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Never Alone
Elizabeth Haynes’ new psychological thriller is a brilliantly suspenseful and shocking story in which nothing is at it seems, but everything is at stake.
Sarah Carpenter lives in an isolated farmhouse in North Yorkshire and for the first time, after the death of her husband some years ago and her children, Louis and Kitty, leaving for university, she’s living alone. But she doesn’t consider herself lonely. She has two dogs, a wide network of friends and the support of her best friend, Sophie.
When an old acquaintance, Aiden Beck, needs somewhere to stay for a while, Sarah’s cottage seems ideal; and renewing her relationship with Aiden gives her a reason to smile again. It’s supposed to be temporary, but not everyone is comfortable with the arrangement: her children are wary of his motives, and Will Brewer, an old friend of her son’s, seems to have taken it upon himself to check up on Sarah at every opportunity. Even Sophie has grown remote and distant.
After Sophie disappears, it’s clear she hasn’t been entirely honest with anyone, including Will, who seems more concerned for Sarah’s safety than anyone else. As the weather closes in, events take a dramatic turn and Kitty too goes missing. Suddenly Sarah finds herself in terrible danger, unsure of who she can still trust.
But she isn’t facing this alone; she has Aiden, and Aiden offers the protection that Sarah needs. Doesn’t he?
Sarah Carpenter lives in an isolated farmhouse in North Yorkshire and for the first time, after the death of her husband some years ago and her children, Louis and Kitty, leaving for university, she’s living alone. But she doesn’t consider herself lonely. She has two dogs, a wide network of friends and the support of her best friend, Sophie.
When an old acquaintance, Aiden Beck, needs somewhere to stay for a while, Sarah’s cottage seems ideal; and renewing her relationship with Aiden gives her a reason to smile again. It’s supposed to be temporary, but not everyone is comfortable with the arrangement: her children are wary of his motives, and Will Brewer, an old friend of her son’s, seems to have taken it upon himself to check up on Sarah at every opportunity. Even Sophie has grown remote and distant.
After Sophie disappears, it’s clear she hasn’t been entirely honest with anyone, including Will, who seems more concerned for Sarah’s safety than anyone else. As the weather closes in, events take a dramatic turn and Kitty too goes missing. Suddenly Sarah finds herself in terrible danger, unsure of who she can still trust.
But she isn’t facing this alone; she has Aiden, and Aiden offers the protection that Sarah needs. Doesn’t he?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2016
179 people are currently reading
2777 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Haynes
22 books2,058 followersElizabeth Haynes grew up in Seaford, Sussex and studied English, German and Art History at Leicester University.
She previously worked as a police intelligence analyst and lives in Norfolk with her husband and son.
She previously worked as a police intelligence analyst and lives in Norfolk with her husband and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
October 10, 2016
The first 50% of this novel is basically just sex, dog walks up and down a hill, and making cups of tea. I have no problem with any of these things, but there was basically zero progression of the story for the first 50% of the book. Nothing happened. The synopsis here on Goodreads mentions characters going missing - the first one of these goes missing at the 66% mark, and the other goes missing at the 78% mark (I read the Kindle edition). The use of the second person for Aiden's character serves no purpose that I can see, other than to maybe make him sound like a madman, and its pretty obvious who the mystery narrator in italics is from less than halfway through the book. Characters were meh. I liked the dogs, and the house/cottage/location sounded lovely. But there's really nothing else to say here. Massively flawed in terms of pacing and substance. Quick and easy to read; its only redeeming feature. Cannot recommend.
May 23, 2018
One of my favourite authors. I just love reading all of Elizabeth Haynes novels. Sara Carpenter lives alone as her husband Jim died in a car accident. An old friend of Sara's Aiden Beck who Sara met at Uni twenty years ago is now in need of some where to stay and with him being an old friend Jim's of course Sara lets him stay at her farm-house. Sarah did sleep with Aiden at Uni and then he disappeared. Drunk and forgotten what it is like to be kissed, Sara sleeps with Aiden again, when he does the same thing he disappears. Sophie, Sara's best friend thinks that Aiden Beck may be hiding something. A chilling read with things in this story that could perhaps happen to anyone. Make sure you put this book on your Christmas list.
October 16, 2016
3.5★s
Alone and struggling with on-going debt, Sarah Carpenter made the decision to offer the cottage on her property to an old flame, Aiden Beck, who was looking for somewhere to live. He’d just returned from overseas and Sarah knew she had to be cautious – her relationship with Aiden went back to her university days when she was friends with him as well as Jim Carpenter, who later became her husband. But with Jim’s death three years prior, her daughter Kitty in London at university, and son Louis out of contact, Sarah was ready to have some company.
Sarah’s best friend Sophie invited her and Aiden to a get together at the local pub the day after Aiden arrived. Among all the people there, Sarah was pleasantly surprised to see Will Brewer, an old friend of her son’s whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.
As Sarah became reacquainted with Aiden, Will also insinuated himself into their lives. Kitty was pleased to see him when she visited her mum for a weekend; everyone seemed happy. But there were undercurrents flowing and Sarah began to feel a little uneasy. Basil and Tess, Sarah’s two dogs were acting strangely as if they could sense something wrong - but it was when Sophie went missing that Sarah realised she had no idea who she could trust. With the severe snowstorms worsening, Sarah knew the danger was close. And suddenly, terrifyingly, it was right there…
Never Alone by Elizabeth Haynes is a fast paced psychological thriller and is the fourth I’ve read by this author. Into the Darkest Corner was my first and in my opinion none following have come close to being as good. While I was a little disappointed in Never Alone there are many high ratings for this one, and other readers of the genre are sure to enjoy it.
With thanks to Text Publishing for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
Alone and struggling with on-going debt, Sarah Carpenter made the decision to offer the cottage on her property to an old flame, Aiden Beck, who was looking for somewhere to live. He’d just returned from overseas and Sarah knew she had to be cautious – her relationship with Aiden went back to her university days when she was friends with him as well as Jim Carpenter, who later became her husband. But with Jim’s death three years prior, her daughter Kitty in London at university, and son Louis out of contact, Sarah was ready to have some company.
Sarah’s best friend Sophie invited her and Aiden to a get together at the local pub the day after Aiden arrived. Among all the people there, Sarah was pleasantly surprised to see Will Brewer, an old friend of her son’s whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.
