What do you think?
Rate this book
No Turning Back
You’d kill to protect your child – wouldn’t you?
When radio presenter Anna Graves and her baby are attacked on the beach by a crazed teenager, Anna reacts instinctively to protect her daughter.
But her life falls apart when the schoolboy dies from his injuries. The police believe Anna’s story, until the autopsy results reveal something more sinister.
A frenzied media attack sends Anna into a spiral of self-doubt. Her precarious mental state is further threatened when she receives a chilling message from someone claiming to be the ‘Ophelia Killer’, responsible for a series of murders twenty years ago.
Is Anna as innocent as she claims? And is murder forgivable, if committed to save your child’s life…?
When radio presenter Anna Graves and her baby are attacked on the beach by a crazed teenager, Anna reacts instinctively to protect her daughter.
But her life falls apart when the schoolboy dies from his injuries. The police believe Anna’s story, until the autopsy results reveal something more sinister.
A frenzied media attack sends Anna into a spiral of self-doubt. Her precarious mental state is further threatened when she receives a chilling message from someone claiming to be the ‘Ophelia Killer’, responsible for a series of murders twenty years ago.
Is Anna as innocent as she claims? And is murder forgivable, if committed to save your child’s life…?
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2016
361 people are currently reading
2420 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Buchanan
22 books597 followersHello! Fab to see you here. I live in Buckinghamshire, UK with my husband, my little girl and our (very naughty) puppy, Bronte.
I travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and have always been drawn to the sea after spending my childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family – a fascination that inspires my writing.
I now dedicate my time to writing and procrastinating on Facebook.
I'd love to hear from you so please come say hi on one of the following platforms... plus if you join The Reading Snug I've set up with fellow authors, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher, you might even bag yourself some freebies including an early copy of my latest novel, The Lost Sister!
https://www.facebook.com/TracyBuchana...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRe...
https://www.instagram.com/TracyBuchan...
https://twitter.com/TracyBuchanan
https://www.tracy-buchanan.com
I travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and have always been drawn to the sea after spending my childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family – a fascination that inspires my writing.
I now dedicate my time to writing and procrastinating on Facebook.
I'd love to hear from you so please come say hi on one of the following platforms... plus if you join The Reading Snug I've set up with fellow authors, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher, you might even bag yourself some freebies including an early copy of my latest novel, The Lost Sister!
https://www.facebook.com/TracyBuchana...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRe...
https://www.instagram.com/TracyBuchan...
https://twitter.com/TracyBuchanan
https://www.tracy-buchanan.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
August 17, 2017
3.5 stars
Thriller with a surprising twist about a mother who commits murder to protect her child.
While taking a leisurely stroll on the beach with her infant daughter, the last thing Anna expects to happen is to be attacked by a teeenager wielding a knife. In an act of self defense, Anna winds up killing her attacker. Anna is both celebrated and ostracized for her actions. She soon becomes scrutinized by the press and the police, and her life is turned upside down. Further complicating matters is that the boy she killed is linked to a serial killer known as The Ophelia Killer (TOK). Even though the killer hasn’t murdered anyone in 20 years, he appears to be back and taunting Anna.
Anna has a personal connection to the TOK. This is the same serial killer her father was investigating when he committed suicide. As Anna begins her own investigation into TOK, she uncovers dark family secrets that place her in danger.
No Turning Back is a fast-paced, entertaining read. I found it choppy in the beginning and was ready to give up on it, but at a certain point things come together. This would have been a typical run of the mill thriller, but the twist at the end took it to another level!
I received a copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
Thriller with a surprising twist about a mother who commits murder to protect her child.
While taking a leisurely stroll on the beach with her infant daughter, the last thing Anna expects to happen is to be attacked by a teeenager wielding a knife. In an act of self defense, Anna winds up killing her attacker. Anna is both celebrated and ostracized for her actions. She soon becomes scrutinized by the press and the police, and her life is turned upside down. Further complicating matters is that the boy she killed is linked to a serial killer known as The Ophelia Killer (TOK). Even though the killer hasn’t murdered anyone in 20 years, he appears to be back and taunting Anna.
Anna has a personal connection to the TOK. This is the same serial killer her father was investigating when he committed suicide. As Anna begins her own investigation into TOK, she uncovers dark family secrets that place her in danger.
No Turning Back is a fast-paced, entertaining read. I found it choppy in the beginning and was ready to give up on it, but at a certain point things come together. This would have been a typical run of the mill thriller, but the twist at the end took it to another level!
I received a copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2017
4 Stars.
A Compelling Psychological Thriller that Packs Several Punches.
You know the old saying: “Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures?” Well, it’s a phrase that Anna Graves has become intimately familiar with. She is a single mother who felt threatened. Walking on the beach alone one night with her baby girl Joni, both she and her daughter’s lives are threatened when a young teenage boy attacks. In a moment that was instinctual, she protects her daughter - and the boy (Elliot Nunn) loses his life. To Anna, the whole incident seems like a nightmare, but unfortunately for her, it happened. And it happened to her. From that point on, Anna’s life becomes a shadow of its former self, as does Anna.
Regret and self- doubt fill her. When he attacked, Elliot Nunn was acting strangely and nothing adds up. At first, public sympathy sides with her, which she experiences first hand in her job as a radio presenter. Then slowly, the tides turn and she is vilified. In investigating, the Police determine that Elliot Nunn was poisoned prior to his death – by a poison that was previously used by The Ophelia Killer, a serial killer that murdered young teenage boys in their quaint little town, over twenty years ago. Oddly enough, immediately after the assault, Anna, received an email from someone signed “TOK” (The Ophelia Killer) giving clues about the poison used on Elliot. Scared, Anna, forwards the email to the police, which they ignore. Since the police are of no help, Anna decides to investigate on her own and ends up getting help from an unlikely source: Elliot’s brother Jamie, who simply wants justice. Throughout this time, Anna is denigrated by friends, members of the press and the police. And TOK? Well TOK taunts her. All of this puts her life and that of her daughters’, in danger. With “TOK” out there, no one child is safe and neither is Anna or little Joni.
This novel is a race to the finish and the ending? Now that’s the way to do it!! The twists and turns make your heart beat wild and crazy out of your chest, all the while you are clenching your teeth, scared - trying to contain your emotions. The is a short, quick, easy read, with characters who are extremely relatable. Anna is a mother, plain and simple. She might not be perfect - but the only thing that matters to her in this life is protecting her child, and that she did, no matter what the cost. I personally found it hard to fault her for that. Tracy Buchanan did a great job of intertwining what appears at first, to be a few separate storylines into one. There were, however, a few moments that I felt were a little implausible, hence the reason for the 4 v. 5 Star rating. All in all, I found the book to be fast-paced and compelling. I would recommend it to those who are looking for a quick, intriguing read that immediately gets your attention and doesn’t let go.
“No Turning Back” is a novel begs the question: What would you do? How far would you go to protect your loved ones? The answer? You never know, until that moment arises. You simply cannot put yourself in someone else’s shoes, in this instance or in any other, for that matter.
This is the second novel that I’ve read by Tracy Buchanan (the first being “My Sister’s Secret”). While I enjoyed “My Sister’s Secret,” I think Ms. Buchanan upped her game with this one and I look forward to see she has in store for us next.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Tracy Buchanan for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads on 6.6.17.
*Will be Published on Amazon on 6.13.17.
A Compelling Psychological Thriller that Packs Several Punches.
You know the old saying: “Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures?” Well, it’s a phrase that Anna Graves has become intimately familiar with. She is a single mother who felt threatened. Walking on the beach alone one night with her baby girl Joni, both she and her daughter’s lives are threatened when a young teenage boy attacks. In a moment that was instinctual, she protects her daughter - and the boy (Elliot Nunn) loses his life. To Anna, the whole incident seems like a nightmare, but unfortunately for her, it happened. And it happened to her. From that point on, Anna’s life becomes a shadow of its former self, as does Anna.
Regret and self- doubt fill her. When he attacked, Elliot Nunn was acting strangely and nothing adds up. At first, public sympathy sides with her, which she experiences first hand in her job as a radio presenter. Then slowly, the tides turn and she is vilified. In investigating, the Police determine that Elliot Nunn was poisoned prior to his death – by a poison that was previously used by The Ophelia Killer, a serial killer that murdered young teenage boys in their quaint little town, over twenty years ago. Oddly enough, immediately after the assault, Anna, received an email from someone signed “TOK” (The Ophelia Killer) giving clues about the poison used on Elliot. Scared, Anna, forwards the email to the police, which they ignore. Since the police are of no help, Anna decides to investigate on her own and ends up getting help from an unlikely source: Elliot’s brother Jamie, who simply wants justice. Throughout this time, Anna is denigrated by friends, members of the press and the police. And TOK? Well TOK taunts her. All of this puts her life and that of her daughters’, in danger. With “TOK” out there, no one child is safe and neither is Anna or little Joni.
