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The Primrose Path
As a teenager, Sarah D'Villez famously escaped a man who abducted and held her hostage for eleven days. The case became notorious, with Sarah's face splashed across the front of every newspaper in the country.
Now, seventeen years later, that man is about to be released from prison. Fearful of the media storm that is sure to follow, Sarah decides to flee to rural Wales under a new identity, telling nobody where she's gone.
Settling into the small community she is now part of, Sarah soon realises that someone is watching her. Someone who seems to know everything about her
Now, seventeen years later, that man is about to be released from prison. Fearful of the media storm that is sure to follow, Sarah decides to flee to rural Wales under a new identity, telling nobody where she's gone.
Settling into the small community she is now part of, Sarah soon realises that someone is watching her. Someone who seems to know everything about her
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2016
35 people are currently reading
1055 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Griffiths
10 books115 followersPRAISE FOR REBECCA GRIFFITHS:
'Twisty, atmospheric and elegantly written, it has echoes of Daphne du Maurier with its shivering paranoia, fear and dread.' The Daily Mail
'An increasingly tense narrative with stylish writing that keeps her a cut above most of her rivals' The Guardian
‘A chilling thriller . . . brilliantly written.’ The Sun
'Truly chilling.' Woman
‘There is something of the tenterhooks tension of a Daphne du Maurier to Rebecca Griffith’s dreamy and disturbing domestic thriller . . . Griffiths has a superb handle on her characters and their twisting motivations, spinning out a story of memory and long-term consequence that grips from cover to cover.’ Waterstones
'Tense, intriguing, with a satisfying twist.' The Western Mail
'Eerie and tense.' The Morning Star
'Gripping.' Hello
'Creepy.' Heat
'Twisty, atmospheric and elegantly written, it has echoes of Daphne du Maurier with its shivering paranoia, fear and dread.' The Daily Mail
'An increasingly tense narrative with stylish writing that keeps her a cut above most of her rivals' The Guardian
‘A chilling thriller . . . brilliantly written.’ The Sun
'Truly chilling.' Woman
‘There is something of the tenterhooks tension of a Daphne du Maurier to Rebecca Griffith’s dreamy and disturbing domestic thriller . . . Griffiths has a superb handle on her characters and their twisting motivations, spinning out a story of memory and long-term consequence that grips from cover to cover.’ Waterstones
'Tense, intriguing, with a satisfying twist.' The Western Mail
'Eerie and tense.' The Morning Star
'Gripping.' Hello
'Creepy.' Heat
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
August 28, 2017
My expectations for The Primrose Path were quite high, based purely on the rather intriguing summary, as I'd not heard much about it. The book's atmosphere does live up to that slightly eerie cover and the anticipated story, however, I found it quite slow paced and plodding at times, that I took me a fairly long while to get through it. I did find the characters well developed, even though I disliked every one of them (okay, Dai and Mrs. Pepper were fine...). The twist the story was working towards in the end felt a little rushed for such a slow paced book and when the final resolution came, the whole story was wrapped up in the space of a handful of pages.
This is a bit of a spoiler, but I also found it a little irritating that one of the narrators proved entirely unreliable, shifting from victim to perpetrator. Overall, probably not a book that will linger too long in my memory.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
This is a bit of a spoiler, but I also found it a little irritating that one of the narrators proved entirely unreliable, shifting from victim to perpetrator. Overall, probably not a book that will linger too long in my memory.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
The first section of this book - simply titled "50 years before" - is a challenging read. Dark and quite nasty, it does manage to set a tone for this book of lurking evil. However even in this section and for the whole of the book, I found it very readable. The voices vary in the chapters however it was always clear to me who it was I was reading about. This story is set around Sarah, known as Rachel, who had been abducted in a high profile case some years earlier. She learns that her abductor is due to be released from prison having served his sentence and so she leaves her life, friends and family in London and moves to a remote part of south Wales on the edge of the Brecon Beacons as Rachel. While the area is remote there are four properties that are not far distant from each other and so, in addition to Rachel, we gradually find out more about the Morgans as well as Dai and Idris.
In general the characters in this story are well written and very strong. I found myself totally absorbed in the book. For me the writing is exceptional; there is a Welsh feel to the narrative with some really lovely turns of phrase that were a joy to read however dark they were. The writing has a lilt and a richness to it which is not something I come across very often. This is a book that doesn't explain everything as it goes along; it is a book that allows the reader to piece together the story themselves rather than serving it up whole. In practice there are a number of threads or stories active in this and I often found myself wondering just what would be revealed by the end. It is also very twisted and mostly in a good way.
However I find it quite hard to work out just why the ending didn't really work for me. I'm writing this review some days after I finished the book and I wanted to reflect on it before reviewing it. I would stress it is not that the ending is bad or doesn't work - I think I just didn't really like it. It is impossible for me to explain my feelings without giving away a rather important aspect of the story which I am simply not prepared to do as it is such a great tale overall. Certainly others will be happy with the ending I'm sure - I just hope they love the book as much as I did. I would really like to read another book by this author - it was beautifully written and completely absorbing and will almost certainly be one of my top books of this year.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In general the characters in this story are well written and very strong. I found myself totally absorbed in the book. For me the writing is exceptional; there is a Welsh feel to the narrative with some really lovely turns of phrase that were a joy to read however dark they were. The writing has a lilt and a richness to it which is not something I come across very often. This is a book that doesn't explain everything as it goes along; it is a book that allows the reader to piece together the story themselves rather than serving it up whole. In practice there are a number of threads or stories active in this and I often found myself wondering just what would be revealed by the end. It is also very twisted and mostly in a good way.
However I find it quite hard to work out just why the ending didn't really work for me. I'm writing this review some days after I finished the book and I wanted to reflect on it before reviewing it. I would stress it is not that the ending is bad or doesn't work - I think I just didn't really like it. It is impossible for me to explain my feelings without giving away a rather important aspect of the story which I am simply not prepared to do as it is such a great tale overall. Certainly others will be happy with the ending I'm sure - I just hope they love the book as much as I did. I would really like to read another book by this author - it was beautifully written and completely absorbing and will almost certainly be one of my top books of this year.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
July 15, 2016
This book is very intriguing from the quite shocking opening chapter.
From there, the book sends you into a wonderful, dreamy and well-written story. The pace is a what I would call a nice canter. Don't get me wrong, even with the mellow pace to start, it never once averted my attention. It is so cleverly written. The writing, the plot, and the whole balance made it such a pleasure to read. Strong characters and some wonderful use of written welsh dialogue added to the whole atmosphere and experience. And...the end is quite revealing - I promise!
This is an outstanding debut and It leaves me hungry for more.
An easy 5* - Brilliant!
From there, the book sends you into a wonderful, dreamy and well-written story. The pace is a what I would call a nice canter. Don't get me wrong, even with the mellow pace to start, it never once averted my attention. It is so cleverly written. The writing, the plot, and the whole balance made it such a pleasure to read. Strong characters and some wonderful use of written welsh dialogue added to the whole atmosphere and experience. And...the end is quite revealing - I promise!
This is an outstanding debut and It leaves me hungry for more.
An easy 5* - Brilliant!
March 2, 2016
The Primrose Path is a twisty delight of a tale, brilliantly constructed, highly addictive and with some great characters and a winding beautifully written plot that is really engaging.
So you've got Sarah (Or Rachel as she now calls herself) running away from her past and finding a new life in a small Welsh community. Making new friends, trying to leave the horror behind, it seems idyllic. But a difficult neighbour and a string of murders in a nearby town threaten to spoil the new life she is trying to find..
One of the things I loved about The Primrose Path was the truly intriguing character studies Rebecca Griffiths presents as we see various lives unfolding. Rachel herself of course, but also her Mother left behind, various people living in the community and other more peripheral characters. Intermingled with these the voice of a killer...
Everybody has something to hide, the psychological depth given to each individual makes for a really fascinating read as you try to sort out which secrets are important and which are just human nature, those things we all keep hidden within. I was particularly intrigued by Idris who I had a strange kind of sympathy for despite his, erm, not so nice nature. He is just one of a number of brilliantly drawn characters who make this so good.
Added to that descriptively Rachel Griffiths has a wonderful way with language, making you see the beauty and the wild heart of Wales, but also giving a real sense to what each character is feeling and how they are reacting to events. Overall it just gives an added something to an already captivating story.
Reading as many twisty tales as I do, I did see where the author was going with this around halfway through - but not in its entirety there are a lot of surprises to be had here, not just one simple resolution. Another reason why it is so good - an intelligent character driven story that is genuinely fun to read.
Highly Recommended
So you've got Sarah (Or Rachel as she now calls herself) running away from her past and finding a new life in a small Welsh community. Making new friends, trying to leave the horror behind, it seems idyllic. But a difficult neighbour and a string of murders in a nearby town threaten to spoil the new life she is trying to find..
One of the things I loved about The Primrose Path was the truly intriguing character studies Rebecca Griffiths presents as we see various lives unfolding. Rachel herself of course, but also her Mother left behind, various people living in the community and other more peripheral characters. Intermingled with these the voice of a killer...
Everybody has something to hide, the psychological depth given to each individual makes for a really fascinating read as you try to sort out which secrets are important and which are just human nature, those things we all keep hidden within. I was particularly intrigued by Idris who I had a strange kind of sympathy for despite his, erm, not so nice nature. He is just one of a number of brilliantly drawn characters who make this so good.
Added to that descriptively Rachel Griffiths has a wonderful way with language, making you see the beauty and the wild heart of Wales, but also giving a real sense to what each character is feeling and how they are reacting to events. Overall it just gives an added something to an already captivating story.
Reading as many twisty tales as I do, I did see where the author was going with this around halfway through - but not in its entirety there are a lot of surprises to be had here, not just one simple resolution. Another reason why it is so good - an intelligent character driven story that is genuinely fun to read.
Highly Recommended
September 8, 2016
To start with I enjoyed this book, it made me think and kept me guessing, but then it seemed to turn a bit messy and opened up a lot of questions that I assumed would be answered by the end but as it turns out they weren't. (There's always the chance that the following questions were answered in the book and I just didn't catch it, in which case, soz Griffiths!)
Millions of spoilers from here:
1. As it turns out in Beth's interview with the press, and later in Rachel/Sarah's own narrative, the whole abduction and murder by John were nothing of the sort. I would have thought this was a nice twist, except from Rachel's own thoughts we see how (we thought) she believed everything played out, including the arrival at the stables. I would say that the "I didn't stand a chance" which we interpreted to mean John abducted her meant really that she didn't stand a chance and "fell for him", however she has panic attacks when around horses and struggles to be alone with a man because she's supposedly scarred. Why would these things happen to her when she knows what really happened? It could be that she ended up convincing herself that the abduction and rape were real, however this wouldn't really make sense as she so casually mentions the truth when thinking about her relationship with Graham.
2. When Idris attacked Dai, how long was it before he was found by Glynis? I assumed he was dead as the blood had started to dry and he wasn't breathing, but Anthony's casual "dad can't wait to see you" obviously means that he somehow miraculously survived.
3. How old was Beth when she was pregnant with John? I think it was about fourteen. Was it Dai's baby or was it one of her brothers'? How does she know for sure, considering the awful shit she was subjected to all the time?
4. What became of Graham and Rachel's mother? Two fairly important characters that weren't given any kind of ending. What did Rachel's mother do when she found out where her daughter was? What was her reaction when it's discovered what really happened seventeen years ago? It seems as though these are things that should be addressed and there's no real reason why they wouldn't have been.
Overall I thought the story itself could have made a great book but for the messiness and the padding of misplaced thoughts and feelings of the narrated characters that only served to mislead us from the big twist.
Millions of spoilers from here:
1. As it turns out in Beth's interview with the press, and later in Rachel/Sarah's own narrative, the whole abduction and murder by John were nothing of the sort. I would have thought this was a nice twist, except from Rachel's own thoughts we see how (we thought) she believed everything played out, including the arrival at the stables. I would say that the "I didn't stand a chance" which we interpreted to mean John abducted her meant really that she didn't stand a chance and "fell for him", however she has panic attacks when around horses and struggles to be alone with a man because she's supposedly scarred. Why would these things happen to her when she knows what really happened? It could be that she ended up convincing herself that the abduction and rape were real, however this wouldn't really make sense as she so casually mentions the truth when thinking about her relationship with Graham.
2. When Idris attacked Dai, how long was it before he was found by Glynis? I assumed he was dead as the blood had started to dry and he wasn't breathing, but Anthony's casual "dad can't wait to see you" obviously means that he somehow miraculously survived.
3. How old was Beth when she was pregnant with John? I think it was about fourteen. Was it Dai's baby or was it one of her brothers'? How does she know for sure, considering the awful shit she was subjected to all the time?
4. What became of Graham and Rachel's mother? Two fairly important characters that weren't given any kind of ending. What did Rachel's mother do when she found out where her daughter was? What was her reaction when it's discovered what really happened seventeen years ago? It seems as though these are things that should be addressed and there's no real reason why they wouldn't have been.
Overall I thought the story itself could have made a great book but for the messiness and the padding of misplaced thoughts and feelings of the narrated characters that only served to mislead us from the big twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2018
What started out as a promising, twisted plot became a confused mix of poorly connected storylines with too many characters.
The writing style is faux Daphne du Maurier but doesn't quite match the same degree of control du Maurier had over language. If Griffiths had stripped back the unnecessary overuse of adjectives this would have read much better. In what realm can you describe a sheep as having wool like "lanolin-laced jelly"!? It doesn't make sense and, sadly, most of the book is written in this manner.
I didn't get chills from the 'dark atmosphere' being projected; I simply rolled my eyes at the forced metaphors and not-so-subtle foreshadowing.
The plot is very clumsy and all over the place for most of the book. There are several storylines that are only partially drawn together at the end. There was also a lot of repetition of basic plot details - it read like the author was trying to sprinkle bread crumbs the size of bricks!
Overall, a very disappointing book. With tighter editing this could have been a standout read.
The writing style is faux Daphne du Maurier but doesn't quite match the same degree of control du Maurier had over language. If Griffiths had stripped back the unnecessary overuse of adjectives this would have read much better. In what realm can you describe a sheep as having wool like "lanolin-laced jelly"!? It doesn't make sense and, sadly, most of the book is written in this manner.
I didn't get chills from the 'dark atmosphere' being projected; I simply rolled my eyes at the forced metaphors and not-so-subtle foreshadowing.
The plot is very clumsy and all over the place for most of the book. There are several storylines that are only partially drawn together at the end. There was also a lot of repetition of basic plot details - it read like the author was trying to sprinkle bread crumbs the size of bricks!
Overall, a very disappointing book. With tighter editing this could have been a standout read.
August 28, 2016
The Primrose Path was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. The characters come to life in a community so real I had the the sense of being a part of it. I have recently read 'The Black Eyed Susans' which is also a dark psychological thriller but I much preferred the suspense and atmosphere of the 'The Primrose Path'. It is a brilliantly written book and I can't wait to read more from this talented author.
May 30, 2016
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com.
The Primrose Path begins as a fairly slow burner of a story and, bit by bit, develops into a really page turner, filled with mystery and suspense and that slow realisation that nothing is quite as it seems. The synopsis makes it sound like it's all about the crime that happened to Sarah, but actually the story is about so much more than just that, and not at all like the many other crime/ thriller novels out at the moment about missing people.
The writing in this novel is fantastic; Rebecca Griffiths strikes the perfect balance between including plenty of description, without being too one winded. She really paints the scene in the reader's head, including details such as what someone is eating, how they're eating it and the feelings they have whilst eating it. All this information is given that at times seems surplus to the story, but all contributes to really helps the reader understand, and want to read more about, the characters - who themselves are indeed complex and mysterious. No one is perfect - everyone has their own flaws and negative traits.
There are actually very few characters that aren't hiding something; their secrets ranging from the small to the devastating. I loved this about The Primrose Path; the way some people aren't quite what they seem, whilst others are exactly who they profess to be. I reached the end of the end of the book and gave a smile of satisfaction with the twists and turns of the book's journey.
The first half of the book definitely starts more slowly, taking its time to introduce characters. This is a good job, really, because there are lots of different people, with different relationships and links to each other, to get your head around, and it took me a little while to do this myself. Because of this, I did wonder if I'd soon lose interest, but once the characters are a little more established the story ramps up a gear, and you begin to understand the secrets lurking beneath the surface... Or you think you understand, anyway! Though saying this, the story never seems to need to rely on dramatics or crazy stunts to keep the reader interested; Griffith's skilled writing does that without any help! Make sure you keep reading on and I'm sure you'll find yourself sucked in as I did!
I'd definitely recommend this novel - it slowly draws you in, leaving you feeling, at the end, that you haven't wasted a moment reading it. Entertaining, atmospheric and raw.
* Many thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
The Primrose Path begins as a fairly slow burner of a story and, bit by bit, develops into a really page turner, filled with mystery and suspense and that slow realisation that nothing is quite as it seems. The synopsis makes it sound like it's all about the crime that happened to Sarah, but actually the story is about so much more than just that, and not at all like the many other crime/ thriller novels out at the moment about missing people.
The writing in this novel is fantastic; Rebecca Griffiths strikes the perfect balance between including plenty of description, without being too one winded. She really paints the scene in the reader's head, including details such as what someone is eating, how they're eating it and the feelings they have whilst eating it. All this information is given that at times seems surplus to the story, but all contributes to really helps the reader understand, and want to read more about, the characters - who themselves are indeed complex and mysterious. No one is perfect - everyone has their own flaws and negative traits.
There are actually very few characters that aren't hiding something; their secrets ranging from the small to the devastating. I loved this about The Primrose Path; the way some people aren't quite what they seem, whilst others are exactly who they profess to be. I reached the end of the end of the book and gave a smile of satisfaction with the twists and turns of the book's journey.
The first half of the book definitely starts more slowly, taking its time to introduce characters. This is a good job, really, because there are lots of different people, with different relationships and links to each other, to get your head around, and it took me a little while to do this myself. Because of this, I did wonder if I'd soon lose interest, but once the characters are a little more established the story ramps up a gear, and you begin to understand the secrets lurking beneath the surface... Or you think you understand, anyway! Though saying this, the story never seems to need to rely on dramatics or crazy stunts to keep the reader interested; Griffith's skilled writing does that without any help! Make sure you keep reading on and I'm sure you'll find yourself sucked in as I did!
I'd definitely recommend this novel - it slowly draws you in, leaving you feeling, at the end, that you haven't wasted a moment reading it. Entertaining, atmospheric and raw.
* Many thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
March 24, 2016
Wow what a wonderfully twisty tale this book is! It is a beautifully written, dark and totally atmospheric story full of the most wonderful characters! I have become so absorbed in the Welsh countryside that I felt like I was almost there on the hillsides with the sheep and the most gorgeously described border collie. This book is going to be quite a bestseller for Rebecca Griffiths I think and definitely one to watch out for.
The story starts off fifty years ago with a very shocking family secret that made me question where the book was going to go and how it was connected to Rachel whom we then meet in the present day. The story is told from Rachel's point of view but also from Rachel's mother Jennifer-although she knows Rachel by her original name of Sarah-and a series killer who is hunting for young women in the seaside resorts nearby. We come to find out that Rachel has changed her name to escape the public eye after she was abducted and raped as a 19 year old by a man who is about to be paroled. But has trouble followed Rachel? Her neighbour is a very creepy farmer who seems obsessed by her and isn't taking no for an answer!
I have a pretty good eye for twists in suspense novels but this one I had to admit I didn't see coming! There are red herrings galore in the characters we come to meet along the way. But it was the sumptuous descriptions of the locations and the characters that made this much more than your usual psychological suspense. Idris was so cleverly drawn that even though we know he isn't the nicest of men, we understand that his lack of nurturing has lead to him not understanding boundaries or the rights and wrongs of his actions. And Rachel herself, who struggles with friendships and relationships not just after what happened to her but also due to her relationship with her parents, is very much a complex woman whom we struggle to empathise with.
I adored this book and welcomed the time I was able to shut myself away with it and immerse myself in the luscious surroundings of Rachel's little country cottage- a true escape from the world! If this is the author's debut novel then I am very excited to see where she goes from here!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
The story starts off fifty years ago with a very shocking family secret that made me question where the book was going to go and how it was connected to Rachel whom we then meet in the present day. The story is told from Rachel's point of view but also from Rachel's mother Jennifer-although she knows Rachel by her original name of Sarah-and a series killer who is hunting for young women in the seaside resorts nearby. We come to find out that Rachel has changed her name to escape the public eye after she was abducted and raped as a 19 year old by a man who is about to be paroled. But has trouble followed Rachel? Her neighbour is a very creepy farmer who seems obsessed by her and isn't taking no for an answer!
I have a pretty good eye for twists in suspense novels but this one I had to admit I didn't see coming! There are red herrings galore in the characters we come to meet along the way. But it was the sumptuous descriptions of the locations and the characters that made this much more than your usual psychological suspense. Idris was so cleverly drawn that even though we know he isn't the nicest of men, we understand that his lack of nurturing has lead to him not understanding boundaries or the rights and wrongs of his actions. And Rachel herself, who struggles with friendships and relationships not just after what happened to her but also due to her relationship with her parents, is very much a complex woman whom we struggle to empathise with.
I adored this book and welcomed the time I was able to shut myself away with it and immerse myself in the luscious surroundings of Rachel's little country cottage- a true escape from the world! If this is the author's debut novel then I am very excited to see where she goes from here!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
February 5, 2017
Such a fantastic thriller! Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, The Primrose Path threw so many unexpected twists at the reader—twists which made me incapable of putting the book down. Dark, well-plotted and absolutely mesmerising, this was one of the best psychological thrillers I have had the pleasure of reading. Griffiths is a wonderful storyteller: the prose was so gorgeously descriptive that I really could imagine myself in the centre of all the action. I look forward to reading future works by this author!
July 20, 2017
I must admit I was a little dubious as to whether I'd like this book. The back cover said "for fans of "I Let You Go" -which I really enjoyed- & "Black-Eyed
Susans" - which I really didn't like at all - thankfully this fell into the former category as I loved it!
From the opening - the rather brutal "Fifty Years Before" - this book had me totally engrossed. The characters are all credible & well written, from the sleazy Idris (I could nearly smell him ugh!) to the rather mysterious Mrs Pepper & they are all hiding something.
The twists in the story make it a tough one to talk about without giving some of the surprises away. I frequently bemoan the fact that being told beforehand that there are twists in a story sometimes spoils it for me as it means I'm on the alert for them - & having read soooo many twisty tales I'm quite adept at spotting them! I did workout three twists (but out of how many?) & I'm happy to say that while I was on the right lines I wasn't totally correct & how refreshing it was to be kept on my toes & be pleasantly shocked as the book came to its end....
.....which brings me to my only criticism - the ending. Without wanting to give things away all I will say is that I would have preferred the book to have ended at chapter 85. While I can see that final chapter brings things full circle, for me it was a little mawkish & had a sentimentality not in keeping with the rest of the book.
Overall an excellent read & one I'd highly recommend & it can have nothing other than five well deserved stars :o)
Susans" - which I really didn't like at all - thankfully this fell into the former category as I loved it!
From the opening - the rather brutal "Fifty Years Before" - this book had me totally engrossed. The characters are all credible & well written, from the sleazy Idris (I could nearly smell him ugh!) to the rather mysterious Mrs Pepper & they are all hiding something.
The twists in the story make it a tough one to talk about without giving some of the surprises away. I frequently bemoan the fact that being told beforehand that there are twists in a story sometimes spoils it for me as it means I'm on the alert for them - & having read soooo many twisty tales I'm quite adept at spotting them! I did workout three twists (but out of how many?) & I'm happy to say that while I was on the right lines I wasn't totally correct & how refreshing it was to be kept on my toes & be pleasantly shocked as the book came to its end....
.....which brings me to my only criticism - the ending. Without wanting to give things away all I will say is that I would have preferred the book to have ended at chapter 85. While I can see that final chapter brings things full circle, for me it was a little mawkish & had a sentimentality not in keeping with the rest of the book.
Overall an excellent read & one I'd highly recommend & it can have nothing other than five well deserved stars :o)
May 2, 2016
Rebecca Griffiths groeide op in Wales. Na een succesvolle carrière in Londen, Dublin en Schotland, keerde ze hier weer terug. Met Het verkeerde pad heeft ze haar debuut geschreven.
Een boek dat al vrij snel, onlangs in Nederland verscheen, met dezelfde cover als in de auteur haar thuisland.
Sarah is als tiener ontvoerd en elf dagen vast gehouden. Ze wist destijds aan haar ontvoerder te ontkomen. Nu, jaren later, komt haar ontvoerder vrij en Sara, woonachtig in Londen, slaat bij het horen van dit nieuws op de vlucht. Ze duikt onder in een kleine dorpsgemeenschap op het platteland van Wales. Ze hoopt dat daar haar angsten verleden tijd zijn en dat haar ontvoerder en de media haar niet op het spoor zullen komen.
Het verhaal begint in het verleden met een spannende proloog, 50 jaar geleden. Hierna keren we direct terug in het heden. We maken kennis met Sarah, een vrouw op de vlucht. Ze komt terecht in een kleine gemeenschap, waar iedereen zich in eerste instantie afvraagt wie ze is en wat ze hier op dit afgelegen plekje komt doen. Een kleine gemeenschap, waar iedereen wel iets van elkaar denkt te weten. Maar ook leven er mensen in verdriet vanwege bepaalde gebeurtenissen en anderen hebben geheimen die ze liever niet aan de grote klok willen hangen. Zo maken we kennis met Dai, die nog dagelijks zijn overleden vrouw mist en met de merkwaardige Idris, de dorpsgek en een bijzonder vreemde snuiter met het nodige op zijn kerfstok. Aan de andere kant, in Londen leeft Sarah’s moeder, levend in onzekerheid, niet wetend waar haar dochter ineens gebleven is. Op een dag doet ze een schokkende ontdekking die haar dochter in gevaar zou kunnen brengen. Maar om haar te kunnen waarschuwen zal ze haar eerst moeten vinden.
Genoeg ingrediënten voor een spannend verhaal. Een verhaal dat enorm prettig leest en waar het ene karakter nog mysterieuzer (b)lijkt te zijn dan het andere. In het begin is het vooral spanning die je onder de huid kruipt. Totdat het verhaal op een gegeven moment een wending krijgt, die absoluut niemand uit de verste verte niet aan ziet komen.
Een plot, zo g-e-n-i-a-a-l dat menig auteur zou willen dat hij of zij het bedacht en geschreven had! Rebecca Griffiths heeft met dit debuut de lat voor haarzelf enorm hoog gelegd. Ik ben dan ook heel benieuwd, wanneer je zo’n debuut schrijft of je dat bij een volgende boek nog kunt overtreffen. Tijdens de laatste hoofdstukken betrapte ik mezelf erop dat ik steeds sneller ging lezen, zittend op het puntje van mijn stoel. Ik heb even getwijfeld tussen 4½ en 5 sterren. Maar door het geniale plot, wat nog lang na blijft zinderen, kan ik niet anders dan het de volle mep van 5 geven!
Griffiths, we want more!
★★★★★
Een boek dat al vrij snel, onlangs in Nederland verscheen, met dezelfde cover als in de auteur haar thuisland.
Sarah is als tiener ontvoerd en elf dagen vast gehouden. Ze wist destijds aan haar ontvoerder te ontkomen. Nu, jaren later, komt haar ontvoerder vrij en Sara, woonachtig in Londen, slaat bij het horen van dit nieuws op de vlucht. Ze duikt onder in een kleine dorpsgemeenschap op het platteland van Wales. Ze hoopt dat daar haar angsten verleden tijd zijn en dat haar ontvoerder en de media haar niet op het spoor zullen komen.
Het verhaal begint in het verleden met een spannende proloog, 50 jaar geleden. Hierna keren we direct terug in het heden. We maken kennis met Sarah, een vrouw op de vlucht. Ze komt terecht in een kleine gemeenschap, waar iedereen zich in eerste instantie afvraagt wie ze is en wat ze hier op dit afgelegen plekje komt doen. Een kleine gemeenschap, waar iedereen wel iets van elkaar denkt te weten. Maar ook leven er mensen in verdriet vanwege bepaalde gebeurtenissen en anderen hebben geheimen die ze liever niet aan de grote klok willen hangen. Zo maken we kennis met Dai, die nog dagelijks zijn overleden vrouw mist en met de merkwaardige Idris, de dorpsgek en een bijzonder vreemde snuiter met het nodige op zijn kerfstok. Aan de andere kant, in Londen leeft Sarah’s moeder, levend in onzekerheid, niet wetend waar haar dochter ineens gebleven is. Op een dag doet ze een schokkende ontdekking die haar dochter in gevaar zou kunnen brengen. Maar om haar te kunnen waarschuwen zal ze haar eerst moeten vinden.
Genoeg ingrediënten voor een spannend verhaal. Een verhaal dat enorm prettig leest en waar het ene karakter nog mysterieuzer (b)lijkt te zijn dan het andere. In het begin is het vooral spanning die je onder de huid kruipt. Totdat het verhaal op een gegeven moment een wending krijgt, die absoluut niemand uit de verste verte niet aan ziet komen.
Een plot, zo g-e-n-i-a-a-l dat menig auteur zou willen dat hij of zij het bedacht en geschreven had! Rebecca Griffiths heeft met dit debuut de lat voor haarzelf enorm hoog gelegd. Ik ben dan ook heel benieuwd, wanneer je zo’n debuut schrijft of je dat bij een volgende boek nog kunt overtreffen. Tijdens de laatste hoofdstukken betrapte ik mezelf erop dat ik steeds sneller ging lezen, zittend op het puntje van mijn stoel. Ik heb even getwijfeld tussen 4½ en 5 sterren. Maar door het geniale plot, wat nog lang na blijft zinderen, kan ik niet anders dan het de volle mep van 5 geven!
Griffiths, we want more!
★★★★★
April 6, 2016
As a teenager, Sarah D’Villez was kidnapped and held hostage for 11 days. She escaped. At the time the story was big in the media and made the headlines in all of the newspapers. The kidnapper was caught and jailed but he is due for release. To escape the renewed press interest she moves to Wales under a new name & identity. However in her new surroundings someone is watching Sarah and this someone knows all about her and the case.
This book opens with a shocking scene, which took place 50 years previously. Such a scene made me sit up and take notice but I was appalled at the depravity of fellow human beings.
This is the author’s debut novel and it is well written. Initially I found it a bit confusing with the references to Sarah and Rachel, until l realised that they were one and the same person. There are a couple of story strands running through the book but they are not confusing and were easy to follow. The author certainly knows how to ramp up the sense of drama and at times I genuinely feared what was going to happen next to one particular character. The story trundles along at a gentle pace but it gathers momentum in the second half of the book leading to a dramatic conclusion and a shock twist.
The characters are believable and authentic in that you can go to any small village and find similar individuals as those found in this book. I think that Rachel finds herself in the midst of a close knit community, where you tell somebody something and by nightfall the whole community knows. At first I think that Rachel finds this hard to deal with. Unfortunately I found that I couldn’t warm to any of the characters, which I found a bit disappointing. As the story continues it becomes obvious that each and every villager is hiding a secret.
Overall I did enjoy reading this book and I would recommend it to others. I can’t wait to read more by this talented author.
January 10, 2018
A beautifully written book, starts slow but builds up and draws you in with its strong characters and surprising ending!!
November 1, 2018
Such a beautifully written novel. Despite being a psychological thriller this one never races towards its shocking climax, but slowly and teasingly takes you there - the best way. So when the end came, I was speechless. This is how you do those so-called 'huge twists that knock you out of your seat and are announced on every cover but don't always happen.' This is how you do it. Never saw it coming, and had the most glorious ride until it did.
September 28, 2016
With thanks to Rebecca Griffiths and Sphere, I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.........
Somebody's watching her. And they know she's alone..........
When Sarah D'Villez was nineteen, she was kidnapped and held hostage for eleven days but famously escaped her abductor. The case became infamous with Sarah's face splashed across the front of every newspaper in the country.
Now, seventeen years later, that man is about to be released from prison. Fearful of the media storm that is sure to follow, Sarah (or Rachel as she's now known as) decides to disappear to rural Wales under a new identity, telling nobody where she's gone.
Settling into the small community she is now part of, Sarah soon realises that someone is watching her and this someone seems to know everything about her.............
I really, really enjoyed The Primrose Path and even though it started off well with a shocking first few pages but for me it slowed down for a little but this didn't withdraw my attention and I was gripped throughout and as I'm writing this review I think that this was Rebecca's plan to keep the reader on their toes. There is quite a lot going on in this book with the plot lines all coming together as the story proceeds a bit like the way the layers are peeled away on an onion with secrets, lies and the twist that I didn't see coming. The characters were well written and I didn't know who to trust either as I was reading it, some of them were creepy in their own way. The descriptions of the countryside of Wales was spot on, seeing as I spent a bit of time in Wales as a kid I could feel that I was there at times looking out on the surrounding landscape.
This is Rebecca's debut novel and is available on Kindle and from all good bookstores and is currently £3.99 on Kindle at the time of publication of this review so grab it while you can, you won't be disappointed so don't say I never told you so. The Primrose Path would be perfect for fans of I Let You Go and Apple Tree Yard. I am looking forward to reading the next novel from Rebecca but no pressure.
Somebody's watching her. And they know she's alone..........
When Sarah D'Villez was nineteen, she was kidnapped and held hostage for eleven days but famously escaped her abductor. The case became infamous with Sarah's face splashed across the front of every newspaper in the country.
Now, seventeen years later, that man is about to be released from prison. Fearful of the media storm that is sure to follow, Sarah (or Rachel as she's now known as) decides to disappear to rural Wales under a new identity, telling nobody where she's gone.
Settling into the small community she is now part of, Sarah soon realises that someone is watching her and this someone seems to know everything about her.............
I really, really enjoyed The Primrose Path and even though it started off well with a shocking first few pages but for me it slowed down for a little but this didn't withdraw my attention and I was gripped throughout and as I'm writing this review I think that this was Rebecca's plan to keep the reader on their toes. There is quite a lot going on in this book with the plot lines all coming together as the story proceeds a bit like the way the layers are peeled away on an onion with secrets, lies and the twist that I didn't see coming. The characters were well written and I didn't know who to trust either as I was reading it, some of them were creepy in their own way. The descriptions of the countryside of Wales was spot on, seeing as I spent a bit of time in Wales as a kid I could feel that I was there at times looking out on the surrounding landscape.
This is Rebecca's debut novel and is available on Kindle and from all good bookstores and is currently £3.99 on Kindle at the time of publication of this review so grab it while you can, you won't be disappointed so don't say I never told you so. The Primrose Path would be perfect for fans of I Let You Go and Apple Tree Yard. I am looking forward to reading the next novel from Rebecca but no pressure.
January 31, 2017
I LOVED this book!!!! If I could give The Primrose Path more stars then I would. Dark, disturbing and utterly brilliant this book is fast paced, flows beautifully and was one that I did not want to put down. Rebecca Griffiths is a very talented author, her writing style is exceptional! She had brought her characters to life so well, especially the despicable Idris Tudor. A vile evil man who I could picture in my head, could see him, practically smell him. The same goes for the setting, beautiful rural Wales, Rebecca writes with such vivid imagery setting the scene perfectly, the book is so atmospheric that I could visualise it all in my head. I find a lot of books are lacking in that so it was really refreshing to read a book that I could get so fully involved with. The primrose path has some fantastic characters and there's lots of different aspects of the story, there are a lot of twists and turns which I loved!! The end of the book came as a complete shocker to me, I did not see that coming!! So cleverly written, a fantastic creepy plot that doesn't so much keep you guessing until the end, more that it smacks you in the face at the end! I would wholeheartedly recommend this book, it's one I will definitely be reading again, and I hope that there's many more to come by this very talented author.
March 5, 2017
Listened to in audio format.
The Primrose Path has two strands to the story. Sarah D'Villez was kidnapped as a teenager and kept hostage for 11 days. Seventeen years later she is divorced from her husband and her only daughter is living with him in America. When Sarah finds out her kidnapper is about to be released from prison she runs away to Wales and changes her name to Rachel. We also get the POV from Sarah's mother Jennifer and their difficult relationship.
In Wales Rachel moves into a lovely cottage and is friends with a couple of her neighbours. The only downside is Idris whose family used to own her cottage, he is a bit unwashed and sleezy. He is attracted to Rachel and finds ways to visit her, he also steals her knickers from her washing line. We also hear the POV of a man killing young girls in Rachel's nearest town, is Rachel in danger?
I think this is the best audio book I have listened to so far in 2017. This opening chapter was very dark but then the story slowed but never got boring. This book had red herrings galore, I thought I knew the killer then changed my mind again. Highly recommended.
The Primrose Path has two strands to the story. Sarah D'Villez was kidnapped as a teenager and kept hostage for 11 days. Seventeen years later she is divorced from her husband and her only daughter is living with him in America. When Sarah finds out her kidnapper is about to be released from prison she runs away to Wales and changes her name to Rachel. We also get the POV from Sarah's mother Jennifer and their difficult relationship.
In Wales Rachel moves into a lovely cottage and is friends with a couple of her neighbours. The only downside is Idris whose family used to own her cottage, he is a bit unwashed and sleezy. He is attracted to Rachel and finds ways to visit her, he also steals her knickers from her washing line. We also hear the POV of a man killing young girls in Rachel's nearest town, is Rachel in danger?
I think this is the best audio book I have listened to so far in 2017. This opening chapter was very dark but then the story slowed but never got boring. This book had red herrings galore, I thought I knew the killer then changed my mind again. Highly recommended.
January 21, 2018
I don't read a huge amount of psychological thrillers, but I was extremely impressed by this one. Rebecca Griffiths cunningly leads the reader in a certain direction before the realisation hits you that everything you thought the novel was actually about is actually something completely different! I was stunned, not only with the plot's twists and turns but also the author's ingenuity and very clever writing.
Something else I loved about this book was the way the Welsh countryside is depicted - Griffiths is skilled at bringing the magic of rural areas alive.
As the story unfolded, it drew me in more and more until I could actually not put the book down! Truly riveting and highly recommended.
Something else I loved about this book was the way the Welsh countryside is depicted - Griffiths is skilled at bringing the magic of rural areas alive.
As the story unfolded, it drew me in more and more until I could actually not put the book down! Truly riveting and highly recommended.
April 27, 2016
This is a fantastic debut novel. It's an intriguing tale with so many twists and turns - I really didn't see them coming! A wonderfully descriptive read, conjuring up so well the close-knit (and often claustrophobic) Welsh community in which it's set. I read this in almost record time as I couldn't wait to see what happened next and who really 'dunnit' - it was (to coin a phrase), "unputdownable". Knowing the area in which the book is set and reading the familiar place names made it extra special for me. I can't wait to see what Rebecca Griffiths produces next - really looking forward to the next book.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
March 2, 2016
Was lucky enough to be given a free copy of this book - it isn't published until late March. And although I don't usually go in for this genre much, I thoroughly enjoyed The Primrose Path. Atmospheric and sensitively written, it held me from the first page (and sometimes made me cry), with its wonderful descriptions of the Welsh countryside and the cast of creepy villagers ... er, that Idris Tudor character made me want to wash my hands! And there is a massive twist (well, more than one) I didn't see coming! Will definitely be looking out for more from this writer.
November 19, 2019
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2019/1...
I have to admit I don't understand the hype around this book. With such an interesting premise, I was extremely excited to pick it up. The writing is good, it's enthralling actually. The prelude in particular absolutely blew me away. It set my expectations much too high.
However, first of all, the pace is dreadful. I though the book dragged on to the point where I actually felt like dropping it. When things began to show a modicum of interest, it would immediately become intensively descriptive again and I would think, ok what am I reading here? Surely not a mystery/thriller as I had hoped. Some parts annoyed me in particular, like a character's numerous mentions of a secret, and never developing beyond that. There was just that annoying, repetitive hint, and that was it.
So you have like 95% of the book dragging on, developing in a crazy amount of directions. On the last 5% or so, the writer attempts to solve all the mysteries she has been developing. At least I think she tried, I'm not entirely sure. The fact is it was a dreadful attempt. Not only did it feel rushed, but many things didn't make sense, and so, so much was left unanswered. With what she achieved in the rest of the book, I find there was such potential for real character development here and it was ruined, in my opinion.
And finally, the blurb was so deceptive. To this point I have no idea what this refers to: Settling into the small community she is now part of, Sarah soon realises that someone is watching her. Someone who seems to know everything about her ...
All in all, this isn't a novel I would recommend. Maybe if you like nice prose, not as a mystery though.
Spoilers below if you don't mind them:
I have to admit I don't understand the hype around this book. With such an interesting premise, I was extremely excited to pick it up. The writing is good, it's enthralling actually. The prelude in particular absolutely blew me away. It set my expectations much too high.
However, first of all, the pace is dreadful. I though the book dragged on to the point where I actually felt like dropping it. When things began to show a modicum of interest, it would immediately become intensively descriptive again and I would think, ok what am I reading here? Surely not a mystery/thriller as I had hoped. Some parts annoyed me in particular, like a character's numerous mentions of a secret, and never developing beyond that. There was just that annoying, repetitive hint, and that was it.
So you have like 95% of the book dragging on, developing in a crazy amount of directions. On the last 5% or so, the writer attempts to solve all the mysteries she has been developing. At least I think she tried, I'm not entirely sure. The fact is it was a dreadful attempt. Not only did it feel rushed, but many things didn't make sense, and so, so much was left unanswered. With what she achieved in the rest of the book, I find there was such potential for real character development here and it was ruined, in my opinion.
And finally, the blurb was so deceptive. To this point I have no idea what this refers to: Settling into the small community she is now part of, Sarah soon realises that someone is watching her. Someone who seems to know everything about her ...
All in all, this isn't a novel I would recommend. Maybe if you like nice prose, not as a mystery though.
Spoilers below if you don't mind them:
April 11, 2018
The Primrose Path is the story of a woman who was abducted by a rapist and held prisoner for 11 days when she was 19, only escaping when her attacker's crimes were discovered by his wife, whom he then murdered in a fit of rage. Now in her 30s, Sarah has inherited some money from her beloved father and, upon learning John Blundell is about to be released from prison, she dyes her blonde hair brown, changes her name to Rachel and moves to rural Wales to start a new life, without telling even her mother where she's gone.
She soon settles into her new home - but with Blundell about to leave jail any moment, how long can she remain anonymous? Moreover, the land on which her barn conversion stands has a dark history, and the man who once owned it is a lecherous truck-driver who stares at her through the window, keeps dogs locked in a shed and obsesses over his dead mother's clothes. Meanwhile, across the border in Somerset, a serial killer is preying on young blonde women, and back in Muswell Hill Rachel's mother has made a shocking discovery in her late husband's study.
As you can probably tell from that synopsis, there's quite a lot going on in this book, with several plot strands diverging and then reconvening as the story progresses. There are third-person chapters from the point of view of several characters, most notably Rachel herself, and italicised first-person chapters narrated by the unnamed Somerset serial killer. These are as dark as you'd expect them to be, but actually nowhere near as hard to read as the chapters which deal with Rachel's neighbour Idris, a man so utterly without redeeming features and so physically disgusting (hygiene isn't his thing) that I rather came to dread his appearances. It's important for the story that Idris is a grubby, socially isolated and fully dysfunctional weirdo, but there's only so many times you can read about how badly a man smells and how dirty his clothes are before it starts to feel like overkill. In fact, repetitiveness is one of my biggest issues with The Primrose Path - we are reminded of the same things far too many times over the course of the story and while I generally enjoy books that build atmosphere slowly, the lack of pace to this book is a problem at times and there are better ways of conveying certain things, such as the remoteness of Rachel's new house, without explicitly mentioning them quite so frequently.
This is also a book with a protagonist, in Rachel, that I disliked from the outset. While I certainly don't have to like a character to enjoy a book about them, unfortunately it does matter in this case: if you don't take much to Rachel at an early stage, it greatly reduces the impact of certain events that happen later on.
I did, however, enjoy the way that Rebecca Griffiths drops in more and more small details about Rachel as the story unfolds, making you question your assumptions. I also enjoyed some of the supporting characters, particularly Tracey, a farmer's wife who befriends Rachel; Dai, who has his own connection to Rachel's new home; and Rachel's mother Jennifer, who isn't a particularly pleasant woman but certainly a very interesting one, possibly the most interesting in the book.
If you like books with surprising twists, The Primrose Path isn't lacking in that regard. There's more than one of them and I didn't see the main shock coming - it's very cleverly executed right from the start, so all credit to Rebecca Griffiths for this. It's only when it's been revealed that you realise the clues were there all along, and want to kick yourself. However, there's also another surprise that comes as part of the serial killer subplot, and this was much less satisfactory. It's not only something of a cop-out plot-wise but also wildly improbable, and in combination with other elements of the story I think some might even perceive a note of borderline misogyny (although I strongly doubt this was in any way intentional). The ending also felt very rushed to me, particularly given how slowly the plot proceeds early on.
Overall, The Primrose Path is a dark and cleverly-plotted novel. The characters are vividly portrayed and the Welsh setting is beautifully evoked. I did feel, however, that it had some significant flaws, so it gets three stars from me rather than four or five.
She soon settles into her new home - but with Blundell about to leave jail any moment, how long can she remain anonymous? Moreover, the land on which her barn conversion stands has a dark history, and the man who once owned it is a lecherous truck-driver who stares at her through the window, keeps dogs locked in a shed and obsesses over his dead mother's clothes. Meanwhile, across the border in Somerset, a serial killer is preying on young blonde women, and back in Muswell Hill Rachel's mother has made a shocking discovery in her late husband's study.
As you can probably tell from that synopsis, there's quite a lot going on in this book, with several plot strands diverging and then reconvening as the story progresses. There are third-person chapters from the point of view of several characters, most notably Rachel herself, and italicised first-person chapters narrated by the unnamed Somerset serial killer. These are as dark as you'd expect them to be, but actually nowhere near as hard to read as the chapters which deal with Rachel's neighbour Idris, a man so utterly without redeeming features and so physically disgusting (hygiene isn't his thing) that I rather came to dread his appearances. It's important for the story that Idris is a grubby, socially isolated and fully dysfunctional weirdo, but there's only so many times you can read about how badly a man smells and how dirty his clothes are before it starts to feel like overkill. In fact, repetitiveness is one of my biggest issues with The Primrose Path - we are reminded of the same things far too many times over the course of the story and while I generally enjoy books that build atmosphere slowly, the lack of pace to this book is a problem at times and there are better ways of conveying certain things, such as the remoteness of Rachel's new house, without explicitly mentioning them quite so frequently.
This is also a book with a protagonist, in Rachel, that I disliked from the outset. While I certainly don't have to like a character to enjoy a book about them, unfortunately it does matter in this case: if you don't take much to Rachel at an early stage, it greatly reduces the impact of certain events that happen later on.
I did, however, enjoy the way that Rebecca Griffiths drops in more and more small details about Rachel as the story unfolds, making you question your assumptions. I also enjoyed some of the supporting characters, particularly Tracey, a farmer's wife who befriends Rachel; Dai, who has his own connection to Rachel's new home; and Rachel's mother Jennifer, who isn't a particularly pleasant woman but certainly a very interesting one, possibly the most interesting in the book.
If you like books with surprising twists, The Primrose Path isn't lacking in that regard. There's more than one of them and I didn't see the main shock coming - it's very cleverly executed right from the start, so all credit to Rebecca Griffiths for this. It's only when it's been revealed that you realise the clues were there all along, and want to kick yourself. However, there's also another surprise that comes as part of the serial killer subplot, and this was much less satisfactory. It's not only something of a cop-out plot-wise but also wildly improbable, and in combination with other elements of the story I think some might even perceive a note of borderline misogyny (although I strongly doubt this was in any way intentional). The ending also felt very rushed to me, particularly given how slowly the plot proceeds early on.
Overall, The Primrose Path is a dark and cleverly-plotted novel. The characters are vividly portrayed and the Welsh setting is beautifully evoked. I did feel, however, that it had some significant flaws, so it gets three stars from me rather than four or five.
September 3, 2023
niby historia wydaje się być ciekawa, to jakoś ciężko jest mi przez nią przebrnąć. czytam ją już dość długo i nadal końca nie widać. chociaż wszystko powoli się klaruje, dowiadujemy się kto może odpowiadać za wszystko co się wydarzyło. jednocześnie nadal nie da się stwierdzić jaki może być koniec, to jest akurat dobre, bo po co zdradzać tak szybko zakończenie, lepiej potrzymać czytelnika w niepewności. przez ostatnie 30 stron wydarzyło się tak wiele. warto było czytać do końca. wszystkie przypuszczenia które miałam początkowo się nie sprawdziły.
February 22, 2016
Review originally published here: http://girlwithherheadinabook.co.uk/2...
I read this in the spirit of trying new things – I don’t read a lot of crime fiction and the premise sounded intriguing. The central character is Sarah D’Villez, who was abducted aged nineteen and held for eleven days before being set free. Her abductor also killed his wife and after seventeen years in prison, he is due for release. Sarah disappears, afraid to face the press again. The other story-line centres around her mother who is keen to track her down again. Intriguing. Unfortunately, the plot gets bogged down in repeated side-tracks and fails to close up a number of plot-holes, meaning that it ultimately feels more garbled than gripping, which was a real shame because there was some true potential. There were times when I genuinely did not want to put the book down.
The first and fore-most problem is that from the outset, Sarah goes around being called Rachel, even internally – this is part of her battle to forge a new identity, but it also makes it hard to see her as Sarah, the girl her mother remembers. Relations between mother and daughter have long been strained and are now broken beyond repair – but this plot strand is never truly explored and lies lank on the page. Another big problem is the time-line – it is very vague what Sarah/Rachel has been doing in the intervening seventeen years – the author makes vague references to her not going outside a lot but given how happy she is to do so in her new life, it doesn’t make a great deal of sense. This very much feels like one of what I think of as ‘doll-house’ novels, where the characters sit inert until the author comes along to play with them – in short, not terribly convincing.
As I mentioned, the novel does have its moments – the description of the Welsh countryside in which Sarah/Rachel is hiding is truly beautiful. The repulsive unwashed character of Idris Tudor was the best-drawn of the whole book, I felt myself blanch with disgust at his stench on more than one occasion. I also felt that The Primrose Path almost asked some interesting questions about victim-blaming but then spun round on itself at the last minute. I think more than anything, this was a case of poor plot overwhelming good writing. The characters who we were apparently intended to root for arrive too late to arouse real interest, the twists baffle rather than amaze and I couldn’t believe that it would take seventeen years for a cleaning-lady to find something incriminating. A shame, but no doubt I will venture down the crime fiction path again.
I read this in the spirit of trying new things – I don’t read a lot of crime fiction and the premise sounded intriguing. The central character is Sarah D’Villez, who was abducted aged nineteen and held for eleven days before being set free. Her abductor also killed his wife and after seventeen years in prison, he is due for release. Sarah disappears, afraid to face the press again. The other story-line centres around her mother who is keen to track her down again. Intriguing. Unfortunately, the plot gets bogged down in repeated side-tracks and fails to close up a number of plot-holes, meaning that it ultimately feels more garbled than gripping, which was a real shame because there was some true potential. There were times when I genuinely did not want to put the book down.
The first and fore-most problem is that from the outset, Sarah goes around being called Rachel, even internally – this is part of her battle to forge a new identity, but it also makes it hard to see her as Sarah, the girl her mother remembers. Relations between mother and daughter have long been strained and are now broken beyond repair – but this plot strand is never truly explored and lies lank on the page. Another big problem is the time-line – it is very vague what Sarah/Rachel has been doing in the intervening seventeen years – the author makes vague references to her not going outside a lot but given how happy she is to do so in her new life, it doesn’t make a great deal of sense. This very much feels like one of what I think of as ‘doll-house’ novels, where the characters sit inert until the author comes along to play with them – in short, not terribly convincing.
As I mentioned, the novel does have its moments – the description of the Welsh countryside in which Sarah/Rachel is hiding is truly beautiful. The repulsive unwashed character of Idris Tudor was the best-drawn of the whole book, I felt myself blanch with disgust at his stench on more than one occasion. I also felt that The Primrose Path almost asked some interesting questions about victim-blaming but then spun round on itself at the last minute. I think more than anything, this was a case of poor plot overwhelming good writing. The characters who we were apparently intended to root for arrive too late to arouse real interest, the twists baffle rather than amaze and I couldn’t believe that it would take seventeen years for a cleaning-lady to find something incriminating. A shame, but no doubt I will venture down the crime fiction path again.
August 19, 2016
A good solid debut novel with a great plot twist. I always like to guess early on, who did what and I was way of the mark with this one!
This book is an odd one though, for the most part, I was reading along, enjoying the mellow pace, waiting, waiting, waiting for that dramatic revelation, the suspense slowly building...finding I didn't really like any of the characters, they all seemed a bit dull, yet I wasn't put off and actively wanted to keep reading.
Then the plot twist, kudos to the author, I thought it was very cleverly put together. I don't want to add any spoilers but I did say out loud 'wow' when it was revealed.
My only niggle with this book was how late the revelation came, at times I found myself wondering how much longer before something was going to happen, when was I going to be 'wowed'? And don't get me wrong, in the last 10% of this book, I was 'wowed'. I would have liked to see some little 'wows' along the way to deepen the suspense and build my excitement that little bit more. (And now I believe I have fully exhausted the use of the word 'wow' :D)
This book has been described by some booksellers as a thriller, however, I think my local library was correct in labelling it under adventure as that more accurately described the type of story this it was.
This book is an odd one though, for the most part, I was reading along, enjoying the mellow pace, waiting, waiting, waiting for that dramatic revelation, the suspense slowly building...finding I didn't really like any of the characters, they all seemed a bit dull, yet I wasn't put off and actively wanted to keep reading.
Then the plot twist, kudos to the author, I thought it was very cleverly put together. I don't want to add any spoilers but I did say out loud 'wow' when it was revealed.
My only niggle with this book was how late the revelation came, at times I found myself wondering how much longer before something was going to happen, when was I going to be 'wowed'? And don't get me wrong, in the last 10% of this book, I was 'wowed'. I would have liked to see some little 'wows' along the way to deepen the suspense and build my excitement that little bit more. (And now I believe I have fully exhausted the use of the word 'wow' :D)
This book has been described by some booksellers as a thriller, however, I think my local library was correct in labelling it under adventure as that more accurately described the type of story this it was.
Read
March 1, 2019Told from several points of view, this is a twisty tale with believable characters and a good plot. It follows Sarah, who was abducted and held hostage seventeen years ago. Now the man who abducted her is being released from prison.
Fearful of the man, as well as the media storm that is sure to follow, Sarah flees to rural Wales and sets up a new identity there. But someone is watching her.
The writing is very good and fantastically atmospheric, the pacing good, although perhaps not fast enough in my opinion. But the real killer was the twist at the end. Totally surprised me! I look forward to reading more from Rebecca Griffiths.
Fearful of the man, as well as the media storm that is sure to follow, Sarah flees to rural Wales and sets up a new identity there. But someone is watching her.
The writing is very good and fantastically atmospheric, the pacing good, although perhaps not fast enough in my opinion. But the real killer was the twist at the end. Totally surprised me! I look forward to reading more from Rebecca Griffiths.
September 3, 2016
The Primrose Path What a fab read! Once started, couldn't put it down. The descriptions of the Welsh countryside were so vivid and the twist in the plot, so unexpected. Looking forward to the author's next novel.
March 31, 2016
If you live in Wales you will appreciate Rebecca's beautiful descriptions of the landscape as they are so accurate. A thoroughly enjoyable read with interesting characters who you come to love or hate. Watch out for the twists!
July 17, 2016
I absolutely loved the Welsh setting in this book! And that ending!!!!!!
I don't want to give anything away but if you want a good thriller set in Wales, please pick this up! I'm really looking forward Rebecca Griffiths' next book! I loved her writing style.
I don't want to give anything away but if you want a good thriller set in Wales, please pick this up! I'm really looking forward Rebecca Griffiths' next book! I loved her writing style.
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