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Shocking Pink
Three girls shared one dark secret -- but this one wasn't theirs to keep.
Fifteen years ago, Andie, Julie and Raven saw something they shouldn't have. In an abandoned house, two lovers were engaged in a deadly sexual game. The girls couldn't stop watching -- until the woman was found murdered.
Now they can't stop remembering, because whoever did the killing is determined to make them forget what they saw -- forever. .
Fifteen years ago, Andie, Julie and Raven saw something they shouldn't have. In an abandoned house, two lovers were engaged in a deadly sexual game. The girls couldn't stop watching -- until the woman was found murdered.
Now they can't stop remembering, because whoever did the killing is determined to make them forget what they saw -- forever. .
505 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
79 people are currently reading
994 people want to read
About the author
Erica Spindler
98 books2,539 followersA New York Times and International bestselling author, Erica Spindler's skill for crafting engrossing plots and compelling characters has earned both critical praise and legions of fans. Her stories have been lauded as “thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits.”
Erica loves meeting and interacting with her fans, both in person and online. She has a wicked sense of humor, an optimistic spirit and loves coffee, chocolate and red wine, not necessarily in that order.
In 2002 her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a four-time RITA® Award finalist. In 1999 Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998.
Erica lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons.
Erica loves meeting and interacting with her fans, both in person and online. She has a wicked sense of humor, an optimistic spirit and loves coffee, chocolate and red wine, not necessarily in that order.
In 2002 her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a four-time RITA® Award finalist. In 1999 Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998.
Erica lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
November 3, 2021
”Fear’s an aphrodisiac”
Let me start by saying this book was NOT bad, I actually enjoyed it quite a lot.
Yes I know my rating doesn’t reflect that statement, but let me explain.
This book starts with a prologue that plays off in the present time. Then it jumps back 15 years and the story starts there. Now if the book just started off in the past and then jumped 15 years to the future; it would have worked for me.
But the prologue spoiled everything. Form it I could figure out whom the second murder victim was; and when we jumped back to the present it took two chapters to figure out who the killer was, red herring and all.
So while I really enjoyed Spindler’s writing and the overall story line, I would have given the book way more stars if the prologue didn’t exist.
I’m curious to read more of Spindler’s work to see if I might have found a new author I like.
Let me start by saying this book was NOT bad, I actually enjoyed it quite a lot.
Yes I know my rating doesn’t reflect that statement, but let me explain.
This book starts with a prologue that plays off in the present time. Then it jumps back 15 years and the story starts there. Now if the book just started off in the past and then jumped 15 years to the future; it would have worked for me.
But the prologue spoiled everything. Form it I could figure out whom the second murder victim was; and when we jumped back to the present it took two chapters to figure out who the killer was, red herring and all.
So while I really enjoyed Spindler’s writing and the overall story line, I would have given the book way more stars if the prologue didn’t exist.
I’m curious to read more of Spindler’s work to see if I might have found a new author I like.
August 4, 2021
The first book that I ever read by Erica Spindler (by accident actually, saw the book on a vacation and liked the pink cover) I was hooked!
The story is great, not fast paced, but its building up a story line, going a bit from now and to the past.
The ending were differently interesting.
This book opened my eyes for the writer, and I must say, I have never regretted reading any of her books.
The story is great, not fast paced, but its building up a story line, going a bit from now and to the past.
The ending were differently interesting.
This book opened my eyes for the writer, and I must say, I have never regretted reading any of her books.
June 7, 2018
Kinky sex with mystery and suspense! I’m not a big fan, of “mushy” romance novels. I need some mystery and murder added in, lol. This book has it all. It’s the first Erica Spindler book I’ve read...she’s on my favorite Author list now. I highly recommend this book!
September 2, 2021
This was a little too long, I didn't connect with the characters, and I pretty much hated the cheesy romance. But it kept me entertained, and I liked the setup. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
May 12, 2010
I read this book many years ago and it is still one of my favorite Erica Spindler books. I could not put it down, and the ending was very shocking. A must read.