This novel is a race to the finish and the ending? Now that’s the way to do it!! The twists and turns make your heart beat wild and crazy out of your chest, all the while you are clenching your teeth, scared - trying to contain your emotions. The is a short, quick, easy read, with characters who are extremely relatable. Anna is a mother, plain and simple. She might not be perfect - but the only thing that matters to her in this life is protecting her child, and that she did, no matter what the cost. I personally found it hard to fault her for that. Tracy Buchanan did a great job of intertwining what appears at first, to be a few separate storylines into one. There were, however, a few moments that I felt were a little implausible, hence the reason for the 4 v. 5 Star rating. All in all, I found the book to be fast-paced and compelling. I would recommend it to those who are looking for a quick, intriguing read that immediately gets your attention and doesn’t let go.
“No Turning Back” is a novel begs the question: What would you do? How far would you go to protect your loved ones? The answer? You never know, until that moment arises. You simply cannot put yourself in someone else’s shoes, in this instance or in any other, for that matter.
This is the second novel that I’ve read by Tracy Buchanan (the first being “My Sister’s Secret”). While I enjoyed “My Sister’s Secret,” I think Ms. Buchanan upped her game with this one and I look forward to see she has in store for us next.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Tracy Buchanan for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads on 6.6.17.
*Will be Published on Amazon on 6.13.17.
February 14, 2018
4 out of 5 stars to No Turning Back, a thriller and suspense novel released on June 15, 2017 by Tracy Buchanan. Many thanks to the author and to the publisher, Crooked Lane (thanks, Sarah!) for suggesting this book and sending it to me. I enjoyed the read and am excited to draft this review.
Why This Book
I love thriller and suspense novels. I've been very active on Goodreads and NetGalley for the last 4 months. Suddenly, the publisher reached out to me to see if I'd be interested in reading an advanced copy of the book. I read the description, which sounded fantastic, and I quickly said "Yes, please. And keep 'em coming!"
Plot, Characters & Setting
Anna, a young woman in her late 20s, has been a stay-at-home mom for the last six months since giving birth to her daughter, Joni. Anna and her husband Guy are in the middle of a divorce and she's staying at a separate cottage on the beach near their hometown in England. After returning to work as a radio show host where she provides advice and talks about current events, Anna realizes things are starting to change around her more quickly than she can adapt to. Her mother has been quite distant since Anna's father committed suicide more than a decade earlier. Her brother Leo has grown more arrogant and difficult. Anna really only has some friends and her grandmother to look out for her. As she's walking on the beach with Joni in a carriage one evening, a 15-year-old boy runs at her with a knife, appearing to want to kill her. Anna defends herself and Joni, accidentally killing the teenager.
Given it's a small town, news travels fast. She's quickly revealed as the woman on the beach who killed the young kid. Some people applaud her for protecting herself from a supposed drug addict. Others claim she is a murderess. The victim's family believe their son was a good boy and Anna was just being vicious. Soon after, the Ophelia Killer, who murdered 5 or 6 boys nearly 20 years earlier, sends Anna an email, claiming (s)he's back and is upset that Anna killed the boy who escaped from the Ophelia killer's clutches. Anna's father had been investigating the killer before committing suicide, and it brings up difficult memories for her to accept. The Ophelia killer is now after Anna, who took away his/her latest victim.
Over the course of a month, Anna befriends Jamie, the young boy's brother. She's unsure if he wants to harm her because she killed his brother, or protect her from the killer. Tensions escalate. More boys go missing. The cops suspect Anna or the boy's family of being involved, or even being the Ophelia Killer. As evidence begins to pile up against Anna, her husband takes their daughter away, leaving Anna alone and frightened. But that's exactly what the Ophelia killer wants, and as Anna begins to unravel, she starts putting the puzzle together and figures out that someone close to her or her family is behind everything. Anna learns how to stand up for herself, turning to her mother, grandmother, brother, husband and friends, but realizes in the end, someone has betrayed her. Now where does she turn?
Approach & Style
I read a physical copy of the book over 3 days, and it was 275 pages long. The story is told in the third person and generally follows Anna's perspective. There are 6 or 7 small chapters, noted in italics, as conversations between the killer and his/her partner, but there are no dates, so readers don't know if this is from the Ophelia Killer in the past, the same killer in the current time or a new copy-cat.
Chapters are about 10 to 12 pages long, easy to finish a few within an hour. The voice is consistent and straightforward. There is a lot of dialogue to keep the action going. It jumps a few days at a time in order to move the plot along, which sometimes creates a few areas of concern / confusion as to what happened during those periods. Nothing too uncomfortable.
Strengths
Anna is drawn very well. For the most part, you see her as the victim. Every so often, she says or does things where you wonder if perhaps there is a little bit of darkness to her. She's likable, but she's done a few things of concern in the past. Her job plays an important role in the story, and we learn just enough to keep us focused without feeling burdened by too many details.
Other characters are believable. Her grandmother is a strong ally with a little bit of history and drama of her own. Anna's mother is a recluse and often seems like perhaps she should have been institutionalized after her husband's suicide, given some of her behavior and treatment of her children. But this works to an advantage in the story, as it provides more suspense and eerie moments throughout the novel.
The story of the Ophelia Killer, when it finally comes together, is quite well-crafted. I believe the events. I understand why the killer wanted to kill. It makes sense why things happened 20 years ago and why they happened again now. And the connection between the young boys and the people involved in the crime is quite complex and intriguing.
Concerns
Anna spends a little too much time talking to her infant daughter. It certainly helps create the bond and shows the love Anna has for someone else. But it was a tad repetitive and directionless in parts of the plot. It provided some angst during the custody negotiations with her husband, but some of that time could have been used with other characters to amp up the drama surrounding the mystery identify of the killer(s).
I'm not sure the secondary characters were used as much as they should have been, in order to provide a more clear picture of what happened to everyone in the past. I understand it needs to be kept vague to throw suspicion on several different people and across different angles, but at times, it felt like too much was missing in order to feel connected to them. Not enough to worry me, but had this been a little tighter, the book would have felt even stronger.
As I don't want to give away any spoilers, the relationships between Anna and her family members cannot truly be discussed in detail here. There's a giant cloud over some events that happened in the past, which is important to the current plot. It adds to the suspense and mystery, but when everything came to light, I sort of felt a little displeased with how many discrepancies there were in people's view points. After 20 years, I think some of the pieces would have come out much sooner. You'll know what I mean when you read the book, but if I say much more, it'll start to cross into the spoiler zone. For this reason, I hesitated between a 3 and 4 rating; however, it did keep me interested and the final outcome changed a few times in the matter of a couple of chapters, not easy to do under most circumstances.
Author & Other Similar Books
It's a bit like Lisa Jewell's "I Found You" or Michele Campbell's "It's Always the Husband," in that there are events from 20 years ago which have a direct impact on what is happening today, but it is also different in that this is a serial killer. The title "No Turning Back" is very important to the story for many of the characters.
I haven't read anything else by the author, but based on this book, I would definitely read another of her books. I'm thinking of giving "My Sister's Secret" a chance.
Questions & Final Thoughts
I enjoyed the book. It contains a good plot, strong characters and lots of mystery. It's not crazy earth-shattering with the reveal, but it definitely makes you think about how well you really know someone. People do the strangest things, and this book capitalizes on the "what if" scenario by showing all the challenges, fears and ideas that pain and murder bring out in someone. What would make you kill someone else? What's the line of defense between an accident and fate? Where does revenge seem appropriate? It's a good mystery and page-turner without being an intense roller-coaster ride. You can put it down, but you won't want to let it go for more than a day before you feel drawn back to it... so when you take this one on, plan a 3-day read. You'll want some time in between to give some consideration to all the suspects. And if you do figure it out, you won't figure out why it happened... so there's still a lot to look forward to.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
[polldaddy poll=9729544]
[polldaddy poll=9719251]
Why This Book
I love thriller and suspense novels. I've been very active on Goodreads and NetGalley for the last 4 months. Suddenly, the publisher reached out to me to see if I'd be interested in reading an advanced copy of the book. I read the description, which sounded fantastic, and I quickly said "Yes, please. And keep 'em coming!"
Plot, Characters & Setting
Anna, a young woman in her late 20s, has been a stay-at-home mom for the last six months since giving birth to her daughter, Joni. Anna and her husband Guy are in the middle of a divorce and she's staying at a separate cottage on the beach near their hometown in England. After returning to work as a radio show host where she provides advice and talks about current events, Anna realizes things are starting to change around her more quickly than she can adapt to. Her mother has been quite distant since Anna's father committed suicide more than a decade earlier. Her brother Leo has grown more arrogant and difficult. Anna really only has some friends and her grandmother to look out for her. As she's walking on the beach with Joni in a carriage one evening, a 15-year-old boy runs at her with a knife, appearing to want to kill her. Anna defends herself and Joni, accidentally killing the teenager.
Given it's a small town, news travels fast. She's quickly revealed as the woman on the beach who killed the young kid. Some people applaud her for protecting herself from a supposed drug addict. Others claim she is a murderess. The victim's family believe their son was a good boy and Anna was just being vicious. Soon after, the Ophelia Killer, who murdered 5 or 6 boys nearly 20 years earlier, sends Anna an email, claiming (s)he's back and is upset that Anna killed the boy who escaped from the Ophelia killer's clutches. Anna's father had been investigating the killer before committing suicide, and it brings up difficult memories for her to accept. The Ophelia killer is now after Anna, who took away his/her latest victim.
