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What You Wish For
Marie Walker has vanished from the face of the earth... Her besotted boyfriend, newspaper photographer Richard Thompson, vows to find her, convinced that Marie's unusual beliefs hold the key. But a shocking discovery makes him question if he ever really knew his girlfriend. And when people around him start to die, Richard is plunged into terrible danger. Drawn into the world of a sinister cult and the darkest corners of the Internet, Richard finds himself increasingly out of his depth as he discovers just how far people will go to protect what they believe in... Revised This edition of What You Wish For includes editorial revisions.
270 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
1529 people are currently reading
3413 people want to read
About the author
Mark Edwards
24 books5,941 followersMark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
May 25, 2020
Hmmmm, definately not one of Mark Edwards best. While this tale of alien cuts was ok, it certainly wasn't gripping, edge of your seat stuff like some of Edwards other works.
Richard is left reeling when his girlfriend Marie disappears one day. Looking for her, and searching for answers, he delves into the world of alien abduction. Has Marie been abducted? Or has she simply left him?
If aliens and abductions are your thing I'd invite you to read this book. If not, I'll let you make up your own mind as to whether to read it or not, but honestly Mark Edwards has written much better books than this.
Richard is left reeling when his girlfriend Marie disappears one day. Looking for her, and searching for answers, he delves into the world of alien abduction. Has Marie been abducted? Or has she simply left him?
If aliens and abductions are your thing I'd invite you to read this book. If not, I'll let you make up your own mind as to whether to read it or not, but honestly Mark Edwards has written much better books than this.
December 18, 2014
"What You Wish For" is a psychological thriller which crosses over into the world of UFOs, and cults. I have read two other books by this author; "Because She Loves Me" and "The Magpies", and was so impressed I ordered this new book. At first, I was a little concerned that with the mention of aliens that this book wouldn't be for me. But this book has so much to offer, on a deeper level. Plus plenty of suspense that keeps the plot flowing nicely.
Marie Walker has vanished from the face of the earth, she has a need to believe in something, and for her, her obsession was with aliens. Her boyfriend, Richard, a photographer, a non-believer, attempts to find her. In his search, he is drawn into a world of cults and the darker side of ufology, as he discovers truths. Was she taken or did she go of her own?
This book shows how our beliefs can be extremely powerful and the extent people will go to surrender to them. The relationship between Richard and Marie, is one based on "OBSESSION". This is not about a man in search of a woman he loves but a story about your belief in something and the lengths you are willing to go to protect that belief.
"What You Wish For" is intense and compelling read. Edwards is a talented writer, and Mark Edwards has the ability of writing books that have you hooked right from the beginning. While this novel didn't have the same impact on me as his previous novels, I can appreciate his message.
March 16, 2019
Marie Walker has vanished from the face of the earth. Her boyfriend and newspaper photographer Richard Thompson vows to find her. But a shocking discovery makes him question if he ever really knew his girlfriend.
UFO and cults are not normally a genre that I would read but since it was written by one of my favourite authors, I thought I would give it a bash. Richard quickly becomes obsessed with Marie who's an alien lover. He quickly invites her to move in with him. But then she disappears without trace. In Richards attempts to find her, he is drawn into a world of cults and discovers some shocking truths. I don't think this is up there with the rest of his novels that I have read, as this one falls a little short.
#kindleedition
UFO and cults are not normally a genre that I would read but since it was written by one of my favourite authors, I thought I would give it a bash. Richard quickly becomes obsessed with Marie who's an alien lover. He quickly invites her to move in with him. But then she disappears without trace. In Richards attempts to find her, he is drawn into a world of cults and discovers some shocking truths. I don't think this is up there with the rest of his novels that I have read, as this one falls a little short.
#kindleedition
April 7, 2015
After completing a stellar thriller in THE MAGPIES, Edwards is back with another mind-twisting story. Marie Walker has vanished! Not just from her place of employment or her flat, but from everywhere. Her new boyfriend, newspaper photographer Richard Thompson, is convinced he can find her, even if it means going to the ends of the earth to piece things together. Marie has long been an advocate of a celestial world beyond mainstream acceptance, with UFOs and interactions with visitors. Richard, who does not share these beliefs, must wrestle with them on a daily basis while he continues to fall in love with Marie. When Richard learns of some extremely underground goings-on related to visitors and The Chorus, he does a little investigating of his own, in search of the love of his life. What Richard discovers blows his mind and will surely leave the reader wondering what twists and turns brought them to this part of the story. Fans of The Magpies will not likely rush out to praise this book, though it surely takes all kinds to create a solid fan base for an author.
