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Beneath the Watery Moon
Annabel is a troubled young woman trying to put her life back together. She takes a trip to the Suffolk coast to clear her head and get away from her stifling mother. When she arrives in the little seaside town she discovers a series of grisly murders have taken place.
Then a fateful meeting with Jude, a fascinating man who lives in a world of faded grandeur, takes her on a journey of self-discovery. Although Jude is supportive and kind, Annabel is not sure whether her feelings for him are reciprocated. Yet she finds some peace in his beautiful country house which shelters other damaged souls. But Jude comes under suspicion from the police, and the idyllic community is threatened.
Can Annabel escape her past or is her destiny sealed? And why is she haunted by horrific visions when she seems on the verge of finding love and happiness?
This is Betsy Reavley’s astonishing debut novel which will take you on a shattering journey through Annabel’s dreams and nightmares. It contains scenes some readers may find disturbing.
Then a fateful meeting with Jude, a fascinating man who lives in a world of faded grandeur, takes her on a journey of self-discovery. Although Jude is supportive and kind, Annabel is not sure whether her feelings for him are reciprocated. Yet she finds some peace in his beautiful country house which shelters other damaged souls. But Jude comes under suspicion from the police, and the idyllic community is threatened.
Can Annabel escape her past or is her destiny sealed? And why is she haunted by horrific visions when she seems on the verge of finding love and happiness?
This is Betsy Reavley’s astonishing debut novel which will take you on a shattering journey through Annabel’s dreams and nightmares. It contains scenes some readers may find disturbing.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
79 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Reavley
24 books270 followersBetsy Freeman Reavley is the author of Beneath the Watery Moon and A Worm in the Bottle. Carrion, her latest psychological thriller will be released in November 2014.
She was born in Hammersmith, London.
As a child she moved around frequently with her family, spending time in London, Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.
She showed a flair for literature and writing from a young age and had a particular interest in poetry, of which she was a prolific consumer and producer.
In her early twenties she moved to Oxford, where she would eventually meet her husband. During her time in Oxford her interests turned from poetry to novels and she began to develop her own unique style of psychological thriller.
Beneath the Watery Moon is Betsy Reavley’s beautifully written first release and tells the macabre story of a young woman battling against mental illness.
Beneath the Watery Moon is published by Not So Noble Books and is available as an eBook from Amazon.
Betsy Reavley's second novel Carrion is a psychological chiller that address the link between grief and mental illness.
Reavley says "I think people are at their most fascinating when they are faced with life's real horrors." This is what I love to write about.
Betsy Reavley currently lives in North London, with her husband 2 children, dog, cat and chickens. You can follow her on Twitter @BetsyReavley
She was born in Hammersmith, London.
As a child she moved around frequently with her family, spending time in London, Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.
She showed a flair for literature and writing from a young age and had a particular interest in poetry, of which she was a prolific consumer and producer.
In her early twenties she moved to Oxford, where she would eventually meet her husband. During her time in Oxford her interests turned from poetry to novels and she began to develop her own unique style of psychological thriller.
Beneath the Watery Moon is Betsy Reavley’s beautifully written first release and tells the macabre story of a young woman battling against mental illness.
Beneath the Watery Moon is published by Not So Noble Books and is available as an eBook from Amazon.
Betsy Reavley's second novel Carrion is a psychological chiller that address the link between grief and mental illness.
Reavley says "I think people are at their most fascinating when they are faced with life's real horrors." This is what I love to write about.
Betsy Reavley currently lives in North London, with her husband 2 children, dog, cat and chickens. You can follow her on Twitter @BetsyReavley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 19, 2017
This book will linger in my mind for a long time.
It's written in three parts, with some poetry mixed in, which I enjoyed too. It felt as though Betsy wrote the book, not to conform to other people's 'wants' or to follow trends, but because this is what she wanted to write. And this is why it stands out.
There is a lot of violence and torture, and for some people it will be too much. There were parts that made me want to turn away from my kindle, but there is a reason for its inclusion. It helps the author explore all the extremes one person can inflict upon another, and how someone copes with pain and suffering.
The way the character of Annabelle is written gets you inside her head. You wonder what the hell is happening and why is it happening with her. I didn't see the ending coming, it was completely unexpected and it worked really well.
This is the third book I've read by Betsy and is my favourite. If you can stomach some violence and appreciate novels that stand out from the crowd, then I highly recommend this excellent psychological thriller.