Over the course of a month, Anna befriends Jamie, the young boy's brother. She's unsure if he wants to harm her because she killed his brother, or protect her from the killer. Tensions escalate. More boys go missing. The cops suspect Anna or the boy's family of being involved, or even being the Ophelia Killer. As evidence begins to pile up against Anna, her husband takes their daughter away, leaving Anna alone and frightened. But that's exactly what the Ophelia killer wants, and as Anna begins to unravel, she starts putting the puzzle together and figures out that someone close to her or her family is behind everything. Anna learns how to stand up for herself, turning to her mother, grandmother, brother, husband and friends, but realizes in the end, someone has betrayed her. Now where does she turn?
Approach & Style
I read a physical copy of the book over 3 days, and it was 275 pages long. The story is told in the third person and generally follows Anna's perspective. There are 6 or 7 small chapters, noted in italics, as conversations between the killer and his/her partner, but there are no dates, so readers don't know if this is from the Ophelia Killer in the past, the same killer in the current time or a new copy-cat.
Chapters are about 10 to 12 pages long, easy to finish a few within an hour. The voice is consistent and straightforward. There is a lot of dialogue to keep the action going. It jumps a few days at a time in order to move the plot along, which sometimes creates a few areas of concern / confusion as to what happened during those periods. Nothing too uncomfortable.
Strengths
Anna is drawn very well. For the most part, you see her as the victim. Every so often, she says or does things where you wonder if perhaps there is a little bit of darkness to her. She's likable, but she's done a few things of concern in the past. Her job plays an important role in the story, and we learn just enough to keep us focused without feeling burdened by too many details.
Other characters are believable. Her grandmother is a strong ally with a little bit of history and drama of her own. Anna's mother is a recluse and often seems like perhaps she should have been institutionalized after her husband's suicide, given some of her behavior and treatment of her children. But this works to an advantage in the story, as it provides more suspense and eerie moments throughout the novel.
The story of the Ophelia Killer, when it finally comes together, is quite well-crafted. I believe the events. I understand why the killer wanted to kill. It makes sense why things happened 20 years ago and why they happened again now. And the connection between the young boys and the people involved in the crime is quite complex and intriguing.
Concerns
Anna spends a little too much time talking to her infant daughter. It certainly helps create the bond and shows the love Anna has for someone else. But it was a tad repetitive and directionless in parts of the plot. It provided some angst during the custody negotiations with her husband, but some of that time could have been used with other characters to amp up the drama surrounding the mystery identify of the killer(s).
I'm not sure the secondary characters were used as much as they should have been, in order to provide a more clear picture of what happened to everyone in the past. I understand it needs to be kept vague to throw suspicion on several different people and across different angles, but at times, it felt like too much was missing in order to feel connected to them. Not enough to worry me, but had this been a little tighter, the book would have felt even stronger.
As I don't want to give away any spoilers, the relationships between Anna and her family members cannot truly be discussed in detail here. There's a giant cloud over some events that happened in the past, which is important to the current plot. It adds to the suspense and mystery, but when everything came to light, I sort of felt a little displeased with how many discrepancies there were in people's view points. After 20 years, I think some of the pieces would have come out much sooner. You'll know what I mean when you read the book, but if I say much more, it'll start to cross into the spoiler zone. For this reason, I hesitated between a 3 and 4 rating; however, it did keep me interested and the final outcome changed a few times in the matter of a couple of chapters, not easy to do under most circumstances.
Author & Other Similar Books
It's a bit like Lisa Jewell's "I Found You" or Michele Campbell's "It's Always the Husband," in that there are events from 20 years ago which have a direct impact on what is happening today, but it is also different in that this is a serial killer. The title "No Turning Back" is very important to the story for many of the characters.
I haven't read anything else by the author, but based on this book, I would definitely read another of her books. I'm thinking of giving "My Sister's Secret" a chance.
Questions & Final Thoughts
I enjoyed the book. It contains a good plot, strong characters and lots of mystery. It's not crazy earth-shattering with the reveal, but it definitely makes you think about how well you really know someone. People do the strangest things, and this book capitalizes on the "what if" scenario by showing all the challenges, fears and ideas that pain and murder bring out in someone. What would make you kill someone else? What's the line of defense between an accident and fate? Where does revenge seem appropriate? It's a good mystery and page-turner without being an intense roller-coaster ride. You can put it down, but you won't want to let it go for more than a day before you feel drawn back to it... so when you take this one on, plan a 3-day read. You'll want some time in between to give some consideration to all the suspects. And if you do figure it out, you won't figure out why it happened... so there's still a lot to look forward to.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
[polldaddy poll=9729544]
[polldaddy poll=9719251]
August 4, 2017
No Turning Back by Tracy Buchanan is a 2017 Crooked Lane publication.
This is a solid enough British mystery, with a unique premise.
Newly divorced, single mom, Anna, has only just returned to work after the birth of her daughter, when while taking a walk, she is attacked by a teenage boy. Thinking only of her daughter’s safety she kills her attacker.
Once the story makes headlines, Anna begins receiving emails from a notorious serial killer, connected to her father’s investigations as a journalist.
Was Anna truly protecting her daughter? Were her actions necessary? Has a long dormant killer resurfaced or is someone toying with Anna?
The story bounces back and forth the between the perspective of an alleged serial killer and Anna’s battle to keep her life from spiraling out of control.
Although the characterizations were a little weak, and there were some implausible situations throughout, I think the story is original, and has one whale of a twist, I did not see coming.
The author did do a good job of creating doubt about Anna, which made me wonder if she were reliable. This added an additional layer of suspense to an already tense atmosphere. The pacing was even, but there were places that really need more in- depth explanations and some events were glossed over too quickly.
I admit I didn’t start reading this book with over hyped expectations, and so I was pleasantly surprised by how absorbing it was.
Although the book has a few minor issues, and isn't one to receive a lot of heavy buzz, it is a nice little gem and I am glad I discovered it through several Goodreads friends. This author shows a lot of promise and I will be keeping my eye out for more of her work.
3.5 stars
This is a solid enough British mystery, with a unique premise.
Newly divorced, single mom, Anna, has only just returned to work after the birth of her daughter, when while taking a walk, she is attacked by a teenage boy. Thinking only of her daughter’s safety she kills her attacker.
Once the story makes headlines, Anna begins receiving emails from a notorious serial killer, connected to her father’s investigations as a journalist.
Was Anna truly protecting her daughter? Were her actions necessary? Has a long dormant killer resurfaced or is someone toying with Anna?
The story bounces back and forth the between the perspective of an alleged serial killer and Anna’s battle to keep her life from spiraling out of control.
Although the characterizations were a little weak, and there were some implausible situations throughout, I think the story is original, and has one whale of a twist, I did not see coming.
The author did do a good job of creating doubt about Anna, which made me wonder if she were reliable. This added an additional layer of suspense to an already tense atmosphere. The pacing was even, but there were places that really need more in- depth explanations and some events were glossed over too quickly.
I admit I didn’t start reading this book with over hyped expectations, and so I was pleasantly surprised by how absorbing it was.
Although the book has a few minor issues, and isn't one to receive a lot of heavy buzz, it is a nice little gem and I am glad I discovered it through several Goodreads friends. This author shows a lot of promise and I will be keeping my eye out for more of her work.
3.5 stars
June 5, 2017
3.5 Stars
It’s Anna Graves's first day back to work, after eight months of maternity leave. She’s torn, hating to leave her daughter Joni, but loving her job as a popular radio personality / presenter with her even more popular on-air partner Nathan the perfect balance for her opinions. Their topic of the day is about a rash of murders committed twenty years previously, murders her father had been investigating before his death, murders attributed to The Ophelia Killer.
Walking on the path that ran along the beach with her daughter in the pushchair, they’re on their way to the Lighthouse, her spot where she shares her thoughts with her father, looking up at the lighthouse. Her nightly connection, she draws strength from this ritual.
Heading back she notices a group of teenagers, sitting, smoking something surreptitiously. She pauses a moment, her only thoughts are of keeping Joni safe, so she heads in another direction. They get up; begin following, they head the way she’s headed. Another appears, this one in front of her, running toward her, looking a little crazed.
Trapped, she grabs the only thing in her bag, a long-tooth comb.
One of the teens from the group shouts at her, she turns, and in that moment the lone schoolboy running toward her from the other direction is in reach of her daughter. Joni. He pulls out a knife, takes a swipe at her, and then he reaches for the pushchair. Anna grips the only thing she has to try and protect her daughter, the comb.
Unthinkable. All she had wanted to do was to protect her child. Still, another child has died.
Headlines everywhere, Anna is acknowledged as doing the right thing to protect her daughter, but the family of the boy is outraged at his portrayal as a degenerate. Anna, herself, keeps replaying it over and over in her mind, was there something else she could have done? It doesn’t take long before the media has managed to dig up whatever dirty little secrets Anna had thought were long buried, and her moral character is being held up to public condemnation. Then the police autopsy results are revealed, and they point to something even more ominous and disturbing than a young mother simply protecting her child. The question that inevitably follow, is the Ophelia Killer back? Or, is this someone wanting you to believe it is the Ophelia Killer? And how does this connect back to Anna, or does it?