Had this been the first Edwards book I read, I would likely have passed and moved on to another fiction writer. However, having seen the potential, I am able to see what Edwards CAN and surely WILL do with his other work and excuse this bump in the road. While Edwards defends that Marie could have been in any sort of cult, the presentation of alien cult experiences and the filthy underbelly of one of the oddest branches of pornography to my knowledge, my original thought "Well then!" stands firm.
Ok Mr. Edwards, everyone's due at least one odd book. I'll let this slide and get back to sinister thrillers. I hope we have a winner waiting for us.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Had this been the first Edwards book I read, I would likely have passed and moved on to another fiction writer. However, having seen the potential, I am able to see what Edwards CAN and surely WILL do with his other work and excuse this bump in the road. While Edwards defends that Marie could have been in any sort of cult, the presentation of alien cult experiences and the filthy underbelly of one of the oddest branches of pornography to my knowledge, my original thought "Well then!" stands firm.
Ok Mr. Edwards, everyone's due at least one odd book. I'll let this slide and get back to sinister thrillers. I hope we have a winner waiting for us.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 28, 2015
After just finishing the excellent 'Because she loves me' by the same author I was really looking forward to this novel but after a good start the book became rather patchy and a little disappointing. This is a psychological thriller that focus's on belief, in this case UFO's and although I do like the writing style the plot itself was not strong enough. I read after, that the book was written over a long time period with the author going back to it to finish it and also rewriting chunks so maybe he also wasn't convinced either.
Although I wasn't completely sold on this novel I remain a fan of Mark Edwards writing and look forward to reading more of his work.
Although I wasn't completely sold on this novel I remain a fan of Mark Edwards writing and look forward to reading more of his work.
November 26, 2014
I should’ve known when the basic premise was revealed that it probably was not going to be my bag, but I kept thinking that something, anything, would happen to change the story or at least to give it some juice. Nope. Nada. To be fair - I am going to blame myself for not reading the synopsis. If I would have read it a head of time, I may have pushed it way down the tbr where it would have never seen the light of day. Or maybe that is just wishful thinking. Damn. Time wasted that I shall never be able to get back. The ending of this one was a complete disaster and failed for me on so many levels that I am left feeling ripped off somehow. The entire story was pointless and in the end, when all is said and done, the protagonists’ actions throughout the entire story were totally inconsequential and the sub plots leading to the “copout” conclusion, totally ridiculous.
July 3, 2017
Unfortunately, this was not a winner for me. I've loved every book I've read from Mark Edwards until now, so I feel like this one was just a fluke. I had no idea going into it that it was about aliens/UFOs, and that's just not my thing. I would have skipped this one had I known that before hand. If you're new to Mark Edwards, I'd recommend starting with any of his other books.
June 15, 2018
This was an enjoyable story about UFOs, alien abduction, strong beliefs, religious cults, love, sex and obsession.
What You Wish For is a mystery thriller, but because of the subject matter, I would say I found it a little lighter-hearted than other books by this author. At first it made me think of Midsomer Murders, as I’ve seen episodes where people have been members of unusual groups. Part of the story was quite entertaining and amusing, but at the same time, there was a more serious side to the story about the influence of beliefs and cults over a person, their lives and the impact it has on their loved ones. I wouldn’t describe this as a particularly tense thriller, but definitely an entertaining one, which worked really well as an audiobook.
I borrowed this through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
What You Wish For is a mystery thriller, but because of the subject matter, I would say I found it a little lighter-hearted than other books by this author. At first it made me think of Midsomer Murders, as I’ve seen episodes where people have been members of unusual groups. Part of the story was quite entertaining and amusing, but at the same time, there was a more serious side to the story about the influence of beliefs and cults over a person, their lives and the impact it has on their loved ones. I wouldn’t describe this as a particularly tense thriller, but definitely an entertaining one, which worked really well as an audiobook.