April 4, 2011
I'll tell you right off the bat this is one of those 'trashy beach reads' you hear about. I mean it's called "Shocking Pink," if you weren't clued in already I don't know what to tell you. LOL. I liked this one though -- and I'm not a fan of this type of book generally speaking. I've started countless others like this one and put them down a few chapters in, feeling a bit of my soul died while reading them. This one is different for some reason. I dunno it's plot line is simple enough: group of girls spying on lovers in an abandoned house, the lovers doing some kinky S&M shit, and something goes terribly wrong, etc. I got into the storyline and maybe you will too. If you don't though, I won't think any less of you for it.
November 5, 2011
Wow! One of Erica Spindler's oldest novels just so happens to be her best. With subject matter such as BDSM and voyeurism, you know you're in for an intriguing read. Throw in some murders, childhood secrets, jealousy, control, and loyalty - boom! Five-star novel. I really, really loved this one. It may be out-of-print, but it's well worth tracking down.
August 19, 2014
The title of this book put me off for a long time, but it was cheap as an e-book and so at a time when I was trying to economise I gave it a go and enjoyed it a lot. Creepy and disturbing with a killer twist!
September 28, 2017
I'll start with my second biggest issue because it's shorter. The author created way too much hint hinting moments in the book. I get wanting to build suspense but you can't have every single moment hinting at or creating a new secret...I was too busy keeping track of each secret to wonder where any of them were going to go. Maybe they all served a purpose later in the book but there was just too much going on with zero resolution. My biggest issue though and the reason I quit was the portrayal of sex. Sex is dirty and wrong. If you like it you're an evil dirty whore. And if you like anything beyond missionary you're a perverted evil dirty whore. I've read other spindler books that weren't like that so idk if this was because this is an earlier work or maybe because of the characters' situations and it got better when we got up to modern day but I just couldn't sit through one more page of it I was so uncomfortable. dnf
March 25, 2021
I couldn’t put this book down, it had me gripped all the way through. I can’t wait to read some more Erica Spindler books.
May 9, 2021
Could not put this down. I feel like it was not overly complex but I love the way this story was laid out. Each friend had their own quirk but you felt the bond at the beginnings and how they imprinted on each other a lot a vulnerable time for each. Fast read but a lot happens!
September 29, 2021
Surely a page turner novel!!
August 14, 2009
Shocking Pink is a beautifully constructed, creative suspense story with snappy dialogue among well-developed characters. I didn't give it a five star rating because it moves too slowly at the beginning and it is often repetitive. As the novel unwound, I began to realize that the repetition was long-time romance author Erica Spindler's way of showing obsession, but I wondered if the same point could have be made more subtly.
How many stories have you read where some horrible event has been witnessed in childhood and the viewer has been forever changed? It happens here, and Spindler's novel explores the impact on the viewers, demonstrating how horror can become a catalyst that profoundly affects the life of the viewer.
It is summertime for 15 year olds Julie, Raven and Andie who live in Thistledown, Missouri. They discover that in an unoccupied home in a nearby neighborhood sexually deviant activities are going on between a Mr. and Mrs. X. -- so named because they are masked with black scarves, employ cuffs, ropes, etc. The teenagers investigate and that means watching every time they can. Their secret observations gradually begin to erode their friendship as each reacts differently to what they are seeing. Eventually Mrs. X is found dead, hanging from a rope in a position the kids had seen before, blindfolded by a black scarf. Her murder remains unsolved.
Julie is the daughter of a religious zealot who has psychologically abused her. From the X's she learns desire. Raven, the daughter of a physically abusive man, learns power from Mr. X. Andie, the daughter of parents who have just split up because her father found someone new, learns compassion.
Fifteen years later, the three best friends are together again in Thistledown. Julie has just returned, her third marriage broken. Raven has a very successful interior design firm. And Andie is a psychiatrist.
One of Andie's abused clients snaps and kills her husband, the mayor. Andie becomes involved in the high profile case and again meets Detective Nick Raphael who had investigated Mrs. X's murder. As a result of the publicity, she starts seeing a new patient, David Sadler.
