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The Project #2
The Killing Files
No matter how fast you run, the past always catches up with you
Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run.
Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family.
Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run.
Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family.
Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
398 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Owen
6 books100 followersSelected as an Amazon Rising Star in Debut Fiction, Nikki Owen is a writer and columnist.
For as long as she can remember, Nikki has always written fiction. Aged 5, she re-wrote Thumbelina (with paint & scribbles); at 14, won a competition for a book jacket and blurb design judged by Quentin Blake; at 27, was long-listed for a BBC Talent script for Casualty; and at 34, was short-listed for a Guardian travel writing competition. In February 2013, Nikki was awarded third place in the Wotton-Under-Edge Arts and Literature Festival Short Story Competition.
In between, Nikki gained a BA (Hons) in International Business Studies and Spanish, spending a year in Spain and studying at the acclaimed University of Salamanca – the same city where her protagonist of the acclaimed The Project trilogy, Dr Maria Martinez, hails from.
Nikki writes for the Gloucestershire Gazette, commenting on politics and society issues, and has been a columnist for the Citizen and Echo newspapers and Weekend magazine, commenting on popular culture.
Previously, Nikki has been a Marketing Manager, Head of Copywriting for an advertising agency, plus a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bristol.
Born in Dublin, Nikki now lives in Gloucestershire with her family.
For as long as she can remember, Nikki has always written fiction. Aged 5, she re-wrote Thumbelina (with paint & scribbles); at 14, won a competition for a book jacket and blurb design judged by Quentin Blake; at 27, was long-listed for a BBC Talent script for Casualty; and at 34, was short-listed for a Guardian travel writing competition. In February 2013, Nikki was awarded third place in the Wotton-Under-Edge Arts and Literature Festival Short Story Competition.
In between, Nikki gained a BA (Hons) in International Business Studies and Spanish, spending a year in Spain and studying at the acclaimed University of Salamanca – the same city where her protagonist of the acclaimed The Project trilogy, Dr Maria Martinez, hails from.
Nikki writes for the Gloucestershire Gazette, commenting on politics and society issues, and has been a columnist for the Citizen and Echo newspapers and Weekend magazine, commenting on popular culture.
Previously, Nikki has been a Marketing Manager, Head of Copywriting for an advertising agency, plus a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bristol.
Born in Dublin, Nikki now lives in Gloucestershire with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 21, 2018
The secound book in a series always makes me nervous.
Why?
Because when book one is so perfect, so enjoyable so all embracing I don’t want to feel cheated on book two.
I wasn’t though.
It was “cooked” to perfection. I was in a heady dizzy space in time with this one which made me mentally turn around in full cir.
I absolutely loved it.
You must read these books in order.
Book three is already out I believe.
Why?
Because when book one is so perfect, so enjoyable so all embracing I don’t want to feel cheated on book two.
I wasn’t though.
It was “cooked” to perfection. I was in a heady dizzy space in time with this one which made me mentally turn around in full cir.
I absolutely loved it.
You must read these books in order.
Book three is already out I believe.
May 16, 2016
This is a stupendous sequel to Subject 375 and it is a non stop thrill ride from beginning to end. The Asperger's Syndrome affected Maria gets to the bottom of who she is, and there is an immense amount of knowledge which shakes her to her very core. She becomes acquainted with the deepest of betrayals as she learns who is responsible for putting her in the hands of the Project. What is touching is that she has a tightly knit group of friends who both help and support her in their different ways. It is not easy for Maria to make friends for obvious reasons. She has her friend Patricia from prison join her, along with the Governor, Balthus and she gets close to Chris, computer geek and hacker extraordinaire.
Maria has been discovered by the Project in her Spanish hideout, and she only just escapes. She eventually meets up with her friends but is still being hunted. Understanding that her only means of acquiring vital information, she bravely allows herself to be captured knowing that she is putting her life at risk. Taken to the Project's Hamburg location, she is drugged, and painfully tattooed by the malevolent Dr Carr with the words I am Basque. She learns that she is adopted and the only survivor of the Project's trials. She escapes aided by hacker Chris who has nicknamed her Google, thanks to her remarkable knowledge. Having got to the bottom of who Raven is, and with access to other information, she wants to ensure her family are safe in Madrid. There are plenty of twists, dead bodies and betrayal from the closest of quarters. There is an evil, ruthless and depraved hand behind Maria's experience of the Project as a young child. Family secrets harboured for many years surface.
This is a well constructed, compelling and fast paced thriller. Nothing is as it seems and the suspense is kept up throughout. Nikki Owen has created a wonderful and unforgettable central character in Maria whose struggles to find out who she is captures the imagination and the emotions. This is a story readers will be unable to put down although I do recommend that you read Subject 375 first. Fantastic Read. Thanks to Harlequin for an ARC via netgalley.
Maria has been discovered by the Project in her Spanish hideout, and she only just escapes. She eventually meets up with her friends but is still being hunted. Understanding that her only means of acquiring vital information, she bravely allows herself to be captured knowing that she is putting her life at risk. Taken to the Project's Hamburg location, she is drugged, and painfully tattooed by the malevolent Dr Carr with the words I am Basque. She learns that she is adopted and the only survivor of the Project's trials. She escapes aided by hacker Chris who has nicknamed her Google, thanks to her remarkable knowledge. Having got to the bottom of who Raven is, and with access to other information, she wants to ensure her family are safe in Madrid. There are plenty of twists, dead bodies and betrayal from the closest of quarters. There is an evil, ruthless and depraved hand behind Maria's experience of the Project as a young child. Family secrets harboured for many years surface.
This is a well constructed, compelling and fast paced thriller. Nothing is as it seems and the suspense is kept up throughout. Nikki Owen has created a wonderful and unforgettable central character in Maria whose struggles to find out who she is captures the imagination and the emotions. This is a story readers will be unable to put down although I do recommend that you read Subject 375 first. Fantastic Read. Thanks to Harlequin for an ARC via netgalley.
March 9, 2017
Brilliant non-stop action and thrills!
A fantastic sequel to the first book in this fabulous series.
which was republished as
.
If you have not yet read the first book in the series then you must, both are excellent book and the first book will give you good background to the sequel that will make for better reading.
Dr. Maria Martinez has Aspergers Syndrome and we met her in the first book whilst she was in prison with all sorts of things going on around her. She is no longer in prison but she is still no longer safe as "The Project" still wants things from her, and relentlessly pursue her through the pages of this novel. What I love about Nikki Owen as an author is that she really spent a lot of time studying women with Aspergers to make her character authentic. I am a reviewer and a woman who has Aspergers so I was thrilled to read that Maria was not stereotyped into too many boxes. She is a super likeable character!
The pace of the book is really intense and every turn taken brings new dangers for Maria, she has a few allies along the way but it's hard sometimes to know who your true allies are and there are some seriously brilliant twists in the plot and characters in this book that will surprise the reader. I know I had my jaw hanging open a number of times trying to process what was going on. Maria goes through some tough stuff but she is a tough cookie and can kick and fight her way out of nearly any situation, she is super smart too and that brain comes in handing when on the run from The Project. If you've been eager to know more about what The Project want from Maria you will get some more of the answers you want in this sequel.
A fast pace, gritty plot and plenty of reveals and twists alongside one hell of an ending made The Killing Files a top-notch 5 star read. It was well worth the wait! I felt so many emotions for Maria in this book, Nikki Owen certainly packs a lot into Maria's journey in this one. Brilliant reading!
Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC of this novel. All opinions are my own and are totally unbiased.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
A fantastic sequel to the first book in this fabulous series.
which was republished as
. If you have not yet read the first book in the series then you must, both are excellent book and the first book will give you good background to the sequel that will make for better reading.
Dr. Maria Martinez has Aspergers Syndrome and we met her in the first book whilst she was in prison with all sorts of things going on around her. She is no longer in prison but she is still no longer safe as "The Project" still wants things from her, and relentlessly pursue her through the pages of this novel. What I love about Nikki Owen as an author is that she really spent a lot of time studying women with Aspergers to make her character authentic. I am a reviewer and a woman who has Aspergers so I was thrilled to read that Maria was not stereotyped into too many boxes. She is a super likeable character!
The pace of the book is really intense and every turn taken brings new dangers for Maria, she has a few allies along the way but it's hard sometimes to know who your true allies are and there are some seriously brilliant twists in the plot and characters in this book that will surprise the reader. I know I had my jaw hanging open a number of times trying to process what was going on. Maria goes through some tough stuff but she is a tough cookie and can kick and fight her way out of nearly any situation, she is super smart too and that brain comes in handing when on the run from The Project. If you've been eager to know more about what The Project want from Maria you will get some more of the answers you want in this sequel.
A fast pace, gritty plot and plenty of reveals and twists alongside one hell of an ending made The Killing Files a top-notch 5 star read. It was well worth the wait! I felt so many emotions for Maria in this book, Nikki Owen certainly packs a lot into Maria's journey in this one. Brilliant reading!
Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC of this novel. All opinions are my own and are totally unbiased.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
October 8, 2016
The Spider in the Corner of the Room was the first in this series that will be a trilogy, and introduced us the the world of plastic surgeon and Aspergers sufferer Dr Maria Martinez and "The Project". It was a brilliant read, a book I throughly enjoyed, so I was really looking forward to reading the sequel "The Killing Files". If you haven't read the first part in this series then I highly recommend doing so as otherwise this novel will be totally confusing to you, as the back story from the first is an intricate part of this second book.
Having left off at the end of the first book with Maria escaping prison and fleeing from The Project with the help of some friends, we pick up here with here living in Spain, isolated from most of civilisation in the middle of nowhere. This suits Maria and her condition down to the ground as her head remains clear with no distraction, as she researches online to try and find any more clues as to who exactly The Project are and what they may want with her. She still struggles to recollect what is fact and what is fiction in her memories and also, as always uncovers new memories as she delves further into her journals.
Of course The Project eventually catch up with her and she has to flee her home, arranging to meet up with old friends, the governor of the prison she was in and her fathers old friend - Balthus, her prison friend - Patricia and a new character Chris, a hacker and contact that Balthus directs Maria to make contact with in Spain until himself and Patricia arrive.
What we have unfold is a fantastically whirlwind paced chase/conspiracy thriller that is a fitting sequel to the first book. Maria again is a hugely interesting and empathetic central character as she struggles to keep ahead of and unravel who The Project are and what they want with her. There are many twists and turns throughout as you, as the reader, are unsure who you can and cannot trust. The addition of the new character Chris works really well as Maria takes a bit of a shine to him. He is essential as a character from a practical point of view, for his hacking skills to move the plot along but also works as device to open up more layers of the central character of Maria and it works really well.
It's a fantastical story, perhaps a little too fantastical for some in places but the characters are so well written and the story so well told that I had no issue with suspending disbelief. The book, like the first, picks you up and carries you along for the ride and it is one almighty enjoyable ride. Easily as enjoyable as the first, I am really looking forward to the third in the series.
I would like to thank the publisher Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Having left off at the end of the first book with Maria escaping prison and fleeing from The Project with the help of some friends, we pick up here with here living in Spain, isolated from most of civilisation in the middle of nowhere. This suits Maria and her condition down to the ground as her head remains clear with no distraction, as she researches online to try and find any more clues as to who exactly The Project are and what they may want with her. She still struggles to recollect what is fact and what is fiction in her memories and also, as always uncovers new memories as she delves further into her journals.
Of course The Project eventually catch up with her and she has to flee her home, arranging to meet up with old friends, the governor of the prison she was in and her fathers old friend - Balthus, her prison friend - Patricia and a new character Chris, a hacker and contact that Balthus directs Maria to make contact with in Spain until himself and Patricia arrive.
What we have unfold is a fantastically whirlwind paced chase/conspiracy thriller that is a fitting sequel to the first book. Maria again is a hugely interesting and empathetic central character as she struggles to keep ahead of and unravel who The Project are and what they want with her. There are many twists and turns throughout as you, as the reader, are unsure who you can and cannot trust. The addition of the new character Chris works really well as Maria takes a bit of a shine to him. He is essential as a character from a practical point of view, for his hacking skills to move the plot along but also works as device to open up more layers of the central character of Maria and it works really well.
It's a fantastical story, perhaps a little too fantastical for some in places but the characters are so well written and the story so well told that I had no issue with suspending disbelief. The book, like the first, picks you up and carries you along for the ride and it is one almighty enjoyable ride. Easily as enjoyable as the first, I am really looking forward to the third in the series.
I would like to thank the publisher Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
June 15, 2016
The Killing Files – An Exciting Thriller
The Killing Files from the author Nikki Owen is the second book in the Project Trilogy, and this needs to be read after Subject 375. If you try to read this as a standalone book or out of sequence the characters and storyline will not make much sense, so please be warned.
