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Christchurch Crime #3
Breathe and Release
If she can't remember, the woman will die.When Elisabet wakes in a hospital, the victim of a single-vehicle accident, her mind is empty of all memories and images except for one—the tangled dream of a woman starving to death.
As Elisabet's husband morphs from a loving caregiver into an abusive opponent and her stepdaughter refuses all attempts to connect, Elisabet learns to navigate her malevolent new world on her own. With no other point of reference, she attempts to piece together evidence to confirm whether the woman in her dreams is real or a tortured figment of her imagination.
And when danger encroaches from all sides, Elisabet must draw on the last strands of her strained courage to survive the depraved truth hidden deep within her erased brain.
As Elisabet's husband morphs from a loving caregiver into an abusive opponent and her stepdaughter refuses all attempts to connect, Elisabet learns to navigate her malevolent new world on her own. With no other point of reference, she attempts to piece together evidence to confirm whether the woman in her dreams is real or a tortured figment of her imagination.
And when danger encroaches from all sides, Elisabet must draw on the last strands of her strained courage to survive the depraved truth hidden deep within her erased brain.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2015
81 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Hayton
64 books497 followersI'm a middle-aged woman who works in insurance, doesn't have children or pets, can't drive, has lived in Christchurch my entire life, and currently reside a two-minute walk from where I was born.
For some reason, I've developed a rich fantasy life.
I like to write mysteries, some set in my hometown of Christchurch, others ninety minutes up the road in the beautiful township of Hanmer Springs, or in the quasi-fictional town of Pinetar. These mysteries range from hard-hitting psychological thrillers, through to police procedurals, or the lighter adventure of a cozy mystery.
For some reason, I've developed a rich fantasy life.
I like to write mysteries, some set in my hometown of Christchurch, others ninety minutes up the road in the beautiful township of Hanmer Springs, or in the quasi-fictional town of Pinetar. These mysteries range from hard-hitting psychological thrillers, through to police procedurals, or the lighter adventure of a cozy mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 26, 2017
The author of Breathe and Release is described as a shy reticent genius. They may well be right.
I have to admit to not liking this book much when I began it. It is not the easiest read. It is written in a detached terse manner with a certain amount of acerbic wit. But neither could I put it down. It is compelling. Almost addictive. I liken reading it to being a passenger in a car speeding down a winding road in the middle of the night with no headlights.
Scary.
Exhilarating.
There are four main characters: Elisabet, who wakes in hospital following a car accident with absolutely no memory;
Graeme, Elizabet's husband, Kristen's father. The instigator? Or a victim?
Kristen, Graeme's 17 year old daughter, Elisabet's step-daughter with whom she has a hate-love-hate relationship ;
And Lillian, imprisoned in a cell in a basement, and about whom Elisabet has recurring dreams.
I have never read anything quite like this book. I am still not sure I can say I enjoyed it. But it was one hell of a ride.
Thank you to author Katherine Hayton via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Breathe and Release for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I have to admit to not liking this book much when I began it. It is not the easiest read. It is written in a detached terse manner with a certain amount of acerbic wit. But neither could I put it down. It is compelling. Almost addictive. I liken reading it to being a passenger in a car speeding down a winding road in the middle of the night with no headlights.
Scary.
Exhilarating.
There are four main characters: Elisabet, who wakes in hospital following a car accident with absolutely no memory;
Graeme, Elizabet's husband, Kristen's father. The instigator? Or a victim?
Kristen, Graeme's 17 year old daughter, Elisabet's step-daughter with whom she has a hate-love-hate relationship ;
And Lillian, imprisoned in a cell in a basement, and about whom Elisabet has recurring dreams.
I have never read anything quite like this book. I am still not sure I can say I enjoyed it. But it was one hell of a ride.
Thank you to author Katherine Hayton via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Breathe and Release for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
May 8, 2016
3.5 stars
I wish to thank Net Galley, Book Buzz and Katherine Hayton for a review copy of Breathe and Release in exchange for an unbiased review.
Breathe and Release is an intriguing novel set in New Zealand and written by indie novelist Katherine Hayton. The plot revolves around Elisabet, a woman who awakes in a hospital minus her memory; and Lillian, a woman locked in a dank basement cell and left to die. Elisabet is disappointed by the lack of love coming from the man professing to be her husband and the teenage girl Kristin she is told is her adoptive daughter; and she struggles with trying to reestablish the relationships. Lillian thinks she probably deserves to be where she is, though her strong survivalist traits are keeping her alive…so far. How did they end up in their respective situations? Are their stories connected? Is there hope for either one of them?
The story is told from multiple points of view, which I liked. The characters, though not always likeable, are compelling and held my interest. I really didn’t know where this story was going, but that is what kept me reading. There are little shockers here and there that kept the suspense going and a hell of a biggie towards the end, which is a real grabber.
My only complaint is that I wished for deeper backstories on Elisabet, Lillian and Kristin in order to better understand their thoughts and actions in the story. I knocked off a star because of this. There were also a few spots in the narrative where I got tripped up with whom a pronoun was referring to.
Overall, I enjoyed Breathe and Release and recommend it to those looking for a fast read with a captivating plotline. I would definitely read more of Ms. Hayton’s works.
I wish to thank Net Galley, Book Buzz and Katherine Hayton for a review copy of Breathe and Release in exchange for an unbiased review.
Breathe and Release is an intriguing novel set in New Zealand and written by indie novelist Katherine Hayton. The plot revolves around Elisabet, a woman who awakes in a hospital minus her memory; and Lillian, a woman locked in a dank basement cell and left to die. Elisabet is disappointed by the lack of love coming from the man professing to be her husband and the teenage girl Kristin she is told is her adoptive daughter; and she struggles with trying to reestablish the relationships. Lillian thinks she probably deserves to be where she is, though her strong survivalist traits are keeping her alive…so far. How did they end up in their respective situations? Are their stories connected? Is there hope for either one of them?
The story is told from multiple points of view, which I liked. The characters, though not always likeable, are compelling and held my interest. I really didn’t know where this story was going, but that is what kept me reading. There are little shockers here and there that kept the suspense going and a hell of a biggie towards the end, which is a real grabber.
