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Pages in the Wind
Pages in the Wind has been hailed as a must-read by psychiatrists and educators, this fictional thriller bridges the gap between psychology and fiction in a compelling novel.
After the murder of her father, Emily Quinn finds herself detained at the San Francisco County Jail charged with first-degree murder for a crime she cannot remember. Her mother, a beautiful socialite, shuns her daughter but hires a famous psychiatrist to protect the family name. Doctor Daniel Liebermann quickly becomes sympathetic toward Emily and is determined to find the reason for her need to embody the characters in her sketchbook. Doctor and patient develop an abiding partnership weaving through family secrets, violence, and abuse leading to a shocking
After the murder of her father, Emily Quinn finds herself detained at the San Francisco County Jail charged with first-degree murder for a crime she cannot remember. Her mother, a beautiful socialite, shuns her daughter but hires a famous psychiatrist to protect the family name. Doctor Daniel Liebermann quickly becomes sympathetic toward Emily and is determined to find the reason for her need to embody the characters in her sketchbook. Doctor and patient develop an abiding partnership weaving through family secrets, violence, and abuse leading to a shocking
380 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2015
13 people are currently reading
3152 people want to read
About the author
Sally Saylor De Smet
2 books146 followersMy background includes editing, writing for dignitaries, and owner of an online antique doll shop which I still operate. I wrote PAGES IN THE WIND, while working full time. I felt driven to write this book to explore how trauma and abuse affects self esteem. Although a work of fiction, I hope that my reader finds a thought, a spoken word, an incident that touches a chord and opens an inner dialogue.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 13, 2018
Author: Sally Saylor De Smet
Published: 02/09/2015
I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.
I thought that this was an incredible book to read, it immediately grabbed hold of my attention and just refused to let it go! This is a truly great psychological fiction novel that will get your brain and imagination running, it is sure to expand your imagination and make your literature love grow even more! This is the first book I have read by this author but I will definitely be reading more from this author!
After her father's murder, Emily Quinns finds herself in a jail cell being charged with first degree murder, which she has absolutely no recollection about! She is shunned by her mother and hires a psychiatrist in order to protect the family name, the psychiatrist soon becomes sympathetic towards Emily and he is determined to find out the reason behind why she tries to embody the characters she has created in her scrapbook. Through trying to find out the reasons behind the way Emily behaves, they uncover lots of family secrets that have been hidden well until now that is, secrets of violence and abuse!
This book is brilliantly written, and the character of Emily Quinn really causes the reader to have lots of sympathy towards her, you really feel for her and want the doctor to find out what is causing her to want to embody the characters that she has created herself in her scrapbook. When you are reading this book it is more like it is a real life story rather then a fiction book, I would definitely recommend this book to readers over 13 years old, and to anybody who enjoys reading books that really get into your mind and brain.
Published: 02/09/2015
I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.
I thought that this was an incredible book to read, it immediately grabbed hold of my attention and just refused to let it go! This is a truly great psychological fiction novel that will get your brain and imagination running, it is sure to expand your imagination and make your literature love grow even more! This is the first book I have read by this author but I will definitely be reading more from this author!
After her father's murder, Emily Quinns finds herself in a jail cell being charged with first degree murder, which she has absolutely no recollection about! She is shunned by her mother and hires a psychiatrist in order to protect the family name, the psychiatrist soon becomes sympathetic towards Emily and he is determined to find out the reason behind why she tries to embody the characters she has created in her scrapbook. Through trying to find out the reasons behind the way Emily behaves, they uncover lots of family secrets that have been hidden well until now that is, secrets of violence and abuse!
This book is brilliantly written, and the character of Emily Quinn really causes the reader to have lots of sympathy towards her, you really feel for her and want the doctor to find out what is causing her to want to embody the characters that she has created herself in her scrapbook. When you are reading this book it is more like it is a real life story rather then a fiction book, I would definitely recommend this book to readers over 13 years old, and to anybody who enjoys reading books that really get into your mind and brain.