It's written in three parts, with some poetry mixed in, which I enjoyed too. It felt as though Betsy wrote the book, not to conform to other people's 'wants' or to follow trends, but because this is what she wanted to write. And this is why it stands out.
There is a lot of violence and torture, and for some people it will be too much. There were parts that made me want to turn away from my kindle, but there is a reason for its inclusion. It helps the author explore all the extremes one person can inflict upon another, and how someone copes with pain and suffering.
The way the character of Annabelle is written gets you inside her head. You wonder what the hell is happening and why is it happening with her. I didn't see the ending coming, it was completely unexpected and it worked really well.
This is the third book I've read by Betsy and is my favourite. If you can stomach some violence and appreciate novels that stand out from the crowd, then I highly recommend this excellent psychological thriller.
June 2, 2019
Annabel is 23 years old and has been discharged from Redwood hospital in Suffolk where she had treatment for manic depression. Can she turn her life around, maybe a holiday in Southwold can help?
The cover promises “A psychological thriller with a stunning twist” but I was neither thrilled OR found anything stunning, never mind a twist. I found Beneath the Watery Moon to be a tiresome drag of a book. I very quickly lost any empathy for Annabel and when a gardening tool came into “play”, I could not care about her anymore. I thought this debut novel was a dreadful read and if ALL books were of such poor quality, then I would take up another hobby.
I found the shifts between dreams and reality were frustrating. The writing was dreary and became a drag. Betsy rambled on and on about nothing, making your head feel like cotton wool. The story lacked focus, the plot was amateur and the ending was bad. I think this book is RUBBISH and is a book to be AVOIDED.
I vote Beneath the Watery Moon the minimum score of 1 star and I shall not bother reading another of Betsy’s books.
The cover promises “A psychological thriller with a stunning twist” but I was neither thrilled OR found anything stunning, never mind a twist. I found Beneath the Watery Moon to be a tiresome drag of a book. I very quickly lost any empathy for Annabel and when a gardening tool came into “play”, I could not care about her anymore. I thought this debut novel was a dreadful read and if ALL books were of such poor quality, then I would take up another hobby.
I found the shifts between dreams and reality were frustrating. The writing was dreary and became a drag. Betsy rambled on and on about nothing, making your head feel like cotton wool. The story lacked focus, the plot was amateur and the ending was bad. I think this book is RUBBISH and is a book to be AVOIDED.
I vote Beneath the Watery Moon the minimum score of 1 star and I shall not bother reading another of Betsy’s books.
October 25, 2016
I've read two other books by Betsy, so know this wasn't going to be an easy read...
However it was far more than that.
The last book that I had this much sense of dread for a main character was Into the Darkest Corner Elizabeth Haynes, but even then don't be fooled.
I love a twisty, graphic novel, but this left me feeling shocked, sick, and sad....
Superbly dark and pure graphically gruesome.
If you are faint hearted, don'read it.
December 27, 2016
This book seems to have received a lot of mixed reviews, after reading it in a way I can understand why.
If like me you are a fan of this authors books, it won't come as any shock to know by now that her books very much veer on the dark side. This one though seems to be even darker and I have to admit it probably won't be everyones cup of tea.
The first two thirds of the novel follow Annabel who is trying to get her life back together after being in a mental institute. Obviously her mother and brother are concerned for her welfare but she is determined to prove to them that she can do it and the only way is to move out.
After a chance meeting with Jude, an opportunity arises for Annabel to move into his home which is almost like a commune. There arn't that many people that live there but they all have their places and seem to fit together well. Annabel feels very much at peace there apart from her feelings towards Jude which confuses her.
Jude is one of those people that I think people just draw towards him. He is very much a free spirit and doesn't answer to anyone. I think this unattainable side to him attracts a lot of the females who all seem to have a bit of a soft side for him and think they can change him.
Everything seems to be going well for Annabel until the third part of the novel which is where the story takes a very disturbing direction. It's hard to say to much about this part of the story with out giving to much away but it certainly isn't one for the faint hearted and does become quite uncomfortable in parts to read. Saying that though it all felt right in the way that the author handled it and I thought the ending was really within keeping to the whole story.
As long as you go into this book with an open mind, it really is a good one. Yes it's uncomfortable and slightly disturbing but I think for readers who like to have their boundaries pushed, it's perfect. Beneath The Watery Moon is a bit like experiencing someones nightmare for yourself. By the end I had goosebumps and it made me feel glad to be wrapped up at home, safe and warm.