As Sarah became reacquainted with Aiden, Will also insinuated himself into their lives. Kitty was pleased to see him when she visited her mum for a weekend; everyone seemed happy. But there were undercurrents flowing and Sarah began to feel a little uneasy. Basil and Tess, Sarah’s two dogs were acting strangely as if they could sense something wrong - but it was when Sophie went missing that Sarah realised she had no idea who she could trust. With the severe snowstorms worsening, Sarah knew the danger was close. And suddenly, terrifyingly, it was right there…
Never Alone by Elizabeth Haynes is a fast paced psychological thriller and is the fourth I’ve read by this author. Into the Darkest Corner was my first and in my opinion none following have come close to being as good. While I was a little disappointed in Never Alone there are many high ratings for this one, and other readers of the genre are sure to enjoy it.
With thanks to Text Publishing for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
June 22, 2016
As the self-appointed No 1 fan of Elizabeth Haynes I was delighted and extremely honoured to be given the chance to read her new novel Never Alone before anyone else! Never Alone is a story about Sarah, a widow, living in a remote farm in Yorkshire with her 2 dogs and suddenly find herself the focus of two quite different men, both with dark secrets and desires. This is a gripping and tense story which had me on the edge of my seat. A grown-up version of Into the Darkest Corner – this story is full of lust, suspicion, mistrust, suspense, desire and guilt. An exceptional atmospheric psychological thriller. 5 stars.
December 5, 2016
For Elizabeth Haynes, merely to be very good is below standard for her because she ranks for me @ the very top level alongside Tana French & Sharon Bolton. Tho' she lacks French's genius @ executing plot & Bolton's extraordinary fertility of invention, Haynes excels @ creating characters so appealing & engaging that you want them to be your closest friends & would cheerfully & enthusiastically kill to rescue them - Cathy in Into the Darkest Corner, Genevieve in Revenge of the Tide & especially Scarlett in Behind Closed Doors. But tho' Sarah in this book is quite likeable, she never engaged my affections & seemed to but bumble & muddle through. She seems very passive, but tho' passivity characterised Cathy - as well as Annabel in Human Remains - I didn't care for Sarah as much, perhaps because she is older, a widow, so I'd expect her to be more mature & capable, particularly in her personal relationships. A strong woman should have seen off the villain in the story tout de suite. I liked her daughter Kitty, but she had but a small part. Son Louis I found an inexcusable boor, despite probably being an Asperger's sufferer. Aiden was a difficult character, as throughout the book we are supposed to find him ambiguous. What I did not find ambiguous was his profession. By my standards, if your business is giving others sexual pleasure, you are a worker in the sex trade, regardless of what parts of your body you use to practise your metier. Granted, many would disdain Genevieve's role as a pole dancer, but she exemplifies athleticism, grace, & beauty, as well as facing real danger. Most importantly, Genevieve has a boat to maintain, a beautiful boat even if it is a stinkpot - it's a classic wooden stinkpot. Aiden hasn't a similarly worthy cause. But there was a pleasant surprise amongst the minor characters. In the hands of most other writers, Sarah's friends Sophie & George would have simply been an exurban airhead society dame & a sleazy MP. That Elizabeth Haynes develops them so sympathetically displays that insight that makes her one of the very best contemporary authors, even when she is not @ the top of her game.
October 26, 2016
I loved Elizabeth Haynes book "Into the Darkest Corner'' so I was very excited when I saw another stand alone novel from her. Sarah Carpenter is living alone in an isolated farmhouse in North Yorkshire. Her children are away at university so she lets out an adjacent cottage to her old friend Aiden. As Sarah renews her relationship with Aiden, her children and others do not have the same enthusiasm and even her best friend Sophie has her concerns. Soon Sophie disappears and Sarah is left wondering who to trust and what to do. The story is told in alternating chapters by Sarah and Aiden which gives us a broader perspective of these two characters and their personalities. This is an excellent psychological thriller, full of suspense and tension, a great read which I would highly recommend.
October 8, 2016
“We all keep secrets from each other, all the time, and we kid ourselves that they are tiny ones, that they don’t matter, right up until the moment that we are found out and we realise it matters very much”
Never Alone is the sixth novel by British author, Elizabeth Haynes. Sarah Carpenter is nervous. Aiden Beck is about to arrive. During their heady university days they had a fling that ended abruptly when Aiden headed off to Asia. Jim Carpenter picked up the pieces of Sarah, they married and had two children.
But now Sarah is alone: Jim’s sudden death left her a widow; her son Louis has his own life and a job that keeps him busy; her daughter Kitty is at university in Manchester; it’s just Sarah and her two dogs in an isolated farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors.
And Aiden is back: he needs a place to stay and Sarah has a vacant cottage. But does she really know this man who’s been gone over twenty years? Where has he been? Does he even have a job? And will Sarah be able to hide the attraction that never really went away?
Also making a reappearance is a friend of her son’s, Will Brewer. Sarah feels a bit sorry for this young man with his troubled past, and finds it awkward to refuse his request for a place to stay. Sophie, Sarah’s only friend in the village, married to the serially unfaithful George, has quite a different reaction. Oh, and it’s the middle of winter, and a heavy snowfall, the kind that closes roads and stops trains running, is predicted.
This sets the scene for this cleverly constructed psychological thriller. The story is carried by three narratives: Sarah’s perspective is presented in the third person; Aiden’s side of things is told in the second person, a little strange, but somehow it works; these two narratives are clearly marked and mostly alternate throughout the book; then there is an ambiguous and rather chilling narrative, usually only a page long, in italics, that appears occasionally during the story.
Haynes gives the reader a thoroughly believable plot with twists and red herrings, and a build-up of tension that explodes into a heart-thumping climax. Her characters are ordinary people with very human flaws and, in one case, a rather unusual occupation. This is a page-turner that will have readers who are new to Haynes work seeking out her earlier novels. Her fans will not be disappointed. A brilliant read!
Never Alone is the sixth novel by British author, Elizabeth Haynes. Sarah Carpenter is nervous. Aiden Beck is about to arrive. During their heady university days they had a fling that ended abruptly when Aiden headed off to Asia. Jim Carpenter picked up the pieces of Sarah, they married and had two children.