Dr Maria Martinez is not only the main character but also the narrator of the story, so we see the world through her eyes and at the same time need to remember that Maria is on the autistic spectrum, so she tends to have a very unique way of looking and interpreting the world around her. It is her friends that connect her to the world around her and it is through them and with them that she is able to conquer the various precarious situations she finds herself thrown in.
Throughout the story you have to get used to a split narrative of the present, when she is being held captive and 34 hours before hand. It does not help that Maria had been freed from prison for a crime she did not commit and is in hiding. She is in fear of Mi6 and the project who are going to be scouring the earth to find her and eliminate her at their first opportunity. Maria needs to try and work out what has happened to her and why.
Without giving too much away, she knows she has been captured and with all the security measures that she had in place, she tries to work out how they found her. Was it sheer luck or was she betrayed, all Maria knows is that she will have to put everything together through her own private rituals.
Nikki Owen once again delivers a book with crisp clear prose and a pace that really draws the reader in to Maria’s world. There is plenty of action throughout the book with added intrigue the further you work yourself in to the story.
Nikki Owen has delivered with The Killing Files another exciting thriller in this trilogy series.
The Killing Files from the author Nikki Owen is the second book in the Project Trilogy, and this needs to be read after Subject 375. If you try to read this as a standalone book or out of sequence the characters and storyline will not make much sense, so please be warned.
Dr Maria Martinez is not only the main character but also the narrator of the story, so we see the world through her eyes and at the same time need to remember that Maria is on the autistic spectrum, so she tends to have a very unique way of looking and interpreting the world around her. It is her friends that connect her to the world around her and it is through them and with them that she is able to conquer the various precarious situations she finds herself thrown in.
Throughout the story you have to get used to a split narrative of the present, when she is being held captive and 34 hours before hand. It does not help that Maria had been freed from prison for a crime she did not commit and is in hiding. She is in fear of Mi6 and the project who are going to be scouring the earth to find her and eliminate her at their first opportunity. Maria needs to try and work out what has happened to her and why.
Without giving too much away, she knows she has been captured and with all the security measures that she had in place, she tries to work out how they found her. Was it sheer luck or was she betrayed, all Maria knows is that she will have to put everything together through her own private rituals.
Nikki Owen once again delivers a book with crisp clear prose and a pace that really draws the reader in to Maria’s world. There is plenty of action throughout the book with added intrigue the further you work yourself in to the story.
Nikki Owen has delivered with The Killing Files another exciting thriller in this trilogy series.
June 9, 2016
I was a huge fan of the first book in this series – Subject 375 (Originally titled The Spider in the Corner of the Room) so I was REALLY looking forward to The Killing Files and once again I found it to be an intelligent and absorbing read, mostly it has to be said because of our main protagonist, Dr Maria Martinez – who is clever, brilliantly portrayed and often hilarious – plus in all sorts of trouble..
Subject 375 was mostly set within the claustrophobic confines of a prison – now Maria is out in the world, supported by a few loyal friends and the relationships she starts to develop with them is one of the strongest parts of the story. Maria, with her Aspergers, is really most fascinating, that condition is explored fully and sympathetically within the character arc and The Killing Files puts more flesh on the bones and really gives Maria a chance to shine. Well, when she’s not running from the bad guys who are particularly creepily nasty.
Which leads onto the more thriller elements – this is fast paced, a real page turner that also has a cleverly readable scientific edge, a chilling conspiracy and large amounts of dramatic adrenalin inducing set pieces. I really loved it, a great mix of character study and thrill ride, developing the story in beautifully jaw dropping ways, I cannot wait for book 3 now to see where they all end up. Loved Chris incidentally. His burgeoning friendship with Maria is hugely intriguing.
You must read Subject 375 first – The Killing Files really would not work as a standalone in my bookish opinion, this is one of those stories that has a continuity and care about it that means you would lose a lot through only reading it in part. You’ll get a brilliant read out of the first and second novel – and no doubt the third too when it comes. Where is it? What I have to wait? Seriously. Can’t get the staff…
Subject 375 was mostly set within the claustrophobic confines of a prison – now Maria is out in the world, supported by a few loyal friends and the relationships she starts to develop with them is one of the strongest parts of the story. Maria, with her Aspergers, is really most fascinating, that condition is explored fully and sympathetically within the character arc and The Killing Files puts more flesh on the bones and really gives Maria a chance to shine. Well, when she’s not running from the bad guys who are particularly creepily nasty.
Which leads onto the more thriller elements – this is fast paced, a real page turner that also has a cleverly readable scientific edge, a chilling conspiracy and large amounts of dramatic adrenalin inducing set pieces. I really loved it, a great mix of character study and thrill ride, developing the story in beautifully jaw dropping ways, I cannot wait for book 3 now to see where they all end up. Loved Chris incidentally. His burgeoning friendship with Maria is hugely intriguing.
You must read Subject 375 first – The Killing Files really would not work as a standalone in my bookish opinion, this is one of those stories that has a continuity and care about it that means you would lose a lot through only reading it in part. You’ll get a brilliant read out of the first and second novel – and no doubt the third too when it comes. Where is it? What I have to wait? Seriously. Can’t get the staff…
July 7, 2018
Although I went nearly straight into this novel after reading the predecessor, I really liked how we got a recap, via the author manipulating it into natural conversation. It was very clever and helpful.
So, now that we had time seeing Maria's true character outside the environmental stresses of prision, I got to appreciate the lyrical descriptions our protagonist used: "... when the sun rests and the night blanket covers the sky where the stars switch on and glow until morning"
However, I did feel like sometimes this felt like things Maria wouldn't say, especially considering she struggled to understand metaphors over direct meaning. Sometimes it had good balance and other times it didn't. I did really enjoy exploring her character more and it was so lovely to see her trying to do regular social things, because you could truly see that she wanted to understand others and have connections with people at times, but it was just really difficult for her to process. I will say, she was written quite robotic at times... This conflicted with the lyrical things she'd say or narrate and this confused me as I feel like, even though we got to see more of her character arc, she was still a little... unfocused in what the author wanted her to be or not be, if that makes any sense
I loved the italic countdown we got at the start and within each chapter. It made me feel overall less confused about some things and gave a sense of urgency to the plot.
I noticed a line in this that reminded me of the contemporary tropey line "I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding"... In this, for Maria, its more like "I blink back tears I didn't know was there" and as soon as I acknowledged that I couldn't't help but chuckle. Luckily I was near the end when I noticed!