I borrowed this through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
November 20, 2025
What You Wish For by author, Mark Edwards focuses on Richard, whose girlfriend, Marie has suddenly disappeared. Richard is obsessed with Marie and sets out to find out what’s happened to her – whatever it takes and wherever it takes him. Marie has her own obsession – she is a strong believer in aliens, that there is life on other planets. And pursuit of this obsession brings about some very strange friends and acquaintances who have developed a cult-like status. And it is this obsession that Richard believes will assist him in locating her – not too many people fall into this bizarre category. But his mission – a mission that takes him halfway across the globe -- finds him in murky waters where people around him are starting to die. If he isn’t careful, he might be one of them.
Many readers might be disappointed in What You Wish For. Mark Edwards has an excellent track record with his previous works, even if sometimes they border on the weird. The novel has all the hallmarks of a Mark Edwards novel – well written, well researched, gripping to an extent and, of course, a little bit ‘out there’. But this time, he pushes the boundaries of credibility a little too far. Yes, there are people who strongly believe in aliens from outer space, who even join cult-like organisations to further their interest but not only are some of Edwards’ characters willing to kill for their obsession, along comes Richard, an arch-sceptic, who promptly falls head over heels in love with Marie, with all the baggage she brings with her. Judging by the reviews, more readers liked the story than didn’t but don’t expect this one to knock your socks off.
Many readers might be disappointed in What You Wish For. Mark Edwards has an excellent track record with his previous works, even if sometimes they border on the weird. The novel has all the hallmarks of a Mark Edwards novel – well written, well researched, gripping to an extent and, of course, a little bit ‘out there’. But this time, he pushes the boundaries of credibility a little too far. Yes, there are people who strongly believe in aliens from outer space, who even join cult-like organisations to further their interest but not only are some of Edwards’ characters willing to kill for their obsession, along comes Richard, an arch-sceptic, who promptly falls head over heels in love with Marie, with all the baggage she brings with her. Judging by the reviews, more readers liked the story than didn’t but don’t expect this one to knock your socks off.
February 4, 2022
I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards and have always found his books to be entertaining and very hard to put down. That said...we come to What You Wish For. It was by no means a bad or dull book; it was just so very, very different than any of his others. I have to admit that I'm not too interested in aliens...we have enough problems with people that look like us here on Earth. What it did do, and it kept me reading, was that it amplified the beliefs in alternate realities and delusive conspiracies that fanatical groups and individuals can have an easier time spreading and reinforcing their messages to people that will believe anything. Everyone from cult personalities and far out fanatical groups easily now can convince some folks that their life's problems can be all solved and forgotten simply by joining their cause. Marie Walker was one of those easily lead people. In searching for Maria, our main protagonists, Richard finds himself rubbing elbows with UFO chasers and people claiming to be abducted by aliens. He also discovered that in those mere four months he had known her, he perhaps should have discussed a little more in detail about her strange beliefs and seen if there was anything that he shared there. I thought the idea was original and interesting...but had trouble seeing it for a thriller. The story works its way down the rabbit hole into an alien underworld, with alien abductions and even alien porn. I actually started to think that Richard should just let the aliens have her and get on with his life. This was, without a doubt, the strangest Mark Edwards book I have ever read.
June 22, 2016
ALIEN NOIR!!!! (I'm not kidding)
After reading this book, I know two things for sure: Mark Edwards has a things for redheads, and I have a thing for Mark Edwards.
This book was just a solid brick of FUN. Mark Edwards is so clever. I love how he keeps the premises of his stories simple. They can all be summed up in a single sentence. In this case it was Guy loses Girl and wants Girl back. (The Magpies: Guy and Girl have impossible neighbors. Because She Loves Me: Guy has jealous girlfriend.) We can relate. We have been there. We know where this is going. And that's when we get taken for a ride.
This particular one was different. It was about aliens, love, and a sleazy underground culture of smut and crime. Like I said, Alien Noir! I told you! It's written in a very readable and fast-paced style, just like I've come to expect from this writer. There were quite a few lines in this one that I really appreciated for their dryness. Here's a couple for you now...
I thought there'd be no topping this one:
But then this happened:
Yes, it was FUN. Not only for these dry gems of lines, but also because Mark Edwards really appreciates his readers and throws little things in that we'll recognize from previous books. I LOVE THAT! This one was certainly ambitious. It was a risk. And it worked for me. Mark Edwards is a rising star. I think he's got IT. I'm sticking around for more.