But now Sarah is alone: Jim’s sudden death left her a widow; her son Louis has his own life and a job that keeps him busy; her daughter Kitty is at university in Manchester; it’s just Sarah and her two dogs in an isolated farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors.
And Aiden is back: he needs a place to stay and Sarah has a vacant cottage. But does she really know this man who’s been gone over twenty years? Where has he been? Does he even have a job? And will Sarah be able to hide the attraction that never really went away?
Also making a reappearance is a friend of her son’s, Will Brewer. Sarah feels a bit sorry for this young man with his troubled past, and finds it awkward to refuse his request for a place to stay. Sophie, Sarah’s only friend in the village, married to the serially unfaithful George, has quite a different reaction. Oh, and it’s the middle of winter, and a heavy snowfall, the kind that closes roads and stops trains running, is predicted.
This sets the scene for this cleverly constructed psychological thriller. The story is carried by three narratives: Sarah’s perspective is presented in the third person; Aiden’s side of things is told in the second person, a little strange, but somehow it works; these two narratives are clearly marked and mostly alternate throughout the book; then there is an ambiguous and rather chilling narrative, usually only a page long, in italics, that appears occasionally during the story.
Haynes gives the reader a thoroughly believable plot with twists and red herrings, and a build-up of tension that explodes into a heart-thumping climax. Her characters are ordinary people with very human flaws and, in one case, a rather unusual occupation. This is a page-turner that will have readers who are new to Haynes work seeking out her earlier novels. Her fans will not be disappointed. A brilliant read!
August 24, 2016
Having been a huge fan of Elizabeth Haynes since her first book Into the Darkest Corner, I was hugely excited to discover that Never Alone was going to be a new standalone novel. Although I have enjoyed her DI Louisa Smith novels, I much prefer the darker depths that she plunges whilst exploring those human desires and the deviance that cut across the normality of relationships. So even though I have a TBR list as long as the journey to the sun (and back again!!) I bought myself a copy to take on my summer holidays. Praise indeed so far as I only tend to take authors I really trust on holiday with me (please all form an orderly queue for the Canaries early next year!) So I am pleased to be able to tell you that this is pretty much one of my top 10 books for 2016! Not only that, it has overtaken Into The Darkest Corner as my newest favourite Elizabeth Haynes novel!
Told in alternate points of view by Sarah, a widow living in an isolated farmhouse in North Yorkshire and Aiden, her old university friend who is renting the adjacent cottage and who has only recently returned from working abroad. It isn't long before their previous history spills over into their current situation and concerns Sarah's friend, Sophie, and family friend, Will. Sarah also has adult children Louis and Kitty but there is a breakdown in communication between mother and son. The tension is built up slowly and surely and the isolation of Sarah's home combined with the onset of wintery weather conditions really has a stomach clenching effect as it builds up to a stormy crescendo. And there are dogs!!!!! Putting them into the mix meant I was a nervous wreck from the very first page! Further more, adding an anonymous narrator at break points throughout also added a malevolent tension to the plot development so that I was pretty much on the edge of my seat (sunlounger!) for the majority of this book.
Elizabeth Haynes just has a natural knack of writing realistic characters in settings that the majority of us can relate to. I had such a clear visual image of Four Winds Farm in my head and that local village could be any that we pass through day after day. Sarah and Sophie felt as real to me as my own friends are and I lived through every emotion with them.
I feel it's fair to warn that there are some quite erotic and sexually charged scenes here which are pretty relevant to the story and really rather intriguing as well considering the nature of them. I actually felt quite voyeuristic during some of them but felt that they also gave me a further insight into characteristics that were evolving and a surprising affinity for them too.
I just loved this-it was psychological suspense perfection and a 5* page turner from beginning to end. Buy it now!!!!
Told in alternate points of view by Sarah, a widow living in an isolated farmhouse in North Yorkshire and Aiden, her old university friend who is renting the adjacent cottage and who has only recently returned from working abroad. It isn't long before their previous history spills over into their current situation and concerns Sarah's friend, Sophie, and family friend, Will. Sarah also has adult children Louis and Kitty but there is a breakdown in communication between mother and son. The tension is built up slowly and surely and the isolation of Sarah's home combined with the onset of wintery weather conditions really has a stomach clenching effect as it builds up to a stormy crescendo. And there are dogs!!!!! Putting them into the mix meant I was a nervous wreck from the very first page! Further more, adding an anonymous narrator at break points throughout also added a malevolent tension to the plot development so that I was pretty much on the edge of my seat (sunlounger!) for the majority of this book.
Elizabeth Haynes just has a natural knack of writing realistic characters in settings that the majority of us can relate to. I had such a clear visual image of Four Winds Farm in my head and that local village could be any that we pass through day after day. Sarah and Sophie felt as real to me as my own friends are and I lived through every emotion with them.
I feel it's fair to warn that there are some quite erotic and sexually charged scenes here which are pretty relevant to the story and really rather intriguing as well considering the nature of them. I actually felt quite voyeuristic during some of them but felt that they also gave me a further insight into characteristics that were evolving and a surprising affinity for them too.
I just loved this-it was psychological suspense perfection and a 5* page turner from beginning to end. Buy it now!!!!
January 10, 2018
Having loved Into the Darkest Corner years ago, but failing to connect with Behind Closed Doors a couple of years later, I was eager to give Elizabeth Haynes another go, and I have to say the front cover for Never Alone did lure me in. I’m pleased to say, I really enjoyed this book.
The remote house Sarah lives in gave this thriller a really creepy feel, and reminded me of when I first moved to West Cornwall. Although we do have a few neighbours nearby, there are no street lamps in our entire hamlet, so it is very dark when there isn’t a full moon and clear sky. It’s also eerily quiet on a night, made worse if I’m home alone, eek! This is definitely not a book to read on a dark night if you’re home alone and easily spooked.
This book had a very tense and action-paced ending, which I loved. I definitely found it much harder to put down during the second half of the story.
It made me feel a little nostalgic too, as it refers to the Grand Hotel in the centre of York. I used to work in the building next door to the hotel when I lived up in York and worked at Norwich Union almost twenty years ago. Wow, that makes me feel old realising it was that long ago!
Overall, this psychological thriller was a gripping story with some great characters, including the dogs. I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.
I borrowed this book through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
The remote house Sarah lives in gave this thriller a really creepy feel, and reminded me of when I first moved to West Cornwall. Although we do have a few neighbours nearby, there are no street lamps in our entire hamlet, so it is very dark when there isn’t a full moon and clear sky. It’s also eerily quiet on a night, made worse if I’m home alone, eek! This is definitely not a book to read on a dark night if you’re home alone and easily spooked.
This book had a very tense and action-paced ending, which I loved. I definitely found it much harder to put down during the second half of the story.
It made me feel a little nostalgic too, as it refers to the Grand Hotel in the centre of York. I used to work in the building next door to the hotel when I lived up in York and worked at Norwich Union almost twenty years ago. Wow, that makes me feel old realising it was that long ago!
Overall, this psychological thriller was a gripping story with some great characters, including the dogs. I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.
I borrowed this book through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
July 27, 2016
Way back in September 2011 I read Into The Darkest Corner; Elizabeth Haynes' first novel. It's a long time ago, but I remember it so very well. For me, it is probably the best psychological thriller that I've ever read. I've read the author's later books, including her police procedural series featuring DI Louisa Smith and enjoyed them all, but Into The Darkest Corner has always stood out for me.
I had a tingly feeling about her latest novel, Never Alone, when I read the synopsis, I kind of thought that maybe, just maybe, this was going to be the one that sat alongside Into The Darkest Corner ... I was right! It is an absolute page-turner, it's one of those books that fries your brain with its complexities, yet you cannot stop reading ..... just one more page, and one more, and one more.
I finished Never Alone whilst travelling to the Theakston's Crime Festival in Harrogate this weekend and spent most of the two days that I was there telling EVERYONE that they HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.
Never Alone is ingeniously clever. I spent most of the first half of the story wondering what the bloody hell was going on. The story is narrated alternatively by Sarah who lives with her two dogs in an isolated farmhouse on the Yorkshire Moors. The second voice is Aiden Beck, a friend from Sarah's past who has turned up unexpectedly and needs a place to stay. Nestled in between their narratives, every now and again, the reader hears from an anonymous voice, and these short snippets are terrifying, adding to the incredible tension that builds up and up, never slowing down, just inducing yet more heart-stopping episodes as the author twists the reader's mind.
Elizabeth Haynes presents three types of character, there's the lead players; Sarah, Aiden, Will and Sophie. The location; the wild desolation of the vast Yorkshire Moors and the creaking, menacing old house that Sarah calls home and finally the weather. Strange as it may sound, the howling winds and the icy cold really are a central 'character' and add such a depth to this story, increasing the chills down the spine and overall feeling of creeping fear.
I'm not going to go into the plot details, after all, you WILL be buying your own copy of Never Alone .... won't you? I must mention the incredible insight into the human mind that the author has, her seemingly, on the face of it, ordinary characters are finely tuned and dare I say it, will be recognisable to many of us.
Never Alone explores themes of regret and recrimination. There's rejection and despair and more than a touch of madness. There's some steamy eroticism, that is perfectly done and the author explores a side of the sex industry that is rarely talked about, and uses non-stereotypical characters cleverly.
Chilling, claustrophobic, enticing and heart-pounding. Never Alone is a story that is so clever, and so frighteningly real. I raced through it to the astonishing ending in complete awe.
And, I really do think that Never Alone may just have overtaken Into The Darkest Corner to become my favourite Elizabeth Haynes novel.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
I had a tingly feeling about her latest novel, Never Alone, when I read the synopsis, I kind of thought that maybe, just maybe, this was going to be the one that sat alongside Into The Darkest Corner ... I was right! It is an absolute page-turner, it's one of those books that fries your brain with its complexities, yet you cannot stop reading ..... just one more page, and one more, and one more.
I finished Never Alone whilst travelling to the Theakston's Crime Festival in Harrogate this weekend and spent most of the two days that I was there telling EVERYONE that they HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.
Never Alone is ingeniously clever. I spent most of the first half of the story wondering what the bloody hell was going on. The story is narrated alternatively by Sarah who lives with her two dogs in an isolated farmhouse on the Yorkshire Moors. The second voice is Aiden Beck, a friend from Sarah's past who has turned up unexpectedly and needs a place to stay. Nestled in between their narratives, every now and again, the reader hears from an anonymous voice, and these short snippets are terrifying, adding to the incredible tension that builds up and up, never slowing down, just inducing yet more heart-stopping episodes as the author twists the reader's mind.
Elizabeth Haynes presents three types of character, there's the lead players; Sarah, Aiden, Will and Sophie. The location; the wild desolation of the vast Yorkshire Moors and the creaking, menacing old house that Sarah calls home and finally the weather. Strange as it may sound, the howling winds and the icy cold really are a central 'character' and add such a depth to this story, increasing the chills down the spine and overall feeling of creeping fear.
I'm not going to go into the plot details, after all, you WILL be buying your own copy of Never Alone .... won't you? I must mention the incredible insight into the human mind that the author has, her seemingly, on the face of it, ordinary characters are finely tuned and dare I say it, will be recognisable to many of us.
Never Alone explores themes of regret and recrimination. There's rejection and despair and more than a touch of madness. There's some steamy eroticism, that is perfectly done and the author explores a side of the sex industry that is rarely talked about, and uses non-stereotypical characters cleverly.
Chilling, claustrophobic, enticing and heart-pounding. Never Alone is a story that is so clever, and so frighteningly real. I raced through it to the astonishing ending in complete awe.
And, I really do think that Never Alone may just have overtaken Into The Darkest Corner to become my favourite Elizabeth Haynes novel.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
August 15, 2016
I feel bad but I just struggled with this book from beginning to end. I know everyone loved it but it just never grabbed me. I forced myself to finish thinking the ending will make it worth it.
But it still fell flat for me. I have read this author before and still will continue to. This one was just not for me. :0(
But it still fell flat for me. I have read this author before and still will continue to. This one was just not for me. :0(
August 5, 2016
Sarah Carpenter lives in an isolated farmhouse in North Yorkshire and for the first time, after the death of her husband some years ago and her children, Louis and Kitty, leaving for university, she’s living alone. But she doesn’t consider herself lonely. She has two dogs, a wide network of friends and the support of her best friend, Sophie.
When an old acquaintance, Aiden Beck, needs somewhere to stay for a while, Sarah’s cottage seems ideal; and renewing her relationship with Aiden gives her a reason to smile again. It’s supposed to be temporary, but not everyone is comfortable with the arrangement: her children are wary of his motives, and Will Brewer, an old friend of her son’s, seems to have taken it upon himself to check up on Sarah at every opportunity. Even Sophie has grown remote and distant.
After Sophie disappears, it’s clear she hasn’t been entirely honest with anyone, including Will, who seems more concerned for Sarah’s safety than anyone else. As the weather closes in, events take a dramatic turn and Kitty too goes missing. Suddenly Sarah finds herself in terrible danger, unsure of who she can still trust.
But she isn’t facing this alone; she has Aiden, and Aiden offers the protection that Sarah needs. Doesn’t he?
This year has produced some brilliant psychological thrillers and my latest read, Never Alone, by Elizabeth Haynes has delivered, once again a quality piece of writing.
The synopsis above outlines the gist of the story without going into any detail, but the thrill and suspense that comes with this book are outstanding.
A classic the genre, but delivered in a class and unique style. Very descriptive, thrilling, shocking and overall a matchstick event with the eyes - very hard to put down and no good if you want some sleep.
An easy rating of 4.5* Highly recommended. One of the best of this genre!
Thank you to the publisher, Myriad Editions for the review copy.
When an old acquaintance, Aiden Beck, needs somewhere to stay for a while, Sarah’s cottage seems ideal; and renewing her relationship with Aiden gives her a reason to smile again. It’s supposed to be temporary, but not everyone is comfortable with the arrangement: her children are wary of his motives, and Will Brewer, an old friend of her son’s, seems to have taken it upon himself to check up on Sarah at every opportunity. Even Sophie has grown remote and distant.
After Sophie disappears, it’s clear she hasn’t been entirely honest with anyone, including Will, who seems more concerned for Sarah’s safety than anyone else. As the weather closes in, events take a dramatic turn and Kitty too goes missing. Suddenly Sarah finds herself in terrible danger, unsure of who she can still trust.
But she isn’t facing this alone; she has Aiden, and Aiden offers the protection that Sarah needs. Doesn’t he?
This year has produced some brilliant psychological thrillers and my latest read, Never Alone, by Elizabeth Haynes has delivered, once again a quality piece of writing.
The synopsis above outlines the gist of the story without going into any detail, but the thrill and suspense that comes with this book are outstanding.
A classic the genre, but delivered in a class and unique style. Very descriptive, thrilling, shocking and overall a matchstick event with the eyes - very hard to put down and no good if you want some sleep.
An easy rating of 4.5* Highly recommended. One of the best of this genre!
Thank you to the publisher, Myriad Editions for the review copy.
August 3, 2016
And so to Never Alone, and Haynes once again with an immediate intensity, draws us into the life of Sarah Carpenter, an emotionally fragile woman three years on from the loss of her husband, and residing in a metaphorically empty nest with her two children having left home for differing reasons. What Haynes disseminates so well in this book is the nature of human relationships, and every character is used to explore the differing connections we make with one another. As the following demonstrates there are numerous different permutations of characters’ connections to one another throughout the book. Sarah finds herself emotionally unsettled by the reappearance of an old flame, Aiden, who takes up residence in a small cottage aligning her property, concealing certain revelations about his past interactions with her late husband, and the shocking reveal of his current career choice. She is also grappling with missing her daughter Kitty who is at university (who is also experiencing her first love affair) and the minimal contact with her son Louis, who has his own reasons for shunning her. Sarah also has only one close friendship in this small community, with glamorous and larger than life politician’s wife, Sophie, which seems an unlikely alliance, and when Sarah is plunged into the company of others seems rather a square peg in a round hole. Then there is Will, a friend of her son’s Louis, who comes to the attention of Aiden and Sophie for differing reasons, and Sophie and Aiden also have a connection. Haynes perfectly controls the gradual reveals about the deeper connections between various characters, and by splitting the narrative in sections between them, gives her a real opportunity to explore their psychology, and allows us to see the same scenarios from different viewpoints.
Sometimes I felt that the characterisation was a little diminished by the need to so completely control all their connections to one another, and how these would bring the action together at the denouement of the book, and felt there was a certain amount of repetition in how Sarah was presented. In particular, her critique of her own life, that did seem to be endlessly re-treading the same analysis of her emotional and financial situation. I hesitate to use the word annoying, but she didn’t engage my empathy as much as she should have. I did, however, like the characters of Louis and Sophie very much, who had interesting textures and quirks to them which I would have like to have seen more fully explored, and Aiden proved a pivotal figure to the book with shades of light and dark to keep the reader on their toes. There is also a sinister stream of consciousness by a certain character, that runs chillingly throughout the book, alerting us to the danger of an individual on the brink of violence, and Haynes largely conceals the identity of this person until a crucial point in the plot.
I very much liked the setting of the book, using the North Yorkshire Moors, as an immovable and threatening backdrop in the grip of winter, reflecting the psychological bleakness and threat of the main plot. The perfectly placed reveals of one character’s connection to another drove the plot consistently at a measured and controlled pace, and although the unveiling of the bad egg in the whole affair did not come as a real surprise, there was a good amount of tension and suspicion built up along the way to keep reading on. Although not entirely convinced why the bad person did what they did for the reasons they did and how this was played out, I feel that the consistency of the writing up until that point more than justifies giving this one a look. Perhaps, this is a testament to the writing of Haynes herself that even, in my humble opinion, a slightly below par book from her is still immeasurably more enjoyable than others in her chosen genre. Recommended.
Sometimes I felt that the characterisation was a little diminished by the need to so completely control all their connections to one another, and how these would bring the action together at the denouement of the book, and felt there was a certain amount of repetition in how Sarah was presented. In particular, her critique of her own life, that did seem to be endlessly re-treading the same analysis of her emotional and financial situation. I hesitate to use the word annoying, but she didn’t engage my empathy as much as she should have. I did, however, like the characters of Louis and Sophie very much, who had interesting textures and quirks to them which I would have like to have seen more fully explored, and Aiden proved a pivotal figure to the book with shades of light and dark to keep the reader on their toes. There is also a sinister stream of consciousness by a certain character, that runs chillingly throughout the book, alerting us to the danger of an individual on the brink of violence, and Haynes largely conceals the identity of this person until a crucial point in the plot.
