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The Silence Between Breaths
Eight people, one deadly secret.
Passengers boarding the 10:35 train from Manchester, Piccadilly to London, Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed.
Holly has just landed her dream job, which should make life a lot easier than it has been, and Jeff is heading for his first ever work interview after months of unemployment. They end up sitting next to each other. On board customer service assistant Naz dreams of better things as he collects rubbish from the passengers. And among the others travelling are Nick with his young family who are driving him crazy; pensioner Meg and her partner setting off on a walking holiday and facing an uncertain future; Caroline, run ragged by the competing demands of her stroppy teenage children and her demented mother; and Rhona, unhappy at work and desperate to get home to her small daughter. And in the middle of the carriage sits Saheel, carrying a deadly rucksack . . .
Passengers boarding the 10:35 train from Manchester, Piccadilly to London, Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed.
Holly has just landed her dream job, which should make life a lot easier than it has been, and Jeff is heading for his first ever work interview after months of unemployment. They end up sitting next to each other. On board customer service assistant Naz dreams of better things as he collects rubbish from the passengers. And among the others travelling are Nick with his young family who are driving him crazy; pensioner Meg and her partner setting off on a walking holiday and facing an uncertain future; Caroline, run ragged by the competing demands of her stroppy teenage children and her demented mother; and Rhona, unhappy at work and desperate to get home to her small daughter. And in the middle of the carriage sits Saheel, carrying a deadly rucksack . . .
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2016
56 people are currently reading
1100 people want to read
About the author
Cath Staincliffe
59 books321 followersCath Staincliffe is a best-selling, award-winning novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV's hit series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath's books have been short-listed for the British Crime Writers Association best first novel award, for the Dagger in the Library and selected as Le Masque de l'Année. In 2012 Cath won the CWA Short Story Dagger for Laptop, sharing the prize with Margaret Murphy with her story The Message. Cath was shortlisted again with Night Nurse in 2014. Cath's Sal Kilkenny private eye series features a single-parent sleuth working the mean streets of Manchester. Trio, a stand-alone novel moved away from crime to explore adoption and growing up in the 1960s, inspired by Cath's own experience. Letters To My Daughter's Killer was selected for Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club in 2014 and featured on ITV3s Crime Thriller Club. Cath also writes the Scott & Bailey novels based on the popular UK TV series. Cath's latest stand alone book, The Girl in the Green Dress, was inspired by her experience as the parent of a transgender child. It tells the story of a transphobic hate crime and asks the question: how far would you go to protect your child? Cath is one of the founding members of Murder Squad - a group of Northern crime writers who give readings, talks and signings around the country. Cath was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, UK and now lives in Manchester, Lancashire with her family. You can follow her on Twitter, @CathStaincliffe, which she does when she should be busy writing!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
August 28, 2016
*Thank you to Netgalley & Little, Brown Book Group for my ARC in exchange for a fair & honest review*
As the 10.35 train from Manchester to Euston gets under way, 8 passengers are getting themselves settled into their seats in coach B for what is to be the journey from hell. They all have different reasons for travelling to London - job interviews, reunions, weddings etc. Naz also plays a big part in the storyline, he's the train's customer service assistant, such a decent, pleasant & helpful young man, always ready with a kind word or deed. One thing's for certain - they all begin this journey with hope in their hearts, hope for a better future, one they can share with their loved ones. All except for Saheel! Unbeknown to the other passengers, Saheel has a rucksack in which is concealed a bomb, making their dreams of a better future completely futile.
Oh my goodness, 'The Silence Between Breaths' was like watching a ticking clock counting down to that heartbreaking moment that we know is inevitable. We don't want it to happen, but we know we can't stop it.
The characterisation was superb, giving us a great insight into all the passengers lives, but it was hard to read without wondering who, if anyone, would survive this terrorist bomb, and if so, would it be with life changing injuries. We do get to see the surviving characters in the aftermath of this terrible act, how their physical injuries are affecting their daily lives, as well as the phsychological trauma that they suffer.
This book really had me gripped. It was powerful and extremely moving, and sadly indicative of the times in which we're living. The author really brought to life this terrible event as it happened, and also immediately after. It doesn't make for an easy read, but unfortunately it's something that appears on our TV screens with increasing regularity, and the author has given a truly brilliant portrayal of just how horrendous this is. If only this storyline was a figment of the author's imagination, that things like this never happened. Sadly that's not the case any more, but the book is a definite must read.
As the 10.35 train from Manchester to Euston gets under way, 8 passengers are getting themselves settled into their seats in coach B for what is to be the journey from hell. They all have different reasons for travelling to London - job interviews, reunions, weddings etc. Naz also plays a big part in the storyline, he's the train's customer service assistant, such a decent, pleasant & helpful young man, always ready with a kind word or deed. One thing's for certain - they all begin this journey with hope in their hearts, hope for a better future, one they can share with their loved ones. All except for Saheel! Unbeknown to the other passengers, Saheel has a rucksack in which is concealed a bomb, making their dreams of a better future completely futile.
Oh my goodness, 'The Silence Between Breaths' was like watching a ticking clock counting down to that heartbreaking moment that we know is inevitable. We don't want it to happen, but we know we can't stop it.
The characterisation was superb, giving us a great insight into all the passengers lives, but it was hard to read without wondering who, if anyone, would survive this terrorist bomb, and if so, would it be with life changing injuries. We do get to see the surviving characters in the aftermath of this terrible act, how their physical injuries are affecting their daily lives, as well as the phsychological trauma that they suffer.
This book really had me gripped. It was powerful and extremely moving, and sadly indicative of the times in which we're living. The author really brought to life this terrible event as it happened, and also immediately after. It doesn't make for an easy read, but unfortunately it's something that appears on our TV screens with increasing regularity, and the author has given a truly brilliant portrayal of just how horrendous this is. If only this storyline was a figment of the author's imagination, that things like this never happened. Sadly that's not the case any more, but the book is a definite must read.
August 26, 2016
It is an ordinary morning when a disparate group of people board a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Euston – incidentally the train line my son uses when he comes back from University for a visit. That coincidence will undoubtedly resonate with many readers. After all, many of us use trains to commute or for many of the other, myriad reasons, that the inhabitants of this train have to be travelling that day. There is Nick, irritably travelling to his sister in law’s wedding, with wife Lisa, toddler Eddie and baby Evie. Jeff, heading to an interview, Holly to a Health and Safety course for work. There are a group of women from a recruitment agency, two ladies heading on a walking tour, someone going to visit a friend. Plus of course, train staff, such as the utterly lovable Naz – ‘train presentation assistant,’ who spends his days dreaming of the restaurant he will run in the future. All with their stories, secrets, problems. Among them sits Saheel, clutching his backpack…
This is a topical novel and utterly gripping. We hear of the stories of all of those on the coach and also of Saheel’s family and how the shocking, devastating news that their son, their brother, has been radicalised hits them and changes their life forever – as it will change the lives of so many of those we meet. The author has cleverly drawn a very realistic scenario here, in that not all of the characters are sympathetic; although some will certainly be heroic. So, there is Felicity, the line manager of the two women accompanying her on the train, who is effective at using ‘divide and rule,’ with her staff and has bullied Rhona to the point where she has agreed to the trip against her real wishes. Also there is the intolerant Nick; who snaps at his family and sneers at the other inhabitants of the carriage. Likewise, we also have the point of view of Saheel’s young sister, Kulsoom, who offers an important voice to the narrative.
It is hard to say that this is a novel I enjoyed, but I read it virtually in one sitting. It is impossible to not want to know what happens to those involved. As well as being an extremely relevant read, this would be an ideal choice for book groups as it throws up so many questions. What should you do if you are suspicious of someone you are travelling with? Or if you suspect that your child has been radicalised? Without doubt, this explores some extremely pertinent questions and the author unfolds the story with a good deal of tension and involves you in the lives of the characters that she makes come alive within these pages, so that you care who remains so at the end. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
This is a topical novel and utterly gripping. We hear of the stories of all of those on the coach and also of Saheel’s family and how the shocking, devastating news that their son, their brother, has been radicalised hits them and changes their life forever – as it will change the lives of so many of those we meet. The author has cleverly drawn a very realistic scenario here, in that not all of the characters are sympathetic; although some will certainly be heroic. So, there is Felicity, the line manager of the two women accompanying her on the train, who is effective at using ‘divide and rule,’ with her staff and has bullied Rhona to the point where she has agreed to the trip against her real wishes. Also there is the intolerant Nick; who snaps at his family and sneers at the other inhabitants of the carriage. Likewise, we also have the point of view of Saheel’s young sister, Kulsoom, who offers an important voice to the narrative.
It is hard to say that this is a novel I enjoyed, but I read it virtually in one sitting. It is impossible to not want to know what happens to those involved. As well as being an extremely relevant read, this would be an ideal choice for book groups as it throws up so many questions. What should you do if you are suspicious of someone you are travelling with? Or if you suspect that your child has been radicalised? Without doubt, this explores some extremely pertinent questions and the author unfolds the story with a good deal of tension and involves you in the lives of the characters that she makes come alive within these pages, so that you care who remains so at the end. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
July 30, 2017
I think one of the reasons for this book hitting me so hard when I read it is because of the current situation in the world with all the suicide bombers in the recent years. The thought that you are no longer safe that any time or anywhere a suicide bomber may be is a reality nowadays. And, this book really shows both sides to it. First, we have the ordinary citizens on the train with different reasons for being there, be it traveling for a job interview or a wedding, then among them is a man who for some reason has decided to become a martyr for a cause, and by taking as many lives with him as possible. And, at home, a little sister is checking her big brother's computer and finding something she never thought that she would find...
This book is heartbreaking and so chilling to read. The characters on the train are introduced in the beginning of the book one by one. And, by letting the reader get to know them, making the characters come alive and then turning the world upside down has Cath Staincliffe written a powerful book that from the beginning until the end is so gripping that I could hardly put it down. For me were the chapters with Saheel's little sister a very powerful inclusion in this book. Her side of the story, her point-of-view is just as tragic as the ones on the train. Saheel's action has such a big impact not only on the people on the train but also his own family. They will never be the same again.
It's terrifying how one person's actions can affect so many lives, and this book shows just how in an instant, all your hopes and dreams can be destroyed, but it also shows how people can after facing a terrible situation gathered together and not let evil triumph.
I want to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
This book is heartbreaking and so chilling to read. The characters on the train are introduced in the beginning of the book one by one. And, by letting the reader get to know them, making the characters come alive and then turning the world upside down has Cath Staincliffe written a powerful book that from the beginning until the end is so gripping that I could hardly put it down. For me were the chapters with Saheel's little sister a very powerful inclusion in this book. Her side of the story, her point-of-view is just as tragic as the ones on the train. Saheel's action has such a big impact not only on the people on the train but also his own family. They will never be the same again.
It's terrifying how one person's actions can affect so many lives, and this book shows just how in an instant, all your hopes and dreams can be destroyed, but it also shows how people can after facing a terrible situation gathered together and not let evil triumph.
I want to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
September 21, 2016
This is a story that grew on me the more I read it. It is no spoiler to say that it us about a home grown terrorist threat on a train from Manchester to London Euston (after all, we are told that in the product description) and this is the story of the people on that train. We follow them before, during and after the event and we really get to know these people who are all from different walks of life and all on the train for their own person, every day reasons. When you hear of a terrorist attack it is sometimes the sheer numbers of people involved that stuns you and it can be a little too easy to forget that these are people and not just rising statistics – they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but for reasons, going about their daily business and this book really brings that home to you. They may not always be likeable people, but the characters here are definitely not just incident statistics as their characters have been so well drawn. You almost feel as if you know them.
Now the second reason that I really loved this read was the setting of the incident. This probably is only really personal to me and I expect I am the only reader who will see things from this perspective but I live about five miles away from where the incident takes place. I pass it every week and always have done. It is something of an iconic local landmark. Now, after reading this book, I don’t think I will ever be able to pass it again without a shudder. What happens in the read is so “possible” that from now on I will always connect it with that little piece of England just down the road from me. Heck, I even googled the place at 3 am just to make sure nothing bad had happened there and that people I know who work for the emergency services weren’t having to deal with it. Call me a “silly mare” but just because this book has the power to make me feel like that, is the reason I am unashamedly awarding it five stars.
I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
Now the second reason that I really loved this read was the setting of the incident. This probably is only really personal to me and I expect I am the only reader who will see things from this perspective but I live about five miles away from where the incident takes place. I pass it every week and always have done. It is something of an iconic local landmark. Now, after reading this book, I don’t think I will ever be able to pass it again without a shudder. What happens in the read is so “possible” that from now on I will always connect it with that little piece of England just down the road from me. Heck, I even googled the place at 3 am just to make sure nothing bad had happened there and that people I know who work for the emergency services weren’t having to deal with it. Call me a “silly mare” but just because this book has the power to make me feel like that, is the reason I am unashamedly awarding it five stars.
I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
February 6, 2017
* 3.5 stars
https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The 10.35 train from Manchester to London, full of passengers making their journey from Manchester to the capital for a variety of reasons – work, family, holidays and new beginnings, is the centrepiece for The Silence Between Breaths. Aboard this train is an innocent mix of strangers, oblivious to the fact that their lives are about to be ripped apart by this standard train journey.
As various passengers and staff board the train in Manchester, setting off for London, each is consumed with their own thoughts. From job interviews, to problems with teenage children, relationship woes and career aspirations, these are common thoughts that occupy most people’s minds. The fact that their lives are going to be put in immediate danger, just by boarding this particular train, would not have crossed their mind. Also aboard the train is a teenage boy, Saheel, sweating profusely and hugging a rucksack. It is this rucksack, held by a teenage boy on a mission from above that is the deadly catalyst for a horrific event. The Silence Between Breaths is a novel divided into acts. Staincliffe sets the scene, introducing the reader to a set of passengers and staff aboard the train. She also explores a little of Saheel, the perpetrator of the crime and his thirteen year old sister’s perspective. This thirteen year old girl ends up being the unsung hero of the sad tale of events. There is a horrible sense of dread underpinning this book, as the reader knows what is coming up. The second act of the novel hones down on the aftermath of the train attack. This allows Staincliffe the room to explore such issues as surviour’s guilt, grief and the physical injuries experienced by those who lived to see life after the train disaster.
Phew, this book was both a hard one to read and review. A couple of weeks have passed by since I finished reading The Silence Between Breaths. It is a book that I needed some time to digest and settle, before I felt like I was in the right frame of mind to write a review. The Silence Between Breaths is a timely and topical novel, shining the spotlight on modern terrorism. I believe it is a book that offers the reader a very real reflection of a devastating event that unfortunately seems to be occurring on a frequent basis, all around the world.
I would say The Silence Between Breaths is a book that fits into the crime genre but it is also a very good piece of dramatic fiction, offering up a study of humour behaviour. It takes an insightful glimpse into how a wide cross section of people would respond to a tragedy. With the attack mentioned in the blurb, the reader knows what is going to happen, just not the exact details about how it will unfold. A sense of pure dread fell over me as I read the first half of the novel. It was not a welcome feeling at all, but I know this event building was essential to the story. Once the attack occurred, the book seemed to step up a notch pace wise. Staincliffe successfully captures the frantic nature based on the fight for survival and the rescue process of the passengers. The immediate aftermath of the attack is a sensory overload. Staincliffe uses many passages to describe the horrific sights, distinct smells, the noise and the raw emotions attached to such an event. It was moving but it was difficult to read at times. The aftermath of the attack is strong in characterisation. Through the alternating chapter style, the reader learns about the emotional rehabilitation process for the different victims of the disaster. This gives Staincliffe the opportunity to explore issues such as post traumatic stress disorder, disability, bereavement and survivor’s guilt. Each of these issues is handled in a sensitive manner by the author.
The Silence Between Breaths is a stark but tense read that holds you tightly in its grip. It is the type of novel that leaves a stain on your mind, long after closing the book. The Silence Between Breaths is a story lead by a cast of believable characters, who draw the reader deep into the unfolding events of this terrible attack on British soil. The Silence Between the Breaths was my introduction to the writing of Cath Staincliffe, an author with many novels under her belt, which I hope to now explore after reading this profound novel.
https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The 10.35 train from Manchester to London, full of passengers making their journey from Manchester to the capital for a variety of reasons – work, family, holidays and new beginnings, is the centrepiece for The Silence Between Breaths. Aboard this train is an innocent mix of strangers, oblivious to the fact that their lives are about to be ripped apart by this standard train journey.
As various passengers and staff board the train in Manchester, setting off for London, each is consumed with their own thoughts. From job interviews, to problems with teenage children, relationship woes and career aspirations, these are common thoughts that occupy most people’s minds. The fact that their lives are going to be put in immediate danger, just by boarding this particular train, would not have crossed their mind. Also aboard the train is a teenage boy, Saheel, sweating profusely and hugging a rucksack. It is this rucksack, held by a teenage boy on a mission from above that is the deadly catalyst for a horrific event. The Silence Between Breaths is a novel divided into acts. Staincliffe sets the scene, introducing the reader to a set of passengers and staff aboard the train. She also explores a little of Saheel, the perpetrator of the crime and his thirteen year old sister’s perspective. This thirteen year old girl ends up being the unsung hero of the sad tale of events. There is a horrible sense of dread underpinning this book, as the reader knows what is coming up. The second act of the novel hones down on the aftermath of the train attack. This allows Staincliffe the room to explore such issues as surviour’s guilt, grief and the physical injuries experienced by those who lived to see life after the train disaster.
Phew, this book was both a hard one to read and review. A couple of weeks have passed by since I finished reading The Silence Between Breaths. It is a book that I needed some time to digest and settle, before I felt like I was in the right frame of mind to write a review. The Silence Between Breaths is a timely and topical novel, shining the spotlight on modern terrorism. I believe it is a book that offers the reader a very real reflection of a devastating event that unfortunately seems to be occurring on a frequent basis, all around the world.
I would say The Silence Between Breaths is a book that fits into the crime genre but it is also a very good piece of dramatic fiction, offering up a study of humour behaviour. It takes an insightful glimpse into how a wide cross section of people would respond to a tragedy. With the attack mentioned in the blurb, the reader knows what is going to happen, just not the exact details about how it will unfold. A sense of pure dread fell over me as I read the first half of the novel. It was not a welcome feeling at all, but I know this event building was essential to the story. Once the attack occurred, the book seemed to step up a notch pace wise. Staincliffe successfully captures the frantic nature based on the fight for survival and the rescue process of the passengers. The immediate aftermath of the attack is a sensory overload. Staincliffe uses many passages to describe the horrific sights, distinct smells, the noise and the raw emotions attached to such an event. It was moving but it was difficult to read at times. The aftermath of the attack is strong in characterisation. Through the alternating chapter style, the reader learns about the emotional rehabilitation process for the different victims of the disaster. This gives Staincliffe the opportunity to explore issues such as post traumatic stress disorder, disability, bereavement and survivor’s guilt. Each of these issues is handled in a sensitive manner by the author.
The Silence Between Breaths is a stark but tense read that holds you tightly in its grip. It is the type of novel that leaves a stain on your mind, long after closing the book. The Silence Between Breaths is a story lead by a cast of believable characters, who draw the reader deep into the unfolding events of this terrible attack on British soil. The Silence Between the Breaths was my introduction to the writing of Cath Staincliffe, an author with many novels under her belt, which I hope to now explore after reading this profound novel.
July 28, 2016
A book that has its plus points, but in the end left me feeling dissatisfied.
Staincliffe succeeds in using multiple points of view to reveal the lives of those in train carriage B, all on their way to Euston station. Each individual is deftly drawn and convincing, coming from a variety of backgrounds, with their own clear personality.
However, the plot is somewhat flat.
Thanks to Cait Staincliffe, Little, Brown Book Group LTD, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Staincliffe succeeds in using multiple points of view to reveal the lives of those in train carriage B, all on their way to Euston station. Each individual is deftly drawn and convincing, coming from a variety of backgrounds, with their own clear personality.
However, the plot is somewhat flat.
Thanks to Cait Staincliffe, Little, Brown Book Group LTD, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2019
The beginning of this story introduces us to the characters and tells why the characters are on the train, where they are headed, whether it be a vacation, a wedding, job interview, or work seminar, etc. The majority of the passengers are anxious, uptight, harried, board, and most of them wanted to be anywhere else then on a train going to wherever they really don't want to go. A bit dull. Down. Unhappy. I was getting a little down myself, hoping that the book would get better soon.
Then I read two words. One of the passengers says *allahu Akbar.
Those two words should be synonymous to good, warm, protected, safe. Shouldn't they?
Not anymore. Not these days. **Not to me. I can only say that about myself. (**see note below)
Now, today, those words bring about an immediate visceral reaction. Fight or flight. An immediate adrenaline rush that gripped my chest, my heart rate shot up, my breath caught in my throat, for just a moment, then I found myself needing more air.
I was caught completely blindsided. I found it quite unnerving for me to be lulled to a subdued state of being - then a split second later, a jolt, a reaction, adrenaline. It's a scary thing to react like that.
You have my attention
The middle part of the book was exciting and tense, full of anticipation, interesting. The description of what the people felt, both emotionally and physically, what they could hear, smell, see. That part was exceptionally well done. Outstanding in fact. Very realistic I think. I believe that would be something I hope like hell I'll never have to experience, no one should.
After the incident, when we find out what happened to the people we got to know in the beginning, the pace slowed dramatically and for me, from here to the end, is not what I was expecting. It was a bit anticlimactic.
The Silence Between Breaths wasn't a lousy book for me, but it wasn't great for me either. Having said that, the book was well written, the characters were realistic, as was the plot, but I thought there should have been more to it somehow.
That's not to say I won't try one of Cath Staincliffe's other novels but it probably won't be in the immediate future.
**A final note. I will be diligent in training myself to NOT react to the words *Allah Akbar the way I did. It was an unexpected reaction. It's an unfortunate reality in the world today - it's called terrorism.
Taking another's comfort, religion, or beliefs and turning it into something bad, evil, is awful and despicable to me, to say the least.
If I may be so bold as to say that Allah Akbar is meant as a positive, a good thing, perhaps as a blessing, to many, many people and I will remember it that way.
I will also reiterate that this review is only of my opinion and should not be taken for more than it is - a review of a specific novel, The Silence Between Breaths by Cath Staincliffe.
*allahu is the way the author spelled it in this book. I spelled it as most references spell it.
Then I read two words. One of the passengers says *allahu Akbar.
Those two words should be synonymous to good, warm, protected, safe. Shouldn't they?
Not anymore. Not these days. **Not to me. I can only say that about myself. (**see note below)
Now, today, those words bring about an immediate visceral reaction. Fight or flight. An immediate adrenaline rush that gripped my chest, my heart rate shot up, my breath caught in my throat, for just a moment, then I found myself needing more air.
I was caught completely blindsided. I found it quite unnerving for me to be lulled to a subdued state of being - then a split second later, a jolt, a reaction, adrenaline. It's a scary thing to react like that.
You have my attention
The middle part of the book was exciting and tense, full of anticipation, interesting. The description of what the people felt, both emotionally and physically, what they could hear, smell, see. That part was exceptionally well done. Outstanding in fact. Very realistic I think. I believe that would be something I hope like hell I'll never have to experience, no one should.
After the incident, when we find out what happened to the people we got to know in the beginning, the pace slowed dramatically and for me, from here to the end, is not what I was expecting. It was a bit anticlimactic.
The Silence Between Breaths wasn't a lousy book for me, but it wasn't great for me either. Having said that, the book was well written, the characters were realistic, as was the plot, but I thought there should have been more to it somehow.
That's not to say I won't try one of Cath Staincliffe's other novels but it probably won't be in the immediate future.
**A final note. I will be diligent in training myself to NOT react to the words *Allah Akbar the way I did. It was an unexpected reaction. It's an unfortunate reality in the world today - it's called terrorism.
Taking another's comfort, religion, or beliefs and turning it into something bad, evil, is awful and despicable to me, to say the least.
If I may be so bold as to say that Allah Akbar is meant as a positive, a good thing, perhaps as a blessing, to many, many people and I will remember it that way.
I will also reiterate that this review is only of my opinion and should not be taken for more than it is - a review of a specific novel, The Silence Between Breaths by Cath Staincliffe.
*allahu is the way the author spelled it in this book. I spelled it as most references spell it.
August 21, 2016
Eight passengers get settled into their coach on the 10:35 train from Manchester to London Euston. Some are bound for work, reunions, new starts, holidays etc.
The passengers all have their own story to tell why they are travelling on the train and we find out a bit of their background. Also Naz the trains customer service assistant who dreams of better things as he collects the customers rubbish.
Then there's Saheel who is carrying a deadly rucksack.....
This book covers the before and after the event. The devastation brought to a family through the acts of their son.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Little Brown Book Group UK for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The passengers all have their own story to tell why they are travelling on the train and we find out a bit of their background. Also Naz the trains customer service assistant who dreams of better things as he collects the customers rubbish.
Then there's Saheel who is carrying a deadly rucksack.....
This book covers the before and after the event. The devastation brought to a family through the acts of their son.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Little Brown Book Group UK for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2016
The fact that I started this book at 9am this morning and just finished it at 6pm shows exactly how gripping this story is. Not only was it hugely powerful and topical it was thought provoking and heartbreaking in equal measures. 8 passengers board a train from Manchester to Euston, each one has a fascinating back story and it was so easy to get sucked into their lives and fears and courage. A sad tale of terrorism and today's crazy world. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this ARC.
October 29, 2017
I love Cath Staincliffe, her books don't disappoint and The Silence Between Breaths is no exception. All the passengers on the 10.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London have different reasons for travelling that day, but they're about to be bonded together for the rest of their lives. Equally funny and harrowing, The Silence Between Breaths is a story you wont want to put down.
June 6, 2017
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A rather difficult book to review based on the subject matter that it covers. It's tough to say that I enjoyed a book about terrorism and the devastation that it causes.
At the end of the day, this is a well written and rather gripping read. The book isn't very long and I finished it in just under a day, which is testimony to the fact that I did enjoy it. It's a very relevant and topical read, and after waking up on Sunday morning to news about further terror attacks in London, the topic and message of this book is very apt.
I must be honest and say that I found this a rather depressing and upsetting book. I have very strong feelings about the terror that has been unleashed on our world in recent times, and I simply cannot accept the number of senseless murders, the devastation to families and the pure evil that is now part of our world because of these terrorists. I cannot understand how these things can be done in the name of religion. This means that a book like this one was always going to be difficult for me to read. My blood boils when I consider this subject matter.
Having said that, the author did a good job of introducing the characters to us, of making us feel something for them and then of creating an upsetting although somewhat predictable ending. Overall, this is a good read that remains topical in the world we live in today. It's received many great reviews, and many readers have loved it, probably due to its relevance. I thought it was good, but I can't rave about it for the reasons that I set out above. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the author tries to justify terrorism or terror attacks, because she doesn't, but I'm just not sure that a book about a devastating terror attack is what I want to be reading in current times. It was a good, straight forward story that is bound to get your blood pumping and your emotions flowing.
For me, I think that I'll rather leave my reading about terror attacks to the news reports. Sadly, we seem to have plenty to read in that regard. But if you are after a relevant, moving, emotional and slightly upsetting read, then you may "enjoy" this one.
My Rating: * * *
Publication Date: September 2016
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: Trade paperback
Source: My own purchased copy.
A rather difficult book to review based on the subject matter that it covers. It's tough to say that I enjoyed a book about terrorism and the devastation that it causes.
At the end of the day, this is a well written and rather gripping read. The book isn't very long and I finished it in just under a day, which is testimony to the fact that I did enjoy it. It's a very relevant and topical read, and after waking up on Sunday morning to news about further terror attacks in London, the topic and message of this book is very apt.
I must be honest and say that I found this a rather depressing and upsetting book. I have very strong feelings about the terror that has been unleashed on our world in recent times, and I simply cannot accept the number of senseless murders, the devastation to families and the pure evil that is now part of our world because of these terrorists. I cannot understand how these things can be done in the name of religion. This means that a book like this one was always going to be difficult for me to read. My blood boils when I consider this subject matter.
Having said that, the author did a good job of introducing the characters to us, of making us feel something for them and then of creating an upsetting although somewhat predictable ending. Overall, this is a good read that remains topical in the world we live in today. It's received many great reviews, and many readers have loved it, probably due to its relevance. I thought it was good, but I can't rave about it for the reasons that I set out above. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the author tries to justify terrorism or terror attacks, because she doesn't, but I'm just not sure that a book about a devastating terror attack is what I want to be reading in current times. It was a good, straight forward story that is bound to get your blood pumping and your emotions flowing.
For me, I think that I'll rather leave my reading about terror attacks to the news reports. Sadly, we seem to have plenty to read in that regard. But if you are after a relevant, moving, emotional and slightly upsetting read, then you may "enjoy" this one.
My Rating: * * *
Publication Date: September 2016
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: Trade paperback
Source: My own purchased copy.
October 20, 2016
Beautifully organised with characters of passengers that you easy relate to. The scenes must have taken Cath Staincliffe some time planning out each passenger on the train and why they are on the train. This story just goes to show what a talented author Cath Staincliffe is. The Silence Between Breaths is about passengers boarding the 10.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston are on their way to work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed. Nazir Dawood is a cleaner on train. Naz had become suspicious of a man who looked like he was pretending to be asleep, when he startled awake and looked around dead shifty. As Naz became even more suspicious of a passenger he had been trying to get passengers from coach B to safety away from this man. Moments later through the tunnel a suicide bomb attack happened in coach B. Many died and many had horrific injuries, because a guy got on the train and deliberately blew himself up. That is evil. Pure evil. I really highly recommend this book.
November 25, 2016
This is going to be a fairly short review as I don’t want to give too much away. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up The Silence Between Breaths, but I was definitely surprised at how well the story was written. It’s a modern tale of terrorism and makes for an emotive and unfortunately a very credible read. Eight passengers board a train to Euston London, each one has somewhere to be, but little do they know life is about to change for every one of them in the most devastating way.
Cath Staincliffe very convincingly brings all her characters to life which made the events on the train and what happens to them all the more difficult to read about, especially as similar events have happened here and abroad. The characters were so normal travelling for a job interview, going to a wedding, doing every day things, and this is what made for a terrifying yet credible read, how many times have you read similar things when acts of terrorism have been committed? People who were going about their daily business but just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The characters are well developed some were more likeable than others, but each one has a story to tell, I felt the author expertly portrayed each of their story’s with conviction and feeling.
The author does a remarkable job of ramping up the tension as events reach crisis point, my heart was in my mouth on more than one occasion as you know what’s coming, but not the how or when. At times I felt the story read like a documentary it was so convincing, this is a such a powerful and thought provoking read that it left me close to tears on several occasions. I can’t say I enjoyed this read as it deals with such a harrowing subject, but I will say I’m glad I read it, it’s well written and very plausible, and even writing this review a couple of weeks later the events of the book still linger with me.
June 3, 2018
Listened to in audio format.
This book was very difficult book for me to listen to because it was reminiscent of the 07/07 terror attacks. It was particularly eerie because I have travelled on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly train.
The Silence Between Breaths focusses on eight passengers travelling in Coach A. Cath showed the passengers were on the train for various reasons.
Jeff was travelling down to London for a job interview. In the seat next to him was Holly who had started a new job and was on a training course. Meg and partner were on a walking holiday with their dog. Also there was school teacher Caroline who was visiting an old school friend. Caroline was trying to care for her elderly mother with dementia whilst dealing with her rebellious teenage daughter. Rhona who was travelling with colleagues for a work exhibition. Nick and his wife Lisa who were travelling to a wedding whilst struggling with a baby and small boy. Finally Naz the cleaner on the train who dreamt of owning his own restaurant.
Only four of the passenger's in Coach A survived. However one of the survivors was a Nasty piece of work and the least deserving. The characters were so perfectly drawn, I felt like I had lost friends when the bomb went off. The authors descriptions of the devastation after the bomb were very disturbing and left me tearful at times. I was glad Cath included the bombers little sister Kulsoom who discovered what her brother was planning to do and bravely called the police.
This was a powerful book which will stay with me for a long time.
This book was very difficult book for me to listen to because it was reminiscent of the 07/07 terror attacks. It was particularly eerie because I have travelled on the London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly train.
The Silence Between Breaths focusses on eight passengers travelling in Coach A. Cath showed the passengers were on the train for various reasons.
Jeff was travelling down to London for a job interview. In the seat next to him was Holly who had started a new job and was on a training course. Meg and partner were on a walking holiday with their dog. Also there was school teacher Caroline who was visiting an old school friend. Caroline was trying to care for her elderly mother with dementia whilst dealing with her rebellious teenage daughter. Rhona who was travelling with colleagues for a work exhibition. Nick and his wife Lisa who were travelling to a wedding whilst struggling with a baby and small boy. Finally Naz the cleaner on the train who dreamt of owning his own restaurant.
Only four of the passenger's in Coach A survived. However one of the survivors was a Nasty piece of work and the least deserving. The characters were so perfectly drawn, I felt like I had lost friends when the bomb went off. The authors descriptions of the devastation after the bomb were very disturbing and left me tearful at times. I was glad Cath included the bombers little sister Kulsoom who discovered what her brother was planning to do and bravely called the police.
This was a powerful book which will stay with me for a long time.
July 30, 2016
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this advance review copy.
I requested this book from netgalley as I could see the story took place on a train. For some reason, I like books about trains! I expected it to be something along the lines of Murder on the Orient Express. How wrong was I! I started this book yesterday and finished it today, part of it I actually read whilst I was on a train, which probably wasn't one of my better ideas!
It centres around 8 passengers getting on board a train in Manchester heading towards London. All of these people are given their own story - some are traveling on business, some for pleasure, one for a job interview, a family heading to a family wedding, and also the staff on the train. There is also one other man, a young Asian man with a backpack.....
As the story goes you, you get to find out the stories of everyone, why they are there, their background and what kind of people they are. You also hear the young Asian man's story - why he's about to do what he does. Obviously the inevitable happens and it's pure destruction. The author takes you right into the middle of the catastrophic aftermath.
It's a story of people, of relationships, of terror, of anger and of overwhelming sadness. Made even more so heartbreaking with the recent terror attacks in Europe, it certainly makes you think about it can only be a matter of time something like this happen again on our soil. It's also a story of friendship, support and an understanding of how well people pull together in times of crisis. I like the way that the author doesn't make it one sided, it's not just the passengers and their families who suffered, but also the family of the young Asian man. They had no idea what he had planned and were just as much victims.
I've read true life stories of such things - obviously 7/7 being the main one. I've never read one as good as this as a novel. I wouldn't say I really enjoyed, it's probably not the type of book to 'enjoy', but it was a well thought story which kept me gripped till the last page. Would recommend, but be mindful that the topic isn't for everyone.
Five stars!
I requested this book from netgalley as I could see the story took place on a train. For some reason, I like books about trains! I expected it to be something along the lines of Murder on the Orient Express. How wrong was I! I started this book yesterday and finished it today, part of it I actually read whilst I was on a train, which probably wasn't one of my better ideas!
It centres around 8 passengers getting on board a train in Manchester heading towards London. All of these people are given their own story - some are traveling on business, some for pleasure, one for a job interview, a family heading to a family wedding, and also the staff on the train. There is also one other man, a young Asian man with a backpack.....
As the story goes you, you get to find out the stories of everyone, why they are there, their background and what kind of people they are. You also hear the young Asian man's story - why he's about to do what he does. Obviously the inevitable happens and it's pure destruction. The author takes you right into the middle of the catastrophic aftermath.
It's a story of people, of relationships, of terror, of anger and of overwhelming sadness. Made even more so heartbreaking with the recent terror attacks in Europe, it certainly makes you think about it can only be a matter of time something like this happen again on our soil. It's also a story of friendship, support and an understanding of how well people pull together in times of crisis. I like the way that the author doesn't make it one sided, it's not just the passengers and their families who suffered, but also the family of the young Asian man. They had no idea what he had planned and were just as much victims.
I've read true life stories of such things - obviously 7/7 being the main one. I've never read one as good as this as a novel. I wouldn't say I really enjoyed, it's probably not the type of book to 'enjoy', but it was a well thought story which kept me gripped till the last page. Would recommend, but be mindful that the topic isn't for everyone.
Five stars!
September 21, 2016
This is actually the first book I have read by Cath Staincliffe and I will certainly be checking out her other books now on the basis of reading The Silence Between Breaths. This is a book very much of its moment, it's very topical but also heartbreaking in its honesty of not shying away from a very emotive issue.
The first few chapters needed quite a bit of concentration from me as all the characters from carriage B on the 1015 Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston train are introduced. But because of this it meant that I kept reading in large chunks so that I kept up the momentum and I pretty much read it in one day. A young Muslim extremist is on the train with a rucksack. He won't make eye contact, he is sweating and that rucksack is not leaving his side. What would you do? That's the dilemma that a cast of characters travelling in the same carriage.
I must admit that I wasn't sure whether or not a storyline about terrorism would work here in this genre so I was pleasantly surprised at the way the plot played out because it was so much more than that! There were some lovely character creations that I took to straight away and another character that I absolutely abhorred right from the minute we meet him and it wasn't the one I expected to hate either. It was difficult to read in many places due to the subject matter but I did feel it was handled really well. Saying that, I did have some mixed feelings about the end hence my 4* review.
This is most definitely is a book that will stay with me for a long time after I've finished as even now I'm overthinking the plot and replaying bits of it in my head. It's a character driven page turner full of very differing views and emotions that everybody needs to read.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
The first few chapters needed quite a bit of concentration from me as all the characters from carriage B on the 1015 Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston train are introduced. But because of this it meant that I kept reading in large chunks so that I kept up the momentum and I pretty much read it in one day. A young Muslim extremist is on the train with a rucksack. He won't make eye contact, he is sweating and that rucksack is not leaving his side. What would you do? That's the dilemma that a cast of characters travelling in the same carriage.
I must admit that I wasn't sure whether or not a storyline about terrorism would work here in this genre so I was pleasantly surprised at the way the plot played out because it was so much more than that! There were some lovely character creations that I took to straight away and another character that I absolutely abhorred right from the minute we meet him and it wasn't the one I expected to hate either. It was difficult to read in many places due to the subject matter but I did feel it was handled really well. Saying that, I did have some mixed feelings about the end hence my 4* review.
This is most definitely is a book that will stay with me for a long time after I've finished as even now I'm overthinking the plot and replaying bits of it in my head. It's a character driven page turner full of very differing views and emotions that everybody needs to read.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
July 20, 2017
4+ stars
I bought this book due to the positive reviews I was reading but I let it sit for a while because I wasn't sure I wanted to read about a terrorist bombing when all I had to do was watch TV news. I'm very glad I decided to pick this up and finally read it since it covers so much more than a news story gives. Honestly, it reveals how much of a ripple effect occurs for everyone involved in an act of terrorism.
The novel opens by introducing all the characters on the train and what is happening in their daily lives - looking for a new job, spending a weekend away with friends, shopping in the city, going to a wedding - all the things all of us do and take for granted. But, then, someone else on the train has another plan in mind to make a statement, a very devastating statement. After the bombing (I'm not spoiling anything about the book), the novel continues with how that event effects the lives of everyone there that day.
A very poignant book. The author did an excellent job of presenting realistic pictures of the characters and in doing so, reminded me, that once the press leaves, dealing with the aftermath never leaves for all involved. Highly recommend.
I bought this book due to the positive reviews I was reading but I let it sit for a while because I wasn't sure I wanted to read about a terrorist bombing when all I had to do was watch TV news. I'm very glad I decided to pick this up and finally read it since it covers so much more than a news story gives. Honestly, it reveals how much of a ripple effect occurs for everyone involved in an act of terrorism.
The novel opens by introducing all the characters on the train and what is happening in their daily lives - looking for a new job, spending a weekend away with friends, shopping in the city, going to a wedding - all the things all of us do and take for granted. But, then, someone else on the train has another plan in mind to make a statement, a very devastating statement. After the bombing (I'm not spoiling anything about the book), the novel continues with how that event effects the lives of everyone there that day.
A very poignant book. The author did an excellent job of presenting realistic pictures of the characters and in doing so, reminded me, that once the press leaves, dealing with the aftermath never leaves for all involved. Highly recommend.
April 19, 2018
Hmmmm ... I’m at a bit of a loss as to how to review this. For me, the book consisted of a few quite distinctive parts, of which I enjoyed some a lot more than others. I don’t want to give spoilers, so I cannot go into details, but will try to explain what I mean without touching too much on the plot:
The book started off with a strong sense of intrigue as the author offers up multiple POVs of different passengers on a train bound from Manchester to Euston. I love glimpses into people’s lives, and thought that Staincliffe did a great job in giving the vital snapshots of the backgrounds of her characters that led to them all being in the same place, at the same time. Despite the short timeframe in which to establish her characters, Staincliffe managed to conjure them all up very vividly for me, and I felt invested in just about every one of them – not an easy task! The confined space of the train made for a brilliant claustrophobic setting, and anyone who has ever been on a train or a plane before will be able to imagine the entrapment experienced if a dangerous situation is added to this mix. At one point the tension mounted to such an extent that I literally held my breath, thinking how brilliant this books was, and how I admired this author’s writing style!
Just as the tension and suspense peaked, an event occurred that dispelled this build-up in an instant and totally changed the story. Without the suspense, the following chapters became more a study of human behaviour, at times brutal, graphic and quite disturbing. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind that, seeing how Staincliffe’s writing fully captured the stark emotional impact of events occurring, and she writes exceptionally well. Here we had tension of a different kind, the sort that leaves a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth as your emotional attachment to some characters is being tested – this is so hard to write without spoilers!!!!!
Now to the third part of the book, in which the tension is now gone completely, and the story focuses on characters’ emotions rather than events. I enjoyed it, but missed the hair-raising tension that had made the earlier part of the book great for me. After such a strong build-up, I felt somehow deflated, with the different POVs now serving more to fragment as earlier they had held the threads together. Perhaps that makes no sense, but picture a map of paths all intersecting in one huge roundabout, only to separate again into different meandering ways, some petering out into nothing and some not exiting at all. Get the picture?
Ok, I’ve given enough obscure hints now. I think that the author has written a great contemporary novel that is very poignant for our tumultuous times. There is an element of suspense, but most of the story focuses on people and their emotional responses to the events occurring. I thought Staincliffe delivered an excellent drama with true to life characters that made me wonder how I would react in their place. Warning – some scenes may be very graphic for some readers.
3.5 stars
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The book started off with a strong sense of intrigue as the author offers up multiple POVs of different passengers on a train bound from Manchester to Euston. I love glimpses into people’s lives, and thought that Staincliffe did a great job in giving the vital snapshots of the backgrounds of her characters that led to them all being in the same place, at the same time. Despite the short timeframe in which to establish her characters, Staincliffe managed to conjure them all up very vividly for me, and I felt invested in just about every one of them – not an easy task! The confined space of the train made for a brilliant claustrophobic setting, and anyone who has ever been on a train or a plane before will be able to imagine the entrapment experienced if a dangerous situation is added to this mix. At one point the tension mounted to such an extent that I literally held my breath, thinking how brilliant this books was, and how I admired this author’s writing style!
Just as the tension and suspense peaked, an event occurred that dispelled this build-up in an instant and totally changed the story. Without the suspense, the following chapters became more a study of human behaviour, at times brutal, graphic and quite disturbing. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind that, seeing how Staincliffe’s writing fully captured the stark emotional impact of events occurring, and she writes exceptionally well. Here we had tension of a different kind, the sort that leaves a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth as your emotional attachment to some characters is being tested – this is so hard to write without spoilers!!!!!
Now to the third part of the book, in which the tension is now gone completely, and the story focuses on characters’ emotions rather than events. I enjoyed it, but missed the hair-raising tension that had made the earlier part of the book great for me. After such a strong build-up, I felt somehow deflated, with the different POVs now serving more to fragment as earlier they had held the threads together. Perhaps that makes no sense, but picture a map of paths all intersecting in one huge roundabout, only to separate again into different meandering ways, some petering out into nothing and some not exiting at all. Get the picture?
Ok, I’ve given enough obscure hints now. I think that the author has written a great contemporary novel that is very poignant for our tumultuous times. There is an element of suspense, but most of the story focuses on people and their emotional responses to the events occurring. I thought Staincliffe delivered an excellent drama with true to life characters that made me wonder how I would react in their place. Warning – some scenes may be very graphic for some readers.
3.5 stars
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September 25, 2016
I am a huge fan of Cath Staincliffe's writing as she has this ability to create some of the most believable characters that I've read in a fictional novel, and the majority of her books usually feature a topical talking point and this time around it's the bombing of a Manchester to London train full of a variety of different characters making their way to the capital for a number of different reasons. The reader knows what's coming from the blurb and the outset and so it's not a spoiler to say that the first part of the book is of course the build up to the bombing.
We meet a lot of characters throughout The Silence Between Breaths and what I loved, if that's the right word, was how different each of them were. Instantly recognisable to anybody who has ever travelled on a train, especially one bound for the capital. I'm the type of person that reserves the same seat every time (as you can do now on Virgin Trains) and God help the person who sits in my reserved seat. I'm also the type of person to pay for a First Class upgrade on a packed bank holiday Monday because I couldn't stand the thought of sitting next to a stranger for two hours. What if they tried to speak to me? It's fast and it's convenient but I hate sharing a packed carriage with rowdy passengers and very soon I recognised a number of the characters within this book.
It's an extremely tense read because you know what's coming and we do get a little insight into the mind of the bomber who spends much of the journey sweating because of the uncertainty of whether the train will reach Euston in time for him to detonate the bomb. I did feel that there could have been a little more depth into why this character was the way he was. What ultimately drove him to want to kill so many people but at the same time having read real life cases of bombers and shooters, it can happen at anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. Obviously no sympathy is felt for this despicable human being but in the background we meet his family and see their reactions and I did spend a little time thinking about them but the story is very much about the passengers on board the train and how this bombing has an effect on their lives. The ones that survive, anyway.
On nearly every single journey I have made to London on the train there's been the same cleaner on board that train, walking up and down collecting rubbish. I always thought what a thankless task that mostly is (as the majority of people don't say thank you) and in this character there's a staff member on board the train who reminded me so much of this person. In fact he was probably one of my favourite characters to read about in the story. I don't want to talk too much about the characters in the story because it'd be too easy to step into spoiler territory but Cath creates such real and believable characters that when that explosion comes, be prepared to take a real emotional hit. I did feel genuine emotion for these characters, even more so as we follow them in the aftermath of the explosion.
If I had one small issue with the story it would be that I wanted more of the aftermath, and to read more about the characters and how they coped. There is some closure for those who survived but even after I finished reading I was left a little bit unsettled because I could believe in these characters and wondered how they were coping despite the fact that they were fictional. There was one character I especially disliked and it's extremely interesting how Cath played the storyline out for this particular character and I had two other favourite characters who even now I am still thinking about and I've read numerous other books since I finished this one. The Silence Between Breaths is a book that will stay with you, and it's one that I'll be recommending. It's also a book that will probably have you looking at each of your passengers differently next time you board a train, and not just checking for an unhealthy attachment to their rucksacks but looking at each of them and wondering what their stories are. Where they are going, what they are doing, and how one catastrophic event in their lives could change it forever.
We meet a lot of characters throughout The Silence Between Breaths and what I loved, if that's the right word, was how different each of them were. Instantly recognisable to anybody who has ever travelled on a train, especially one bound for the capital. I'm the type of person that reserves the same seat every time (as you can do now on Virgin Trains) and God help the person who sits in my reserved seat. I'm also the type of person to pay for a First Class upgrade on a packed bank holiday Monday because I couldn't stand the thought of sitting next to a stranger for two hours. What if they tried to speak to me? It's fast and it's convenient but I hate sharing a packed carriage with rowdy passengers and very soon I recognised a number of the characters within this book.
It's an extremely tense read because you know what's coming and we do get a little insight into the mind of the bomber who spends much of the journey sweating because of the uncertainty of whether the train will reach Euston in time for him to detonate the bomb. I did feel that there could have been a little more depth into why this character was the way he was. What ultimately drove him to want to kill so many people but at the same time having read real life cases of bombers and shooters, it can happen at anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. Obviously no sympathy is felt for this despicable human being but in the background we meet his family and see their reactions and I did spend a little time thinking about them but the story is very much about the passengers on board the train and how this bombing has an effect on their lives. The ones that survive, anyway.
On nearly every single journey I have made to London on the train there's been the same cleaner on board that train, walking up and down collecting rubbish. I always thought what a thankless task that mostly is (as the majority of people don't say thank you) and in this character there's a staff member on board the train who reminded me so much of this person. In fact he was probably one of my favourite characters to read about in the story. I don't want to talk too much about the characters in the story because it'd be too easy to step into spoiler territory but Cath creates such real and believable characters that when that explosion comes, be prepared to take a real emotional hit. I did feel genuine emotion for these characters, even more so as we follow them in the aftermath of the explosion.
If I had one small issue with the story it would be that I wanted more of the aftermath, and to read more about the characters and how they coped. There is some closure for those who survived but even after I finished reading I was left a little bit unsettled because I could believe in these characters and wondered how they were coping despite the fact that they were fictional. There was one character I especially disliked and it's extremely interesting how Cath played the storyline out for this particular character and I had two other favourite characters who even now I am still thinking about and I've read numerous other books since I finished this one. The Silence Between Breaths is a book that will stay with you, and it's one that I'll be recommending. It's also a book that will probably have you looking at each of your passengers differently next time you board a train, and not just checking for an unhealthy attachment to their rucksacks but looking at each of them and wondering what their stories are. Where they are going, what they are doing, and how one catastrophic event in their lives could change it forever.
October 16, 2016
The train is going to Euston. We see the train journey through the eyes of various passengers. We get to know them. A teenage girl finds a horrifying video on her brother's laptop, she tries to avert the unthinkable.
This is the short version of the first part of the excellent 'The Silence Between Breaths'. The second half deals with after the event.
I thought Cath Staincliffe did an excellent job of capturing the characters and events in the story. It is fiction but it could so easily be fact. Definitely a five star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review it.
This is the short version of the first part of the excellent 'The Silence Between Breaths'. The second half deals with after the event.
I thought Cath Staincliffe did an excellent job of capturing the characters and events in the story. It is fiction but it could so easily be fact. Definitely a five star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review it.
August 9, 2018
This quite a powerful and moving book, describing 8 or 9 of the passengers on a train with a lone fundamentalist bomber. The story starts slowly as the key characters build into the narrative, each from their own perspective, within some wryly observed social descriptions, until the inevitable tragedy arises.
August 9, 2024
Frightening. Chilling. Had to read it in one sitting. I started off thinking it would be a 3 star as there were so many characters to get used to. Then it increased to 4 star and by the end it was wow! 5 star. A story told from many points of view, including the bomber. No more spoilers, read it.
October 14, 2016
The Silence Between Breaths is based on a terrifying, but completely plausible premise, and it is this that makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up. For this is such an up-to-the-minute story, a reflection of the times that we live in and a story that really makes the reader think about the 'what if?'.
Passengers board the 10.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. This is an ordinary day for a bunch of average people and the author picks out eight of the passengers to introduce to the reader. Whilst this is only a short novel, and is a quick read, each one of those eight passengers is brought to life by this very accomplished author. We learn about them, their reasons for travelling. We find out about their lives, their loves, their troubles and their sorrows. Immaculately constructed, the characterisation is almost perfect.
From the young cleaner, Naz, in his first job, helping to keep the customers happy whilst dreaming about the day that he will open his own restaurant, to Nick and his young family. Nick is stressed, overworked, overwhelmed by being a young father and harbours thoughts that are unsavoury to say the least. There are Jeff and Holly, two young people, from different walks of life, but have a definite attraction to each other. And then there is Saheel; Asian, bearded, nervous and sweating, with a large rucksack that he keeps a tight grip on.
The ninth lead character is not a passenger. She is Saheel's young sister, back at home in Manchester and borrowing her brother's laptop to finish off her art project. What she sees when she switches it on turns her world upside down. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Cath Staincliffe expertly turns up the tension with every chapter. As the train gets nearer to Euston and the reader knows that Saheel plans to do, it becomes almost unbearable at times. The reader has come to know the characters so well.
And then. CRASH. It happens. Some characters survive, some don't. The aftermath for everyone involved is horrific, and painful and has been written so perfectly. It felt as though I really was a part of this.
Cath Staincliffe is incredibly talented. I love her writing. Her characters are fabulous and her plots are tense and satisfying. She poses questions to the reader. You ask yourself all the time; what would I do? How would I deal with that? Could I do that? Would I say that?
The Silence Between Breaths is a book that has lingered in my head for the past few days. It raises questions, it is excellently told. Really impressed with this one, and highly recommended.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
Passengers board the 10.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. This is an ordinary day for a bunch of average people and the author picks out eight of the passengers to introduce to the reader. Whilst this is only a short novel, and is a quick read, each one of those eight passengers is brought to life by this very accomplished author. We learn about them, their reasons for travelling. We find out about their lives, their loves, their troubles and their sorrows. Immaculately constructed, the characterisation is almost perfect.
From the young cleaner, Naz, in his first job, helping to keep the customers happy whilst dreaming about the day that he will open his own restaurant, to Nick and his young family. Nick is stressed, overworked, overwhelmed by being a young father and harbours thoughts that are unsavoury to say the least. There are Jeff and Holly, two young people, from different walks of life, but have a definite attraction to each other. And then there is Saheel; Asian, bearded, nervous and sweating, with a large rucksack that he keeps a tight grip on.
The ninth lead character is not a passenger. She is Saheel's young sister, back at home in Manchester and borrowing her brother's laptop to finish off her art project. What she sees when she switches it on turns her world upside down. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Cath Staincliffe expertly turns up the tension with every chapter. As the train gets nearer to Euston and the reader knows that Saheel plans to do, it becomes almost unbearable at times. The reader has come to know the characters so well.
And then. CRASH. It happens. Some characters survive, some don't. The aftermath for everyone involved is horrific, and painful and has been written so perfectly. It felt as though I really was a part of this.
Cath Staincliffe is incredibly talented. I love her writing. Her characters are fabulous and her plots are tense and satisfying. She poses questions to the reader. You ask yourself all the time; what would I do? How would I deal with that? Could I do that? Would I say that?
The Silence Between Breaths is a book that has lingered in my head for the past few days. It raises questions, it is excellently told. Really impressed with this one, and highly recommended.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
August 14, 2016
Wow! This book is an absolute gripper! Its the first of Cath Staincliffe's books that I have read and my thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. We meet 8 of the passengers on board a train from Manchester Piccadily to London Euston - as the story of their lives unfolds so the author builds the tension layer upon layer upon layer; the reader cannot help but become attached to the characters and care deeply about the tragic outcome. Sadly a situation that the world is seeing more and more of, this book, sometimes graphically, tells the horrors of terrorism in our world today and how it changes lives of those it touches forever and how damaging and far-reaching its effects are. I raced through this book wanting to know the outcome and found it impossible to put down. Highly recommended and I look forward to reading much more of Cath's work.
November 21, 2017
Such raving reviews for this - and I get it - The plot is powerful.
This story is about a train journey that altered the lives of various characters. At the forefront of this story is a young man planning to bomb the train in an act of terrorism. I picked this up out of sheer intrigue - I've not really come across an author willing to confront the issue of terrorism so outwardly before. My opinion? I wasn't impressed nor gripped by this. I think the writing style was messy and I didn't connect with a single character featured in this. For such a strong plot, the execution was very weak. I don't like to use the word 'boring' but that's how I felt with this. I didn't for one minute crave graphic, gore-infused dramatics - but this was just so very slow.
This story is about a train journey that altered the lives of various characters. At the forefront of this story is a young man planning to bomb the train in an act of terrorism. I picked this up out of sheer intrigue - I've not really come across an author willing to confront the issue of terrorism so outwardly before. My opinion? I wasn't impressed nor gripped by this. I think the writing style was messy and I didn't connect with a single character featured in this. For such a strong plot, the execution was very weak. I don't like to use the word 'boring' but that's how I felt with this. I didn't for one minute crave graphic, gore-infused dramatics - but this was just so very slow.
May 28, 2018
While this is a fictional account of a suicide bombing, it's a truly sad fact of life that these terrible events do happen.
The tragic situation in this case occurs on a train from Manchester to Euston that has a variety of travellers on board: a young guy off for his first job interview, a young family going to a family wedding, two pensioners setting off on their hols, to name a few, & each & everyone of them was a credible character. You may only get short snippets about their lives & loves but its enough for you to feel you know these characters & the fact that you know what is about to befall them makes the story even more harrowing & compelling. The one that stood out for me was little Kulsoom & I thought the fact that author showed the impact that the actions of a suicide bomber has on their own family was interesting point- no thought is given to how they cope in the aftermath of such a tragedy.
For such an emotive subject it's quite an easy read but I mean that in the terms of the writing style rather than the subject matter. The author doesn't pepper the storyline with unnecessary detail & dialogue. In simple yet effective wording she just gets on with creating a storyline that racks the tension up incredibly. I would say that I couldn't put this book down but that wouldn't be strictly true. Once the event had happened on three occassions, I had to close the book - I honestly felt I could sob my heart out! A deep breath or two though & I was back reading again....be prepared to be up all night with this one!
Heartwrenching & harrowing but so compelling it's an excellent read that made me quite emotional at times. A book that I won't forget in a hurry ..if ever...
The tragic situation in this case occurs on a train from Manchester to Euston that has a variety of travellers on board: a young guy off for his first job interview, a young family going to a family wedding, two pensioners setting off on their hols, to name a few, & each & everyone of them was a credible character. You may only get short snippets about their lives & loves but its enough for you to feel you know these characters & the fact that you know what is about to befall them makes the story even more harrowing & compelling. The one that stood out for me was little Kulsoom & I thought the fact that author showed the impact that the actions of a suicide bomber has on their own family was interesting point- no thought is given to how they cope in the aftermath of such a tragedy.
For such an emotive subject it's quite an easy read but I mean that in the terms of the writing style rather than the subject matter. The author doesn't pepper the storyline with unnecessary detail & dialogue. In simple yet effective wording she just gets on with creating a storyline that racks the tension up incredibly. I would say that I couldn't put this book down but that wouldn't be strictly true. Once the event had happened on three occassions, I had to close the book - I honestly felt I could sob my heart out! A deep breath or two though & I was back reading again....be prepared to be up all night with this one!
Heartwrenching & harrowing but so compelling it's an excellent read that made me quite emotional at times. A book that I won't forget in a hurry ..if ever...
December 20, 2017
A very touching book that captures the horror of a terrorist act and makes it feel real
July 17, 2019
This book was given to me by my partner as a Christmas present. I thought it was a psychological thriller but I was completely wrong. It’s a book inspired by real events with lovely and believable characters. Definitely a book worth reading.
October 2, 2016
EIGHT STRANGERS - ONE DEADLY SECRET
17th April 2015
Mid morning on a normal day in Manchester,passengers are boarding the 10.35 train to Euston Station in London.Innocently going about their business bound for work,assignations,reunions,holidays or fresh starts,with no idea that one of their number has a deadly secret that is going to change many of their lives forever and send shock waves rippling across the country.
This book is like one of the disaster movies from the seventies,you know the ones were you spend the first half getting to know the main characters before whatever the movie is about happens.The book is basically split into three parts,in the first part you learn about who the passengers are,then the second part is about the tragedy on the Train and the survivors escaping and then the third part is about how the survivors are coping with their injuries and grief.The story is told in alternating chapters by some of the passengers and by Naz who was a cleaner on the Train,you also read the thoughts and feelings of the person who caused the tragedy.interspersed throughout the book are chapters that are voiced by the sister of the deadly passenger who saves a lot of lives and gets no recognition for her bravery.
The story starts off quite slowly,it takes until you are over 50% in before anything happens then you have the exciting chapters about the survivors trying to escape the wreckage,then the story slows down again after the survivors have been rescued.Being a fan of action and danger I enjoyed the middle section of the book the most.The train wreck,scattered body parts,cries for help,flames and smoke were so realistically described that the reader could easily close their eyes and picture it in their head.
Considering the world that we live in today the story is very topical and reading the thoughts of the villain was quite scary considering there is a lot of people all over the world that think and feel the same way.If I'm honest the book would have been more thrilling if it had not been so obvious who the villain was,if there had been a few red herrings and a second suspect and it hadn't been so obvious what was going to happen but that's just my opinion.The stories of the passengers who were mostly likeable apart from a couple who were definitely not very likeable were interesting enough to hold the readers attention and although it does take a bit of time to get going I did enjoy the book and wanted to know how the story would end.
Many thanks to the publishers Little Brown Books UK for a ARC of the book via netgalley and also for asking me to be part of the blog tour which starts on the 22nd of September which is the same day that the book is published.
17th April 2015
Mid morning on a normal day in Manchester,passengers are boarding the 10.35 train to Euston Station in London.Innocently going about their business bound for work,assignations,reunions,holidays or fresh starts,with no idea that one of their number has a deadly secret that is going to change many of their lives forever and send shock waves rippling across the country.
This book is like one of the disaster movies from the seventies,you know the ones were you spend the first half getting to know the main characters before whatever the movie is about happens.The book is basically split into three parts,in the first part you learn about who the passengers are,then the second part is about the tragedy on the Train and the survivors escaping and then the third part is about how the survivors are coping with their injuries and grief.The story is told in alternating chapters by some of the passengers and by Naz who was a cleaner on the Train,you also read the thoughts and feelings of the person who caused the tragedy.interspersed throughout the book are chapters that are voiced by the sister of the deadly passenger who saves a lot of lives and gets no recognition for her bravery.
The story starts off quite slowly,it takes until you are over 50% in before anything happens then you have the exciting chapters about the survivors trying to escape the wreckage,then the story slows down again after the survivors have been rescued.Being a fan of action and danger I enjoyed the middle section of the book the most.The train wreck,scattered body parts,cries for help,flames and smoke were so realistically described that the reader could easily close their eyes and picture it in their head.
Considering the world that we live in today the story is very topical and reading the thoughts of the villain was quite scary considering there is a lot of people all over the world that think and feel the same way.If I'm honest the book would have been more thrilling if it had not been so obvious who the villain was,if there had been a few red herrings and a second suspect and it hadn't been so obvious what was going to happen but that's just my opinion.The stories of the passengers who were mostly likeable apart from a couple who were definitely not very likeable were interesting enough to hold the readers attention and although it does take a bit of time to get going I did enjoy the book and wanted to know how the story would end.
Many thanks to the publishers Little Brown Books UK for a ARC of the book via netgalley and also for asking me to be part of the blog tour which starts on the 22nd of September which is the same day that the book is published.
September 22, 2016
A masterclass in multiple points of view.
"How do you survive the unthinkable? Passengers boarding the 10.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed."
This cast of characters will stay with me for a long time. Each one is realistic and believable - they could be my neighbours or people I went to school with. They've been thrown together on this train, into a nightmare situation, and I turned each page with a sense of impending doom. Telling the story from nine points of view must have been a challenge but it works brilliantly.
The book kept me engaged right up to the last page and although "enjoyed" seems the wrong word it was certainly a powerful and gripping read. I admire the author's skill in moving the story along with realistic dialogue and even humour during some of the most traumatic scenes.
Highly recommended - but expect to be put through the mill emotionally.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy e-book via Netgalley.
"How do you survive the unthinkable? Passengers boarding the 10.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed."
This cast of characters will stay with me for a long time. Each one is realistic and believable - they could be my neighbours or people I went to school with. They've been thrown together on this train, into a nightmare situation, and I turned each page with a sense of impending doom. Telling the story from nine points of view must have been a challenge but it works brilliantly.
The book kept me engaged right up to the last page and although "enjoyed" seems the wrong word it was certainly a powerful and gripping read. I admire the author's skill in moving the story along with realistic dialogue and even humour during some of the most traumatic scenes.
Highly recommended - but expect to be put through the mill emotionally.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy e-book via Netgalley.
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