David, talk, dark, handsome and rich has just returned to Thistledown having spent the last decade in St. Louis. He is seeking treatment for sexually deviant behavior. At the same time Julie starts dating David, Raven is employed to decorate the new homes his firm is building and Andie and Nick are attracted to each other.
Suddenly, all three receive newspaper clippings of the 15 year old murder. Then a black silk scarf appears on Andie's bed, and other acts occur that show someone is watching and taunting them.
To reveal any more of the plot than I have would do a great disservice to author Erica Spindler. Her ingenious twists and turns in a story that features friendship, obsession, sexually deviant behavior and murder will be long remembered by this reviewer.
How many stories have you read where some horrible event has been witnessed in childhood and the viewer has been forever changed? It happens here, and Spindler's novel explores the impact on the viewers, demonstrating how horror can become a catalyst that profoundly affects the life of the viewer.
It is summertime for 15 year olds Julie, Raven and Andie who live in Thistledown, Missouri. They discover that in an unoccupied home in a nearby neighborhood sexually deviant activities are going on between a Mr. and Mrs. X. -- so named because they are masked with black scarves, employ cuffs, ropes, etc. The teenagers investigate and that means watching every time they can. Their secret observations gradually begin to erode their friendship as each reacts differently to what they are seeing. Eventually Mrs. X is found dead, hanging from a rope in a position the kids had seen before, blindfolded by a black scarf. Her murder remains unsolved.
Julie is the daughter of a religious zealot who has psychologically abused her. From the X's she learns desire. Raven, the daughter of a physically abusive man, learns power from Mr. X. Andie, the daughter of parents who have just split up because her father found someone new, learns compassion.
Fifteen years later, the three best friends are together again in Thistledown. Julie has just returned, her third marriage broken. Raven has a very successful interior design firm. And Andie is a psychiatrist.
One of Andie's abused clients snaps and kills her husband, the mayor. Andie becomes involved in the high profile case and again meets Detective Nick Raphael who had investigated Mrs. X's murder. As a result of the publicity, she starts seeing a new patient, David Sadler.
David, talk, dark, handsome and rich has just returned to Thistledown having spent the last decade in St. Louis. He is seeking treatment for sexually deviant behavior. At the same time Julie starts dating David, Raven is employed to decorate the new homes his firm is building and Andie and Nick are attracted to each other.
Suddenly, all three receive newspaper clippings of the 15 year old murder. Then a black silk scarf appears on Andie's bed, and other acts occur that show someone is watching and taunting them.
To reveal any more of the plot than I have would do a great disservice to author Erica Spindler. Her ingenious twists and turns in a story that features friendship, obsession, sexually deviant behavior and murder will be long remembered by this reviewer.
August 12, 2015
I decided I needed a break from reading actors biographies recently and promptly found this in a charity shop. I was intrigued enough by its cover and its concept to give it a tentative whirl.
I won’t divulge the plot premise (that’s here in numerous reviews) but it’s one of those novels that deals with a glimpsed event in the character’s lives that plays into their present many years later. The inherent danger in such thriller fiction (and there are literally hundreds of novels that operate under this modus operandi) is that it invites disbelief that the antagonist
would honestly wait such a lengthy amount of time before taking his/her revenge. Often, it’s merely an excuse to have had the characters mature just enough to be able to reflect on said event with any objectivity. This novel falters slightly using this device for me personally. I can’t go into detail without ruining the twist but the juxtaposition of the two time periods felt more like a gimmick and a way to bridge the story rather than a need to serve the actual plot.
I was bored in the beginning of this book. It felt like a YA novel and I wondered why I was reading it. I put this down to the character’s ages and youthful dialogue and soldiered on. It definitely got better once the intriguing event unfolded. What I’m most pleased to report is how fast my fears this was a YA novel disappeared the minute the author divulged how the characters reacted to the event. The sexual element of the story is definitely explored and though the characters may have shied away from how they felt once exposed, the author certainly didn’t and I appreciated that. This is also true in the physical threat and violence contained in the story. This is definitely NOT YA.