There are a lot of twists and turns to this story, there are many threads that eventually tie together into an interesting, well-told story. For me, perhaps, while on one hand all these stories-within-stories did come together, having so many come together so perfectly probably made it a bit too meticulously pieced together for me, however I did enjoy this. ”No Turning Back” will likely appeal even more to the many who prefer to have their stories answer all the questions.
This was my first novel by Tracy Buchanan, and I was impressed by her ability to seamlessly weave these multiple stories into this tale which felt a bit like if you connected all of Six Flags Magic Mountain’s coasters ride, an almost non-stop ride, jam-packed with surprises, and even some old hushed-up secrets from long ago.
When I was first contacted by the publisher who offered to send me this book and one other, I hesitated because this is not a genre I gravitate toward, and when I do read anything categorized as psychological suspense, it’s usually after one of my friends has assured me I will still be able to sleep.
Overall, I really did enjoy this, but those you really love psychological suspense will likely enjoy it even more than I did.
Pub Date: 13 Jun 2017
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crooked Lane Books
It’s Anna Graves's first day back to work, after eight months of maternity leave. She’s torn, hating to leave her daughter Joni, but loving her job as a popular radio personality / presenter with her even more popular on-air partner Nathan the perfect balance for her opinions. Their topic of the day is about a rash of murders committed twenty years previously, murders her father had been investigating before his death, murders attributed to The Ophelia Killer.
Walking on the path that ran along the beach with her daughter in the pushchair, they’re on their way to the Lighthouse, her spot where she shares her thoughts with her father, looking up at the lighthouse. Her nightly connection, she draws strength from this ritual.
Heading back she notices a group of teenagers, sitting, smoking something surreptitiously. She pauses a moment, her only thoughts are of keeping Joni safe, so she heads in another direction. They get up; begin following, they head the way she’s headed. Another appears, this one in front of her, running toward her, looking a little crazed.
Trapped, she grabs the only thing in her bag, a long-tooth comb.
One of the teens from the group shouts at her, she turns, and in that moment the lone schoolboy running toward her from the other direction is in reach of her daughter. Joni. He pulls out a knife, takes a swipe at her, and then he reaches for the pushchair. Anna grips the only thing she has to try and protect her daughter, the comb.
Unthinkable. All she had wanted to do was to protect her child. Still, another child has died.
Headlines everywhere, Anna is acknowledged as doing the right thing to protect her daughter, but the family of the boy is outraged at his portrayal as a degenerate. Anna, herself, keeps replaying it over and over in her mind, was there something else she could have done? It doesn’t take long before the media has managed to dig up whatever dirty little secrets Anna had thought were long buried, and her moral character is being held up to public condemnation. Then the police autopsy results are revealed, and they point to something even more ominous and disturbing than a young mother simply protecting her child. The question that inevitably follow, is the Ophelia Killer back? Or, is this someone wanting you to believe it is the Ophelia Killer? And how does this connect back to Anna, or does it?
There are a lot of twists and turns to this story, there are many threads that eventually tie together into an interesting, well-told story. For me, perhaps, while on one hand all these stories-within-stories did come together, having so many come together so perfectly probably made it a bit too meticulously pieced together for me, however I did enjoy this. ”No Turning Back” will likely appeal even more to the many who prefer to have their stories answer all the questions.
This was my first novel by Tracy Buchanan, and I was impressed by her ability to seamlessly weave these multiple stories into this tale which felt a bit like if you connected all of Six Flags Magic Mountain’s coasters ride, an almost non-stop ride, jam-packed with surprises, and even some old hushed-up secrets from long ago.
When I was first contacted by the publisher who offered to send me this book and one other, I hesitated because this is not a genre I gravitate toward, and when I do read anything categorized as psychological suspense, it’s usually after one of my friends has assured me I will still be able to sleep.
Overall, I really did enjoy this, but those you really love psychological suspense will likely enjoy it even more than I did.
Pub Date: 13 Jun 2017
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crooked Lane Books
June 26, 2017
Wow! Thrilling Start!
NO TURNING BACK is a multi-layered crime-mystery that begins with a knife attack on a mother and child innocently strolling the beach. Suddenly surrounded by loitering teens with no place to retreat, fighting to defend herself and protect her baby become Anna's only option.....and death results! (no spoiler here)
After an obvious self-defense outcome by the local police, Anna is released but riddled with guilt, stalked by reporters and threatened by formidable family members of the deceased. With practically no support of her own...Anna returns to work for solace only to find more trouble...of a sensitive nature....and then....the alarming emails begin.
NO TURNING BACK started out really strong, but took me to a place of disbelief with unnecessary sideline stories and an ending that fell short...for me. That being said, I still read this novel in a day, have seen many 5 star reviews, and admit to preferring my thrillers super dark and gritty.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books of New York for reaching out to me with a complimentary hardcover in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2017
A mother's protective love is beyond question. Automaticity that kicks in at just the right moment.
And that's exactly what happened on that lovely sunny day as Anna and her baby daughter, Joni, were walking along the beach. A casual glance in one direction brought immense danger to them both. A young teenage boy armed with a knife was hurling down upon them. Anna reacted by grabbing a comb out of her bag for protection. The boy lost his footing as his neck made contact with the sharp end of the comb. Death followed immediately.
Anna, a popular radio presenter, had been on maternity leave when she was accosted by the boy. Although not arrested, the death continues to haunt her and her self-imposed guilt follows her wherever she goes. Soon the boy's family, her friends, and the village of Ridgmont question her every move. Even her soon to be ex-husband feels uncertain about leaving Joni with Anna.
Emotionally, Anna is still distraught over the death of her father, Simon, who had leapt from the top window of the lighthouse nearby. Everyone believed that Simon felt absolute frustration over the unsolved murders of young teenage boys of the village. He had been a flagship reporter for years and was pursuing leads related to these crimes.
No Turning Back was a tricky novel to review. Anna's story is a credible one and Tracy Buchanan draws you in with the unusual premise of a mother protecting her baby and herself. We experience Anna's frustration as a single parent returning to work after such a horrendous experience. Anna's worries over childcare and having to deal with a jealous co-worker brings this story into familiar territory for the reader.
But then the storyline drifts into the shifting sands of baseless assumptions, over reactions, trumped up guilty speculations, and character interactions that just don't seem plausible. The police department in Ridgmont was highly inept and seemed to lack any investigative skills whatsoever. Of course, all of this provided a vehicle in which to propel the story towards its grand finale. And I will leave that up to all of you whether that brought any satisfaction or not.
Tracy Buchanan possesses much talent. I will probably be among only a few who didn't latch on completely to the threads of this story. It will be applauded by many. And I do intend to look out for next offering by Tracy Buchanan. You can tell that she has quite the story within.
I received a copy of No Turning Back through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books (a source of incredible books) and to Tracy Buchanan for the opportunity.
And that's exactly what happened on that lovely sunny day as Anna and her baby daughter, Joni, were walking along the beach. A casual glance in one direction brought immense danger to them both. A young teenage boy armed with a knife was hurling down upon them. Anna reacted by grabbing a comb out of her bag for protection. The boy lost his footing as his neck made contact with the sharp end of the comb. Death followed immediately.
Anna, a popular radio presenter, had been on maternity leave when she was accosted by the boy. Although not arrested, the death continues to haunt her and her self-imposed guilt follows her wherever she goes. Soon the boy's family, her friends, and the village of Ridgmont question her every move. Even her soon to be ex-husband feels uncertain about leaving Joni with Anna.
Emotionally, Anna is still distraught over the death of her father, Simon, who had leapt from the top window of the lighthouse nearby. Everyone believed that Simon felt absolute frustration over the unsolved murders of young teenage boys of the village. He had been a flagship reporter for years and was pursuing leads related to these crimes.
No Turning Back was a tricky novel to review. Anna's story is a credible one and Tracy Buchanan draws you in with the unusual premise of a mother protecting her baby and herself. We experience Anna's frustration as a single parent returning to work after such a horrendous experience. Anna's worries over childcare and having to deal with a jealous co-worker brings this story into familiar territory for the reader.
But then the storyline drifts into the shifting sands of baseless assumptions, over reactions, trumped up guilty speculations, and character interactions that just don't seem plausible. The police department in Ridgmont was highly inept and seemed to lack any investigative skills whatsoever. Of course, all of this provided a vehicle in which to propel the story towards its grand finale. And I will leave that up to all of you whether that brought any satisfaction or not.
Tracy Buchanan possesses much talent. I will probably be among only a few who didn't latch on completely to the threads of this story. It will be applauded by many. And I do intend to look out for next offering by Tracy Buchanan. You can tell that she has quite the story within.
I received a copy of No Turning Back through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books (a source of incredible books) and to Tracy Buchanan for the opportunity.
June 20, 2017
4 stars
This was a very good mystery, set in the south of England. It opens with a flashback to someone badly hurt and the narrator refusing to help. It is the first murder. But there is a gap of twenty years between the first set of murders and the second set. The first set is by someone called "The Ophelia Killer." The killer was never caught and when the murders start up again, panic grips the community.