June 25, 2018
Eh, you win some, you lose some.
Mark Edwards has catapulted right up there as one of my favorite authors, but I've got to say, this one... well, it just wasn't my favorite. It's certainly not his inability to write, or a lack of character development. In the in end, I think it was just the subject matter for this one. After reading the acknowledgements, I discovered that he wrote this one back in the days of when X-files was all the rage. So with that, I could see it being a real winner during that time period, however, reading it now, eh... it just wasn't my "cup of tea" if you will.
I would say it's a storyline that would have to appeal to a certain type of audience. Even though I wasn't that audience, I still enjoyed aspects of the novel, and by no means was I prepared to walk away, I simply just didn't love it as I've come to love all his other work.
So, I think I'm just going to leave this review with that. It sure as heck could never dissuade me from reading his future work.
Carry on Mr. Edwards, carry on!
Mark Edwards has catapulted right up there as one of my favorite authors, but I've got to say, this one... well, it just wasn't my favorite. It's certainly not his inability to write, or a lack of character development. In the in end, I think it was just the subject matter for this one. After reading the acknowledgements, I discovered that he wrote this one back in the days of when X-files was all the rage. So with that, I could see it being a real winner during that time period, however, reading it now, eh... it just wasn't my "cup of tea" if you will.
I would say it's a storyline that would have to appeal to a certain type of audience. Even though I wasn't that audience, I still enjoyed aspects of the novel, and by no means was I prepared to walk away, I simply just didn't love it as I've come to love all his other work.
So, I think I'm just going to leave this review with that. It sure as heck could never dissuade me from reading his future work.
Carry on Mr. Edwards, carry on!
March 22, 2014
Publication Date: Kindle: 25th March.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
Marie Walker has vanished from the face of the earth…
Her besotted boyfriend, newspaper photographer Richard Thompson, vows to find her, convinced that Marie’s unusual beliefs hold the key.
But a shocking discovery makes him question if he ever really knew his girlfriend. And when people around him start to die, Richard is plunged into terrible danger.
Drawn into the world of a sinister cult and the darkest corners of the Internet, Richard finds himself increasingly out of his depth – as he discovers just how far people will go to protect what they believe in..
When Richard meets Marie he falls irrevocably in love, but Marie has an unusual belief system and an utter devotion to her cause. In the spirit of compromise, Richard takes it all in his stride but when Marie disappears without warning he finds himself caught up in unbelievable and far reaching events.
This is an absolutely fascinating look at a strange yet compelling section of society, using a very much character driven tale to, really, show us how easy it is to get caught up in the idea of salvation, in whichever form it comes. Utterly intense, as Richard searches desperately for Marie amidst a backdrop of a world he has no part of – you will be completely caught up in the sense of worry and heartache he has to endure – and will be right there with him as frustration mounts and he heads into the danger zone.
As with “The Magpies” Mark Edwards has given a sense of the darker side of human nature here, even if using a very different story, and once again characterisation is of an extremely high standard. You WILL care despite perhaps thinking at various stages that Richard should cut his losses – but obsession is a strange and wonderful thing. Logic has no part of it.
Again cleverly written, an addictive story flow and a wry eye to the ironic gives you an enjoyable and escapist reading experience. Excellent stuff. Can’t wait for whats next.
Happy Reading Folks!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
Marie Walker has vanished from the face of the earth…
Her besotted boyfriend, newspaper photographer Richard Thompson, vows to find her, convinced that Marie’s unusual beliefs hold the key.
But a shocking discovery makes him question if he ever really knew his girlfriend. And when people around him start to die, Richard is plunged into terrible danger.
Drawn into the world of a sinister cult and the darkest corners of the Internet, Richard finds himself increasingly out of his depth – as he discovers just how far people will go to protect what they believe in..
When Richard meets Marie he falls irrevocably in love, but Marie has an unusual belief system and an utter devotion to her cause. In the spirit of compromise, Richard takes it all in his stride but when Marie disappears without warning he finds himself caught up in unbelievable and far reaching events.
This is an absolutely fascinating look at a strange yet compelling section of society, using a very much character driven tale to, really, show us how easy it is to get caught up in the idea of salvation, in whichever form it comes. Utterly intense, as Richard searches desperately for Marie amidst a backdrop of a world he has no part of – you will be completely caught up in the sense of worry and heartache he has to endure – and will be right there with him as frustration mounts and he heads into the danger zone.
As with “The Magpies” Mark Edwards has given a sense of the darker side of human nature here, even if using a very different story, and once again characterisation is of an extremely high standard. You WILL care despite perhaps thinking at various stages that Richard should cut his losses – but obsession is a strange and wonderful thing. Logic has no part of it.
Again cleverly written, an addictive story flow and a wry eye to the ironic gives you an enjoyable and escapist reading experience. Excellent stuff. Can’t wait for whats next.
Happy Reading Folks!
November 24, 2014
Alien-tastic!
Well...it's not really about aliens as such - it is more an exploration of beliefs and how DEEPLY some people want to believe.
The story is fast-paced and funny but with a dark edging that gives the writing it's depth.
Plus, it is based in the south coast of England which is quite local to me - come to think of it I have seen some pretty odd people there hmmmmm...?!
Well...it's not really about aliens as such - it is more an exploration of beliefs and how DEEPLY some people want to believe.
The story is fast-paced and funny but with a dark edging that gives the writing it's depth.
Plus, it is based in the south coast of England which is quite local to me - come to think of it I have seen some pretty odd people there hmmmmm...?!
November 2, 2014
Liked the start of this book even abit far fetched you still want to know what happens. read magpies which is a better storyline but like this author will read another of his books.
July 26, 2022
Whilst this is still very much a psychological thriller, it’s quite different to the author’s other books.
Marie, Richard’s girlfriend, believes in aliens. I know there are people out there that do believe in this sort of thing but I have to say I was more on the same wave length as Richard who is much more of a doubter. The storyline is a little bit out there but it is more of a cult thing which certainly gives this particular story more of an edge.
It’s Richard’s obsession with his girlfriend and not being able to let her just go that moves the story on with a fast pace. I mean would any of us on returning home one day and finding your partner has literally disappeared into thin air, just let it go? The need to know of why and where was strong and I was intrigued as to where the author was going with the story. Had Marie in fact been visited by aliens and gone to outer space, was she dead, or had she just had enough and decided she wanted to be on her own?
What You Wish For whilst yes it is a little bit out there, the twists and turns the story takes made this a compulsive read. I really wasn’t sure how it was all going to end but have to say the conclusion was better than I had hoped for and it left me with the adrenaline coursing through me at having read such a thrilling book where there literally is never a dull moment!
Marie, Richard’s girlfriend, believes in aliens. I know there are people out there that do believe in this sort of thing but I have to say I was more on the same wave length as Richard who is much more of a doubter. The storyline is a little bit out there but it is more of a cult thing which certainly gives this particular story more of an edge.
It’s Richard’s obsession with his girlfriend and not being able to let her just go that moves the story on with a fast pace. I mean would any of us on returning home one day and finding your partner has literally disappeared into thin air, just let it go? The need to know of why and where was strong and I was intrigued as to where the author was going with the story. Had Marie in fact been visited by aliens and gone to outer space, was she dead, or had she just had enough and decided she wanted to be on her own?
What You Wish For whilst yes it is a little bit out there, the twists and turns the story takes made this a compulsive read. I really wasn’t sure how it was all going to end but have to say the conclusion was better than I had hoped for and it left me with the adrenaline coursing through me at having read such a thrilling book where there literally is never a dull moment!
October 13, 2015
Not my favorite from this author
This was NOT one of my likes by this author! It was super corny an not interesting with all the talk of aliens an ufos! Plus the way the main character fell in love with his girlfriend was stupid he basically fell in love with her in one day an went on this wild goose hunt for her when she went missing..super unrealistic and poor story line definitely not worth your time
This was NOT one of my likes by this author! It was super corny an not interesting with all the talk of aliens an ufos! Plus the way the main character fell in love with his girlfriend was stupid he basically fell in love with her in one day an went on this wild goose hunt for her when she went missing..super unrealistic and poor story line definitely not worth your time
September 26, 2015
Disappointing
This was so disappointing . I couldn't even finish. Not well written. I Would not recommend this. Big waist of money.
This was so disappointing . I couldn't even finish. Not well written. I Would not recommend this. Big waist of money.
September 13, 2014
Mark Edwards What You Wish For is a psychological thriller which crosses over into the world of UFOs, cults, and the fantasy dark side.