If like me you are a fan of this authors books, it won't come as any shock to know by now that her books very much veer on the dark side. This one though seems to be even darker and I have to admit it probably won't be everyones cup of tea.
The first two thirds of the novel follow Annabel who is trying to get her life back together after being in a mental institute. Obviously her mother and brother are concerned for her welfare but she is determined to prove to them that she can do it and the only way is to move out.
After a chance meeting with Jude, an opportunity arises for Annabel to move into his home which is almost like a commune. There arn't that many people that live there but they all have their places and seem to fit together well. Annabel feels very much at peace there apart from her feelings towards Jude which confuses her.
Jude is one of those people that I think people just draw towards him. He is very much a free spirit and doesn't answer to anyone. I think this unattainable side to him attracts a lot of the females who all seem to have a bit of a soft side for him and think they can change him.
Everything seems to be going well for Annabel until the third part of the novel which is where the story takes a very disturbing direction. It's hard to say to much about this part of the story with out giving to much away but it certainly isn't one for the faint hearted and does become quite uncomfortable in parts to read. Saying that though it all felt right in the way that the author handled it and I thought the ending was really within keeping to the whole story.
As long as you go into this book with an open mind, it really is a good one. Yes it's uncomfortable and slightly disturbing but I think for readers who like to have their boundaries pushed, it's perfect. Beneath The Watery Moon is a bit like experiencing someones nightmare for yourself. By the end I had goosebumps and it made me feel glad to be wrapped up at home, safe and warm.
November 3, 2017
This book will be like Marmite. Most people will either love or hate the book. I am a bit in the middle. I appreciate the quality of the writing but it does seem like two books that have been pasted together; The first and second half are so different! Still worth a read and you should form your own opinion.
September 30, 2016
Firstly, I need to reiterate what several others have already said - THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. If you're into the odd psychological thriller or whodunnit, this book is NOT for you.
Wow! I heard this book was a shocker, but how many times do you hear things that, just to be sorely disappointed?
And, I'm used to shocking, so it won't bother me... I said.
Then I checked out the pretty author and thought, this is bound to be tamer than some of the things I've read...
Yeah, right!
It started out slow, interesting, but slow. I was certain I'd already figured out who was the killer by halfway through and was just waiting for it all to pan out...Then, Wammy!!!
I read the last third of the book in total, wide-eyed, breath-halting shock. No author has made me feel like this since Richard Laymon. If this was a movie, I would've spent the last half behind the sofa.
But it wasn't, and I couldn't.
Instead, it was projected in graphic technicolor detail where it played out in my mind and I had no choice but to read every word. I'd even go as far to say I was actually traumatised by one scene in particular.
Without a doubt, this book will stay with me for a long time to come.
Wow! I heard this book was a shocker, but how many times do you hear things that, just to be sorely disappointed?
And, I'm used to shocking, so it won't bother me... I said.
Then I checked out the pretty author and thought, this is bound to be tamer than some of the things I've read...
Yeah, right!
It started out slow, interesting, but slow. I was certain I'd already figured out who was the killer by halfway through and was just waiting for it all to pan out...Then, Wammy!!!
I read the last third of the book in total, wide-eyed, breath-halting shock. No author has made me feel like this since Richard Laymon. If this was a movie, I would've spent the last half behind the sofa.
But it wasn't, and I couldn't.
Instead, it was projected in graphic technicolor detail where it played out in my mind and I had no choice but to read every word. I'd even go as far to say I was actually traumatised by one scene in particular.
Without a doubt, this book will stay with me for a long time to come.
September 6, 2016
Well, I am glad I didn't start with this first book of her's that she wrote. If I had I probably never would have picked up another one of hers to read.
I started with "The Quiet Ones" and "The Optician's Wife " and I am so glad to see that her writing has improved.
This book started of really good, great premise and plot. It's all narrated in first person with poetry in between. Great depiction of someone afflicted with an extreme mental illness, Bipolar Disorder. Annabelle trying to recover and get her life back on track. You get this whole part , cult/love story, then to only find out it was all in her mind. It ends up really being an abduction by a serial killer and pure, extreme torture that had me sick and flinching at times.. Now I could handle that, but was most disappointing is there is no resolution to the end. "NOTHING" at all just death. She even apologizes for just giving us "Death".