As the story teased it’s way to a resolution, I found my attention wandering again. I believe the author missed a trick, revealing her ‘hand’ in a blasé matter-of-fact way and not with a sudden ‘flash bang’ of shock – as with all the greatest whodunit tales. The reveal is done gently over the course of a few pages and I can only assume it was the author’s intention that it carry a level of sobering menace. It failed with me on this entirely. I will even go so far as to say I would have preferred a double hit of a shock reveal with a chilling event at the SAME time that may have achieved a result more worthy of the concept.
I did enjoy this book for what it was. Maybe I expected too much, given the overwhelming glut of sexual thrillers available on the market. I don’t regret reading it and I give it bonus points for being true to the character’s instincts, albeit repulsed by them as they were.
I won’t divulge the plot premise (that’s here in numerous reviews) but it’s one of those novels that deals with a glimpsed event in the character’s lives that plays into their present many years later. The inherent danger in such thriller fiction (and there are literally hundreds of novels that operate under this modus operandi) is that it invites disbelief that the antagonist
would honestly wait such a lengthy amount of time before taking his/her revenge. Often, it’s merely an excuse to have had the characters mature just enough to be able to reflect on said event with any objectivity. This novel falters slightly using this device for me personally. I can’t go into detail without ruining the twist but the juxtaposition of the two time periods felt more like a gimmick and a way to bridge the story rather than a need to serve the actual plot.
I was bored in the beginning of this book. It felt like a YA novel and I wondered why I was reading it. I put this down to the character’s ages and youthful dialogue and soldiered on. It definitely got better once the intriguing event unfolded. What I’m most pleased to report is how fast my fears this was a YA novel disappeared the minute the author divulged how the characters reacted to the event. The sexual element of the story is definitely explored and though the characters may have shied away from how they felt once exposed, the author certainly didn’t and I appreciated that. This is also true in the physical threat and violence contained in the story. This is definitely NOT YA.
As the story teased it’s way to a resolution, I found my attention wandering again. I believe the author missed a trick, revealing her ‘hand’ in a blasé matter-of-fact way and not with a sudden ‘flash bang’ of shock – as with all the greatest whodunit tales. The reveal is done gently over the course of a few pages and I can only assume it was the author’s intention that it carry a level of sobering menace. It failed with me on this entirely. I will even go so far as to say I would have preferred a double hit of a shock reveal with a chilling event at the SAME time that may have achieved a result more worthy of the concept.
I did enjoy this book for what it was. Maybe I expected too much, given the overwhelming glut of sexual thrillers available on the market. I don’t regret reading it and I give it bonus points for being true to the character’s instincts, albeit repulsed by them as they were.
July 31, 2011
Shocking Pink is about three teenage girls Raven , Julie, and Andie, one summer , they where just hanging out in there usual spot when they heard music coming from an empty house in the housing development where Andie lived. They decided to check it out and found some mysterious lovers engaged in a deadly sexual game. Now there curiosity has deepened into a dangerous obsession they have named the couple mr and mrs x and have decided to watch and make sure mrs x always leaves safely. Andie thinks they should go to the police, and she finally does against her best friends wishes. The police don,t believe her, than mrs x turns up dead, And Andie finds her hanging in the house from the rafters . she calls the one cop who had befriended her . they where never able to discover Mr xs identity. Now 15 years later . Someone is watching Andie they won,t let her forget that night. Someone thinks she knows more than she told the police that fateful night 15 years ago. looking forward to more books by this author.
August 5, 2013
I picked this book up for $5 and it was an easy read. I was looking after a friends dog and you didn't have to think to much to read this book. So it was good.
Andie - Follow the rules, Julie - Loves sex, Raven - the wild one. Friends growing up with some big challenges in ther lives. One night they spy on a couple playing a dangerous sexual game in an abanded house. The couple come back time after time and so do the girls. Curiosity killed the cat.
Then one night Andie finds the woman hanging dead from a rope and calls the police. They never catch the killer.
15 years later the girls are back together and the same man walks into each of their lives. Someone is reminding them all what they saw 15 years earlier. One of the girls will end up dead and the hunt is on. The killer is among them.
Andie - Follow the rules, Julie - Loves sex, Raven - the wild one. Friends growing up with some big challenges in ther lives. One night they spy on a couple playing a dangerous sexual game in an abanded house. The couple come back time after time and so do the girls. Curiosity killed the cat.