Marie Walker has vanished from the face of the earth, she has a need to believe in something. Her boyfriend, lover, and photographer, Richard attempts to find her. In his search, he is drawn into a world of cults and the darker elements of ufology, as he discovers shocking truths. Was she taken or did she go of her own accord?
A story of beliefs, morals, ethics, and codes by which we live our lives. Beliefs in something and the lengths you are willing to go to preserve that belief. A woman who needs nurturing and finds someone as a Savior—and those who are not strong enough to help themselves.
What You Wish For is intense and compelling, as depicts the allure for some and Richard’s desperate need to save Marie from its grasp of danger. This book shows how our beliefs can be extremely powerful and the extent people will go to surrender to them. The relationship between Richard and Marie hinged on obsession.
This was not my kind of book, as a little out there, and not my normal genre. However, Edwards is a talented writer, and highly recommend his latest book, Because She Loves Me, as more my style! Look forward to reading Magpies.
Marie Walker has vanished from the face of the earth, she has a need to believe in something. Her boyfriend, lover, and photographer, Richard attempts to find her. In his search, he is drawn into a world of cults and the darker elements of ufology, as he discovers shocking truths. Was she taken or did she go of her own accord?
A story of beliefs, morals, ethics, and codes by which we live our lives. Beliefs in something and the lengths you are willing to go to preserve that belief. A woman who needs nurturing and finds someone as a Savior—and those who are not strong enough to help themselves.
What You Wish For is intense and compelling, as depicts the allure for some and Richard’s desperate need to save Marie from its grasp of danger. This book shows how our beliefs can be extremely powerful and the extent people will go to surrender to them. The relationship between Richard and Marie hinged on obsession.
This was not my kind of book, as a little out there, and not my normal genre. However, Edwards is a talented writer, and highly recommend his latest book, Because She Loves Me, as more my style! Look forward to reading Magpies.
April 17, 2014
After receiving a advanced copy of this book I was still apprehensive about reading about little green men running around. I shouldn't have worried and should have known that Mark as usual wouldn't let me down.
This book is well written, keeps you hooked and an excellent read. I'm not going to ruin it for you, I will leave that for someone else. Just one warning:
This book caused me to have a bizarre dream. As I was drifting off, I could have sworn my partner said "to stop aliens visiting, you need to swim with sharks. I'm not doing that". I replied (out loud). "Good, they can take you then". That took a lot of explaining and I don't think he was very impressed with my response!
Just goes to show the deep impression this book had on me! Well worth the read and I know I will be reading this book again.
This book is well written, keeps you hooked and an excellent read. I'm not going to ruin it for you, I will leave that for someone else. Just one warning:
This book caused me to have a bizarre dream. As I was drifting off, I could have sworn my partner said "to stop aliens visiting, you need to swim with sharks. I'm not doing that". I replied (out loud). "Good, they can take you then". That took a lot of explaining and I don't think he was very impressed with my response!
Just goes to show the deep impression this book had on me! Well worth the read and I know I will be reading this book again.
December 15, 2015
Good lord. Interesting. Very interesting!
Aliens? Eh. not my thing. Didn't like this as much as the other books I've read but I did love the ending. Nothing like a bit of ambiguity!
Aliens? Eh. not my thing. Didn't like this as much as the other books I've read but I did love the ending. Nothing like a bit of ambiguity!
July 20, 2016
I received an advance reading copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
Mark Edwards' new book, What You Wish For, follows Richard Thompson's seemingly unyielding search for his girlfriend, who appears to have vanished without a trace. The more he delves into her life, the more he realises that he didn't really know her at all.
This book is fast paced, with psychological thrills and action-filled moments throughout. We are introduced to a surreal underworld of 'Alien-porn' and Alien Cults. This story is nothing if not original. To be honest, I was a little put off when I read the first chapter and believed that this was going to be a cheesy story about alien abduction. I couldn't have been more wrong; the first clue being that the main character is a complete sceptic about anything alien related. However this doesn't stop him from entering Marie's fanatical world, in the hopes of discovering what happened to her.
What You Wish For follows in the path of Mark Edward's previous books with it's relentless twists and surprises. You can guess what will happen next, but you'll be wrong. The characters seem to come to life and the reader can identify with every single person we are introduced and glean something important from the experience of meeting them within the pages of this book.
The ending is beautiful, yet bittersweet.
Another fantastic offering from Mark Edwards which no self-respecting reader will allow themselves to miss out on!!
Mark Edwards' new book, What You Wish For, follows Richard Thompson's seemingly unyielding search for his girlfriend, who appears to have vanished without a trace. The more he delves into her life, the more he realises that he didn't really know her at all.
This book is fast paced, with psychological thrills and action-filled moments throughout. We are introduced to a surreal underworld of 'Alien-porn' and Alien Cults. This story is nothing if not original. To be honest, I was a little put off when I read the first chapter and believed that this was going to be a cheesy story about alien abduction. I couldn't have been more wrong; the first clue being that the main character is a complete sceptic about anything alien related. However this doesn't stop him from entering Marie's fanatical world, in the hopes of discovering what happened to her.
What You Wish For follows in the path of Mark Edward's previous books with it's relentless twists and surprises. You can guess what will happen next, but you'll be wrong. The characters seem to come to life and the reader can identify with every single person we are introduced and glean something important from the experience of meeting them within the pages of this book.
The ending is beautiful, yet bittersweet.
Another fantastic offering from Mark Edwards which no self-respecting reader will allow themselves to miss out on!!
January 16, 2018
I had such high hopes for this book. Mark Edwards happens to be one of my most sought after authors at the moment. Ever since I read The Magpies on my kindle, I decided I wanted to collect his work and I have even pre-ordered The Retreat coming out in May. I didn’t know what this book entailed going into it but upon reading the first 25 pages, I was hooked! Aliens, UFO’s, Close Encounters of the 4th Kind... yes, yes and yes!
Sadly, the ending did not parallel those introductory emotions. It felt like being on a roller coaster, getting to the top of the first high drop, getting stuck and never making it back down. I wished there was more sci-fi and more aliens. Instead, there was a lot of chase and a lot of ambiguity. The ending felt a bit rushed. We spent the entire length of the book in search of a girl only to find her and quickly send her off again.
I love Mark Edwards and this novel by no means was terrible or turned me off from him. I am beginning The Devil’s Work today. I am looking forward to it.
Sadly, the ending did not parallel those introductory emotions. It felt like being on a roller coaster, getting to the top of the first high drop, getting stuck and never making it back down. I wished there was more sci-fi and more aliens. Instead, there was a lot of chase and a lot of ambiguity. The ending felt a bit rushed. We spent the entire length of the book in search of a girl only to find her and quickly send her off again.
I love Mark Edwards and this novel by no means was terrible or turned me off from him. I am beginning The Devil’s Work today. I am looking forward to it.
November 25, 2014
I would like to start by saying that I have read three other books by this author and loved them. This is the reason that I bought this book without looking into it a bit more. This book is about Richard and Marie. Richard is a reporter who meets Marie. Marie is a huge believer in Aliens and UFO's and attends conventions. Richard is not a believer but they fall in love and move in together. One day Richard comes home and Marie has gone. Richard is determined to find what has happened to Marie.
I really did not like this book. The subject of aliens and UFO's does not interest me at all. I tried very hard to get past the subject matter but this story quite honestly bored me. I could not wait to finish this book so I could start something new.
I really did not like this book. The subject of aliens and UFO's does not interest me at all. I tried very hard to get past the subject matter but this story quite honestly bored me. I could not wait to finish this book so I could start something new.
November 9, 2018
oh dear oh dear oh dear.... just not for me.....!
Do not listen to audiobook version read by Ralph Lister.... it is cringe worthy! I hated his narration. it took me months to finish listening to his deranged sounding female voices and weird always question like ending narration.... No, just No!
Do not listen to audiobook version read by Ralph Lister.... it is cringe worthy! I hated his narration. it took me months to finish listening to his deranged sounding female voices and weird always question like ending narration.... No, just No!
August 30, 2015
I am sorry that I felt this book wasn't me. I tried to get into it and really wasn't feeling the characters and the way the story was going for me personally.
December 28, 2016
Was looking forward to reading another great book by this author but was really disappointed with this one and gave up at 35% ! Just couldn't get into it
February 6, 2017
Really didnt enjpy this book. Very boring and slow and maybe because im not into aliens etc.
March 21, 2020
Marie disappears. Her boyfriend Richard looks for her. Looking for her leads Richard to a cult with strange beliefs. Cults and aliens. Fast-paced, dark, and odd.
October 11, 2025
A MORE SKILFUL READER
Here we are with the second part of my Mark Edwards reading marathon! This time, it was the turn of those books of his that haven't been translated into Italian yet, so I had to read them in the original language.
The beginning wasn't the best, unfortunately. "What you wish for" dealt with aliens and cults, themes that don't really interest me much and, in fact, bore me quite a lot. The plot was neither exciting nor unpredictable, full of unnecessary characters and frustratingly open-ended. The only twist was , but that was all.
My reading experience with the following novels was much better. Objectively, they belong to the same league as the first books I read by this author, which I rated 5 stars. But, either because I have too much work on my mind, or because I am now a more skilful reader of Edwards (I find it easier to single out who's guilty), they didn't engage me as I expected they would. However, I must be fair and give them the 5-star rating they undoubtedly deserve.
"The darkest water" was hands-down the best. I finally understood what Edwards' ideal dimension is: pure crime fiction, rather than psychological thriller. Not by chance, here we find DI Imogen Evans again, the detective protagonist of Mark Edwards' best book (in my opinion), "Abbastanza felice per morire". We are faced with an extremely unpredictable connection between a simple baker (Calvin) and an unidentified corpse found by the beach; red herrings and suspicious characters who are here only to divert our attention from the real culprit (I'm talking about an intricate and astonishing plot involving both .
The same complexity can be found in "The Hollows", which was even more mysterious and disquieting, and had me hooked although camping situations are not really my cup of tea. It was very difficult to distinguish between reality and imagination or superstition, as well as to tell evil characters from good ones. The brutal assassination of the two adulterous teachers, it turned out, was
"Keep her secret" was the real dark horse here. Starting with an innocuous trip to Iceland, without jumping too much between past and present, and presenting us with a , this novel actually turned out to be the most adventurous of the lot. It had me completely fooled, because I thought everything was very much clear... until it was revealed
"The psychopath next door", on the other hand, was probably the weakest one - but, paradoxically, also one of the most intriguing. This was because
That's it for now: thank you, Mark, for this wonderful journey. Still, I wouldn't rule out coming back soon to read the novels co-written with Louise Voss. Goodbye for now!
Here we are with the second part of my Mark Edwards reading marathon! This time, it was the turn of those books of his that haven't been translated into Italian yet, so I had to read them in the original language.
The beginning wasn't the best, unfortunately. "What you wish for" dealt with aliens and cults, themes that don't really interest me much and, in fact, bore me quite a lot. The plot was neither exciting nor unpredictable, full of unnecessary characters and frustratingly open-ended. The only twist was , but that was all.
My reading experience with the following novels was much better. Objectively, they belong to the same league as the first books I read by this author, which I rated 5 stars. But, either because I have too much work on my mind, or because I am now a more skilful reader of Edwards (I find it easier to single out who's guilty), they didn't engage me as I expected they would. However, I must be fair and give them the 5-star rating they undoubtedly deserve.
"The darkest water" was hands-down the best. I finally understood what Edwards' ideal dimension is: pure crime fiction, rather than psychological thriller. Not by chance, here we find DI Imogen Evans again, the detective protagonist of Mark Edwards' best book (in my opinion), "Abbastanza felice per morire". We are faced with an extremely unpredictable connection between a simple baker (Calvin) and an unidentified corpse found by the beach; red herrings and suspicious characters who are here only to divert our attention from the real culprit (I'm talking about an intricate and astonishing plot involving both .
The same complexity can be found in "The Hollows", which was even more mysterious and disquieting, and had me hooked although camping situations are not really my cup of tea. It was very difficult to distinguish between reality and imagination or superstition, as well as to tell evil characters from good ones. The brutal assassination of the two adulterous teachers, it turned out, was
"Keep her secret" was the real dark horse here. Starting with an innocuous trip to Iceland, without jumping too much between past and present, and presenting us with a , this novel actually turned out to be the most adventurous of the lot. It had me completely fooled, because I thought everything was very much clear... until it was revealed
"The psychopath next door", on the other hand, was probably the weakest one - but, paradoxically, also one of the most intriguing. This was because
That's it for now: thank you, Mark, for this wonderful journey. Still, I wouldn't rule out coming back soon to read the novels co-written with Louise Voss. Goodbye for now!
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