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Spilling CID #8.5
Pictures Or It Didn't Happen
Would you trust a complete stranger?
After Chloe and her daughter Freya are rescued from disaster by a man who seems too good to be true, Chloe decides she must find him again to thank him. But instead of meeting her knight in shining armour, she comes across a woman called Nadine Caspian who warns her to stay well away from him. The man is dangerous, Nadine claims, and a compulsive liar. Alarmed, Chloe asks her what she means, but Nadine will say no more.
Chloe knows that the sensible choice would be to walk away - after all, she doesn't know anything about this man. But she is too curious. What could Nadine have meant? And can Chloe find out the truth without putting herself and her daughter in danger?
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
55 people are currently reading
1048 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Hannah
106 books4,505 followersSophie Hannah is an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in 27 countries. In 2013, her latest novel, The Carrier, won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards. Two of Sophie’s crime novels, The Point of Rescue and The Other Half Lives, have been adapted for television and appeared on ITV1 under the series title Case Sensitive in 2011 and 2012. In 2004, Sophie won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her suspense story The Octopus Nest, which is now published in her first collection of short stories, The Fantastic Book of Everybody’s Secrets.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
July 21, 2019
The best thing I can say about this nonsense is that it only took 90 minutes of wasted time to read it. Should it have been any longer, I would have surely quit reading it.
Having just previously read “Little face” by the author, I expected much better. Nothing is credible. Infantile dialogues. Unbelievable plot (if any of such plot really exists) and ridiculous characters. All in just 144 pages, thank heavens!
A big thumbs down from me. I’ll think twice before stepping into another one from Mrs Hannah.
Having just previously read “Little face” by the author, I expected much better. Nothing is credible. Infantile dialogues. Unbelievable plot (if any of such plot really exists) and ridiculous characters. All in just 144 pages, thank heavens!
A big thumbs down from me. I’ll think twice before stepping into another one from Mrs Hannah.
June 21, 2015
2.5 although this was a quick read, I didn't like this as much as her full length novels. The first two, thirds of the novella were slower paced and suspenseful, seemed to be leading to a big reveal but then plunk, a rushed ending.
August 22, 2015
What a complete load of rubbish. Unbelievable characters, a whole load of telling-not-showing, and a weak resolution/concept in the first place.
It's like Hannah wrote the Quick Read as a short version of one of her regular crime books, but without any of the slow, creeping buildup and the engageable, identifiable characters. It's like she went to one of her regular story ideas that she'd dumped for not being good enough, and then stripped out 300 pages to fit it to the brief for this series.
Some of Hannah's recent books have suffered a little from being too complicated and convoluted - you'd never guess the ending because there's no way anyone would ever (be able to) act like that or pull all that off. Instead the resolution here is so simple - perhaps because there was no time for anything else - that it was all rather 'Oh...'
I'm not sure what the biggest failing of this book is. The unremarkable plot and unbelievable characters, or the fact the author's tried to condense her usual novel style into 125 pages, rather than actually setting out to write a novella. On the flip side, the fact that this flimsy book only took an hour of my time is one of its few redeeming characteristics.
Still, it's perhaps not as awful as my 1-star would suggest, but still... It's not a case of 'avoid', more a case of 'don't bother'.
It's like Hannah wrote the Quick Read as a short version of one of her regular crime books, but without any of the slow, creeping buildup and the engageable, identifiable characters. It's like she went to one of her regular story ideas that she'd dumped for not being good enough, and then stripped out 300 pages to fit it to the brief for this series.
Some of Hannah's recent books have suffered a little from being too complicated and convoluted - you'd never guess the ending because there's no way anyone would ever (be able to) act like that or pull all that off. Instead the resolution here is so simple - perhaps because there was no time for anything else - that it was all rather 'Oh...'
I'm not sure what the biggest failing of this book is. The unremarkable plot and unbelievable characters, or the fact the author's tried to condense her usual novel style into 125 pages, rather than actually setting out to write a novella. On the flip side, the fact that this flimsy book only took an hour of my time is one of its few redeeming characteristics.
Still, it's perhaps not as awful as my 1-star would suggest, but still... It's not a case of 'avoid', more a case of 'don't bother'.
June 8, 2020
Single mum Chloe is a busy person and like everyone forgets things occasionally. Most of the time it doesn’t matter but when she forgets her daughters music for an audition things just couldn’t get any worse as the last thing she wants to do is let her daughter Freya down. Just at the moment when Chloe needs a knight in shining armour one appears. To thank this man for his kindness, Chloe decides to track him down but when so does, instead of meeting her hero she meets Nadine. Nadine claims that this man who saved Freya’s audition from being total disaster is actually a dangerous compulsive liar that Chloe must avoid getting involved in at all costs.
Although Chloe knows that given this information the sensible thing would be to walk away – she can’t. Will Chloe find out the truth about this man before she puts herself and her daughter in danger?
Although Chloe knows that given this information the sensible thing would be to walk away – she can’t. Will Chloe find out the truth about this man before she puts herself and her daughter in danger?
August 15, 2015
This was a quick read. If your interested in seeing what this authors writing is like then this is the ideal read.
After a stranger helps Chloe and her daughter out Chloe wants to thank him. However things don't go to plan. Even though her friend doubts his sincerity Chloe sees him for who he is.
I'm giving this a 3.5. It's a quick read that certainly had me thinking. However I thought that the lead up would have given me more than the disappointing ending. I would have liked to see more to the ending. Good read though.
After a stranger helps Chloe and her daughter out Chloe wants to thank him. However things don't go to plan. Even though her friend doubts his sincerity Chloe sees him for who he is.
I'm giving this a 3.5. It's a quick read that certainly had me thinking. However I thought that the lead up would have given me more than the disappointing ending. I would have liked to see more to the ending. Good read though.
August 11, 2015
Absolutely bad. I normally give 2 stars to anything properly proofread, but this is loaded with stupid, unlikeable characters, badly thought out scenarios, plot holes, and a pointless ending.
September 11, 2015
The Warning by Sophie Hannah is a 2015 Witness Impulse Publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher and Edelweiss.
The Warning is a suspenseful novella that might give you a little something to chew on. For a short story, I thought the author did an excellent job of creating a dark and atmospheric situation that had me feeling a little jumpy and uneasy.
One part of me was sure I knew which direction the story would take, while another part of me couldn't decide who to believe or who could be trusted.
A stranger steps in and saves the day for Chloe and her daughter. Now, Chloe wants to show her gratitude by bringing the man a gift. On the surface this seems like human nature at it's best. But, looking up a total stranger could have dire consequences, especially when Chloe is given a strong warning to stay clear of Tom.
Each character is suspect, each could have his or her own agenda, or they could be totally innocent and only trying to be helpful. You will have to decide for yourself, if you can, who you should trust… or not.
A menacing, sinister, thought provoking story that will have you questioning your own paranoia and ability to decipher who to trust in your everyday dealings with friends or strangers.
I thought the book touched on some interesting themes, by drawing the characters in such a way as to represent one extreme or another, suggesting a calm, reasonable approach might be what works best in the long run. I definitely thought about the story for a while after having finished it.
Simply taking the story at face value is allowed, but I picked up on a few finer points hidden in there too. Although the story ended in a surprising way, there were several alternate endings that could have taken it's place.
Over all this is a clever little short story worth an hour or so of your time. 4 stars
The Warning is a suspenseful novella that might give you a little something to chew on. For a short story, I thought the author did an excellent job of creating a dark and atmospheric situation that had me feeling a little jumpy and uneasy.
One part of me was sure I knew which direction the story would take, while another part of me couldn't decide who to believe or who could be trusted.
A stranger steps in and saves the day for Chloe and her daughter. Now, Chloe wants to show her gratitude by bringing the man a gift. On the surface this seems like human nature at it's best. But, looking up a total stranger could have dire consequences, especially when Chloe is given a strong warning to stay clear of Tom.
Each character is suspect, each could have his or her own agenda, or they could be totally innocent and only trying to be helpful. You will have to decide for yourself, if you can, who you should trust… or not.
A menacing, sinister, thought provoking story that will have you questioning your own paranoia and ability to decipher who to trust in your everyday dealings with friends or strangers.
I thought the book touched on some interesting themes, by drawing the characters in such a way as to represent one extreme or another, suggesting a calm, reasonable approach might be what works best in the long run. I definitely thought about the story for a while after having finished it.
Simply taking the story at face value is allowed, but I picked up on a few finer points hidden in there too. Although the story ended in a surprising way, there were several alternate endings that could have taken it's place.
Over all this is a clever little short story worth an hour or so of your time. 4 stars
July 9, 2017
Like... really?? What's the point of all these? I can't believe the book was over just like that. As if it's still in the middle of a chapter and the author just decided to quit. This was bad. The conversations were long and exaggerated, while actually they're discussing nothing, really. Don't bother.
August 27, 2016
This is the first short story of Hannah’s I’ve read. I fell firmly on the shelf with the novel Little Face and felt the author’s identify hadn’t yet been fully established. This was perhaps a brave choice of her many novels to be shortened into a quick read, bearing in mind the heavy topic. Chloe and her young daughter are approached by a stranger who quite literally saves the day and retrieves daughter’s sheet music for an important audition. Afterward, Chloe sets out to find the handsome stranger using only his name; in a modern world this doesn’t take very long, as you can imagine.
Of all the genres of books, psychological thriller is perhaps one of few which don’t necessarily transpire once it’s cut down into a little over a hundred pages. The characters motivations and actions aren’t dealt with fully and the ending left a lot to be desired. This critique is of course coming from an editorial perspective. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the book more had I read the full version. As a reader, you live and learn.
Of all the genres of books, psychological thriller is perhaps one of few which don’t necessarily transpire once it’s cut down into a little over a hundred pages. The characters motivations and actions aren’t dealt with fully and the ending left a lot to be desired. This critique is of course coming from an editorial perspective. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the book more had I read the full version. As a reader, you live and learn.
July 25, 2015
Nothing happens in this story.
Also, approximately half of the ebook is an excerpt from "Woman with a Secret"
Also, approximately half of the ebook is an excerpt from "Woman with a Secret"
July 8, 2015
this was by far the stupidest story I've ever read. there's not much more to say. it could have been so much more but I was left like. ..."what"???
January 28, 2016
It was really bad. At one point the idiot main character decides she's in love with the stranger she just met and decides she doesn't care if he turns out to be a psychopath, she will just become a psychopath as well. Her child should be taken from her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2015
An odd and not very believable storyline; too many questions unanswered (ok, it's a Quick Read, but even so, the story should still have a beginning, middle and end). The most burning question being: Why does Chloe put up with Lorna?
January 21, 2016
Ridiculous and completely ludicrous plot. I pretty much hated all of the characters; Chloe for her stupidity, her best friend for her pompous righteousness, Tom for his sinister and creepy ways... Yet I think I was supposed to find them endearing?? Big thumbs down.
February 21, 2017
I really like Sophie Hannah, but this was beyond dire. Infantile dialogue, a colander plot, and the main character Chloe was such a simpering insipid moron that the idea she'd ever be the object of anything other than contempt was completely unbelievable. Avoid.
February 11, 2021
Quick read
June 30, 2015
Review: THE WARNING by Sophie Hannah
THE WARNING is one tremendously scary story! Right to the end, the reader doesn't know which characters are trustworthy, which are con artists, or which are simply deluded fools. I expect many devoted readers will stay awake at night trying to figure an answer; especially any reader who's ever encountered a wrong type of person, been wronged, or led astray. THE WARNING is a Don t miss, fast read, and inspires me to read all Ms. Hannah's books.
THE WARNING is one tremendously scary story! Right to the end, the reader doesn't know which characters are trustworthy, which are con artists, or which are simply deluded fools. I expect many devoted readers will stay awake at night trying to figure an answer; especially any reader who's ever encountered a wrong type of person, been wronged, or led astray. THE WARNING is a Don t miss, fast read, and inspires me to read all Ms. Hannah's books.
September 22, 2017
Actually I did not abandon it per se, but I just skimmed through the whole book as I wanted to know how it ends. It was so bad I could not bring myself to spend any more time on it. Here is a quote, to give you a hint:
"Ah, voila Mademoiselle Freya!" Tom exclaims. I don't speak French, but I'm guessing that he said something like, "Here comes the lovely Freya."
Yep. That. Bad.
"Ah, voila Mademoiselle Freya!" Tom exclaims. I don't speak French, but I'm guessing that he said something like, "Here comes the lovely Freya."
Yep. That. Bad.
January 28, 2016
If I could give this a half a star I would. I wanted a good mystery to destress before bed and this did not fit the bill. Contrived, poorly written, not even remotely suspenseful and a waste of time. Good thing it's a super quick read!
July 27, 2015
On finishing this short story, I feel cheated. The hasty excuse for an ending does not justify the time spent reading the build up to.....absolutely nothing.
March 18, 2024
Glad it was a short story!
Usually love Sophie Hannah but this just fell completely flat!
Usually love Sophie Hannah but this just fell completely flat!
November 26, 2017
Very inteesting short story. I do not like the detectives Sophie Hannah created but the writing style and plots area always amazing. I like to see each of these books as standalones with some annoying police people getting in the way of good characters.
November 19, 2019
I read this book for 10 Minute Book Club at the local library and it was a waste of my reading time. The characters were awful and the story was nonsense. Thank goodness it was a Quick Read, which are always a bit hit and miss, I've found.
May 30, 2022
This was an ok read but the ending was a bit abrupt.
October 10, 2025
Great book. Really enjoyable. All about people's Suscipion about others.
September 13, 2022
Abrupt ending, but generally kept my attention.
