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The Sham
When love leads to death, be careful who you trust... Eighteen-year-old Emily Heath would love to leave her dead-end town, known locally as "The Sham", with her boyfriend, Jack, but he's very, very sick; his body is failing and his brain is shutting down. He's also in hiding, under suspicion of murder. Six months' ago, strange signs were painted across town in a dialect no one has spoken for decades and one of Emily's classmates washed up in the local floods.
Emily has never trusted her instincts and now they're pulling her towards Jack, who the police think is a sham himself, someone else entirely. As the town wakes to discover new signs plastered across its walls, Emily must decide who and what she trusts, and local vigilantes are hunting Jack; the floods, the police, and her parents are blocking her path; and the town doesn't need another dead body.
** This book is unsuitable for younger readers. It depicts adult situations, murder scenes, conversations about sex and profanity.**
Emily has never trusted her instincts and now they're pulling her towards Jack, who the police think is a sham himself, someone else entirely. As the town wakes to discover new signs plastered across its walls, Emily must decide who and what she trusts, and local vigilantes are hunting Jack; the floods, the police, and her parents are blocking her path; and the town doesn't need another dead body.
** This book is unsuitable for younger readers. It depicts adult situations, murder scenes, conversations about sex and profanity.**
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2014
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April 9, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
This is one of those ARCs that I ended up with because it had an interesting title, a pretty cover, and my read/review ratio on NetGalley was sitting above 37% so I thought I should just request errrrrrything that sounded decent.
The basic synopsis is this is supposed to be a YA mystery/thriller. Girls in “The Sham” are going missing and Emily might be next. Things started with a major bang and an über gruesome opening of a special needs child being brutally bullied. I’m assuming a good percentage of readers will opt to leave this as a DNF right there - and I wouldn’t blame them one bit. I’ve noticed there is now a disclaimer stating this is not for younger teens. That’s no joke. Although I was cringing, I made it through that beginning . . . and promptly boarded the hot mess express with the introduction of the various mean girls, an empath of sorts, some instalove, and slang that was nearly impossible to comprehend.
Apparently this novel spawned from a nightmare. It was pretty easy to tell by the disjointed scenes and lack of flow. Heck, I could write a real cuckoo of a book about some of my dreams. They generally feature things like me having a run-of-the-mill conversation with a 7 foot tall cat only to have a pizza break through the front door and attempt to murder us but it’s our lucky day because JEFF GOLDBLUM comes to our rescue . . .
and then I have much of the sexytimes with my hero and he shows me some O Face : )
Who would want to read that?Everyone No one. Sometimes dreams are best just left alone and The Sham is proof of that.
This is one of those ARCs that I ended up with because it had an interesting title, a pretty cover, and my read/review ratio on NetGalley was sitting above 37% so I thought I should just request errrrrrything that sounded decent.
The basic synopsis is this is supposed to be a YA mystery/thriller. Girls in “The Sham” are going missing and Emily might be next. Things started with a major bang and an über gruesome opening of a special needs child being brutally bullied. I’m assuming a good percentage of readers will opt to leave this as a DNF right there - and I wouldn’t blame them one bit. I’ve noticed there is now a disclaimer stating this is not for younger teens. That’s no joke. Although I was cringing, I made it through that beginning . . . and promptly boarded the hot mess express with the introduction of the various mean girls, an empath of sorts, some instalove, and slang that was nearly impossible to comprehend.
Apparently this novel spawned from a nightmare. It was pretty easy to tell by the disjointed scenes and lack of flow. Heck, I could write a real cuckoo of a book about some of my dreams. They generally feature things like me having a run-of-the-mill conversation with a 7 foot tall cat only to have a pizza break through the front door and attempt to murder us but it’s our lucky day because JEFF GOLDBLUM comes to our rescue . . .
and then I have much of the sexytimes with my hero and he shows me some O Face : )
Who would want to read that?
April 5, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Ellen Allen and NetGalley.)
“Because I can do things other people can’t. Extraordinary things.”
This story was weird; crazy weird.
I didn’t really understand the characters in this book, they were all certifiably crazy. There were the insane girls who bullied literally everyone in the most disgusting ways possible , Jack, who was very strange, and liked to eat food raw out of a bin – such as raw eggs and raw potatoes, and Emily, who came across as a little bit strange herself.
“I’m normal. You’re anything but.” My joke is half-hearted because it’s only half understood. I can list fifteen, twenty ways that Jack isn’t normal.
The storyline in this was about the strange goings on in the town of ‘Sham’, including the arrival of Jack (Query escaped mental patient?), and a rash of girls disappearing/turning up dead (Query murdered?). I have to say that this book was so darn weird though, and I just kept frowning and wrinkling up my nose as I was reading it. That is, it wasn’t pleasantly crazy, it was annoying crazy.
“-Get it’s head in your mouth before I pecks you to hell -”
How?
“-When you’ve ripped its head off then you get to go home.”
There was some romance, but I have to say that I really struggled to see what Emily saw in Jack.
“He was collecting food in a basket, sniffing a satsuma, shaking a pear.”
The ending to this was weird (not surprising really), and the explanation regarding the murders was also pretty darn bonkers. I am pretty sure that this is one of the strangest books I have ever read.
6 out of 10
“Because I can do things other people can’t. Extraordinary things.”
This story was weird; crazy weird.
I didn’t really understand the characters in this book, they were all certifiably crazy. There were the insane girls who bullied literally everyone in the most disgusting ways possible , Jack, who was very strange, and liked to eat food raw out of a bin – such as raw eggs and raw potatoes, and Emily, who came across as a little bit strange herself.
“I’m normal. You’re anything but.” My joke is half-hearted because it’s only half understood. I can list fifteen, twenty ways that Jack isn’t normal.
The storyline in this was about the strange goings on in the town of ‘Sham’, including the arrival of Jack (Query escaped mental patient?), and a rash of girls disappearing/turning up dead (Query murdered?). I have to say that this book was so darn weird though, and I just kept frowning and wrinkling up my nose as I was reading it. That is, it wasn’t pleasantly crazy, it was annoying crazy.
“-Get it’s head in your mouth before I pecks you to hell -”
How?
“-When you’ve ripped its head off then you get to go home.”
There was some romance, but I have to say that I really struggled to see what Emily saw in Jack.
“He was collecting food in a basket, sniffing a satsuma, shaking a pear.”
The ending to this was weird (not surprising really), and the explanation regarding the murders was also pretty darn bonkers. I am pretty sure that this is one of the strangest books I have ever read.
6 out of 10
July 15, 2015
This book just blew my mind wide open. I went into reading it with no expectations of what it would be about and the first chapter had me reeling, gasping for air. A group of nasty, cliquey teenage girls bullying a young boy, just a child in the most awful of ways. It made me angry, it stirred up a lot in me, I did not like this gang of girls ONE BIT. Very disturbing but critical to the rest of the book.
Eighteen year old Emily Heath tries to get these girls to stop tormenting this young boy, but instead a strange teenage boy comes to the rescue, a hero to this young boy and puts a stop to this torturous series of events. Who is the mystery man? Emily is curious, she wants to know more.
Strange things are happening in the place she lives, called "The Sham" by locals, this dead-end town doesn't offer much. Strange graffiti is appearing all over town, in a language that is ancient and unused today. Jack is an enigma but before long Emily is pulled into his world as she feels the urge to know him more, she gets closer and closer.
When one of Emily's classmates turns up dead in floods that hit the town and the river (one of the girls who bullied the child at the start of the book), the police start looking at Jack. They are thinking there was foul play. Jack is totally unknown, his history is vague, he has strange habits, like needing to eat all the time to have energy, I mean EAT ALL THE TIME, no matter what it is. Emily doesn't question this stuff too much, I mean it's weird right? But she cares for him regardless.
As more and more dark things start happening in this small town Emily finds that everybody is wanting her to stay away from Jack, the fingers point to him for everything. Her loyalty keeps her bound. She is to be commended for that to be honest, as it's pretty weird stuff going on.
The book is incredibly clever, you have no idea (but you will try many times to figure it out) who Jack is, you have no idea who killed the girl in the river, you have no idea who is painting the weird words around town (More than 100 times), but like me, you will think you have it worked out, you will be 99% sure you have got the picture. Then WHACK upside the head, wrong! Ding dong wrong! Ellen Allen is genius at weaving a surprise outcome into a very mysterious and almost untouchable book. This book just evades all logic at times. Dark yet funny, bizarre yet poignant.
It's soooooo hard to do a review without spoilers. At first I had no clue what the book was about, then it revealed a little bit more, and then a bit more, then I was hooked and just devouring this clever bit of story telling from the author.
The characters are incredibly well done, both Jack and Emily as protagonists are bold, well developed, likeable. Although I never could quite wholly accept Jack, but there is a reason for that, it's mean to be like that. The girls, the bullies in school are your classic love-to-hate bitchy clique, think they are all that and a bit more. Urgh! But well written, because you FEEL emotions towards and around so many of the characters. I won't even mention other fascinating characters that pop up later in the story. It would spoil it for you.
It's a serious story but it has some very funny and witty moments weaved into the book, it's a very clever combination.
Yes, Emily gets herself into a bit of a jam (get it? jam?) more than once in this book. The imagery is spectacular and the authors imagination and her story telling captured my own imagination.
It has to be noted I was desperate to know who the hell Jack was and what his story was, I changed opinion on what it might be over and over but I was wrong. When I did find out I was speechless. Brilliant.
THE ENDING - oh wow!, what a series of events leading up to a reveal I would not of dreamed of in a million years. Suddenly everything made sense! Of course it does in retrospect. Hindsight is a fine thing. But it was GOOD, you know, satisfying. Yes, I am happy with that ending thank you author person, yes indeed!
I really liked this book, it's different, it's quirky, it's a mash up genres really, yes teenagers feature in the book, yes it could be called a YA/Teen book, but don't let that put you off dear adult reader, because this book is sophisticated and very clever, and very readable. If the first chapter doesn't scare you away (it's a tad brutal) push through and get to the end and come back and chat with me about it.
For more of my book reviews, book discussions, recommendations and more, you can find me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
A huge thank you to Ellen Allen for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for a review, I was really keen to read and review this one and I was not disappointed.
Eighteen year old Emily Heath tries to get these girls to stop tormenting this young boy, but instead a strange teenage boy comes to the rescue, a hero to this young boy and puts a stop to this torturous series of events. Who is the mystery man? Emily is curious, she wants to know more.
Strange things are happening in the place she lives, called "The Sham" by locals, this dead-end town doesn't offer much. Strange graffiti is appearing all over town, in a language that is ancient and unused today. Jack is an enigma but before long Emily is pulled into his world as she feels the urge to know him more, she gets closer and closer.
When one of Emily's classmates turns up dead in floods that hit the town and the river (one of the girls who bullied the child at the start of the book), the police start looking at Jack. They are thinking there was foul play. Jack is totally unknown, his history is vague, he has strange habits, like needing to eat all the time to have energy, I mean EAT ALL THE TIME, no matter what it is. Emily doesn't question this stuff too much, I mean it's weird right? But she cares for him regardless.
As more and more dark things start happening in this small town Emily finds that everybody is wanting her to stay away from Jack, the fingers point to him for everything. Her loyalty keeps her bound. She is to be commended for that to be honest, as it's pretty weird stuff going on.
The book is incredibly clever, you have no idea (but you will try many times to figure it out) who Jack is, you have no idea who killed the girl in the river, you have no idea who is painting the weird words around town (More than 100 times), but like me, you will think you have it worked out, you will be 99% sure you have got the picture. Then WHACK upside the head, wrong! Ding dong wrong! Ellen Allen is genius at weaving a surprise outcome into a very mysterious and almost untouchable book. This book just evades all logic at times. Dark yet funny, bizarre yet poignant.
It's soooooo hard to do a review without spoilers. At first I had no clue what the book was about, then it revealed a little bit more, and then a bit more, then I was hooked and just devouring this clever bit of story telling from the author.
The characters are incredibly well done, both Jack and Emily as protagonists are bold, well developed, likeable. Although I never could quite wholly accept Jack, but there is a reason for that, it's mean to be like that. The girls, the bullies in school are your classic love-to-hate bitchy clique, think they are all that and a bit more. Urgh! But well written, because you FEEL emotions towards and around so many of the characters. I won't even mention other fascinating characters that pop up later in the story. It would spoil it for you.
It's a serious story but it has some very funny and witty moments weaved into the book, it's a very clever combination.
I heard a gigantic tear as my jumper ripped and I splashed down face first. I swallowed jam down. I sneezed jam out. I was choking. I'd be a laughing stock. A crappy statistic. Emily Heath. Choked to death in a giant vat of gooseberries. Like that writer Tennessee Williams. He met his end choking on the cap to his eyedrop bottle as he was putting in his drops. Or those two people who died last year from Foreign Bodies in their oesophogus. I was sure it was nothing like the girl at school ever had to contend with, the Swim Champ. I was treading water in a pool of hot jam while a rotating whisk was carving up my belly and sides.
Yes, Emily gets herself into a bit of a jam (get it? jam?) more than once in this book. The imagery is spectacular and the authors imagination and her story telling captured my own imagination.
It has to be noted I was desperate to know who the hell Jack was and what his story was, I changed opinion on what it might be over and over but I was wrong. When I did find out I was speechless. Brilliant.
THE ENDING - oh wow!, what a series of events leading up to a reveal I would not of dreamed of in a million years. Suddenly everything made sense! Of course it does in retrospect. Hindsight is a fine thing. But it was GOOD, you know, satisfying. Yes, I am happy with that ending thank you author person, yes indeed!
I really liked this book, it's different, it's quirky, it's a mash up genres really, yes teenagers feature in the book, yes it could be called a YA/Teen book, but don't let that put you off dear adult reader, because this book is sophisticated and very clever, and very readable. If the first chapter doesn't scare you away (it's a tad brutal) push through and get to the end and come back and chat with me about it.
For more of my book reviews, book discussions, recommendations and more, you can find me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
A huge thank you to Ellen Allen for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for a review, I was really keen to read and review this one and I was not disappointed.
November 25, 2014
After reading The Sham by Ellen Allen, I can't stop myself from quoting Arthur Conan Doyle’s remarkable words:
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”
Ellen Allen, an indie YA author, who has woven a spectacular story in her debut book, The Sham about simple unexplained mysteries surrounding us, and which will force you to stop and think before trusting anyone so blindly.
Synopsis:
Eighteen-year-old Emily Heath would love to leave her dead-end town, known locally as "The Sham", with her boyfriend, Jack, but he's very, very sick; his body is failing and his brain is shutting down. He's also in hiding, under suspicion of murder. Six months' ago, strange signs were painted across town in a dialect no one has spoken for decades and one of Emily's classmates washed up in the local floods.
Emily has never trusted her instincts and now they're pulling her towards Jack, who the police think is a sham himself, someone else entirely. As the town wakes to discover new signs plastered across its walls, Emily must decide who and what she trusts, and fast: local vigilantes are hunting Jack; the floods, the police, and her parents are blocking her path; and the town doesn’t need another dead body.
Don't worry, it's not only the blurb that sounds so fantastic and all so alluring, but the whole book is one hell of an intriguing ride! Trust me; it's not every day that you come across something so extraordinarily and so very real, that it'll give you Goosebumps simply by reading the book.
Hats off to the author for that mind-blowing opening chapter! It completely captured me when and peaked my interest when a mysterious guy stands up to stop bullying a little kid from some mean-and-bitchy chicks in a school. The scene might not sound so riveting, but the way Ellen has represented and delivered this whole scene will completely capture your both mind and soul into this very story, and will bound to leave you with a sickening feeling at the pit of your stomach! But it also leaves you with a feeling of curiosity as to know who is mysterious guy is? What is want? Among that group of bitchy girls, there's a sweet, determined and loyal girl, named Emily, who too tries to stop the bullying act and she too like us is filled with a mist of curiosity about the identity of this strange guy.
Turn the page, and here we are seeing that Emily's town is turning mysterious with each passing day and this all started happening with the arrival of that strange guy, named, Jack. But when one of Emily's classmates and one of that bitchy girl’s body wash up ashore on the beach, police and the locals point fingers towards Jack and since Emily can't stop listening to her heart, she gets very involved with Jack, before it gets too late.
I know ask the author Ellen, how did you hold back all your mysteries and did not leave us even with a single clue? I mean often in mystery novels we can find at least one or two clue while putting the pieces together. But in The Sham there's no such scope, moreover, it demands lots of attention from the readers to understand the story properly. The author completely possessed our mind and did not let us make any decisions, the way she wanted and way when she wanted she delivered her twists, but those twists are present to help us understand the story better.
Enough about the mystery and the twists!! Now the writing! What can I say! With such a flawless and clever prose, it only means one thing that the book is a completely page turner from the very first page. Her characters are very, very intricately developed with sheer vividness. And that surprise that Ellen has left at the end of the book will completely throw you off the edge and it'll only make you feel why I didn’t see that coming!
Ellen you're a genius since only a genius like you can spun such a gruesomely twisted and unnerving plot!
Verdict: It should be the YA novel of the year 2014! So guys please, please read this book and it's not only for the YA lovers, this book can be devoured by everyone whoever loves a tight and compact mystery!
Courtesy: Thank you so much Ellen for the review copy!
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”
Ellen Allen, an indie YA author, who has woven a spectacular story in her debut book, The Sham about simple unexplained mysteries surrounding us, and which will force you to stop and think before trusting anyone so blindly.
Synopsis:
Eighteen-year-old Emily Heath would love to leave her dead-end town, known locally as "The Sham", with her boyfriend, Jack, but he's very, very sick; his body is failing and his brain is shutting down. He's also in hiding, under suspicion of murder. Six months' ago, strange signs were painted across town in a dialect no one has spoken for decades and one of Emily's classmates washed up in the local floods.
Emily has never trusted her instincts and now they're pulling her towards Jack, who the police think is a sham himself, someone else entirely. As the town wakes to discover new signs plastered across its walls, Emily must decide who and what she trusts, and fast: local vigilantes are hunting Jack; the floods, the police, and her parents are blocking her path; and the town doesn’t need another dead body.
Don't worry, it's not only the blurb that sounds so fantastic and all so alluring, but the whole book is one hell of an intriguing ride! Trust me; it's not every day that you come across something so extraordinarily and so very real, that it'll give you Goosebumps simply by reading the book.
Hats off to the author for that mind-blowing opening chapter! It completely captured me when and peaked my interest when a mysterious guy stands up to stop bullying a little kid from some mean-and-bitchy chicks in a school. The scene might not sound so riveting, but the way Ellen has represented and delivered this whole scene will completely capture your both mind and soul into this very story, and will bound to leave you with a sickening feeling at the pit of your stomach! But it also leaves you with a feeling of curiosity as to know who is mysterious guy is? What is want? Among that group of bitchy girls, there's a sweet, determined and loyal girl, named Emily, who too tries to stop the bullying act and she too like us is filled with a mist of curiosity about the identity of this strange guy.
Turn the page, and here we are seeing that Emily's town is turning mysterious with each passing day and this all started happening with the arrival of that strange guy, named, Jack. But when one of Emily's classmates and one of that bitchy girl’s body wash up ashore on the beach, police and the locals point fingers towards Jack and since Emily can't stop listening to her heart, she gets very involved with Jack, before it gets too late.
I know ask the author Ellen, how did you hold back all your mysteries and did not leave us even with a single clue? I mean often in mystery novels we can find at least one or two clue while putting the pieces together. But in The Sham there's no such scope, moreover, it demands lots of attention from the readers to understand the story properly. The author completely possessed our mind and did not let us make any decisions, the way she wanted and way when she wanted she delivered her twists, but those twists are present to help us understand the story better.
Enough about the mystery and the twists!! Now the writing! What can I say! With such a flawless and clever prose, it only means one thing that the book is a completely page turner from the very first page. Her characters are very, very intricately developed with sheer vividness. And that surprise that Ellen has left at the end of the book will completely throw you off the edge and it'll only make you feel why I didn’t see that coming!
Ellen you're a genius since only a genius like you can spun such a gruesomely twisted and unnerving plot!
Verdict: It should be the YA novel of the year 2014! So guys please, please read this book and it's not only for the YA lovers, this book can be devoured by everyone whoever loves a tight and compact mystery!
Courtesy: Thank you so much Ellen for the review copy!
October 15, 2014
Upon finishing this book, I felt as if I was in daze, unable to face the fact that this story was over. I did not want it to be over!
Obviously, I loved this book. This story was built on mystery and suspense. My mind was constantly working, trying to figure out what the truth of it all was.
The book starts off with a bang, to say the least. We have Emily, an almost eighteen year old, who is at the park with her baby sister when four girls arrive to have some 'fun' with a ten year old boy. Please take note that what they do to the boy is, in fact, not at all fun. Yes, the scene will probably make you cringe and grit your teeth, but this scene is so very important to introduce the reader to these girls.
The mysterious Jack comes in during the girls rampage on this little boy, and he immediately shows signs that something is not quite right about him...
"#1: Jack is always prepared like he's ready for anything.
#2: Jack is constantly eating like his body is always one meal behind.
#3: Jack seems to know what I feel.
#4: Jack is like a walking encyclopedia of factoids.
#5: Jack is really bright. Mostly self-taught.
#6: Jack and I don't share (m)any cultural references.
#7: Jack is secretive, hidden, like he's nervous of being discovered..."
I was instantly drawn to Jack. Something about the unknown always sparks my interest. Jack is unknown, unknown to anyone in town, unknown to Emily. She isn't sure what to think of him. But she feels the pull, begging her to get closer, to find out more.
One of the four horrible girls winds up dead, and the police start questioning Jack. As more unexplainable things start happening in this small town, all fingers point to Jack, and Emily tries harder to get to the bottom of the mystery that is Jack.
This book is like the slow climb up the first drop of a roller coaster. The suspense just builds and builds until the story cracks wide open! Unfortunately, I can't talk about the ending at all because it would all be spoilers. The ending was magnificent! I did predict part of it because - but I didn't see the other part coming! I was blown away that this is a debut novel. I absolutely loved the writing style and how the story was put together. It was only minor things that stopped me from giving it five stars, like better development in Emily and Jack's relationship. And I have a big issue with weak females, so I was disappointed that Emily didn't do more in the beginning scene.
Besides that, I have no real complaints. This story is insanely riveting from the first page to the last. The imagery was fantastic. I was not aware of my surroundings while reading this book - which is THE BEST sign of an incredible reading experience :)
Thank you so much, Ellen Allen, for giving me the opportunity to read your wonderful book!
Obviously, I loved this book. This story was built on mystery and suspense. My mind was constantly working, trying to figure out what the truth of it all was.
The book starts off with a bang, to say the least. We have Emily, an almost eighteen year old, who is at the park with her baby sister when four girls arrive to have some 'fun' with a ten year old boy. Please take note that what they do to the boy is, in fact, not at all fun. Yes, the scene will probably make you cringe and grit your teeth, but this scene is so very important to introduce the reader to these girls.
The mysterious Jack comes in during the girls rampage on this little boy, and he immediately shows signs that something is not quite right about him...
"#1: Jack is always prepared like he's ready for anything.
#2: Jack is constantly eating like his body is always one meal behind.
#3: Jack seems to know what I feel.
#4: Jack is like a walking encyclopedia of factoids.
#5: Jack is really bright. Mostly self-taught.
#6: Jack and I don't share (m)any cultural references.
#7: Jack is secretive, hidden, like he's nervous of being discovered..."
I was instantly drawn to Jack. Something about the unknown always sparks my interest. Jack is unknown, unknown to anyone in town, unknown to Emily. She isn't sure what to think of him. But she feels the pull, begging her to get closer, to find out more.
One of the four horrible girls winds up dead, and the police start questioning Jack. As more unexplainable things start happening in this small town, all fingers point to Jack, and Emily tries harder to get to the bottom of the mystery that is Jack.
This book is like the slow climb up the first drop of a roller coaster. The suspense just builds and builds until the story cracks wide open! Unfortunately, I can't talk about the ending at all because it would all be spoilers. The ending was magnificent! I did predict part of it because - but I didn't see the other part coming! I was blown away that this is a debut novel. I absolutely loved the writing style and how the story was put together. It was only minor things that stopped me from giving it five stars, like better development in Emily and Jack's relationship. And I have a big issue with weak females, so I was disappointed that Emily didn't do more in the beginning scene.
Besides that, I have no real complaints. This story is insanely riveting from the first page to the last. The imagery was fantastic. I was not aware of my surroundings while reading this book - which is THE BEST sign of an incredible reading experience :)
Thank you so much, Ellen Allen, for giving me the opportunity to read your wonderful book!
October 9, 2014
I received a free download of "The Sham" by Ellen Allen through Storycartel.com. First of all, I have to be honest as I did not know what to expect from this book. the author,"This book is unsuitable for younger readers; it contains discussions about murder scenes, conversations about sex, and slight profanity." This book is not for the faint hearted as the first chapter is extremely gory, to the point that I nearly stopped...but I am glad that I continued on, as this book proved to be a real gem!
Emily Heath, nearly eighteen years old, wants to leave town, known as "The Sham" with her boyfriend, Jack. She has been planning her escape, ever since she arrived. Emily lives above a greengrocers and works in a convenience store and jam factory.
Emily was at the park when some of the nasty girls from her school started bullying a ten year old boy called Charlie. Emily couldn't move, but was frozen in her place, unable to move and assist the little boy. It was here that she met Jack, who intervened and came to rescue Charlie-The Hero!
But Jack was very sick, he seemed to be suffering from epilepsy,his brain and body were shutting down. Emily took pity on him, and recognized that Jack was different from anyone she had ever known. Jack was Always eating. He was confident but also neurotic and secretive, a loner and didn't share information. Jack is smart and is sensitive to his feelings and others-a gut instinct approach.
Then one of Emily's classmates washes up in the local floods, and all fingers point at Jack, who is now under suspicion of murder. Strange signs were painted across town in a rare dialect.
Emily is now drawn to Jack, to protect and prove his innocence.Emily must decide quickly who and what she trusts, as everyone is on the hunt for Jack.
Great ending, rich characters a book that will definitely keep you guessing right until the end.
Emily Heath, nearly eighteen years old, wants to leave town, known as "The Sham" with her boyfriend, Jack. She has been planning her escape, ever since she arrived. Emily lives above a greengrocers and works in a convenience store and jam factory.
Emily was at the park when some of the nasty girls from her school started bullying a ten year old boy called Charlie. Emily couldn't move, but was frozen in her place, unable to move and assist the little boy. It was here that she met Jack, who intervened and came to rescue Charlie-The Hero!
But Jack was very sick, he seemed to be suffering from epilepsy,his brain and body were shutting down. Emily took pity on him, and recognized that Jack was different from anyone she had ever known. Jack was Always eating. He was confident but also neurotic and secretive, a loner and didn't share information. Jack is smart and is sensitive to his feelings and others-a gut instinct approach.
Then one of Emily's classmates washes up in the local floods, and all fingers point at Jack, who is now under suspicion of murder. Strange signs were painted across town in a rare dialect.
Emily is now drawn to Jack, to protect and prove his innocence.Emily must decide quickly who and what she trusts, as everyone is on the hunt for Jack.
Great ending, rich characters a book that will definitely keep you guessing right until the end.
January 26, 2015
The Sham was a book that surprised me. I expected one thing, got quite another, it was a terrifically eclectic and weirdly wonderful read exploring some haunting themes at its heart.
Emily meets Jack, a strange enigmatic character and falls for him. So much so that she glosses over his odd proclivities and rather weird ways and is willing to go a long way to protect him from the suspicions of the town. Meanwhile her own family is causing her grief, old signs are appearing all over “The Sham” and girls are disappearing..
Admittedly I was very nearly put off this one by a very violent bullying scene right at the start of it – however this was simply the jumping off point for a really clever tale that is not all that it immediately appears to be and this scene is integral to that and important. Ellen Allen keeps the suspense going throughout – Just who is Jack and where did he come from, what is happening with the disappearances, all enthralling and engaging stuff.
Added to that we have a hint of family drama, some very well drawn characters some of whom are immensely unlikeable but still very authentic. I loved Emily, she is ruled by her heart rather than by her head a lot of the time, but its still very practically minded. There are some humerous moments to offset the dark side of the story, some of which made me laugh a lot…the jam for example, ha.
Clever writing, a weird and wonderful feel to it and a story that will take you in often astonishing directions, I thought it was terrific. It will get into your head and stay there!
Emily meets Jack, a strange enigmatic character and falls for him. So much so that she glosses over his odd proclivities and rather weird ways and is willing to go a long way to protect him from the suspicions of the town. Meanwhile her own family is causing her grief, old signs are appearing all over “The Sham” and girls are disappearing..
Admittedly I was very nearly put off this one by a very violent bullying scene right at the start of it – however this was simply the jumping off point for a really clever tale that is not all that it immediately appears to be and this scene is integral to that and important. Ellen Allen keeps the suspense going throughout – Just who is Jack and where did he come from, what is happening with the disappearances, all enthralling and engaging stuff.
Added to that we have a hint of family drama, some very well drawn characters some of whom are immensely unlikeable but still very authentic. I loved Emily, she is ruled by her heart rather than by her head a lot of the time, but its still very practically minded. There are some humerous moments to offset the dark side of the story, some of which made me laugh a lot…the jam for example, ha.
Clever writing, a weird and wonderful feel to it and a story that will take you in often astonishing directions, I thought it was terrific. It will get into your head and stay there!
October 26, 2016
I hate giving one star reviews. I also hate not finishing a book. Unfortunately, I just couldn't finish this one.
The Sham has sat on my Kindle for far too long. I keep opening it, trying to read it, and yet I never get very far. Very quickly, I lost interest. Very quickly, I found myself putting the book aside. No matter how hard I tried I could not get into this book – and trust me, I tried repeatedly.
The story felt really disjoined. The characters failed to pull me in. Events did nothing. I wasn’t feeling anything as I tried to work my way through this one, and due to that I decided I wasn’t going to continue. I recently decided I was done working my way through books I’m not enjoying, and this is just another book to add to that list. I really am disappointed by this one.
Nevertheless, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this.
The Sham has sat on my Kindle for far too long. I keep opening it, trying to read it, and yet I never get very far. Very quickly, I lost interest. Very quickly, I found myself putting the book aside. No matter how hard I tried I could not get into this book – and trust me, I tried repeatedly.
The story felt really disjoined. The characters failed to pull me in. Events did nothing. I wasn’t feeling anything as I tried to work my way through this one, and due to that I decided I wasn’t going to continue. I recently decided I was done working my way through books I’m not enjoying, and this is just another book to add to that list. I really am disappointed by this one.
Nevertheless, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this.
February 4, 2015
ARC for review.
Emily is a small town good girl, chomping at the bit to get out. One night she comes across a group of her high school peers terrorizing a young boy - the tries to help, but the situation is only diffused when a mysterious stranger, Jack, appears. It's a horrible case of insta-love between the two. But then the girls involved with the incident begin disappearing and Jack, with no past, is immediately seen as the main suspect.
AS HE SHOULD BE. I really didn't get this book at all - there are about three thousand things about Jack that should make Emily run in the other direction, yet while she might give lip service to the idea that Jack should really tell her the truth, she never gives any sort of ultimatum or anything. Emily makes about one million poor decisions (and she's ready to live on her own? I wouldn't trust her to water my plants), the "mystery" surrounding Jack gets really dull after awhile and EMILY'S OWN PARENTS allow this murder suspect to LIVE with them. I found the characters interchangeable (naming one of the mean girls "Becky" and another "Rebecca" didn't help). In addition, throughout the book there was a disjointed feeling, Allen would throw a character or a piece of information in as an aside, as if she was thinking that she had explained it all earlier, so of course the reader would get the reference....but she had never explained it earlier and it just left me floating out there in the "WTF" zone.
I'm presuming this is a book geared toward young adults. I hope they can make more out of it than I was able to.
Emily is a small town good girl, chomping at the bit to get out. One night she comes across a group of her high school peers terrorizing a young boy - the tries to help, but the situation is only diffused when a mysterious stranger, Jack, appears. It's a horrible case of insta-love between the two. But then the girls involved with the incident begin disappearing and Jack, with no past, is immediately seen as the main suspect.
AS HE SHOULD BE. I really didn't get this book at all - there are about three thousand things about Jack that should make Emily run in the other direction, yet while she might give lip service to the idea that Jack should really tell her the truth, she never gives any sort of ultimatum or anything. Emily makes about one million poor decisions (and she's ready to live on her own? I wouldn't trust her to water my plants), the "mystery" surrounding Jack gets really dull after awhile and EMILY'S OWN PARENTS allow this murder suspect to LIVE with them. I found the characters interchangeable (naming one of the mean girls "Becky" and another "Rebecca" didn't help). In addition, throughout the book there was a disjointed feeling, Allen would throw a character or a piece of information in as an aside, as if she was thinking that she had explained it all earlier, so of course the reader would get the reference....but she had never explained it earlier and it just left me floating out there in the "WTF" zone.
I'm presuming this is a book geared toward young adults. I hope they can make more out of it than I was able to.
November 20, 2014
Ehrmerghed.
I was very fortunate to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
NOTE: This book is not suitable for children. It contains graphic descriptions, profanity, and issues of intercourse. This is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. Reader discretion is advised.
Emily lives in a small, dead-end town called The Sham. She's a smart and genuinely likable protagonist. At the beginning of the book I was shocked by the disturbing events that took place.
There were these bullies who terrorized anyone they wanted. Cath,Kitty, Becky, and Rebecca (clever names). They made a special needs boy bite off a bird's head! What the hell?! So when the bullies started dying one by one and clues started popping up I became excited.
The number one suspect was Jack, the loner with epilepsy and a huge appetite. I liked him. He was sweet at times albeit a little confusing. I liked his relationship with Emily.
What I didn't like was how dense the people in town were. Even the cops were useless at times.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery in this novel. And even though I was left a bit nauseous I would still recommend this book to anyone willing to give it a try.
I was very fortunate to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
NOTE: This book is not suitable for children. It contains graphic descriptions, profanity, and issues of intercourse. This is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. Reader discretion is advised.
Emily lives in a small, dead-end town called The Sham. She's a smart and genuinely likable protagonist. At the beginning of the book I was shocked by the disturbing events that took place.
There were these bullies who terrorized anyone they wanted. Cath,Kitty, Becky, and Rebecca (clever names). They made a special needs boy bite off a bird's head! What the hell?! So when the bullies started dying one by one and clues started popping up I became excited.
The number one suspect was Jack, the loner with epilepsy and a huge appetite. I liked him. He was sweet at times albeit a little confusing. I liked his relationship with Emily.
What I didn't like was how dense the people in town were. Even the cops were useless at times.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery in this novel. And even though I was left a bit nauseous I would still recommend this book to anyone willing to give it a try.
October 10, 2014
DNF @ 45%
I can't seem to grasp this story. The main plot is interesting but details keep getting thrown in that make no sense to me. I go back and reread but I still don't get it.
I can't seem to grasp this story. The main plot is interesting but details keep getting thrown in that make no sense to me. I go back and reread but I still don't get it.
December 8, 2014
**Check out the original review - a part of the official The Sham Blog Tour - over on 21st Century Once Upon A Times**
The Sham is a twisted labyrinth of signs, lies, and buried truths.
From the very beginning I could tell that it was unlike any book I'd ever read. The Sham sets the reader up from the start to prepare for an ending that isn't all sunshine and rainbows...and to realise that there are no answers to be found in the present - rather we, the reader, must look for the answers in the past.
Just like The Sham's main protagonist, Emily.
The first sentence of chapter 2 grabbed my attention:
Referring to a certain character as 'Dead Body' is one of the many quirks of Emily Heath. Emily's voice/consciousness in this book is eerily loud and ever-present. Her eccentric descriptions and often awkward conversations help to flesh her out as a character.
What stands out about The Sham is its eccentric undertones - seen mainly through the unique descriptions.
(Needless to say I won't be looking at jam the same way again!)
The Sham requires you to be open-minded and patient.
I will admit - I did have a bit of trouble getting into this story at first. I think the main contributor to this was Jack, and his riddle-esque way of talking. I wanted straight answers as much as Emily did!
It's always hard to accustom your mind to such a different style of writing from what you normally read. It's not at all a reflection on the book - which was honestly intriguing, and brilliantly written.
But once you do adjust your way of thinking/reading...it's totally worth it!
I found myself getting more and more drawn into the story's underlying mystery, searching for 'suspects', and trying to piece the clues together. I was cheering Emily on as she got all 'Nancy Drew', searching around the town.
This book also has a special brand of humour.
What I really liked about this book was how the humour and romance elements didn't overpower or take away from the main plot. And when I did come across them, it was a nice change from all the horror:
Warning: this book is not for the faint of heart!
There is lots of blood. And horror. And murder. So...basically, if you're the kind of person who can't handle Halloween, American Horror Story, and/or animal cruelty, I don't think this is the book for you.
But, if you're a mystery/thriller genre-lover, I recommend giving The Sham a read.
**I was provided with a review copy of the book via Ya Bound Book Tours - however, all opinions expressed in this review are purely my own (to find out more, please visit my disclaimer page).**
The Sham is a twisted labyrinth of signs, lies, and buried truths.
From the very beginning I could tell that it was unlike any book I'd ever read. The Sham sets the reader up from the start to prepare for an ending that isn't all sunshine and rainbows...and to realise that there are no answers to be found in the present - rather we, the reader, must look for the answers in the past.
Just like The Sham's main protagonist, Emily.
The first sentence of chapter 2 grabbed my attention:
'I hadn't seen them coming, Dead Body and her friends.'
Referring to a certain character as 'Dead Body' is one of the many quirks of Emily Heath. Emily's voice/consciousness in this book is eerily loud and ever-present. Her eccentric descriptions and often awkward conversations help to flesh her out as a character.
What stands out about The Sham is its eccentric undertones - seen mainly through the unique descriptions.
'Blood is seeping from his nose, which reminds me of something Mum's new husband Stevie once said, how his family's jam factory was bombed in the war. How the house down the road were smeared in jelly, dead bodies covered in marmalade, everything buried in strawberry jam.'
(Needless to say I won't be looking at jam the same way again!)
The Sham requires you to be open-minded and patient.
I will admit - I did have a bit of trouble getting into this story at first. I think the main contributor to this was Jack, and his riddle-esque way of talking. I wanted straight answers as much as Emily did!
It's always hard to accustom your mind to such a different style of writing from what you normally read. It's not at all a reflection on the book - which was honestly intriguing, and brilliantly written.
But once you do adjust your way of thinking/reading...it's totally worth it!
I found myself getting more and more drawn into the story's underlying mystery, searching for 'suspects', and trying to piece the clues together. I was cheering Emily on as she got all 'Nancy Drew', searching around the town.
This book also has a special brand of humour.
What I really liked about this book was how the humour and romance elements didn't overpower or take away from the main plot. And when I did come across them, it was a nice change from all the horror:
'"I might ask a lot of questions, but you don't ask any."
"What should I be asking?" he said.
"Whatever you want."
He nodded, processing. Finally, he asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"That's your first question?" I said.
He was amused to see me squirm.'
Warning: this book is not for the faint of heart!
There is lots of blood. And horror. And murder. So...basically, if you're the kind of person who can't handle Halloween, American Horror Story, and/or animal cruelty, I don't think this is the book for you.
But, if you're a mystery/thriller genre-lover, I recommend giving The Sham a read.
**I was provided with a review copy of the book via Ya Bound Book Tours - however, all opinions expressed in this review are purely my own (to find out more, please visit my disclaimer page).**
September 29, 2014
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Emily lives in CleveSham, a quiet town where nothing ever happens. It is only when she meets the mysterious Jack that the murders begin to happen. Who is Jack and is he the one behind the murders of the girls who bullied her? Read this for yourself and find out.
This was a pretty good read. I enjoyed this story. If you like murder mysteries, definitely give this a check out. You'll enjoy it.
Emily lives in CleveSham, a quiet town where nothing ever happens. It is only when she meets the mysterious Jack that the murders begin to happen. Who is Jack and is he the one behind the murders of the girls who bullied her? Read this for yourself and find out.
This was a pretty good read. I enjoyed this story. If you like murder mysteries, definitely give this a check out. You'll enjoy it.
July 9, 2015
Wow, how do I even begin my review for this book? This is one that I had to sit on for a few days before I could even attempt to gather my thoughts together and make sense of them, there was so much going on in my mind about this book! I will tell you that I absolutely LOVED The Sham, it totally blew me away!!! This was such an obsessive read for me and I couldn’t tear myself away once I started it.
Now, as much as I loved this book I suspect that some will absolutely hate it! The Sham opens with an extremely disturbing scene in its first chapter that to some, will go too far. I suspect many readers will never make it past this point which is a shame really, because it’s absolutely brilliant (but ya, you’ll need a strong stomach!!) A group of 4 really nasty, cliquey girls (think Heathers circa 1988) bully a young kid in some of the most horrific ways possible! Eighteen year old Emily finds herself stuck, watching on in horror at what these girls are doing but not really knowing how to stop the situation. Finally, along comes our knight in shining armor, the mysterious Jack, who forces these girls to stop, much to Emily’s relief. But who is he? Where did he come from? And why is he suddenly having some sort of seizure on the ground? Once I was able to catch my breath I was left wondering “what kind of fucked up world did I just walk into?”
There are two mysteries going on here; the first, whose killing off these nasty girls (they totally deserve it) and second, who the heck is Jack? Emily is immediately drawn to him; regardless of his strange behavior & vague answers, and the two form an unbreakable bond. Both plot-lines are equally fascinating which I think says a lot for the author. Usually when I read a book that is driven by multiple mysteries I find that I’m drawn into one much more than the other. Not here, both plotlines and the mysteries surrounding them were equally engaging and twisted. The stylistic and almost dreamlike writing leaves you constantly questioning what’s really going on. Beware, this book is very clever……….clever, clever, clever :)
As I read further I became obsessed with trying to figure it all out. Who was the murderer? Why were these girls being targeted specifically? Was there more to the motive beyond each of them being a horrendous bitch? Who’s next, Emily? Who’s painting all those weird symbols all over town and what do they mean? Who is Jack and where does he come from? Why does he seem so uncomfortable in his own skin? Why can’t he go longer than an hour without eating? And why does he seem to have super strength and super brains yet not know some of the simplest information? Is he the murderer or somehow connected? Ugh, I drove myself mad trying to figure it all out!! And this is what Emily is trying to figure out as well. She’s falling for Jack, hard, but can she trust him? Should she trust him?
I can honestly say that the ending to this blew me away! After all of my theories and suspicions, the late nights trying to decipher what was really going on………. I didn’t have a clue, not even close! But OMG it made sense; such perfect, brilliant sense! I can’t believe I didn’t even suspect…………
The Sham is weird, twisted, bizarre, & wholly crap it rocked!!!!!
If you do choose to read The Sham – if you’re willing to open yourself up to this bizarre world and are ready to have your own reality rocked; then please, please once you’ve read it – come back here & find me. I’m dying to hear your thoughts!
Full review can be found at www.mysocalledbookreviews.blogspot.com
Now, as much as I loved this book I suspect that some will absolutely hate it! The Sham opens with an extremely disturbing scene in its first chapter that to some, will go too far. I suspect many readers will never make it past this point which is a shame really, because it’s absolutely brilliant (but ya, you’ll need a strong stomach!!) A group of 4 really nasty, cliquey girls (think Heathers circa 1988) bully a young kid in some of the most horrific ways possible! Eighteen year old Emily finds herself stuck, watching on in horror at what these girls are doing but not really knowing how to stop the situation. Finally, along comes our knight in shining armor, the mysterious Jack, who forces these girls to stop, much to Emily’s relief. But who is he? Where did he come from? And why is he suddenly having some sort of seizure on the ground? Once I was able to catch my breath I was left wondering “what kind of fucked up world did I just walk into?”
There are two mysteries going on here; the first, whose killing off these nasty girls (they totally deserve it) and second, who the heck is Jack? Emily is immediately drawn to him; regardless of his strange behavior & vague answers, and the two form an unbreakable bond. Both plot-lines are equally fascinating which I think says a lot for the author. Usually when I read a book that is driven by multiple mysteries I find that I’m drawn into one much more than the other. Not here, both plotlines and the mysteries surrounding them were equally engaging and twisted. The stylistic and almost dreamlike writing leaves you constantly questioning what’s really going on. Beware, this book is very clever……….clever, clever, clever :)
As I read further I became obsessed with trying to figure it all out. Who was the murderer? Why were these girls being targeted specifically? Was there more to the motive beyond each of them being a horrendous bitch? Who’s next, Emily? Who’s painting all those weird symbols all over town and what do they mean? Who is Jack and where does he come from? Why does he seem so uncomfortable in his own skin? Why can’t he go longer than an hour without eating? And why does he seem to have super strength and super brains yet not know some of the simplest information? Is he the murderer or somehow connected? Ugh, I drove myself mad trying to figure it all out!! And this is what Emily is trying to figure out as well. She’s falling for Jack, hard, but can she trust him? Should she trust him?
I can honestly say that the ending to this blew me away! After all of my theories and suspicions, the late nights trying to decipher what was really going on………. I didn’t have a clue, not even close! But OMG it made sense; such perfect, brilliant sense! I can’t believe I didn’t even suspect…………
The Sham is weird, twisted, bizarre, & wholly crap it rocked!!!!!
If you do choose to read The Sham – if you’re willing to open yourself up to this bizarre world and are ready to have your own reality rocked; then please, please once you’ve read it – come back here & find me. I’m dying to hear your thoughts!
Full review can be found at www.mysocalledbookreviews.blogspot.com
January 9, 2015
***I received the eBook free as a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review***
As the author’s note says; this book is not for the faint hearted. It starts with a bang and the mystery leads on beautifully from there, turning into a story that will constantly have you on the edge of you seat trying to answer the millions of questions it brings up. I will admit that at times it was hard to read and while my mind was telling me to give it a break for me to catch my breath I couldn’t bring myself to put it down, even for a second.
The plot is definitely the best thing about this book. As I’ve already said the mystery makes it a one sit read but I can’t go into much detail without giving something away. The conclusion though was not what I was expecting. In a million years. It took me a while to process what happened and even now I don’t think it’s quite sunk in; this means that this story doesn’t feel completely resolved but it ensures that it’s something I won’t forget quickly.
Emily wasn’t my favourite character, but for that matter neither was Jack. She definitely took off on the wrong foot after the first chapter when she portrayed a very evident weakness that I don’t like in literary heroines and her gullibility didn’t help. Jack was simply hard to get my head round in so many ways. However even though I felt no attachment to them personally I enjoyed seeing their story unfold.
An incredible thriller that focuses a lot more on murder mystery than romance; so if that sounds like the kind of thing you like go ahead and pick it up!
Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/
As the author’s note says; this book is not for the faint hearted. It starts with a bang and the mystery leads on beautifully from there, turning into a story that will constantly have you on the edge of you seat trying to answer the millions of questions it brings up. I will admit that at times it was hard to read and while my mind was telling me to give it a break for me to catch my breath I couldn’t bring myself to put it down, even for a second.
The plot is definitely the best thing about this book. As I’ve already said the mystery makes it a one sit read but I can’t go into much detail without giving something away. The conclusion though was not what I was expecting. In a million years. It took me a while to process what happened and even now I don’t think it’s quite sunk in; this means that this story doesn’t feel completely resolved but it ensures that it’s something I won’t forget quickly.
Emily wasn’t my favourite character, but for that matter neither was Jack. She definitely took off on the wrong foot after the first chapter when she portrayed a very evident weakness that I don’t like in literary heroines and her gullibility didn’t help. Jack was simply hard to get my head round in so many ways. However even though I felt no attachment to them personally I enjoyed seeing their story unfold.
An incredible thriller that focuses a lot more on murder mystery than romance; so if that sounds like the kind of thing you like go ahead and pick it up!
Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/
April 30, 2018
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
The Sham starts immediately gruesome with some of the worst bullying I've encountered in books. However, what exactly it added to the story, I'm not quite sure. Emily meets Jack, a mysterious guy who might not be who he claims to be. At the same time, girls start to go missing. What is Jack's role in this? And worse, is Emily next?
This was such a strange novel. There were a lot of situations that felt off, and I couldn't get why she was so protective of Jack, even though she didn't know him and all these strange things were going on. I had a hard time caring for any of the characters really. Also, the ending was a surprise to me, but it didn't make much sense.
It was not for me, I'm afraid.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The Sham starts immediately gruesome with some of the worst bullying I've encountered in books. However, what exactly it added to the story, I'm not quite sure. Emily meets Jack, a mysterious guy who might not be who he claims to be. At the same time, girls start to go missing. What is Jack's role in this? And worse, is Emily next?
This was such a strange novel. There were a lot of situations that felt off, and I couldn't get why she was so protective of Jack, even though she didn't know him and all these strange things were going on. I had a hard time caring for any of the characters really. Also, the ending was a surprise to me, but it didn't make much sense.
It was not for me, I'm afraid.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
July 5, 2015
Finished reading: October 29th 2014
"Fifty-three minutes in and my list was pretty full in all of the ways that Jack wasn't normal, the ways he was special, so very bloody different from everyone else. I had to admit it - despite my fierce reservations - I liked him all the more for it."
*** A copy of this book was kindly given to me by the author through Ethereal Book Reviews in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
(Guest Reviewer Program) ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
January 31, 2015
I'm speechless and not in a good way. I was given this ebook for free for an honest review as part of a book tour.
I will start with what I liked about the book first. The synopsis is what made me add it to my want to read list on goodreads. I was definitely excited to be asked to read this book and given the ebook. I dove into the read eager to envelop myself in a great mystery.
This is what I had a problem with, 4% into the story I read about 4 horrible girls who beat up an autistic boy. Then I read a god awful torture scene. I was so horrified by what I had read I had to take two days off before I could continue. I've never DNF'd a book in my life and I almost did just that with this book. If I wasn't reading it for this book tour I think I would have.
The torture scene was completely unnecessary for the stories plot or to show the girls character. Just knowing they beat up a disabled child was enough to make me believe they were awful human beings.
Then there was the constant use of question marks. Everything can not be a question. I read these sentences out loud hoping it was just me misunderstanding the writing, but the entire story contained an over abundance of misplaced question marks.
Then there is the main character Emily. I despised her from the very beginning. She watched the ten year old be be tortured. She was rude all the time and an ugly individual. She acted better than everyone else.
There was a weird insta-love that I hated. A bizarre show down in the abbey outside Shakespeare's grave with Jack's "supposed" family. There was the weird nick-names for the extra characters: Red, Brown, Uniform, Paunch, Piggy. It might have seemed quirky, cleaver and witty while writing it but ended up being irritating toward the end.
I read the book in it's entirety and I'm still slightly confused about Jack and his condition. I love being confused in a good mystery book but this one just seemed sloppy. I could go on about the ridiculousness of the storm raging outside yet everyone is just hanging out in a grocery store. Or how Lily is a baby but is completely forgotten through out the book. How weird and disjointed the mean girls plot was and how hysterical the town folk were for any form of gossip. Dead bodies, killer caught or self harm.
I was beyond irritated at the unprofessional way Red and Brown interrogated Emily about personal matters.
The dead bodies had weird markings that was never explained. The signs with weird writing was only partially explained. The book never said what it meant, why it was written, what it pertained to. Just so many questions that were not answered. A reader is not supposed to feel stupid after reading a book.
I feel awful to have genuinely disliked this book as much as I did. I never feel this much anger toward a book.
Lastly, this quote drove me bat shit crazy. What is this supposed to mean. Why was it added into the story??
"A lurid expression stamped on his face like he was watching a sex tape made in the final moments in Hitler's bunker."
I will start with what I liked about the book first. The synopsis is what made me add it to my want to read list on goodreads. I was definitely excited to be asked to read this book and given the ebook. I dove into the read eager to envelop myself in a great mystery.
This is what I had a problem with, 4% into the story I read about 4 horrible girls who beat up an autistic boy. Then I read a god awful torture scene. I was so horrified by what I had read I had to take two days off before I could continue. I've never DNF'd a book in my life and I almost did just that with this book. If I wasn't reading it for this book tour I think I would have.
The torture scene was completely unnecessary for the stories plot or to show the girls character. Just knowing they beat up a disabled child was enough to make me believe they were awful human beings.
Then there was the constant use of question marks. Everything can not be a question. I read these sentences out loud hoping it was just me misunderstanding the writing, but the entire story contained an over abundance of misplaced question marks.
Then there is the main character Emily. I despised her from the very beginning. She watched the ten year old be be tortured. She was rude all the time and an ugly individual. She acted better than everyone else.
There was a weird insta-love that I hated. A bizarre show down in the abbey outside Shakespeare's grave with Jack's "supposed" family. There was the weird nick-names for the extra characters: Red, Brown, Uniform, Paunch, Piggy. It might have seemed quirky, cleaver and witty while writing it but ended up being irritating toward the end.
I read the book in it's entirety and I'm still slightly confused about Jack and his condition. I love being confused in a good mystery book but this one just seemed sloppy. I could go on about the ridiculousness of the storm raging outside yet everyone is just hanging out in a grocery store. Or how Lily is a baby but is completely forgotten through out the book. How weird and disjointed the mean girls plot was and how hysterical the town folk were for any form of gossip. Dead bodies, killer caught or self harm.
I was beyond irritated at the unprofessional way Red and Brown interrogated Emily about personal matters.
The dead bodies had weird markings that was never explained. The signs with weird writing was only partially explained. The book never said what it meant, why it was written, what it pertained to. Just so many questions that were not answered. A reader is not supposed to feel stupid after reading a book.
I feel awful to have genuinely disliked this book as much as I did. I never feel this much anger toward a book.
Lastly, this quote drove me bat shit crazy. What is this supposed to mean. Why was it added into the story??
"A lurid expression stamped on his face like he was watching a sex tape made in the final moments in Hitler's bunker."
January 20, 2015
*Note: I was provided a digital ARC of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review*
This book...was not quite what I expected. While I have not read the Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin, I can imagine this book would (without question) appeal to fans of that series. This is a first-class YA thriller -- caveat emptor: this is a thriller for the older YA crowd. It shies away neither from gore nor language.
But with that gore comes a plot that is beautifully and intricately woven to the point of sometimes appearing impenetrable. Every little detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant becomes vital to the novel's outcome; and every action from the characters comes with some kind of consequence. The mysteries -- yes, plural -- of The Sham are what draw us, as readers, in and Ellen Allen finds a way to keep us glued to the pages by the most powerful of forces: curiosity.
"What does that mean? What's going to happen? I think I've finally figured it out -- oh...wait...nevermind." Every time you think you have got it, Ellen Allen turns up something that puts a wrench in your theories and knocks you back a bit.
This is a novel about characters and setting more than language, and I thought that both were done quite well. These characters are very, very (painfully) real. None of them perfect -- far from it, really -- but it is their flaws which make them not only unique, but interesting. From our protagonist Emily, who blossoms from terrified and weak girl to more-self-assured young lady; to mysterious and spoiler-ridden Jack; to the other girls -- Becky, Rebecca, Kitty and Cath -- whose own secrets creep in and out of the narrative like morning mist...these are all real people with real problems.
I said it before and I will say it again: this is a very dark, shocking, and brutal novel. I do not recommend it for younger readers, even younger teen readers, but I do recommend it for those who love thrillers, mysteries, and have slightly stronger stomachs. This is a book to read with all the lights on and do your best to crack like a higher-level math problem.
This book...was not quite what I expected. While I have not read the Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin, I can imagine this book would (without question) appeal to fans of that series. This is a first-class YA thriller -- caveat emptor: this is a thriller for the older YA crowd. It shies away neither from gore nor language.
But with that gore comes a plot that is beautifully and intricately woven to the point of sometimes appearing impenetrable. Every little detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant becomes vital to the novel's outcome; and every action from the characters comes with some kind of consequence. The mysteries -- yes, plural -- of The Sham are what draw us, as readers, in and Ellen Allen finds a way to keep us glued to the pages by the most powerful of forces: curiosity.
"What does that mean? What's going to happen? I think I've finally figured it out -- oh...wait...nevermind." Every time you think you have got it, Ellen Allen turns up something that puts a wrench in your theories and knocks you back a bit.
This is a novel about characters and setting more than language, and I thought that both were done quite well. These characters are very, very (painfully) real. None of them perfect -- far from it, really -- but it is their flaws which make them not only unique, but interesting. From our protagonist Emily, who blossoms from terrified and weak girl to more-self-assured young lady; to mysterious and spoiler-ridden Jack; to the other girls -- Becky, Rebecca, Kitty and Cath -- whose own secrets creep in and out of the narrative like morning mist...these are all real people with real problems.
I said it before and I will say it again: this is a very dark, shocking, and brutal novel. I do not recommend it for younger readers, even younger teen readers, but I do recommend it for those who love thrillers, mysteries, and have slightly stronger stomachs. This is a book to read with all the lights on and do your best to crack like a higher-level math problem.
September 15, 2017
Thank you to the Ellen Asher, via Netgalley for allowing me to read The Sham, in exchange for an honest review.
My review is originally posted on Adele Is Reading.
Trigger Warnings: Paranoia, Blood, Self Harm, Murder, Suicide.
What drew me into the book was not only the cover, but the synopsis to The Sham as well. I only wished that the synopsis lived up to the story.
I was really interested in The Sham. ….And then I actually started reading the book.
Throughout most of the story I was left confused, and peeved. The plot of the story left me questioning everything, and not in a good way, either. There are so many things that could go wrong, and I feel like they did. I could honestly say that for the first 3/4 of the book I was angry at the story because nothing made sense. Once the last quarter of the book came into play, the story started looking up. In fact, the last quarter of the book is the only part of the book where the writing is clear and I actually made sense of what was happening.
I want to say that I liked the setting and the characters, but I didn’t. Nothing in this book is developed enough. I couldn’t imagine the town, and frankly, everything is just plain. I only managed to finish reading the book because I needed to know how the story ended. I mean, I couldn’t not finish The Sham after everything that I read in this book.
A good thing about this story is that The Sham is an insanely quick read.
My review is originally posted on Adele Is Reading.
Trigger Warnings: Paranoia, Blood, Self Harm, Murder, Suicide.
What drew me into the book was not only the cover, but the synopsis to The Sham as well. I only wished that the synopsis lived up to the story.
I was really interested in The Sham. ….And then I actually started reading the book.
Throughout most of the story I was left confused, and peeved. The plot of the story left me questioning everything, and not in a good way, either. There are so many things that could go wrong, and I feel like they did. I could honestly say that for the first 3/4 of the book I was angry at the story because nothing made sense. Once the last quarter of the book came into play, the story started looking up. In fact, the last quarter of the book is the only part of the book where the writing is clear and I actually made sense of what was happening.
I want to say that I liked the setting and the characters, but I didn’t. Nothing in this book is developed enough. I couldn’t imagine the town, and frankly, everything is just plain. I only managed to finish reading the book because I needed to know how the story ended. I mean, I couldn’t not finish The Sham after everything that I read in this book.
A good thing about this story is that The Sham is an insanely quick read.
December 10, 2014
Wow. This book was so engrossing, I could barely put it down.
I don't want to spoil much of the plot, because I feel it's one of those books where you benefit from knowing as little as possible. I will say that it's about a girl called Emily in a small town in the North of England called 'The Sham'. Small town life gets disrupted when mysterious words start appearing around town, a girl goes missing, a strange boy called Jack appears.
The book can be quite disorientating at times, as you try to figure out exactly what is going on, and whether any of these things are related. Sometimes mystery novels leave you with a few too many clues and you start to unravel the ending before you get there, but with this one I honestly had no clue what was going on with the missing girls, and Jack was such an enigma.
I really enjoyed reading this, and I liked Emily as a character, though I wish she'd been a little more able to stand up for herself and the little boy in the first chapter - as it was the first time we met her, I would've liked to see her be a bit stronger. It's not that I think people aren't or shouldn't be shy/unconfident, it's just that I felt when something so shocking is going on, you'd react a bit more strongly. She just sort of watched, until Jack turned up to save the day.
I also would've seen a little more of the development of Jack and Emily - the stuff going on between them is only ever alluded to, and other than their first kiss, nothing else is really broached. I'm fine with the romance being subtle, but it was a little bit too deep in this one.
However, overall, this was such a good read, and I'm really glad I decided to read it. I was engrossed until the very last page, and was thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it.
I don't want to spoil much of the plot, because I feel it's one of those books where you benefit from knowing as little as possible. I will say that it's about a girl called Emily in a small town in the North of England called 'The Sham'. Small town life gets disrupted when mysterious words start appearing around town, a girl goes missing, a strange boy called Jack appears.
The book can be quite disorientating at times, as you try to figure out exactly what is going on, and whether any of these things are related. Sometimes mystery novels leave you with a few too many clues and you start to unravel the ending before you get there, but with this one I honestly had no clue what was going on with the missing girls, and Jack was such an enigma.
I really enjoyed reading this, and I liked Emily as a character, though I wish she'd been a little more able to stand up for herself and the little boy in the first chapter - as it was the first time we met her, I would've liked to see her be a bit stronger. It's not that I think people aren't or shouldn't be shy/unconfident, it's just that I felt when something so shocking is going on, you'd react a bit more strongly. She just sort of watched, until Jack turned up to save the day.
I also would've seen a little more of the development of Jack and Emily - the stuff going on between them is only ever alluded to, and other than their first kiss, nothing else is really broached. I'm fine with the romance being subtle, but it was a little bit too deep in this one.
However, overall, this was such a good read, and I'm really glad I decided to read it. I was engrossed until the very last page, and was thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it.
December 13, 2014
Original post on http://readingadd.blogspot.ro as part of the blog tour.
So, this is going to be a very short review because I don't have a lot to say.
I picked this book up because the cover looked interesting and the synopsis was crazy enough to grab my attention. But after I read it I can't say that it was amazing or that it kept me on the edge of my seat, because I would lie.
It was a so-so novel for me, it had good and interesting parts, bad parts too, some of them were boring and nothing happened, and the suspense lacked. A lot. I'm that kind of reader that when you say thriller or mystery novel the I think of a ton of action and suspense. And if you don't deliver me these, then...
I felt that the characters were so weak and not great sketched, sometimes I forgot their names or they felt so plain to me. Like they were unistered too about what was going on. The first part of the book was good, because we had mystery and it was so weird, you couldn't put pieces together, your mind was working hard to find clues... but when things went on, and down... and nothing added. Yeah, I know, I wanted an original plot twist and end but not that. That was meh and too dramatic and I dunno didn't fit for me.
I don't regret reading this book and I conclude saying that it was ok, it has interesting parts and an ok idea but it wasn't written well, I was expecting more from the characters, from the plot, from the investigation, from everything. You can try it and see how it's for you because bad isn't but neither awesome. Plus the characters were made too simple and mentaly young and they are around 18 and I really didn't get that. Why? This could've been better if the plot and the twists and the characters would've been exploited more.
So, this is going to be a very short review because I don't have a lot to say.
I picked this book up because the cover looked interesting and the synopsis was crazy enough to grab my attention. But after I read it I can't say that it was amazing or that it kept me on the edge of my seat, because I would lie.
It was a so-so novel for me, it had good and interesting parts, bad parts too, some of them were boring and nothing happened, and the suspense lacked. A lot. I'm that kind of reader that when you say thriller or mystery novel the I think of a ton of action and suspense. And if you don't deliver me these, then...
I felt that the characters were so weak and not great sketched, sometimes I forgot their names or they felt so plain to me. Like they were unistered too about what was going on. The first part of the book was good, because we had mystery and it was so weird, you couldn't put pieces together, your mind was working hard to find clues... but when things went on, and down... and nothing added. Yeah, I know, I wanted an original plot twist and end but not that. That was meh and too dramatic and I dunno didn't fit for me.
I don't regret reading this book and I conclude saying that it was ok, it has interesting parts and an ok idea but it wasn't written well, I was expecting more from the characters, from the plot, from the investigation, from everything. You can try it and see how it's for you because bad isn't but neither awesome. Plus the characters were made too simple and mentaly young and they are around 18 and I really didn't get that. Why? This could've been better if the plot and the twists and the characters would've been exploited more.
January 31, 2015
Thank you to Carla for informing me about the blog tour she organized and to the author as well!
This was certainly a different book. If you read the first chapter, you'll know what I mean. It was just... strange. I've never read another book like it which in this case is mostly a good and wonderful thing!
Lets get the bad out of the way eh? The only thing I really questioned was how disjointed it was. It would jump from one topic to the next and back again all 'within' Emily's head. I understand how that is sort of true with people but it made everything a bit difficult to read and understand. Also, Jack and Emily's relationship just jumps right out of the blue. It starts off as Emily thinking that Jack is weird and then a chapter later, without anything being said, they are boyfriend and girlfriend. Crazy right?
The one thing that is really interesting to me about this book is Jack. At the beginning (and really throughout the entire book save the ending), you really think he's some kind of supernatural being and has special powers. It is true in a sense but it's also grounded in reality. I won't say anymore but it just turns everything on its head.
So onto the murders. That was really, really creepy. And when you find out at the end who really killed everyone, whoa. I did not see that one coming! And if you read it and do see it coming, bravo to you!
The Final Verdict:
Everything was absolutely splendid save how everything was so disjointed. That made it hard to read pretty much all the way through and kept me from immersing myself. Otherwise, the murders were amazing and the ending was spectacular.
3.5 stars
This was certainly a different book. If you read the first chapter, you'll know what I mean. It was just... strange. I've never read another book like it which in this case is mostly a good and wonderful thing!
Lets get the bad out of the way eh? The only thing I really questioned was how disjointed it was. It would jump from one topic to the next and back again all 'within' Emily's head. I understand how that is sort of true with people but it made everything a bit difficult to read and understand. Also, Jack and Emily's relationship just jumps right out of the blue. It starts off as Emily thinking that Jack is weird and then a chapter later, without anything being said, they are boyfriend and girlfriend. Crazy right?
The one thing that is really interesting to me about this book is Jack. At the beginning (and really throughout the entire book save the ending), you really think he's some kind of supernatural being and has special powers. It is true in a sense but it's also grounded in reality. I won't say anymore but it just turns everything on its head.
So onto the murders. That was really, really creepy. And when you find out at the end who really killed everyone, whoa. I did not see that one coming! And if you read it and do see it coming, bravo to you!
The Final Verdict:
Everything was absolutely splendid save how everything was so disjointed. That made it hard to read pretty much all the way through and kept me from immersing myself. Otherwise, the murders were amazing and the ending was spectacular.
3.5 stars
November 12, 2014
In The Sham by Ellen Allen, eighteen-year-old Emily just wants to get out of her town that they call “The Sham.” She repeats quantum equations out loud when she feels nervous or is in uncomfortable situations, which makes her seem a bit odd. She meets Jack, the mysterious new boy in town who has his own secrets, and they witness something horrible being done to someone, which has an impact on several people throughout the book. Ellen and Jack become closer, but his past still haunts him. Plus, the police suspect him when the body of one of Emily’s classmates is discovered. Who is Jack really? What is he hiding? And who killed Emily’s classmate?
Ellen Allen has such a unique writing style. I absolutely loved the metaphors and how things are compared and described; it created very vivid and sometimes disturbing but necessary images in my head. Throughout the story, I was curious and determined to find out about who Jack is and who is committing these crimes around town. I have to say, when the truth was revealed at the end, my jaw practically dropped to the floor. Because the story was written so well, I was shocked, which made it so satisfying. Emily and Jack were definitely interestingly different characters, which took some getting used to, but they fit together well. Having a plot with a surprising twist at the end and excellent writing, The Sham is a must-read. I hope to see more from this fantastic author.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
Ellen Allen has such a unique writing style. I absolutely loved the metaphors and how things are compared and described; it created very vivid and sometimes disturbing but necessary images in my head. Throughout the story, I was curious and determined to find out about who Jack is and who is committing these crimes around town. I have to say, when the truth was revealed at the end, my jaw practically dropped to the floor. Because the story was written so well, I was shocked, which made it so satisfying. Emily and Jack were definitely interestingly different characters, which took some getting used to, but they fit together well. Having a plot with a surprising twist at the end and excellent writing, The Sham is a must-read. I hope to see more from this fantastic author.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
January 12, 2015
This is the story of Emily Heath and dead-end town, known locally as "The Sham". When the quiet town is turned uspside down with mysterious writings popping up and one of Emily’s classmate’s body is washed up by the floods, the suspicions turns to her boyfriend Jack. Jack is very sick and little is known about his background. Emily’s loyalties tie her to Jack when everybody is looking to pin the mysterious things on him.
Emily is a loyal one. She stands by Jack no matter what and it helped me warm up to her. She also stands up to bullying, another admiring quality about her. Jack’s character is well developed and well portrayed. There are a couple of more important characters in the book but I do not know how to talk about them without giving away the plot. Let’s just say that each character has an important role to play. Each have been placed exactly where they should be and each of them are well developed.
The plot is something else on the whole. It is so intricately woven that every little thing and every little action means something. The mysteries in the book keep you glued to the pages and keep you guessing. Every time you think you have got it, something turns up that change everything you think you know. The author’s language is simple and the narration is complimentary to the characters and the plot.
Overall, this was a very interesting book that I simply had to finish in one sitting.
Emily is a loyal one. She stands by Jack no matter what and it helped me warm up to her. She also stands up to bullying, another admiring quality about her. Jack’s character is well developed and well portrayed. There are a couple of more important characters in the book but I do not know how to talk about them without giving away the plot. Let’s just say that each character has an important role to play. Each have been placed exactly where they should be and each of them are well developed.
The plot is something else on the whole. It is so intricately woven that every little thing and every little action means something. The mysteries in the book keep you glued to the pages and keep you guessing. Every time you think you have got it, something turns up that change everything you think you know. The author’s language is simple and the narration is complimentary to the characters and the plot.
Overall, this was a very interesting book that I simply had to finish in one sitting.
November 12, 2014
Ms. Ellen Allen was kind enough to give me this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.
THIS BOOK WAS JUST AMAZING!
This book is not a book you would come across everyday!
The plot left me biting my nails till the very end!
I loved every bit of it. I just could not put this book down. It was not only the plot but it was everything from the characters to the setting.
The way in which all the events were strung together to form a wonderful journey connecting the past with the present!
At every page i was like
I was just mind blown with everything that happened ,I just cant explain it in words
Congratulations on such a an AMAZING debut novel Ellen!!!!!!!!
Looking forward for more of your works :)
THIS BOOK WAS JUST AMAZING!
This book is not a book you would come across everyday!
The plot left me biting my nails till the very end!
I loved every bit of it. I just could not put this book down. It was not only the plot but it was everything from the characters to the setting.
The way in which all the events were strung together to form a wonderful journey connecting the past with the present!
At every page i was like
I was just mind blown with everything that happened ,I just cant explain it in words
Congratulations on such a an AMAZING debut novel Ellen!!!!!!!!
Looking forward for more of your works :)
Read
September 10, 2016
Pass. I'm sorry, but I can't read an entire book of this. 2% was more than enough. Sometimes less is more...
"It’s pulsing even after she’s dead; little electric shocks of blood splattering the tiles as if someone is squeezing a carton of apple juice a little too tight."
"His skin’s so pale, so sick, like he’s undergone some kind of bleaching process from those chemicals you see on the telly that you apply to your teeth."
"The endless rain has filled us up and we’re defrosting into guilty puddles on the crusty polyester."
"Her blood is mixing with the rainwater now, like we’re all popsicles, dripping raspberry cordial round our fusty feet on the grimy viscose tiles."
"The day I met Jack. The just-before-Christmas day of the corybantic bird, the small boy and the huge, ginormous, humdinger of an argument in the playground of the local park."
And why the warning about an extreme opening? Not necessary... There was nothing extreme about it IMO.
November 11, 2014
Thanks to the author, Ellen Allen, for giving me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
The Sham is not an easy read. It requires concentration. But it rewards the reader with a wonderful - if harrowing - experience. Most of the characters are unlikeable, but they breathe. It shows a violent, grim, sad world, that jumps off the page and makes you want to know more. It is excellently written, and grabs your attention without letting go. As disturbing as some scenes are, you can't look away. You need to find out more about the strange graffiti that covers the city, you need to know what happened to the missing girls, you need to know who is the serial killer and, like Em, you hope it isn't Jack, but you're not sure. I particularly loved the fact that the mean girls' names were Cath and Kitty, and Becky and Rebecca. It took me a while to realize they were the same names, but once I did I found it so funny, and real. Just one more small detail that makes The Sham realistic and engaging. The ending just blindsided me. I really didn't see it coming. All in all, an excellent book.
The Sham is not an easy read. It requires concentration. But it rewards the reader with a wonderful - if harrowing - experience. Most of the characters are unlikeable, but they breathe. It shows a violent, grim, sad world, that jumps off the page and makes you want to know more. It is excellently written, and grabs your attention without letting go. As disturbing as some scenes are, you can't look away. You need to find out more about the strange graffiti that covers the city, you need to know what happened to the missing girls, you need to know who is the serial killer and, like Em, you hope it isn't Jack, but you're not sure. I particularly loved the fact that the mean girls' names were Cath and Kitty, and Becky and Rebecca. It took me a while to realize they were the same names, but once I did I found it so funny, and real. Just one more small detail that makes The Sham realistic and engaging. The ending just blindsided me. I really didn't see it coming. All in all, an excellent book.
December 8, 2014
On paper, the premise for this book is intriguing--local teens start disappearing right after another teen, one with an indeterminate past--shows up in town. Yet this book left me cold. Part of the problem was a graphic and horrible bullying/torture scene in the opening of this book. As a reader, I found this scene difficult to get through, especially as my introduction to this story and its characters--and now that I've finished it, I can't even say that this scene in all its gory detail was even necessary for the narrative.
After this gut-punch of an introductory scene, I found it hard to become invested in any of the story's characters, and I don't think they really showed growth over the course of the novel. Not much is as it seems in this story, which I normally find compelling, but this one just didn't draw me in.
After this gut-punch of an introductory scene, I found it hard to become invested in any of the story's characters, and I don't think they really showed growth over the course of the novel. Not much is as it seems in this story, which I normally find compelling, but this one just didn't draw me in.
January 6, 2015
The Sham is an intriguing, exciting debut novel by Ellen Allen. A true page turner. It’s a psychological and contemporary Young Adult thriller that has just the right amount of mystery and drama to keep you reading…desperately wanting to figure out just who the bad guy is.
Full Review at The Perks Of Being A Book Lover
Full Review at The Perks Of Being A Book Lover
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