November 16, 2015
Title: PAGES IN THE WIND
Author: SALLY SAYLOR DE SMET
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Length: 386 pages
Release Date: September 2015
Publisher: Greenly Publishing
ISBN: 9780996527606
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ I received a free paperback copy of this book from the author through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
I have read many reviews where readers claim that a book grabbed their attention from the very first page, but I usually find that statement to be an exaggeration of the truth. While there are lots of books that draw the reader into the story within the first chapter, it is exceedingly rare to find a book that truly grabs a reader's undivided attention right from page one. Even rarer are books that are able to sustain a reader's interest with the same level of intensity throughout the entire novel. PAGES IN THE WIND is one of these rare gems and is truly deserving of the description of "Thriller".
The year is 1966. The setting is San Francisco, California. Emily Quinn has been accused of murdering her father. She is now in the San Francisco County Jail awaiting trial. However, she can't seem to remember anything. She knows she must be a horrible person if she was able and willing to stab her own father to death, but she has no idea why she would have done a such a thing. Emily has forgotten her entire past and is unable to access any of her life's memories.
What happened the night of the murder? Did she really kill her own father? And, if so, why? What would drive a young woman who was engaged and had her whole life in front of her commit such a heinous act? And why can't she remember anything?
Frustrated, confused and terrified, Emily agrees to work with the Prison Psychiatrist to undergo hypnosis to regain her lost memories.
It is through the sessions with the psychiatrist that the readers are pulled into Emily's life.
He begins by regressing Emily to the age of eight in 1956 and in each later session he slowly moves her closer to her present.
Amnesia is generally an overused condition when it comes to fiction. Most books then focus on the victim relearning all the things they have forgotten such as what a computer is, how to use a cellphone, etc. Thank goodness that is NOT the way PAGES IN THE WIND is written. Instead, the reader is drawn inside Emily's memories as she rediscovers her past. And what a fascinating past it is.
The brain is an amazing and fascinating organ. It is intriguing to me that who we are as individuals is actually all contained within a small amount of biological tissue located inside our skulls.
There are a myriad number of mental health issues that can effect a person's behaviour and a minor flaw in the brain tissue or even a psychological trauma can have a profound affect on the rest of a person's life.
If the idea of mental illness, psychological trauma, physical trauma and how one's past can affect their present are intriguing subjects to you, then you need to read this book.
As Emily learns more about her past, readers begin to understand that her family and her upbringing have been miles away from normal. Add in the mysterious childhood death of her twin sister and the fact that no one ever mentions it as well as the realization that her mother was extremely emotionally distant and it is little wonder that Emily's brain decided to shield her from her own past.
If I was not aware that this is her debut novel, I would never have believed that Sally Saylor is not an author with experience writing multiple books. The fact that this is her first novel leads me to believe that she has a long and lucrative writing career ahead of her.
There are numerous thrilling and unexpected twists in this book. I was captivated right from the first page. This book is not one that will fade from my memory for a very long time. It's plot and it's wonderfully vivid and believable characters will stay with me for a very long time.
If this book gets enough exposure I have very little doubt that it will be a Bestseller.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I believe it should be added to everyone's MUST READ list. I recommend that you buy this book a.s.a.p.
To read more of my reviews visit http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Author: SALLY SAYLOR DE SMET
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Length: 386 pages
Release Date: September 2015
Publisher: Greenly Publishing
ISBN: 9780996527606
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ I received a free paperback copy of this book from the author through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
I have read many reviews where readers claim that a book grabbed their attention from the very first page, but I usually find that statement to be an exaggeration of the truth. While there are lots of books that draw the reader into the story within the first chapter, it is exceedingly rare to find a book that truly grabs a reader's undivided attention right from page one. Even rarer are books that are able to sustain a reader's interest with the same level of intensity throughout the entire novel. PAGES IN THE WIND is one of these rare gems and is truly deserving of the description of "Thriller".
The year is 1966. The setting is San Francisco, California. Emily Quinn has been accused of murdering her father. She is now in the San Francisco County Jail awaiting trial. However, she can't seem to remember anything. She knows she must be a horrible person if she was able and willing to stab her own father to death, but she has no idea why she would have done a such a thing. Emily has forgotten her entire past and is unable to access any of her life's memories.
What happened the night of the murder? Did she really kill her own father? And, if so, why? What would drive a young woman who was engaged and had her whole life in front of her commit such a heinous act? And why can't she remember anything?
Frustrated, confused and terrified, Emily agrees to work with the Prison Psychiatrist to undergo hypnosis to regain her lost memories.
It is through the sessions with the psychiatrist that the readers are pulled into Emily's life.
He begins by regressing Emily to the age of eight in 1956 and in each later session he slowly moves her closer to her present.
Amnesia is generally an overused condition when it comes to fiction. Most books then focus on the victim relearning all the things they have forgotten such as what a computer is, how to use a cellphone, etc. Thank goodness that is NOT the way PAGES IN THE WIND is written. Instead, the reader is drawn inside Emily's memories as she rediscovers her past. And what a fascinating past it is.
The brain is an amazing and fascinating organ. It is intriguing to me that who we are as individuals is actually all contained within a small amount of biological tissue located inside our skulls.
There are a myriad number of mental health issues that can effect a person's behaviour and a minor flaw in the brain tissue or even a psychological trauma can have a profound affect on the rest of a person's life.
If the idea of mental illness, psychological trauma, physical trauma and how one's past can affect their present are intriguing subjects to you, then you need to read this book.
As Emily learns more about her past, readers begin to understand that her family and her upbringing have been miles away from normal. Add in the mysterious childhood death of her twin sister and the fact that no one ever mentions it as well as the realization that her mother was extremely emotionally distant and it is little wonder that Emily's brain decided to shield her from her own past.
If I was not aware that this is her debut novel, I would never have believed that Sally Saylor is not an author with experience writing multiple books. The fact that this is her first novel leads me to believe that she has a long and lucrative writing career ahead of her.
There are numerous thrilling and unexpected twists in this book. I was captivated right from the first page. This book is not one that will fade from my memory for a very long time. It's plot and it's wonderfully vivid and believable characters will stay with me for a very long time.
If this book gets enough exposure I have very little doubt that it will be a Bestseller.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I believe it should be added to everyone's MUST READ list. I recommend that you buy this book a.s.a.p.
To read more of my reviews visit http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
January 2, 2026
4.5/5 Stars
Gripping from page one. The reader is instantly pulled into this whirlwind of memories and events as 'you' piece together her life along with her, one gripping event at a time.
This book is the perfect character driven mix of drama, mystery, and tragedy that was a wonderful break from my usual read.
Gripping from page one. The reader is instantly pulled into this whirlwind of memories and events as 'you' piece together her life along with her, one gripping event at a time.
This book is the perfect character driven mix of drama, mystery, and tragedy that was a wonderful break from my usual read.
November 27, 2015
Emily Quinn is a young adult serving time for a crime she does not remember.Knowing it was her own father that met Death doesn’t help her reconstruct the puzzle that her life was though. Pages in the Wind is a riveting psychological thriller of a girl plunged in secrets since the first tragic incident in her childhood. While facing the inevitable life-sentence in a prison cell, she’s appointed to a psychiatrist with whom she’s to carry out a 10 session hypnosis therapy. It is through his help that she is soon to uncover the deep dark secrets that has been haunting her. Sally Saylor De Smet puts forth a captivating tale that is bound to get you emotionally engaged throughout the story.
There’s no doubt that this novel portrayed Emily and her child development with crystal clear quality. The story is built like a timeline that needs to be filled up. The present shows an empty-shelled girl building a relationship with her psychiatrist in order to discover the events that led up to the murder. The past consists of all the adventures in the form of memories that the psychiatrist helps Emily remember. The future is a promise that they both seek to establish as a ray of light, hope and change. The structure is very simple and easy to follow, which instigates reader to progress restlessly. However, I did feel like the relationship between doctor and patient wasn’t explored enough. To top it off, I would’ve liked to see the whole hypnosis treatment a little more flawed since it was almost depicted as a near perfect method to recall memories. This might just be my more skeptical side of hypnosis and the power of suggestibility, but I’ll give this a little pass since it was still a work of fiction that served a purpose in story-telling.
Character development was without a doubt, on point. Emily Quinn went from an innocent joyful girl to a stress-filled adolescent that needed to adapt to her environment. Watching her grow and live through the things she faces is bound to tie your stomach and flip your heart upside-down. Her childhood was far from being perfect, although she allowed herself to show such a portrait to others. All in the name of normality. An abusive father and an emotionally distant mother aren’t a great recipe for a great childhood after all. It is through care and love from her brother and friends that she manages to see light worth holding on to. Might I add that her parents are characters that truly dig into the depths of your soul until you crave a need to pounce at them and show them what care, kindness and humanity is all about. Or, maybe just give them a piece of their own medicine.
Very well-written and filled with surprises, Pages in the Wind portrays Emily Quinn with great details. Her moments of joy and especially those of darkness are described meticulously and bolster this psychological thriller. It goes without saying that a child’s life is in the hands of every person he or she encounters. And parents? Even more indispensable than air to us. This novel delivers a stunning story of a child who’s growth was hindered by parents blinded by tragedy. The plot also serves a bunch of plot twists to keep you intrigued, especially the last one. Although, I did see a great deal of the final events coming, I still thought the book ended with the right message. It would’ve been nice to have secondary characters with more depth, notably Reid (Emily’s best friend) who seems to have been a little too blind to reality.
P.S. You can find a quote and picture-filled review up on our blog.
Yours truly,
Lashaan
Lashaan & Trang | Bloggers and Book Reviewers
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
There’s no doubt that this novel portrayed Emily and her child development with crystal clear quality. The story is built like a timeline that needs to be filled up. The present shows an empty-shelled girl building a relationship with her psychiatrist in order to discover the events that led up to the murder. The past consists of all the adventures in the form of memories that the psychiatrist helps Emily remember. The future is a promise that they both seek to establish as a ray of light, hope and change. The structure is very simple and easy to follow, which instigates reader to progress restlessly. However, I did feel like the relationship between doctor and patient wasn’t explored enough. To top it off, I would’ve liked to see the whole hypnosis treatment a little more flawed since it was almost depicted as a near perfect method to recall memories. This might just be my more skeptical side of hypnosis and the power of suggestibility, but I’ll give this a little pass since it was still a work of fiction that served a purpose in story-telling.
Character development was without a doubt, on point. Emily Quinn went from an innocent joyful girl to a stress-filled adolescent that needed to adapt to her environment. Watching her grow and live through the things she faces is bound to tie your stomach and flip your heart upside-down. Her childhood was far from being perfect, although she allowed herself to show such a portrait to others. All in the name of normality. An abusive father and an emotionally distant mother aren’t a great recipe for a great childhood after all. It is through care and love from her brother and friends that she manages to see light worth holding on to. Might I add that her parents are characters that truly dig into the depths of your soul until you crave a need to pounce at them and show them what care, kindness and humanity is all about. Or, maybe just give them a piece of their own medicine.
Very well-written and filled with surprises, Pages in the Wind portrays Emily Quinn with great details. Her moments of joy and especially those of darkness are described meticulously and bolster this psychological thriller. It goes without saying that a child’s life is in the hands of every person he or she encounters. And parents? Even more indispensable than air to us. This novel delivers a stunning story of a child who’s growth was hindered by parents blinded by tragedy. The plot also serves a bunch of plot twists to keep you intrigued, especially the last one. Although, I did see a great deal of the final events coming, I still thought the book ended with the right message. It would’ve been nice to have secondary characters with more depth, notably Reid (Emily’s best friend) who seems to have been a little too blind to reality.
P.S. You can find a quote and picture-filled review up on our blog.
Yours truly,
Lashaan
Lashaan & Trang | Bloggers and Book Reviewers
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
September 5, 2015
Fantastic book, many twist and turns it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. #Pagesinthewind is a must read follow Emily as she discovers love, hate and understanding. #goodreads for this Fall curl up with #Pagesinthewind you won't put it down. Thank you Sally for writing this book, I am looking forward to a Trilogy on this one!
November 27, 2015
I got into this book right away. I love the way the writer organized the book so it's clear and there was no chance to get lost in the story which is unusual for a mystery. Emily had me captured right away and I loved being able to know at what she was thinking as it was written in first person. She was a complex character but I never knew what she was going to do. The family dynamics were incredible and I especially loved the relationship with her brother. It was not over-the-top but very emotionally gripping nevertheless. The mother spooked me out and without giving up the story, I can see why this book was endorsed by a real psychologist because it seemed very true and well researched. The ending was also fantastic. I loved it start to finish!
February 9, 2017
OMG!! Where to start......first of all I think I lost 5 pounds reading this because it was so intense, very hard to put down, I forgot to eat! Not my usual genre..I'm more horror/mystery, but this DID hit on those anyway. There was a lot of relatability to me so it made it an extra dark read. The brokenness of the main character brought immense sadness, yet also it made me root for her as well. The whole book played out like a drama in my head, and I couldn't get enough of it. The way it was written was very easy to understand backwards time frames. If there were more stars, I'd give it a 10!! It would be awesome if there was a PART 2 kind of follow up..there is more than enough material to play it forward. How I wish this was a movie..it should be!!
December 8, 2015
I downloaded this book from a sale on e books and am glad I did. It was fantastic. Had all the elements I love in a thriller. The character of Emily is not far from my age. Some of the secondary characters were extremely well developed too; all the characters were. I loved the progression from being young and through high school. I identified alot with the high school fat kid as I've been there. Not stereotypical, in fact just the opposite. The book made me cry and I absolutely loved the ending which I won't share as a spoiler! Great read.
February 25, 2016
Wow -- "Pages in the Wind" is one of the most unusual novels I've read in quite some time. Hard to really describe the thrall in which I was kept during my marathon schedule of reading this psychological adventure without including "spoilers". Many of us can in some way relate to childhood trauma akin to that experienced by Sally Saylor De Smet's heroine, but I reckon most of us haven't had the treat of undergoing her therapy: that written wonderfully and warmly, using the fictional Dr. Lieberman! I really recommend this unusual book. Oh, the storyline involves twin daughters, Emily and Penelope, as well as their brother, Robert and their parents, a career military officer and his beautiful wife. I will say that De Smet's characters are not what they seem to neighbors -- and to the readers of "Pages in the Wind" I encourage y'all to empathize with the suffering that this family, this 19-year-old heroine, who is accused of having slashed her father to death, has experienced. De Smet has created a story well worth reading!
May 22, 2017
As an avid reader I am always looking for books that capture my attention. This one is one of the rare ones that I can honestly say captured me with the first page and kept me enthralled the whole way through. I didn't want to put this one down, I was quite annoyed when I had to for the reality of work LOL.
This book is a psychological thriller and is one of the best I have read! I can't wait to see more from this author. This book involves multiple characters intertwined together through 19 years..I won't give away any spoilers, I'll just say the twists and turns are throughout the entire book. What happens behind closed doors in the lives of people? Why are some people damaged while others thrive? What secrets do you hide deep inside and suppress to protect yourself and others? This story has so many areas it covers and makes you think deep if you are truly paying attention. I hope that there is a second book to this story, to see what happens when you face the truth. I was thrilled to win this book in a goodreads giveaway thank you!!!
This book is a psychological thriller and is one of the best I have read! I can't wait to see more from this author. This book involves multiple characters intertwined together through 19 years..I won't give away any spoilers, I'll just say the twists and turns are throughout the entire book. What happens behind closed doors in the lives of people? Why are some people damaged while others thrive? What secrets do you hide deep inside and suppress to protect yourself and others? This story has so many areas it covers and makes you think deep if you are truly paying attention. I hope that there is a second book to this story, to see what happens when you face the truth. I was thrilled to win this book in a goodreads giveaway thank you!!!
January 5, 2017
I won a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
Wow. This book has absolutely left me speechless. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. Reading a synopsis of this book couldn't even prepare me for the emotional roller coaster the author would take me on. As soon as I opened the first page, I was immediately immersed and engrossed with this incredible story. This story follows a little girl named Emily and her life from a little girl through her fathers murder. The story paints a beautiful, but heart breaking story that elicits so many emotions from the reader. I don't remember the last time I cried over a book, but this book definitely got some tears from me. The authors amazing ability to connect Emily with the reader makes me feel like I've known her my whole life, it's something that I haven't experienced in a long time. I can't wait to see what beautiful masterpiece this author will bring forth next.
Wow. This book has absolutely left me speechless. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. Reading a synopsis of this book couldn't even prepare me for the emotional roller coaster the author would take me on. As soon as I opened the first page, I was immediately immersed and engrossed with this incredible story. This story follows a little girl named Emily and her life from a little girl through her fathers murder. The story paints a beautiful, but heart breaking story that elicits so many emotions from the reader. I don't remember the last time I cried over a book, but this book definitely got some tears from me. The authors amazing ability to connect Emily with the reader makes me feel like I've known her my whole life, it's something that I haven't experienced in a long time. I can't wait to see what beautiful masterpiece this author will bring forth next.
April 22, 2016
Pages in the Wind is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you turning pages until it's over and even then, you won't be able to stop thinking about it. It tells the story of Emily, in 1966, who is in prison for her father's murder but remembers nothing about her life. She is taken through regression hypnosis to recover the truth about that night and her entire life. This novel reads more literary than most contemporary novels which is wonderful. The story is emotional, turbulent and will have you scared, sad, and all sorts of other states of emotion. Suspenseful with lots of twists, turns and surprises, this is not a "feel-good" book but one of family secrets, resilience and survival. I loved it!
September 3, 2015
Loved this book! From the beginning of the book to the end, it kept my full attention and found it to have a plot that kept me in suspense the whole time. The book gains as it goes, the suspense built higher at every chapter. It definitely did not disappoint. Without giving any spoilers, I've never read a book that shocked me as much as this one. Usually I can guess what's coming, but not with this book - the author knows how to tell a story. The relationships were very interesting and believable without being predictable. I just finished the book and am bummed it's over. It's the kind of book you can read twice as the psychology is so interesting and layered. I highly recommend this read.
January 1, 2017
Moved me to tears
Picked this as my monthly kindle first read last month. Reading this story was like making a winter stew then sitting down to eat it savoring every mouthful to finally lick your fingers in satisfaction.
Ms. De Smet starts out simmering her ingredients bringing them to a bubbling boil -- the tears you'll shed. This heartbreaking story will make you want to reach into the main character "Emily's" world and protect her from the horrors of her life. Even though there is an underlying unconditional love two people in her life have for her, they are unable to help.
I gave this tale five stars because it appealed to me emotionally.
Picked this as my monthly kindle first read last month. Reading this story was like making a winter stew then sitting down to eat it savoring every mouthful to finally lick your fingers in satisfaction.
Ms. De Smet starts out simmering her ingredients bringing them to a bubbling boil -- the tears you'll shed. This heartbreaking story will make you want to reach into the main character "Emily's" world and protect her from the horrors of her life. Even though there is an underlying unconditional love two people in her life have for her, they are unable to help.
I gave this tale five stars because it appealed to me emotionally.
February 10, 2016
Breathtaking and Heartbreaking
In the beginning I connected with the Emily and the abuse, but unlike her I fought back. Then remembering this took place in the 60's I realized I didn't really fight back. Now as an adult I found myself feeling her every emotion both mentally and emotionally. This was such a hard book to put down it only took 2 days to read. Towards then end before it was revealed I had figured out the major secret, but that didn't stop me from being held captive till the very end. Truly one of the best books I have ever read.
In the beginning I connected with the Emily and the abuse, but unlike her I fought back. Then remembering this took place in the 60's I realized I didn't really fight back. Now as an adult I found myself feeling her every emotion both mentally and emotionally. This was such a hard book to put down it only took 2 days to read. Towards then end before it was revealed I had figured out the major secret, but that didn't stop me from being held captive till the very end. Truly one of the best books I have ever read.
September 3, 2015
I purchased this book from the author's website and couldn't put it down. The characters are very interesting and multi-dimensional. I got very caught up in the struggles of the main character and her relationship with the psychiatrist. This book is extremely well written and really makes you think. The twists and turns kept me riveted. I never read a book that was so unpredictable! I highly recommend Pages in the Wind.
November 27, 2016
This is not my normal genre and at first was afraid it would be too violent. However, after the first 30 pages, I could not put this book down until I finished it. The skilled grandfatherly psychiatrist created an environment of safety that enabled Emily to recall past events. The author shows how the resilience of the human spirit can surmount the darkest of experiences. I loved this book and look forward to reading the next book.
December 10, 2015
Big fan of psychology dramas and this book did not disappoint. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and the characters were real and spooky at the same time. Great ending. It's nice to see female heroines and Emily is someone you'd want to get through her horrid childhood. Really enjoyed the relationships and how they affected Emily.
May 24, 2016
I couldn't put this one down. Author had a clear writing style with beautiful prose. The plot kept me guessing and wondering. This was a book that I thought about after I finished. Great characters. Lots of twists and turns, none of which I guessed. Excellent read.
August 30, 2016
Won at a giveaway, and glad I did. I couldn't put it down, I found it to be super suspenseful with a shocking ending.
September 20, 2016
Touched me, heartbreaking and exciting.
September 25, 2016
Gritty story with a lot of bite. Interesting well formed characters. A book that stays with you and makes you think.
October 7, 2016
Won through a giveaway. Lots of twists, engrossed from the get-go. Shocking ending.
November 3, 2016
Super twists, well written, loved the characters, touching.
August 1, 2020
This book was sooooo slow. I gave up after I stop caring about the characters
June 11, 2018
PG-17
Psychological twister, far deeper than I expected.
A nice, easy read is sometimes refreshing, relaxing, and enjoyable. So is a book deep enough you could drown in it. This book, is the latter, and definitely swallowed me from the first page. As Emily is taken through regression hypnosis to try and uncover why she's in prison for her father's murder, and why she can't remember anything about her life, we see what a monster he was, and the tragedies she'd lived through in her short nineteen years.
The whole story had a heavy weight of emotion and turmoil, you could practically feel it in the pages. The raw angst dripped with every word, and nearly had a life of it's own. The details were amazing, and the attention to detail was wonderful. I loved the moral, that the truth will set you free and lies will kill you, although Emily finding her truth through such a terrible set of circumstances was heartbreaking. This story isn't one you can read without being prepared with some tissues and time, and isn't for the faint of heart.
If you enjoy books that rip through you and leave you with emotions you don't often feel, I'd definitely recommend this book. I hadn't been expecting such an emotional story, but I enjoyed it quite a bit, and thank the author for the chance to read Emily's story.
*I was given a complimentary eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.
~Rose
@ Desert Rose Reviews
July 19, 2017
This book was entered in The 2016 Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Pages in the Wind
Author: Sally De Smet
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 27
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 27 readers:
26 would read another book by this author.
25 thought the cover was good or excellent.
27 thought the author worked well with speech to develop the characters.
27 thought the ending was powerful and well-plotted.
27 thought the author knew her characters very well.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is a pretty dark thriller. But I like ‘dark’ so I enjoyed this very much. Packed full of twists with a strong psychological element. Ending was also gripping.’ Male reader, aged 71
‘This writer is very, very good. She is able to bring to life her characters, and provide the reader with a tense plot at the same time. The best part was the ending which was very fitting after what the hero is put through. The best word to describe this novel is ‘tense’.’ Female reader, aged 52
‘A novel of abuse and terrible loss, this is not an easy read. But it is captivating; to be honest, I didn’t put it down for two days. The final chapters blew me away. Excellent.’ Female reader, aged 68
‘This book is much better written than your standard thriller. For me, it was up there with Silence of the Lambs for shock value. The writing really is exceptional; I’m amazed this is her first novel. The big publishers should be taking a look at her work.’ Male reader, aged 28
‘I just wanted to save this girl. A story of this nature is so powerfully written, it pulls the reader in. Upsetting them, yes, but also giving them a fantastically entertaining read.’ Female reader, aged 44
‘Dark, powerfully plotted and totally unputdownable. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Pages in the Wind
Author: Sally De Smet
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 27
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 27 readers:
26 would read another book by this author.
25 thought the cover was good or excellent.
27 thought the author worked well with speech to develop the characters.
27 thought the ending was powerful and well-plotted.
27 thought the author knew her characters very well.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is a pretty dark thriller. But I like ‘dark’ so I enjoyed this very much. Packed full of twists with a strong psychological element. Ending was also gripping.’ Male reader, aged 71
‘This writer is very, very good. She is able to bring to life her characters, and provide the reader with a tense plot at the same time. The best part was the ending which was very fitting after what the hero is put through. The best word to describe this novel is ‘tense’.’ Female reader, aged 52
‘A novel of abuse and terrible loss, this is not an easy read. But it is captivating; to be honest, I didn’t put it down for two days. The final chapters blew me away. Excellent.’ Female reader, aged 68
‘This book is much better written than your standard thriller. For me, it was up there with Silence of the Lambs for shock value. The writing really is exceptional; I’m amazed this is her first novel. The big publishers should be taking a look at her work.’ Male reader, aged 28
‘I just wanted to save this girl. A story of this nature is so powerfully written, it pulls the reader in. Upsetting them, yes, but also giving them a fantastically entertaining read.’ Female reader, aged 44
‘Dark, powerfully plotted and totally unputdownable. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
August 22, 2017
One of the most interesting books I've read in a long while. The book had me from the first page, the author writes with stark beauty and imagery. Never a single drag throughout the book, it has well developed characters who you either love or hate, and keeps you hooked. Gifted writing. As a teacher, I appreciated the careful research on child abuse and psychological trauma. It's rare to see an endorsement by the psychiatric community and this book deserved it. An important book with many twists.
December 11, 2015
A child's story
The story is about a child going through regression hypnosis from ages 5 to 19. My initial interest based on the few opening paragraphs quickly led to disappointment in its childish writing style and overly repetitive scenes. This story received 2 stars & not 1 as there were some tear jerking moments. The last few pages of the book attempt to pull all story lines together and what's left is an absurd finish. Oh well.
The story is about a child going through regression hypnosis from ages 5 to 19. My initial interest based on the few opening paragraphs quickly led to disappointment in its childish writing style and overly repetitive scenes. This story received 2 stars & not 1 as there were some tear jerking moments. The last few pages of the book attempt to pull all story lines together and what's left is an absurd finish. Oh well.
July 8, 2016
I received this book by entering a goodreads drawing.
Even though the subject matter of this book, emotional and physical abuse, was tragic, the book wasn't disturbing. I found it quite readable and was pleasantly surprised with the twists in the story. This is a well written book so I would not hesitate in reading others by this author.
Even though the subject matter of this book, emotional and physical abuse, was tragic, the book wasn't disturbing. I found it quite readable and was pleasantly surprised with the twists in the story. This is a well written book so I would not hesitate in reading others by this author.
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