What do you think?
Rate this book
Scope #2
Тя отказва да умре
ЕДИН СВИДЕТЕЛ
Обикновен ден сред природата в средата на нищото. Внезапно проехтява изстрел и преобръща живота ти.
ЕДНА ТАЙНА
Към теб тича жена. След нея – трима въоръжени мъже. Все още не знаеш, но тя пази смъртоносна тайна. Животът й е в опасност. Вече и твоят.
ЕДИН ШАНС
Тичаш. Трескаво, инстинктивно, с отчаяна надежда за спасение.
Знаеш, че тези мъже не се колебаят да убиват. Видя го с очите си.
Единственият шанс е да следваш жената, която отказва да умре…
Обикновен ден сред природата в средата на нищото. Внезапно проехтява изстрел и преобръща живота ти.
ЕДНА ТАЙНА
Към теб тича жена. След нея – трима въоръжени мъже. Все още не знаеш, но тя пази смъртоносна тайна. Животът й е в опасност. Вече и твоят.
ЕДИН ШАНС
Тичаш. Трескаво, инстинктивно, с отчаяна надежда за спасение.
Знаеш, че тези мъже не се колебаят да убиват. Видя го с очите си.
Единственият шанс е да следваш жената, която отказва да умре…
328 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2013
126 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
About the author
Simon Kernick
73 books1,158 followersSimon Kernick (born 1966 in Slough, Berkshire) is a British thriller/crime writer now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and two daughters. He attended Gillotts School, a comprehensive in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Whilst he was a student his jobs included fruitpicker and Christmas-tree uprooter. He graduated from Brighton Polytechnic in 1991 with a degree in humanities. Kernick had a passion for crime fiction writing from a young age and produced many short stories during his time at polytechnic. After graduating Kernick joined MMT Computing in London in early 1992, where a relative was the Chairman and Managing Director. Kernick was a key member of the sales team and was very highly regarded. However, he left the company after 4 years in the hope of trying to secure a publishing deal. Despite interest from a number of publishers Kernick was unable to secure a deal, so he joined the sales force of the specialist IT and Business Consultancy Metaskil plc in Aldermaston, Berkshire in 1998 where he remained until he secured his first book deal (The Business of Dying) in September 2001. His novel Relentless was recommended on Richard & Judy's Summer book club 2007. It was the 8th best-selling paperback, and the best-selling thriller in the UK in the same year
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
July 13, 2015
5 Words: Thrilling, twisting, unexpected, brutal, love.
5 More Words: Intricate, countryside, police, mystery, drama.
This is a very intricate thriller, which keeps you guessing and continuously keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you have something figured out, then BAM! You were wrong.
The thing I loved most about this book was the unbelievable pace. I was almost out of breath reading this and didn't want to put it down. So much happens between these pages, and to so many people.
I wasn't so keen on the timeline of the book, the way it was written did confuse me at first - but then everything clicks into place and I just sat thinking "oh". Once I'd finished, I knew exactly why it had been written in the way that it was. It easily makes the story much more powerful than if it had been written in a more chronological manner.
The characters in Stay Alive are almost as complex as the plot. There are many layers, many realist qualities to them. They have faults and strengths and weaknesses and beliefs.
I've never read Simon Kernick before, but I will definitely read more by this author.
5 More Words: Intricate, countryside, police, mystery, drama.
This is a very intricate thriller, which keeps you guessing and continuously keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you have something figured out, then BAM! You were wrong.
The thing I loved most about this book was the unbelievable pace. I was almost out of breath reading this and didn't want to put it down. So much happens between these pages, and to so many people.
I wasn't so keen on the timeline of the book, the way it was written did confuse me at first - but then everything clicks into place and I just sat thinking "oh". Once I'd finished, I knew exactly why it had been written in the way that it was. It easily makes the story much more powerful than if it had been written in a more chronological manner.
The characters in Stay Alive are almost as complex as the plot. There are many layers, many realist qualities to them. They have faults and strengths and weaknesses and beliefs.
I've never read Simon Kernick before, but I will definitely read more by this author.
December 12, 2013
Holy Shit! You know that feeling you get when you’re watching some really intense thriller and the music gets a bit slower, and the tension mounts…..that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach…do I watch? Do I turn away? Yep that one! Well this started from page 1 and finished pretty much when I had finished. If you haven’t read Simon Kernick before (first of all where on earth have you been) then you can compare his work to one of those movies! Sometimes SK books are hit or miss for me, some people (I agree occasionally) think that they are too unrealistic. Other times they are amazing. To date my favourite read has always been Relentless, until now! Although it may be a joint winner this latest book is certainly up there with his best stuff!
Amanda Rowan finds herself in a dangerous situation and is forced to flee her home. When she moves away she figures that her life is relatively safe and she can go about her normal day to day life. When she realises that this couldn’t be further from the truth she inadvertently drags a family into her mess. Jess is the elder sister up visiting her sister when Amanda Rowan drags her and her family into her dangerous world. From the moment this part of the story begins my heart was racing even faster than it had been up until that point.
Kernick has certainly exceeded my expectations and has produced an absolute heart thumping page turner. It was a book that I literally couldn’t put down. Every time I picked it back up that all too familiar sick feeling in the pit of my stomach returned. You almost feel like you are taking the journey with them. Every chapter throws up new danger, violence and more twists and turns than the best rollercoaster in the world! The pace was bordering on frenetic but the story had me gripped from the outset. Towards the end I thought I knew where the book was headed but boy was I wrong! This latest Kernick is a true delight that his fans will be itching to get their fingers on!
Amanda Rowan finds herself in a dangerous situation and is forced to flee her home. When she moves away she figures that her life is relatively safe and she can go about her normal day to day life. When she realises that this couldn’t be further from the truth she inadvertently drags a family into her mess. Jess is the elder sister up visiting her sister when Amanda Rowan drags her and her family into her dangerous world. From the moment this part of the story begins my heart was racing even faster than it had been up until that point.
Kernick has certainly exceeded my expectations and has produced an absolute heart thumping page turner. It was a book that I literally couldn’t put down. Every time I picked it back up that all too familiar sick feeling in the pit of my stomach returned. You almost feel like you are taking the journey with them. Every chapter throws up new danger, violence and more twists and turns than the best rollercoaster in the world! The pace was bordering on frenetic but the story had me gripped from the outset. Towards the end I thought I knew where the book was headed but boy was I wrong! This latest Kernick is a true delight that his fans will be itching to get their fingers on!
February 5, 2022
Stay Alive is a fast-paced British action thriller first published in 2014, by an author who is new to me. I got it from Book Club, and it’s been sitting on the shelf for a couple of years, mainly because it’s the second in a series called “Scope”, so I intended to source the first instalment, but never got around to it. As it turns out, Scope is an important but relatively minor part of the story and this reads fine as a stand-alone, although I would now like to read the previous book, Siege, as it sounds just as good as this was, and I will be looking into the author’s other series too.
A woman returns home unexpectedly to discover that her wealthy husband and his mistress have been murdered by a serial killer, who is still in the house. Barely escaping with her life, Amanda retreats to a cottage in the Scottish highlands to grieve and recover, but someone is after her and they don’t mind who they have to kill to catch her. A family out for a canoe adventure get in the way, and the hunt for Amanda and the witnesses is on. Luckily for them, a man known as Scope shows up…
This had a preposterous plot, a high body count including nasty things happening to innocent people, although all torture happens off-camera so we don’t see it happening, plenty of action, shooting and fighting, and an exciting denouement. It initially seems like DCS Mike Bolt is going to be the main hero - it felt like he might’ve appeared in other books, although he isn’t listed as having his own series. Scope is your classic Good Guy With a Dark Past who happens to have the right skills to save the day, and Jess the brave teenager made a good heroine. Some animals are killed, which I didn’t like, but it’s not gratuitous. There’s an unbelievable (literally) number of different bad guys (and even a bad old lady - that’s not a spoiler) but they all receive satisfyingly appropriate punishment (I guess that’s a spoiler but you wouldn’t expect any different from this kind of trashy thriller - that I love!)
A woman returns home unexpectedly to discover that her wealthy husband and his mistress have been murdered by a serial killer, who is still in the house. Barely escaping with her life, Amanda retreats to a cottage in the Scottish highlands to grieve and recover, but someone is after her and they don’t mind who they have to kill to catch her. A family out for a canoe adventure get in the way, and the hunt for Amanda and the witnesses is on. Luckily for them, a man known as Scope shows up…
This had a preposterous plot, a high body count including nasty things happening to innocent people, although all torture happens off-camera so we don’t see it happening, plenty of action, shooting and fighting, and an exciting denouement. It initially seems like DCS Mike Bolt is going to be the main hero - it felt like he might’ve appeared in other books, although he isn’t listed as having his own series. Scope is your classic Good Guy With a Dark Past who happens to have the right skills to save the day, and Jess the brave teenager made a good heroine. Some animals are killed, which I didn’t like, but it’s not gratuitous. There’s an unbelievable (literally) number of different bad guys (and even a bad old lady - that’s not a spoiler) but they all receive satisfyingly appropriate punishment (I guess that’s a spoiler but you wouldn’t expect any different from this kind of trashy thriller - that I love!)
November 28, 2015
That was a bit of an adrenalin ride! A deranged killer is targeting couples and killing them horribly. A survivor of the latest attack has escaped to a remote part of Scotland to get away from the drama. Suddenly she is on the run, pursued by forces unknown. She drags an unwitting family, who are enjoying an afternoon of canoeing, into the nightmare by jumping into one of their canoes to avoid capture. So the chase is on.
Meanwhile, in London, Mike Bolt has been pursuing the killer dubbed The Disciple. It all comes to a horrible head in the Scottish wilderness at night. Great suspense and a nasty twisted plot. Simon Kernick is one of the masters of this genre.
Meanwhile, in London, Mike Bolt has been pursuing the killer dubbed The Disciple. It all comes to a horrible head in the Scottish wilderness at night. Great suspense and a nasty twisted plot. Simon Kernick is one of the masters of this genre.
January 27, 2014
It seems I'm out of line with most of those who read this book, but for me the fact the plot was frenetic didn't make up for some failings in terms of the writing and lack of character building. I'm not sure if the serial killer here is mentioned in earlier books, but for me the sudden jumping into his third or fourth killing with little in the way of background jarred. And I still don't get why the main characters acted as they did. It worked as a plot device, not in terms of motivation.
I read quite a bit of Simon Kernick in the past, but for me this was disappointing.
I read quite a bit of Simon Kernick in the past, but for me this was disappointing.
December 18, 2017
Екшън на макс, лесно четивна, ама... дотам. Кримка без никаква вътрешна логика - пример - професионалните килъри се държаха като абсолютни ахмаци...
November 21, 2024
The second book in the Scope series, but it felt like the fourth or fifth, it was weird it kept mentioning things that had happened to the main character that I had no knowledge of. So either I didn't remember the first book very well or the author decided to beef up the characters backstory. I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one but it was still a quick fairly enjoyable read for me.
It's very much dad fiction, and I can't complain. The action was done incredibly well, the short snappy chapters made this book so easy to read. It's not over complicated but what it did it did well. It did remind me of the Orphan X series a little, my dad will appreciate me passing this book onto him I am sure. I haven't read Jack Reacher yet, but this feel in the same realm.
I always enjoy thrillers more when they don't rely heavily on the police. I found the chapters with the police pretty boring, and I couldn't help skimming a little. I would read more books from this author for sure.
It's very much dad fiction, and I can't complain. The action was done incredibly well, the short snappy chapters made this book so easy to read. It's not over complicated but what it did it did well. It did remind me of the Orphan X series a little, my dad will appreciate me passing this book onto him I am sure. I haven't read Jack Reacher yet, but this feel in the same realm.
I always enjoy thrillers more when they don't rely heavily on the police. I found the chapters with the police pretty boring, and I couldn't help skimming a little. I would read more books from this author for sure.
December 10, 2022
This book is absolutely crammed full of twists and turns. Some I saw coming and some I most certainly didn’t.
The pace, language and characters were all very believable and realistic. I felt compelled to read on, a real page turner of a story.
The ending was executed perfectly for me, not too long or too rapid of a conclusion and the last paragraph was perfect.
I really enjoy Kernick’s writing style and will certainly be picking up more of his collection in the future.
A solid 5/5 and a recommend from me!
The pace, language and characters were all very believable and realistic. I felt compelled to read on, a real page turner of a story.
The ending was executed perfectly for me, not too long or too rapid of a conclusion and the last paragraph was perfect.
I really enjoy Kernick’s writing style and will certainly be picking up more of his collection in the future.
A solid 5/5 and a recommend from me!
January 10, 2015
Страхотна книга!
От много време не бях чела толкова заплетена, интересна, добре описана трилър книга. Още от първите страници историята те поглъща. А накрая те изплюва подигравателно, защото завършва по начин, който не очакваш :)
Хареса ми това, че книгата не се разказва от гледната точка на един персонаж. Определено е по-добре, че виждаме през погледа на всички важни герои. Така по-лесно ги разбираш и не съдиш прекалено строго действията им. Е, освен на един от тях :D
Почти до края не знаех какво да очаквам - тъкмо си мислех, че Болт е разгадал мистерията и всичко е ясно и хоп - вече съм в главата на Джес и нищо не е ясно. Определено действието през погледа на Скоуп ми беше най-интересно - и аз не знам защо в интерес на истината, но беше така. Даже в един момент се надявах накрая да се събере с Аманда (глупаво знам, но съм романтична душа) И все пак не мисля, че на историята й липсва нещо. Най-трудно ми беше да чета през образа на Кейси - самият факт, че толкова малко дете е подложено на нещо подобно ми играеше по нервите и в един момент се усещах, че нареждам някои от героите, задето са я оставили сама. Но стига толкова съм издавала - ако тръгна да пиша какво точно ми е харесала в книгата, ще трябва да я разкажа цялата :) А това определено ще развали удоволствието за някои от вас. Така че - четете - няма да съжалявате :) Книгата е страхотна!!!
От много време не бях чела толкова заплетена, интересна, добре описана трилър книга. Още от първите страници историята те поглъща. А накрая те изплюва подигравателно, защото завършва по начин, който не очакваш :)
Хареса ми това, че книгата не се разказва от гледната точка на един персонаж. Определено е по-добре, че виждаме през погледа на всички важни герои. Така по-лесно ги разбираш и не съдиш прекалено строго действията им. Е, освен на един от тях :D
Почти до края не знаех какво да очаквам - тъкмо си мислех, че Болт е разгадал мистерията и всичко е ясно и хоп - вече съм в главата на Джес и нищо не е ясно. Определено действието през погледа на Скоуп ми беше най-интересно - и аз не знам защо в интерес на истината, но беше така. Даже в един момент се надявах накрая да се събере с Аманда (глупаво знам, но съм романтична душа) И все пак не мисля, че на историята й липсва нещо. Най-трудно ми беше да чета през образа на Кейси - самият факт, че толкова малко дете е подложено на нещо подобно ми играеше по нервите и в един момент се усещах, че нареждам някои от героите, задето са я оставили сама. Но стига толкова съм издавала - ако тръгна да пиша какво точно ми е харесала в книгата, ще трябва да я разкажа цялата :) А това определено ще развали удоволствието за някои от вас. Така че - четете - няма да съжалявате :) Книгата е страхотна!!!
July 2, 2014
Ok so this book is not going to win any prizes in the deep thinking big character development novel but what it lacks in feeling it makes up for sheer enjoyment...and lets face it sometimes it's good to just go along for the ride :)...Amanda Rowan arrives home to find that her husband is upstairs in bed with his mistress and guess what both have been murdered!! and not only that the killer is still present and wants to claim Amanda as his third trophy for the day. So starts a great white knuckle ride and edge of the seat fun thriller...which never takes itself too seriously but is great fun and adds a little bit of light hearted killer fun to a good old crime caper. There are some top class baddies and a (flawed...is there any other) hero Scope with a little gangster and Russian mafia imput! What more could you want I really enjoyed and will certainly be reading lots more by Mr Kernick.
October 6, 2015
You can always rely on Simon Kernick when it comes to really good books and this really is a very,very good book.From the very first page it grabs your attention and the action and twists dont stop until the very end.I have always liked Mike Bolt and it was great that he was in this book,i also liked Scope and look forward to him hopefully being in more of Mr Kernick's books.I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a fast paced thriller with loads of action and plot twists.
July 28, 2014
This book was a little all over the place for me. It started well – a woman arrives home unexpectedly amidst the murder of her husband and his mistress by a well-known serial killer, The Disciple. For reasons no one can explain he chases Amanda though she escapes with her life.
Although the police think it unlikely The Disciple will target Amanda, she retreats to a secret and remote countryside location.
The novel slows a little as (just three weeks later) Amanda settles into her new life and we meet a few other players, including the detective responsible for finding The Disciple.
I felt that the introduction of DCS Mike Bolt could have happened while Amanda was still in hospital recovering, as backdating his involvement resulted in the loss of some continuity. I don’t mind novels that alternate timeframes but for some reason it didn’t work very well for me here.
Amanda’s feeling safe and out for a walk when she’s next attacked, but evades capture is goes on the run.
Unfortunately the Grainger family (an aunt and uncle with their orphaned nieces) are on a canoeing outing when Amanda comes flying out of the woods towards them, chased by armed men.
Before they can do anything she jumps into their canoe and they’re all on the run.
The men after Amanda are unfazed and Jess and her 10 year old sister Casey take over much of the storytelling as their uncle and aunt are killed before their eyes.
Amanda blames herself for the family’s fate and takes the young pair under her wing as they attempt to evade the group of armed men.
My eyes glazed over a little at this point as I hate ‘chase scenes’. When watching a movie I fast-forward them and when reading a book I skim them.
But I was invested enough in the Amanda, Jess and Casey that I cared about what happened to them.
So by the end the novel had become a bit of a page-turned as I desperately cheered on the underdogs.
I have to admit I really didn’t see the plot twist in this coming. Early on perhaps, but by the time it came I was certain it wasn’t a possibility.
I found the novel a little wordy in places and the lack of continuity a bit frustrating but particularly enjoyed the beginning and latter half. And… like I said – I didn’t see the plot twist coming.
January 19, 2014
I was sent this book to read and review.
I have read Simon Kernick's novels before so I know that they are always fast paced and full of character and "Stay Alive" is no exception; it starts off at breakneck speed and never slows down. This makes it easy and quick to read and because you are immediately interested, it makes it easy to keep reading. This book introduces some characters I would really like to see again - Bolt (the policeman) and Scope (the bystander who gets involved) have their flaws but are brilliantly drawn and interesting all the time, I would like to read about them again. Amanda is a thoroughly irritating character and it is no surprise that people are after her, and although it is pretty easy to guess why, that doesn't detract from the story. The reason I have not given it 5 stars is the same drawback I have seen in his other books, I don't like the graphic descriptions of the crimes. I realise this is a personal view, but for me they are too graphic for a thriller and more suited to a horror genre. Other people may not agree with that, but it does detract from the overall feel of the book for me.
Otherwise another great story which I would definitely recommend.
I have read Simon Kernick's novels before so I know that they are always fast paced and full of character and "Stay Alive" is no exception; it starts off at breakneck speed and never slows down. This makes it easy and quick to read and because you are immediately interested, it makes it easy to keep reading. This book introduces some characters I would really like to see again - Bolt (the policeman) and Scope (the bystander who gets involved) have their flaws but are brilliantly drawn and interesting all the time, I would like to read about them again. Amanda is a thoroughly irritating character and it is no surprise that people are after her, and although it is pretty easy to guess why, that doesn't detract from the story. The reason I have not given it 5 stars is the same drawback I have seen in his other books, I don't like the graphic descriptions of the crimes. I realise this is a personal view, but for me they are too graphic for a thriller and more suited to a horror genre. Other people may not agree with that, but it does detract from the overall feel of the book for me.
Otherwise another great story which I would definitely recommend.
January 25, 2014
This is the first book I have read by Simon Kernick, who has a reputation as a good thriller/mystery writer. I read an advance reading edition courtesy the Dead Good Book Group, to whom I am very grateful. But I have to say I was not impressed with the book. It wasn’t my cup of tea at all. It was one of those books that you read to fill in time at the airport when your plane is late, little thought being necessary. As advertised, the story moved along at a rapid pace. It starts with the lucky escape by Amanda Rowan from a serial killer called The Disciple, and then splits into two threads: the ongoing search by the police for The Disciple, which is quite interesting and believable, and the second thread which has Amanda being pursued through the Scottish Highlands by four armed killers, for no apparent reason. (the reason becomes apparent towards the end). The second thread occupies most of the book, as the killers kill anyone or anything that gets in their way (except of course, Amanda). This was not really believable to me. I also felt the writing and the characters were simplistic. So it was a quick read, but I don’t see me coming back for more Simon Kernick.
January 26, 2014
Typically turbo-paced Kernick thriller with a few serious twists and turns. Short paragraphs make you read it apace too - enhancing the feeling that you're on some kind of murderous rollercoaster.
Best news of all - Scope is back. Anyone who read Kernick's 'Siege' will know all about Scope. And in 'Stay Alive' he's given a central role.
This felt a lot shorter than previous Kernick adventures and, at just 345 pages, it almost certainly is. But that only helps to accentuate the speed of the entire affair.
Criticism? Without spoiling the plot, there was just a single occurrence that I found a little too coincidental to find truly believable. Other than that, it was a rip-roaring juggernaut of suspense, action and edge-of-your-seat terror.
I can't be the only one who thinks Simon Kernick writes his books with the big screen very much in mind.
Best news of all - Scope is back. Anyone who read Kernick's 'Siege' will know all about Scope. And in 'Stay Alive' he's given a central role.
This felt a lot shorter than previous Kernick adventures and, at just 345 pages, it almost certainly is. But that only helps to accentuate the speed of the entire affair.
Criticism? Without spoiling the plot, there was just a single occurrence that I found a little too coincidental to find truly believable. Other than that, it was a rip-roaring juggernaut of suspense, action and edge-of-your-seat terror.
I can't be the only one who thinks Simon Kernick writes his books with the big screen very much in mind.
February 28, 2015
I have read several of this author's books over the years. The story is far fetched with a high body count but is a gripping read. The story is mainly told in the present but there are bits which flash back to other characters a few weeks earlier but this is a necessary device to keep the reader guessing. The ending actually explained things even if it was a bit implausible. I enjoyed this even though I found the two young, 17 and 10 years old, female characters a bit irritating.
July 27, 2016
Цялото ревю: https://vpbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
“Тя отказва да умре” е трилър, изпълнен с напрежение и обрати и ме държа на нокти до самия край. Постоянно отлагах прочитането на книгата, въпреки че е в списъка ми с книги, които искам да прочета от много време и сега съжалявам, че го направих. “Тя отказва да умре” ме държа будна до сутринта, в очакване да разбера края.
“Тя отказва да умре” е трилър, изпълнен с напрежение и обрати и ме държа на нокти до самия край. Постоянно отлагах прочитането на книгата, въпреки че е в списъка ми с книги, които искам да прочета от много време и сега съжалявам, че го направих. “Тя отказва да умре” ме държа будна до сутринта, в очакване да разбера края.
July 15, 2016
A great read from Author Simon Kernick.
Not sure why he isn't more popular, his books are well written, fast paced and full of energy. I have read most of his work and normally love his novels.His novels have strong characters that come to life through his words.
This book grabs you from the first page and holds you right to the end.
Not sure why he isn't more popular, his books are well written, fast paced and full of energy. I have read most of his work and normally love his novels.His novels have strong characters that come to life through his words.
This book grabs you from the first page and holds you right to the end.
September 27, 2015
Lots of good action with a nice twist at the end but a bit of a time-filler read, not particularly memorable
March 29, 2025
Read this book years ago and found again.
A lot going on in the story but likeable characters Mike Bolt and his DC Mo Khan.
Amanda comes home early to find her husband and girlfriend slaughtered……. Is this the work of the disciple ???? Who has committed several murders.
She escapes from him and is then being hunted herself but why???
Gunman are chasing her and she climbs into a boat with two children Jess and Casey and their aunt and uncle. They are being shot at whilst canoeing.
Scope is involved when the canoeist don’t make it to their destination. He helps out a lot….. but doesn’t know why the gunmen are chasing the family and Amanda.
The ending still got me as I hadn’t figured out who was being all of this. Has to be a 5 as I really had forgotten the ending
A lot going on in the story but likeable characters Mike Bolt and his DC Mo Khan.
Amanda comes home early to find her husband and girlfriend slaughtered……. Is this the work of the disciple ???? Who has committed several murders.
She escapes from him and is then being hunted herself but why???
Gunman are chasing her and she climbs into a boat with two children Jess and Casey and their aunt and uncle. They are being shot at whilst canoeing.
Scope is involved when the canoeist don’t make it to their destination. He helps out a lot….. but doesn’t know why the gunmen are chasing the family and Amanda.
The ending still got me as I hadn’t figured out who was being all of this. Has to be a 5 as I really had forgotten the ending
June 16, 2018
1,5* Не е най-лошият трилър, който съм чела, но се бори за място в първата десетка. Започна добре, но бързо се разви в безумна бутафория.
May 5, 2023
Amazing book, could not put it down!
January 14, 2022
A real roller coaster of a story, with cliff hangers and plot twists at every turn.....but perhaps this one was too much, not taking a breath to explore the characters a little more, instead of introducing unnecessary additions to an already packed plot.
August 2, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a fan of crime and thrillers I feel a bit bad that until now I had not read a Simon Kernick novel. I went into reading this with no expectations at all, a blank page, ready to be filled up with impressions.
Stay Alive kicks off rapidly with a bucket load of killing and action. We are off to a good start I was thinking. I like a book that kicks into first gear by the end of Chapter One. Hooked in, ready to rock and roll.
The book kicks off with Amanda Rowan being witness to her husband's murder as well as his lover, she rebuilds her life after this tragic event. The murder is pinned to a serial killer being hunted called The Disciple, well knows for his gruesome torture techniques and signature wall paintings that go with the death of his victims.
The police are on alert, looking for clues and DNA to find out who The Disciple is in order to catch him and stop his murdering rampage.
The book then flows into a complex storyline of Amanda escaping an attempted abduction and fleeing for her life in the woods of Scotland. This is where MANY characters start to come into play in the book and the plot focuses strongly on the chase to come. Amanda is not alone in the woods, innocent people have got caught up in the hunt for her.
I loved the pace of the book but found the woodland chasing scene went on a bit too long, it took up to much of the story for my liking, lots of detail that could have been cut shorter as I got the general idea already. There is only so much chasing that you can do. I was worn out just reading it!
I really liked some of the characters in this book, and was keen to see the outcome of the whole situation. It's one of those books where as you read you know you are missing something. You just know something is not adding up as it seems.
There is a lot of shooting, running, hiding and killing going on. If you like action it's all here. I did find some of the scenarios a bit distracting and almost not believable however, I can't share because of spoilers but it's like some of the plot is sidelined here and there, with frustrating snippets that don't seem connected.
I wasn't surprised with the reveal and the twists at the end, in fact I felt a bit let down, I wanted something a bit more spectacular. Overall I enjoyed this book, I liked the pace, but think it lacked some finesse as a crime thriller, there was way too much story in the middle set on the woodland chase.
It's one of those books I wanted to love more but it just didn't quite hit the spot. 3.5 stars, still a really good read, pace is fast, easy reading. I will certainly try some more of Simon Kernick's novels now.
As a fan of crime and thrillers I feel a bit bad that until now I had not read a Simon Kernick novel. I went into reading this with no expectations at all, a blank page, ready to be filled up with impressions.
Stay Alive kicks off rapidly with a bucket load of killing and action. We are off to a good start I was thinking. I like a book that kicks into first gear by the end of Chapter One. Hooked in, ready to rock and roll.
The book kicks off with Amanda Rowan being witness to her husband's murder as well as his lover, she rebuilds her life after this tragic event. The murder is pinned to a serial killer being hunted called The Disciple, well knows for his gruesome torture techniques and signature wall paintings that go with the death of his victims.
The police are on alert, looking for clues and DNA to find out who The Disciple is in order to catch him and stop his murdering rampage.
The book then flows into a complex storyline of Amanda escaping an attempted abduction and fleeing for her life in the woods of Scotland. This is where MANY characters start to come into play in the book and the plot focuses strongly on the chase to come. Amanda is not alone in the woods, innocent people have got caught up in the hunt for her.
I loved the pace of the book but found the woodland chasing scene went on a bit too long, it took up to much of the story for my liking, lots of detail that could have been cut shorter as I got the general idea already. There is only so much chasing that you can do. I was worn out just reading it!
I really liked some of the characters in this book, and was keen to see the outcome of the whole situation. It's one of those books where as you read you know you are missing something. You just know something is not adding up as it seems.
There is a lot of shooting, running, hiding and killing going on. If you like action it's all here. I did find some of the scenarios a bit distracting and almost not believable however, I can't share because of spoilers but it's like some of the plot is sidelined here and there, with frustrating snippets that don't seem connected.
I wasn't surprised with the reveal and the twists at the end, in fact I felt a bit let down, I wanted something a bit more spectacular. Overall I enjoyed this book, I liked the pace, but think it lacked some finesse as a crime thriller, there was way too much story in the middle set on the woodland chase.
It's one of those books I wanted to love more but it just didn't quite hit the spot. 3.5 stars, still a really good read, pace is fast, easy reading. I will certainly try some more of Simon Kernick's novels now.
January 17, 2014
Stay Alive by Simon Kernick ; it does what it says on the tin. This book is all about survival, survival of the innocent and the not so innocent. The thing is no one is safe, you never quite know what’s going to happen, who’s going to be shot and who’s lucky enough to come through the ordeal unscathed. In truth, no one does whether it's mental or physical scaring.
Told at breakneck speeds the book is a fluid and invigorating read and before you know it the body count has reached epic proportions and the final chapter read. A gripping story, Stay Alive keeps you guessing throughout and there are few quiet moments - where someone’s life isn’t in danger. There’s the obligatory red herring and twist at the end you’ll do well to guess in its entirety.
A solid read as I’ve already mentioned, the book came alive for me with the introduction of the main character - Scope - although at the time I had no idea he would play more than a bit part. He may not be everyone's idea of a main protagonist but he was mine, there was something endearing about him, something that makes you champion his cause and like him. Introduced following an attack on his boss - a canoe hire company - Scope looks for revenge and boy does he get it! I knew within a matter of pages I’d like him and I wasn’t wrong. Scope is one of those people who’s carrying a lot of emotional baggage but a guy who, when the chips are down, you want on your side. I really enjoyed learning more about our hero and his backstory, his grief and what made him tick. He’s both believable and determined.
It’s not all about Scope far from it; numerous characters play a huge part in the book from detectives, antagonists and victims alike. Let’s not forget the wonderful Scottish countryside! As a canoeist myself I want to take a trip down the river – perhaps a little more sedately than in this book!
I also enjoyed how Kernick told the story, he managed to take it one way, throw in misdirection once or twice and keep you guessing throughout. There were a couple of events I'd figured out early on but this has absolutely no impact on the quality of writing and the plot itself. This is the third Kernick novel I've had the pleasure of reading and Siege still remains my favourite. One thing you can be sure of with this author, a bloody good read. Stay Alive is no exception.
Told at breakneck speeds the book is a fluid and invigorating read and before you know it the body count has reached epic proportions and the final chapter read. A gripping story, Stay Alive keeps you guessing throughout and there are few quiet moments - where someone’s life isn’t in danger. There’s the obligatory red herring and twist at the end you’ll do well to guess in its entirety.
A solid read as I’ve already mentioned, the book came alive for me with the introduction of the main character - Scope - although at the time I had no idea he would play more than a bit part. He may not be everyone's idea of a main protagonist but he was mine, there was something endearing about him, something that makes you champion his cause and like him. Introduced following an attack on his boss - a canoe hire company - Scope looks for revenge and boy does he get it! I knew within a matter of pages I’d like him and I wasn’t wrong. Scope is one of those people who’s carrying a lot of emotional baggage but a guy who, when the chips are down, you want on your side. I really enjoyed learning more about our hero and his backstory, his grief and what made him tick. He’s both believable and determined.
It’s not all about Scope far from it; numerous characters play a huge part in the book from detectives, antagonists and victims alike. Let’s not forget the wonderful Scottish countryside! As a canoeist myself I want to take a trip down the river – perhaps a little more sedately than in this book!
I also enjoyed how Kernick told the story, he managed to take it one way, throw in misdirection once or twice and keep you guessing throughout. There were a couple of events I'd figured out early on but this has absolutely no impact on the quality of writing and the plot itself. This is the third Kernick novel I've had the pleasure of reading and Siege still remains my favourite. One thing you can be sure of with this author, a bloody good read. Stay Alive is no exception.
August 10, 2016
I’ve read every one of Simon Kernick’s books and the one thing that you can always guarantee is that it will be a fast paced, tension filled experience; Stay Alive is no exception. It starts with a vicious double murder and, as you would expect with an SK book, the body count increases throughout the story.
It's quite difficult to review this one - if I give too much detail about the plot then it will be necessary to include spoilers and really it's a story best left for the reader to discover. The story centres around Amanda Rowan, she has interrupted a murder scene and has unwittingly put her own life in danger. For her own safety, she moves away to a remote Scottish village however the killer is determined to track her down and thus the story unfolds.
The short chapters make this an easy read, and if you are anything like me you will continue reading, thinking just one more chapter…and before you know it, it is the early hours! I sat up very late to finish it as I couldn’t put it down without knowing how it ended. This was such a fast paced story my heart was racing for much of it. There is no time for any in depth characterisation – you learn as you go along and only know as much as you need to. As is often the case with this author’s books, some characters make a return appearance every now and again and it was good to see the return of detectives Mike Bolt and Mo Khan, who have featured in many previous stories. They are on the tail of a serial killer, known as The Disciple and it’s a race against the clock to catch him before he finds his next victim.
Simon Kernick is a master of twisty suspense – just when you think you know where the story is heading he will throw a curve ball and tease the reader with twists and turns. This book is definitely amongst his best so far and I can thoroughly recommend it.
Just one word of warning, if you intend to read “Wrong Time, Wrong Place” (one of the 2013 Quick Reads series) then I suggest that you read it before reading Stay Alive as this book contains a whopping big spoiler.
It's quite difficult to review this one - if I give too much detail about the plot then it will be necessary to include spoilers and really it's a story best left for the reader to discover. The story centres around Amanda Rowan, she has interrupted a murder scene and has unwittingly put her own life in danger. For her own safety, she moves away to a remote Scottish village however the killer is determined to track her down and thus the story unfolds.
The short chapters make this an easy read, and if you are anything like me you will continue reading, thinking just one more chapter…and before you know it, it is the early hours! I sat up very late to finish it as I couldn’t put it down without knowing how it ended. This was such a fast paced story my heart was racing for much of it. There is no time for any in depth characterisation – you learn as you go along and only know as much as you need to. As is often the case with this author’s books, some characters make a return appearance every now and again and it was good to see the return of detectives Mike Bolt and Mo Khan, who have featured in many previous stories. They are on the tail of a serial killer, known as The Disciple and it’s a race against the clock to catch him before he finds his next victim.
Simon Kernick is a master of twisty suspense – just when you think you know where the story is heading he will throw a curve ball and tease the reader with twists and turns. This book is definitely amongst his best so far and I can thoroughly recommend it.
Just one word of warning, if you intend to read “Wrong Time, Wrong Place” (one of the 2013 Quick Reads series) then I suggest that you read it before reading Stay Alive as this book contains a whopping big spoiler.
April 29, 2015
Time taken to read - 1 week
Pages - 420
Publisher - Arrow Books
Blurb from Goodread
ONE WITNESS
You’re on a trip with your family, miles from anywhere. A shot rings out – and your whole life changes in an instant.
ONE SECRET
A woman is racing towards you, chased by three gunmen. Although you don’t know it, she harbours a deadly secret. She’s in terrible danger. And now you are too.
NO ESCAPE
You’re running, terrified, desperate to find safety.
You know that the men hunting you have killed before.
And if they catch you, you’ll be next …
My Review
The tale opens "21 days ago" we are introduced to Amanda Rowan, she stumbles upon her husbands murder and the killer is still in the house. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse, Amanda is running for her life, her killer will stop at nothing and innocent people will die!
Amanda is one of our main characters, the whole story is focused around her and the maniac who is after her. Along the road she meets other people who will be dragged into the chase and fight to survive.
The tale skips between the 21 days ago, flipping to present day and then back and fourth between the two time lines. It is easy enough to follow the time line and the characters involved. The crime and chase starts from the very first chapter and your drawn into a scary and dark world through Amanda and the people she meets as she tries to stay alive. I found it really hard to put down at first, however, as the story goes on a few things didn't sit right with me. By the end of the story you understand everything however I just felt a few aspects were a bit out there and hard to believe. It is still a really good story though and I will read this author again, 3/5 for me this time.
Pages - 420
Publisher - Arrow Books
Blurb from Goodread
ONE WITNESS
You’re on a trip with your family, miles from anywhere. A shot rings out – and your whole life changes in an instant.
ONE SECRET
A woman is racing towards you, chased by three gunmen. Although you don’t know it, she harbours a deadly secret. She’s in terrible danger. And now you are too.
NO ESCAPE
You’re running, terrified, desperate to find safety.
You know that the men hunting you have killed before.
And if they catch you, you’ll be next …
My Review
The tale opens "21 days ago" we are introduced to Amanda Rowan, she stumbles upon her husbands murder and the killer is still in the house. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse, Amanda is running for her life, her killer will stop at nothing and innocent people will die!
Amanda is one of our main characters, the whole story is focused around her and the maniac who is after her. Along the road she meets other people who will be dragged into the chase and fight to survive.
The tale skips between the 21 days ago, flipping to present day and then back and fourth between the two time lines. It is easy enough to follow the time line and the characters involved. The crime and chase starts from the very first chapter and your drawn into a scary and dark world through Amanda and the people she meets as she tries to stay alive. I found it really hard to put down at first, however, as the story goes on a few things didn't sit right with me. By the end of the story you understand everything however I just felt a few aspects were a bit out there and hard to believe. It is still a really good story though and I will read this author again, 3/5 for me this time.
July 24, 2016
I am a fan of Simon Kernick and a big fan of Paul Thornley so this book was a must for my audible collection when it was published last month.
I didn't even know what the book was about when I started listening!
I've finished it this afternoon after spending most of the weekend listening to it - a good way to pass the time while traveling up/back down the motorway.
Having read the other reviews, I have to say I had no recollection of Scope and I'm surprised at the good reviews its got as sadly, I didn't enjoy this one as much as earlier novels. I'm not sure if this is because I overdosed this weekend in listening time or if the story/plot just didn't do it for me. The reviews for this book are very positive but I found myself getting bored and found certain elements of the plot just a little bit too convenient.
The book certainly has promise and was well thought out but could have been better. I liked the ending which was clever although I think this could have been thrown into the mix earlier to add suspense and intrigue. I thought the chapters involving the detectives were lacking.
I didn't even know what the book was about when I started listening!
I've finished it this afternoon after spending most of the weekend listening to it - a good way to pass the time while traveling up/back down the motorway.
Having read the other reviews, I have to say I had no recollection of Scope and I'm surprised at the good reviews its got as sadly, I didn't enjoy this one as much as earlier novels. I'm not sure if this is because I overdosed this weekend in listening time or if the story/plot just didn't do it for me. The reviews for this book are very positive but I found myself getting bored and found certain elements of the plot just a little bit too convenient.
The book certainly has promise and was well thought out but could have been better. I liked the ending which was clever although I think this could have been thrown into the mix earlier to add suspense and intrigue. I thought the chapters involving the detectives were lacking.
May 3, 2021
I read this book in one afternoon so it was good in that I didn't put it down. The story itself was a tad far fetched and I figured it out much quicker than the police officer did!
I can see that this is the second book in a series about Scope which surprises me a little as he was a minor character in this story. However, I did get from his backstory that there were probably other books about him.
In this book, Amanda returns home unexpectedly to find her husband and his mistress murdered and the killer chases her. Amanda manages to get away and hides out in Scotland but armed men come after her and on the initial run she barges into a family on a canoeing trip and they get dragged into the story as well.
I felt very sorry for Jess and Casey as they had just lost their parents and then what happens to their aunt and uncle and then even when they come across random characters, they turn out to be bad people.
I did feel that the police were quite slack not interviewing Amanda a bit more thoroughly even though she admitted knowing about her husband's affair and refused a safe house. Definite red flags there!
I can see that this is the second book in a series about Scope which surprises me a little as he was a minor character in this story. However, I did get from his backstory that there were probably other books about him.
In this book, Amanda returns home unexpectedly to find her husband and his mistress murdered and the killer chases her. Amanda manages to get away and hides out in Scotland but armed men come after her and on the initial run she barges into a family on a canoeing trip and they get dragged into the story as well.
I felt very sorry for Jess and Casey as they had just lost their parents and then what happens to their aunt and uncle and then even when they come across random characters, they turn out to be bad people.
I did feel that the police were quite slack not interviewing Amanda a bit more thoroughly even though she admitted knowing about her husband's affair and refused a safe house. Definite red flags there!
January 16, 2015
I must admit that I am a huge Simon Kernick fan. I discovered him by accident when browsing at my local library and he fast became one of my favourite authors. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from the publisher via www.netgalley.com in return for an honest and unbiased review.
To those who have read other novels by this author, Stay Alive sees a return of some familiar characters. For those who haven’t, where have you been? Stay Alive sends you on a roller-coaster ride of twists and turns, murder and mayhem from the very start and although the plot is not as complex as some of Simon’s other novels, it keeps you on your toes and provides you with those “doh” moments when you realise the clues have been drip-fed throughout the story but only come together at the end.
Some reviews I have read say that it is unbelievable - it’s not a non-fiction book people, it doesn't necessarily have to be believable to make it an enjoyable and engrossing read with guaranteed action delivered at breakneck speed.
http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/
To those who have read other novels by this author, Stay Alive sees a return of some familiar characters. For those who haven’t, where have you been? Stay Alive sends you on a roller-coaster ride of twists and turns, murder and mayhem from the very start and although the plot is not as complex as some of Simon’s other novels, it keeps you on your toes and provides you with those “doh” moments when you realise the clues have been drip-fed throughout the story but only come together at the end.
Some reviews I have read say that it is unbelievable - it’s not a non-fiction book people, it doesn't necessarily have to be believable to make it an enjoyable and engrossing read with guaranteed action delivered at breakneck speed.
http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews