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Too Close
Cecelia and Sebastian have a connection like no other - more than just brother and sister, they'll go to any lengths to protect each other. Growing up in a bleak old farmhouse, their mother gone and their father violent and abusive, the twins have only each other to keep them alive.
But when the secrets of their mother's disappearance start to emerge, and truth and lies are thrown into question, events take a terrifying turn . . .
As Cecelia tries to break away from the ties that bind her to her brother, Sebastian is determined that the twins should be together - whatever the costs.
A devastating and unsettling story of a powerful and unshakeable twin bond, Too Close is a twisty and gripping tale where secrets, lies and illusions permeate the very essence of our beings. For fans of The Twins by Saskia Sarginson and I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb.
But when the secrets of their mother's disappearance start to emerge, and truth and lies are thrown into question, events take a terrifying turn . . .
As Cecelia tries to break away from the ties that bind her to her brother, Sebastian is determined that the twins should be together - whatever the costs.
A devastating and unsettling story of a powerful and unshakeable twin bond, Too Close is a twisty and gripping tale where secrets, lies and illusions permeate the very essence of our beings. For fans of The Twins by Saskia Sarginson and I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2016
75 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 5, 2017
1.5 rounded to 2. Immensely bleak story line with no redeeming features to pick it up in anyway. I have not stumbled across this author, and did choose this at the library in the audio cd area, as I could not find anything that tickled my fancy.
Bleak, depressing, miserable, I was hoping for some characters to like, to hope for but was left empty handed. Narration that I don't enjoy also adds a stumbling block, and this was the case here.
Twins Cecelia and Sebastian, suffer a terrible childhood. Cecilia births her own twins, but this is not all as it seems. Cecilia's husband is a character I felt sorry for, he probably regrets entering this crazy family. Not pleasant, but the writing was fine. Just nowhere near my cup of tea!
A miserable story to listen to, I need to choose more wisely. The writing is polished, though. Which brings it up to the two stars, in a way.
Bleak, depressing, miserable, I was hoping for some characters to like, to hope for but was left empty handed. Narration that I don't enjoy also adds a stumbling block, and this was the case here.
Twins Cecelia and Sebastian, suffer a terrible childhood. Cecilia births her own twins, but this is not all as it seems. Cecilia's husband is a character I felt sorry for, he probably regrets entering this crazy family. Not pleasant, but the writing was fine. Just nowhere near my cup of tea!
A miserable story to listen to, I need to choose more wisely. The writing is polished, though. Which brings it up to the two stars, in a way.
May 30, 2016
At first I was wondering if this is going to be one of the books from this author that took a nose dive, but no, it suddenly started to get under my skin like all of this authors books prior to this one.
It started off good, then it sort of made me feel 'get on with it' but no sooner had I said that and that was it, it was like a plane suddenly taking flight. BOOM went the engines.
I traveled along quite nicely at an easy pace, then WHAM.
Two children, twins, not a good background, Mother who goes missing or was she dead?
Father who was not a good Father and didn't deserve the title 'dad'.
This took a twist and I wondered if it would all come out, and what it would be like when it did.
The author keeps you guessing along the way and I loved it.
A really intense pleasurable read.
My thanks to Bonnier Publishing via Net Galley for my copy
June 30, 2016
So I guess you all know what attracted me to this book, it's another book about twins! In this case it's a girl/boy twin pairing so it has a slightly different twist to that twin relationship I love exploring. I will just say I saw an earlier review of this book that freaked me out a little bit and I was rather worried about reading it. But I put all my trust in the publisher as they have turned out some great books recently and so I put all preconceived ideas to one side and just started to read.
Cecilia and Sebastian live on a farm with their father who was a character I pretty much hated from the start. They endure a family where punishment is handed out in an aggressive form and seems mostly aimed at Cecilia. Their mother has gone away, but Sebastian thinks he knows where she has gone and why whereas Cecilia is convinced she is dead. Cecilia also has an unnaturally close relationship with Sebastian due to this abusive family atmosphere but one day one of the twins decides that enough is enough and the relationship breaks down.
The story starts with a very strange scene where Cecilia convinced her daughter Caroline is sleepwalking but it turns out not to be as clear cut as we are lead to believe. We aren't really sure whether it is Cecilia herself who is sleepwalking or whether there is something much more disturbing happening to her. She doesn't really appear to have a close relationship to her daughter or husband which is strange when you know what her background is. The plot then flashes back to 1984 to the twins as 14 year olds at the family farm before coming back to present day with a very different relationship due to the fact that the twins have now been separated for 18 years. I have to admit that I did struggle with the twins relationship most of the way through this book but the way it was adapted throughout the story was perfectly suited to the plot and built up the creepy tension perfectly. When we reach the horrific final chapters, I did feel physically sick at one point.
This was a very difficult book to read at times as it is very dark and violent in places. But Gayle Curtis writes such a great set of unlikable and unsympathetic characters that it is almost impossible to stop reading! I was gripped from start to finish but it was in the same way that you can't tear your eyes away from a car crash, you don't want to watch but you just can't help yourself. This won't make easy reading for some people especially when the true facts start coming together. But I found it appealed to my thirst for that "something different" and although I can't say I enjoyed it, it definitely disturbed me which sometimes I much prefer!! I have also just realised that this is the same author who wrote "Memory Scents" as Gayle Eileen Curtis which I read a couple of years ago and was again a deliciously dark and creepy psychological suspense. So if you've read and enjoyed that, you will definitely like Too Close.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Cecilia and Sebastian live on a farm with their father who was a character I pretty much hated from the start. They endure a family where punishment is handed out in an aggressive form and seems mostly aimed at Cecilia. Their mother has gone away, but Sebastian thinks he knows where she has gone and why whereas Cecilia is convinced she is dead. Cecilia also has an unnaturally close relationship with Sebastian due to this abusive family atmosphere but one day one of the twins decides that enough is enough and the relationship breaks down.
The story starts with a very strange scene where Cecilia convinced her daughter Caroline is sleepwalking but it turns out not to be as clear cut as we are lead to believe. We aren't really sure whether it is Cecilia herself who is sleepwalking or whether there is something much more disturbing happening to her. She doesn't really appear to have a close relationship to her daughter or husband which is strange when you know what her background is. The plot then flashes back to 1984 to the twins as 14 year olds at the family farm before coming back to present day with a very different relationship due to the fact that the twins have now been separated for 18 years. I have to admit that I did struggle with the twins relationship most of the way through this book but the way it was adapted throughout the story was perfectly suited to the plot and built up the creepy tension perfectly. When we reach the horrific final chapters, I did feel physically sick at one point.
This was a very difficult book to read at times as it is very dark and violent in places. But Gayle Curtis writes such a great set of unlikable and unsympathetic characters that it is almost impossible to stop reading! I was gripped from start to finish but it was in the same way that you can't tear your eyes away from a car crash, you don't want to watch but you just can't help yourself. This won't make easy reading for some people especially when the true facts start coming together. But I found it appealed to my thirst for that "something different" and although I can't say I enjoyed it, it definitely disturbed me which sometimes I much prefer!! I have also just realised that this is the same author who wrote "Memory Scents" as Gayle Eileen Curtis which I read a couple of years ago and was again a deliciously dark and creepy psychological suspense. So if you've read and enjoyed that, you will definitely like Too Close.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
August 26, 2016
Full review on www.novelgossip.com
I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so conflicted after finishing a book before! I’m not even sure how to review this one, I am just so torn. While reading this, I kept going back and forth between liking it and loathing it. I will say it was a quick read for me and I did want to see how things turned out, however I have to say that my overall feeling after reading this one is that I’m highly disturbed and not in a good way. I do tend to read lots of disturbing books, but this one just left me feeling dirty and unsettled.
The book opens with an adult Cecelia waking up from a dream. But is she dreaming or sleepwalking? It’s all very confusing and vague. Then we flashback to when Cecelia and Sebastian are fourteen. Their mother has vanished and they are left with only their terrifying and abusive father. He is a real scumbag and the abuse the twins encounter at his hands is awful and unfathomable. After a series of tragic events, we jump ahead eighteen years.
During this time, we learn that Cecelia and Sebastian have barely spoken. Their once unbreakable bond seems to have been shattered and both are worse for the wear. Here’s where things really fell apart for me. Secrets begin to be revealed, which I normally love. This time, there was something just off about things. You know how in most thrillers there is some sort of buildup and excitement that ramps up the tension? That didn’t happen here. A bomb would be dropped almost out of the blue. It sounds so weird to even write this, usually that’s a good thing. I don’t know if it was Curtis’ writing style or what, but every time there was a twist or revelation I was just left feeling disjointed and conflicted. Things just didn’t quite make sense to me. The ending seemed very sudden too, very rushed and frantic.
This book is very sick and twisted in ways that made me uncomfortable. I’m not the type of person to shy away from dark and creepy material but this was all wrong. Things are so morbid and coupled with the lack of character development and altogether unlikable characters, I couldn’t connect with any aspect of this book.
I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so conflicted after finishing a book before! I’m not even sure how to review this one, I am just so torn. While reading this, I kept going back and forth between liking it and loathing it. I will say it was a quick read for me and I did want to see how things turned out, however I have to say that my overall feeling after reading this one is that I’m highly disturbed and not in a good way. I do tend to read lots of disturbing books, but this one just left me feeling dirty and unsettled.
The book opens with an adult Cecelia waking up from a dream. But is she dreaming or sleepwalking? It’s all very confusing and vague. Then we flashback to when Cecelia and Sebastian are fourteen. Their mother has vanished and they are left with only their terrifying and abusive father. He is a real scumbag and the abuse the twins encounter at his hands is awful and unfathomable. After a series of tragic events, we jump ahead eighteen years.
During this time, we learn that Cecelia and Sebastian have barely spoken. Their once unbreakable bond seems to have been shattered and both are worse for the wear. Here’s where things really fell apart for me. Secrets begin to be revealed, which I normally love. This time, there was something just off about things. You know how in most thrillers there is some sort of buildup and excitement that ramps up the tension? That didn’t happen here. A bomb would be dropped almost out of the blue. It sounds so weird to even write this, usually that’s a good thing. I don’t know if it was Curtis’ writing style or what, but every time there was a twist or revelation I was just left feeling disjointed and conflicted. Things just didn’t quite make sense to me. The ending seemed very sudden too, very rushed and frantic.
This book is very sick and twisted in ways that made me uncomfortable. I’m not the type of person to shy away from dark and creepy material but this was all wrong. Things are so morbid and coupled with the lack of character development and altogether unlikable characters, I couldn’t connect with any aspect of this book.
July 28, 2016
Cecelia and Sebastian are different. Raised in what is essentially the ultimate dysfunctional family by a physically abusive father and a mother who cannot cope, and denied the company of others who might provide some sort of protective buffer, the twins are thrown together for their own protection. It's a bond that appears to be unbreakable as they negotiate the difficult teenage years but it is about to be tested in ways that will put an unimaginable strain on their relationship. Can it possibly survive?
Holding back crucial details of your characters' backstory without confusing or alienating the reader is always a delicate balancing act. Gayle Curtis manages this with plenty to spare. It also takes a great deal of courage to deny the reader details which might offer some sort of mitigation for the way the characters react in certain situations. The author needs to have faith in her ability to drip feed these explanations in at just the right time. Again she manages to do this really well.
There are elements in the book that will disturb some, and at times I found it hard to like either of the twins, especially as adults, much as I might sympathise with them for what they have been through. But this is because I am making judgments based on the little I know and the great deal I'm supposing and it's as the layers are peeled away that I as a reader am able to see what has really been happening.
This is a very assured, highly competent novel by a writer who clearly has a great deal to offer and I'm looking forward to the chance to read more.
Holding back crucial details of your characters' backstory without confusing or alienating the reader is always a delicate balancing act. Gayle Curtis manages this with plenty to spare. It also takes a great deal of courage to deny the reader details which might offer some sort of mitigation for the way the characters react in certain situations. The author needs to have faith in her ability to drip feed these explanations in at just the right time. Again she manages to do this really well.
There are elements in the book that will disturb some, and at times I found it hard to like either of the twins, especially as adults, much as I might sympathise with them for what they have been through. But this is because I am making judgments based on the little I know and the great deal I'm supposing and it's as the layers are peeled away that I as a reader am able to see what has really been happening.
This is a very assured, highly competent novel by a writer who clearly has a great deal to offer and I'm looking forward to the chance to read more.
January 27, 2017
Gayle Curtis explores perception and reality in this novel with the relentlessness of a forensic pathologist. The resulting revelations about family life are not for the queasy. Curtis’ writing is vivid, and she communicates her challenging subject with verve. Sometimes the conundrums created by the amorality of her characters are bizarrely comical. Two characters discuss investigating a suitcase to determine whether or not it contains a body, their particular dilemma being that, if it does, the body may belong to a person they’ve accused of a murder in which they were both involved. When a character thought to be deceased turns out not to be, another character remarks, “You’re supposed to be dead”. The use of the word “supposed” is characteristically ambiguous – Curtis has a gift for investing words with layers of meaning. Economical and effective description is everywhere apparent. Describing an elective mute, the author notes that “Her voice was safely away somewhere, unable to harm her.” Throughout this tale of obsession and sex there is a sensitivity to the human predicament: children pay for the sins of their fathers and mothers. Curtis takes a sympathetic but unsentimental view of this and fashions a chilling tale that doesn’t avoid the ugliness that may be hidden by family secrets.
May 29, 2017
I woke up about 7 this wet bank holiday morning and wondered what to read. Grabbed this book off my shelf and didn't put it down. Have read it in one sitting. Was so mesmerizing all the way through and the end was incredible. Totally didn't see that one coming!
November 20, 2016
I was sent a review copy, courtesy of BonnierZaffre, in exchange for an honest review.
I can appreciate that this book might interest some people, but for me it was a bit too traumatising. Unfortunately, this is the cruel reality of a lot of children growing up in abusive households all over the world, and I found it very difficult to sit through their suffering. I assume this type I book would be of interest to those who read Cathy Glass, and other books that document the suffering and abuse children endure. Whilst I appreciate the intent of the novel, it was sadly not for me.
I can appreciate that this book might interest some people, but for me it was a bit too traumatising. Unfortunately, this is the cruel reality of a lot of children growing up in abusive households all over the world, and I found it very difficult to sit through their suffering. I assume this type I book would be of interest to those who read Cathy Glass, and other books that document the suffering and abuse children endure. Whilst I appreciate the intent of the novel, it was sadly not for me.
February 19, 2017
Good book worth a read
Really enjoyed this book and read it quickly as wanted to know what happened next. Ending was a bit disappointing it felt rushed and like parts were never explained even though hints has been given to keep the readers interest.
Really enjoyed this book and read it quickly as wanted to know what happened next. Ending was a bit disappointing it felt rushed and like parts were never explained even though hints has been given to keep the readers interest.
February 26, 2017
Just brilliant! I loved this book. It's beautifully written, with powerful images which remained with me long after I'd finished reading it. Really well developed characters who stood out from the page. Thoroughly recommend this.
November 28, 2022
A bit of a try too hard I thought. It’s a dark unrealistic tale about twins - fraternal & identical about which the author seems to be confused. The ending was abrupt, unexplained & unrealistic, as if the author suddenly was sick of the story so she just finished it off. Was she late for an appointment? Or she had reached a page limit? Very unsatisfactory.
I listened to this “revenge tale” but it wasn’t really. Maybe the portrait of an insane psychopath or a depressive or a fool…. As an audiobook. The narrator was very good, but she had difficult material.
Tales about twins are so often disappointing, which is a shame. As a mother of twins I look for good stories about them, but I’m often let down. This was one of those inadequate stories, I’m afraid.
I listened to this “revenge tale” but it wasn’t really. Maybe the portrait of an insane psychopath or a depressive or a fool…. As an audiobook. The narrator was very good, but she had difficult material.
Tales about twins are so often disappointing, which is a shame. As a mother of twins I look for good stories about them, but I’m often let down. This was one of those inadequate stories, I’m afraid.
August 7, 2020
To be honest I’m not even sure why to say about this. It was on the odd side and I work in a prison 😂
It was slow, I could understand why CC wanted nothing to do with her twin. He was odd. And the ending was so fast I thought I had whip lash by the end of it... ending was too fast imo.
The narrators voice was awesome though 👌🏼
It was slow, I could understand why CC wanted nothing to do with her twin. He was odd. And the ending was so fast I thought I had whip lash by the end of it... ending was too fast imo.
The narrators voice was awesome though 👌🏼
June 22, 2017
Excellent
Very good story kept me wanting to keep reading on. Good ending, was unexpected and had a good twist. Brilliant.
Very good story kept me wanting to keep reading on. Good ending, was unexpected and had a good twist. Brilliant.
March 25, 2017
Page turner!!!!
This is an acquired taste if a novel don't know if I missed something but what did cecelia do to her mother?
A little distracted keeping up with the story so far would be great if there's a sequel maybe Samuels version
This is an acquired taste if a novel don't know if I missed something but what did cecelia do to her mother?
A little distracted keeping up with the story so far would be great if there's a sequel maybe Samuels version
September 30, 2020
This audio book was another quick pick while awaiting my next one to come through to my phone. Choosing something hastily seems to be working out quite well as each one so far has been terrific.
Disturbing, gripping and a dark psychological tale about twins, Cecilia and Sebastian.
Seriously twisted but kept me engrossed the entire time I was listening! The reader Imogen Church gave a great narration.
Disturbing, gripping and a dark psychological tale about twins, Cecilia and Sebastian.
Seriously twisted but kept me engrossed the entire time I was listening! The reader Imogen Church gave a great narration.
May 28, 2016
This is a gripping and unsettling story about the relationship between twins Sebastian and Cecelia. Growing up on a farm in the isolated Fens with their abusive and violent father, Sebastian and Cecelia have always looked out for each other, relied on each other and shared a deep bond. After the disappearance of their mother when they were children, they become even closer despite the fact their father is so disapproving of their intimacy. Sebastian is determined to protect Cecelia from their father's aggression- especially as it becomes more threatening- at all costs. Then events take a dramatic turn which changes the relationship between the twins forever.
The novel opens with the most brilliant prologue. Cecelia lies in bed at night, her dream "becoming an unreachable memory as it cusped its way up to the high ceiling and burst on the victorian cornice." She is haunted by a mysterious green suitcase. Then her daughter Caroline appears by her bedside. Getting up to help her Cecelia takes her out into the landing. "Cecelia, there's no one there," her husband Samuel tells her when he finds her wandering about the house. "Caroline's asleep in bed, I just checked." Cecelia is convinced she could still "feel the tiny hand ..in hers, her quiet whispering voice in the memory of her mind." It is a ghostly opening; one which raises many questions in the reader's mind and suggests that there is something strange, something disturbing, playing on Cecelia's mind. As we read on, nightmares and sleep walking become a recurrent theme within the novel. Cecelia's vivid dreaming confuses her and the reader, the lines between what is real and what is imagined becoming blurred and intertwined. It creates a haunting, mysterious and threatening edge to the already unnerving tale.
Following the prologue, we start the book in 1984 just after the twins' mother has disappeared. Yvonne, their mother, has been planning to leave her husband Roger for a long time, promising the twins she would take them with her. But she doesn't. For Cecelia, without her mother everything was grey and she misses the "magic liquid (of her mother) to colour her dim grey world." For Sebastian, he is haunted by the last time he saw his mother; her legs and feet under the kitchen table and his father whispering "You didn't see anything," in his ear. They believe her to be dead, murdered by their father.
As they grow up living with Roger, a "foreboding atmosphere settles over the farmhouse." They feel "unsure, unsafe, unsteady." Cecelia's night walking increases and her nightmares more realistic. Her temper becomes a problem at school. At home, they learn to gauge Roger's moods, endure his punishments; they seek refuge in each other's company, hiding together and trying to protect each other. Then during a particularly violent altercation with the twins, Roger is shot.
The book then continues 18 years later. Sebastian is released from prison after serving a sentence for killing Roger, a sentence he served to protect Cecelia and save her future. Cecelia is married and has one daughter Caroline. Their mother has returned. Cecelia remains a haunted character, still deeply traumatised by her past - and a recent tragedy that has deeply affected her as a mother. She is still prone to nightmares, hallucinations and night walking - sometimes these "spells" seem more like fugues or something more psychologically sinister than just a bad dream. The confusion between her ghostly visions, dreams and reality create a sense of madness. Sebastian has also become more menacing. He seems to seek revenge for his incarceration. He seems bitter and dangerous. He stalks Cecelia, unable to accept that their relationship is broken and ignoring her wish not to see him. He befriends her daughter Caroline in a way that suggests he has a hidden motivation. They are great characters and cleverly drawn. It is hard to know who to believe, what is real, who is reliable and trustworthy, who to sympathise with and who to be scared of. The exploration of their relationship and how it has changed and been affected by their shared history is captivating.
The ending is incredible. It really picks up pace with a menacing crescendo. Events and characters begin to spiral out of control as the purpose of the characters becomes clear and more twists are revealed. The reader watches helplessly as characters hurtle toward their inevitable fates. It was chilling and powerful. It is an ending that makes a lasting impression on the reader, leaving them reeling. It is a great story about siblings who just become "too close".
My thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel in return for a fair review.
The novel opens with the most brilliant prologue. Cecelia lies in bed at night, her dream "becoming an unreachable memory as it cusped its way up to the high ceiling and burst on the victorian cornice." She is haunted by a mysterious green suitcase. Then her daughter Caroline appears by her bedside. Getting up to help her Cecelia takes her out into the landing. "Cecelia, there's no one there," her husband Samuel tells her when he finds her wandering about the house. "Caroline's asleep in bed, I just checked." Cecelia is convinced she could still "feel the tiny hand ..in hers, her quiet whispering voice in the memory of her mind." It is a ghostly opening; one which raises many questions in the reader's mind and suggests that there is something strange, something disturbing, playing on Cecelia's mind. As we read on, nightmares and sleep walking become a recurrent theme within the novel. Cecelia's vivid dreaming confuses her and the reader, the lines between what is real and what is imagined becoming blurred and intertwined. It creates a haunting, mysterious and threatening edge to the already unnerving tale.
Following the prologue, we start the book in 1984 just after the twins' mother has disappeared. Yvonne, their mother, has been planning to leave her husband Roger for a long time, promising the twins she would take them with her. But she doesn't. For Cecelia, without her mother everything was grey and she misses the "magic liquid (of her mother) to colour her dim grey world." For Sebastian, he is haunted by the last time he saw his mother; her legs and feet under the kitchen table and his father whispering "You didn't see anything," in his ear. They believe her to be dead, murdered by their father.
As they grow up living with Roger, a "foreboding atmosphere settles over the farmhouse." They feel "unsure, unsafe, unsteady." Cecelia's night walking increases and her nightmares more realistic. Her temper becomes a problem at school. At home, they learn to gauge Roger's moods, endure his punishments; they seek refuge in each other's company, hiding together and trying to protect each other. Then during a particularly violent altercation with the twins, Roger is shot.
The book then continues 18 years later. Sebastian is released from prison after serving a sentence for killing Roger, a sentence he served to protect Cecelia and save her future. Cecelia is married and has one daughter Caroline. Their mother has returned. Cecelia remains a haunted character, still deeply traumatised by her past - and a recent tragedy that has deeply affected her as a mother. She is still prone to nightmares, hallucinations and night walking - sometimes these "spells" seem more like fugues or something more psychologically sinister than just a bad dream. The confusion between her ghostly visions, dreams and reality create a sense of madness. Sebastian has also become more menacing. He seems to seek revenge for his incarceration. He seems bitter and dangerous. He stalks Cecelia, unable to accept that their relationship is broken and ignoring her wish not to see him. He befriends her daughter Caroline in a way that suggests he has a hidden motivation. They are great characters and cleverly drawn. It is hard to know who to believe, what is real, who is reliable and trustworthy, who to sympathise with and who to be scared of. The exploration of their relationship and how it has changed and been affected by their shared history is captivating.
The ending is incredible. It really picks up pace with a menacing crescendo. Events and characters begin to spiral out of control as the purpose of the characters becomes clear and more twists are revealed. The reader watches helplessly as characters hurtle toward their inevitable fates. It was chilling and powerful. It is an ending that makes a lasting impression on the reader, leaving them reeling. It is a great story about siblings who just become "too close".
My thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel in return for a fair review.
March 22, 2017
Too Close is a story about twins Sebastian and Cecelia. It follows their intense bond - brought closer by their mothers abandonment and fathers cruel abusive nature.
The plot has lots of twists and turns - I couldn't put the book down! My only criticism is that the ending was very hurried.
The plot has lots of twists and turns - I couldn't put the book down! My only criticism is that the ending was very hurried.
March 11, 2017
This book somehow draws you in even though part of you feels that you shouldn't be reading it. I read the whole book in one sitting.
It's dark twisted, shocking and disturbing. Don't read it if you're not prepared to be shocked or sickened!
The title gives you a clue as to the relationship between the twins, Sebastian and Cecelia. What you're not prepared for is their upbringing and perhaps the reasons their lives pan out as they do.
Give it a try. Let me know what you think. A story that will stay with me, but not in a good way.
It's dark twisted, shocking and disturbing. Don't read it if you're not prepared to be shocked or sickened!
The title gives you a clue as to the relationship between the twins, Sebastian and Cecelia. What you're not prepared for is their upbringing and perhaps the reasons their lives pan out as they do.
Give it a try. Let me know what you think. A story that will stay with me, but not in a good way.
March 5, 2017
Quite a disturbing story that had a sinister tone running the whole way through. There were times when the fear was palpable and felt the slow build up to the ending was well done and inevitable based on the characters and their behaviours. Not a happy novel by any means but well done all the same.
September 11, 2017
Very dark, disturbing and twisted tale about boy/girl twins abused by their parents and their life growing into adults.
Expect themes of abuse, incest, murder and to be drawn into reading more and more to find out the skeletons the twins have hidden in their closets.....
Expect themes of abuse, incest, murder and to be drawn into reading more and more to find out the skeletons the twins have hidden in their closets.....
March 4, 2017
Haunting!!!
Though I found the book hard work at times I also found it enjoyable. It seems a little shameful to say that considering the tragic end!
I will continue to read more of this authors books.
Though I found the book hard work at times I also found it enjoyable. It seems a little shameful to say that considering the tragic end!
I will continue to read more of this authors books.
November 22, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley, Bonnier Publishing and Gayle Curtis for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
You can find my review on Goodreads and Amazon under my name Karen Whittard.
I am fresh from reading this book and I think this is the best time to write this review. But I am in two minds because I'm not sure if I should leave it a while to actually take on exactly what I have written. Perhaps this will be my final review or perhaps I'll come back after I've thought about it and write another one. I'm unsure yet what's best. Sorry for the rambling just yeah.
My first reactions to this book are WTF I mean seriously this is some dark s**t. I mean I kinda thought I knew what was happening and that ending hits you with a whollop and your left thinking what the actual f**k have I just read. I mean seriously.
Did I like this book? I actually don't think I can answer that question clearly and coherently at this precise moment. I mean the book is very clever. The writing is extremely well done. It hooks the reader from the very start and doesn't let go until the end. And what an ending it is. I mean I knew some freaky things were going on in this book. I just never thought it would be that freaky. So well done Gayle you have produced one heck of a book.
Cecelia and Sebastian are twins. They have an unnervingly close bond that borders on too close. They have been brought up in a family that is disfunctional. There mother left them when they were around 11 and left them with a Tirant of a dad who is abusive and uncaring. It is his way or the high way. If you disobey him he hands out horrific punishments. This is the basis for a story that spirals and spirals until the last page that will leave you hooked and if like me a little confused.
I mean this book is so cleaver. It is twisted and disturbing. It has many many twist and turns. Some I was convinced about before they happened I knew that was going to rear its ugly head. But I never expected the last pages.
I'm still unsure about what I've actually read and unsure about what score I think it should get. I'm confused about where the ending came from and I'm a little confused about what I think about it.
All I will say is wow Gayle you took me on a massive journey. You had me in the palm of your very capable writing hands and you didn't let me go until you had delivered that powerful ending. You are an amazing crafts man and I applaud you. I can't wait to read more of your books in the future.
Happy reading everyone
You can find my review on Goodreads and Amazon under my name Karen Whittard.
I am fresh from reading this book and I think this is the best time to write this review. But I am in two minds because I'm not sure if I should leave it a while to actually take on exactly what I have written. Perhaps this will be my final review or perhaps I'll come back after I've thought about it and write another one. I'm unsure yet what's best. Sorry for the rambling just yeah.
My first reactions to this book are WTF I mean seriously this is some dark s**t. I mean I kinda thought I knew what was happening and that ending hits you with a whollop and your left thinking what the actual f**k have I just read. I mean seriously.
Did I like this book? I actually don't think I can answer that question clearly and coherently at this precise moment. I mean the book is very clever. The writing is extremely well done. It hooks the reader from the very start and doesn't let go until the end. And what an ending it is. I mean I knew some freaky things were going on in this book. I just never thought it would be that freaky. So well done Gayle you have produced one heck of a book.
Cecelia and Sebastian are twins. They have an unnervingly close bond that borders on too close. They have been brought up in a family that is disfunctional. There mother left them when they were around 11 and left them with a Tirant of a dad who is abusive and uncaring. It is his way or the high way. If you disobey him he hands out horrific punishments. This is the basis for a story that spirals and spirals until the last page that will leave you hooked and if like me a little confused.
I mean this book is so cleaver. It is twisted and disturbing. It has many many twist and turns. Some I was convinced about before they happened I knew that was going to rear its ugly head. But I never expected the last pages.
I'm still unsure about what I've actually read and unsure about what score I think it should get. I'm confused about where the ending came from and I'm a little confused about what I think about it.
All I will say is wow Gayle you took me on a massive journey. You had me in the palm of your very capable writing hands and you didn't let me go until you had delivered that powerful ending. You are an amazing crafts man and I applaud you. I can't wait to read more of your books in the future.
Happy reading everyone
July 11, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book about the relationship of twins Cecelia and Sebastian. The prologue of the book begins with Cecelia as an adult, in the midst of a nightmare which involves her daughter Caroline and a mysterious green suitcase which seems to be centre of her nightmares throughout her life. The story then moves back to 1984, and we meet the twins as teenagers, and their mother has just left them. It is a disturbing story of the twins’ relationship, both between themselves, their mother and their father. Cecelia is convinced her mother is dead but Sebastian, swayed by his father, thinks his mother has just gone away. The twins’ father appears to be a difficult man, handing out harsh and severe punishments to them, particularly Cecelia. One day, the punishments go too far, and the twins fight back.
We then move on to present day, and pick back up on the relationship of Cecelia and Sebastian. They haven’t seen each other for many years, and Cecelia doesn’t really want to rekindle any form of relationship with her brother. He comes across as a ‘stalker’, watching her at work and hanging around school to see her daughter Caroline. This causes tensions for Cecelia and her family, particularly when she tells her daughter to stay away from him.
This is a tense and gripping psychological thriller. All the way through it makes you ask many questions – why does she hate her brother; what the secret behind the green suitcase is and what really happened all those years ago. It’s full of twists and turns, and the secrets come tumbling out by the end of the book. It keeps you gripped with the story, it took me just over a day to get through it, wanting to find out what on earth is going on!! It does have quite a spooky feel to it though, and some of the ‘ghost’ parts are quite unnerving!
My first book from this author, and will definitely look out for more.
Four stars!
This is a book about the relationship of twins Cecelia and Sebastian. The prologue of the book begins with Cecelia as an adult, in the midst of a nightmare which involves her daughter Caroline and a mysterious green suitcase which seems to be centre of her nightmares throughout her life. The story then moves back to 1984, and we meet the twins as teenagers, and their mother has just left them. It is a disturbing story of the twins’ relationship, both between themselves, their mother and their father. Cecelia is convinced her mother is dead but Sebastian, swayed by his father, thinks his mother has just gone away. The twins’ father appears to be a difficult man, handing out harsh and severe punishments to them, particularly Cecelia. One day, the punishments go too far, and the twins fight back.
We then move on to present day, and pick back up on the relationship of Cecelia and Sebastian. They haven’t seen each other for many years, and Cecelia doesn’t really want to rekindle any form of relationship with her brother. He comes across as a ‘stalker’, watching her at work and hanging around school to see her daughter Caroline. This causes tensions for Cecelia and her family, particularly when she tells her daughter to stay away from him.
This is a tense and gripping psychological thriller. All the way through it makes you ask many questions – why does she hate her brother; what the secret behind the green suitcase is and what really happened all those years ago. It’s full of twists and turns, and the secrets come tumbling out by the end of the book. It keeps you gripped with the story, it took me just over a day to get through it, wanting to find out what on earth is going on!! It does have quite a spooky feel to it though, and some of the ‘ghost’ parts are quite unnerving!
My first book from this author, and will definitely look out for more.
Four stars!
November 25, 2016
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I can honestly say I don’t know how I feel about this book. I have given it 4 stars because it left me with some emotions and the story did make it interesting enough to follow through and finish the book. But I just can’t make my mind up on whether I liked it or not and I think this is the first time I am so torn over a book – on the other hand that is not really a reflection on how well the book was written, hence the score.
The story has enough twist and suggestion to keep the reader going and the bond between the twins is certainly very well portrayed. It also proves how much of an influence your parents have on your future life and on how a person develops as a human being.
Why I am torn is because there were no likable characters in the book. I felt sorry for Cecelia and Sebastian due to the amount of abuse they received from their own father and the fact that their mother disappeared, but it was their own relationship and their own actions that made me dislike them both so much. I found them both selfish and greedy and extremely self-centred characters with no thinking about anyone else that their action could have an impact on.
Saying all that I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of crime, mystery, psychological thriller sort of thing, because I feel that this book would make a great talking point – just to see if anyone else is left feeling like I am feeling right now. It also wouldn’t stop me picking up another book from this author.
So all I can say is: read it and let me know what you think!
Thank you to the publishers for access to this book in return for an honest review.
I can honestly say I don’t know how I feel about this book. I have given it 4 stars because it left me with some emotions and the story did make it interesting enough to follow through and finish the book. But I just can’t make my mind up on whether I liked it or not and I think this is the first time I am so torn over a book – on the other hand that is not really a reflection on how well the book was written, hence the score.
The story has enough twist and suggestion to keep the reader going and the bond between the twins is certainly very well portrayed. It also proves how much of an influence your parents have on your future life and on how a person develops as a human being.
Why I am torn is because there were no likable characters in the book. I felt sorry for Cecelia and Sebastian due to the amount of abuse they received from their own father and the fact that their mother disappeared, but it was their own relationship and their own actions that made me dislike them both so much. I found them both selfish and greedy and extremely self-centred characters with no thinking about anyone else that their action could have an impact on.
Saying all that I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of crime, mystery, psychological thriller sort of thing, because I feel that this book would make a great talking point – just to see if anyone else is left feeling like I am feeling right now. It also wouldn’t stop me picking up another book from this author.
So all I can say is: read it and let me know what you think!
Thank you to the publishers for access to this book in return for an honest review.
February 14, 2017
Another new author for me and again she didn't disappoint me. A good read which I thoroughly enjoyed. A tale of twins, murder, and incest...
Recommended
Recommended
October 4, 2016
Oh my word, this book will get definitely get your pulse racing! Deliciously dark and daringly different, it concerns the complicated relationship between twins Sebastian and Cecelia. I don’t want to give too much away, suffice to say you should prepare to gasp aloud with shock, time and time again! It is so cleverly written that you never quite know who to trust, or who your allegiances should lie with, but you won’t be able to put it down. The author’s genius is in holding back, creating a sense of something that may or may not have happened, and leaving the reader to join the dots. Her writing is brave and honest and at times achingly beautiful, and the characters she draws are both terrifying and compelling in equal measure. This is not a book for the faint-hearted, but I wholly, highly and earnestly recommend it!
July 23, 2016
Honestly, twins in books freak me out. No offense to anyone who is a twin, of course. It's just that if a book features twins, you just know something weird and creepy is going to happen. Too Close is no exception to this rule I just made up.
Cecelia and Sebastian grow up with an abusive father and a somewhat out of touch mother. Until she disappears. The twins conclude that their abusive father killed her and begin grieving. One night, their father is in an especially crappy mood and is killed. But by whom? And for what exactly? The next 20 years of the twins' lives play out dealing with this.
A typical "twinny" mystery/thriller with some extra special weird sauce on the side. I read it quick but I don't think it's going to stick with me. 2.5ish stars.
Cecelia and Sebastian grow up with an abusive father and a somewhat out of touch mother. Until she disappears. The twins conclude that their abusive father killed her and begin grieving. One night, their father is in an especially crappy mood and is killed. But by whom? And for what exactly? The next 20 years of the twins' lives play out dealing with this.
A typical "twinny" mystery/thriller with some extra special weird sauce on the side. I read it quick but I don't think it's going to stick with me. 2.5ish stars.
August 10, 2016
Cecelia and Sebastian are twins being brought up in a very dysfunctional family. Sebastian is an odd character as you do want to like him but know you shouldn't the same can be said for Cecelia although I routed for her more. This was a great read keeping me interested throughout the story with all the twists and turns and there are a few!
It was a strange read which some people will find uncomfortable as it deals with several dark issues but it didn't really bother me apart from the abuse Cecelia endures at the hands of her father.
This was an arc from netgalley to which I am extremely grateful and does not influence my review.
It was a strange read which some people will find uncomfortable as it deals with several dark issues but it didn't really bother me apart from the abuse Cecelia endures at the hands of her father.
This was an arc from netgalley to which I am extremely grateful and does not influence my review.
June 2, 2017
This was an incredibly creepy and dark book right from the first page, with such a powerful sense of foreboding throughout. Nearly every character was so intense that I expected there to be a traumatic scene on every page. I don't think I've read a book that made me feel this uncomfortable before, so if that's what you like definitely add it to your stack. Overall this felt more like a horror story because of the sense of dread all the way through, rather than just a psychological thriller.
Thanks to Carmen at Bonnier Zaffre Books for the advanced paperback copy.
Thanks to Carmen at Bonnier Zaffre Books for the advanced paperback copy.
July 7, 2016
"Too Close" by Gayle Curtis is a very tense and dark atmospheric read. The family involved in this story are a group of very disturbed and confused people.
The author uses lovely prose and really pulled me into the book. I have not read any other of her works yet, but I shall certainly be keeping an eye out for her other books.
I would like to Thank the author, her publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Highly recommended.
The author uses lovely prose and really pulled me into the book. I have not read any other of her works yet, but I shall certainly be keeping an eye out for her other books.
I would like to Thank the author, her publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Highly recommended.
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