Then one night Andie finds the woman hanging dead from a rope and calls the police. They never catch the killer.
15 years later the girls are back together and the same man walks into each of their lives. Someone is reminding them all what they saw 15 years earlier. One of the girls will end up dead and the hunt is on. The killer is among them.
July 11, 2013
This book was...well, interesting. I give it 3.5 cause I don't think it deserves the full 4. It started out creepy and set up a good story. Then after it reached the "15 years later" part it got slow and had nothing to do with the set-up. I was honestly bored for a good chunk of the book until the stalking started up. That's when the book picked up the pace again...only to have it slow down as Julie, Raven, and Andie all make up the stupidest reasons for not acting on their suspicions.
At times thrilling, at times frustrating, this novel was a good in-between book. I was waiting for some books to come in at the library and just used this as a book to pass that time. Not my favorite but maybe someone else who's into psychology will enjoy it more.
At times thrilling, at times frustrating, this novel was a good in-between book. I was waiting for some books to come in at the library and just used this as a book to pass that time. Not my favorite but maybe someone else who's into psychology will enjoy it more.
September 4, 2015
I thought the author did a great job with this as she had my attention from page one until the end. It's about three fifteen-year-old girls who are close buddies. The come across a vacant house that they hear music playing from. On further inspection they discover that a man a woman are meeting and their love making looks dangerous with blindfolds and ropes. One of the girls decides she's going to the police even though the other friends believe that will cause trouble with their relationship. The police brush it under the rug except for one young rookie who believes in her. He gives her his card and says she can call if she ever needs any help. They were all instructed to stay away from the house, but Andie could not listen as she knew something terrible was going to happen...
October 12, 2017
A reasonable thriller but somehow it seemed to be drag on a bit.
Basically, three girls, Andi, Julie & Raven were "witnesses" to a murder & fifteen years on, a second identical murder occurs & while there are a few twists to the tale, sadly you can still see where it's headed.
Andi is now a therapist & another story runs alongside about one of her patients killing her abusive husband. While this is quite entertaining (but yet again runs on predictable lines) it doesn't add anything to the original storyline...it just adds more pages to the book!
So on the whole, a fairly enjoyable but predictable thriller which could perhaps have benefited from being a bit more condensed.
Basically, three girls, Andi, Julie & Raven were "witnesses" to a murder & fifteen years on, a second identical murder occurs & while there are a few twists to the tale, sadly you can still see where it's headed.
Andi is now a therapist & another story runs alongside about one of her patients killing her abusive husband. While this is quite entertaining (but yet again runs on predictable lines) it doesn't add anything to the original storyline...it just adds more pages to the book!
So on the whole, a fairly enjoyable but predictable thriller which could perhaps have benefited from being a bit more condensed.
September 6, 2010
I would like to give this book 3.5 stars, but since that's not an option, I'll be generous and bump it up to a 4. This is my first time reading Erica Spindler, and while I wasn't exactly wowed, I did find it to be a quick and pleasurable read. I have to admit that I had an inkling early in the book of what was going to happen in the end, which totally took away the suspense factor for me. I'm sure that I'll read more of Spindler in the future, but I won't be rushing out to grab another one. Overall, it was just slightly above average in terms of enjoyability.
March 27, 2014
I loved this book from beginning to end!!! This is one of the weirdest, most twisted and unexpected books I've ever read, and I've read a lot of psychological suspense thrillers from many different authors. Erica Spindler's writing style connects so well with me. I love how she takes the time to really create such detailed and emotionally rich characters that resonate so well. I love the plot twists, love her writing style so much that even as I could start seeing where the book was headed and could predict the end midway through the book, it still kept me glued to the story.
June 27, 2014
I bought this book for 25 cents!
I wasn't sure about it because I am generally not into this genre of books. I have read other thriller/mystery books and have had to force myself to finish, but this book was great from start to finish. The obsession, the murders, the secrets. ALL OF IT! I was intrigued and couldn't put the book down. At certain points the secrets that were revealed were so intense that I had to close the book and try and process what I just read.
This is my first Erica Spindler book but based on this novel, it won't be my last. I am eager to read her other works.
I wasn't sure about it because I am generally not into this genre of books. I have read other thriller/mystery books and have had to force myself to finish, but this book was great from start to finish. The obsession, the murders, the secrets. ALL OF IT! I was intrigued and couldn't put the book down. At certain points the secrets that were revealed were so intense that I had to close the book and try and process what I just read.
This is my first Erica Spindler book but based on this novel, it won't be my last. I am eager to read her other works.
October 23, 2014
A sensational erotic crime thriller...
March 1, 2020
The book just dragged on. The characters weren't likable. I skipped about 100 pages just to see how it ended but I had already figured it out.
June 21, 2024
This book was super engaging because it gave you what wanted, just not in the way it was supposed to be done.
(I was fully invested in this stories potential so I have a lot of thoughts)
It’s a story about three girls as teens who are best friends and spend a summer spying on this man in an abandoned house watching him do dangerous kinky sex acts with a mystery woman. The mystery woman ends up dead and her murder is unsolved for 15 - 20 years. Flash forward and the girls are all still friends and are now being harassed by the mysterious murder, and it turns in to a deadly who did it.
Now, it started with a great first chapter and then it started disappointing me.
1. It struggled to establish emotional investment in the friendship. The focus is too much on the girls voyeurism. We barely get to see them act like regular girls: going to school, to the mall, exploring other hobbies, talking to other kids their age etc. It’s literally them just hanging out obsessing over this mystery dude. A lot of that time was wasted focusing on these girls traumatic home lives and Andie’s parent’s divorce (the way that storyline dragged out you would’ve thought it had significance - IT DIDNT AT ALL)
2. Andie dating the cop that met her and KNEW her as a teenager was gross. She was 15 yr old girl looking to a rookie cop for help on some traumatic shit she just witnessed, and now they’re all in love? Talk about pervy trauma bonding. Wasn’t romantic at all.
3. Andie as a therapist caught between patient confidentiality and corroborating with the police was just annoying. It felt like at times she was trying to sound like a lawyer. I just thought all the passages about that was a waste.
4. The plot twist was so obvious which ties into my first point. If we had more investment in the friend group, I would be clutching my pearls at the twist. Alas, I knew it was coming from chapter one, and it didn’t make any sense.
Overall it’s a quick read, it’s scandalous and perfect for escaping into someone else’s drama.
(I was fully invested in this stories potential so I have a lot of thoughts)
It’s a story about three girls as teens who are best friends and spend a summer spying on this man in an abandoned house watching him do dangerous kinky sex acts with a mystery woman. The mystery woman ends up dead and her murder is unsolved for 15 - 20 years. Flash forward and the girls are all still friends and are now being harassed by the mysterious murder, and it turns in to a deadly who did it.
Now, it started with a great first chapter and then it started disappointing me.
1. It struggled to establish emotional investment in the friendship. The focus is too much on the girls voyeurism. We barely get to see them act like regular girls: going to school, to the mall, exploring other hobbies, talking to other kids their age etc. It’s literally them just hanging out obsessing over this mystery dude. A lot of that time was wasted focusing on these girls traumatic home lives and Andie’s parent’s divorce (the way that storyline dragged out you would’ve thought it had significance - IT DIDNT AT ALL)
2. Andie dating the cop that met her and KNEW her as a teenager was gross. She was 15 yr old girl looking to a rookie cop for help on some traumatic shit she just witnessed, and now they’re all in love? Talk about pervy trauma bonding. Wasn’t romantic at all.
3. Andie as a therapist caught between patient confidentiality and corroborating with the police was just annoying. It felt like at times she was trying to sound like a lawyer. I just thought all the passages about that was a waste.
4. The plot twist was so obvious which ties into my first point. If we had more investment in the friend group, I would be clutching my pearls at the twist. Alas, I knew it was coming from chapter one, and it didn’t make any sense.
Overall it’s a quick read, it’s scandalous and perfect for escaping into someone else’s drama.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2024
They were only watching...