The last half I found myself losing interest but I'm not sure if that had something to do with me burning myself out with reading a lot of late, because the plot itself didn't lack in excitement and tension for one beat. Because of the fact that I kept loosing focus, I didn't rate it 5 stars like the first book. The decreasing countdown roped me back in again though, as I was starting to believe we'd be left on a massive cliffhanger with nothing resolved!
I actually think this would have worked as a duology, with maybe a little novella to see where characters are in a few years. That being said, I'm intrigued to see where the final book in the Project Trilogy takes us.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
So, now that we had time seeing Maria's true character outside the environmental stresses of prision, I got to appreciate the lyrical descriptions our protagonist used: "... when the sun rests and the night blanket covers the sky where the stars switch on and glow until morning"
However, I did feel like sometimes this felt like things Maria wouldn't say, especially considering she struggled to understand metaphors over direct meaning. Sometimes it had good balance and other times it didn't. I did really enjoy exploring her character more and it was so lovely to see her trying to do regular social things, because you could truly see that she wanted to understand others and have connections with people at times, but it was just really difficult for her to process. I will say, she was written quite robotic at times... This conflicted with the lyrical things she'd say or narrate and this confused me as I feel like, even though we got to see more of her character arc, she was still a little... unfocused in what the author wanted her to be or not be, if that makes any sense
I loved the italic countdown we got at the start and within each chapter. It made me feel overall less confused about some things and gave a sense of urgency to the plot.
I noticed a line in this that reminded me of the contemporary tropey line "I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding"... In this, for Maria, its more like "I blink back tears I didn't know was there" and as soon as I acknowledged that I couldn't't help but chuckle. Luckily I was near the end when I noticed!
The last half I found myself losing interest but I'm not sure if that had something to do with me burning myself out with reading a lot of late, because the plot itself didn't lack in excitement and tension for one beat. Because of the fact that I kept loosing focus, I didn't rate it 5 stars like the first book. The decreasing countdown roped me back in again though, as I was starting to believe we'd be left on a massive cliffhanger with nothing resolved!
I actually think this would have worked as a duology, with maybe a little novella to see where characters are in a few years. That being said, I'm intrigued to see where the final book in the Project Trilogy takes us.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
May 24, 2018
Not a bad concept, but the story stumbled in dialogue and narrative which continually dragged me back out of the story. It feels like a draft that never went through the editing process and as a result was rather painful to get through.
January 16, 2018
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
16/20 - Une intrigue diablement bien faite et surprenante !
16/20 - Une intrigue diablement bien faite et surprenante !
March 2, 2017
The project trilogy (2) by Nikki Owen.
No matter how fast you run, the past always catches up with you.
Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run.
Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family.
Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
A very enjoyable read with great characters. Maria was my favourite character. I loved how she wouldn't stop until she got the truth. Can't wait for next part. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
No matter how fast you run, the past always catches up with you.
Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run.
Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family.
Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
A very enjoyable read with great characters. Maria was my favourite character. I loved how she wouldn't stop until she got the truth. Can't wait for next part. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
June 22, 2016
No matter how fast you run, the past always catches up with you
Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run.
Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family.
Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
Harper Collins very generously sent me an ARC of this book for review.
I haven’t read the first in the series, Subject 375, but I sometimes feel like the reading experience of reading the second book of a trilogy can give you a good feeling for the quality of the writing. So many trilogies suffer from what is commonly referred to as ‘second book syndrome’ wherein the second book often slumps between the newness of the first and the action of the conclusion. In reading the second book first I really came to enjoy Owen’s writing- I thought this book was fast paced and action packed from the first sentence to the last.
I’ll admit it was fairly disconcerting coming into the story at first as I didn’t have the background on the characters, but I quickly settled in and devoured the story. I liked the way the narrative moved between past and present with a countdown at the start of each chapter lending a sense of urgency to my reading. It actually reminded me a lot of some of my favourite tv shows, and I think this book would work fantastically as a tv show- but now to the review!
I really liked the protagonist and I felt like Owens dealt with the protagonist’s social anxiety and periods of disassociation with authenticity and tact. I also liked the way I absolutely never knew what was going to happen next, there was no plot immunity, no certain delineation between the real and the not real, and this kept me frantically turning the pages.I usually find thrillers to be difficult books for me to sink into because I honestly find a lot of them pretty predictable, but this book is not of that ilk. It’s contemporary and relevant and I would thoroughly recommend it!
I will definitely be going back to read the first one and reading the final installment when it comes out!
Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run.
Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family.
Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
Harper Collins very generously sent me an ARC of this book for review.
I haven’t read the first in the series, Subject 375, but I sometimes feel like the reading experience of reading the second book of a trilogy can give you a good feeling for the quality of the writing. So many trilogies suffer from what is commonly referred to as ‘second book syndrome’ wherein the second book often slumps between the newness of the first and the action of the conclusion. In reading the second book first I really came to enjoy Owen’s writing- I thought this book was fast paced and action packed from the first sentence to the last.
I’ll admit it was fairly disconcerting coming into the story at first as I didn’t have the background on the characters, but I quickly settled in and devoured the story. I liked the way the narrative moved between past and present with a countdown at the start of each chapter lending a sense of urgency to my reading. It actually reminded me a lot of some of my favourite tv shows, and I think this book would work fantastically as a tv show- but now to the review!
I really liked the protagonist and I felt like Owens dealt with the protagonist’s social anxiety and periods of disassociation with authenticity and tact. I also liked the way I absolutely never knew what was going to happen next, there was no plot immunity, no certain delineation between the real and the not real, and this kept me frantically turning the pages.I usually find thrillers to be difficult books for me to sink into because I honestly find a lot of them pretty predictable, but this book is not of that ilk. It’s contemporary and relevant and I would thoroughly recommend it!
I will definitely be going back to read the first one and reading the final installment when it comes out!
June 8, 2016
Firstly I must say that I had not read the first book in the series and at times especially at the beginning I did feel very out of my depth. I would therefore strongly recommend that Subject 375 is read first to get the full enjoyment from the series so far.
The writing is brilliant and there are certainly those sit on the edge of your seat moments throughout the book. The novel is set around Dr. Maria Martinez, a woman with Aspergers and this creates some very memorable moments in the book. The interactions between Maria and Chris are pure magic with some very entertaining dialogue. The story moves between two time zones for Maria as she tries to work out where she fits. A very gripping story but do read these books as a series not as stand alone novels.
I wish to thank Netgalley and Harlequin U.K, MIRA for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review
The writing is brilliant and there are certainly those sit on the edge of your seat moments throughout the book. The novel is set around Dr. Maria Martinez, a woman with Aspergers and this creates some very memorable moments in the book. The interactions between Maria and Chris are pure magic with some very entertaining dialogue. The story moves between two time zones for Maria as she tries to work out where she fits. A very gripping story but do read these books as a series not as stand alone novels.
I wish to thank Netgalley and Harlequin U.K, MIRA for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review
June 1, 2016
This is the sequel to Spider in the Corner of the Room (renamed Project 375). If you haven't read the first book I recommend you go there first as you are in for a treat with that one and this one will make more sense. Maria is still as complex, as infuriating and (because of her Asperger's) as literal as ever. The books are not an easy read as the story is told from Maria's viewpoint and her decision making is sometimes unexpected. In this story she is betrayed and finds herself losing everything (again) and having to find her way through a maze of lies and pain. One of the great beauties of the book and one of the strengths of Ms Owen's writing is the poetic way the relationships are captured and how real they seem. Not a light read but a worthwhile one.
I was given copy of this book by netgalley in return for an honest review.
I was given copy of this book by netgalley in return for an honest review.
July 28, 2024
L’idée est intéressante, mais j’ai pas accroché. On change trop souvent de temporalité, sans avoir le temps de comprendre ce qui arrive. Ça m’a complètement sortie de l’histoire. Pas d’accroche pour la personnage principale, trop de longueurs pour arriver à quelque chose que j’avais deviné et des dialogues brutes, sans émotion.
Bref, je ne suis pas du tout convaincue :/
Bref, je ne suis pas du tout convaincue :/
January 7, 2018
Gripping. Just need to see what happens next. Although some things clearly feel made up and not real it's still very thrilling. There was a section a little long. But overall a good sequel and simply can't wait for the third one in the series
November 22, 2018
I read this as The Girl Who Can't Lie. It's also known as The Killing Files. No matter what it's called, it's a fantastic read and great sequel to The Spider in the Corner of the Room. I loved the characters and the plot in this book. Very worthy of my 5 star rating.
October 26, 2022
Brilliant! I’ve now ordered nos 1 & 3 in the series. Maria is a well-written character and with Chris they make a great couple. Can’t wait to read the other two in the series. Wish I’d read the first one first, but that’s life.
May 21, 2017
On dirait que le personnage principale est 2x plus atteinte de l'Asperger que dans le premier livre... Au début l'histoire tournait en rond mais la fin était bonne.
June 28, 2017
The best book I have read in ages, I couldn't put it down and had it read in one day. Full of suspense and keeps you guessing right to the end
July 30, 2017
Absolutely love this book!!! Well written and well thought out story line.
September 1, 2017
First book I have read by Nikki Owen and not really my usual genre. I struggled a bit and started enjoying toward the end
April 12, 2018
Not something i would normally go for. My son gave it to me as a gift.
March 1, 2019
This story was all over the place. I couldn’t connect. It didn’t go fast enough and it was frustrating.
March 4, 2019
I don't give up on books easily but l abandoned this one after about 100 pages as l was so bored. 😕
November 4, 2016
Better than the first book but still a little disorienting.
July 6, 2016
This is the second in Nikki Owen's trilogy about an autistic doctor, Maria Martinez, and her attempts to escape The Project, an offshoot of MI5. In the first novel (originally titled The Spider in The Corner of the Room and since re-titled Subject 375) we learnt that The Project's task was to cultivate the unique skills, mathematical, logical computational, etc, of gifted autistics in the fight against terror. Martinez had been cultivated since childhood, The Project operating under the guise of a treatment centre. It was a good premise and one which made the first book a compelling read.
The Killing Files picks up where the original ended. Dr Martinez has escaped the clutches of The Project and is hiding out. She is plagued by memories of her time under The Project's sanction however, in particular someone she recalls being led to their death. Needless to say The Project catches up with her and she needs to delve further into the organisation's secrets in order to put a stop to them once and for all.
While I gave the first novel a five-star review, I did express concerns as to whether Owen could stretch the premise to a series and whether credibility might be stretched too far. Unfortunately, while The Killing Files is certainly an entertaining read, I feel some of my concerns have been borne out. As Owen fleshes out the details of the conspiracy various credibility issues that were present, albeit nigglingly so in the original, are brought to the forefront. The Project is an offshoot of MI5, the UK's domestic Security Service, yet it operates globally. Where is MI6, the UK's foreign intelligence service in all this? Where is GCHQ, the cyber/signals intelligence agency? The project itself would be a hugely expensive undertaking, yet anyone with a passing knowledge of the UK's intelligence agencies knows that while their funding is generous by UK standards, their budgets are dwarfed by those of the US and Russia and it is unlikely that they could afford anything so ambitious.
Another issue linked to the above is that the project operates globally and has bases all over the globe (certainly in Spain and Switzerland according to the novel) yet nowhere are the intelligence agencies of these nations hinted at. Are we to believe that they just haven't noticed this activity on their soil? Does the author assume that British Intelligence is so far ahead of these nations agencies that they don't have a clue?
I know this trilogy is not really meant to be from the spy thriller genre as such, more that of the conspiracy thriller. Arguably it's written in such a way as to encourage one to suspend their disbelief. I get that it's not meant to reflect the real world of MI5/British Intelligence. But while I was able to do that while reading the first one, Owen just stretches the concepts too far in The Killing Files and I found suspension snap.
An unrelated but equally galling issue I had was with her treatment of the main character. Apparently The Project have trained as an assassin, with unarmed combat skills, yet throughout the text she's oddly inept at defending herself. Then there's the allies she made in the first novel keep treating her with kid gloves. I get the fact that Dr Martinez has extreme Asperger's, but does she really have to have a panic attack every second page? And do her colleagues really have to ask her whether she's OK every second sentence?
This review may come across as over-harsh and I apologise for that. For all its faults The Killing Files is an enjoyable read. It certainly is worth reading if you enjoyed the first novel. But the author really needs to pull back on some of the fantastical aspects in the final novel, or else explain them or I fear that the promise of the first book might be frittered away.
The Killing Files picks up where the original ended. Dr Martinez has escaped the clutches of The Project and is hiding out. She is plagued by memories of her time under The Project's sanction however, in particular someone she recalls being led to their death. Needless to say The Project catches up with her and she needs to delve further into the organisation's secrets in order to put a stop to them once and for all.
While I gave the first novel a five-star review, I did express concerns as to whether Owen could stretch the premise to a series and whether credibility might be stretched too far. Unfortunately, while The Killing Files is certainly an entertaining read, I feel some of my concerns have been borne out. As Owen fleshes out the details of the conspiracy various credibility issues that were present, albeit nigglingly so in the original, are brought to the forefront. The Project is an offshoot of MI5, the UK's domestic Security Service, yet it operates globally. Where is MI6, the UK's foreign intelligence service in all this? Where is GCHQ, the cyber/signals intelligence agency? The project itself would be a hugely expensive undertaking, yet anyone with a passing knowledge of the UK's intelligence agencies knows that while their funding is generous by UK standards, their budgets are dwarfed by those of the US and Russia and it is unlikely that they could afford anything so ambitious.
Another issue linked to the above is that the project operates globally and has bases all over the globe (certainly in Spain and Switzerland according to the novel) yet nowhere are the intelligence agencies of these nations hinted at. Are we to believe that they just haven't noticed this activity on their soil? Does the author assume that British Intelligence is so far ahead of these nations agencies that they don't have a clue?
I know this trilogy is not really meant to be from the spy thriller genre as such, more that of the conspiracy thriller. Arguably it's written in such a way as to encourage one to suspend their disbelief. I get that it's not meant to reflect the real world of MI5/British Intelligence. But while I was able to do that while reading the first one, Owen just stretches the concepts too far in The Killing Files and I found suspension snap.
An unrelated but equally galling issue I had was with her treatment of the main character. Apparently The Project have trained as an assassin, with unarmed combat skills, yet throughout the text she's oddly inept at defending herself. Then there's the allies she made in the first novel keep treating her with kid gloves. I get the fact that Dr Martinez has extreme Asperger's, but does she really have to have a panic attack every second page? And do her colleagues really have to ask her whether she's OK every second sentence?
This review may come across as over-harsh and I apologise for that. For all its faults The Killing Files is an enjoyable read. It certainly is worth reading if you enjoyed the first novel. But the author really needs to pull back on some of the fantastical aspects in the final novel, or else explain them or I fear that the promise of the first book might be frittered away.
June 1, 2016
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I have been waiting for a year for this book and the wait was definitely worth it. Another beautifully crafted thriller with a difference from Nikki Owen. As with the “Spider in the Corner of the Room” the prose is wonderful and the imagery spectacular, but the real draw is the main character of Dr. Maria Martinez, through whom the action is narrated and experienced.
Maria is on the Autistic spectrum, and has a unique, and rather unsettling way of viewing the world. Everything and anything registers with her, whereas most of us go through life blind to much of what goes on around us. Her world is so full of minute detail, that every action, every item is magnified a thousand fold, and it all comes across as totally overwhelming. It is almost impossible to understand how Maria can cope – even without the people trying to kill her and/or imprison her.
The story begins in the “present” with Maria in captivity, trying to convince herself again that she is innocent and free: “when I say the words to myself, for some reason, they don’t seem right, instead feel out of place, a code reassembled in the middle”. The story then dives back 34 hours and 59 minutes (yes, she has to be exact) to a place of safety, with small rituals, such as Maria reaffirming her identity by speaking her name and age aloud. Her shattered memory spasmodically reasserts itself in seemingly unconnected flash backs, and the book’s time-line lurches all over the place.
Friendship had always been an alien concept for Maria, but from the last book, Balthus and Patricia have earned their place at her side. Now Chris (who smells nice) shows that there are others willing to accept her quirks and who also deserve her friendship. As he says: “Last time I looked, we were all, by, well, our very human nature, I guess, different to each other. At what point does different turn into weird? Who the hell knows? My answer? It doesn’t. We just are who we are, and the quicker the world accepts that, the better a place it will be.’
Maria relies on her friends to anchor her in reality and time, and with their aid she seems to almost be getting on top of her precarious predicament, fighting the Project, “a covert programme formed in response to a global threat of terrorism and, specifically, cyber terrorism” which “trains people with Asperger’s to use their unique, high IQ skills to combat security alerts”. But, as she manages to strip away layers of obfuscation from the Project, and to retrieve more and more memories, she finds that increasingly the certainties of her life and identity are being similarly erased: “My mind is moving fast now, but I want it to stop, want it to halt the course it’s hurtling towards at a trajectory so rapid, it will smash everything I recognise into tiny, unrecognisable pieces”.
The story is a fast paced whirlwind of action, that keeps you, and the protagonists guessing. There is some resolution, but enough remains for the next instalment to promise to be equally engaging. Just one word of warning, this book is not a stand-alone, you do need to have read the first book in the trilogy to be able to make any sense of this one. Neither book is an easy read – but then nothing really good ever is. Both books are amazing, and well worth the effort.
I have been waiting for a year for this book and the wait was definitely worth it. Another beautifully crafted thriller with a difference from Nikki Owen. As with the “Spider in the Corner of the Room” the prose is wonderful and the imagery spectacular, but the real draw is the main character of Dr. Maria Martinez, through whom the action is narrated and experienced.
Maria is on the Autistic spectrum, and has a unique, and rather unsettling way of viewing the world. Everything and anything registers with her, whereas most of us go through life blind to much of what goes on around us. Her world is so full of minute detail, that every action, every item is magnified a thousand fold, and it all comes across as totally overwhelming. It is almost impossible to understand how Maria can cope – even without the people trying to kill her and/or imprison her.
The story begins in the “present” with Maria in captivity, trying to convince herself again that she is innocent and free: “when I say the words to myself, for some reason, they don’t seem right, instead feel out of place, a code reassembled in the middle”. The story then dives back 34 hours and 59 minutes (yes, she has to be exact) to a place of safety, with small rituals, such as Maria reaffirming her identity by speaking her name and age aloud. Her shattered memory spasmodically reasserts itself in seemingly unconnected flash backs, and the book’s time-line lurches all over the place.
Friendship had always been an alien concept for Maria, but from the last book, Balthus and Patricia have earned their place at her side. Now Chris (who smells nice) shows that there are others willing to accept her quirks and who also deserve her friendship. As he says: “Last time I looked, we were all, by, well, our very human nature, I guess, different to each other. At what point does different turn into weird? Who the hell knows? My answer? It doesn’t. We just are who we are, and the quicker the world accepts that, the better a place it will be.’
Maria relies on her friends to anchor her in reality and time, and with their aid she seems to almost be getting on top of her precarious predicament, fighting the Project, “a covert programme formed in response to a global threat of terrorism and, specifically, cyber terrorism” which “trains people with Asperger’s to use their unique, high IQ skills to combat security alerts”. But, as she manages to strip away layers of obfuscation from the Project, and to retrieve more and more memories, she finds that increasingly the certainties of her life and identity are being similarly erased: “My mind is moving fast now, but I want it to stop, want it to halt the course it’s hurtling towards at a trajectory so rapid, it will smash everything I recognise into tiny, unrecognisable pieces”.
The story is a fast paced whirlwind of action, that keeps you, and the protagonists guessing. There is some resolution, but enough remains for the next instalment to promise to be equally engaging. Just one word of warning, this book is not a stand-alone, you do need to have read the first book in the trilogy to be able to make any sense of this one. Neither book is an easy read – but then nothing really good ever is. Both books are amazing, and well worth the effort.
June 1, 2016
After the whirlwind mind games and faltering allegiances in Subject 375 (Book 1) Dr Maria Martinez is coping pretty well considering she’s been poked with a very pointy stick for years in the name of National Security. Not only does she have Asperger’s, she’s previously been accused of murdering a priest and has narrowly survived an assassination attempt, while her impressive IQ has been unwittingly taken advantage of for years by ‘The Project’.
She can find no hard evidence of the false memories she feels she's been fed. As a consequence she’s left with a dodgy recall as to the exact nature of her own involvement in their operation, continuing to pile on the intrigue with a shovel.
It was a relief to learn that her feet had finally touched the ground after her many trials in Subject 375, but this reprieve is short-lived as an intruder finds their way onto the grounds of her remote Spanish villa, the location of which is known only to a couple of people. The frustration of there being nowhere left for this poor woman to get herself together for second is just AAAAAARGHH! I know ‘The Project’ is determined to track down potential threats to their organisation but they’re hiding in plain sight everywhere! You can almost feel them breathing down her neck while they try to coerce her into compliance, and if not brute force works a treat too.
The Killing Files follows the same formula as Subject 375. While this isn't as ‘clinical’ in its approach, nor the plot as complex, the Doc still uses her own brand of analytical reasoning to filter everything. There is, however, a little more emotional freedom allowing Maria to develop a stronger support network. Even the bad guys making a re-appearance manage to speak in full sentences rather than triple bluffs this time!
I’ve got to say my favourite interludes are when the Doc finds herself abruptly acquainted with an amiable computer hacker. Her condition means she doesn’t immediately embrace the qualities of his sunny personality. What’s quite endearing is how she cannot accept this man calling her ‘Google’, which is his pet name for her as she can recite the minutest trivia. And so another stunted relationship begins to take shape and it’s wonderful to see it progress through the story. It’s the little things too, like her friend’s subtle gestures of reassurance that only they recognise as she searches for the Holy Grail of encrypted documents that she hopes will fill in the gaps of her enigmatic past.
‘The Project Trilogy’ is a belter of a deceptive journey for a rather unique woman who is taking baby-steps toward emotions that are alien to her. Her experiences would undoubtedly destroy us mere mortals. Although this tortured soul may have been insanely hunted both physically and mentally through two incredibly exhausting books now, I feel we’ve only just scratched the surface...
Note: I have deliberately omitted specific character names in case you wish to read book one first (and I recommend that you do!). It’s so much better to leave the entire paranoia effect intact, so you're completely blind to who is (or isn’t) ‘Team Maria’.
(Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.)
She can find no hard evidence of the false memories she feels she's been fed. As a consequence she’s left with a dodgy recall as to the exact nature of her own involvement in their operation, continuing to pile on the intrigue with a shovel.
It was a relief to learn that her feet had finally touched the ground after her many trials in Subject 375, but this reprieve is short-lived as an intruder finds their way onto the grounds of her remote Spanish villa, the location of which is known only to a couple of people. The frustration of there being nowhere left for this poor woman to get herself together for second is just AAAAAARGHH! I know ‘The Project’ is determined to track down potential threats to their organisation but they’re hiding in plain sight everywhere! You can almost feel them breathing down her neck while they try to coerce her into compliance, and if not brute force works a treat too.
The Killing Files follows the same formula as Subject 375. While this isn't as ‘clinical’ in its approach, nor the plot as complex, the Doc still uses her own brand of analytical reasoning to filter everything. There is, however, a little more emotional freedom allowing Maria to develop a stronger support network. Even the bad guys making a re-appearance manage to speak in full sentences rather than triple bluffs this time!
I’ve got to say my favourite interludes are when the Doc finds herself abruptly acquainted with an amiable computer hacker. Her condition means she doesn’t immediately embrace the qualities of his sunny personality. What’s quite endearing is how she cannot accept this man calling her ‘Google’, which is his pet name for her as she can recite the minutest trivia. And so another stunted relationship begins to take shape and it’s wonderful to see it progress through the story. It’s the little things too, like her friend’s subtle gestures of reassurance that only they recognise as she searches for the Holy Grail of encrypted documents that she hopes will fill in the gaps of her enigmatic past.
‘The Project Trilogy’ is a belter of a deceptive journey for a rather unique woman who is taking baby-steps toward emotions that are alien to her. Her experiences would undoubtedly destroy us mere mortals. Although this tortured soul may have been insanely hunted both physically and mentally through two incredibly exhausting books now, I feel we’ve only just scratched the surface...
Note: I have deliberately omitted specific character names in case you wish to read book one first (and I recommend that you do!). It’s so much better to leave the entire paranoia effect intact, so you're completely blind to who is (or isn’t) ‘Team Maria’.
(Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.)
July 31, 2016
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
I read and loved The Spider in the Corner of the Room (now titled Subject 375) so was really excited to read the second in The Project series, called The Killing Files. I can't deny I was a little worried that the second novel wouldn't live up to the brilliant work that is The Spider... but I needn't have been worried, because this is a worthy follow up!
Dr Maria Martinez is back and she's as lovable as ever. I felt that Nikki Owen has created a character that so refreshingly portrayed someone with Autism (I'm no expert, but I can tell when characters with this condition don't quite seem to ring true, as with various other novels I've read in the past), and she's back in The Killing Files as the same well-crafted, interesting character who I loved reading about, as always! She's not the ''typical' female character that we so often see in books and films (much more in films, though, to be fair) who is often just a supporting character for the men, or there mainly as a sex symbol and is always looking attractive and ladylike. There's plenty of occurrences where Maria's sweating, dirty and looking (and feeling) as rough as anyone else. It's great to learn a little more about Maria, and see her meet someone who I looks like they could be a potential love interest – and none of this is portrayed in a cheesy, cliched way, because the story is, again, told through Maria's eyes. She just tells it all as it is, and it's really entertaining and, at times, very humorous to get inside her head and see why she thinks the things she does.