I very much liked the setting of the book, using the North Yorkshire Moors, as an immovable and threatening backdrop in the grip of winter, reflecting the psychological bleakness and threat of the main plot. The perfectly placed reveals of one character’s connection to another drove the plot consistently at a measured and controlled pace, and although the unveiling of the bad egg in the whole affair did not come as a real surprise, there was a good amount of tension and suspicion built up along the way to keep reading on. Although not entirely convinced why the bad person did what they did for the reasons they did and how this was played out, I feel that the consistency of the writing up until that point more than justifies giving this one a look. Perhaps, this is a testament to the writing of Haynes herself that even, in my humble opinion, a slightly below par book from her is still immeasurably more enjoyable than others in her chosen genre. Recommended.
October 3, 2016
Like many readers I have been a big fan of Elizabeth Haynes since she wrote Into The Darkest Corner way back in 2011, so I had high hopes for Never Alone the book description alone piqued my interest and I must say its everything I hoped for and more. It’s well executed, gripping and definitely one of the better psychological thrillers out there at the moment. The author explores human relationships and all the ugly qualities that can come with them lies,obsession,betrayal and rejection, she manages to weave an intricate tale that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go to the last heart stopping chapter.
The chapters alternate between Sarah Carpenter a widower living in an isolated farmhouse, with only her dogs for company, and Aiden an old acquaintance of Sarah’s who becomes her tenant. There are also chapters delivered by an unknown voice which add a chilling tone to the plot. If I’m honest to begin with I just couldn’t work out where the plot was heading, there were so many lies and secrets hidden within the characters, but like any good author Elizabeth Hayes reveals all layer by layer, and provides the reader with an intricate tale that kept me reading late into the night (a cliche I know, but true). The author does have an extraordinary way of creating ordinary characters who most readers will be able to relate to one way or another, the best friend who has secrets she’s reluctant to share, the lodger who prefers to keep his life private I could go on and on but you get the gist.
I should mention there are some sexually charged scenes but they are very much in keeping with the plot and aren’t overly graphic. From the very first chapter there is a sense of foreboding and the author builds on it making this a hard book to put down. Set in a remote village on the Yorkshire Moors makes the perfect setting for this book, the author describes the setting so perfectly I had chills running down my spine at the thought of being in such a bleak and isolated place, which certainly added to my sense of uneasiness. As the plot progresses there are plenty of heart pounding moments to keep the most hardened reader glued to the edge of their seat, Never Alone is well paced, atmospheric and full of menace, this is one book psychological thriller lovers will not want to miss.
The chapters alternate between Sarah Carpenter a widower living in an isolated farmhouse, with only her dogs for company, and Aiden an old acquaintance of Sarah’s who becomes her tenant. There are also chapters delivered by an unknown voice which add a chilling tone to the plot. If I’m honest to begin with I just couldn’t work out where the plot was heading, there were so many lies and secrets hidden within the characters, but like any good author Elizabeth Hayes reveals all layer by layer, and provides the reader with an intricate tale that kept me reading late into the night (a cliche I know, but true). The author does have an extraordinary way of creating ordinary characters who most readers will be able to relate to one way or another, the best friend who has secrets she’s reluctant to share, the lodger who prefers to keep his life private I could go on and on but you get the gist.
I should mention there are some sexually charged scenes but they are very much in keeping with the plot and aren’t overly graphic. From the very first chapter there is a sense of foreboding and the author builds on it making this a hard book to put down. Set in a remote village on the Yorkshire Moors makes the perfect setting for this book, the author describes the setting so perfectly I had chills running down my spine at the thought of being in such a bleak and isolated place, which certainly added to my sense of uneasiness. As the plot progresses there are plenty of heart pounding moments to keep the most hardened reader glued to the edge of their seat, Never Alone is well paced, atmospheric and full of menace, this is one book psychological thriller lovers will not want to miss.
August 3, 2018
Set in an isolated area of Yorkshire, this was an excellent thriller full of tension and suspense. Great characters, very atmospheric, and an original plot.
My third book by Elizabeth Haynes. Loved her debut Into the Darkest Corner corner and really enjoyed this one.
My third book by Elizabeth Haynes. Loved her debut Into the Darkest Corner corner and really enjoyed this one.
March 23, 2017
I really enjoyed the author's first book, Into the Darkest Corner and I enjoyed this one too. Just a couple of niggles. Why, why, why did Sarah keep leaving her door unlocked even when she kept hearing noises and was generally feeling a bit spooked? I'd have barricaded myself in! And why, when she had awful money worries and was thinking of having to sell the farmhouse, didn't she do anything about trying to get a job? Having said that, it was a nerve-racking book which I enjoyed but not to the extent of Into The Darkest Corner which literally terrified me!
August 5, 2016
As a teen in the 1970's one of my favourite programmes was a British series called Thriller. It was a thriller in every sense of the word, the heart stopping, heart pounding, pulse racing moments of suspense which made me hide behind a cushion or watch between my fingers were almost unbearable and this story took me right back to those moments. I loved it, the build up of the characters and story were so skilful and clever. I thought the pacing of the story was excellent and I feel like I've just read an absolute corker of a thriller which I'd highly recommend to anyone.
August 13, 2018
It’s slow and predictable.
August 12, 2016
Sarah is lonely. Her husband died in a tragic accident, her son despises her and her daughter has gone to university. She has friends in the village and her two dogs but it’s easy to become cutoff from society when you live in a remote farmhouse on the North Yorkshire moors. Thankfully all that changes when old flame Aiden Beck turns up looking for a room to rent. Sarah leaps at the chance to have her ex-lover living in the farmhouse’s empty cottage, a stones throw from her. But what is Aiden not telling Sarah? And exactly how close are Aiden and Sarah’s best friend, Sophie? And where has Sophie suddenly disappeared to…?
This is a real page turner. Elizabeth Haynes has once again done exactly what she does best and turned out a cracking psychological thriller that fans, old and new, will adore. There is something about Elizabeth’s style that immediately draws you in; it feels familiar but with an edge and you know you are in for a twisty ride of a read.
It’s a little bit saucy in places. Frequent visitors to damppebbles will know that I’m not a fan of bedroom naughtiness in my books. But saying that, it fitted with the story and wasn’t too over the top so I didn’t find it an issue. It’s certainly not Fifty Shades of Grey, put it that way!
Sarah was my favourite character in the novel. Initially she felt quite dowdy but as the story progressed she seemed to shed that dowdiness and become more of a mumsy minx! Maybe that was due to Aiden’s arrival as, the way he’s described, I think most of us ladies would go weak at the knees. I found Sarah’s relationship with her son, Louis, strangely upsetting and I wanted to know so much more about it (maybe there’s scope there for a novella?!).
The way Elizabeth Haynes describes the locations in the book, and particularly the area around Sarah’s farmhouse, was quite stunning. Even more so when the snow storm hits. Elizabeth made me switch between wanting to live in Sarah’s beautiful farmhouse, to being absolutely terrified of being cut off from society in the blink of an eye.
Would I recommend this book? Of course I would! It’s a great read, very gripping and brilliantly written. Full of dark suspicious characters and their well (or maybe, not so well) hidden secrets. A real page turner from start to finish.
Four and a half stars out of five.
Many thanks to Emma Dowson, Myriad Editions and Elizabeth Haynes for providing me with a copy of Never Alone in exchange for an honest review.
This is a real page turner. Elizabeth Haynes has once again done exactly what she does best and turned out a cracking psychological thriller that fans, old and new, will adore. There is something about Elizabeth’s style that immediately draws you in; it feels familiar but with an edge and you know you are in for a twisty ride of a read.
It’s a little bit saucy in places. Frequent visitors to damppebbles will know that I’m not a fan of bedroom naughtiness in my books. But saying that, it fitted with the story and wasn’t too over the top so I didn’t find it an issue. It’s certainly not Fifty Shades of Grey, put it that way!
Sarah was my favourite character in the novel. Initially she felt quite dowdy but as the story progressed she seemed to shed that dowdiness and become more of a mumsy minx! Maybe that was due to Aiden’s arrival as, the way he’s described, I think most of us ladies would go weak at the knees. I found Sarah’s relationship with her son, Louis, strangely upsetting and I wanted to know so much more about it (maybe there’s scope there for a novella?!).
The way Elizabeth Haynes describes the locations in the book, and particularly the area around Sarah’s farmhouse, was quite stunning. Even more so when the snow storm hits. Elizabeth made me switch between wanting to live in Sarah’s beautiful farmhouse, to being absolutely terrified of being cut off from society in the blink of an eye.
Would I recommend this book? Of course I would! It’s a great read, very gripping and brilliantly written. Full of dark suspicious characters and their well (or maybe, not so well) hidden secrets. A real page turner from start to finish.
Four and a half stars out of five.
Many thanks to Emma Dowson, Myriad Editions and Elizabeth Haynes for providing me with a copy of Never Alone in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2017
Well, Elizabeth Haynes, I tried to give you a fair shot, I really did. After reading Into the Darkest Corner, I thought you were going to be my new favorite author. That book was a thrilling read that kept me up into the wee hours of the morning. I eagerly tried the first of your series with DCI Louise, but found that book disappointingly filled with one dimensional characters. It was as if it was written by another author altogether. I decided to give you one more shot with this one, a stand alone book, as perhaps not all authors are able good at writing serialized stories. This one was so predictable. Every twist and turn in the story was telegraphed far in advance, and at times it read like a bodice ripper at the checkout in my grocery store. I'm not a prude and can handle a thriller with some fairly graphic sex, but if its gonna be in the book, make it more relevant to the plot as it was in Into the Darkest Corner. There was really no reason I can think of to make Aiden have that occupation other than to make the book "spicier." The book would have been far more interesting in my opinion, if he'd been a spy or something like that. Alas, I will not be reading any more books by Elizabeth Haynes.
July 29, 2016
Very carefully read a treebook that I will treasure as it is not yet out in paperback until 6th October and I am delighted to have been able to it read in advance.
There are not many books that fall into the category of please remind me to breathe, but Never Alone is one of them for sure. It is writing at its finest, it is descriptive, eerie, chilling and fast paced – everything about it is just fits perfectly.
Is great reading all the way through then boom a remind myself to breathe moment begins and I found myself pleading internally with the one of the central characters (can’t reveal who or why) not to do what I suspected was about to happen, the plot setting was that powerful and all the emotions are captured so so well at the pivotal points. Superb does not even begin to cover it and once again another dream of mine (living in remote rural area) has been removed entirely from my head.
Elizabeth Haynes has long been one of my ATF authors and Never Alone secures her place there firmly.
Oodles of thanks to Elizabeth for making a long time fan feel very lucky indeed.
There are not many books that fall into the category of please remind me to breathe, but Never Alone is one of them for sure. It is writing at its finest, it is descriptive, eerie, chilling and fast paced – everything about it is just fits perfectly.
Is great reading all the way through then boom a remind myself to breathe moment begins and I found myself pleading internally with the one of the central characters (can’t reveal who or why) not to do what I suspected was about to happen, the plot setting was that powerful and all the emotions are captured so so well at the pivotal points. Superb does not even begin to cover it and once again another dream of mine (living in remote rural area) has been removed entirely from my head.
Elizabeth Haynes has long been one of my ATF authors and Never Alone secures her place there firmly.
Oodles of thanks to Elizabeth for making a long time fan feel very lucky indeed.
February 4, 2017
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this thriller.
Elizabeth Haynes is one of my favourite authors (Please read
if you haven't already) and the characters are good but maybe I have read too many thrillers in this style so I couldn't find anything new here to love.
It's good but I was expecting 'something' more.
I really enjoyed this thriller.
Elizabeth Haynes is one of my favourite authors (Please read
if you haven't already) and the characters are good but maybe I have read too many thrillers in this style so I couldn't find anything new here to love.It's good but I was expecting 'something' more.
Read
August 10, 2018‘Haynes is an expert at ratcheting up tension, so when someone poisons one of Sarah’s dogs, you know something bad is about to happen to Sarah herself. Until the very end, though, you aren’t sure who exactly it is that wishes her ill.’
New York Times
New York Times
September 16, 2017
It is winter in the North Yorkshire Moors where Sarah Carpenter is coming to terms with the loss of her husband and the emptiness of her farmhouse now that her daughter Kitty has left for university. Her son Louis is not around much having fallen out with Sarah following the death of his father, although she has a good friend in Sophie, a politician’s wife.