The enigmatic lovers that Andie and her friends spied on were entangled in a perilous sexual game meant to remain a secret. But their curiosity spiraled into a dangerous obsession...
Now, 15 years later, someone is watching Andie—someone who refuses to let her forget the unsolved murder of Mrs. X and the mysterious disappearance of Mr. X. Suddenly, Andie finds herself questioning who she can trust—because loyalty can be deadly.
Andie. Julie. Raven. Three very different women, bound by more than just friendship.
☆★═══════════════★☆
It starts out with sex between two teens... not impressed.
I think the author used the words "sucked in/drew one's [adjective] breath" one hundred times. Or 'caught her breath.' Moreover, there are these horrifying phrases, "she made a sound of frustration/disgust/surprise," that made me roll my eyes - first off, sometimes it's difficult to understand what particular sound was made. Second, they were too abundant, and third, it feels like lazy writing to use such ready-made combinations. I found the recurring theme of women being abused in various forms—rape, mistreatment, BDSM—off-putting. Moreover, the idea that the only path to happiness is having a loving man by your side felt overly simplistic and problematic.
The book was a quick read but focused too heavily on the sexual awakening of teenagers, while their adult experiences were glossed over too quickly in comparison.
I think it was too long, repetitive, and had a thin plot.
The loyalty of the girls was the only redeeming value.
I could have done it without all the profanity. I get that people all think cops talk like that, but whatever.
The way all the girls called their fathers 'Daddy' really bothered me. As a small child, yes, but as an older person, it's just weird to me.
The enigmatic lovers that Andie and her friends spied on were entangled in a perilous sexual game meant to remain a secret. But their curiosity spiraled into a dangerous obsession...
Now, 15 years later, someone is watching Andie—someone who refuses to let her forget the unsolved murder of Mrs. X and the mysterious disappearance of Mr. X. Suddenly, Andie finds herself questioning who she can trust—because loyalty can be deadly.
Andie. Julie. Raven. Three very different women, bound by more than just friendship.
☆★═══════════════★☆
It starts out with sex between two teens... not impressed.
I think the author used the words "sucked in/drew one's [adjective] breath" one hundred times. Or 'caught her breath.' Moreover, there are these horrifying phrases, "she made a sound of frustration/disgust/surprise," that made me roll my eyes - first off, sometimes it's difficult to understand what particular sound was made. Second, they were too abundant, and third, it feels like lazy writing to use such ready-made combinations. I found the recurring theme of women being abused in various forms—rape, mistreatment, BDSM—off-putting. Moreover, the idea that the only path to happiness is having a loving man by your side felt overly simplistic and problematic.
The book was a quick read but focused too heavily on the sexual awakening of teenagers, while their adult experiences were glossed over too quickly in comparison.
I think it was too long, repetitive, and had a thin plot.
The loyalty of the girls was the only redeeming value.
I could have done it without all the profanity. I get that people all think cops talk like that, but whatever.
The way all the girls called their fathers 'Daddy' really bothered me. As a small child, yes, but as an older person, it's just weird to me.
March 10, 2018
It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that good either. I didn't particularly like this repetitive theme of abusing women in all forms - there are rapes, there is mistreatment, there is BDSM, and there's only one way to become happy - to have a loving male by your side.
The characters are quite developed, though it was difficult to believe in this twist at the end. Dunno why, maybe because this person that turns out to be a murderer seemed the most sane and likable one in the novel until this very revelation.
The language is smooth, but there were parts that really annoyed me, and they are repetitions of phrases. I think the author used the words "sucked in/drew one's [adjective] breath" one hundred times. Moreover, there are these horrifying phrases "she made a sound of frustration/disgust/surprise" that made me roll my eyes - first off, sometimes it's difficult to understand what particular sound was made, second off, they were too abundant, and thirdly, that feels like lazy writing, to use such ready-made combinations.
As for some sex scenes, they were embarrassing to read sometimes, especially with those cheesy words like "her sex" in the sense of a vagina.
All in all, not that bad.
The characters are quite developed, though it was difficult to believe in this twist at the end. Dunno why, maybe because this person that turns out to be a murderer seemed the most sane and likable one in the novel until this very revelation.