One suspect is Anna Graves, who kills a young boy who attacked her and her baby. There are other suspects and I was not really sure who the killer was until near the end.
The narration goes back and forth between the killer and Anna, as Anna tries to clear her name with an unlikely ally, the brother of the boy that she killed. Anna receives emails from the killer, which frighten and sicken her. I thought that the ending worked very well.
I recommend it to British mystery fans.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this book.
This was a very good mystery, set in the south of England. It opens with a flashback to someone badly hurt and the narrator refusing to help. It is the first murder. But there is a gap of twenty years between the first set of murders and the second set. The first set is by someone called "The Ophelia Killer." The killer was never caught and when the murders start up again, panic grips the community.
One suspect is Anna Graves, who kills a young boy who attacked her and her baby. There are other suspects and I was not really sure who the killer was until near the end.
The narration goes back and forth between the killer and Anna, as Anna tries to clear her name with an unlikely ally, the brother of the boy that she killed. Anna receives emails from the killer, which frighten and sicken her. I thought that the ending worked very well.
I recommend it to British mystery fans.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this book.
February 6, 2017
I have to start off by saying how pretty the cover of this novel is! I fell in love before I even read the description of the book!
My first novel by Tracy Buchanan and I am definitely going to read more from her after this! I am rating this book a strong 5.
I was intrigued right away from the first page until the end. Buchanan does an amazing job portraying how dark and brutal the media can be. Poor Ana!!!!
What I can say is holy shit balls was I floored with the ending. I totally did not expect that twist AT ALL!!!! I was so intrigued about who the Opehila killer was and kept playing different scenarios in my head!
I really enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to more from this author! :)
Also, this comes out in US June 2017 :).
My first novel by Tracy Buchanan and I am definitely going to read more from her after this! I am rating this book a strong 5.
I was intrigued right away from the first page until the end. Buchanan does an amazing job portraying how dark and brutal the media can be. Poor Ana!!!!
What I can say is holy shit balls was I floored with the ending. I totally did not expect that twist AT ALL!!!! I was so intrigued about who the Opehila killer was and kept playing different scenarios in my head!
I really enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to more from this author! :)
Also, this comes out in US June 2017 :).
May 21, 2021
Anna Graves has just returned back to work from maternity leave in this psychological thriller. She is a radio presenter with a new baby daughter.
Later in the day, as she is walking the beach with her new baby she is attacked by a young man. The only thing she has to defend herself with is a comb. When the young man dies, the community rallies behind her .... at first. Evidence in his death seem to be connected to deaths at an earlier point of time.
Anna is determined to get to the bottom of it because it seems no one is on her side
This is a very intriguing book. It was easy to read. Interesting enough to stay with it. I wasn't able to guess who was at fault, which I liked. It had lots of twists and turns and great characters.
Later in the day, as she is walking the beach with her new baby she is attacked by a young man. The only thing she has to defend herself with is a comb. When the young man dies, the community rallies behind her .... at first. Evidence in his death seem to be connected to deaths at an earlier point of time.
Anna is determined to get to the bottom of it because it seems no one is on her side
This is a very intriguing book. It was easy to read. Interesting enough to stay with it. I wasn't able to guess who was at fault, which I liked. It had lots of twists and turns and great characters.
August 11, 2017
Anna is walking with her baby daughter when she is approached by a teenager holding a knife. He mutters something to her, then lunges. In an effort to defend her own life, and the life of her child, Anna kills the boy. His family is understandably not too happy about that, though public sentiment is largely on Anna's side. But, when some dirty little secrets are leaked, she becomes something of a pariah. To make matters worse, Anna has started receiving emails from a serial killer who was never caught, and who abruptly stopped all activity twenty years ago . . . the same time Anna's father took his own life.
I really had trouble suspending my disbelief with this one - the whole thing seemed wildly implausible, and riddled with too much coincidence. I tried to quiet that little voice inside that kept saying "Yeah, right. Uh-huh. I'll bet," but to no avail - I just couldn't buy it. On the plus side, it was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages . . . until that over-the-top ending. Then it lost a star.
I received this title from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the offer. Sorry I didn't enjoy it more.
I really had trouble suspending my disbelief with this one - the whole thing seemed wildly implausible, and riddled with too much coincidence. I tried to quiet that little voice inside that kept saying "Yeah, right. Uh-huh. I'll bet," but to no avail - I just couldn't buy it. On the plus side, it was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages . . . until that over-the-top ending. Then it lost a star.
I received this title from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the offer. Sorry I didn't enjoy it more.
June 4, 2017
This book starts with an interesting premise. A young teenager apparently tries to attack Anna and her baby girl. In the struggle, she kills him. She is alternatively hailed as a heroine and then as bits of her personal life come out, she's knocked off the pedestal. And then she starts getting emails from a serial killer who was active 20 years before.
I didn't feel a real rapport with Anna but I did feel empathy for her. Most of her family is a cause of stress, not comfort.
This is a decent psychological thriller. A good amount of tension that keeps you engaged and turning the pages. However, I didn't buy the detective’s cavalier attitude towards the emails and his attempts to pin the first murder on Anna felt forced and an awkward means of moving the plot forward. I thought I had sussed out the murderer early on but I was totally off.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book.
I didn't feel a real rapport with Anna but I did feel empathy for her. Most of her family is a cause of stress, not comfort.
This is a decent psychological thriller. A good amount of tension that keeps you engaged and turning the pages. However, I didn't buy the detective’s cavalier attitude towards the emails and his attempts to pin the first murder on Anna felt forced and an awkward means of moving the plot forward. I thought I had sussed out the murderer early on but I was totally off.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book.
June 5, 2017
Anna Graves is a new mom, recently separated from her husband. She's had to go back to work and her life seems to be upside side. And then it gets even worse....
Taking her daughter to the beach, she is attacked by a young man with a knife. She is injured herself, but in trying to protect her baby, she pulls out a rat tail comb. The young man seems to be out of it, and he trips and falls against her .. and her comb.
And when the schoolboy dies from his injuries, life really gets strange. When an autopsy is done, it reveals that he was poisoned, with the same poison as The Ophelia Killer used to subdue his victims. Only The Ophelia Killer has been silent for 20 years....
And now Anna is getting text messages from someone using the name TOK. Has he become active again ... or is this a copycat? And why is Anna being targeted?
The media at first seems sympathetic to her, as do the police. But when they find out that she had a one night fling with a co-worker and threatened another colleague, the media and police start wondering if she is as innocent as she appears to be.
It's a compelling read and hard to put down. The characters are cleverly defined. There are 3 generations of Anna's family ... her, her mom, and grandmom. The family is loaded with deep, dark secrets. Twists in the story will have the reader wondering if they are on a roller coaster.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the digital copy of this well-written psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Taking her daughter to the beach, she is attacked by a young man with a knife. She is injured herself, but in trying to protect her baby, she pulls out a rat tail comb. The young man seems to be out of it, and he trips and falls against her .. and her comb.
And when the schoolboy dies from his injuries, life really gets strange. When an autopsy is done, it reveals that he was poisoned, with the same poison as The Ophelia Killer used to subdue his victims. Only The Ophelia Killer has been silent for 20 years....
And now Anna is getting text messages from someone using the name TOK. Has he become active again ... or is this a copycat? And why is Anna being targeted?
The media at first seems sympathetic to her, as do the police. But when they find out that she had a one night fling with a co-worker and threatened another colleague, the media and police start wondering if she is as innocent as she appears to be.
It's a compelling read and hard to put down. The characters are cleverly defined. There are 3 generations of Anna's family ... her, her mom, and grandmom. The family is loaded with deep, dark secrets. Twists in the story will have the reader wondering if they are on a roller coaster.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the digital copy of this well-written psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 21, 2017
I really enjoyed No Turning Back by Tracy Buchanan. I was drawn into the life of Anna and was riveted watching her whole existence crashing and burning around her. There were so many loose ends that just kept unraveling as I read. I loved the relationship with her daughter and her grandmother. I felt for her with the hostility of her own brother and mother. Each page held a new struggle for Anna. When she only meant to protect herself, she opened a chain reaction that led to so many painful encounters and suspenseful moments.
I really enjoyed reading this and thought it was well written and it kept me looking over my shoulder as I turned each page, totally engrossed.
I really enjoyed reading this and thought it was well written and it kept me looking over my shoulder as I turned each page, totally engrossed.
August 13, 2017
A taut, solicitous psychological thriller that asks some serious questions about life, relationships and our place in a complicated society.
Tracy Buchanan’s 2016 novel describes a moment in time – a single mother, Anna, defends herself and her child from an insane attack – and how the repercussions from that moment spiral out into her community and her legal status while the author asks questions about justice and fairness that provoke the reader to emotional considerations.
Perhaps most compelling in Buchanan’s prose is the frivolities and vagaries of public sentiment. At first publicly justified for her actions, Anna is later vilified and made to represent privileged excess in the media. Buchanan does an adept job in describing the media as a personified entity, shifting and changing perspectives.
Expanding her exploration into a mesmerizing murder mystery with the introduction of the Ophelia Killer, Buchanan then makes this a suspenseful and intriguing quest for a killer with Anna doing much of the investigations herself.
Rich with approachable and identifiable characterizations and with a fast pace, this was an enjoyable novel.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Tracy Buchanan’s 2016 novel describes a moment in time – a single mother, Anna, defends herself and her child from an insane attack – and how the repercussions from that moment spiral out into her community and her legal status while the author asks questions about justice and fairness that provoke the reader to emotional considerations.
Perhaps most compelling in Buchanan’s prose is the frivolities and vagaries of public sentiment. At first publicly justified for her actions, Anna is later vilified and made to represent privileged excess in the media. Buchanan does an adept job in describing the media as a personified entity, shifting and changing perspectives.
Expanding her exploration into a mesmerizing murder mystery with the introduction of the Ophelia Killer, Buchanan then makes this a suspenseful and intriguing quest for a killer with Anna doing much of the investigations herself.
Rich with approachable and identifiable characterizations and with a fast pace, this was an enjoyable novel.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2019
When a disturbed teenager with a knife comes at her at the beach, fear prompts Anna’s actions. She only means to protect her baby daughter, Joni. But when the boy dies Anna, who is a radio presenter, finds her life spiralling out of control. At first the police appear to believe Anna’s version of events. That is until the autopsy comes back and reveals something unexpected. The evidence seems to connect to a number of past murder crimes, known as the Ophelia Killer that Anna’s father was investigating before his sudden death. Public opinion turns on Anna. And then Anna starts getting emails claiming to be from The Ophelia Killer. At the same time other murders of young boys have occurred. When some friends seem to turn away from her, she receives help from an unexpected source. But can she trust his help? And as for her husband Guy, from who Anna is separated, he seems to have his own agenda. Could Anna end up losing everything in life she values?
Another one where I had mixed thoughts. I struggled a bit with the idea of the comb as a weapon. But maybe fear lends superhuman strength? Struggled too with the attitudes of the police mainly Detective Morgan. Apart from Guy and Joni, Anna’s family consists of her mother who has had severe mental issues since her husband’s death, her brother Leo and his wife and her grandmother who has practically raised and loved Anna since Anna’s mother opted out of everyday life and responsibilities.
As often happens in this type of story, the characters make stupid decisions that put themselves in more danger. The tension is maintained throughout this book and it certainly kept me turning the pages. In an effort to add to the plot, the author throws several red herrings at the reader. Well done if you are not taken in by them. Despite some misgivings, I was quite interested in this story, until I got to the end. The ending struck me as far-fetched. I wasn’t convinced at all. Seems to be a common problem with this type of psychological thriller? However I am equally sure a lot of people will really enjoy it and happily go along with the ending. But the ending pulled my rating down.
Another one where I had mixed thoughts. I struggled a bit with the idea of the comb as a weapon. But maybe fear lends superhuman strength? Struggled too with the attitudes of the police mainly Detective Morgan. Apart from Guy and Joni, Anna’s family consists of her mother who has had severe mental issues since her husband’s death, her brother Leo and his wife and her grandmother who has practically raised and loved Anna since Anna’s mother opted out of everyday life and responsibilities.
As often happens in this type of story, the characters make stupid decisions that put themselves in more danger. The tension is maintained throughout this book and it certainly kept me turning the pages. In an effort to add to the plot, the author throws several red herrings at the reader. Well done if you are not taken in by them. Despite some misgivings, I was quite interested in this story, until I got to the end. The ending struck me as far-fetched. I wasn’t convinced at all. Seems to be a common problem with this type of psychological thriller? However I am equally sure a lot of people will really enjoy it and happily go along with the ending. But the ending pulled my rating down.
May 29, 2017
Anna Graves is a new mother who has just returned to her job as a radio personality and has a hard time not worrying about her child safety especially while returning to work. Unfortunately for Anna the unthinkable does happen to her when out on a walk with her baby, approached by some young teen boys Anna fears for their safety and pulls out a weapon to have things escalate into the unthinkable, a young boy's death at Anna's hands.
The police believe Anna's story of self defense and let her go but her troubles have just begun when it comes to public opinion. Being responsible for the death of a young boy haunts Anna at every turn with the media not letting the story go. Then Anna receives a chilling message from someone calling themselves the Ophelia Killer, a serial killer that had tormented the town twenty years before.
No Turning back by Tracy Buchanan was a thriller read that for me had it's ups and downs while reading. Starting off the author gave the impression early that Anna was an overprotective worrier when it came to her child so I was expecting the attack to happen but had to read through it twice trying to figure out what set Anna to be so defensive. I guess I just didn't see it as completely realistic to make the jump to what had happened while reading through that scene.
As the story goes on I found once you get into the serial killer portion it became a little different than the beginning had been. I wasn't quite sure how it would all tie together though so I was still a little hesitant on whether I'd end up liking the book at all but the book did pick up for me in the latter stages. I did appreciate the ending being different than other ends of thrillers in I'd never would have thought of putting it all together so it ended up being an OK read for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
The police believe Anna's story of self defense and let her go but her troubles have just begun when it comes to public opinion. Being responsible for the death of a young boy haunts Anna at every turn with the media not letting the story go. Then Anna receives a chilling message from someone calling themselves the Ophelia Killer, a serial killer that had tormented the town twenty years before.
No Turning back by Tracy Buchanan was a thriller read that for me had it's ups and downs while reading. Starting off the author gave the impression early that Anna was an overprotective worrier when it came to her child so I was expecting the attack to happen but had to read through it twice trying to figure out what set Anna to be so defensive. I guess I just didn't see it as completely realistic to make the jump to what had happened while reading through that scene.
As the story goes on I found once you get into the serial killer portion it became a little different than the beginning had been. I wasn't quite sure how it would all tie together though so I was still a little hesitant on whether I'd end up liking the book at all but the book did pick up for me in the latter stages. I did appreciate the ending being different than other ends of thrillers in I'd never would have thought of putting it all together so it ended up being an OK read for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
August 9, 2016
It’s a mother’s natural instinct to protect a child and when Anna Graves is out for a walk with her baby daughter, that instinct comes into play when she is suddenly attacked by a young schoolboy. But, when that schoolboy ends up dead Anna’s problems have only just begun. At the start of the read Anna is hailed by a heroine but as the story unfolds public opinion and the police’s opinion turns against her. This is a complexly plotted psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested and to keep you guessing. I had plenty of ideas as to what was going on, but was completely taken by surprise at the end. There were a couple of loose ends that could have done with being tidied up and, with the benefit of hindsight, some of the events seemed a little far fetched but it was still a thoroughly good entertaining read.
I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
August 20, 2016
I absolutely LOVED this book. I was entranced from the very first page and couldn't put it down until I had all the answers. Tracy weaves a seamless tale while offering brilliant descriptions and raw emotions. The plot was both intricate and clever and had me barking up many trees before leading me to an unexpected, brilliant ending. I shall not forget this book in a hurry.
June 7, 2017
What an interesting premise for a book! Being a mother of four and grandmother of five I would most certainly try to protect any little one that I thought was in danger, with whatever I had available to me.
That is what happens to Anna Graves, a popular radio announcer in the coastal town of Ridgmont. She is just getting back to work from maternity leave and is walking her daughter Joni in her stroller along a familiar path. Anna has lived in this town her entire life and her father used to work at the lighthouse where she is now walking. Suddenly she sees a young teenager approaching her quickly with what looks like a knife. There is another group of teenagers coming from the opposite side and Anna feels trapped. She scrounges in her purse and comes up with a comb which is all that she can think of to use as a weapon. The obsessed teen, Elliott Nunn, ends up losing his footing and falling onto the sharp part of the comb which pierces his neck. He ends up bleeding to death before help arrives. (I had a bit of a problem understanding how a comb could cause this much damage, but that’s probably just me).
Afterwards the town at first hails her as a hero and then later starts to pick apart her story. In particular the police department headed by Detective Morgan, is convinced that something else took place and sees Anna as a killer. As the story plays out Anna finds that she has an ally in Elliott’s brother Jamie, there is even a hint at a possible future romantic involvement.
At the same time as Anna is dealing with all of this she begins to get message from The Ophelia Killer, a very famous event in the town’s history when several young men were killed and the Killer left his signature on each of them, what that is I will leave for you all to find out. I should mention that the story is mostly told from Anna’s POV but there are some running thoughts from The Ophelia Killer that also are told at the beginning of some chapters, really creepy!
This book was definitely a quick read for me and I couldn’t decide how much I liked it. I felt that the original story was believable, the past killer messaging Anna was a very interesting touch. What I found unbelievable was the way that the police handled the situation. They would have to be incredibly inept to have no idea what is going on here.
That said, I enjoyed the book. The ending was very creative and I definitely did not see it coming, it was quite a surprise, I love to be surprised!!! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, thank you!
That is what happens to Anna Graves, a popular radio announcer in the coastal town of Ridgmont. She is just getting back to work from maternity leave and is walking her daughter Joni in her stroller along a familiar path. Anna has lived in this town her entire life and her father used to work at the lighthouse where she is now walking. Suddenly she sees a young teenager approaching her quickly with what looks like a knife. There is another group of teenagers coming from the opposite side and Anna feels trapped. She scrounges in her purse and comes up with a comb which is all that she can think of to use as a weapon. The obsessed teen, Elliott Nunn, ends up losing his footing and falling onto the sharp part of the comb which pierces his neck. He ends up bleeding to death before help arrives. (I had a bit of a problem understanding how a comb could cause this much damage, but that’s probably just me).
Afterwards the town at first hails her as a hero and then later starts to pick apart her story. In particular the police department headed by Detective Morgan, is convinced that something else took place and sees Anna as a killer. As the story plays out Anna finds that she has an ally in Elliott’s brother Jamie, there is even a hint at a possible future romantic involvement.
At the same time as Anna is dealing with all of this she begins to get message from The Ophelia Killer, a very famous event in the town’s history when several young men were killed and the Killer left his signature on each of them, what that is I will leave for you all to find out. I should mention that the story is mostly told from Anna’s POV but there are some running thoughts from The Ophelia Killer that also are told at the beginning of some chapters, really creepy!
This book was definitely a quick read for me and I couldn’t decide how much I liked it. I felt that the original story was believable, the past killer messaging Anna was a very interesting touch. What I found unbelievable was the way that the police handled the situation. They would have to be incredibly inept to have no idea what is going on here.
That said, I enjoyed the book. The ending was very creative and I definitely did not see it coming, it was quite a surprise, I love to be surprised!!! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, thank you!
July 21, 2016
*3.5 stars
This is my second book by Tracy Buchanan, the first being My Sister's Secret, and I would say that I would read any book by her. Even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other, I still really liked it. The story starts off with a bang with Anna walking along the beach with her baby when a young boy attacks them. Of course, Anna does what she can to protect themselves when she kills the boy. What follows are questions upon more questions. Did Anna do the right thing? What would you be capable of to protect someone that you love? The townspeople begin to make Anna into a villain as more clues come to light. Was this an act of revenge or a simple accident? Then a serial killer that has lay dormant for 20 years returns. Or is it a copycat? Anna tries to investigate to clear her name as her life tumbles down. She may not like what she learns.....
Kept me glued to the pages, that's for sure!
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second book by Tracy Buchanan, the first being My Sister's Secret, and I would say that I would read any book by her. Even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other, I still really liked it. The story starts off with a bang with Anna walking along the beach with her baby when a young boy attacks them. Of course, Anna does what she can to protect themselves when she kills the boy. What follows are questions upon more questions. Did Anna do the right thing? What would you be capable of to protect someone that you love? The townspeople begin to make Anna into a villain as more clues come to light. Was this an act of revenge or a simple accident? Then a serial killer that has lay dormant for 20 years returns. Or is it a copycat? Anna tries to investigate to clear her name as her life tumbles down. She may not like what she learns.....
Kept me glued to the pages, that's for sure!
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2016
You really need to order your copy now. How far would you go to save your child? She only wanted to save her daughter. She didn't mean to kill anyone, did she? Radio presenter Anna Graves takes her daughter, Joni in her pushchair for a stroll on the beach. Teenagers headed towards her. Anna and Joni became trapped between them. One teenage boy pulled out a knife. Anna pulled out her comb. A scuffle breaks out as the boy swipes his knife at Anna. Horror filled Anna as the boy lost his footing and falling against her, falling onto the comb. The boy suddenly went still. Then he was gone. The police will be releasing Anna pending further investigation . You won't want to stop turning the pages. No Turning Back is certainly a chilling and addictive psychological thriller perfect for fans like me who like reading C. L. Taylor and Clare Mackintosh.
November 18, 2016
So much implausibly after a promising start... it feels like the author hadn't planned an ending and randomly assigned someone to pin the murders on. By this point I was just feeling... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm not having any luck with thrillers lately.
I'm not having any luck with thrillers lately.
August 2, 2016
Is murder forgivable if it is committed to save your child?
Radio presenter Anna Graves and her young daughter are on the beach when they are attacked by a crazed teenage boy,acting on parental instinct Anna strikes back,injuring the boy in a way that results in his death.At first the police believe she acted in self defence but when the autopsy results come back something shocking is revealed after which because of one shocking moment Anna's life starts to fall apart.As if a murder charge hanging over her isn't bad enough Anna starts receiving messages from the Ophilia Killer,a person who was responsible for the murder of a number of teenage boys twenty years before.With the media building up a frenzy of hatred towards her,friends deserting her and the detective in charge of the case doing everything in his power to prove that she is guilty of murder, will Anna be able to hold everything together and prove her innocence?,if she is as innocent as she claims.
The story is told mostly by Anna with a few chapters voiced by the killer from twenty years ago.At first I didn't like Anna because she came across as a bit of a snob but as the story unfolded she began to realise that her attitude and perceptions of certain people around her had been wrong,especially how she had looked down on the people from the poor area called the Docklands which was where the teenager she killed and also the murdered boys were from.There is a mixture of colourful characters in the story,some likeable some not so likeable.One character who really annoyed me was Detective Morgan ,he was one of the annoying detectives you get in far too many thrillers who decide that someone is guilty and are not interested in anything that goes against what they believe is the truth and they never get reprimanded or demoted at the end of the story.Sometimes when there is a character like that it can put me off and I can't finish the book but the story was so gripping and intriguing I decided to just ignore him and finish the book.
It's a gripping story,packed with twists and a major OMG moment towards the end,it's also a story that shows how easily the press can twist things into how they want things to appear and about not judging people by where they live or by other people's opinions.The ending was a bit too happily ever after for me but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Many thanks to publishers Harper Collins UK for an ARC of this book via netgalley
Radio presenter Anna Graves and her young daughter are on the beach when they are attacked by a crazed teenage boy,acting on parental instinct Anna strikes back,injuring the boy in a way that results in his death.At first the police believe she acted in self defence but when the autopsy results come back something shocking is revealed after which because of one shocking moment Anna's life starts to fall apart.As if a murder charge hanging over her isn't bad enough Anna starts receiving messages from the Ophilia Killer,a person who was responsible for the murder of a number of teenage boys twenty years before.With the media building up a frenzy of hatred towards her,friends deserting her and the detective in charge of the case doing everything in his power to prove that she is guilty of murder, will Anna be able to hold everything together and prove her innocence?,if she is as innocent as she claims.
The story is told mostly by Anna with a few chapters voiced by the killer from twenty years ago.At first I didn't like Anna because she came across as a bit of a snob but as the story unfolded she began to realise that her attitude and perceptions of certain people around her had been wrong,especially how she had looked down on the people from the poor area called the Docklands which was where the teenager she killed and also the murdered boys were from.There is a mixture of colourful characters in the story,some likeable some not so likeable.One character who really annoyed me was Detective Morgan ,he was one of the annoying detectives you get in far too many thrillers who decide that someone is guilty and are not interested in anything that goes against what they believe is the truth and they never get reprimanded or demoted at the end of the story.Sometimes when there is a character like that it can put me off and I can't finish the book but the story was so gripping and intriguing I decided to just ignore him and finish the book.
It's a gripping story,packed with twists and a major OMG moment towards the end,it's also a story that shows how easily the press can twist things into how they want things to appear and about not judging people by where they live or by other people's opinions.The ending was a bit too happily ever after for me but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Many thanks to publishers Harper Collins UK for an ARC of this book via netgalley
April 5, 2017
This is the first book that I've read by Trace Buchanan. I believe I will be adding her to my favorite authors! This was a great book with a HUGE twist!
Recently separated from her husband, single mom and radio personality Anna is having a tough time adjusting to her new life. While walking her baby girl Joni along the beach one afternoon Anna is approached by a few teenagers. One particular teenager's behavior is bizarre. Feeling threatened, she does what any mother would do to protect her baby girl.
The media and fellow neighbors being to scrutinize Anna. They question whether or not she intended to hurt one of the boys on purpose or in self defense. As time goes by, Anna receives emails from The Ophelia Killer, a unknown person who stalked and killed teenage boys several years prior. Anna then begins to unearth shocking secrets that have been kept from her and the townspeople.
Full of suspense and relationships that you would never suggest, No Turning Back offers a nice solid read. The writing was good and I enjoyed how the ending wrapped the entire book up. I didn't feel like I was left wanting more.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC
Recently separated from her husband, single mom and radio personality Anna is having a tough time adjusting to her new life. While walking her baby girl Joni along the beach one afternoon Anna is approached by a few teenagers. One particular teenager's behavior is bizarre. Feeling threatened, she does what any mother would do to protect her baby girl.
The media and fellow neighbors being to scrutinize Anna. They question whether or not she intended to hurt one of the boys on purpose or in self defense. As time goes by, Anna receives emails from The Ophelia Killer, a unknown person who stalked and killed teenage boys several years prior. Anna then begins to unearth shocking secrets that have been kept from her and the townspeople.
Full of suspense and relationships that you would never suggest, No Turning Back offers a nice solid read. The writing was good and I enjoyed how the ending wrapped the entire book up. I didn't feel like I was left wanting more.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC
March 7, 2017
Thrilling and unputdownable. A wonderful read with many twists.
June 16, 2017
Recently split from her husband, Anna Graves takes her daughter out for a normal walk on the beach. A confrontation with a crazed teen ends in Anna killing him to protect her child. Innocent until (media) proven guilty, she mentally starts to lose it. A serial killer lain dormant for two decades, shows up again, taunting her. As more death piles up, the coincidences to her presence make her the prime suspect. Her friends, the police, even her family, start to question her. Her only ally? The brother of the kid she killed. But can she truly trust him? And is the "Ophelia Killer" back?
A true thriller encompassing the question of how far someone would go to protect their own. Fast paced, easy to follow and seen through Anna's perspective for most of the book, we see the emotional toll each horrible instance takes on Anna. There are a few flashback scenes that come into play, but they're so intermittently put in that I actually forget about them until they pop up again. I had a hard time comprehending death by red, long toothed comb. And while I didn't expect that ending, I needed some more. Give me more background in the flashbacks. Really tie it all in so I get a better understanding of where it all came from. That being said, it's a dark, twisted ride that any lover of thrillers will enjoy. 3.5 stars!
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for my copy in return for my honest review.
A true thriller encompassing the question of how far someone would go to protect their own. Fast paced, easy to follow and seen through Anna's perspective for most of the book, we see the emotional toll each horrible instance takes on Anna. There are a few flashback scenes that come into play, but they're so intermittently put in that I actually forget about them until they pop up again. I had a hard time comprehending death by red, long toothed comb. And while I didn't expect that ending, I needed some more. Give me more background in the flashbacks. Really tie it all in so I get a better understanding of where it all came from. That being said, it's a dark, twisted ride that any lover of thrillers will enjoy. 3.5 stars!
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for my copy in return for my honest review.
Read
July 9, 2020Radio personality Anna Graves appears to have it all: a comfortable home, interesting work, a loving, but somewhat distant, husband and an adorable baby girl. Things go awry, though, when she and baby Joni are threatened by a schoolboy, while on a walk. Fearing for her daughter's safety, Anna attacks and kills the young man. She learns how quickly public (and family) opinions turn from praising her bravery to condemning her actions. Tautly-paced, this is an excellent thriller! -- Louisa A.
June 10, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Can you say TWISTS? – This book is full of them.
Anna Graves’s finishes up her 8 month maternity leave to return to work as a radio talk show host. Separated from her husband she is trying to find the balance between work and home. While taking her daughter for a walk on the beach a young man attacks her with a knife. She does everything she can to protect her child and herself, fatally injuring her assailant. She is cleared by the police, it was clearly self defense. Until the autopsy shows there is more to the story. They bring her back in for more questions. The press hounds her everywhere she goes. She is forced to take another leave from work. Then she receives a terrifying email from the “Ophelia Killer”. A serial killer that has been heard from for 20 years…since her father took his own life. Hang on tight this is just the start of the story…
The story is told alternatively between Anna and the killer making for a spine chilling read. When Anna receives emails from the killer she tries to stave off another killing but she ends up finding the body which makes her even more of a suspect. The police were mind blowing in the way they twisted logic to focus more on her and disregard any thing she tried to tell them. She puts herself at risk from the first page to almost the very last.
The characters in this story are very unique. Anna and her grandmother are close because her mother had an emotional breakdown after her father’s suicide. Her brother is strange in his behavior and manner. He and Anna are not close. We see the darker side of the area, the docks, and those who live in the area. The young man who attacked Anna lived there. Anna’s work at the radio station brings in some notable characters too.
The plot was very complex and full of red herrings. Each chapter seemed to have a new twist pointing at another person who could be the killer. It was impossible to put this book down. I stayed up late trying finish but my body shut me down at about 70%. I couldn’t wait to get back to it and rushed to it as soon as the work day was done. At the end I just said WOW! This book took my breathe away.
The only thing in the story that gave me pause was the implement Anna used to defend herself and kill the teenager. The story calls it a comb. I went to a British dictionary to see if it was different from what we Americans call a comb. I didn’t find any difference but I am thinking it was the type of comb used to hold hair in place not one used to get out snarls. I think had it been made of metal those tines could be quite sharp.
This book marks the author’s US debut and is an author to watch. No Turning Back is a compelling psychological thriller and I give it more than 5 stars! My Paradise Rating! It kept me up the first night reading it and the second night thinking about the story I read.
Can you say TWISTS? – This book is full of them.
Anna Graves’s finishes up her 8 month maternity leave to return to work as a radio talk show host. Separated from her husband she is trying to find the balance between work and home. While taking her daughter for a walk on the beach a young man attacks her with a knife. She does everything she can to protect her child and herself, fatally injuring her assailant. She is cleared by the police, it was clearly self defense. Until the autopsy shows there is more to the story. They bring her back in for more questions. The press hounds her everywhere she goes. She is forced to take another leave from work. Then she receives a terrifying email from the “Ophelia Killer”. A serial killer that has been heard from for 20 years…since her father took his own life. Hang on tight this is just the start of the story…
The story is told alternatively between Anna and the killer making for a spine chilling read. When Anna receives emails from the killer she tries to stave off another killing but she ends up finding the body which makes her even more of a suspect. The police were mind blowing in the way they twisted logic to focus more on her and disregard any thing she tried to tell them. She puts herself at risk from the first page to almost the very last.
The characters in this story are very unique. Anna and her grandmother are close because her mother had an emotional breakdown after her father’s suicide. Her brother is strange in his behavior and manner. He and Anna are not close. We see the darker side of the area, the docks, and those who live in the area. The young man who attacked Anna lived there. Anna’s work at the radio station brings in some notable characters too.
The plot was very complex and full of red herrings. Each chapter seemed to have a new twist pointing at another person who could be the killer. It was impossible to put this book down. I stayed up late trying finish but my body shut me down at about 70%. I couldn’t wait to get back to it and rushed to it as soon as the work day was done. At the end I just said WOW! This book took my breathe away.
The only thing in the story that gave me pause was the implement Anna used to defend herself and kill the teenager. The story calls it a comb. I went to a British dictionary to see if it was different from what we Americans call a comb. I didn’t find any difference but I am thinking it was the type of comb used to hold hair in place not one used to get out snarls. I think had it been made of metal those tines could be quite sharp.
This book marks the author’s US debut and is an author to watch. No Turning Back is a compelling psychological thriller and I give it more than 5 stars! My Paradise Rating! It kept me up the first night reading it and the second night thinking about the story I read.
June 5, 2017
Review:
This book did pull me in right from the very beginning when Anna was having an argument with Heather, the producer/manager of her talk radio show. Anna is looking very argumentative and maybe a bit hostile already then wham a walk on the beach with radio show host Anna and her baby daughter Joni goes horribly wrong and a teenager is killed. Not only is this teenager "accidentally" killed at Anna's hand but the manner in which he is killed is a bit gruesome. I know Anna was protecting her baby daughter but this teenagers death kept nagging at me, I kept thinking that Anna acted too quick and maybe jumped to judgement about the whole situation a bit too soon and that is what pulled me into this book. There was so much more to this senseless (maybe, maybe not) death and I wanted to find out everything. We soon find out that Anna, who is going through a separation isn't perfect, she does have flaws but so does her soon to be ex-husband. It is disturbing how quickly things start to go wrong for Anna, how fast people turn against her when some things about her past surface. Anna has a bit of a romance which I found added a nice touch to this book. Anna's family except for her grandmother are not at all supportive. No one is team Anna except her grandmother and this so called romantic interest. There is a lot going on on this book, the Ophelia killer resurfaces after twenty years and was Elliot , the murdered teenager somehow involved? Through many twists and turns and false leads all is revealed in a very dramatic and surprising scene. To say surprising is a bit of an understatement , creepy and macabre describes the conclusion as well.
Final Thoughts:
I found this to be a great mystery/suspense book with a creepy and disturbing twist.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge
This book did pull me in right from the very beginning when Anna was having an argument with Heather, the producer/manager of her talk radio show. Anna is looking very argumentative and maybe a bit hostile already then wham a walk on the beach with radio show host Anna and her baby daughter Joni goes horribly wrong and a teenager is killed. Not only is this teenager "accidentally" killed at Anna's hand but the manner in which he is killed is a bit gruesome. I know Anna was protecting her baby daughter but this teenagers death kept nagging at me, I kept thinking that Anna acted too quick and maybe jumped to judgement about the whole situation a bit too soon and that is what pulled me into this book. There was so much more to this senseless (maybe, maybe not) death and I wanted to find out everything. We soon find out that Anna, who is going through a separation isn't perfect, she does have flaws but so does her soon to be ex-husband. It is disturbing how quickly things start to go wrong for Anna, how fast people turn against her when some things about her past surface. Anna has a bit of a romance which I found added a nice touch to this book. Anna's family except for her grandmother are not at all supportive. No one is team Anna except her grandmother and this so called romantic interest. There is a lot going on on this book, the Ophelia killer resurfaces after twenty years and was Elliot , the murdered teenager somehow involved? Through many twists and turns and false leads all is revealed in a very dramatic and surprising scene. To say surprising is a bit of an understatement , creepy and macabre describes the conclusion as well.
Final Thoughts:
I found this to be a great mystery/suspense book with a creepy and disturbing twist.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews