What do you think?
Rate this book
Disclaimer
A brilliantly conceived, deeply unsettling psychological thriller— already an international sensation—about a woman haunted by secrets, the consuming desire for revenge, and the terrible price we pay when we try to hide the truth.
Finding a mysterious novel at her bedside plunges documentary filmmaker Catherine Ravenscroft into a living nightmare. Though ostensibly fiction, The Perfect Stranger recreates in vivid, unmistakable detail the terrible day she became hostage to a dark secret, a secret that only one other person knew—and that person is dead.
Now that the past is catching up with her, Catherine’s world is falling apart. Her only hope is to confront what really happened on that awful day . . . even if the shocking truth might destroy her.
Finding a mysterious novel at her bedside plunges documentary filmmaker Catherine Ravenscroft into a living nightmare. Though ostensibly fiction, The Perfect Stranger recreates in vivid, unmistakable detail the terrible day she became hostage to a dark secret, a secret that only one other person knew—and that person is dead.
Now that the past is catching up with her, Catherine’s world is falling apart. Her only hope is to confront what really happened on that awful day . . . even if the shocking truth might destroy her.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2015
1716 people are currently reading
31753 people want to read
About the author
Renée Knight
13 books549 followersRenée Knight worked for the BBC directing arts documentaries before turning to writing. She has had TV and film scripts commissioned by the BBC, Channel Four and Capital Films. In April 2013 she graduated from the Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ course. She lives in London with her husband and two children. ~ Transworld Publishers
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,170 reviews
July 25, 2015
If you trust me at all, then trust me on this one. Take a chance and read it.
Disclaimer It took me awhile to get into this. I had almost given up, but then…
From the reviews I’m reading I liked Disclaimer more than some.
The Hook - The blurb - ”What if you realized the terrifying book you were reading was all about you?” Come on now, isn’t that enough to reel you in?
The Line – ”All I felt was soft filth, and it got into my skin and under my fingernails, and its stink invaded my nostrils, clinging to the hairs, soaking up into the tiny blood vessels and polluting my entire system.
The Sinker – Catherine Ravenscroft soon realizes the book she finds by her beside is far more sinister than a light work of fiction. She’s intrigued by this suspenseful story The Perfect Stranger until she realizes it’s all about her. Where did it come from? Who wrote it? And why was it left for her? It threatens to expose a secret from her past, one she thought hidden for all time, the consequences which could topple her very existence.
Renêe Knight plotted this psychological tale with precision. A satisfying read with questions we all struggle to answer. How well do we know our spouses? How strong is love? How well do we know our children? Would we lie for them? Do we see them as others do? Do we put them first, even before our spouses? What do we see but deny? Do we want to know the truth? Who do we trust?
Disclaimer is about two marriages, two families, two boys, two sons. It is thought provoking. It’s a book within a book, its pages filled with revenge, betrayal, love, guilt, bravery, sadness, and brimming with human emotion. I thought I would scream if someone compared it to Gone Girl but they already have. Be warned this is no copycat. Knight earns the excitement that her debut deserves.
Disclaimer It took me awhile to get into this. I had almost given up, but then…
From the reviews I’m reading I liked Disclaimer more than some.
The Hook - The blurb - ”What if you realized the terrifying book you were reading was all about you?” Come on now, isn’t that enough to reel you in?
The Line – ”All I felt was soft filth, and it got into my skin and under my fingernails, and its stink invaded my nostrils, clinging to the hairs, soaking up into the tiny blood vessels and polluting my entire system.
The Sinker – Catherine Ravenscroft soon realizes the book she finds by her beside is far more sinister than a light work of fiction. She’s intrigued by this suspenseful story The Perfect Stranger until she realizes it’s all about her. Where did it come from? Who wrote it? And why was it left for her? It threatens to expose a secret from her past, one she thought hidden for all time, the consequences which could topple her very existence.
Renêe Knight plotted this psychological tale with precision. A satisfying read with questions we all struggle to answer. How well do we know our spouses? How strong is love? How well do we know our children? Would we lie for them? Do we see them as others do? Do we put them first, even before our spouses? What do we see but deny? Do we want to know the truth? Who do we trust?
Disclaimer is about two marriages, two families, two boys, two sons. It is thought provoking. It’s a book within a book, its pages filled with revenge, betrayal, love, guilt, bravery, sadness, and brimming with human emotion. I thought I would scream if someone compared it to Gone Girl but they already have. Be warned this is no copycat. Knight earns the excitement that her debut deserves.
February 15, 2019
With a couple of reservations, I found Disclaimer by Renée Knight to be well written, engrossing and quite chilling.
Catherine, a documentary film maker is given a book. She is extremely disturbed to find that the book’s leading character is herself!
Many years ago a terrible incident occurred - an incident that Catherine has never come to terms with, has buried and tried to erase. The book brings the poison flooding back and threatens to destroy her.
The story is told mainly through two viewpoints, which works well and the tension builds effectively. It’s a tale of betrayal, obsession and growing paranoia.
There’s also a sadness that seeps through the narrative.
My only issue with the book was with a specific narrative device.
Psychological thriller writers often build a clever artifice, an arrangement of selective facts that create an assumed reality ....... a reality that comes tumbling down the minute a new fact or perspective is added i.e. a big surprise for the reader!
With Disclaimer however, it’s a little different.
In the first half of the novel especially, you are very aware that secrets are being kept from you, names are purposely omitted, events are deliberately jumbled chronologically and who said what is disguised. There is so much open misdirection and obvious omission that it almost feels like a taunt. At times intriguing, at times irritating!
But, even with this in mind ........... the inner lives and motivations of the main characters are well explored and I was always totally involved, gripped even. I looked forward to picking up this book to find out how things would end.
Hence the solid 4 star score.
A superior thriller in my humble opinion ......
Catherine, a documentary film maker is given a book. She is extremely disturbed to find that the book’s leading character is herself!
Many years ago a terrible incident occurred - an incident that Catherine has never come to terms with, has buried and tried to erase. The book brings the poison flooding back and threatens to destroy her.
The story is told mainly through two viewpoints, which works well and the tension builds effectively. It’s a tale of betrayal, obsession and growing paranoia.
There’s also a sadness that seeps through the narrative.
My only issue with the book was with a specific narrative device.
Psychological thriller writers often build a clever artifice, an arrangement of selective facts that create an assumed reality ....... a reality that comes tumbling down the minute a new fact or perspective is added i.e. a big surprise for the reader!
With Disclaimer however, it’s a little different.
In the first half of the novel especially, you are very aware that secrets are being kept from you, names are purposely omitted, events are deliberately jumbled chronologically and who said what is disguised. There is so much open misdirection and obvious omission that it almost feels like a taunt. At times intriguing, at times irritating!
But, even with this in mind ........... the inner lives and motivations of the main characters are well explored and I was always totally involved, gripped even. I looked forward to picking up this book to find out how things would end.
Hence the solid 4 star score.
A superior thriller in my humble opinion ......
July 9, 2015
I'm learning to be less bothered about hype. I've said over and over again that most of the hyped and praised and 'hotly anticipated' books I've read this year have been thoroughly mediocre, and yet only recently has it occurred to me that of course they are: it's mediocre books that sell the most. Hype still gets to me, I easily get caught up in the must-read-this-first excitement, but I no longer expect it to actually mean a truly great book.
Disclaimer is a classic case in point - a much-talked-about debut suspense novel that sparked a bidding war and is already set to be translated into 20+ languages; you know the drill. In alternate chapters, it tells the stories of forty-something film producer Catherine and retired teacher Stephen Brigstocke, starting with Catherine's discovery of a book - apparently left on her bedside table - which, she finds, is about a part of her life she's managed to keep secret for twenty years. Convinced the author's revenge tactic will tear her family apart, Catherine becomes obsessed with finding out who has written it, and why. But what is this oh-so-terrible secret? And how are Catherine and Stephen, who becomes more and more of a sinister figure as the plot progresses, linked?
As happens so often with these novels, the 'secret', when it's revealed, appears at first to be mundane and really pretty ordinary compared to the desperate paranoia and fear that's come before it. But there is a twist, and that was something I hadn't expected (on the whole, this isn't really a twisty book, at least not in that manufactured multiple-cliffhanger way). Unfortunately, .
The biggest fault with Disclaimer is just that it isn't particularly well-written. There are advantages to the plain language (especially the fact that it doesn't go into detail about unnecessary things - no lengthy descriptions of what people had for dinner or dropping of middle-class brand names), but overall it's a bit flat, and the punctuation is awful, although that's something I am assuming (but can't be sure) will be amended in the published version.
However, the story really is extremely compelling. After the halfway mark, it becomes pretty much unputdownable. There is an unexpected elegance to the plot that makes it work it better than many similar books I've read. The character of Stephen, in particular, is realised and developed very well. Catherine remains rather distant, but I suppose this is intentional, to keep the reader guessing about whether she's supposed to be sympathetic or not.
There was something I found curiously nostalgic about this book. I'm not sure if that was because it reminded me of something specific, or because it reminded me generally of a type of book I used to read when I was younger. When I was in my teens I went through a crime phase and read loads of Agatha Christie, then moved on to stuff like Minette Walters and Barbara Vine - this brought memories of those books back to me, even though I can hardly remember any of the titles of those I read. Disclaimer will no doubt be marketed as a psychological thriller, but it doesn't have a lot of the typical characteristics of that genre as it's now understood. It is more of a suspenseful mystery, and if you take away the references to modern technology, the story could just as easily be set 50 or 60 years ago as in the present day.
Does Disclaimer justify its hype? In terms of the audience it's meant to attract, the answer is probably yes. It's gripping, tightly plotted and emotive, the type of story that will have people on the edge of their seats/staying up all night/recommending it to everyone at work, etc. Still, there's something a bit empty and soulless about it, and I doubt it will prove to be very memorable.
Disclaimer is a classic case in point - a much-talked-about debut suspense novel that sparked a bidding war and is already set to be translated into 20+ languages; you know the drill. In alternate chapters, it tells the stories of forty-something film producer Catherine and retired teacher Stephen Brigstocke, starting with Catherine's discovery of a book - apparently left on her bedside table - which, she finds, is about a part of her life she's managed to keep secret for twenty years. Convinced the author's revenge tactic will tear her family apart, Catherine becomes obsessed with finding out who has written it, and why. But what is this oh-so-terrible secret? And how are Catherine and Stephen, who becomes more and more of a sinister figure as the plot progresses, linked?
As happens so often with these novels, the 'secret', when it's revealed, appears at first to be mundane and really pretty ordinary compared to the desperate paranoia and fear that's come before it. But there is a twist, and that was something I hadn't expected (on the whole, this isn't really a twisty book, at least not in that manufactured multiple-cliffhanger way). Unfortunately, .
The biggest fault with Disclaimer is just that it isn't particularly well-written. There are advantages to the plain language (especially the fact that it doesn't go into detail about unnecessary things - no lengthy descriptions of what people had for dinner or dropping of middle-class brand names), but overall it's a bit flat, and the punctuation is awful, although that's something I am assuming (but can't be sure) will be amended in the published version.
However, the story really is extremely compelling. After the halfway mark, it becomes pretty much unputdownable. There is an unexpected elegance to the plot that makes it work it better than many similar books I've read. The character of Stephen, in particular, is realised and developed very well. Catherine remains rather distant, but I suppose this is intentional, to keep the reader guessing about whether she's supposed to be sympathetic or not.
There was something I found curiously nostalgic about this book. I'm not sure if that was because it reminded me of something specific, or because it reminded me generally of a type of book I used to read when I was younger. When I was in my teens I went through a crime phase and read loads of Agatha Christie, then moved on to stuff like Minette Walters and Barbara Vine - this brought memories of those books back to me, even though I can hardly remember any of the titles of those I read. Disclaimer will no doubt be marketed as a psychological thriller, but it doesn't have a lot of the typical characteristics of that genre as it's now understood. It is more of a suspenseful mystery, and if you take away the references to modern technology, the story could just as easily be set 50 or 60 years ago as in the present day.
Does Disclaimer justify its hype? In terms of the audience it's meant to attract, the answer is probably yes. It's gripping, tightly plotted and emotive, the type of story that will have people on the edge of their seats/staying up all night/recommending it to everyone at work, etc. Still, there's something a bit empty and soulless about it, and I doubt it will prove to be very memorable.
July 23, 2018
Another psychological thriller that's good enough, but not great.
I liked the unsettling premise of picking up a book in which your darkest secret is laid bare. For those of us who read a lot, it is exactly the kind of 'what if' that hits closest to home. I spend a lot of time wishing I was in certain books, but on reflection, am pretty happy i'm not, especially in the starring role. My turbulent past can stay there, thank you very much.
Beyond that, Knight does well with the trials and misunderstandings of family interaction, the relationships between people that are determined more by what is not known, or acknowledged, about others, than what is. It worked well in the denouement and was the basis for a relatively satisfying surprise.
However, the novel had a light touch, and I was left unmoved. I felt no connection to any of the characters and little real interest in what happened to them. The book only took a few hours to read and as an easy distraction, it was fine. It won't be a story that I remember for long.
I liked the unsettling premise of picking up a book in which your darkest secret is laid bare. For those of us who read a lot, it is exactly the kind of 'what if' that hits closest to home. I spend a lot of time wishing I was in certain books, but on reflection, am pretty happy i'm not, especially in the starring role. My turbulent past can stay there, thank you very much.
Beyond that, Knight does well with the trials and misunderstandings of family interaction, the relationships between people that are determined more by what is not known, or acknowledged, about others, than what is. It worked well in the denouement and was the basis for a relatively satisfying surprise.
However, the novel had a light touch, and I was left unmoved. I felt no connection to any of the characters and little real interest in what happened to them. The book only took a few hours to read and as an easy distraction, it was fine. It won't be a story that I remember for long.
December 16, 2016
DNFed @ 54%
The story is centered around a mysterious book the main character — Catherine (I'd forgotten her name) — finds in her home. Even though she doesn't remember buying it, she's just moved to a new place and figures it was probably something that'd gotten lost in the midst of her things before. She starts reading it, and horrified she discovers that the story is actually about a secret she thought would never see the light of day; a secret only she and someone dead for the past 20 years knew about.
It's a very interesting premise, I'll give it that. But it falls short right at the first few pages. We have two perspectives, Catherine and a man, Stephen Brigstocke, a weird obssessive little man whose wife died a few years ago. At first it's not obvious how the two of them would be linked, but as Stephen's perspective advances — it began two years before Catherine's — the conections are made clear. I didn't click with the writing style right off the bat; Catherine's chapters were okay but Stephen's, told in first person, were pretty terrible. The writing was choppy and the metaphors were peculiar, to say the least:
Ejaculating... the... words? Okay... that's not gross at all.
And then there's the central conflict of the story, which is the secret hidden away in the pages of the mystery book and that is, supposedly, earth-shattering and utterly terrible.
I found it stupid.
So stupid, in fact, that I simply refused to believe that was it — I could not believe that Catherine, who is theoretically a very strong, independent woman, a documentary filmmaker that goes after the big guys, would let her world fall apart because of something silly that could've been solved with a five minute conversation with her husband. So I got pretty annoyed and DNFed it, but I decided to skim to the end to see if there wasn't something I was missing.
There was. And the twist made me even angrier. If you're curious as to what it is and doesn't want to read the book:
So yeah, I'm glad I didn't waste my time finishing this book. Terrible writing, terrible plot, terrible choices. You can read it for yourself if you'd like, because some people gave this really great reviews and maybe it just wasn't meant for my taste, but I wouldn't give it the time of the day.
The story is centered around a mysterious book the main character — Catherine (I'd forgotten her name) — finds in her home. Even though she doesn't remember buying it, she's just moved to a new place and figures it was probably something that'd gotten lost in the midst of her things before. She starts reading it, and horrified she discovers that the story is actually about a secret she thought would never see the light of day; a secret only she and someone dead for the past 20 years knew about.
It's a very interesting premise, I'll give it that. But it falls short right at the first few pages. We have two perspectives, Catherine and a man, Stephen Brigstocke, a weird obssessive little man whose wife died a few years ago. At first it's not obvious how the two of them would be linked, but as Stephen's perspective advances — it began two years before Catherine's — the conections are made clear. I didn't click with the writing style right off the bat; Catherine's chapters were okay but Stephen's, told in first person, were pretty terrible. The writing was choppy and the metaphors were peculiar, to say the least:
My hand, slippery yet firm, ejaculating the words as they flowed from Nancy into me.
Ejaculating... the... words? Okay... that's not gross at all.
And then there's the central conflict of the story, which is the secret hidden away in the pages of the mystery book and that is, supposedly, earth-shattering and utterly terrible.
I found it stupid.
So stupid, in fact, that I simply refused to believe that was it — I could not believe that Catherine, who is theoretically a very strong, independent woman, a documentary filmmaker that goes after the big guys, would let her world fall apart because of something silly that could've been solved with a five minute conversation with her husband. So I got pretty annoyed and DNFed it, but I decided to skim to the end to see if there wasn't something I was missing.
There was. And the twist made me even angrier. If you're curious as to what it is and doesn't want to read the book:
So yeah, I'm glad I didn't waste my time finishing this book. Terrible writing, terrible plot, terrible choices. You can read it for yourself if you'd like, because some people gave this really great reviews and maybe it just wasn't meant for my taste, but I wouldn't give it the time of the day.
September 21, 2018
This book surprised me in a good way. I'll admit I wasn't so sure in the beginning. I found the first 1/4 of this book a little confusing. Once I was able to get into the flow of the novel it really did become a page turner. Keep in mind that you will need to suspend your disbelief nearly throughout but if you can then it will make for a satisfying read if you like tricky psychological thrillers. And the ending, while maybe a bit over the top, was completely entertaining. This would make for an excellent beach / vacation read.
January 27, 2025
What an absolute thriller—a psychological mind game. The best thrillers, told through unreliable narrators, with everyone hiding something, are an edge-of-your-seat experience.
Imagine being at the top of your career, a successful documentarian with an adoring husband and son, when a book arrives in your home. You open it, wondering why it was sent to you. As you read, the creepy feeling begins to set in. This is a story about you—something that happened over twenty years ago, a secret you've kept locked up close to your heart.
Catherine was on holiday with her husband and child in Italy, enjoying a quiet family vacation. Her husband had to return to work, so she decided to stay.
When Catherine receives the book The Perfect Stranger, she's stunned to learn it follows her experience while on vacation. As the story unfolds, her husband and later son become privy to the secret, and the entire family falls apart, crumbling. I’m trying to review without exposing the secret because what would that be?
The mystery, the anticipation, the writing, everything was finely crafted. A gripping story I couldn't put down--I was in a chokehold, waiting for the pieces to unravel.
There are some triggers, a bit shocking--and unnerving.
Overall, I enjoyed this thriller!
5/5 stars
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
Imagine being at the top of your career, a successful documentarian with an adoring husband and son, when a book arrives in your home. You open it, wondering why it was sent to you. As you read, the creepy feeling begins to set in. This is a story about you—something that happened over twenty years ago, a secret you've kept locked up close to your heart.
There weren't as many layers between her and the world as there were with the rest of us. The act of keeping the secret a secret has almost become bigger than the secret itself
Catherine was on holiday with her husband and child in Italy, enjoying a quiet family vacation. Her husband had to return to work, so she decided to stay.
When Catherine receives the book The Perfect Stranger, she's stunned to learn it follows her experience while on vacation. As the story unfolds, her husband and later son become privy to the secret, and the entire family falls apart, crumbling. I’m trying to review without exposing the secret because what would that be?
The mystery, the anticipation, the writing, everything was finely crafted. A gripping story I couldn't put down--I was in a chokehold, waiting for the pieces to unravel.
There are some triggers, a bit shocking--and unnerving.
Overall, I enjoyed this thriller!
5/5 stars
September 16, 2024
I've mentioned several times before that I'm not normally keen on stories set in ‘Blighty’ - just too close to home. The settings remind me of work, and the prevailing weather is normally dismal, too. Two things that hit the wrong note for me from the get-go. So, the London setting of this debut novel from a former film documentary maker had ground to make up from the start.
However, it did kick off in interesting fashion with Catherine Ravenscroft (also a film documentary maker) finding a book beside her bed only to find it to be the story of a part of her own life she's desperate to forget! From this point the story is told, partly in flashback, both her her point of view and that of retired schoolteacher Stephen Brigstocke, who is introduced as a rather creepy character and whose relevance to the central narrative becomes apparent as we get deeper into the tale.
In truth, it is a well told story with several good twists and a decent cast of characters. It held my attention to a gripping denouement … and then unfortunately continued for a prolonged and unnecessary ‘cleanup’. I'm not quite sure what came over the author at the end, as all the last section does is to dilute what was already a satisfying mystery. The ending didn't quite spoil the book for me, but it is most definitely a case of less would have been more.
However, it did kick off in interesting fashion with Catherine Ravenscroft (also a film documentary maker) finding a book beside her bed only to find it to be the story of a part of her own life she's desperate to forget! From this point the story is told, partly in flashback, both her her point of view and that of retired schoolteacher Stephen Brigstocke, who is introduced as a rather creepy character and whose relevance to the central narrative becomes apparent as we get deeper into the tale.
In truth, it is a well told story with several good twists and a decent cast of characters. It held my attention to a gripping denouement … and then unfortunately continued for a prolonged and unnecessary ‘cleanup’. I'm not quite sure what came over the author at the end, as all the last section does is to dilute what was already a satisfying mystery. The ending didn't quite spoil the book for me, but it is most definitely a case of less would have been more.
June 20, 2015
3.5 Psychological twisty. Fast paced, the revelations keep coming and even when I was sold on one theory, another presented itself. A very good suspense filled story, one where it tales a while to like any of these characters, not too sure if I ever did but it didn't seem to matter. A few graphic sex scenes. Didn't see the ending coming, total surprise which I have to admit I appreciated.
June 15, 2015
Disclaimer is a great debut novel! Not only is it a psychological thriller, but it is a thought provoking story about two families told from different points of view with really great character development! This story shows how the main character, Catherine, has a past that comes back to haunt her and destroy the life that she knows. I wavered between 4 and 5 Stars throughout. The very beginning, being a 4 because it took me a little while to get into the story, but once I caught on it became very good and had some twists that I didn't see coming that put it in the 5 range. The ending was a 4 for me. I will definitely be reading Renee Knights next book. Thank you to GR Friend Carol! If it wasn't for her review I probably would not have purchased this novel.
Oh, it took me a week to read this book because I had a lot going on. It would have been much better if I had more time to dedicate to it. This book reads fast and would make a great beach read, rainy weekend or long flight read.
Oh, it took me a week to read this book because I had a lot going on. It would have been much better if I had more time to dedicate to it. This book reads fast and would make a great beach read, rainy weekend or long flight read.
March 22, 2021
The hype surrounding this book's release has been insane, and the subsequent rave reviews seem to be everywhere, which makes me wonder - am I the only person in the world who was totally underwhelmed by this book? There have been lots of comparisons made to Gone Girl (and equally lots of people claiming that it's nothing like Gone Girl). I fall firmly into the former camp - this book IS like Gone Girl in the sense that I had absolutely no interest or sympathy for the characters whatsoever.
I've left it a few days between finishing the book and writing the review just in case my views change, but nope, after closing the book it left my mind totally, which personally I don't feel is the sign of a great story.
The premise is excellent - who could fail to be intrigued by the idea of opening a book and the story being all about you? However, the premise was let down by a keep-you-in-the-dark plot and a series of shallow, weak and generally unlikeable characters. Ok, I admit, I don't like 'keep-you-in-the-dark' plots because I am generally rubbish at guessing what's going on. I'm the sort of person who needs movie plots explaining to me *as I'm watching them*. So this meant that I spent about half the book wondering what the hell was going on. This wasn't helped by the fact that the writing style was pretty clunky and the dialogue poor.
It took some time before I felt interested enough in the story to actually *want* to read it rather than feel obliged to because I needed to do a NetGalley review. In fact, I was probably three-quarters of the way through before started enjoying it. But even then I kept getting thrown out of the story by awkwardly worded passages or odd dialogue.
Overall, I was seriously disappointed by this book. The storyline was good, but the delivery poor. I never lost myself in this book, which is a shame.
I was provided with a free e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've left it a few days between finishing the book and writing the review just in case my views change, but nope, after closing the book it left my mind totally, which personally I don't feel is the sign of a great story.
The premise is excellent - who could fail to be intrigued by the idea of opening a book and the story being all about you? However, the premise was let down by a keep-you-in-the-dark plot and a series of shallow, weak and generally unlikeable characters. Ok, I admit, I don't like 'keep-you-in-the-dark' plots because I am generally rubbish at guessing what's going on. I'm the sort of person who needs movie plots explaining to me *as I'm watching them*. So this meant that I spent about half the book wondering what the hell was going on. This wasn't helped by the fact that the writing style was pretty clunky and the dialogue poor.
It took some time before I felt interested enough in the story to actually *want* to read it rather than feel obliged to because I needed to do a NetGalley review. In fact, I was probably three-quarters of the way through before started enjoying it. But even then I kept getting thrown out of the story by awkwardly worded passages or odd dialogue.
Overall, I was seriously disappointed by this book. The storyline was good, but the delivery poor. I never lost myself in this book, which is a shame.
I was provided with a free e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2015
Disclaimer doesn’t disappoint. It’s very cleverly written and will grip you, then surprise with unexpected twists. I was lost in this excellent thriller and couldn’t put it down.
Catherine and Stephen have a good life and stable marriage, but all that is about to change. Their son Nicholas has recently moved out and although he hasn’t achieved all they hoped, he seems stable and happy in his work. It’s then that Catherine reads a book which mysteriously appears on the bedside of their new home. The book disclaimer has a neat red line through it ‘Any resemblance to persons living or dead….’ Catherine only appreciates the significance of this as she reads on!
Catherine finds that she is the main character in the book and that it reveals a secret that she thought only she could now know. This is where it begins and we are off on a rollercoaster of a ride as Catherine’s world falls apart. I loved this psychological thriller as it played with my head as the story unfolded. I was never sure whose side I was on and not quite sure where my sympathy’s lay.
I found the plot was well written and the story kept me hooked right to the end of the book. Disclaimer is a damn good thriller which I can thoroughly recommend.
Catherine and Stephen have a good life and stable marriage, but all that is about to change. Their son Nicholas has recently moved out and although he hasn’t achieved all they hoped, he seems stable and happy in his work. It’s then that Catherine reads a book which mysteriously appears on the bedside of their new home. The book disclaimer has a neat red line through it ‘Any resemblance to persons living or dead….’ Catherine only appreciates the significance of this as she reads on!
Catherine finds that she is the main character in the book and that it reveals a secret that she thought only she could now know. This is where it begins and we are off on a rollercoaster of a ride as Catherine’s world falls apart. I loved this psychological thriller as it played with my head as the story unfolded. I was never sure whose side I was on and not quite sure where my sympathy’s lay.
I found the plot was well written and the story kept me hooked right to the end of the book. Disclaimer is a damn good thriller which I can thoroughly recommend.
January 8, 2015
I loved this atmospheric, beautifully written novel, a real page turner and an intriguing and often twisty plot with some terrifically well drawn characters.
2015 is turning into another great year for books, most especially debuts and this one is definitely going to be somewhere near the top of the favourites list come the end of the year – I was totally absorbed into the story and loved the emotion of it as much as the mystery element. A tale of two halves as we follow along with Catherine, who mysteriously finds a book by her bedside, a seemingly fictional tale but one that hits very close to home. Opposite her is Stephen, a grieving husband who has his own story to tell. As things ebb and flow you are never sure who you should be sympathising with – and there are many secrets to be revealed.
I am a fan of a good psychological thriller and this hit that mark as well, plus there is a great family drama to be had here with some emotional and intense themes that drive the narrative in a most fascinating way – I was utterly engaged with both Catherine and Stephen, their lives and their personal relationships and as it becomes obvious that not everything is clear cut, it is addictive stuff for sure.
Definitely highly recommended – a fuller review will appear upon release.
Happy Reading Folks!
2015 is turning into another great year for books, most especially debuts and this one is definitely going to be somewhere near the top of the favourites list come the end of the year – I was totally absorbed into the story and loved the emotion of it as much as the mystery element. A tale of two halves as we follow along with Catherine, who mysteriously finds a book by her bedside, a seemingly fictional tale but one that hits very close to home. Opposite her is Stephen, a grieving husband who has his own story to tell. As things ebb and flow you are never sure who you should be sympathising with – and there are many secrets to be revealed.
I am a fan of a good psychological thriller and this hit that mark as well, plus there is a great family drama to be had here with some emotional and intense themes that drive the narrative in a most fascinating way – I was utterly engaged with both Catherine and Stephen, their lives and their personal relationships and as it becomes obvious that not everything is clear cut, it is addictive stuff for sure.
Definitely highly recommended – a fuller review will appear upon release.
Happy Reading Folks!
December 13, 2024
A stunning debut novel, the twisted end blows you away. Not strictly a bibliomystery, yet it will have a thrilling appeal for the book lovers. Those who have enjoyed The Gone Girl would fall in love with this one. Those who haven’t will have a great introduction to the psychological thriller genre.
June 22, 2025
I wanted to the book after having watched the series on Apple TV. I thought the TV series was really well done. I had high hopes for the book. I think I prefer the series, but I did really like the book too.
It's a cat-and-mouse story where the victim is unclear until the reveal. In truth, there are several victims, one really bad villain, and a couple of mediocre people who do more damage than they knew they were capable of (the two men who are the fathers).
The narrator is pretty clinical. I think that was a little unnerving. Otherwise, I thought it an important story to tell. It wasn't an easy story to get through, but it was worthwhile, and I hope more men will read it and learn from it.
Rounding up to 5 stars.
It's a cat-and-mouse story where the victim is unclear until the reveal. In truth, there are several victims, one really bad villain, and a couple of mediocre people who do more damage than they knew they were capable of (the two men who are the fathers).
The narrator is pretty clinical. I think that was a little unnerving. Otherwise, I thought it an important story to tell. It wasn't an easy story to get through, but it was worthwhile, and I hope more men will read it and learn from it.
Rounding up to 5 stars.
July 25, 2015
Disclaimer: Results not typical.
Do I even need to say it? Apparently 2015 is to be the year that most popular books will fail to leave me wowed. Perhaps I'm reading too many within the same genre. Maybe I'm expecting too much. I suppose the why of it doesn't matter. What it amounts to is that my normal existence as a reader happily reading and loving the bestsellers is now marked by moments of self-doubt and slight bewilderment.
This book, Disclaimer, was okay. The pacing was too slow for my taste but some of the characters were very well drawn, so that balanced it out. The protagonist was shrouded in mystery and her enemy was formidable, creepy and seemed to be unraveling before my eyes. I must admit that I did not see the end coming, which is a plus, however the very end was a little too implausible and without explanation. While it is receiving very high marks, I found Disclaimer to be forgettable. Maybe it's me?! 2.5 stars
Do I even need to say it? Apparently 2015 is to be the year that most popular books will fail to leave me wowed. Perhaps I'm reading too many within the same genre. Maybe I'm expecting too much. I suppose the why of it doesn't matter. What it amounts to is that my normal existence as a reader happily reading and loving the bestsellers is now marked by moments of self-doubt and slight bewilderment.
This book, Disclaimer, was okay. The pacing was too slow for my taste but some of the characters were very well drawn, so that balanced it out. The protagonist was shrouded in mystery and her enemy was formidable, creepy and seemed to be unraveling before my eyes. I must admit that I did not see the end coming, which is a plus, however the very end was a little too implausible and without explanation. While it is receiving very high marks, I found Disclaimer to be forgettable. Maybe it's me?! 2.5 stars
August 28, 2017
DISCLAIMER is a truly engaging debut by Renee Knight, and a psychological thriller I will not soon forget. The story seems at first very simple, Catherine receives a book, which recounts a story she is all too familiar with - her own. As the story unfolds, we are told what happens through multiple POVs, which i always enjoy when it is done well, as it is here. It quickly becomes clear, that not all is as it seemed initially, and that the dubious book serves as the catalyst for some major revelations, and the ending definitely surprised me.
I read a fair amount of crime fiction, and this book really stood out as clever, original, while quite tragic as well. I look forward to whatever Knight comes up with next!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
I read a fair amount of crime fiction, and this book really stood out as clever, original, while quite tragic as well. I look forward to whatever Knight comes up with next!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
August 27, 2015
This is Catherine's story. And if there is a moral to it, it is this: Don't make assumptions based on what you don't actually know.
Catherine, wife of Robert, and at times reluctant mother of Nick, carries a crippling secret from her past.
Stephen Brigstocke, husband of now deceased author Nancy, and father of Jonathon who died saving the life of Catherine's son, thinks he knows what that secret is, and thinks he owes it to both his late wife and son to make it public knowledge.
Catherine says she didn't know Jonathon prior to his saving her son's life, yet all the evidence points to this not being true.
Was Jonathon, as everyone believes, Catherine's lover? Or did he play a far more sinister role in her life?
I wanted to like this book, but it largely failed to hold my interest. I found my mind wandering as I read, and several times I physically got up and wandered off elsewhere mid-sentence. Having said that, there are some beautiful passages of writing, e.g. "...this house meet's Catherine's eye and calls to her, like the phlegmy growl of a homeless drunk...."
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and author Renee Knight for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Catherine, wife of Robert, and at times reluctant mother of Nick, carries a crippling secret from her past.
Stephen Brigstocke, husband of now deceased author Nancy, and father of Jonathon who died saving the life of Catherine's son, thinks he knows what that secret is, and thinks he owes it to both his late wife and son to make it public knowledge.
Catherine says she didn't know Jonathon prior to his saving her son's life, yet all the evidence points to this not being true.
Was Jonathon, as everyone believes, Catherine's lover? Or did he play a far more sinister role in her life?
I wanted to like this book, but it largely failed to hold my interest. I found my mind wandering as I read, and several times I physically got up and wandered off elsewhere mid-sentence. Having said that, there are some beautiful passages of writing, e.g. "...this house meet's Catherine's eye and calls to her, like the phlegmy growl of a homeless drunk...."
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and author Renee Knight for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2015
Catherine, a successful film-maker, is intrigued when she mysteriously receives a book entitled The Perfect Stranger. But as she reads the novel, she's horrified to read about a specific day in her own life--one that occurred 20 years earlier--which she's tried valiantly to forget. How could anyone know what happened that day? The only other person who truly knows is long dead. She's desperate to learn the identity of the author, and what he or she wants.
Intertwined with Catherine's narrative, is that of Stephen Brigstocke, a grieving widower, who has never met Catherine, but has discovered among his late wife's belongings, a manuscript detailing Catherine's most closely guarded secret, one she's hidden from her husband and son. This novel skillfully weaves alternating narratives (from past and present) and shows how one's horrific past can catch up and derail one's entire life.
Mark Rubinstein
Intertwined with Catherine's narrative, is that of Stephen Brigstocke, a grieving widower, who has never met Catherine, but has discovered among his late wife's belongings, a manuscript detailing Catherine's most closely guarded secret, one she's hidden from her husband and son. This novel skillfully weaves alternating narratives (from past and present) and shows how one's horrific past can catch up and derail one's entire life.
Mark Rubinstein
March 29, 2016
DISCLAIMER has an interesting plot: a woman finds a book at her bedside after she moves to a new home; she reads it and sees herself in the book’s plot. Not only that, but it’s a story that she didn’t think anyone knew about. This novel reveals a secret she’s kept from everyone for decades. We have a book within a book.
Author Renee Knight leaves enough ambiguity throughout the novel to keep the narrative suspenseful and interesting. Knight also tells the woman’s (Catherine’s) story in second person, while the author of the revealing novel, Stephen, his story is told in first person. And Stephen seems to be an odd, creepy, and sad person. I enjoyed the author’s use of Stephen’s voice to further the story, yet add creepiness to the storyline.
One can’t get too into the book without spoilers. I found the book interesting and engrossing. It’s a great beach read or airplane read. It’s not the best suspense book out there, but it’s better than average. I recommend it as a great vacation book. Thank you to my fellow GR friends who recommended this.
Author Renee Knight leaves enough ambiguity throughout the novel to keep the narrative suspenseful and interesting. Knight also tells the woman’s (Catherine’s) story in second person, while the author of the revealing novel, Stephen, his story is told in first person. And Stephen seems to be an odd, creepy, and sad person. I enjoyed the author’s use of Stephen’s voice to further the story, yet add creepiness to the storyline.
One can’t get too into the book without spoilers. I found the book interesting and engrossing. It’s a great beach read or airplane read. It’s not the best suspense book out there, but it’s better than average. I recommend it as a great vacation book. Thank you to my fellow GR friends who recommended this.
December 29, 2014
Catherine Ravenscroft is a person who seems to have an almost charmed life, when we first meet her in this novel. She is married to husband Robert and both of them have a successful and high status career – Robert in law and Catherine in television documentaries. They have one grown son, Nicholas, who has not quite lived up the expectations they wanted for him; but he has moved out and is living an independent life. So, Catherine in 2013 is a respected and loved woman, who has recently moved house and is looking forward to the future. However, a book seems to have appeared in her new home – left seemingly in a pile by her bed, with the disclaimer, “any resemblance to persons living or dead…” neatly crossed out with red ink.
As Catherine reads the book, she realises that the main character is supposed to be her and that the story revolves around an incident which happened many years ago. Now Catherine is fearful of who knows the secret she has carefully guarded all these years. This thriller weaves an interesting storyline, revolving around Catherine and her family and Stephen Brigstocke; a retired teacher, who is determined to destroy Catherine’s life. It is difficult to review the book without revealing the plot and I have no wish to spoil your enjoyment of a thriller which is certain to be a big success in 2015. Catherine is a capable woman under attack, while Brigstocke is a creepy and insidious opponent. This has a lot of twists and turns, great characters and will keep you turning the pages until the end. A good debut and I look forward to reading more from this author.
As Catherine reads the book, she realises that the main character is supposed to be her and that the story revolves around an incident which happened many years ago. Now Catherine is fearful of who knows the secret she has carefully guarded all these years. This thriller weaves an interesting storyline, revolving around Catherine and her family and Stephen Brigstocke; a retired teacher, who is determined to destroy Catherine’s life. It is difficult to review the book without revealing the plot and I have no wish to spoil your enjoyment of a thriller which is certain to be a big success in 2015. Catherine is a capable woman under attack, while Brigstocke is a creepy and insidious opponent. This has a lot of twists and turns, great characters and will keep you turning the pages until the end. A good debut and I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 6, 2019
Review to come soon.
April 8, 2015
I’m going to start this review with a bold statement – this book will make my top ten reads of 2015. Yes it was so good that I can’t see me coming across ten other books that will beat this one.
So what’s it about? Well as with any book that depends on the reader not knowing very much before they start to appreciate the story, I can’t tell you very much! I can tell you that our chief protagonist, Catherine Ravenscroft has just moved house to a new apartment with her husband Robert when she comes across a novel. Idly picking it up the book entitled Perfect Stranger with the standard disclaimer; any resemblance to persons living or dead scored through with red pen. She starts to read and to her horror she realises it is about her, and more specifically about a secret that she has kept for the last twenty years. All the reader knows at this stage is the secret involves her son Nicholas, their less than successful son, who at Catherine’s instigation has moved into a shared house in a bid to foster some independence and responsibility into his life. Of course the questions raised by the book are what is the secret? And just as importantly who knows and cares enough to write a book about it?
Alternating with Catherine’s narrative we hear from another voice, that of a lonely old man, mourning the death of his wife, Nancy but at last determinedly clearing his house of her belongings, packing her clothes away and giving them to charity shops where he gets given cups of teas and a chance to talk about Nancy.
The reason I enjoyed this book so much was the way that Renee Knight skilfully played on my emotions, changing my opinion of all of the characters who populate this book with an ease that left me reeling. My once certain opinion swept away in a single sentence as another piece of information is casually dropped into the narrative. This is a book of suspense but not of the obvious kind, the tension is palpable and illustrated by Catherine’s actions rather than internal monologues about how scared she is, as she turns from a capable and decisive documentary maker into a scared shadow as she wonders what will follow, how far is the author prepared to go to completely destroy her life? Should she take the ending as a warning, all of these thoughts push real life to the periphery as she valiantly tries to keep the secret under wraps.
Readers that aren’t keen on protagonists they don’t like may well not enjoy this as much as I did but although many of the characters in this book behaved in a way I wouldn’t, at no point did their behaviour seem out of character, they were real people behaving in realistic ways albeit at the edge of their sanity at times and I was utterly convinced.
I’d like to say an enormous thank you to the publishers Random House UK firstly for publishing this book, and secondly for allowing me the great pleasure of reading it. Disclaimer will be published on 9 April 2015 and it is a must for lovers of psychological thrillers.
So what’s it about? Well as with any book that depends on the reader not knowing very much before they start to appreciate the story, I can’t tell you very much! I can tell you that our chief protagonist, Catherine Ravenscroft has just moved house to a new apartment with her husband Robert when she comes across a novel. Idly picking it up the book entitled Perfect Stranger with the standard disclaimer; any resemblance to persons living or dead scored through with red pen. She starts to read and to her horror she realises it is about her, and more specifically about a secret that she has kept for the last twenty years. All the reader knows at this stage is the secret involves her son Nicholas, their less than successful son, who at Catherine’s instigation has moved into a shared house in a bid to foster some independence and responsibility into his life. Of course the questions raised by the book are what is the secret? And just as importantly who knows and cares enough to write a book about it?
Alternating with Catherine’s narrative we hear from another voice, that of a lonely old man, mourning the death of his wife, Nancy but at last determinedly clearing his house of her belongings, packing her clothes away and giving them to charity shops where he gets given cups of teas and a chance to talk about Nancy.
The reason I enjoyed this book so much was the way that Renee Knight skilfully played on my emotions, changing my opinion of all of the characters who populate this book with an ease that left me reeling. My once certain opinion swept away in a single sentence as another piece of information is casually dropped into the narrative. This is a book of suspense but not of the obvious kind, the tension is palpable and illustrated by Catherine’s actions rather than internal monologues about how scared she is, as she turns from a capable and decisive documentary maker into a scared shadow as she wonders what will follow, how far is the author prepared to go to completely destroy her life? Should she take the ending as a warning, all of these thoughts push real life to the periphery as she valiantly tries to keep the secret under wraps.
Readers that aren’t keen on protagonists they don’t like may well not enjoy this as much as I did but although many of the characters in this book behaved in a way I wouldn’t, at no point did their behaviour seem out of character, they were real people behaving in realistic ways albeit at the edge of their sanity at times and I was utterly convinced.
I’d like to say an enormous thank you to the publishers Random House UK firstly for publishing this book, and secondly for allowing me the great pleasure of reading it. Disclaimer will be published on 9 April 2015 and it is a must for lovers of psychological thrillers.
October 30, 2015
Narrado a duas vozes Pura Coincidência dá-nos a conhecer os dois lados da mesma história. A história por quem a viveu e a história de quem a imaginou e a passou para o papel.
À medida que a história vai avançando vamos conhecendo cada vez mais as características tanto de Catherine como do autor, ou melhor, produtor do livro, Stephen, o que torna o livro ainda mais interessante. O facto de ter poucas personagens vamos esmiuçando ainda melhor as fragilidades de cada uma delas. Confesso que não criei empatia com nenhuma delas, talvez por todas terem demasiados defeitos e esqueletos no armário para que me pudesse rever. Mas o facto de querer chegar ao final do livro para conseguir desvendar todo o mistério em torno daquelas férias em Espanha me aguçaram o apetite pela sua leitura e não larguei o livro até que o terminei.
Muito bom.
opinião completa: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.com/...
À medida que a história vai avançando vamos conhecendo cada vez mais as características tanto de Catherine como do autor, ou melhor, produtor do livro, Stephen, o que torna o livro ainda mais interessante. O facto de ter poucas personagens vamos esmiuçando ainda melhor as fragilidades de cada uma delas. Confesso que não criei empatia com nenhuma delas, talvez por todas terem demasiados defeitos e esqueletos no armário para que me pudesse rever. Mas o facto de querer chegar ao final do livro para conseguir desvendar todo o mistério em torno daquelas férias em Espanha me aguçaram o apetite pela sua leitura e não larguei o livro até que o terminei.
Muito bom.
opinião completa: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.com/...
June 15, 2016
I read this book..............
I 'thought' I wrote a review --- (isn't the first time the the ghost buster ate them) -- but 'thanks' go to Maureen for the reminder today! :)
I can't remember what I rated it --(I 'think' I might have rated it 'less' than 4 stars --- 3.5 maybe?
Either way --there are tons of other reviews.
I 'thought' I wrote a review --- (isn't the first time the the ghost buster ate them) -- but 'thanks' go to Maureen for the reminder today! :)
I can't remember what I rated it --(I 'think' I might have rated it 'less' than 4 stars --- 3.5 maybe?
Either way --there are tons of other reviews.
May 15, 2025
Another really good book, interesting story and very intense. The story does go back and forth in time and back and forth on what really happened and of course at the end of the story we do find out what really happened. This woman is on vacation with her husband and child. The husband has to leave for work and leaves them there alone. A young man breaks into her hotel room, takes pictures of her and rapes her. Later the young son is out in the ocean and he almost drowns and the rapist saves him and he ends of drowning. The story is more involved than this, it goes on and on involving the young man's family and the woman's family and they become connected in a strange way. It's a good story and I highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2015
Disclaimer could have been one of the best novels of the year. It does start with an outrageous plot device. A middle aged woman finds a book in her own house and she is a character in the book! Oh, my God! Is someone calling the babysitter, too? From inside the house?
Renee Knight then gets down to some serious business with multiple time lines and multiple characters as she fishes for the next Gone Girl. It’s not immediately obvious what she is doing, but she does weave some interesting themes and motifs into a story of sex, menopausal BBC pedophile documentary producers and aging academics. Along the way she draws an interesting picture of disaffected youth in Britain –is this a first time out on this?
What happens next is unbelievable! After involving the reader for 270 pages or so, she turns on her and snarls out the most banal story line that combines a gotcha! “I have a letter.” And just some incredibly bad story choices. Ms. Knight is a recent graduate of some writing course. She flunks the final. In fact I hope she never writes again.
Instead of her work being about evil, choices, responsibilities, and memory, guess what? It was all a dream. Nah. It wasn’t that; here we are: Catherine did not care about her child and almost let him drown, only for him to be saved by the young man she had been screwing on vacation while her husband was back at work. Her pornographic pictures her adult son sees on Facebook aren’t what they seem. (Aren’t what they seem?) You see she was raped! Raped! Mind you while her five year old son watches. Take the author’s word for it 95% of the way through the book. But then the dead boy’s father burns himself alive and gives her a London house and flat and everyone lives happily ever after because Catherine in her late ‘fifties has decided to leave her husband and find herself since adultery in Spain is no longer an option. Much like Illia of Piraeus, she makes sure everything comes out fine including druggy son awakening from his coma and loving hr again!
Knight is hoping for a big Hollywood pay off. But this is junk. Should never have been published. And shame on all those reviewers who didn’t totally pan it and hid their feeling about the tilted and ugly prose and creaky plotting and the crap ending. Just shame on them.
Renee Knight then gets down to some serious business with multiple time lines and multiple characters as she fishes for the next Gone Girl. It’s not immediately obvious what she is doing, but she does weave some interesting themes and motifs into a story of sex, menopausal BBC pedophile documentary producers and aging academics. Along the way she draws an interesting picture of disaffected youth in Britain –is this a first time out on this?
What happens next is unbelievable! After involving the reader for 270 pages or so, she turns on her and snarls out the most banal story line that combines a gotcha! “I have a letter.” And just some incredibly bad story choices. Ms. Knight is a recent graduate of some writing course. She flunks the final. In fact I hope she never writes again.
Instead of her work being about evil, choices, responsibilities, and memory, guess what? It was all a dream. Nah. It wasn’t that; here we are: Catherine did not care about her child and almost let him drown, only for him to be saved by the young man she had been screwing on vacation while her husband was back at work. Her pornographic pictures her adult son sees on Facebook aren’t what they seem. (Aren’t what they seem?) You see she was raped! Raped! Mind you while her five year old son watches. Take the author’s word for it 95% of the way through the book. But then the dead boy’s father burns himself alive and gives her a London house and flat and everyone lives happily ever after because Catherine in her late ‘fifties has decided to leave her husband and find herself since adultery in Spain is no longer an option. Much like Illia of Piraeus, she makes sure everything comes out fine including druggy son awakening from his coma and loving hr again!
Knight is hoping for a big Hollywood pay off. But this is junk. Should never have been published. And shame on all those reviewers who didn’t totally pan it and hid their feeling about the tilted and ugly prose and creaky plotting and the crap ending. Just shame on them.
November 18, 2018
Cathrine discovers an intriguing novel on her bedside table but is soon horrified to learn that she is one of the key characters.
The initial concept peaked my interest, but I found it slightly frustrated as was left waiting for clues.
I was invested enough to want know the conclusion though.
The initial concept peaked my interest, but I found it slightly frustrated as was left waiting for clues.
I was invested enough to want know the conclusion though.
January 9, 2016
British scriptwriter Renee Knight’s cleverly crafted debut, DISCLAIMER is a twisted, dark and chilling psychological suspense which brings new meaning to “red herring” and “domestic suburban noir.” What an excellent cover depicting the true nature of the novel.
Let me start off by saying, this is one addictive book which grabs your attention! You will sit up and take notice. I listened to the audio version, with a number of distractions. (A lot of rewinding) Like what in the heck just happened? Did I miss something? The British narrators, Michael Pennington and Laura Paton deliver a suspenseful performance, setting the mysterious dark mood, perfectly.
Two families. Two sons. Stephen, Nancy & son, Jonathan. Robert, Katherine & son, Nick.
Let the sadistic evil games begin. Or should I say, cat and mouse? Truth or dare? Revenge. One life for another. How are these two families connected? Both families have dark secrets. Secrets from their spouses.
We meet Catherine, a documentary filmmaker. She finds herself at home, picking up a self-published book “The Perfect Stranger” in the evening. While reading she is shocked beyond belief, as she recognizes herself and this appears to be her story? A dark story she has buried for the last twenty years. No one could possibly know these things. Except the one person, who was there, and he is dead. A life-threatening secret, her husband knows nothing about. She is obsessed with finding out more.
Catherine is married to Robert, an attorney. Years ago they were on holiday and he had to leave, so she was left with her son. She sees a young man, a photographer. Over 20 years earlier in Spain, 19-year-old Jonathan drowns, while saving five year old, Nicholas.
Someone is out there; Tormenting her? These secrets have the power to unravel their lives.
Stephen is a creep. (An old crazy man), a former school teacher, a stalker, now widowed. Nancy and Stephen had a wacko marriage full of secrets. A plot. A predator. A plan.
Told in alternating chapters and voices, a slow burning tale which draws you into the web of deceit, when nothing is as it appears. From erotic to sadistic, predator to prey, Mind-blowing— your head will spin! Where is the truth? What is the truth?
DISCLAIMER is unique, intriguing, entertaining and unnerving. Chilling, terrifying, disturbing, haunting.
dis·claim·er A statement that is meant to prevent an “incorrect understanding” of something (such as a book, a movie, or an advertisement).
While this may not be the best psychological thriller of the year; however, very worthy of 4 stars for capturing my attention for hours, a chilling debut. It is definitely one you want to read. If you enjoyed Gone Girl and Girl on a Train, fans will relate to the female protagonist who presents a picture of perfect suburban life, while carrying a dark destructive secret.
The terrible price we pay when we try to hide the truth.
A deeply probing, intense psychological thriller. A book-within-a book. Can’t wait for book two (another psycho-thriller) and the upcoming film.
“The act of keeping the secret a secret has almost become bigger than the secret itself.” ― Renée Knight, Disclaimer
JDCMustReadBooks
Let me start off by saying, this is one addictive book which grabs your attention! You will sit up and take notice. I listened to the audio version, with a number of distractions. (A lot of rewinding) Like what in the heck just happened? Did I miss something? The British narrators, Michael Pennington and Laura Paton deliver a suspenseful performance, setting the mysterious dark mood, perfectly.
Two families. Two sons. Stephen, Nancy & son, Jonathan. Robert, Katherine & son, Nick.
Let the sadistic evil games begin. Or should I say, cat and mouse? Truth or dare? Revenge. One life for another. How are these two families connected? Both families have dark secrets. Secrets from their spouses.
We meet Catherine, a documentary filmmaker. She finds herself at home, picking up a self-published book “The Perfect Stranger” in the evening. While reading she is shocked beyond belief, as she recognizes herself and this appears to be her story? A dark story she has buried for the last twenty years. No one could possibly know these things. Except the one person, who was there, and he is dead. A life-threatening secret, her husband knows nothing about. She is obsessed with finding out more.
Catherine is married to Robert, an attorney. Years ago they were on holiday and he had to leave, so she was left with her son. She sees a young man, a photographer. Over 20 years earlier in Spain, 19-year-old Jonathan drowns, while saving five year old, Nicholas.
Someone is out there; Tormenting her? These secrets have the power to unravel their lives.
Stephen is a creep. (An old crazy man), a former school teacher, a stalker, now widowed. Nancy and Stephen had a wacko marriage full of secrets. A plot. A predator. A plan.
Told in alternating chapters and voices, a slow burning tale which draws you into the web of deceit, when nothing is as it appears. From erotic to sadistic, predator to prey, Mind-blowing— your head will spin! Where is the truth? What is the truth?
DISCLAIMER is unique, intriguing, entertaining and unnerving. Chilling, terrifying, disturbing, haunting.
dis·claim·er A statement that is meant to prevent an “incorrect understanding” of something (such as a book, a movie, or an advertisement).
While this may not be the best psychological thriller of the year; however, very worthy of 4 stars for capturing my attention for hours, a chilling debut. It is definitely one you want to read. If you enjoyed Gone Girl and Girl on a Train, fans will relate to the female protagonist who presents a picture of perfect suburban life, while carrying a dark destructive secret.
The terrible price we pay when we try to hide the truth.
A deeply probing, intense psychological thriller. A book-within-a book. Can’t wait for book two (another psycho-thriller) and the upcoming film.
“The act of keeping the secret a secret has almost become bigger than the secret itself.” ― Renée Knight, Disclaimer
JDCMustReadBooks
January 13, 2019
Disclaimer was my first step into the entirely unventured-before world of fictitious psychlogical thrillers (for me). The story was absolutely stupefying. It was ugly, disgusting and it creeped me out in so many places that I almost felt sick.
I still read it though, because it was all these nerve wracking elements that made me love this book because of how much I hated it too.
The descriptions were extremely vivid; this work of fiction just about came to life before my eyes and well...it wasn't the prettiest of sights. It was gross actually and very very scary.
The prose and language were brilliant and intriguing. The story was disturbing and disgusting and lived up to these qualities consistently; it was unique and basically showed how evil and ruthless the world can be, that nothing is controllable, and what happens in the the dark corners of our world, and how we owe up to it all ourselves; and all this people like me fail to acknowledge in the flow of daily life. This debut was certainly engrossing, riveting and unputdownable. I wouldn't want to reveal the story here but just a bit:
Catherine Ravenscroft leads a satisfactory life with her husband and son, when a mysterious book finds its way into her home and....It all about her.
Soon she finds herself abandoned by her loved ones in her own hell as she faces her gruesome past and its present consequences and must prepare for its future results. To what extent will she go to force her enemies into declaring that she had been innocent all along?
Age rating: 16+ (though I wanted to make it 20, then came down to 17, but this could be the minimum)
I still read it though, because it was all these nerve wracking elements that made me love this book because of how much I hated it too.
The descriptions were extremely vivid; this work of fiction just about came to life before my eyes and well...it wasn't the prettiest of sights. It was gross actually and very very scary.
The prose and language were brilliant and intriguing. The story was disturbing and disgusting and lived up to these qualities consistently; it was unique and basically showed how evil and ruthless the world can be, that nothing is controllable, and what happens in the the dark corners of our world, and how we owe up to it all ourselves; and all this people like me fail to acknowledge in the flow of daily life. This debut was certainly engrossing, riveting and unputdownable. I wouldn't want to reveal the story here but just a bit:
Catherine Ravenscroft leads a satisfactory life with her husband and son, when a mysterious book finds its way into her home and....It all about her.
Soon she finds herself abandoned by her loved ones in her own hell as she faces her gruesome past and its present consequences and must prepare for its future results. To what extent will she go to force her enemies into declaring that she had been innocent all along?
Age rating: 16+ (though I wanted to make it 20, then came down to 17, but this could be the minimum)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,170 reviews