You don't know the identity of the serial killer or if he is ever caught. You don't even know at what point Annabelle is abducted or where for that matter. If the Cult/Jude was all just fantasy made up in a sick girl's mind..
So, please read before buying.
I started with "The Quiet Ones" and "The Optician's Wife " and I am so glad to see that her writing has improved.
This book started of really good, great premise and plot. It's all narrated in first person with poetry in between. Great depiction of someone afflicted with an extreme mental illness, Bipolar Disorder. Annabelle trying to recover and get her life back on track. You get this whole part , cult/love story, then to only find out it was all in her mind. It ends up really being an abduction by a serial killer and pure, extreme torture that had me sick and flinching at times.. Now I could handle that, but was most disappointing is there is no resolution to the end. "NOTHING" at all just death. She even apologizes for just giving us "Death".
You don't know the identity of the serial killer or if he is ever caught. You don't even know at what point Annabelle is abducted or where for that matter. If the Cult/Jude was all just fantasy made up in a sick girl's mind..
So, please read before buying.
September 11, 2016
Some of Betsy Reavley's books have been outstanding and a joy to read (if 'joy' is the right word), but Carrion disappointed and then this one even more so. The horror aspect was unbearable; having to drag myself through page upon page of gruesome rape and torture to reach an ending, that wasn't worth reaching. I don't mind a bit of horror but this was relentless and should have come with a warning! A lot of sentences throughout the book were overly and unnecessarily wordy, as well. Also, all of this author's books on Kindle have had a ridiculous amount of errors in, which is so distracting and something I will be contacting the publishers about.
September 26, 2016
Rubbish!!! The first two-thirds of this novel are tamer than 'The Wind in the Willows' and the final third is a catalogue of suffering perpetrated by one individual on another with the inevitable outcome. The blurb hailed it as a 'psychological thriller with a stunning twist'........needless to say I was neither thrilled nor stunned!!
Previous reviewers 'bigged' it up, all I can say is, 'they need to get out to the library more'.
Previous reviewers 'bigged' it up, all I can say is, 'they need to get out to the library more'.
October 26, 2014
I found this book disturbing. The first three-quarters of the book were good, well-written, and a real page-turner.
The last quarter was grotesque. Unpalatable horror upon horror, repulsive visual imagery of the most dreadful acts. And no resolution, no ending of any kind. Don't waste time reading this. Please.
The last quarter was grotesque. Unpalatable horror upon horror, repulsive visual imagery of the most dreadful acts. And no resolution, no ending of any kind. Don't waste time reading this. Please.
August 20, 2017
I didn't enjoy this book at all. It started with a lovely story and then seemed to lose track completely. I had no idea what was happening and the last half of the book was so utterly gruesome and too terrifying to read, that I skipped over most of it to find out what happened at the end. No a good read if you have nightmares, because this is a very unpleasant horror!
April 13, 2016
Started well but shocking towards the end
Enjoyed 1st half of book but found it just too gruesome and unreadable towards the end. What nightmares are made of !
Enjoyed 1st half of book but found it just too gruesome and unreadable towards the end. What nightmares are made of !
January 10, 2017
awful.
torture of women. who would publish this? very twisted.
why would amazon offer this type of trash? will peruse authors more carefully.
torture of women. who would publish this? very twisted.
why would amazon offer this type of trash? will peruse authors more carefully.
August 12, 2018
WOW .. I LOVED THIS .. Mark Tilbury Rates this Lady and now So do I ..
Read
April 17, 2022I’m going to leave this book unrated as any rating I give would be unfair as I basically skim read the last two parts of the book.
Going back to check there is a warning at the Rey end of the blurb that this story might contain scenes people find distressing in my opinion this warning should be much higher up. I’ve read my fair share of books that others wouldn’t read but this just appears out of nowhere.
It calls it a psychological thriller it isn’t. It’s a slow burn one sided romance/cult followed by torture porn (to be honest I basing that last comment on the few pages I managed to read before moving to skimming over it.)
I went in expecting something like silence of the lambs but instead got a lifetime movie which then changed gears completely to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Nothing wrong with TMC if that’s what you signed up for but I in this case I didn’t.
It feels to me that the author started writing one book then couldn’t figure out how to make it more original than every other psychological thriller out there so just decided to go ‘f@@k it’ and write a completely different story to the last two thirds.
I didn’t get the story I hoped for, I didn’t get any closure on what happened and it all just felt a little bit unfair. Which is maybe one of the points the author was trying to make based on the closing paragraphs that life can be inherently unfair and that’s just the way it is.
Going back to check there is a warning at the Rey end of the blurb that this story might contain scenes people find distressing in my opinion this warning should be much higher up. I’ve read my fair share of books that others wouldn’t read but this just appears out of nowhere.
It calls it a psychological thriller it isn’t. It’s a slow burn one sided romance/cult followed by torture porn (to be honest I basing that last comment on the few pages I managed to read before moving to skimming over it.)
I went in expecting something like silence of the lambs but instead got a lifetime movie which then changed gears completely to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Nothing wrong with TMC if that’s what you signed up for but I in this case I didn’t.
It feels to me that the author started writing one book then couldn’t figure out how to make it more original than every other psychological thriller out there so just decided to go ‘f@@k it’ and write a completely different story to the last two thirds.
I didn’t get the story I hoped for, I didn’t get any closure on what happened and it all just felt a little bit unfair. Which is maybe one of the points the author was trying to make based on the closing paragraphs that life can be inherently unfair and that’s just the way it is.
November 28, 2017
BLIMEY!!! This book is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted. I hadn't read the blurb so went into this book blind. It certainly lulled me into a false sense of security with Annabel coming out of a mental hospital and trying to find her place back within society. The second half of the book is dark and horrific and I simply could not put it down. Beautifully written and chilling.
February 16, 2019
I read this book under its new/other title Broken. This book will compel and repel you. The depths a tortured mind and soul will go to to escape the horror. I was not expecting the plot twist. Superb story telling. If you can handle sensitive material you will be drawn into this book. Well done to Betsy Reavly. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloodhound books for this. ARC.
April 20, 2022
What starts as a slow-burning shocker of a recovering manic depressive, drawn into the world of a charismatic cult leader, descends into a preposterous, gratuitous saga of sickening sexual violence in the final act. No apparent point to any of it, really.
January 25, 2021
It was in turns both a little hard to take and a little boring.
March 6, 2025
I hated every minute of this
March 6, 2017
This book started out so good. Then it just suddenly turned into another book. It made absolutely no sense at all. So disappointed.
June 27, 2016
BENEATH THE WATERY MOON
Wow. Weird or what? It was difficult to tell if I was in a nightmare or someone else was. So brilliantly written and oh so dark.
We first met Annabel on her return from psychiatric hospital and now living her mother's house. She relives her journey to where she is now and the difficulties in grasping what is real and what is not.
Her recovery finds her on the east coast in East Anglia, setting herself the task of a few days free of supervision. She needs to be unobserved, without the worry of others and their concern about her mental state. She finds it liberating and as her confidence grows she engages with a local man, Jude, who seems to enjoy just her company. By chance she discovers that a serial killer is on the loose in the area, their bodies turning up at the beach. She feels that Jude is looking out for her. This doesn't worry her at all, although her mother was concerned when she realised where she had been staying.
She visits a couple of times and the charismatic Jude enables her to see another way of living. She leaves her anxious mother and younger brother to go and live there, feeling this is the way forward.
Jude is an oddball but she enjoys his company and eventually is taken to see his ancestral home where a group of people live together as a community. He is well known locally and not surprisingly, he is called by the police for an interview with regard to the murders.
She falls for Jude and eventually he feels the same so they take a holiday in Thailand. Total paradise.
Then something happens............. I highly recommend this book as it beautifully written and with such a great insight into mental illness.
Wow. Weird or what? It was difficult to tell if I was in a nightmare or someone else was. So brilliantly written and oh so dark.
We first met Annabel on her return from psychiatric hospital and now living her mother's house. She relives her journey to where she is now and the difficulties in grasping what is real and what is not.
Her recovery finds her on the east coast in East Anglia, setting herself the task of a few days free of supervision. She needs to be unobserved, without the worry of others and their concern about her mental state. She finds it liberating and as her confidence grows she engages with a local man, Jude, who seems to enjoy just her company. By chance she discovers that a serial killer is on the loose in the area, their bodies turning up at the beach. She feels that Jude is looking out for her. This doesn't worry her at all, although her mother was concerned when she realised where she had been staying.
She visits a couple of times and the charismatic Jude enables her to see another way of living. She leaves her anxious mother and younger brother to go and live there, feeling this is the way forward.
Jude is an oddball but she enjoys his company and eventually is taken to see his ancestral home where a group of people live together as a community. He is well known locally and not surprisingly, he is called by the police for an interview with regard to the murders.
She falls for Jude and eventually he feels the same so they take a holiday in Thailand. Total paradise.
Then something happens............. I highly recommend this book as it beautifully written and with such a great insight into mental illness.
June 22, 2016
BENEATH THE WATERY MOON
Wow. Weird or what? It was difficult to tell if I was in a nightmare or someone else was. So brilliantly written and oh so dark.
We first met Annabel on her return from psychiatric hospital r and now living her mother's house. She relives her journey to where she is now and the difficulties in grasping what is real and what is not.
Her recovery finds her on the east coast in East Anglia, setting herself the task of a few days free of supervision. She needs to be unobserved, without the worry of others and their concern about her mental state. She finds it liberating and as her confidence grows she engages with a local man, Jude, who seems to enjoy just her company. By chance she discovers that a serial killer is on the loose in the area, their bodies turning up at the beach. She feels that Jude is looking out for her. This doesn't worry her at all, although her mother was concerned when she realised where she had been staying.
She visits a couple of times and the charismatic Jude enables her to see another way of living. She leaves her anxious mother and younger brother to go and live there, feeling this is the way forward.
Jude is an oddball but she enjoys his company and eventually is taken to see his ancestral home where a group of people live together as a community. He is well known locally and not surprisingly, he is called by the police for interview with regard to the murders.
She falls for Jude and eventually he feels the same so they take a holiday in Thailand. Total paradise.
Then something happens............. I highly recommend this book as it beautifully written and with such a great insight into mental illness.
Wow. Weird or what? It was difficult to tell if I was in a nightmare or someone else was. So brilliantly written and oh so dark.
We first met Annabel on her return from psychiatric hospital r and now living her mother's house. She relives her journey to where she is now and the difficulties in grasping what is real and what is not.
Her recovery finds her on the east coast in East Anglia, setting herself the task of a few days free of supervision. She needs to be unobserved, without the worry of others and their concern about her mental state. She finds it liberating and as her confidence grows she engages with a local man, Jude, who seems to enjoy just her company. By chance she discovers that a serial killer is on the loose in the area, their bodies turning up at the beach. She feels that Jude is looking out for her. This doesn't worry her at all, although her mother was concerned when she realised where she had been staying.
She visits a couple of times and the charismatic Jude enables her to see another way of living. She leaves her anxious mother and younger brother to go and live there, feeling this is the way forward.
Jude is an oddball but she enjoys his company and eventually is taken to see his ancestral home where a group of people live together as a community. He is well known locally and not surprisingly, he is called by the police for interview with regard to the murders.
She falls for Jude and eventually he feels the same so they take a holiday in Thailand. Total paradise.
Then something happens............. I highly recommend this book as it beautifully written and with such a great insight into mental illness.
June 5, 2014
Beneath the Watery Moon is not the easy book to read. If you cannot read the books with the acts of despicable violence, you should pass on this book, however, if you enjoy a good writing, creative storyline and have an open mind, I recommend this book. This book is the debut of Ms. Reavley, and all I can say - it is the damn good one.
Ms. Reavley could put in words the acts of unimaginable violence. This book made me feel horrified more than any scary movie I have ever seen. Since I have finished reading the book, I have been thinking about it.
The other thing I liked about the book: is that despite the main character's horrific situation, she always remained a hope in her heart and she fought until the end to survive.
The other strong point of this book: highly believable characters and good description of someone suffering from a mental illness.
Enjoyed reading the book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy this genre.
Ms. Reavley could put in words the acts of unimaginable violence. This book made me feel horrified more than any scary movie I have ever seen. Since I have finished reading the book, I have been thinking about it.
The other thing I liked about the book: is that despite the main character's horrific situation, she always remained a hope in her heart and she fought until the end to survive.
The other strong point of this book: highly believable characters and good description of someone suffering from a mental illness.
Enjoyed reading the book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy this genre.
May 17, 2016
Chilling
I decided to read this book straight after I read Carrion, which left me with a thirst for more from this author.
Betsy Reavley tells the story of an extremely troubled young woman who has had a troubled life dealing with mental health issues and her desire to change her life upon release from a psychiatric hospital with tragic consequences.
This book is not for the faint hearted. There is beauty and hope and I found myself immersed in the emotions of the main character, which is testimony to the talent of the author in the telling of the story. I felt deep empathy for Annabel and even when I knew that things were not as they seamed, found myself hoping that I was wrong. The story is gripping, emotive, chilling and ultimately dark and disturbing. A fantastic book and as with the authors other book Carrion, I could not put it down.
I decided to read this book straight after I read Carrion, which left me with a thirst for more from this author.
Betsy Reavley tells the story of an extremely troubled young woman who has had a troubled life dealing with mental health issues and her desire to change her life upon release from a psychiatric hospital with tragic consequences.
This book is not for the faint hearted. There is beauty and hope and I found myself immersed in the emotions of the main character, which is testimony to the talent of the author in the telling of the story. I felt deep empathy for Annabel and even when I knew that things were not as they seamed, found myself hoping that I was wrong. The story is gripping, emotive, chilling and ultimately dark and disturbing. A fantastic book and as with the authors other book Carrion, I could not put it down.
January 6, 2017
Could easily have been a five
It was actually the bad reviews I read of this book beforehand that made me intrigued. It wasn't nearly as gruesome and disgusting as some of the reviews said. But maybe that says more about me than it says about them. I really loved the writing style, and some of the passages particularly made me think of my own life. The reason for the four is that the part where she was being held by the killer I sometimes found a bit boring, and started skipping bits. But I wouldn't dream of telling someone how they should have written it. All I can give is my opinion. I loved the writing, loved the main character, but would have liked a bit more of something else interspersed with the torture.
It was actually the bad reviews I read of this book beforehand that made me intrigued. It wasn't nearly as gruesome and disgusting as some of the reviews said. But maybe that says more about me than it says about them. I really loved the writing style, and some of the passages particularly made me think of my own life. The reason for the four is that the part where she was being held by the killer I sometimes found a bit boring, and started skipping bits. But I wouldn't dream of telling someone how they should have written it. All I can give is my opinion. I loved the writing, loved the main character, but would have liked a bit more of something else interspersed with the torture.
October 21, 2016
Not the best!
I didn't hate this book. It was actually hard to put down and I found myself anticipating the end. It did drag on and I felt like it was repetitive especially near the middle to end. I HATED the end. I really expected more from the story. At least some sort of ending, but it didn't deliver. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this. I have read her other books and enjoyed them, this was my least favorite of hers. It could have been better in my opinion. It definitely left a lot to be desired.
I didn't hate this book. It was actually hard to put down and I found myself anticipating the end. It did drag on and I felt like it was repetitive especially near the middle to end. I HATED the end. I really expected more from the story. At least some sort of ending, but it didn't deliver. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this. I have read her other books and enjoyed them, this was my least favorite of hers. It could have been better in my opinion. It definitely left a lot to be desired.
June 16, 2015
What can I say about this book, it started out so well and left you wondering where the story is going, but as you get into it, oh my god, the story is horrific, I wanted to stop reading, and that is not because the book is horrific, no, its because the storyline is horrific, I don't want to give anything away but a serial killer is on the loose and it is described in graphic detail what he does to the girls and it is horrendous, this book is not for the fainthearted.
June 14, 2014
I don't quite know what to say about this book. I generally choose what I read carefully and like most of them. This is the most horrific book I have ever read. But I finished it. It is very well written, charcters are well defined. I am giving it 3 stars. The subject matter is horrible. But the way the main character, Annabel handles the horrible situation she has found herself in is facinating. The book is not for everybody. I am looking for something light to read after this one.
October 30, 2016
Took a strange turn
I'm not really sure how to review this book. I started reading it thinking it would go in one direction but it veered in a weird way. This "twist" felt disjointed as if it were two separate stories. While I know not all stories need to have neat endings this one left me unsatisfied. Over all I thought it was interesting. I wish certain aspects of the characters or story had been explored as opposed to the large amounts of descriptive details.
I'm not really sure how to review this book. I started reading it thinking it would go in one direction but it veered in a weird way. This "twist" felt disjointed as if it were two separate stories. While I know not all stories need to have neat endings this one left me unsatisfied. Over all I thought it was interesting. I wish certain aspects of the characters or story had been explored as opposed to the large amounts of descriptive details.
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