The language is smooth, but there were parts that really annoyed me, and they are repetitions of phrases. I think the author used the words "sucked in/drew one's [adjective] breath" one hundred times. Moreover, there are these horrifying phrases "she made a sound of frustration/disgust/surprise" that made me roll my eyes - first off, sometimes it's difficult to understand what particular sound was made, second off, they were too abundant, and thirdly, that feels like lazy writing, to use such ready-made combinations.
As for some sex scenes, they were embarrassing to read sometimes, especially with those cheesy words like "her sex" in the sense of a vagina.
All in all, not that bad.
February 9, 2023
My first book that i ever read by Erica Spindler is Shocking Pink.
First i thought i would abandon this book because it took me a long time to finish but i did it! yyeah!
Let tell you about this 3 friends:
Julie - A very troubled friend who wants love from men. She's obsessed of finding love from each relationships she had.
Raven - Their supporter. A father figure of the three. Who's always helping her friends even if it becomes unhealthy. The obsessed one.
Andie - The psychiatrist of the group. The mother figure who wants to help everyone by the book. Always go on black & white, right or wrong. (I swear i hate her character here. She knows the killer but always giving a benefit of the doubt because of her too naïve attitude.
First i hate how the characters are so oblivious they are it makes me wanna scream at them telling them that the killer is so obvious of his/her obsession towards them.
But hey guess what apparently the power of friendship was so strong they didn't bother to tell the obvious.
Though i like the story and concept of the book. Not half way through it already gave the hint of who's the killer and the psycho. So pretty much i already knows what's coming.
First i thought i would abandon this book because it took me a long time to finish but i did it! yyeah!
Let tell you about this 3 friends:
Julie - A very troubled friend who wants love from men. She's obsessed of finding love from each relationships she had.
Raven - Their supporter. A father figure of the three. Who's always helping her friends even if it becomes unhealthy. The obsessed one.
Andie - The psychiatrist of the group. The mother figure who wants to help everyone by the book. Always go on black & white, right or wrong. (I swear i hate her character here. She knows the killer but always giving a benefit of the doubt because of her too naïve attitude.
First i hate how the characters are so oblivious they are it makes me wanna scream at them telling them that the killer is so obvious of his/her obsession towards them.
But hey guess what apparently the power of friendship was so strong they didn't bother to tell the obvious.
Though i like the story and concept of the book. Not half way through it already gave the hint of who's the killer and the psycho. So pretty much i already knows what's coming.
January 3, 2019
A truly gripping psychological thriller which demands that you keep turning the pages !
Fifteen year olds Andie , Julie and Raven hear music coming from an empty house and peep through the window , Their innocence is shattered when they see what a man and a woman are doing .Stunned and more than a bit curious the girls keep watch for their return . What they witness becomes darker and more sinister . Eventually they contact the police but by then it is too late and the woman is already dead.
Many years later the three girls return to their hometown , but someone is watching them , waiting and laying plans . . .
I raced through this book which left me breathless and strangely uneasy . But in a good way !
Fifteen year olds Andie , Julie and Raven hear music coming from an empty house and peep through the window , Their innocence is shattered when they see what a man and a woman are doing .Stunned and more than a bit curious the girls keep watch for their return . What they witness becomes darker and more sinister . Eventually they contact the police but by then it is too late and the woman is already dead.
Many years later the three girls return to their hometown , but someone is watching them , waiting and laying plans . . .
I raced through this book which left me breathless and strangely uneasy . But in a good way !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2017
As I picked up this title from my "to read" books, I realized that I have not read a novel by Erica Spindler in a long time. Certainly after reading this novel, I wonder why I waited so long. I was completely absorbed in the friendship of the 3 women since they were young girls and an evening shared when they were 15 years old that now haunts their current lives each in an unique way. Twists and turns may have you think twice about entering an empty house if you live alone or if you're the first one home at night. Funny for me to have read this novel immediately after we "fall back" to Eastern Standard Time and gets dark so early - like late afternoon.
Psychological thriller with explicit sex scenes.
Psychological thriller with explicit sex scenes.
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