My only complaint is that I wished for deeper backstories on Elisabet, Lillian and Kristin in order to better understand their thoughts and actions in the story. I knocked off a star because of this. There were also a few spots in the narrative where I got tripped up with whom a pronoun was referring to.
Overall, I enjoyed Breathe and Release and recommend it to those looking for a fast read with a captivating plotline. I would definitely read more of Ms. Hayton’s works.
September 11, 2015
I've read several books this year where the main female character wakes up after an accident and suffers from amnesia. "Breathe and Release" is based on exactly that situation. But the plot that ensues is totally original and unique. There are two storylines running concurrently. Elisabet who is trying to regain her memories after having been released into her husband's care. A husband she was separated from prior to her accident. And then Lillian who is being held captive in an underground cellar and left to rot.
There is a third point of view from Elisabet's stepdaughter, who is a typical teenager.
The lives of these three females intersect in a wonderfully sinister way.
There were some totally unexpected twists and I loved all the surprises right down to the ending.
The only thing that rather annoyed me where the numerous instances where pronouns got muddled up and third person narrative suddenly switched to first person without making any sense at all.
But if you manage to ignore these little issues, then you're in for a treat if you enjoy dark mysteries with unusual and not immediately likable characters.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
There is a third point of view from Elisabet's stepdaughter, who is a typical teenager.
The lives of these three females intersect in a wonderfully sinister way.
There were some totally unexpected twists and I loved all the surprises right down to the ending.
The only thing that rather annoyed me where the numerous instances where pronouns got muddled up and third person narrative suddenly switched to first person without making any sense at all.
But if you manage to ignore these little issues, then you're in for a treat if you enjoy dark mysteries with unusual and not immediately likable characters.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 18, 2015
Elisabet has driven into a tree and ends up in hospital but when she comes around she cannot remember anything of what happened in her life before the accident.
When Elisabet is released from hospital her husband Grahams takes her home and Elisabet finds out that her and her husband were separated before the accident and the home where she is now is not her real home.As bits come back to Elsabet she keeps seeing a girl being kept captive underground in a cellar.
A few miles away Lillian is being kept captive in the same place Elsabet keeps seeing in her mind how did she get there?does Elsabet know the women?
Kristen doesn't like her step mother that much but Elsabet tries to be a good step mother to her while she finds out her husband is a bully.
I never got the ending at all it was a complete surprise what a gripping thriller.
Thank you netgalley Katherine Hayton and the publisher for a chance to read this book.
When Elisabet is released from hospital her husband Grahams takes her home and Elisabet finds out that her and her husband were separated before the accident and the home where she is now is not her real home.As bits come back to Elsabet she keeps seeing a girl being kept captive underground in a cellar.
A few miles away Lillian is being kept captive in the same place Elsabet keeps seeing in her mind how did she get there?does Elsabet know the women?
Kristen doesn't like her step mother that much but Elsabet tries to be a good step mother to her while she finds out her husband is a bully.
I never got the ending at all it was a complete surprise what a gripping thriller.
Thank you netgalley Katherine Hayton and the publisher for a chance to read this book.
October 4, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
First reading September 2015
I think this book is amazing. It is spooky and full of suspense. When I started reading it, I just couldn't let go. The plot twist was surreal. The ending was great too. The only problem is that the tense changes often. Except for that, this is a brilliant mystery and will have you hooked.
Update October 2020:
Still love it! I read a LOT of mysteries and thrillers but the pure horror that this book invokes in me is like nothing else. Although, this time it took me a while to get through the first few chapters. So the beginning felt a bit slow but I cruised through the greater part of the novel in one afternoon. There were a few typos and grammar oversights here and there but overall this makes for a great afternoon read!
First reading September 2015
I think this book is amazing. It is spooky and full of suspense. When I started reading it, I just couldn't let go. The plot twist was surreal. The ending was great too. The only problem is that the tense changes often. Except for that, this is a brilliant mystery and will have you hooked.
Update October 2020:
Still love it! I read a LOT of mysteries and thrillers but the pure horror that this book invokes in me is like nothing else. Although, this time it took me a while to get through the first few chapters. So the beginning felt a bit slow but I cruised through the greater part of the novel in one afternoon. There were a few typos and grammar oversights here and there but overall this makes for a great afternoon read!
March 3, 2018
This is told in multiple viewpoints.
It was really hard for me to connect with this book, it doesn't take a lot to confuse me to try to put all this together took some doing.
It has some acerbic wit, direct and sometimes annoying.
It distracted me from the story.
As yet I have never DFN'D a book so I hopped, skipped and jumped through it reading what I thought were the 'important' bits.
Not very professional but hey ho, I wanted it to draw me in as I went.
My thanks to Katherine Hayton via Net Galley for my copy. I tried several times thinking it might be me, not the time to read it, wrong frame of mind, that sort of thing, but nope, just didn't work ffor me.
October 15, 2015
Elisabet just woke with amnesia. Lillian lies hogtied in an underground cell. Kristen lost her house, her friends, and her confidence when her parents separated. Will the secrets hidden in Elisabet's locked memory be enough to set them all free?
When I read this my interest was immediately piqued. The story itself runs concurrently between Elisabet and Lillian, with Kristen’s added view point running alongside but to a much lesser degree.
The story begins with Elisabet waking up in the hospital, remembering only her name and not much else. Her thoughts regarding other people are honest if not likeable and made me wonder what sort of person she was prior to her amnesia. She finds out she has a almost ex husband and a step daughter and is released into their care. Even with amnesia Elisabet is a strong character. In the midst of her husbands’ abusive behavior and her step daughters’ anger she keeps pushing to find out more about herself and what I most admired was her ability to not turn into a victim.
Lillian is trapped. Her story begins with her tied up in an underground cellar with a bag over her head, no food, no water and all alone. No one knows where she is and the only person who can help her currently has amnesia. Lillian is easily the most likeable of the characters. She seems genuinely nice, just a good person caught up in a bad situation. She is resourceful and wouldn’t give up even in the face of, let’s be honest, completely shit odds.
How the lives of these women are related to each other will shock you. As well developed as they are, you will care for them, you will cheer them on, but most of all, you won’t know what hit you.
Well written, great if somewhat unlikeable characters, a twisted and dark storyline,this book is definitely something I enjoyed and I can’t wait to read this author’s other books.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When I read this my interest was immediately piqued. The story itself runs concurrently between Elisabet and Lillian, with Kristen’s added view point running alongside but to a much lesser degree.
The story begins with Elisabet waking up in the hospital, remembering only her name and not much else. Her thoughts regarding other people are honest if not likeable and made me wonder what sort of person she was prior to her amnesia. She finds out she has a almost ex husband and a step daughter and is released into their care. Even with amnesia Elisabet is a strong character. In the midst of her husbands’ abusive behavior and her step daughters’ anger she keeps pushing to find out more about herself and what I most admired was her ability to not turn into a victim.
Lillian is trapped. Her story begins with her tied up in an underground cellar with a bag over her head, no food, no water and all alone. No one knows where she is and the only person who can help her currently has amnesia. Lillian is easily the most likeable of the characters. She seems genuinely nice, just a good person caught up in a bad situation. She is resourceful and wouldn’t give up even in the face of, let’s be honest, completely shit odds.
How the lives of these women are related to each other will shock you. As well developed as they are, you will care for them, you will cheer them on, but most of all, you won’t know what hit you.
Well written, great if somewhat unlikeable characters, a twisted and dark storyline,this book is definitely something I enjoyed and I can’t wait to read this author’s other books.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2016
Ho-ly Crap!!!! And I thought Stephen King had a twisted mind! Man, this author is good! You know a book was good when immediately upon finishing you do a search for other books by the author.
This book was SO suspenseful! ...and creepy and a little frightening. What a twisty turny sequence of events. Reading it was like going through a maze and not knowing what was around each corner. I could have easily read it all in one sitting if it weren't for annoying little things such as - dinner getting in the way. As it was TV had to take a backseat that night.
But... this book took such a tremendous turn that I was almost afraid to finish it. It was almost like I didn't really want to know!
Excellent character development. It was almost freaky the way you see into their minds. I could picture Elisabet at every single scene. Even the minor characters came to life for me.
This story had such a creepy plot to it I would love to see it as a movie!
Here are a few quotes -
"The only memories no one expected her to recall were the events directly leading to the car accident. Which was a pity because that was the only area Elisabet would like covered. Why was she driving alone on an empty road nowhere near her house? Why did she drive into a pole at full speed?"
"Pretend you're a contestant on Survivor, she thought as she put it into her mouth and squeezed it between her teeth until it popped. Or, it's a detour on The Amazing Race, and if you get through this you're in the running for a million dollars." ~ as a fan of both of those shows, I loved this!
"She missed the old fashioned phone they'd had in the stupid state house in Burwood. She could slam that baby down. Pushing a button that gently vibrated under her finger to let her know she'd actually pressed it just wasn't the same." ~ LOL
Be prepared - once you start reading, you will not be able to stop! Definitely one of the more amazing books I have read this year - this will go on the list as one of my favorites.
I am not finished with this author - that's a promise.
Thank you! Katherine Hayton for sending me a copy of your book for my honest review.
This book was SO suspenseful! ...and creepy and a little frightening. What a twisty turny sequence of events. Reading it was like going through a maze and not knowing what was around each corner. I could have easily read it all in one sitting if it weren't for annoying little things such as - dinner getting in the way. As it was TV had to take a backseat that night.
But... this book took such a tremendous turn that I was almost afraid to finish it. It was almost like I didn't really want to know!
Excellent character development. It was almost freaky the way you see into their minds. I could picture Elisabet at every single scene. Even the minor characters came to life for me.
This story had such a creepy plot to it I would love to see it as a movie!
Here are a few quotes -
"The only memories no one expected her to recall were the events directly leading to the car accident. Which was a pity because that was the only area Elisabet would like covered. Why was she driving alone on an empty road nowhere near her house? Why did she drive into a pole at full speed?"
"Pretend you're a contestant on Survivor, she thought as she put it into her mouth and squeezed it between her teeth until it popped. Or, it's a detour on The Amazing Race, and if you get through this you're in the running for a million dollars." ~ as a fan of both of those shows, I loved this!
"She missed the old fashioned phone they'd had in the stupid state house in Burwood. She could slam that baby down. Pushing a button that gently vibrated under her finger to let her know she'd actually pressed it just wasn't the same." ~ LOL
Be prepared - once you start reading, you will not be able to stop! Definitely one of the more amazing books I have read this year - this will go on the list as one of my favorites.
I am not finished with this author - that's a promise.
Thank you! Katherine Hayton for sending me a copy of your book for my honest review.
October 5, 2015
Elisabet wakes up in the hospital with amnesia after a car accident and she struggles to find anything to trigger her memory. Her own husband, Greame, and step=daughter, Kristen, are strangers to her. She does not know her own identity: who her family is, what her occupation is (if any), and where she even lives. It isn't until after she is released from the hospital into the care of her husband that the adventure to find her memories begin. "Now she just had a choice to make. She had the person she had woken up as, the one who had nothing except a garbled opinion of her own self-worth. Elisabet also had the person she was, the person she had been, until a faulty turn and a cabbage tree wiped her slate clean".
This book was a thrilling and adventurous book that threw a huge game-changing surprise just when I thought that I had the book figured out. The voices of each character are very distinctive and therefore the different perspectives between Elisabet, Kristen, and Lillian work very well. My expectations of each character took abrupt turns throughout the book and it kept me at high attention. 4/5 stars, only because there is one aspect between two of the women (keeping it vague to prevent spoilers) that I didn't fully understand how it worked into the novel. I highly recommend this book for those who like a thrilling mystery. There is violence, language, and brief sexual references, a heads up for those who are offended by those.
"So maybe her choice doesn't need to come now. Maybe she can make it after she arrives... Maybe it'll just be a choice that stays in the back of her head until she dies, unchosen."
Please note: a copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
This book was a thrilling and adventurous book that threw a huge game-changing surprise just when I thought that I had the book figured out. The voices of each character are very distinctive and therefore the different perspectives between Elisabet, Kristen, and Lillian work very well. My expectations of each character took abrupt turns throughout the book and it kept me at high attention. 4/5 stars, only because there is one aspect between two of the women (keeping it vague to prevent spoilers) that I didn't fully understand how it worked into the novel. I highly recommend this book for those who like a thrilling mystery. There is violence, language, and brief sexual references, a heads up for those who are offended by those.
"So maybe her choice doesn't need to come now. Maybe she can make it after she arrives... Maybe it'll just be a choice that stays in the back of her head until she dies, unchosen."
Please note: a copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 3, 2015
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I received this book to give an honest review.
This was a really good thriller. I mean I would have never even guessed the way it all went down.
I would have liked the author to have labeled the chapters when changing characters so it would have been a bit more easier to follow who was in the light during that time. Other than that it was a decent thriller.
Three lives all intertwined by something or someone dark. We go back and forth between Elisabet, Lillian and Kristen's point of view and so we get to see how they are all dealing with things going on around them. Elisabet seems to suffer from amnesia but her step daughter doesn't believe it. So when her Elisabet moves back in with her family you can tell things are a bit tense around the place. Her husband acts very weird and we get to see his true colors and you can't help but feel for Elisabet and her situation. Though I have to say towards the end I figured Elisabet could hold her own there is reason darkness surrounds her.
Now Lillian this gal is fighting to survive even though she believes her being held captive is punishment for something did when she was younger.
Will Lillian survive or die where she is being held, will Elisabet get her memory back and what is going on with Kristen will her and her stepmother reconcile? You just have to read to find out.
All I can say is I didn't think about the ending, ending the way it did though I have to say it was pretty cool. The only thing I wished the author would have told us is how exactly did Elisabet have an accident, I don't think that was ever made clear.
I received this book to give an honest review.
This was a really good thriller. I mean I would have never even guessed the way it all went down.
I would have liked the author to have labeled the chapters when changing characters so it would have been a bit more easier to follow who was in the light during that time. Other than that it was a decent thriller.
Three lives all intertwined by something or someone dark. We go back and forth between Elisabet, Lillian and Kristen's point of view and so we get to see how they are all dealing with things going on around them. Elisabet seems to suffer from amnesia but her step daughter doesn't believe it. So when her Elisabet moves back in with her family you can tell things are a bit tense around the place. Her husband acts very weird and we get to see his true colors and you can't help but feel for Elisabet and her situation. Though I have to say towards the end I figured Elisabet could hold her own there is reason darkness surrounds her.
Now Lillian this gal is fighting to survive even though she believes her being held captive is punishment for something did when she was younger.
Will Lillian survive or die where she is being held, will Elisabet get her memory back and what is going on with Kristen will her and her stepmother reconcile? You just have to read to find out.
All I can say is I didn't think about the ending, ending the way it did though I have to say it was pretty cool. The only thing I wished the author would have told us is how exactly did Elisabet have an accident, I don't think that was ever made clear.
August 21, 2022
I rate this a solid 3.5 stars.
Thank you to InstaFreebie and the author for this free ebook copy of the novel for joining the author's reader list.
This was a surprisingly good read with the added extra of it taking place in New Zealand - Australia's neighbour!
It did start out rather slowly with the plot focusing on Elizabet's car accident and subsequent total memory loss, but quickly gained pace as Elizabet started to recover her memories and the tension ratcheted up.
After leaving hospital she still has no memories and is not coping with her amnesia. She moves back in with her husband Graeme, who she is separated from, and her step-daughter Kristen.
The book is written from various viewpoints - from Elizabet's confusion and burgeoning fear of her husband, from Kristen's lonely existence with a father that ignores her and a step-mother she despises, to a woman called Lillian who is being held captive underground and slowly starved.
It is hard to describe much more without giving spoilers away but suffice to say that I was shocked with the turn of events nearing the end of the book. I would love to see a follow on novel just to see what happens to our characters.
Thank you to InstaFreebie and the author for this free ebook copy of the novel for joining the author's reader list.
This was a surprisingly good read with the added extra of it taking place in New Zealand - Australia's neighbour!
It did start out rather slowly with the plot focusing on Elizabet's car accident and subsequent total memory loss, but quickly gained pace as Elizabet started to recover her memories and the tension ratcheted up.
After leaving hospital she still has no memories and is not coping with her amnesia. She moves back in with her husband Graeme, who she is separated from, and her step-daughter Kristen.
The book is written from various viewpoints - from Elizabet's confusion and burgeoning fear of her husband, from Kristen's lonely existence with a father that ignores her and a step-mother she despises, to a woman called Lillian who is being held captive underground and slowly starved.
It is hard to describe much more without giving spoilers away but suffice to say that I was shocked with the turn of events nearing the end of the book. I would love to see a follow on novel just to see what happens to our characters.
December 8, 2015
'Breathe and Release' is another version of the "lost memory" thriller. Elisabet wakes up in a hospital, unable to remember anything about her past. But, of course, step by step she - and the reader with her - get to know what happened and caused her memory loss. As a parallel story, the reader learns about Lilian, who is held hostage and starving in a cellar, but desperately fighting to survive. As both plots and characters meet up and unite, I had a feeling I knew where it was finally heading, but the ending was a satisfying surprise nonetheless. There really was only one thing that struck me as odd, when Elisabet and Lilian got together too easily or unlikely.
However, throughout the book I was glued to the pages, eager to learn what happened and what role Elisabet really played. A well-written, fast-paced and highly original thriller.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
However, throughout the book I was glued to the pages, eager to learn what happened and what role Elisabet really played. A well-written, fast-paced and highly original thriller.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
December 26, 2015
Elizabet wakes up in hospital with no memory of how she got there, she doesn't remember her husband or step-daughter. However, in order to be discharged from hospital she needs her husband to provide care. Once home with him her memory is not triggered and Elizabet feels trapped with a man she couldn't possibly have chosen to be with, could she?
A very dark thriller with some blindsiding twists. This thriller pulls no punches in terms of pace but it took me a while to get used to Elizabet's perspective and for the first half of the book I couldn't fathom why she would put up with her husband. However, as I read on the mind that was narrating made more sense and this truly is a creepy thriller.
On the darkest side of dark psychological thrillers.
A very dark thriller with some blindsiding twists. This thriller pulls no punches in terms of pace but it took me a while to get used to Elizabet's perspective and for the first half of the book I couldn't fathom why she would put up with her husband. However, as I read on the mind that was narrating made more sense and this truly is a creepy thriller.
On the darkest side of dark psychological thrillers.
May 30, 2016
Gripping psychological thriller set in New Zealand. Elisabet wakes up in hospital having been badly injured in a car accident and with no memory of events leading up to the crash or of her husband and stepdaughter; meanwhile, in an isolated cellar, Lillian wakes to find herself bound, hooded and alone. As Lillian struggles to survive and Elisabet tries to regain her memory in the face of abuse from her supposedly caring husband, the storylines gradually converge, finally concluding with an unexpected twist in the tale. Great storyline although the characters didn't completely come to life for me in this one but still 8/10.
November 23, 2015
It’s no longer surprising that certain “scenarios” seem to be duplicated in a rush of books - and amnesia and/or dementia causing memory loss is the one that has been showing up a lot recently.
BREATHE AND RELEASE is by New Zealand based Katherine Hayton, and in this case, the memory loss is as a result of a car accident, and there’s a complication. Another woman is trapped in an underground hell, unable to escape, barely alive. Readers would be forgiven for assuming that there’s going to be a connection between Elisabet and Lillian, although what the connection is might not be quite as obvious.
The narrative moves backwards and forwards between both women, each of whom seems to be reacting to their situation in similar ways. Elisabet awakens in hospital with very flawed memory and finds herself placed in the care of her ex-husband and step-daughter. It quickly becomes apparent that all is not well with this scenario so a large part of whether or not this book works for you, revolves around whether you’re comfortable with the whole setup. Somehow, something didn’t quite feel right for this reader with a little too much predictability in some areas, way too much convenience in others and some odd sidebars, such as the bad-tempered sulky step-daughter that just seemed to lead nowhere.
Meanwhile Lillian in the cellar is obviously in extremis when the reader first comes to understand her capture. The way she is hogtied, the physical extremity of her situation, the sheer terror that result starts out believable and frightening, and yet somehow Lillian manages to show through that with a surprisingly calm and almost low key delivery. It might be that there’s something slightly tongue-in-cheek about much of the dialogue (internal and external) from both women that will again be something that different readers have a particular reaction towards.
As the story revolves around the character of Elisabet her behaviour, reactions, voice and reasons are the main viewpoint through which the reader has to understand her situation. Even allowing for initial memory loss, as recollection starts to return to Elisabet, her reactions are somehow slowed or dulled. Even to the point of physical attack and threat, she seems somehow oddly glib and dismissive, her voice remains strangely upbeat and ever so slightly light and silly on occasions. Even allowing for something not quite right about her personality, and the scenario of the woman in the cellar, there’s something here that might be seen by some readers as sinister, although it can easily be mistaken for very peculiar detachment.
There are certainly red-herrings aplenty in the plot of BREATHE AND RELEASE, and with books of this style there will be readers who love this, and those for whom it’s less successful. Certainly the idea of victims under extreme threat, and the knowledge that safety is in the hands of somebody who has no idea they are in that position is an interesting aspect to explore. BREATHE AND RELEASE has a go at that exploration in a unique manner and tone.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
BREATHE AND RELEASE is by New Zealand based Katherine Hayton, and in this case, the memory loss is as a result of a car accident, and there’s a complication. Another woman is trapped in an underground hell, unable to escape, barely alive. Readers would be forgiven for assuming that there’s going to be a connection between Elisabet and Lillian, although what the connection is might not be quite as obvious.
The narrative moves backwards and forwards between both women, each of whom seems to be reacting to their situation in similar ways. Elisabet awakens in hospital with very flawed memory and finds herself placed in the care of her ex-husband and step-daughter. It quickly becomes apparent that all is not well with this scenario so a large part of whether or not this book works for you, revolves around whether you’re comfortable with the whole setup. Somehow, something didn’t quite feel right for this reader with a little too much predictability in some areas, way too much convenience in others and some odd sidebars, such as the bad-tempered sulky step-daughter that just seemed to lead nowhere.
Meanwhile Lillian in the cellar is obviously in extremis when the reader first comes to understand her capture. The way she is hogtied, the physical extremity of her situation, the sheer terror that result starts out believable and frightening, and yet somehow Lillian manages to show through that with a surprisingly calm and almost low key delivery. It might be that there’s something slightly tongue-in-cheek about much of the dialogue (internal and external) from both women that will again be something that different readers have a particular reaction towards.
As the story revolves around the character of Elisabet her behaviour, reactions, voice and reasons are the main viewpoint through which the reader has to understand her situation. Even allowing for initial memory loss, as recollection starts to return to Elisabet, her reactions are somehow slowed or dulled. Even to the point of physical attack and threat, she seems somehow oddly glib and dismissive, her voice remains strangely upbeat and ever so slightly light and silly on occasions. Even allowing for something not quite right about her personality, and the scenario of the woman in the cellar, there’s something here that might be seen by some readers as sinister, although it can easily be mistaken for very peculiar detachment.
There are certainly red-herrings aplenty in the plot of BREATHE AND RELEASE, and with books of this style there will be readers who love this, and those for whom it’s less successful. Certainly the idea of victims under extreme threat, and the knowledge that safety is in the hands of somebody who has no idea they are in that position is an interesting aspect to explore. BREATHE AND RELEASE has a go at that exploration in a unique manner and tone.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
June 27, 2017
4stars. First time reading a book from this author. Well written . Unlike any other book I've read. Glad I stuck with it. Keeps you guessing but then comes together nicely.
November 8, 2015
I’m not sure that I actually ‘liked’ this book, but it was a compelling read and certainly kept me guessing right until the end!
Elisabet wakes up in hospital following a serious car crash, and her life has changed completely. She has lost her memory and has no recollection of her husband, her step-daughter or her previous life. All she knows is what she is told; that she and her husband are separated and divorcing, but until she has recovered following her accident she will be returning to live with them.
The story is sinister; the husband is aggressive and often physically violent towards Elisabet, and her step-daughter hates her, calling her the ‘step-bitch.’ Elisabet is a victim of domestic violence and cannot wait to get away, never quite understanding how she ended up in an abusive relationship in the first place! She expresses her concern for her stepdaughter, but there is no explanation as to why she is so hated.
Then we have Lillian. Lillian is caged underground somewhere unknown, bound with plastic tie-wraps with a paper bag over her head, given no food or water, and apparently left for dead. The reader is given no clue as to how long she has been there, where she is, or why. We do know that Lillian’s survival instinct is strong, but will it be enough to get her out of there alive?
A woman appears briefly in Lillian’s life, gives her some water, promises to call the emergency services, then disappears, and isn’t seen again. Again, we have no knowledge of who the stranger is or why she is there.
‘Breathe and Release’ is an uncomfortable read. The reader is aware that something is not quite right, and at times the story seems quite confusing. There are lots of loose ends waiting to be tied. However, as the story is unravelled and the secrets are uncovered, it is actually a very sinister and frightening story about some people you really would not like to be left alone with!
I wavered about quarter of the way through the book as the loose ends seemed to be coming at me thick and fast and perhaps I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to work through them. I’m glad I did though! The twists and turns of the plot resulted in an outcome I would never have predicted and was well-hidden virtually until the very end.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars
Elisabet wakes up in hospital following a serious car crash, and her life has changed completely. She has lost her memory and has no recollection of her husband, her step-daughter or her previous life. All she knows is what she is told; that she and her husband are separated and divorcing, but until she has recovered following her accident she will be returning to live with them.
The story is sinister; the husband is aggressive and often physically violent towards Elisabet, and her step-daughter hates her, calling her the ‘step-bitch.’ Elisabet is a victim of domestic violence and cannot wait to get away, never quite understanding how she ended up in an abusive relationship in the first place! She expresses her concern for her stepdaughter, but there is no explanation as to why she is so hated.
Then we have Lillian. Lillian is caged underground somewhere unknown, bound with plastic tie-wraps with a paper bag over her head, given no food or water, and apparently left for dead. The reader is given no clue as to how long she has been there, where she is, or why. We do know that Lillian’s survival instinct is strong, but will it be enough to get her out of there alive?
A woman appears briefly in Lillian’s life, gives her some water, promises to call the emergency services, then disappears, and isn’t seen again. Again, we have no knowledge of who the stranger is or why she is there.
‘Breathe and Release’ is an uncomfortable read. The reader is aware that something is not quite right, and at times the story seems quite confusing. There are lots of loose ends waiting to be tied. However, as the story is unravelled and the secrets are uncovered, it is actually a very sinister and frightening story about some people you really would not like to be left alone with!
I wavered about quarter of the way through the book as the loose ends seemed to be coming at me thick and fast and perhaps I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to work through them. I’m glad I did though! The twists and turns of the plot resulted in an outcome I would never have predicted and was well-hidden virtually until the very end.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars
October 23, 2015
I always find it interesting when I read New Zealand authors as they can either fall into two categories - they will either be really boring as they can ramble on or they will be an interesting read and keep my attention. Personally, I have always found it difficult to get into New Zealand authors - so when I saw Katherine Hayton's book I was interested for two reasons - the first she was a New Zealander and the novel was set in Christchurch and the second was that it was a mystery novel. As I was reading this book though I was in two minds as I really loved the beginning with the main female character Elisabet getting amnesia due to an accident and not remembering anything about her life, and then her husband whom she is in the middle of divorcing turns up and she gets a bad vibe from him - which gives readers a feeling that he might have caused this . The book then jumps to another female called Lillian who is being held captive and at first I was a bit confused as it was like I was reading two different stories within the one book as I didn't feel that the author had connected the two instances together with a flow, it felt a tad disjointed . We then jump back to Elisabet and learn her husband is abusive and we get the idea that he is the guy holding Lillian captive and that Elisabet discovered it and that he caused an accident which gave her amnesia to make her forget what she saw. Further down the novel , Lillian finally is set free and Elisabet starts to regain her memory back and the readers are left with the questioning of whether Elisabet was in fact part of the plan to hold Lillian captive and is a evil conniving woman or was she really a victim too ? This part which is near the end of the story , I got a tad confused on as well. Overall though, I did enjoy the mystery aspect and the new zealand history with the Christchurch earthquakes in both September and February , but in terms of writing - I felt the story for my liking was a tad disjointed in places and I got confused when reading the book to what was happening.
November 8, 2015
*I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing's Members Giveaway program. Brief plot spoilers may follow.*
I've read a couple of amnesia-related books, but this one had a level of depth to it that set it apart from the others and I loved it. When Elisabet wakes up with amnesia, she wonders what I assume many amnesiacs wonder at some point, which is whether or not she was a bad person before her accident. The conflict between who she was before and after her accident are explained and explored, although not all at once, and the reader gets to figure out who they believe she was at the same time that Elisabet is figuring out the answers for herself.
At first, I was a bit confused because the different points of view going on in the story initially all seemed way too separated from the others to have any real relevance. As the story begins to unfold, however, everything really starts to fall into place and it paints every scene after that with an underlying sense of evil. Every interaction, every word, all of it seems to be overwhelmed by the disturbing truth of the situation. What I loved the most about this book is that just as you start to believe that you have the full story and the "good/bad" parties are firmly in place in your mind, your beliefs get shaken up. All you can do as the reader is enjoy the ride. I couldn't get a good read on any of the characters for awhile and for me it added on to the excitement of putting the puzzle together.
This story is twisted, layered and has a lot of depth. I loved it and have no complaints. It was well-written, it veered from the typical amnesiac story skeleton and really makes the reader question who they align themselves with throughout the book. It was dark and gritty without being overdone. If you're triggered by abusive or intense situations, this may not be for you but if you're okay with those things and like mysteries that you can't easily solve, I highly recommend Breathe and Release. Great job!
I've read a couple of amnesia-related books, but this one had a level of depth to it that set it apart from the others and I loved it. When Elisabet wakes up with amnesia, she wonders what I assume many amnesiacs wonder at some point, which is whether or not she was a bad person before her accident. The conflict between who she was before and after her accident are explained and explored, although not all at once, and the reader gets to figure out who they believe she was at the same time that Elisabet is figuring out the answers for herself.
At first, I was a bit confused because the different points of view going on in the story initially all seemed way too separated from the others to have any real relevance. As the story begins to unfold, however, everything really starts to fall into place and it paints every scene after that with an underlying sense of evil. Every interaction, every word, all of it seems to be overwhelmed by the disturbing truth of the situation. What I loved the most about this book is that just as you start to believe that you have the full story and the "good/bad" parties are firmly in place in your mind, your beliefs get shaken up. All you can do as the reader is enjoy the ride. I couldn't get a good read on any of the characters for awhile and for me it added on to the excitement of putting the puzzle together.
This story is twisted, layered and has a lot of depth. I loved it and have no complaints. It was well-written, it veered from the typical amnesiac story skeleton and really makes the reader question who they align themselves with throughout the book. It was dark and gritty without being overdone. If you're triggered by abusive or intense situations, this may not be for you but if you're okay with those things and like mysteries that you can't easily solve, I highly recommend Breathe and Release. Great job!
September 6, 2015
"Breathe & Release" by Katherine Hayton was published August 31, 2015 so it is already available from your book seller.
Elisabet lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and all she knows is her name. She wakes up in terrible pain and is told she was in a horrible car accident and has amnesia. When she is finally released from the hospital she goes home with her husband who she learns she had been separated from before the accident. The care he gives her quickly descends into first uncaring and apathy, then abuse.
In another part of Christchurch a woman lies on a dirt floor, in a dark room. She is hooded and her hands are bound behind her. She is hungry and thirsty, her captor isn't feeding her, he's only watching her struggle, panic and slowly starve to death.
Breathe & Release is about the intersection of these two women and their lives. Both are struggling to save their themselves. The question is whether Elsabet's bruised and battered brain can heal fast enough so her memory can help both women survive.
If you like dark, really dark books then this is one for you. I don't usually read books that are this twisted and sinister but I took a chance on Breath & Release. I have to say, it's not my favorite but the writing is tight, the story is well thought out and there are good twists, turns and red herrings so the reader is kept on their proverbial toes. If I take my personal dislike of psychopaths out of the mix, this book is a solid four star.
Let me add one helpful hint. (I promise, no spoilers). If you find yourself having trouble suspending disbelief in the behavior of the main character in the first third of the book, go with it, it will all be satisfyingly explained in the end. Any lover of the TV programs "Dexter" or "Hannibal" would love this book. This book is a intricate psychological voyage and is only made better by the author's prowess as a storyteller.
Elisabet lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and all she knows is her name. She wakes up in terrible pain and is told she was in a horrible car accident and has amnesia. When she is finally released from the hospital she goes home with her husband who she learns she had been separated from before the accident. The care he gives her quickly descends into first uncaring and apathy, then abuse.
In another part of Christchurch a woman lies on a dirt floor, in a dark room. She is hooded and her hands are bound behind her. She is hungry and thirsty, her captor isn't feeding her, he's only watching her struggle, panic and slowly starve to death.
Breathe & Release is about the intersection of these two women and their lives. Both are struggling to save their themselves. The question is whether Elsabet's bruised and battered brain can heal fast enough so her memory can help both women survive.
If you like dark, really dark books then this is one for you. I don't usually read books that are this twisted and sinister but I took a chance on Breath & Release. I have to say, it's not my favorite but the writing is tight, the story is well thought out and there are good twists, turns and red herrings so the reader is kept on their proverbial toes. If I take my personal dislike of psychopaths out of the mix, this book is a solid four star.
Let me add one helpful hint. (I promise, no spoilers). If you find yourself having trouble suspending disbelief in the behavior of the main character in the first third of the book, go with it, it will all be satisfyingly explained in the end. Any lover of the TV programs "Dexter" or "Hannibal" would love this book. This book is a intricate psychological voyage and is only made better by the author's prowess as a storyteller.
September 25, 2015
What a nightmare situation to waken up with no memory of who you are or who anyone else is. In hospital, after a car accident, Elisabet is faced with an husband that she just can't seem to like and a stepdaughter that doesn't hide the fact that she hates her. Your heart breaks for her. Totally frustrated and feeling weak, she has no choice but to follow her doctor's advice and return home with her husband Graeme and stepdaughter. Graeme tells her they are separated but he is willing to take care of her until she is well. There is so much he doesn't want her to know so it seems and he will stop at nothing to keep her confined to the house.
Along side Elisabet's struggle to regain her memories is Lillian's struggle to fight for her life. Underground and caged with no food and no water close at hand there seems no hope for the over weight woman that used to live for food. No-one to miss her. She knows that her so called boyfriend doesn't give a damn.
Wow! What an absolutely riveting read this book is. I read this book in one sitting as there just wasn't a place I felt I could stop. I simply had to know that these two women were ok. Although there is some violence in this book there is more mental cruelty, especially for the reader! It has to be one of the best endings that í have read.
I wish to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
Along side Elisabet's struggle to regain her memories is Lillian's struggle to fight for her life. Underground and caged with no food and no water close at hand there seems no hope for the over weight woman that used to live for food. No-one to miss her. She knows that her so called boyfriend doesn't give a damn.
Wow! What an absolutely riveting read this book is. I read this book in one sitting as there just wasn't a place I felt I could stop. I simply had to know that these two women were ok. Although there is some violence in this book there is more mental cruelty, especially for the reader! It has to be one of the best endings that í have read.
I wish to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
October 5, 2015
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. Here is the blurb
Elisabet wakes with amnesia. The care offered to her by a husband she doesn’t remember descends within weeks into aggression and violence. Lillian lies hogtied in an underground cell. Forget about escape; unless she can manage the necessities of life she’ll be dead within days. Kristen lost her house, her friends, and her confidence when her parents separated. Now her injured stepmother has moved back in. Has she lost her memory, or lost her mind?
I have read the other reviews on Goodreads and I feel I must have missed something. I read the book and it was ok, yes it was a thriller and I did guess the ending but I just did not love this book in the same way other readers seemed to have. It was an ok read but not one I personally will remember and recommend. I feel really mean when only giving it 3 stars when everyone else has given 4 or 5 but I have to be honest in my opinion.
Elisabet wakes with amnesia. The care offered to her by a husband she doesn’t remember descends within weeks into aggression and violence. Lillian lies hogtied in an underground cell. Forget about escape; unless she can manage the necessities of life she’ll be dead within days. Kristen lost her house, her friends, and her confidence when her parents separated. Now her injured stepmother has moved back in. Has she lost her memory, or lost her mind?
I have read the other reviews on Goodreads and I feel I must have missed something. I read the book and it was ok, yes it was a thriller and I did guess the ending but I just did not love this book in the same way other readers seemed to have. It was an ok read but not one I personally will remember and recommend. I feel really mean when only giving it 3 stars when everyone else has given 4 or 5 but I have to be honest in my opinion.
October 1, 2015
I was given the opportunity to read and review this book by Bostick Communications and NetGalley.
Breathe and Release involves parallel story lines about two women imprisoned: one has amnesia and is mentally unable to remember herself and her former life, and the other wakes up locked in a cell in handcuffs. I had some problems with the structure of the book itself, as some of the phrasing is awkward and some of the conversations between the characters seems forced. To be honest, the part that bothered me the most was the sullen and angry teenager. Done so often in books, this side plot was unnecessary to the overall picture. Fast paced with a great twist, there was a lot to like about Breathe and Release. In spite of the writing style, this book has a good flow with an unexpected reveal. With great characters and a convoluted plot, Breathe and Release is sure to appeal to readers who like suspense and mystery/thrillers.
Breathe and Release involves parallel story lines about two women imprisoned: one has amnesia and is mentally unable to remember herself and her former life, and the other wakes up locked in a cell in handcuffs. I had some problems with the structure of the book itself, as some of the phrasing is awkward and some of the conversations between the characters seems forced. To be honest, the part that bothered me the most was the sullen and angry teenager. Done so often in books, this side plot was unnecessary to the overall picture. Fast paced with a great twist, there was a lot to like about Breathe and Release. In spite of the writing style, this book has a good flow with an unexpected reveal. With great characters and a convoluted plot, Breathe and Release is sure to appeal to readers who like suspense and mystery/thrillers.
December 20, 2016
Oh my soul. I've no idea where Ms Hayton gets these ideas from - Graham Masterton might even be taken aback. Elisabet wakes from a coma with total memory loss. She is released into her husband's care but soon things take a nasty turn when she finds that they are on the brink of a divorce. A very nasty divorce too. And then she finds images on a flash drive.....and her memory returns.
Lillian, meanwhile, is fighting to stay alive in what seems to be an underground cell. She remembers a beautiful woman who came to see her - but never returned. The storyline is part horror and part thriller, and as usual, the author doesn't leave clues as to what happens next. And what happens next is definitely not what you could imagine in your worst nightmare! I downloaded this ebook from Insta Freebie, and voluntarily reviewed it here. I strongly recommend it to anyone who likes a dark thriller and even to those who don't.....
Lillian, meanwhile, is fighting to stay alive in what seems to be an underground cell. She remembers a beautiful woman who came to see her - but never returned. The storyline is part horror and part thriller, and as usual, the author doesn't leave clues as to what happens next. And what happens next is definitely not what you could imagine in your worst nightmare! I downloaded this ebook from Insta Freebie, and voluntarily reviewed it here. I strongly recommend it to anyone who likes a dark thriller and even to those who don't.....
July 5, 2017
My head is spinning with all these ideas I thought this novel was about. The author completely flipped the script, and now I'm like WTF!! No wonder Elisabet kept acting like she never regained full memory, and why the train wreck was so important. I just couldn't tie up the relevance in most of the scenes playing out on the page. The author really knows to twist up the imagery, and go back and forth between chapters. I wonder how Kristen played into the novel, but wow Elisabet really did have everybody in the palm of her hands. Now crazy narcissistic nympho Greames is dead, and his worser half is still at large damn! And poor Lily who was after going through hell, was sleeping with the enemy. This was truly some sick twisted writing!
February 2, 2020
Twists and turns that will leave you breathless and on the edge of your chair. Why can't Elisabeth remember? Who is the woman who haunts her and why is it important? Just out of her grasp even after she returns to a husband she doesn't remember and a step-daughter wh seems to hate her. As she struggles to remember she can't figure out why her husband is keeping her from the outside world? She is appalled that he has started to abuse her did she take it before? Does he harm her step-daughter? She must get away and she must figure out who she is and how she can escape the house without a phone or a memory of who should she call. The surprises are constant! I hope there is a sequel!
October 11, 2017
Unexpected!
This is one of the most surprising books I've ever read. Our heroine has been injured in an accident and has no memory of her past. Her estranged husband cares for her but becomes horrifyingly abusive. A memory haunts her dreams of a starving woman. What else is in her past. Read one of the best written nail biting stories out there.
This is one of the most surprising books I've ever read. Our heroine has been injured in an accident and has no memory of her past. Her estranged husband cares for her but becomes horrifyingly abusive. A memory haunts her dreams of a starving woman. What else is in her past. Read one of the best written nail biting stories out there.
July 11, 2017
Have Fun
This is the second book I have read by this author. Well written, however, I have to say that this one left me TOTALLY flabbergasted and unprepared. I will say no more... I will, of course, read more.
This is the second book I have read by this author. Well written, however, I have to say that this one left me TOTALLY flabbergasted and unprepared. I will say no more... I will, of course, read more.
March 18, 2018
Great
Elizabet has lost her memory because she wrecked her car. The hospital got in touch with her husband and he takes her home. That's when everything starts a cyclone! Its a must read!
Elizabet has lost her memory because she wrecked her car. The hospital got in touch with her husband and he takes her home. That's when everything starts a cyclone! Its a must read!
January 29, 2019
This is a quick read in so much as it is horrifying, scary, suspenseful and hard to put down! Well written, well plotted and the ending just floored me! A plan so well developed and thought out goes horrifically wrong! ...and, isn't anything you expect!
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