August 5, 2015
Chloe is a single mom, and on the day of her daughter's audition for a musical, she's unknowingly left the sheet music in her car, in a garage that's too far away to retrieve in time for the audition. Tom Rigbey (aka an errant knight) comes to her rescue on his speedy steed (aka his bicycle) and retrieves the sheet music just in the nick of time. When Chloe tracks Tom down and provides him with a "thank you" gift, she receives a strange warning from one of Tom's coworkers. Chloe doesn't pay heed to the warning so her best friend pulls in a police officer to launch a friendly investigation into Tom. Should Chloe listen to these warnings or follow her heart?
The Warning is a very quick read at under 100 pages. Ms. Hannah has provided the reader with a thriller that pulls the reader in from page one. I found most of the action in The Warning to be plausible and realistic, except for the notion of "love at first sight." (Is it possible to be attracted to someone at first sight? Yes! Is it possible to fall in love with someone that you know absolutely nothing about? I don't think so.) Personal prejudices aside, if you're looking for a quick and thrilling read with romantic overtones, then grab a copy of The Warning.
The Warning is a very quick read at under 100 pages. Ms. Hannah has provided the reader with a thriller that pulls the reader in from page one. I found most of the action in The Warning to be plausible and realistic, except for the notion of "love at first sight." (Is it possible to be attracted to someone at first sight? Yes! Is it possible to fall in love with someone that you know absolutely nothing about? I don't think so.) Personal prejudices aside, if you're looking for a quick and thrilling read with romantic overtones, then grab a copy of The Warning.
February 16, 2015
I love quick reads, they allow you to experience authors you may never of read before and you could discover a really great one.
Sophie Hannah is an author I have heard a lot about but have never read one of her books. This was the perfect opportunity for me to experience her writing style in a Quick Read.
This book had all the aspects that could have made it great, unfortunately I was let down by it. I found it to be a little silly and disappointed with the plot.
Chloe and Lorna's relationship was great,I also liked Tom, I did think his behavior was a little strange - this seemed to be further into the book I got. I loved the first few chapters and I found the book to be an incredible easy read; the chapters were short, this was perfect for short time I had as I was able to continue with the story.
Unfortunately as time went on I began to get a little fed up with the read as I thought it was a little unbelievable.
This was my first experience of Hannah and to be honest I am still undecided as to whether I would read another by her.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie Hannah is an author I have heard a lot about but have never read one of her books. This was the perfect opportunity for me to experience her writing style in a Quick Read.
This book had all the aspects that could have made it great, unfortunately I was let down by it. I found it to be a little silly and disappointed with the plot.
Chloe and Lorna's relationship was great,I also liked Tom, I did think his behavior was a little strange - this seemed to be further into the book I got. I loved the first few chapters and I found the book to be an incredible easy read; the chapters were short, this was perfect for short time I had as I was able to continue with the story.
Unfortunately as time went on I began to get a little fed up with the read as I thought it was a little unbelievable.
This was my first experience of Hannah and to be honest I am still undecided as to whether I would read another by her.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2015
This was a nice, short read if you're in the mood for a bit of a puzzle.
Chloe and her daughter are on the way to an event that is very important to her daughter. They run into a bit of a jam - and are offered help by a kind man on his bicycle.
This starts a new relationship for Chloe that kind of turns her world into a tailspin.
I enjoyed the story and wanted to figure out the puzzle, and I must say - I didn't figure it out. However, this is a short story so things moved a bit too quickly for me as far as the interaction between Chloe and this new person in her life. Maybe if it had been a bit longer, there could have been a bit more added to make that just a bit more believable.
Further, if I could have reached through a book and strangled a character, I would have to Chloe's best friend. I've never seen a BFF with more of a pessimistic, gloomy outlook than this one; as well as someone who has no faith in their friend and her choices.
I give this book 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I think if it were a bit longer with more character development, it would've rated higher. However, you do find yourself a bit curious about "the puzzle" and that makes it hard to put down.
Chloe and her daughter are on the way to an event that is very important to her daughter. They run into a bit of a jam - and are offered help by a kind man on his bicycle.
This starts a new relationship for Chloe that kind of turns her world into a tailspin.
I enjoyed the story and wanted to figure out the puzzle, and I must say - I didn't figure it out. However, this is a short story so things moved a bit too quickly for me as far as the interaction between Chloe and this new person in her life. Maybe if it had been a bit longer, there could have been a bit more added to make that just a bit more believable.
Further, if I could have reached through a book and strangled a character, I would have to Chloe's best friend. I've never seen a BFF with more of a pessimistic, gloomy outlook than this one; as well as someone who has no faith in their friend and her choices.
I give this book 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I think if it were a bit longer with more character development, it would've rated higher. However, you do find yourself a bit curious about "the puzzle" and that makes it hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews