirely wrote this. I need to call out here DO NOT READ THIS BOOK YOU WILL WANT TO BANG YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.
I've read books before where the main character is a woman dealing with a psychopathic partner, but usually when they don't tell anyone what's happening it's because they're backed into a corner or threatened in such a way that they are scared to speak out. This is just plain insulting to women, as the main character has nothing to lose by saying "hey that's not actually what happened" but instead she doesn't say anything, but then continues to complain that no one believes her?? She never actually tells people what this guy is doing so I have zero sympathy for her. She's also written as incredibly confident so this book just makes zero sense and will leave you getting so frustrated.
*spoilers ahead*
Let's have a look at what this creep Brendan has done to her:
- Brendan and Miranda dated for 9 days and on day 9 she finds that he's broken into her flat and is sitting there reading her diaries. She breaks up with him. Does she say anything to anyone else about how creepy this was? Nah.
- A couple of months later, her sister Kerry meets Miranda and says she has exciting news, she's dating Brendan! Kerry says she knows they dated but Brendan told her he broke up with Miranda and Miranda was devastated. Does Miranda say anything to her sister like how that's a lie and actually he's a creep because he broke into her flat and started reading her personal diaries? Nah
- Brendan and Kerry announce their engagement to the family 2 months later, and he immediately walks over afterwards to say the whole time he announced it he was staring at Miranda's mouth, thinking about how he's come in it. Does Miranda say anything? Nah, let's just let that pass and not tell anyone when not only is that sexual assault, but also emotional cheating on your sister that you should hmm I dunno PROBABLY TELL YOUR FAMILY ABOUT??
She complains to everyone about him but then LEAVES OUT THE ACTUAL BAD EXAMPLES!
- Then it's just a combination of situations like Miranda waking up to find Brendan watching her sleep. Does she tell anyone or her sister? "hey sis your fiancee was in my room watching me sleep thought you should maybe know that" Nope, she says nada. This is a real strong sister to sister relationship here. Another is when she's having a bath and he walks in to piss, and the sister catches them, and he blames Miranda that she came in to have a bath while he was already in there. Um so you're saying he was peeing and Miranda came in, started undressing, ran a bath, and got in all in the space of 30 seconds and you just stood there?
- Then it starts to get more dark, where their younger brother commits suicide, and low and behold, we find out that Brendan played a part in it as he had the rope in his suitcase. The whole family find Miranda snooping in his suitcase and then Miranda's own family turn against her that she has it out for him and she's obsessed with him. I literally have no sympathy for Miranda because she also hasn't said any of the things Brendan has been doing or has neither been fair to her sister by giving her the warning she deserves when she had LITERALLY NOTHING TO LOSE. He hadn't backed her into a corner, she just decided not to say anything FOR NO REASON but then continues to complain to everyone about how 'there's something not right about him hmm why won't anyone believe me?''
- So then she finds out Brendan played a part in her brother's death, but still decides to put a brave face on for the wedding?!? What sort of cold denial behaviour is this? If you know yourself he killed your brother why are you going along and supporting him marrying your sister and not doing something about it?? But oh hang on news flash on the day of the wedding he leaves Kerry the sister and runs off with, wait for it....Miranda's BEST FRIEND
-_-
Oh but wait, a couple of month's later you find out Miranda's best friend....has DIED by drowning in a bath. Wowwwww. But it's obviouslyyy Brendan, but oh noooo, no one believes you.
This is pretty much the theme of the whole book. Not a smart psychological thriller where you're not sure how the main character can get help or get around it, it's literally a man pushing boundaries and a girl not wanting to disrupt the peace even though she's written as headstrong, by just saying something. If not for her then for her sister. It's a massive insult and a book basically saying women are weak.
I've read books before where the main character is a woman dealing with a psychopathic partner, but usually when they don't tell anyone what's happening it's because they're backed into a corner or threatened in such a way that they are scared to speak out. This is just plain insulting to women, as the main character has nothing to lose by saying "hey that's not actually what happened" but instead she doesn't say anything, but then continues to complain that no one believes her?? She never actually tells people what this guy is doing so I have zero sympathy for her. She's also written as incredibly confident so this book just makes zero sense and will leave you getting so frustrated.
*spoilers ahead*
Let's have a look at what this creep Brendan has done to her:
- Brendan and Miranda dated for 9 days and on day 9 she finds that he's broken into her flat and is sitting there reading her diaries. She breaks up with him. Does she say anything to anyone else about how creepy this was? Nah.
- A couple of months later, her sister Kerry meets Miranda and says she has exciting news, she's dating Brendan! Kerry says she knows they dated but Brendan told her he broke up with Miranda and Miranda was devastated. Does Miranda say anything to her sister like how that's a lie and actually he's a creep because he broke into her flat and started reading her personal diaries? Nah
- Brendan and Kerry announce their engagement to the family 2 months later, and he immediately walks over afterwards to say the whole time he announced it he was staring at Miranda's mouth, thinking about how he's come in it. Does Miranda say anything? Nah, let's just let that pass and not tell anyone when not only is that sexual assault, but also emotional cheating on your sister that you should hmm I dunno PROBABLY TELL YOUR FAMILY ABOUT??
She complains to everyone about him but then LEAVES OUT THE ACTUAL BAD EXAMPLES!
- Then it's just a combination of situations like Miranda waking up to find Brendan watching her sleep. Does she tell anyone or her sister? "hey sis your fiancee was in my room watching me sleep thought you should maybe know that" Nope, she says nada. This is a real strong sister to sister relationship here. Another is when she's having a bath and he walks in to piss, and the sister catches them, and he blames Miranda that she came in to have a bath while he was already in there. Um so you're saying he was peeing and Miranda came in, started undressing, ran a bath, and got in all in the space of 30 seconds and you just stood there?
- Then it starts to get more dark, where their younger brother commits suicide, and low and behold, we find out that Brendan played a part in it as he had the rope in his suitcase. The whole family find Miranda snooping in his suitcase and then Miranda's own family turn against her that she has it out for him and she's obsessed with him. I literally have no sympathy for Miranda because she also hasn't said any of the things Brendan has been doing or has neither been fair to her sister by giving her the warning she deserves when she had LITERALLY NOTHING TO LOSE. He hadn't backed her into a corner, she just decided not to say anything FOR NO REASON but then continues to complain to everyone about how 'there's something not right about him hmm why won't anyone believe me?''
- So then she finds out Brendan played a part in her brother's death, but still decides to put a brave face on for the wedding?!? What sort of cold denial behaviour is this? If you know yourself he killed your brother why are you going along and supporting him marrying your sister and not doing something about it?? But oh hang on news flash on the day of the wedding he leaves Kerry the sister and runs off with, wait for it....Miranda's BEST FRIEND
-_-
Oh but wait, a couple of month's later you find out Miranda's best friend....has DIED by drowning in a bath. Wowwwww. But it's obviouslyyy Brendan, but oh noooo, no one believes you.
This is pretty much the theme of the whole book. Not a smart psychological thriller where you're not sure how the main character can get help or get around it, it's literally a man pushing boundaries and a girl not wanting to disrupt the peace even though she's written as headstrong, by just saying something. If not for her then for her sister. It's a massive insult and a book basically saying women are weak.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2021
Miranda has very short lived relationship with Brenda before she call quits but very soon after he gets tougheter with her sister Kerry and nestle in with the family. Only Miranda realize how twisted he really is. It had me hooked for the majority of the book but the ending lacked badly in my opinion. To much loose ends and no good explanation on what happened. I was frustrated (like many others) by Miranda but also people around her and hoped it would end up with a satisfying conclusion but that never happened. So it's a 3 stars but most of the book is a 4 stars, I just wasn't happy with the ending
May 25, 2020
I've read this book some years ago and I really liked it.
Just read it again and I still like it.
The settings for Brendon's obsession with Miranda is creepy, bad and wonderfully written.
Just read it again and I still like it.
The settings for Brendon's obsession with Miranda is creepy, bad and wonderfully written.
September 30, 2017
This is one of the books I had not read by the husband-wife team of 'Nicci French", but I thought it was a very good story. Miranda Cotton is out at a pub with friends when she meets a handsome man, Brendan Block. On a whim, she decides to hook up with him. Their romance lasted exactly nine days when she came home to find him reading her personal diaries. Feeling violated, she threw him out and thought that was the end of it. A few weeks later, imagine Miranda's surprise when her older sister, Kerry, is suddenly engaged to Brendan. Of course, that did not work out so well either, and some terrible things happened; one to Miranda and Kerry's brother and also to Miranda's best friend Laura. Convinced that Brendan is a sociopath, Miranda tries to interview former friends of his and family, and what she gets for her trouble is the threat of being charged with stalking and harassment; Brendan had befriended the police officer who investigated what happened to Laura, and believed everything Brendan (not his real name) said. In the meantime, Miranda meets the man she falls in love with and decides to marry, but before she can go on with her life, she knows she has to stop Brendan from committing any more violent crimes; he has a new girlfriend and is going by 'Ben' at present. I thought the book was sad on several levels, but Miranda did find a way to go on with her life, and Brendan? Well, he does get some of what is owed to him, at least temporarily.
December 29, 2012
This was basically a read-it-in-one-gulp book for me; so I can't give it less that 3 stars. Can't give it more than 3 stars, however, because it's a very formulaic first-period Nicci French, and it's not the best of that subgenre. I think that French's new series about Frieda Klein (which I guess we can call second-period NIcci French) is significantly better.
October 6, 2020
3*. Dit boek tussendoor als luisterboek "gelezen". Vond het niet zo'n heel geweldig verhaal, helaas. Heb betere verhalen van Nicci French gelezen.
December 4, 2023
Kad Miranda vienā jaukā dienā, slidojot un atpūšoties kādā no Londonas ledus laukumiem, sastop izskatīgu, smaidošu un visādi citādi pievilcīgu puisi vārdā Brendans, viņa pat nespēj iztēloties, kādas galvassāpes viņš sagādās. Kad Miranda pēc nogurdinošas darbadienas atgriežas savā dzīvoklī un ne tikai priekšā sastop jau tur esošu Brendanu, ar kuru satiekas vien dažas nedēļas un tā patiesi nemaz vēl nav iepazinusi, bet piedevām atklāj, ka viņš bez sirdsapziņas pārmetumiem lasījis viņas istabā esošo dienasgrāmatu un pārkāpis privātuma robežas, viņa pat ļaunākajos murgos nespēj iztēloties, kādu postu Brendans sagādās ne tikai viņas, bet arī viņas ģimenes un tuvākās draudzenes dzīvē.
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
May 11, 2018
Secret Smile by Nicci French is a compulsive read. So engrossed was I in the book that the pages seemed to turn by themselves.
It began when Miranda had a chance meeting with Brandon Block at a skating rink. It led to a few dates. But when Miranda caught Brandon reading her personal diary, she was incensed and finished their very brief relationship. She thought that was the end of him. But she was wrong!
One day, her sister phoned. She said she had some exciting news and wanted to tell Miranda in person. So, the sisters met at an arranged venue. Miranda was exuberant as she introduced her new boyfriend. You’ve guessed it: it was Brandon!
Brandon had already ingratiated himself into her family, and soon her friends as well. He was handsome, charming and eager to please; how could anyone not like him?
Brandon told everyone that he had finished his relationship with Miranda and she had taken it very badly. But when Miranda denied it, she was faced with sympathetic voices. And then, to Miranda’s horror, her sister and Brandon became engaged!
From then on, Miranda had to face family gatherings, which included Brandon. He derived sadistic pleasure from seeing Miranda squirm. Brandon manipulated situations and things began happening. Miranda’s warnings about him went unheeded, because everyone thought she was obsessed with him. I could feel her frustration.
Miranda’s fear of him became so intense it was almost palpable. The author did a good job of conveying Brandon’s menacing character. I was just waiting to see what he was going to do next.
He eventually wrecked the lives of Miranda’s family and others who had a connection with her, in ways unimaginable.
It’s an excellent psychological thriller. It was the best in this genre that I have read in a long time.
It began when Miranda had a chance meeting with Brandon Block at a skating rink. It led to a few dates. But when Miranda caught Brandon reading her personal diary, she was incensed and finished their very brief relationship. She thought that was the end of him. But she was wrong!
One day, her sister phoned. She said she had some exciting news and wanted to tell Miranda in person. So, the sisters met at an arranged venue. Miranda was exuberant as she introduced her new boyfriend. You’ve guessed it: it was Brandon!
Brandon had already ingratiated himself into her family, and soon her friends as well. He was handsome, charming and eager to please; how could anyone not like him?
Brandon told everyone that he had finished his relationship with Miranda and she had taken it very badly. But when Miranda denied it, she was faced with sympathetic voices. And then, to Miranda’s horror, her sister and Brandon became engaged!
From then on, Miranda had to face family gatherings, which included Brandon. He derived sadistic pleasure from seeing Miranda squirm. Brandon manipulated situations and things began happening. Miranda’s warnings about him went unheeded, because everyone thought she was obsessed with him. I could feel her frustration.
Miranda’s fear of him became so intense it was almost palpable. The author did a good job of conveying Brandon’s menacing character. I was just waiting to see what he was going to do next.
He eventually wrecked the lives of Miranda’s family and others who had a connection with her, in ways unimaginable.
It’s an excellent psychological thriller. It was the best in this genre that I have read in a long time.
July 25, 2011
Hmm..really wanted to rate this book higher and love it more as I think the sexy husband and wife writing duo of Nicci French do an amazing job of building suspense, creating the tension and making you want to know what is going to happen next..however I felt the tension didnt meet the ending and ultimately when there should have been a brilliant novel I was kinda let down..Okay so the story follows hardenend smartass Miranda as she does what she wants, is a female painter that loves to be dirty and crass and sleeps with who she wants..it is with this attitude she meets Branden and sleeps with him..however instead of being a one night stand she gets involved in a semi relationship with him for eight days and ends it abruptly when she finds him going through her diary..An intensely private person Miranda cant forgive him and moves on with her life and thinks he is a thing of the past until her older sister calls gushing about falling in love with a man she knows, the slimy Branden..It starts from there as Branden charms his way into the lives of her family and friends sickening Miranda with tragic and traumatic results..The lengths that Branden goes through to harass her is deliciously evil and he is truly a manipulative and sneaky man with the power to fool everyone and make Miranda even doubt herself..I loved the book for this part, it was a definite page turner and was super suspenseful however the ending seemed unfinished and unsatisfying--you want more but I suppose it can be appreciated for what it was and I will definitely be reading more from this author.
September 13, 2017
STORY: 2.5-3 stars
SECRET SMILE is just the tip of the iceberg on what could've been a much more intriguing, in-depth, story had Ms. French put more into it. What is supposed to be a gripping, sinister story is more of a suspenseful tease. It was entertaining yet because of the way it is written, everything feels rushed and unnecessarily abbreviated.
PERFORMANCE: 5 stars
I listened to the audiobook narrated by A. Ando. Ms. Ando did an excellent job narrating this book from start to finish to finish. I appreciated the way she attempted to alter her voice to differentiate between the characters and that she emoted just the right amounts of emotion, making the character's feelings more believable. She's an excellent performer and I look forward to listening to more of her work in the future!
SECRET SMILE is just the tip of the iceberg on what could've been a much more intriguing, in-depth, story had Ms. French put more into it. What is supposed to be a gripping, sinister story is more of a suspenseful tease. It was entertaining yet because of the way it is written, everything feels rushed and unnecessarily abbreviated.
PERFORMANCE: 5 stars
I listened to the audiobook narrated by A. Ando. Ms. Ando did an excellent job narrating this book from start to finish to finish. I appreciated the way she attempted to alter her voice to differentiate between the characters and that she emoted just the right amounts of emotion, making the character's feelings more believable. She's an excellent performer and I look forward to listening to more of her work in the future!
February 5, 2017
I was very stressed for the first 35-40% of this, thinking about Miranda's stupidity! But dang, it gets really good and unputdownable after that! Great, suspenseful read! this author(s), actually two authors, is becoming one of my favorites!
January 26, 2023
I can finally say that I’m glad that I’ve finished it. Holy moly, I’m still waiting for the plot. Nothing about this book was good. The characters are boring, story line is way too long and the “supposed twist” is not worth it.
Honestly this book was not it for me.
Honestly this book was not it for me.
August 6, 2023
Zoals alle boeken van Nicci French gaan ze onder m’n huid zitten. En deze is niet anders. Koortsachtig vloog ik door de pagina’s heen op zoek naar wat gerechtigheid voor het hoofdpersonage Miranda. Want man, wat wordt haar een hoop onrecht aangedaan in dit boek. En dat niet alleen, heel haar omgeving lijkt zich tegen haar te keren. Zelfs zo erg, dat het eigenlijk niet zo geloofwaardig meer was en mega frustrerend. Het is dat de schrijfstijl van dit duo zo fenomenaal is en de vaart er goed ingehouden wordt, maar eigenlijk moet ik me achter veel van reviewers hier scharen; dit is niet hun beste werk. Wel weer erg vermakelijk, verslavend, duister en mega spannend. Ik wil meer!
June 20, 2022
3,5 Sterne
May 4, 2016
Η Μιράντα χωρίζει τον Μπρένταν μόνο και μόνο για να τον ξανασυναντήσει λίγο καιρό αργότερα ως εραστή και μετέπειτα σύζυγο της αδελφής της. Η Κέρι είναι τόσο μα τόσο ευτυχισμένη και δε θέλει η αδερφή της να της χαλάσει την ευτυχία (ξανά). Από κει και πέρα τίποτε δε θα είναι πια ίδιο στη ζωή της πετυχημένης διακοσμήτριας εσωτερικών χώρων Μιράντα Κότον!
Το γνωστό συγγραφικό δίδυμο, τρία χρόνια πριν δημιουργήσει την ψυχολόγο Frieda Klein στη γνωστή συγκλονιστική σειρά μυστηρίου, έγραψε και αυτό το θριλεράκι. Αγωνία, κλειστοφοβία, ανατροπές και εκπλήξεις που με άφησαν άφωνο. Ως τη μέση τουλάχιστον. Κι εκεί ακριβώς έγκειται η ένστασή μου.
Η ιστορία εξελίσσεται ραγδαία και βαθμηδόν. Κατάλαβα από την αρχή ότι έχουμε έναν έξυπνο ψυχοπαθή, που έχει βάλει στόχο να παραμείνει στη ζωή της Μιράντα με κάθε τρόπο και κινείται τεχνηέντως και δολίως γύρω της, οδηγώντας την στην τρέλα και την παράνοια. Κι εκεί που η αγωνία κορυφώνεται, η πλοκή κλιμακώνεται, κι έχω κρατήσει την ανάσα μου, τσαφ! Ο Μπρένταν αλλάζει γνώμη και εξαφανίζεται! Σχεδόν αναίτια! Σε κρίσιμο σημείο για τη ζωή της Κέρι που του έχει δοθεί ολοκληρωτικά.
Και προχωράμε στο δεύτερο σκέλος, όπου η Μιράντα, νιώθοντας ενοχές και τύψεις που ο Μπρένταν κυκλοφορεί ελεύθερος και ίσως κινδυνεύει και κάποια άλλη αθώα κοπέλα, αρχίζει να τον αναζητά και να ακολουθεί τα ίχνη του, παρά τις αντιρρήσεις των δικών της φίλων και συγγενών. Έτσι το πρώην ζευγάρι θα βρεθεί ξανά αντιμέτωπο, υπό άλλες συνθήκες, μόνο και μόνο για να τελειώσει εξίσου ανατρεπτικά μεν, αναίτια δε! Πολύ ωραία η κατάληξη της ιστορίας, όμως η ξαφνική αλλαγή στην πλοκή, που σαν καμπή μου έκοψε το αίμα, σαν επεξήγηση δε με ικανοποίησε, ήταν σα να πετάχτηκε σχεδόν μες στη μέση από το πουθενά!
Αξιόλογο θριλεράκι λοιπόν, με πολύ καλή αναπαράσταση σκηνών, στακάτους διαλόγους, κινηματογραφική δράση, με έναν διαφορετικό χειρισμό της βασικής ιστορίας, με μπόλικο σασπένς και αγωνία, ίσως όμως τα ενδιάμεσα κενά μεταξύ των κορυφώσεων να απογοητεύσουν κάποιους.
Το γνωστό συγγραφικό δίδυμο, τρία χρόνια πριν δημιουργήσει την ψυχολόγο Frieda Klein στη γνωστή συγκλονιστική σειρά μυστηρίου, έγραψε και αυτό το θριλεράκι. Αγωνία, κλειστοφοβία, ανατροπές και εκπλήξεις που με άφησαν άφωνο. Ως τη μέση τουλάχιστον. Κι εκεί ακριβώς έγκειται η ένστασή μου.
Η ιστορία εξελίσσεται ραγδαία και βαθμηδόν. Κατάλαβα από την αρχή ότι έχουμε έναν έξυπνο ψυχοπαθή, που έχει βάλει στόχο να παραμείνει στη ζωή της Μιράντα με κάθε τρόπο και κινείται τεχνηέντως και δολίως γύρω της, οδηγώντας την στην τρέλα και την παράνοια. Κι εκεί που η αγωνία κορυφώνεται, η πλοκή κλιμακώνεται, κι έχω κρατήσει την ανάσα μου, τσαφ! Ο Μπρένταν αλλάζει γνώμη και εξαφανίζεται! Σχεδόν αναίτια! Σε κρίσιμο σημείο για τη ζωή της Κέρι που του έχει δοθεί ολοκληρωτικά.
Και προχωράμε στο δεύτερο σκέλος, όπου η Μιράντα, νιώθοντας ενοχές και τύψεις που ο Μπρένταν κυκλοφορεί ελεύθερος και ίσως κινδυνεύει και κάποια άλλη αθώα κοπέλα, αρχίζει να τον αναζητά και να ακολουθεί τα ίχνη του, παρά τις αντιρρήσεις των δικών της φίλων και συγγενών. Έτσι το πρώην ζευγάρι θα βρεθεί ξανά αντιμέτωπο, υπό άλλες συνθήκες, μόνο και μόνο για να τελειώσει εξίσου ανατρεπτικά μεν, αναίτια δε! Πολύ ωραία η κατάληξη της ιστορίας, όμως η ξαφνική αλλαγή στην πλοκή, που σαν καμπή μου έκοψε το αίμα, σαν επεξήγηση δε με ικανοποίησε, ήταν σα να πετάχτηκε σχεδόν μες στη μέση από το πουθενά!
Αξιόλογο θριλεράκι λοιπόν, με πολύ καλή αναπαράσταση σκηνών, στακάτους διαλόγους, κινηματογραφική δράση, με έναν διαφορετικό χειρισμό της βασικής ιστορίας, με μπόλικο σασπένς και αγωνία, ίσως όμως τα ενδιάμεσα κενά μεταξύ των κορυφώσεων να απογοητεύσουν κάποιους.
January 10, 2018
Σίγουρα όχι το καλύτερο βιβλίο τους. Μόλις και μετά βίας μπόρεσα να το προχωρήσω κι αυτό γιατί άντεξα να διαβάσω μέχρι τη μέση περίπου, οπότε κι άρχισε να έχει ένα κάποιο νόημα η ανάγνωσή του.
Σίγουρα είχε γρήγορη ροη, συνεχείς ανατροπές και φυσιολογική κλιμάκωση, ωστόσο ήταν αναμενόμενη η εξέλιξη και το τέλος απότομο κα�� χωρίς «ζουμί». Του έλλειπε η αγωνία, ο φόβος, η αμφιβολία, η αμφιταλάντευση, το αίμα, όλα αυτά δηλαδή που συνθέτουν το σωστό αστυνομικό. Πάντα μιλώντας με τα προσωπικά μου κριτήρια. Σε κάποιον που δεν έχει εντρυφήσει στα αστυνομικά ωστόσο, θα αρέσει πολύ και θα τον/την κρατήσει σε αγωνία.
Για μένα η βαθμολογία του είναι ένα 6 στα 10.
Σίγουρα είχε γρήγορη ροη, συνεχείς ανατροπές και φυσιολογική κλιμάκωση, ωστόσο ήταν αναμενόμενη η εξέλιξη και το τέλος απότομο κα�� χωρίς «ζουμί». Του έλλειπε η αγωνία, ο φόβος, η αμφιβολία, η αμφιταλάντευση, το αίμα, όλα αυτά δηλαδή που συνθέτουν το σωστό αστυνομικό. Πάντα μιλώντας με τα προσωπικά μου κριτήρια. Σε κάποιον που δεν έχει εντρυφήσει στα αστυνομικά ωστόσο, θα αρέσει πολύ και θα τον/την κρατήσει σε αγωνία.
Για μένα η βαθμολογία του είναι ένα 6 στα 10.
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