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Bird
Bird`s grandfather is dying, haunted by the image from his youth of a woman hanging from a tree. Before he dies, Bird vows to uncover the true story behind this woman. Even if it points to her grandfather being a murderer.
287 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 1997
153 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Jane A. Adams
59 books151 followersSome of her early books were published under the name of Jane Adams. This should not be confused with this Jane Adams who is a different author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 4, 2021
The Other Woman is a dark and disturbing domestic drama revolving around sinister family secrets. Marcie is happily married to Michael and they have a set of twins together, Liam and Hannah. Michael is a strong supportive husband and backs up his wife in any given situation. She has reluctantly returned to her hometown after an absence of sixteen years to spend some quality time with her dying grandfather Jack, who was the one who brought her up, adored her and gave her the nickname Bird. Her childhood was a tough one and left her with long-lasting, far-reaching trauma. When her mother passed away, Marcie’s father, Alec, took her to live at his parents’ house but Grandmother Mary and Aunt Alice had a burning hatred for Marcie that she has never understood. Her grandparents’ home wasn't the safe haven it often is and there was abuse throughout all of her formative years, including controlling behaviour, creating a thoroughly toxic environment for anyone let alone a child. This has naturally taken a toll on her mental health. When she moved out and escaped the horrible situation she never looked back. Until now. The relatives who dislike her had called to inform her Jack was on his death bed. Due to being very ill, Jack is only lucid at certain times, but when he is all he talks about is an enigmatic woman named Rebekkah that seemingly no one in the family knows, or if they do they're keeping their cards close to their chest.
He claims this woman is at his side always, standing by his bedside at the hospice with a noose fashioned around her neck and he has nightmares about a woman from his youth hanging from a tree. Soon, Marcie, Michael and Alec begin to see spectral images of this very same woman. Before he dies, Bird promises she will stop at nothing to find out who Rebekkah was and how she relates to her beloved grandfather. Did he commit a murder and is now being haunted by the ghost of the victim? Or was this something he witnessed a long time ago? This is a compelling and enthralling mystery thriller with a touch of the supernatural and twists and turns aplenty. It's well written and shows just how dangerous and devastating long-held secrets and hidden crimes can be. But it's the atmosphere that really stands out here and is a character within itself; there is such an unsettling creeping dread that underpins the whole narrative. In the beginning, the relationship between Bird and Jack is heartwarming, but as it progresses and Bird unravels dark secrets, her feelings change dramatically towards her family and it quickly becomes grim. The tension is palpable and the characters are three dimensional and believable. I found the ending pretty unexpected, quite memorable and original and overall this was an engrossing and captivating read and a great piece of escapism that highlights the damage dysfunctional relationships can cause.
He claims this woman is at his side always, standing by his bedside at the hospice with a noose fashioned around her neck and he has nightmares about a woman from his youth hanging from a tree. Soon, Marcie, Michael and Alec begin to see spectral images of this very same woman. Before he dies, Bird promises she will stop at nothing to find out who Rebekkah was and how she relates to her beloved grandfather. Did he commit a murder and is now being haunted by the ghost of the victim? Or was this something he witnessed a long time ago? This is a compelling and enthralling mystery thriller with a touch of the supernatural and twists and turns aplenty. It's well written and shows just how dangerous and devastating long-held secrets and hidden crimes can be. But it's the atmosphere that really stands out here and is a character within itself; there is such an unsettling creeping dread that underpins the whole narrative. In the beginning, the relationship between Bird and Jack is heartwarming, but as it progresses and Bird unravels dark secrets, her feelings change dramatically towards her family and it quickly becomes grim. The tension is palpable and the characters are three dimensional and believable. I found the ending pretty unexpected, quite memorable and original and overall this was an engrossing and captivating read and a great piece of escapism that highlights the damage dysfunctional relationships can cause.
May 4, 2021
Originally published as Bird (1997)
Marci (Bird) has returned to her hometown to spend some time with her dying grandfather. He is only lucid part of the time, and he raves about a woman named Rebekkah, a woman who never leaves his side .. even now. He has nightmares about a woman hanging from a tree.
Her grandmother, her father don't want her there. This was one of the reasons she left home at a young age and never looked back. Her grandfather was the one person who she could count on .. until he wasn't.
Marcie vows to help her grandfather pull the truth from his nightmares. But the deeper she digs the more she regrets her promise. Are his nightmares the result of a murder .. he committed .. he saw?
And who is the woman she has visions of ... a woman with a noose around her neck?
Suspenseful with a touch of paranormal, there are twists and turns that keep one riveted to the pages. The characters are solidly drawn, but most of them are extremely unlikable. There are family secrets and lies .. The ending was totally unexpected and surprising.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Marci (Bird) has returned to her hometown to spend some time with her dying grandfather. He is only lucid part of the time, and he raves about a woman named Rebekkah, a woman who never leaves his side .. even now. He has nightmares about a woman hanging from a tree.
Her grandmother, her father don't want her there. This was one of the reasons she left home at a young age and never looked back. Her grandfather was the one person who she could count on .. until he wasn't.
Marcie vows to help her grandfather pull the truth from his nightmares. But the deeper she digs the more she regrets her promise. Are his nightmares the result of a murder .. he committed .. he saw?
And who is the woman she has visions of ... a woman with a noose around her neck?
Suspenseful with a touch of paranormal, there are twists and turns that keep one riveted to the pages. The characters are solidly drawn, but most of them are extremely unlikable. There are family secrets and lies .. The ending was totally unexpected and surprising.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 25, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
There isn't a family line in existence that does not hold secrets. Families are so complicated because, unlike other relationships, we cannot pick and choose the members. This novel demonstrates that in a captivating and ominous way that ends in quite a twist.
This is a suspenseful psychological thriller, but I think that's way over exaggerating. This is a soap opera filled with family drama. It's character-driven, and the character writing was good, but the story itself, the plot was a bit flat. I wanted more from this but didn't get it. Still, however, it was a decent enough read.
There isn't a family line in existence that does not hold secrets. Families are so complicated because, unlike other relationships, we cannot pick and choose the members. This novel demonstrates that in a captivating and ominous way that ends in quite a twist.
This is a suspenseful psychological thriller, but I think that's way over exaggerating. This is a soap opera filled with family drama. It's character-driven, and the character writing was good, but the story itself, the plot was a bit flat. I wanted more from this but didn't get it. Still, however, it was a decent enough read.
March 6, 2010
Bird was a last minute purchase in my favorite used book store. I actually thought it would be more of a spooky/thriller, but Bird actually turned out to be a study of disfunctional family dynamics and hidden secrets that refuse to be taken to the grave.
Marcie is a young mother returning to her grandfather's deathbed to say her goodbyes. Estranged from her family since she ran away at 16, she has very ambivilent feelings for them all, but senses that she needs to air out these conflicts so that she can move on confidently with her new life, husband and twin babies. Unbeknownest to her, her grandfather Jack needs to do a bit of unloading himself. You see, Jack is being haunted by the ghost of Rebekkah, a woman that stands near his deathbed at the hospice with a rope around her neck. Very soon Marcie, her husband Michael and her father Alec start seeing Rebekkah too.
Regardless of the ghost aspect, this isn't the paranormal thriller it seems to be as much as it's a phychological study of a broken family. Through the progression of Bird, you see that things aren't always what they appear, people are not what they initially seem, and secrets, if left untold, can wreck havoc on a soul.
Marcie is a young mother returning to her grandfather's deathbed to say her goodbyes. Estranged from her family since she ran away at 16, she has very ambivilent feelings for them all, but senses that she needs to air out these conflicts so that she can move on confidently with her new life, husband and twin babies. Unbeknownest to her, her grandfather Jack needs to do a bit of unloading himself. You see, Jack is being haunted by the ghost of Rebekkah, a woman that stands near his deathbed at the hospice with a rope around her neck. Very soon Marcie, her husband Michael and her father Alec start seeing Rebekkah too.
Regardless of the ghost aspect, this isn't the paranormal thriller it seems to be as much as it's a phychological study of a broken family. Through the progression of Bird, you see that things aren't always what they appear, people are not what they initially seem, and secrets, if left untold, can wreck havoc on a soul.
May 1, 2021
4 stars
A dark, sad story of family trauma & secrets with a supernatural twist & a sprinkling of hope.
[What I liked:]
•The main characters are interesting & sympathetic. I appreciated the complexity of Alec’s character especially, & seeing how his relationship with Michael & Bird unfolded.
•The writing is smooth, & I especially enjoyed the descriptions of place & setting.
•This is not a suspenseful book in the sense that the intrigue had mainly already happened in the past, but the pacing & the process of revealing the secrets is engaging nonetheless. The angle of Bird trying to piece together the ramblings of a dementia patient gave a very plausible framework for why it took so much time & effort to uncover the hidden past.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Alice was a confusing character for me. Why did she end up living with Jack & Mary forever? Plus, she never featured in any of the childhood flashbacks of Jack & Joe. I never got a sense of how she felt about Jack, or her relationship to her brothers.
•There was a good bit of jumping between different characters’ POV’s, & near the end it was happening mid-scene. That got confusing for me at a few points.
CW: rape, murder, child abuse, infidelity, suicide
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
Note: I read the 2021 edition published by Joffee Books under the title The Other Woman
A dark, sad story of family trauma & secrets with a supernatural twist & a sprinkling of hope.
[What I liked:]
•The main characters are interesting & sympathetic. I appreciated the complexity of Alec’s character especially, & seeing how his relationship with Michael & Bird unfolded.
•The writing is smooth, & I especially enjoyed the descriptions of place & setting.
•This is not a suspenseful book in the sense that the intrigue had mainly already happened in the past, but the pacing & the process of revealing the secrets is engaging nonetheless. The angle of Bird trying to piece together the ramblings of a dementia patient gave a very plausible framework for why it took so much time & effort to uncover the hidden past.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Alice was a confusing character for me. Why did she end up living with Jack & Mary forever? Plus, she never featured in any of the childhood flashbacks of Jack & Joe. I never got a sense of how she felt about Jack, or her relationship to her brothers.
•There was a good bit of jumping between different characters’ POV’s, & near the end it was happening mid-scene. That got confusing for me at a few points.
CW: rape, murder, child abuse, infidelity, suicide
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
Note: I read the 2021 edition published by Joffee Books under the title The Other Woman
May 5, 2021
I’ve been reading Jane Adams for a while now. She’s something of a shining star of the midlist thrillers, mostly owning to really good writing. This one is more of a drama than her other books I’ve read. It has enough thriller elements to justify categorizing it as such, there’s even the prerequisite plot twist at the end, but mostly the book really read just like a family drama.
And what a family…not a happy family, one of those Tolstoy’s unhappy families that’s unhappy in their own individual way and have been for generations. Not just sins of a father, sins of a grandfather situation.
Macie didn’t choose her family, she’s just a nice, exceptionally fertile twenty two year old who doesn’t seem to really understand the concept of contraception, but while she is happily married and mother to twins, her other family (the nonchosen kind) is a complete mess, held together by resentments and recriminations. Now that her beloved grandfather is on his deathbed, they come together just enough to reevaluate some choices and decisions and take a close look at the grandpa’s past. And sure enough, there are some skeletons in those closets.
So that’s the basic idea here and to accomplish that the author jumps around in different timelines, which is, while completely necessary, is also kind of exhausting. Something about the narrative leaps and bounds just causes temporal disorientation at times.
Adams excels at character writing and that’s definitely the shining star of this production too, but the plot itself is somewhat muddled. Plenty of secrets and torrid affairs and emotional subterfuge to go around, so it’s interesting enough and the family is certainly dysfunctional enough to forget to put the fun into it, but overall it never really exceed the just ok level. Not author’s best out of things I’ve read so far, but a perfectly decent read all the same. Thanks Netgalley.
And what a family…not a happy family, one of those Tolstoy’s unhappy families that’s unhappy in their own individual way and have been for generations. Not just sins of a father, sins of a grandfather situation.
Macie didn’t choose her family, she’s just a nice, exceptionally fertile twenty two year old who doesn’t seem to really understand the concept of contraception, but while she is happily married and mother to twins, her other family (the nonchosen kind) is a complete mess, held together by resentments and recriminations. Now that her beloved grandfather is on his deathbed, they come together just enough to reevaluate some choices and decisions and take a close look at the grandpa’s past. And sure enough, there are some skeletons in those closets.
So that’s the basic idea here and to accomplish that the author jumps around in different timelines, which is, while completely necessary, is also kind of exhausting. Something about the narrative leaps and bounds just causes temporal disorientation at times.
Adams excels at character writing and that’s definitely the shining star of this production too, but the plot itself is somewhat muddled. Plenty of secrets and torrid affairs and emotional subterfuge to go around, so it’s interesting enough and the family is certainly dysfunctional enough to forget to put the fun into it, but overall it never really exceed the just ok level. Not author’s best out of things I’ve read so far, but a perfectly decent read all the same. Thanks Netgalley.
June 29, 2021
There’s certainly a mystery to solve here!
Marcie grew up loving her grandfather; she was always his favourite but now he’s old and he’s dying and what time he has left is haunted by his past. In his fevered dreams he talks of a woman named Rebekkah, Marcie – aware of no such person in his life – commits to finding out the truth about the past. Is she ready to face the truth?
An enticing tale of family secrets, this is full of revelations with each one more scary than the last. A well-crafted story, cleverly written to keep the reader wondering. Set both in the present and harking back to the past, the story unfolds in a timely manner. Just different enough and rather an exciting read from an author whose experience shows. I liked Marcie and admired how wonderfully supportive her husband was, but there are definitely a few family members who gave me the creeps. A good read and one I’m happy to give four stars.
Marcie grew up loving her grandfather; she was always his favourite but now he’s old and he’s dying and what time he has left is haunted by his past. In his fevered dreams he talks of a woman named Rebekkah, Marcie – aware of no such person in his life – commits to finding out the truth about the past. Is she ready to face the truth?
An enticing tale of family secrets, this is full of revelations with each one more scary than the last. A well-crafted story, cleverly written to keep the reader wondering. Set both in the present and harking back to the past, the story unfolds in a timely manner. Just different enough and rather an exciting read from an author whose experience shows. I liked Marcie and admired how wonderfully supportive her husband was, but there are definitely a few family members who gave me the creeps. A good read and one I’m happy to give four stars.
January 23, 2019
Well, it took a while till I got used to the style of writing cause it seemed a bit clumsy sometimes, but I kinda liked the mystery and wanted to find out how everything happened + I liked the characters. The last few pages came as a surprise which is always nice
May 11, 2021
I received a free electronic copy of this novel on May 4, 2021, from Netgalley, Jane Adams, and Joffe Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Jane Adams brings us a tight, winding mystery with fully fashioned protagonists and, as promised, a shocking twist. She is an author I am pleased to recommend to friends and family.
This is definitely a noir mystery, which I love. The family dynamics are odd and disquieting at the best of times, and the secrets are deeply buried and at times verge on lethal. Marcie is a woman with too many irons in the fire - marriage to Michael, the care of their young twins, her job, the antagonism of her birth family - and the constant mental desire to spend time with her Grandfather Jack, dying slowly in a hospice several hours away. Coming home was difficult as the family had in the past blamed Marcie for much that she never understood, her only friend in the family her Grandfather, her Jack. Her father, Grandmother, and Aunt Alice have no time for Marcie, no place, and no comfort. Michael and the twins are many miles away and she feels isolated and often confused with what Jack needs from her. Every day he seems thrilled to see her, his Birdie, with no knowledge of yesterday, and he spends much of their time together speaking of and to Rebekah, an obviously important family member but one Marcie has never heard of. The emotional highs and lows are done well, and I never saw the end coming. Jane Adams is definitely an author to follow.
Netgalley
pub date May 4, 2021
received May 4, 2021
Joffe Books
Reviewed on May 11, 2021, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and Netgalley. Not available for review on Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
This is definitely a noir mystery, which I love. The family dynamics are odd and disquieting at the best of times, and the secrets are deeply buried and at times verge on lethal. Marcie is a woman with too many irons in the fire - marriage to Michael, the care of their young twins, her job, the antagonism of her birth family - and the constant mental desire to spend time with her Grandfather Jack, dying slowly in a hospice several hours away. Coming home was difficult as the family had in the past blamed Marcie for much that she never understood, her only friend in the family her Grandfather, her Jack. Her father, Grandmother, and Aunt Alice have no time for Marcie, no place, and no comfort. Michael and the twins are many miles away and she feels isolated and often confused with what Jack needs from her. Every day he seems thrilled to see her, his Birdie, with no knowledge of yesterday, and he spends much of their time together speaking of and to Rebekah, an obviously important family member but one Marcie has never heard of. The emotional highs and lows are done well, and I never saw the end coming. Jane Adams is definitely an author to follow.
Netgalley
pub date May 4, 2021
received May 4, 2021
Joffe Books
Reviewed on May 11, 2021, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and Netgalley. Not available for review on Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
August 2, 2011
This was a ghost story of sorts, but I didn't find it in the least creepy. Possibly because it never became 'real' - it was always just words on the page. Maybe it was the slightly clunky dialogue, maybe it was the rather contrived storyline, where people act in odd ways or withhold certain information purely to serve the suspense element of the plot. There were some interesting sections though they tended not to last very long as the chapters were short. Some gruesome deaths dealt with quite well. Some of the characters were intriguing, though in many cases we didn't learn enough about them, and I thought Michael in particular was a bit too good to be true. On the whole, an average read.
June 16, 2018
Wow, randomly picked from my bookcase I thought this was going to be rubbish.
How wrong was I! It was an easy read with a great plot and characters I could hardly put it down I read from page 40 today that's over 200 pages a sitting which is very rare for me!
I can't recommend this enough!
How wrong was I! It was an easy read with a great plot and characters I could hardly put it down I read from page 40 today that's over 200 pages a sitting which is very rare for me!
I can't recommend this enough!
May 27, 2021
Marcie now a happily married woman with two children learns that her grandfather whom she has not seen since she left the family home nearly 16 years ago is dying.
Though reluctant to return to her old hometown she is unable to ignore her desire to see her grandfather Jack again.
Jack had brought her up and adored her throughout her childhood when following her mothers death her father Alec had returned to his parents home.
Her grandmother and Aunt Alice had never taken to her in fact if it hadn`t been for Jack life would have been unbearable for the young Marcie.
Though the family let her know shes not welcome Marcie determines to see her grandfather.
Now resident in a hospice and only lucid part of the time he continually refers to a woman called Rebekkah.
She haunts him constantly, the nightmares disturbing not only him but affecting Marcie so much that she begins to have visions of Rebekkah, with a noose around her neck.
As she digs deeper into Jacks past she wonders if shes doing the right thing, will she regret searching for the truth?
She uncovers dark family secrets and finds herself questioning all her memories and feelings for her grandfather.
An interesting an engrossing read with a touch of the paranormal and an unexpected ending.
Thanks to Joffe books for sending me this as an ARC in return for my honest opinion.
Though reluctant to return to her old hometown she is unable to ignore her desire to see her grandfather Jack again.
Jack had brought her up and adored her throughout her childhood when following her mothers death her father Alec had returned to his parents home.
Her grandmother and Aunt Alice had never taken to her in fact if it hadn`t been for Jack life would have been unbearable for the young Marcie.
Though the family let her know shes not welcome Marcie determines to see her grandfather.
Now resident in a hospice and only lucid part of the time he continually refers to a woman called Rebekkah.
She haunts him constantly, the nightmares disturbing not only him but affecting Marcie so much that she begins to have visions of Rebekkah, with a noose around her neck.
As she digs deeper into Jacks past she wonders if shes doing the right thing, will she regret searching for the truth?
She uncovers dark family secrets and finds herself questioning all her memories and feelings for her grandfather.
An interesting an engrossing read with a touch of the paranormal and an unexpected ending.
Thanks to Joffe books for sending me this as an ARC in return for my honest opinion.
October 29, 2025
This was a disturbing psychological drama where the secrets of the past are slowly revealed.
The story demonstrated the extremes of human behaviour and how those actions can affect generations. The characters suited the plot, not all likeable.
I liked the writing style and the switching between past and present was cleverly done.
Dark was the theme but there were some positive moments.
Engaging but sad and even alarming in parts.
Worth reading.
The story demonstrated the extremes of human behaviour and how those actions can affect generations. The characters suited the plot, not all likeable.
I liked the writing style and the switching between past and present was cleverly done.
Dark was the theme but there were some positive moments.
Engaging but sad and even alarming in parts.
Worth reading.
December 20, 2022
I was curious after reading the reviews on GoodReads, so I decided to give the book a go. It was a frustrating read, the writing style was unpolished and didn’t always make sense. I wasn’t invested in the characters & I didn’t really care for them. I wasted my time with this book, won’t recommend this book at all. Can’t believe this book was even published, it really needs a good editor.
June 7, 2021
Not a great read
Hated the ending. So many questions left unanswered. End was like the author got tired of writing this book and just ended it. Such a disappointment because the book held some attention but then fizzled completely out. I do not recommend this book
Hated the ending. So many questions left unanswered. End was like the author got tired of writing this book and just ended it. Such a disappointment because the book held some attention but then fizzled completely out. I do not recommend this book
April 16, 2022
Bit of a ghost story. Bit of a crime. Bit of a mystery.
(Retitled "The Other Woman")
(Retitled "The Other Woman")
September 1, 2021
Pretty good read. Very beautifully handled some complex family issues. A very good did he didn't he and the ending was very fitting.
May 22, 2021
Not my favourite read from Jane Adams but I do like her later books.
May 5, 2021
I am a huge fan of Jane Adams, so was delighted when Joffe Books sent me this one to read and review. I got straight into it and found it totally absorbing right from the very start. This book is totally different to the sort of books that I normally read, and quite different from this author’s normal novels. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it every bit as much as I have all her other stories.
This is not a police detective novel; in fact it is not a crime fiction in any sense of the word. It is a very involving story about one family’s history and their tragedies along the way, told simply but skilfully and it pulls you into their lives right from the beginning. It only took me 3 days to read it and I was incredibly sad to reach the end. There is the usual element of the mysterious that we are normally treated to by Ms Adams – something that I very much enjoy. The style of writing is quite interesting, with different characters taking over the narrative at various times in the plot, often intermingled with passages taking us back into the past when certain events happened. Towards the end there are letters written by one brother to the other, explaining events which bring everything together in a concise way. The story is basically about the rivalry between two members of one family, and the consequences that this causes throughout their lifetimes. On our journey through the various stages of their lives we weave our way until we reach the end and are treated to one huge, final twist which totally brings us up short – and it made me chuckle.
This is not a police detective novel; in fact it is not a crime fiction in any sense of the word. It is a very involving story about one family’s history and their tragedies along the way, told simply but skilfully and it pulls you into their lives right from the beginning. It only took me 3 days to read it and I was incredibly sad to reach the end. There is the usual element of the mysterious that we are normally treated to by Ms Adams – something that I very much enjoy. The style of writing is quite interesting, with different characters taking over the narrative at various times in the plot, often intermingled with passages taking us back into the past when certain events happened. Towards the end there are letters written by one brother to the other, explaining events which bring everything together in a concise way. The story is basically about the rivalry between two members of one family, and the consequences that this causes throughout their lifetimes. On our journey through the various stages of their lives we weave our way until we reach the end and are treated to one huge, final twist which totally brings us up short – and it made me chuckle.
May 8, 2021
Many thanks to Jane Adams, Joffe Books and NetGalley to give me this ARC in exchange my thoroughly review.
Jane Adams is a genius to master thriller story. The story was excellent with dreadful struggles and heart-warming moments. The plot was great without plot holes which kept me intrigued to go on to figure out the dark secrets. It definitely page-turning and compelling. The characters in this book are well developed and totally dimensional ,and each one of them played a significant role. The writing was excellent that I enjoyed very much. The ending is surprising and had me shock. The brilliant twist was mind-blowing at the end that I didn't guess it coming. Overall, I enjoyed this book in all aspects, esp. it's an easy read that I couldn't put it down for a moment.
I highly recommend you to read it if you like thrilling and chilling mystery. It definitely suit for you.
Jane Adams is a genius to master thriller story. The story was excellent with dreadful struggles and heart-warming moments. The plot was great without plot holes which kept me intrigued to go on to figure out the dark secrets. It definitely page-turning and compelling. The characters in this book are well developed and totally dimensional ,and each one of them played a significant role. The writing was excellent that I enjoyed very much. The ending is surprising and had me shock. The brilliant twist was mind-blowing at the end that I didn't guess it coming. Overall, I enjoyed this book in all aspects, esp. it's an easy read that I couldn't put it down for a moment.
I highly recommend you to read it if you like thrilling and chilling mystery. It definitely suit for you.
May 16, 2021
Didnt expect the end.
Very good. Odd how people can be so unhappy and endure it, rather than change it. Never figured out Alice tho.
Very good. Odd how people can be so unhappy and endure it, rather than change it. Never figured out Alice tho.
April 3, 2020
Complex story of a family with many dark secrets. A compelling read which I found hard to put down and didn't want to end.
August 24, 2007
BIRD (Suspense/Paranormal-England-Cont) – G+
Adams, Jane – Standalone
Macmillan, 1997- UK Hardcover
Marcie, "Bird" to her Jack who raised her, has come to his bedside as he is expected to die. Although she loves him, she had run away from home at 16. But Jack is haunted by memories of the past; a woman hanging from a tree and the ghost of a woman with a noose around her neck. When Marcie also sees this specter and awakes from a nightmare with rope marks around her own neck, she becomes determined to uncover Jack's secrets.
*** The single word to describe Adams' writing is atmospheric. It's also subtle, which makes the tension all the more effective. When she writes of ghosts, you turn on lights. But the story is a mystery dealing with uncovering secrets and crimes from the past. Adams creates interesting, fully dimensional characters whom you may not like, but whose motivation you understand. The ending is surprising and memorable. I've become a huge fan of Adams work. It's not always easy to find her backlist—try http://www.used.addall.com--but well worth it.
Adams, Jane – Standalone
Macmillan, 1997- UK Hardcover
Marcie, "Bird" to her Jack who raised her, has come to his bedside as he is expected to die. Although she loves him, she had run away from home at 16. But Jack is haunted by memories of the past; a woman hanging from a tree and the ghost of a woman with a noose around her neck. When Marcie also sees this specter and awakes from a nightmare with rope marks around her own neck, she becomes determined to uncover Jack's secrets.
*** The single word to describe Adams' writing is atmospheric. It's also subtle, which makes the tension all the more effective. When she writes of ghosts, you turn on lights. But the story is a mystery dealing with uncovering secrets and crimes from the past. Adams creates interesting, fully dimensional characters whom you may not like, but whose motivation you understand. The ending is surprising and memorable. I've become a huge fan of Adams work. It's not always easy to find her backlist—try http://www.used.addall.com--but well worth it.
March 18, 2023
A shocking psychological thriller.
Marcie is at Jacks bedside at the hospice she never called him grandfather, she was his scrawny little bird. She has arrived after been sent for by the family that don't want her there, but things Jack tries to tell her makes her more determined and what happens in his bedroom back at the house is so intense and real that was not her imagination.
Marciella Rose Whitney doesn't plan on sticking around her husband Michael and twins Liam and Hanna are waiting back home and did Jack remember everything that happened all those years ago.
Leaving with sacks full of Jacks possession that her Gran is throwing away photos and letters she leaves vowing to find out about Rebekkah, things happen she has visions and strange things happen. Its one chilling read. A remarkable story so intense.
I loved it
Marcie is at Jacks bedside at the hospice she never called him grandfather, she was his scrawny little bird. She has arrived after been sent for by the family that don't want her there, but things Jack tries to tell her makes her more determined and what happens in his bedroom back at the house is so intense and real that was not her imagination.
Marciella Rose Whitney doesn't plan on sticking around her husband Michael and twins Liam and Hanna are waiting back home and did Jack remember everything that happened all those years ago.
Leaving with sacks full of Jacks possession that her Gran is throwing away photos and letters she leaves vowing to find out about Rebekkah, things happen she has visions and strange things happen. Its one chilling read. A remarkable story so intense.
I loved it
May 7, 2021
We have a grand-daughter Marcie, totally devoted to her grandfather who is in a hospice having mixed flashbacks to his younger life, his time in the war and Marcie's life when she was younger. However things are not as they seem and Marcie begins to experience ghostly phenomena making investigate into her grandfather and family's history.
Like all of Jane's books, there is a supernatural element to the story which enhances the tale. The book sympathetically deals with the last few weeks of the grandfather who is in a hospice and the family who are quite literally counting down the days. However there is a lot of family tension and this is what Marcie needs to get to the bottom of as it has something to do with the ghost of the woman. Great emotional writing with an unexpected ending.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Like all of Jane's books, there is a supernatural element to the story which enhances the tale. The book sympathetically deals with the last few weeks of the grandfather who is in a hospice and the family who are quite literally counting down the days. However there is a lot of family tension and this is what Marcie needs to get to the bottom of as it has something to do with the ghost of the woman. Great emotional writing with an unexpected ending.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
May 9, 2021
Possible spoilers.
I read this in one sitting,and it was a real emotional roller coaster,where I went from loving that a granddaughter and grandfather had such a special relationship,to very quickly thinking what had happened to sour it.
There were some grim moments,but some heart warming ones too,and the slight supernatural element to the book adds just a bit of extra excitement.
I wondered at motivation for a lot of the characters throughout the book,the choices they made.
It was good to be kept guessing.
Not an author ive read before,but one I'll look out for now.
I read this in one sitting,and it was a real emotional roller coaster,where I went from loving that a granddaughter and grandfather had such a special relationship,to very quickly thinking what had happened to sour it.
There were some grim moments,but some heart warming ones too,and the slight supernatural element to the book adds just a bit of extra excitement.
I wondered at motivation for a lot of the characters throughout the book,the choices they made.
It was good to be kept guessing.
Not an author ive read before,but one I'll look out for now.
May 7, 2021
Jack Armitage is dying and has been placed in a hospice. Estranged grandaughter Marcie 'Bird' Whitney, now twenty-two visits him after been away for five years. But what secrets do the family hid. Will she be able to untangle the secrets of the past.
An interesting and enjoyable well-written mystery
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting and enjoyable well-written mystery
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2012
This book didn't have a bad plot, but the characters didn't make me feel anything, and I often thought to myself that "this character is really just keeping this secret to make me wonder why, not because there's a good reason to". It just bored me, didn't connect at all.
Read
November 4, 2011Actually quite a good book. It's the story of a woman who returns to her estranged family as her beloved grandfather is dying. Secrets have been kept and they start unravelling
April 22, 2015
Easy read.
Feckless father.
fairly unlikeable characters.
worth a read.
Feckless father.
fairly unlikeable characters.
worth a read.
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