The novel is very fast-moving, and switches between the present tense, when Maria is seemingly captured and locked in a room, and the time leading up to this, so we can see how it all happened. I felt it was a little too 'action' and not as much substance as the first novel to begin with, but that soon disappeared as the story went on and it became a much more developed and intriguing.
This is one of those novels where you're never quite sure who is on Maria's side and who isn't – as the reader we only see what Maria does, so there's no reader advantage here. We're often as bewildered as she is, and I loved that uncertainty – it really ramps up the threat level.
I'm really glad this lived up to the first book, which I really enjoyed – you can't help but compare, but this is definitely well worth a read and is a worthy follow up to The Spider in the Corner of the Room(Subject 375).
* Many thanks to Harlequin publishers for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
I read and loved The Spider in the Corner of the Room (now titled Subject 375) so was really excited to read the second in The Project series, called The Killing Files. I can't deny I was a little worried that the second novel wouldn't live up to the brilliant work that is The Spider... but I needn't have been worried, because this is a worthy follow up!
Dr Maria Martinez is back and she's as lovable as ever. I felt that Nikki Owen has created a character that so refreshingly portrayed someone with Autism (I'm no expert, but I can tell when characters with this condition don't quite seem to ring true, as with various other novels I've read in the past), and she's back in The Killing Files as the same well-crafted, interesting character who I loved reading about, as always! She's not the ''typical' female character that we so often see in books and films (much more in films, though, to be fair) who is often just a supporting character for the men, or there mainly as a sex symbol and is always looking attractive and ladylike. There's plenty of occurrences where Maria's sweating, dirty and looking (and feeling) as rough as anyone else. It's great to learn a little more about Maria, and see her meet someone who I looks like they could be a potential love interest – and none of this is portrayed in a cheesy, cliched way, because the story is, again, told through Maria's eyes. She just tells it all as it is, and it's really entertaining and, at times, very humorous to get inside her head and see why she thinks the things she does.
The novel is very fast-moving, and switches between the present tense, when Maria is seemingly captured and locked in a room, and the time leading up to this, so we can see how it all happened. I felt it was a little too 'action' and not as much substance as the first novel to begin with, but that soon disappeared as the story went on and it became a much more developed and intriguing.
This is one of those novels where you're never quite sure who is on Maria's side and who isn't – as the reader we only see what Maria does, so there's no reader advantage here. We're often as bewildered as she is, and I loved that uncertainty – it really ramps up the threat level.
I'm really glad this lived up to the first book, which I really enjoyed – you can't help but compare, but this is definitely well worth a read and is a worthy follow up to The Spider in the Corner of the Room(Subject 375).
* Many thanks to Harlequin publishers for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
June 27, 2016
I really did like this book, so why the 3 stars? Well, simple really. There were elements of the plot that just stretched believability to the limits.
The second book in the Project Files series is the first that I have read, however, this did not hinder my understanding. I jumped straight into the story so it is possible to be read as a stand along novel. The action begins straight away with Maria (the main character) waking up in a dark room and being aware that she is trapped but not sure where she is or how she has ended up in this position. It is an interesting and exciting beginning that had me staying up into the small hours just to find out what happend next. What follows is a real roller coaster ride as we flip flop back and forth between Maria's present situation and the events that led to her being where she is.
The timeline of events is a little sketchy and some of the things that happen I found unlikely to have happened in the time scale allowed. Also, the ability of Maria to be able to fight and overcome much bigger and stronger people who are trying to capture her even after she has been shot in the leg, beaten half senseless and given a range of drugs designed to make her lose her memory, I found to be a little too far fetched. Additionally, the ability of many of her pursuers to be able to be unconscious on the floor one second and then attacking her the next - quite literally - I found to be nonsensical. Another part that I found unbelievable was in one section where Maria is tied up yet manages to free herself with a fork that gets dropped near her. No details are given, just that she picks the fork up with her foot and manages to slip it into her hand and then use it to free the ropes around her arm - I literally rolled my eyes at that section.
Besides the above criticisms, it is a very good read which has a huge number of twists and turns. Just when you feel that you have got a handle on what has happened something happens again to twist the plot in another direction. Maria's Aspergers also adds to the drama as she finds people and places difficult to cope with and we very much see the world through her eyes. Some scenes and events are described in such wonderful detail I almost felt like I was there with her.
Some editing issues on the digital copy marred my reading enjoyment - it really is not that difficult to remember to put spaces between the words and that sort of sloppy editing should not be allowed to happen.
I recieved a copy of this book thanks to www.netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
The second book in the Project Files series is the first that I have read, however, this did not hinder my understanding. I jumped straight into the story so it is possible to be read as a stand along novel. The action begins straight away with Maria (the main character) waking up in a dark room and being aware that she is trapped but not sure where she is or how she has ended up in this position. It is an interesting and exciting beginning that had me staying up into the small hours just to find out what happend next. What follows is a real roller coaster ride as we flip flop back and forth between Maria's present situation and the events that led to her being where she is.
The timeline of events is a little sketchy and some of the things that happen I found unlikely to have happened in the time scale allowed. Also, the ability of Maria to be able to fight and overcome much bigger and stronger people who are trying to capture her even after she has been shot in the leg, beaten half senseless and given a range of drugs designed to make her lose her memory, I found to be a little too far fetched. Additionally, the ability of many of her pursuers to be able to be unconscious on the floor one second and then attacking her the next - quite literally - I found to be nonsensical. Another part that I found unbelievable was in one section where Maria is tied up yet manages to free herself with a fork that gets dropped near her. No details are given, just that she picks the fork up with her foot and manages to slip it into her hand and then use it to free the ropes around her arm - I literally rolled my eyes at that section.
Besides the above criticisms, it is a very good read which has a huge number of twists and turns. Just when you feel that you have got a handle on what has happened something happens again to twist the plot in another direction. Maria's Aspergers also adds to the drama as she finds people and places difficult to cope with and we very much see the world through her eyes. Some scenes and events are described in such wonderful detail I almost felt like I was there with her.
Some editing issues on the digital copy marred my reading enjoyment - it really is not that difficult to remember to put spaces between the words and that sort of sloppy editing should not be allowed to happen.
I recieved a copy of this book thanks to www.netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
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