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Chasing the Dark
Joe's mum is dead. Killed in a hit-and-run car crash, along with someone he's never heard of. Angry and alone, Joe takes his dog for a late night walk. He finds himself at the gates of an empty mansion: a house of glass belonging to an old movie star. And it's here that Joe unlocks the dangerous mystery of what happened that night...
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 14, 2014
I got this book from the local library as i was searching for books to read and it was a great find!
This book fits the bingo box, "A book written in 2013".
Once I started reading this book i found it hard to put it down. This action packed, thrilling book tells a story of undying love, friendship and determination of a young boy on his journey to find the truth about his mums death.
My favourite character was Joe Slattery who was the hero in the story. He is a captivating, brave young man who I was able to contact with instantly. Joe starts off with an unfortunate series of events with his mums death then living with his unwelcoming aunt but he is so determined to find out the truth behind his mums death.
My favourite quote from this book is “my body was a twitching mess but my brain was working overtime, warning me that my plan, what there was of it, could go either way. I could deal with that. But I wasn’t going to die without getting the truth about mum.” This showed Joe's determination to find the truth which he did despite him panicking and not being prepared for what was in store. He got what he wanted and didn't let his fear or anything get in his way.
In real life we need to show determination and courage to complete things and seek answers to our own questions and along the way we will make great friendships.
This was a great read, book started off a bit slow but definitely picked up.
This book fits the bingo box, "A book written in 2013".
Once I started reading this book i found it hard to put it down. This action packed, thrilling book tells a story of undying love, friendship and determination of a young boy on his journey to find the truth about his mums death.
My favourite character was Joe Slattery who was the hero in the story. He is a captivating, brave young man who I was able to contact with instantly. Joe starts off with an unfortunate series of events with his mums death then living with his unwelcoming aunt but he is so determined to find out the truth behind his mums death.
My favourite quote from this book is “my body was a twitching mess but my brain was working overtime, warning me that my plan, what there was of it, could go either way. I could deal with that. But I wasn’t going to die without getting the truth about mum.” This showed Joe's determination to find the truth which he did despite him panicking and not being prepared for what was in store. He got what he wanted and didn't let his fear or anything get in his way.
In real life we need to show determination and courage to complete things and seek answers to our own questions and along the way we will make great friendships.
This was a great read, book started off a bit slow but definitely picked up.
June 24, 2017
I found this book sooo exhilerating!! It kept me on edge and wanting to read, I'm just disappointed I didn't finish it earlier! The ending was a COMPLETE surprise; I'd made a few guesses to who the "Vulture" could be, but I wasn't even close!! The only thing I found confusing, were all he characters and remembering their names. This book is great as a stand-alone novel, and I don't think Sam Hepburn should write a sequel. In my opinion it will ruin the ending of this book. Overall, a really enjoyable short read!! :) :) :)
June 12, 2020
Action and intrigue abound as teen Joe Spatters tries to unravel the mystery surrounding his Mum’s death. It feels mostly suited to a 12+ readership though some of the violence and character development is probably more suited to an older readership. There are a lot of characters in this book and there is a good build up of tension as the threats to Joe and his friends rapidly increase. Kept me guessing all the way and quite a satisfying ending.
July 21, 2015
Very much enjoyed reading this 'young adult fiction', rather to my surprise. Good plot, credible characters and page-turning action all set in the heartbreaking world of refugees struggling to come to terms with living in England. An excellent thriller which keeps you gripped all the way to the end.
May 3, 2025
Spijtig dat de kaft voor een groot deel in beslag is genomen door de titel.
De titel is OK.
Een YA thriller.
Een zeer goede start maar verzwakt naar het einde toe.
Zelfs het archief van de KGB in Kiev komt ter sprake.
Wel een zeer verrassend einde.
De titel is OK.
Een YA thriller.
Een zeer goede start maar verzwakt naar het einde toe.
Zelfs het archief van de KGB in Kiev komt ter sprake.
Wel een zeer verrassend einde.
June 16, 2023
The author would’ve had a lot of hate mail if Oz died
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2017
"Die Akte Elysium" ist ein geheimnisvoller Jugendkrimi, der aber leider auch einige Ungereimtheiten enthält.
Seit seine Mutter bei einem Autounfall ums Leben gekommen ist, fragt Joe sich, wie das passieren konnte. Er glaubt nicht an das tragische Unglück, sondern glaubt, das mehr dahinter steckt, denn seit seine Mutter verstorben ist, kommen immer mehr rätselhafte Informationen ans Tageslicht. Joe entdeckt die alte "Elysium" Villa, in der ein eigenartiger, russischer Verurteilter lebt, erhält geheime Notizen, die von dem Journalisten stammen, der neben seiner Mutter im Unfallwagen saß. Für den Jungen steht fest, dass er das Rätsel um den Unfall lösen muss, vor allem seit bei ihm eingebrochen wurde. Joe begibt sich auf eine gefährliche Reise ...
Das Cover zeigt einen Jungen, der in der Nacht durch eine verlassene, leicht beleuchtete Straße rennt. Er wirkt ängstlich, gehetzt und als würde er verfolgt werden. Er schaut zur Seite, auf der Suche nach etwas. Der Schriftzug des Titels ist in Großbuchstaben gehalten. Der Schriftzug sieht aus, wie in einer Fallakte.
Joe ist ein mutiger Junge, der alles dafür tun möchte, um den Mord an seiner Mutter aufzuklären. Dabei ist er sehr leichtsinnig, handelt immer wieder impulsiv und unüberlegt. Er bringt sich oft, nicht immer absichtlich, in Gefahr und muss sich dann wieder in Sicherheit bringen.
Die Geschichte an sich gefällt mir ganz gut. Ich mag Bücher, in denen es um Verschwörungen geht und darum, Geheimnisse zu lüften. An manchen Stellen war mir das Buch aber zu langatmig und auch manchmal zu unrealistisch. Es konnte mich nicht wirklich überzeugen.
Seit seine Mutter bei einem Autounfall ums Leben gekommen ist, fragt Joe sich, wie das passieren konnte. Er glaubt nicht an das tragische Unglück, sondern glaubt, das mehr dahinter steckt, denn seit seine Mutter verstorben ist, kommen immer mehr rätselhafte Informationen ans Tageslicht. Joe entdeckt die alte "Elysium" Villa, in der ein eigenartiger, russischer Verurteilter lebt, erhält geheime Notizen, die von dem Journalisten stammen, der neben seiner Mutter im Unfallwagen saß. Für den Jungen steht fest, dass er das Rätsel um den Unfall lösen muss, vor allem seit bei ihm eingebrochen wurde. Joe begibt sich auf eine gefährliche Reise ...
Das Cover zeigt einen Jungen, der in der Nacht durch eine verlassene, leicht beleuchtete Straße rennt. Er wirkt ängstlich, gehetzt und als würde er verfolgt werden. Er schaut zur Seite, auf der Suche nach etwas. Der Schriftzug des Titels ist in Großbuchstaben gehalten. Der Schriftzug sieht aus, wie in einer Fallakte.
Joe ist ein mutiger Junge, der alles dafür tun möchte, um den Mord an seiner Mutter aufzuklären. Dabei ist er sehr leichtsinnig, handelt immer wieder impulsiv und unüberlegt. Er bringt sich oft, nicht immer absichtlich, in Gefahr und muss sich dann wieder in Sicherheit bringen.
Die Geschichte an sich gefällt mir ganz gut. Ich mag Bücher, in denen es um Verschwörungen geht und darum, Geheimnisse zu lüften. An manchen Stellen war mir das Buch aber zu langatmig und auch manchmal zu unrealistisch. Es konnte mich nicht wirklich überzeugen.
July 11, 2013
For book reviews and more, please visit my book blog, The Book Stop
Aww, I just couldn't get into this at all. And I feel terrible because this was one of my most anticipated reads, and I had such high hopes. I am very disappointed with both the book, and myself. I couldn't make it past the first 60 pages. I hate writing negative reviews, especially of books that I expected so much from, but I guess Chasing The Dark just wasn't my thing.
To start, I despised the characters in this novel. I just found them annoying, and bland. They were also very predictable. I also thought the relationships between different characters were unrealistic. For example, when Joe met Yuri, who was threatening his life, I feel like he didn't react like any normal person would. I'd be crying and frightened, and nervous! And then, when Yuri suddenly gets up and leaves, Joe misses him? Why would he miss someone who was threatening his life? How could he feel connected to him, no matter how sorry he felt for him? I just found this relationship very unrealistic and hard to relate to. All the other minor characters, I found irritating and I couldn't stand them. I need relatable characters to get me through the story. Unfortunately, I didn't find this in Chasing The Dark.
All I've got is a trail of secrets and lies, but am I just chasing the dark?
The story was very slow for from the beginning. When the mystery started to unfold, I felt a bit disappointed. And that's coming from a mystery-junkie like me. I just feel like the story line wasn't going anywhere that I expected it to go, and not in a good way. I could imagine the ending, and I wasn't motivated by any of the plot twists to continue reading.
I thought this story had so much potential, but it just wasn't for me. I was intrigued by the brilliant cover and mysterious title. And the synopsis really made me want to read this. It really does look like a brilliant novel! I can see how some people would enjoy it, but it just not my cup of tea.
Dark night. Rain-slashed road. A great black 4x4 screeching out of nowhere, it's headlights catching Mum's pale, frightened face behind the windscreen of a tinny little hatchback. She's screaming into the brightness, throwing up her arms...
I'm not a fan of the style of writing in Chasing The Dark. I don't think it's very unique or different. I was bored throughout and the writing is supposed to guide the reader through the story, and I don't feel like it did that for me in Chasing The Dark.
Overall, Chasing The Dark was disappointing for me. I really had high hopes but I just couldn't get into it. I do like the cover, and I do like the title, but I thought that with a story line with so much potential it could've been amazing. But I was really let down.
Aww, I just couldn't get into this at all. And I feel terrible because this was one of my most anticipated reads, and I had such high hopes. I am very disappointed with both the book, and myself. I couldn't make it past the first 60 pages. I hate writing negative reviews, especially of books that I expected so much from, but I guess Chasing The Dark just wasn't my thing.
To start, I despised the characters in this novel. I just found them annoying, and bland. They were also very predictable. I also thought the relationships between different characters were unrealistic. For example, when Joe met Yuri, who was threatening his life, I feel like he didn't react like any normal person would. I'd be crying and frightened, and nervous! And then, when Yuri suddenly gets up and leaves, Joe misses him? Why would he miss someone who was threatening his life? How could he feel connected to him, no matter how sorry he felt for him? I just found this relationship very unrealistic and hard to relate to. All the other minor characters, I found irritating and I couldn't stand them. I need relatable characters to get me through the story. Unfortunately, I didn't find this in Chasing The Dark.
All I've got is a trail of secrets and lies, but am I just chasing the dark?
The story was very slow for from the beginning. When the mystery started to unfold, I felt a bit disappointed. And that's coming from a mystery-junkie like me. I just feel like the story line wasn't going anywhere that I expected it to go, and not in a good way. I could imagine the ending, and I wasn't motivated by any of the plot twists to continue reading.
I thought this story had so much potential, but it just wasn't for me. I was intrigued by the brilliant cover and mysterious title. And the synopsis really made me want to read this. It really does look like a brilliant novel! I can see how some people would enjoy it, but it just not my cup of tea.
Dark night. Rain-slashed road. A great black 4x4 screeching out of nowhere, it's headlights catching Mum's pale, frightened face behind the windscreen of a tinny little hatchback. She's screaming into the brightness, throwing up her arms...
I'm not a fan of the style of writing in Chasing The Dark. I don't think it's very unique or different. I was bored throughout and the writing is supposed to guide the reader through the story, and I don't feel like it did that for me in Chasing The Dark.
Overall, Chasing The Dark was disappointing for me. I really had high hopes but I just couldn't get into it. I do like the cover, and I do like the title, but I thought that with a story line with so much potential it could've been amazing. But I was really let down.
July 23, 2013
Book review will be published first on http://mrripleysenchantedbooks.blogsp...
I was looking for something to read in this genre when this book popped through the post - I'm really glad that it did. The title of the book perfectly captures what's in store for the reader. This is a brilliant new crime-mystery story told through the eyes of a teenage boy looking for answers as to the death of his mum.
Joe's mum is killed in a hit-and-run car crash, along with someone that he's never heard of before. Angry and alone, Joe takes his dog for a late night walk. He finds himself at the gates of an empty mansion; a house of glass belonging to an old movie star. And it's here that Joe unlocks the dangerous mystery of what happened that night.
The author has been inspired by an eclectic mix of Dickens' Great Expectations, the famous Lord Lucan mystery and the opening of the KGB files back in 2009. These have been used to great effect and lend a sense of mystery and possibilities to the story. An exhilarating tale is told in the style of Lord Peter Wimsey from the detective adventures by Dorothy L Sayers. I have to say that this diverse mix of ideas and inspirations really make this story quite unique.
This book has a fast paced nature to it - the story unfolds the mysteries that Joe faces as he heads further into this dangerous adventure. It is layered with unexpected twists - just when you think that you've got the story sussed you have to think again. One of the strong points of this book includes the host of very interesting and varied characters that will have you gripped from the start until the very end.
The main characters are Yuri, a scary ex-contract killer with a heart of gold and a secret stash of emeralds. Norma Craig, an old movie star with a secret or two, Joe Slattery and his sidekick terrier called Oz. The all important bad person is the mysterious character know as Vulture, a Russian spy, who wants to eliminate her previous history at all cost. If that's not enough, then there are many secondary characters to keep you company along the way.
This book will take you slowly down the darkened path of murder, espionage, the London crime culture and a secret family past. There are many hidden secrets that will make you want to uncover the answers for your very self. It is a gripping read for the 11+ market - a book for both boys and girls who have adventurous spirits. It is very well written and is full of ideas which are deliciously dark and sometimes brutal. These have all been told through the modern day perspective which also pull at the heart strings.
I would love to read more books like this as it was an absolute pleasure and delight. This is another great book from such a diverse author who also writes under the name of Sam Osman.
I was looking for something to read in this genre when this book popped through the post - I'm really glad that it did. The title of the book perfectly captures what's in store for the reader. This is a brilliant new crime-mystery story told through the eyes of a teenage boy looking for answers as to the death of his mum.
Joe's mum is killed in a hit-and-run car crash, along with someone that he's never heard of before. Angry and alone, Joe takes his dog for a late night walk. He finds himself at the gates of an empty mansion; a house of glass belonging to an old movie star. And it's here that Joe unlocks the dangerous mystery of what happened that night.
The author has been inspired by an eclectic mix of Dickens' Great Expectations, the famous Lord Lucan mystery and the opening of the KGB files back in 2009. These have been used to great effect and lend a sense of mystery and possibilities to the story. An exhilarating tale is told in the style of Lord Peter Wimsey from the detective adventures by Dorothy L Sayers. I have to say that this diverse mix of ideas and inspirations really make this story quite unique.
This book has a fast paced nature to it - the story unfolds the mysteries that Joe faces as he heads further into this dangerous adventure. It is layered with unexpected twists - just when you think that you've got the story sussed you have to think again. One of the strong points of this book includes the host of very interesting and varied characters that will have you gripped from the start until the very end.
The main characters are Yuri, a scary ex-contract killer with a heart of gold and a secret stash of emeralds. Norma Craig, an old movie star with a secret or two, Joe Slattery and his sidekick terrier called Oz. The all important bad person is the mysterious character know as Vulture, a Russian spy, who wants to eliminate her previous history at all cost. If that's not enough, then there are many secondary characters to keep you company along the way.
This book will take you slowly down the darkened path of murder, espionage, the London crime culture and a secret family past. There are many hidden secrets that will make you want to uncover the answers for your very self. It is a gripping read for the 11+ market - a book for both boys and girls who have adventurous spirits. It is very well written and is full of ideas which are deliciously dark and sometimes brutal. These have all been told through the modern day perspective which also pull at the heart strings.
I would love to read more books like this as it was an absolute pleasure and delight. This is another great book from such a diverse author who also writes under the name of Sam Osman.
May 13, 2013
I can honestly say that I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I will admit that it started out a bit slow, but MAN did it pick up! I got completely sucked into Joe's adventure.
Joe is a very likeable kid. He really doesn't want any trouble, but he won't rest until he has answers. Joe is quite good at deduction and I was really impressed with his skills. He is smart, brave and a pretty dang good kid.
Along with Joe, there were some other pretty great characters. First of all, I have to say that I love Oz! He's such an awesome dog. Oz rocks. One of my favorite characters - other than Joe, obviously - was Nina. Joe meets her in the lair of a crime boss, working for him to pay a family debt. She is full of fear, but she is more driven by her need to be free than giving into that fear. Nina is tough, smart, sneaky and very brave. She is exactly the kind of person Joe needs on his side in order to succeed. I just loved her to bits. Another character I liked a lot was Joe's best friend, Bailey. Though he wasn't in the story that often, Bailey - and Oz, as a matter of fact - brought some much needed comedy to the team. He was also quite tech-savvy, which was very helpful for Joe and his mission.
I really enjoyed Sam Hepburn's writing style, once I got used to it. The settings were vivid and interesting and she was able to pace everything so perfectly. Except for at the very beginning, I didn't feel like it dragged or was too fast.
There are so many questions that cropped up as I was reading, but I am really pleased to say that all my questions were answered by the end. Sam did a great job tying up all the loose ends and I closed the book extremely satisfied. There is a ton of action and suspense and danger and even a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
Overall, Chasing the Dark is a very interesting, action-packed, riveting mystery that is bound to thrill readers young and old.
*See the complete, original review on my blog, She Dreams in Fiction.
Joe is a very likeable kid. He really doesn't want any trouble, but he won't rest until he has answers. Joe is quite good at deduction and I was really impressed with his skills. He is smart, brave and a pretty dang good kid.
Along with Joe, there were some other pretty great characters. First of all, I have to say that I love Oz! He's such an awesome dog. Oz rocks. One of my favorite characters - other than Joe, obviously - was Nina. Joe meets her in the lair of a crime boss, working for him to pay a family debt. She is full of fear, but she is more driven by her need to be free than giving into that fear. Nina is tough, smart, sneaky and very brave. She is exactly the kind of person Joe needs on his side in order to succeed. I just loved her to bits. Another character I liked a lot was Joe's best friend, Bailey. Though he wasn't in the story that often, Bailey - and Oz, as a matter of fact - brought some much needed comedy to the team. He was also quite tech-savvy, which was very helpful for Joe and his mission.
I really enjoyed Sam Hepburn's writing style, once I got used to it. The settings were vivid and interesting and she was able to pace everything so perfectly. Except for at the very beginning, I didn't feel like it dragged or was too fast.
There are so many questions that cropped up as I was reading, but I am really pleased to say that all my questions were answered by the end. Sam did a great job tying up all the loose ends and I closed the book extremely satisfied. There is a ton of action and suspense and danger and even a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
Overall, Chasing the Dark is a very interesting, action-packed, riveting mystery that is bound to thrill readers young and old.
*See the complete, original review on my blog, She Dreams in Fiction.
September 9, 2013
My Review: Chasing the Dark
I decided to read this book because I was looking for books in the library and this one caught my attention as I walked past. It also looked reasonably short.
This book completes the “book written in 2011 or 2012” category on the bingo board. The reason that I put this book in this category is because it is written in 2012. I really enjoyed this category because I don’t read many new books but I have realized that I really enjoy them so I will start picking them off the shelf more often.
My favourite quote from this book is “my body was a twitching mess but my brain was working overtime, warning me that my plan, what there was of it, could go either way. I could deal with that. But I wasn’t going to die without getting the truth about mum.” This was my favourite quote because it shows that although Joe was panicking, he wasn’t prepared and didn’t really know anything for certain, one thing he did know was that he wasn’t going to give up easily without finding out the truth about his mum. It also shows a bit about the type of person that he was and how he was a determined young boy who doesn’t like to give up and only settles for success.
Something new that I learned from this book is to never give up. Joe never gives up on finding out the truth about his mum and follows every lead that would help him achieve his goal and in the end he got there.
A character that I enjoyed reading about was Joe because he is a very determined young boy who had experienced so much at such a young age and dealt with it all very well.
Overall, I really liked the book and would read more recently published books in the future.
Parie Malhotra 10NYN 12/08/13
I decided to read this book because I was looking for books in the library and this one caught my attention as I walked past. It also looked reasonably short.
This book completes the “book written in 2011 or 2012” category on the bingo board. The reason that I put this book in this category is because it is written in 2012. I really enjoyed this category because I don’t read many new books but I have realized that I really enjoy them so I will start picking them off the shelf more often.
My favourite quote from this book is “my body was a twitching mess but my brain was working overtime, warning me that my plan, what there was of it, could go either way. I could deal with that. But I wasn’t going to die without getting the truth about mum.” This was my favourite quote because it shows that although Joe was panicking, he wasn’t prepared and didn’t really know anything for certain, one thing he did know was that he wasn’t going to give up easily without finding out the truth about his mum. It also shows a bit about the type of person that he was and how he was a determined young boy who doesn’t like to give up and only settles for success.
Something new that I learned from this book is to never give up. Joe never gives up on finding out the truth about his mum and follows every lead that would help him achieve his goal and in the end he got there.
A character that I enjoyed reading about was Joe because he is a very determined young boy who had experienced so much at such a young age and dealt with it all very well.
Overall, I really liked the book and would read more recently published books in the future.
Parie Malhotra 10NYN 12/08/13
July 21, 2015
Joe hat es gerade wirklich nicht einfach: Seine Mutter ist bei einem Autounfall ums Leben gekommen und er wurde aus seiner gewohnten Umgebung in London gerissen um von nun an bei seinem Onkel und seiner Tante, die ihn so gar nicht leiden kann, zu leben. Er kann einfach nicht verstehen, wieso seine Mutter überhaupt in diesen Unfall verwickelt werden konnte, sie fährt doch nie bei Fremden mit, sondern nimmt immer ein Taxi nach ihren Auftritten, und beschwipst kann sie auch nicht gewesen sein, wie manche Zeitungen berichtet haben, das hat sie Joe versprochen...oder doch? Er nimmt sich fest vor, herauszufinden, aus welchem Grund seine Mutter in dieser Nacht sterben musste. Und schon geht alles ganz schnell und er wird in eine riesige Geschichte verwickelt und legt sich mit bis an die Zähne bewaffneten Ukrainern an...
Sehr gut an diesem spannenden Jugend-Thriller hat mir gefallen, dass es sehr geheimnisvoll zugeht und auch noch der sowjetische Geheimdienst involviert ist. Der Spannungsbogen wird immer hoch gehalten und man fiebert beim Lesen mit, wie Joe es nur schaffen könnte, sich aus dieser und jener misslichen Lage zu befreien. Missliche Lagen gab es jedoch sehr, sehr viele und für meinen Geschmack war es etwas unrealistisch, wie einfach es einem Teenager gelang, immer wieder lebendig aus den Händen von Profikriminellen zu entwischen. Auch die Sprache, die meiner Meinung nach an einigen Stellen zu künstlich jugendlich klang, hat mich gestört. All das konnte jedoch das schöne Ende und vor allem das letzte Kapitel wieder wettmachen (auch wenn die Auflösung doch ein klein wenig vorhersehbar war), sodass mir das Buch insgesamt viel Freude bereitete und ich die Lesezeit dieses soliden und spannenden Thrillers genoss, auch wenn es kein totales Meisterstück ist.
Sehr gut an diesem spannenden Jugend-Thriller hat mir gefallen, dass es sehr geheimnisvoll zugeht und auch noch der sowjetische Geheimdienst involviert ist. Der Spannungsbogen wird immer hoch gehalten und man fiebert beim Lesen mit, wie Joe es nur schaffen könnte, sich aus dieser und jener misslichen Lage zu befreien. Missliche Lagen gab es jedoch sehr, sehr viele und für meinen Geschmack war es etwas unrealistisch, wie einfach es einem Teenager gelang, immer wieder lebendig aus den Händen von Profikriminellen zu entwischen. Auch die Sprache, die meiner Meinung nach an einigen Stellen zu künstlich jugendlich klang, hat mich gestört. All das konnte jedoch das schöne Ende und vor allem das letzte Kapitel wieder wettmachen (auch wenn die Auflösung doch ein klein wenig vorhersehbar war), sodass mir das Buch insgesamt viel Freude bereitete und ich die Lesezeit dieses soliden und spannenden Thrillers genoss, auch wenn es kein totales Meisterstück ist.
January 22, 2014
A teenage thriller/chase adventure. And a pretty good one too.
Following similar plot lines to adult thrillers, there's a mystery, a good guy and his friends, some bad guys and an enigmatic homeless man.
There's a definite air of Great Expectations at the start. With an innocent and grieving Joe missing his mum, dead in a car crash, he quickly meets a Magwitch-like tramp who needs his help and soon after a reclusive old woman at the heart of another murder mystery, who distinctly reminded me of Miss Havisham.
But apart from those two, it's very much a modern thriller: Teenage Joe is sent to live with his sour aunt after his mum is killed in a car crash. But why was she in a stranger's car at all... A journalist's? Joe stumbles upon clues that reveal it may not have been an accident.
Joe gets his friends to help and picks up an older female sidekick, who seems to be there to get beaten up a lot. I wasn't too sure about her motivation to help - there are gangsters involved that want to hurt her and she very easily bends to the leadership of the younger boy.
Joe is likeable but at the same time his voice didn't always feel real - occasional teen-speak like "sicker" seemed a bit 'thrown in'. His knack of spotting the missed clues from chapters earlier was also a bit too lucky.
It's a fast-moving story, with lots of action. Despite my comments above, I did enjoy the read ad guessing who the bad guys really were. And hadn't quite guessed the connections between the conspiracies.
It's a decent teenage thriller. Deserves an audience.
Following similar plot lines to adult thrillers, there's a mystery, a good guy and his friends, some bad guys and an enigmatic homeless man.
There's a definite air of Great Expectations at the start. With an innocent and grieving Joe missing his mum, dead in a car crash, he quickly meets a Magwitch-like tramp who needs his help and soon after a reclusive old woman at the heart of another murder mystery, who distinctly reminded me of Miss Havisham.
But apart from those two, it's very much a modern thriller: Teenage Joe is sent to live with his sour aunt after his mum is killed in a car crash. But why was she in a stranger's car at all... A journalist's? Joe stumbles upon clues that reveal it may not have been an accident.
Joe gets his friends to help and picks up an older female sidekick, who seems to be there to get beaten up a lot. I wasn't too sure about her motivation to help - there are gangsters involved that want to hurt her and she very easily bends to the leadership of the younger boy.
Joe is likeable but at the same time his voice didn't always feel real - occasional teen-speak like "sicker" seemed a bit 'thrown in'. His knack of spotting the missed clues from chapters earlier was also a bit too lucky.
It's a fast-moving story, with lots of action. Despite my comments above, I did enjoy the read ad guessing who the bad guys really were. And hadn't quite guessed the connections between the conspiracies.
It's a decent teenage thriller. Deserves an audience.
June 2, 2016
3.5 stars
~Arc Review~
Well, what a pleasant surprise!
I can honestly say I didn't know what to expect of this book (my first physical Arc!), what with the short blurb and everything.
So, I was quite surprised to find I actually really liked it; Chasing the Dark is a young adult/middle grade take on the old detective story-line of solving a mystery, and I've got to admit, I enjoyed Joe's young perspective of things, and simply had to know how this particular mystery ends.
The book started kind of slow. Not boring-when-do-the-interesting-bits-come-into-play?! kind of slow, but the kind of slow you get when you're learning to know the main character, his situation and the painful circumstances he finds himself in. Also, the kind of slow you get when the main character himself still hasn't figured out there's something off going on.
But once Joe smells something fishy...
To read the rest of the review, go to my blog, here
~Arc Review~
Well, what a pleasant surprise!
I can honestly say I didn't know what to expect of this book (my first physical Arc!), what with the short blurb and everything.
So, I was quite surprised to find I actually really liked it; Chasing the Dark is a young adult/middle grade take on the old detective story-line of solving a mystery, and I've got to admit, I enjoyed Joe's young perspective of things, and simply had to know how this particular mystery ends.
The book started kind of slow. Not boring-when-do-the-interesting-bits-come-into-play?! kind of slow, but the kind of slow you get when you're learning to know the main character, his situation and the painful circumstances he finds himself in. Also, the kind of slow you get when the main character himself still hasn't figured out there's something off going on.
But once Joe smells something fishy...
To read the rest of the review, go to my blog, here
September 22, 2014
Wow I really enjoyed thus young adult thriller. I noticed it was on a poster at the library so decided to give it a go. I love a good thriller, although this is aimed at a younger audience I found it just as good as an adult thriller.
Lots of twists and turns, jampacked with action, mystery and intrigue. Easy to read, could easily be read in a few sittings so makes a nice break from heavier stuff.
It is about a young boy who's mum dies in a car crash under suspicious circumstances. Having no one else to look after him he's sent to live with his snobby aunt who can't stand him as she didn't get on with her sister.
It is not long before he comes across a conspiracy surrounding his mother's death, involving KGB, a journalist, a tramp, and a famous socialite.
This is to be the first in a series, so definitely picking up the other's.
Lots of twists and turns, jampacked with action, mystery and intrigue. Easy to read, could easily be read in a few sittings so makes a nice break from heavier stuff.
It is about a young boy who's mum dies in a car crash under suspicious circumstances. Having no one else to look after him he's sent to live with his snobby aunt who can't stand him as she didn't get on with her sister.
It is not long before he comes across a conspiracy surrounding his mother's death, involving KGB, a journalist, a tramp, and a famous socialite.
This is to be the first in a series, so definitely picking up the other's.
September 29, 2013
This book follows a fictional character named Joe Slattery who's mother had died in a car crash and is on a mission to find out what happened on the night of it. On his mission he meets lots of unusual characters such as a Ukranian mobster, a Russian thief and a professor. As you read more of the book you discover these characters, their emotions in certain situations they face and how they all link in to the murder of Joe Slattery's mother. With unexpected twists, untrustworthy characters, friends backstabbing you at one point and then helping you in a situation. All this and with a good ending, this book is a must read.
April 29, 2013
A quick, fast paced mystery. That was really fun to read.
Quick Review:
1. Fast paced and easy to read.
2. Mystery was really good, and although it started off seemingly obvious. By the end I had no idea what was going to be revealed.
3. Love Oz the dog!
4. Story was a bit jumpy/moved to quickly at times.
5. Lack of good/interesting side characters for the first 100 pages.
Book Blog Review: http://goo.gl/raHRG
YouTube Review: http://youtu.be/CQ0-Q4Yoyog
Quick Review:
1. Fast paced and easy to read.
2. Mystery was really good, and although it started off seemingly obvious. By the end I had no idea what was going to be revealed.
3. Love Oz the dog!
4. Story was a bit jumpy/moved to quickly at times.
5. Lack of good/interesting side characters for the first 100 pages.
Book Blog Review: http://goo.gl/raHRG
YouTube Review: http://youtu.be/CQ0-Q4Yoyog
Read
August 9, 2014Just finished this book after I was recommended to read it before meeting the author. Have to say that I am very surprised with this book. It was actually really good and I enjoyed it very much!
The characters were fabulous; I really loved Joe as he was very courageous and persevered to get answers to his mum's death. Furthermore the writing was pretty good and I enjoyed all the twists and mystery throughout the book! The ending is surprising and not at all what I was expecting! :)
The characters were fabulous; I really loved Joe as he was very courageous and persevered to get answers to his mum's death. Furthermore the writing was pretty good and I enjoyed all the twists and mystery throughout the book! The ending is surprising and not at all what I was expecting! :)
April 19, 2013
This was fantastic - a page turning, old fashioned adventure/mystery story with a heart. I Read it in one sitting and with wide eyes as the story played out - I truly was engrossed whilst reading it. Sam Hepburn has written a stonking novel that I have no qualms in recommending to my young customers. More please Sam..........
February 23, 2014
It has a great plot and detail of the business world. It made the whole book seem so real with the detail and realistic events.
it was quite a intense story about an accident that happened to Joe's mum that leads Joe to think that it was murder. Add in some mafia and many other dangers along the way to discovering the deadly truth.
it was quite a intense story about an accident that happened to Joe's mum that leads Joe to think that it was murder. Add in some mafia and many other dangers along the way to discovering the deadly truth.
September 22, 2013
This is the first book of a new series and I can't wait for the second. This book will appeal to those who love Cherub, Agent 21 and the like. I predict it could give Robert Muchamore a run for his money!
December 7, 2015
Although this is billed as the first in the series, the story seems to be all wrapped up. It's not a bad read, even though the storyline is entirely unbelievable, but I'm not sure we'll bother with the next instalment.
August 3, 2016
Hampshire Book Award
May 19, 2015
Clunky and clichéd but readable enough.
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