Against this backdrop enters Aiden an old flame of Sarah’s who has rented her holiday cottage and she’s pleased to see him but she does wonder what he is keeping secret from her. And so it starts… another riveting psychological thriller from Elizabeth Haynes.
With the bleak background of the landscape, the feeling of claustrophobia inherent in a fairly isolated and remote home the setting is perfect for this dark and often torrid tale.
The cast of characters is superb and it is a sign of what a talented writer Elizabeth Haynes is that their interactions with each other, in a variety of settings allows us to see different aspects of their characters. At the start Sarah is quite a staid woman, worried about money, her children and to be honest not a lot else, her world possibly having shrunk dramatically now that she is widowed. Her sadness over the relationship with her son is eloquently described with the often helplessness from Sarah’s viewpoint that is so often a feature of this type of schism. Fortunately Elizabeth Haynes doesn’t constrain herself in developing just the main characters, every one we meet in this book is far more than a shadowy figure on the page and the way they bounce off each other definitely takes this book to a higher level than expected. Sophie and her sleazy MP husband George are just two that you may not like, but you are definitely be able to place them in a wider context than is usual with secondary characters.
It’s fair to say her children and her friends aren’t overly impressed with Aiden staying in the cottage when they know so little about him, and then when his choice of profession comes to light they are even less enamoured with the idea. Sarah is hurt by this but she is a loyal woman and although she has momentary doubts she isn’t about to kick Aiden out.
The story is mainly told from Sarah’s viewpoint in the Sarah’s in the third person although we also get Aiden’s side of things is told in the second person which is one of the rare occasions in a book where this actually works without jarring. Added to this we occasionally have a chilling narrative inserted along the way, who this belongs to and why it is there only becomes apparent at the end of the book which ends in a satisfying manner.
I’ve been a fan of Elizabeth Haynes ever since I picked up her newly published book Into the Darkest Corner which incidentally was the read that really got me hooked on psychological thrillers, she certainly didn’t disappoint me with Never Alone, although the moral of the story is that perhaps it is sometimes better to be alone…
Against this backdrop enters Aiden an old flame of Sarah’s who has rented her holiday cottage and she’s pleased to see him but she does wonder what he is keeping secret from her. And so it starts… another riveting psychological thriller from Elizabeth Haynes.
With the bleak background of the landscape, the feeling of claustrophobia inherent in a fairly isolated and remote home the setting is perfect for this dark and often torrid tale.
The cast of characters is superb and it is a sign of what a talented writer Elizabeth Haynes is that their interactions with each other, in a variety of settings allows us to see different aspects of their characters. At the start Sarah is quite a staid woman, worried about money, her children and to be honest not a lot else, her world possibly having shrunk dramatically now that she is widowed. Her sadness over the relationship with her son is eloquently described with the often helplessness from Sarah’s viewpoint that is so often a feature of this type of schism. Fortunately Elizabeth Haynes doesn’t constrain herself in developing just the main characters, every one we meet in this book is far more than a shadowy figure on the page and the way they bounce off each other definitely takes this book to a higher level than expected. Sophie and her sleazy MP husband George are just two that you may not like, but you are definitely be able to place them in a wider context than is usual with secondary characters.
It’s fair to say her children and her friends aren’t overly impressed with Aiden staying in the cottage when they know so little about him, and then when his choice of profession comes to light they are even less enamoured with the idea. Sarah is hurt by this but she is a loyal woman and although she has momentary doubts she isn’t about to kick Aiden out.
The story is mainly told from Sarah’s viewpoint in the Sarah’s in the third person although we also get Aiden’s side of things is told in the second person which is one of the rare occasions in a book where this actually works without jarring. Added to this we occasionally have a chilling narrative inserted along the way, who this belongs to and why it is there only becomes apparent at the end of the book which ends in a satisfying manner.
I’ve been a fan of Elizabeth Haynes ever since I picked up her newly published book Into the Darkest Corner which incidentally was the read that really got me hooked on psychological thrillers, she certainly didn’t disappoint me with Never Alone, although the moral of the story is that perhaps it is sometimes better to be alone…
February 6, 2017
One of my all time favourite books is Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes, it is an incredibly written psychological thriller. It was the first book that I had read by Elizabeth Haynes and set the bar very high. While I’ve enjoyed subsequent books by the author, none have come anywhere near to emulating her first book.
Never Alone tells the story of Sarah, a widow who lives alone in an isolated farmhouse in Yorkshire. An old flame comes back into her life after years of no contact, he rents a small cottage on Sarah’s land, but it is quickly clear that Aiden has secrets. When things start happening that spook Sarah the reader isn’t sure whether Aiden is responsible, or perhaps it is Will, a young man who has recently returned to the area. Or is Sarah just imagining things?
When Sarah’s best friend disappears and no one can find her things get complicated when heavy snow falls. The book becomes a tense read at this point, with the reader unsure who to trust, I really don’t want to give too much away as I’ll only ruin it for you but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
While Never Alone doesn’t match Into the Darkest Corner it is still a very good psychological thriller and one that I enjoyed reading very much. I’d definitely recommend it to all fans of this genre.
The book really builds the tension and I loved the characters of Sarah’s two dogs, each of them had their own characteristics and became part of the story (and if you’re a dog lover, the tension).
Overall Never Alone is a solid read with great characters and plenty of tension. Enjoy!
Never Alone tells the story of Sarah, a widow who lives alone in an isolated farmhouse in Yorkshire. An old flame comes back into her life after years of no contact, he rents a small cottage on Sarah’s land, but it is quickly clear that Aiden has secrets. When things start happening that spook Sarah the reader isn’t sure whether Aiden is responsible, or perhaps it is Will, a young man who has recently returned to the area. Or is Sarah just imagining things?
When Sarah’s best friend disappears and no one can find her things get complicated when heavy snow falls. The book becomes a tense read at this point, with the reader unsure who to trust, I really don’t want to give too much away as I’ll only ruin it for you but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
While Never Alone doesn’t match Into the Darkest Corner it is still a very good psychological thriller and one that I enjoyed reading very much. I’d definitely recommend it to all fans of this genre.
The book really builds the tension and I loved the characters of Sarah’s two dogs, each of them had their own characteristics and became part of the story (and if you’re a dog lover, the tension).
Overall Never Alone is a solid read with great characters and plenty of tension. Enjoy!
November 26, 2016
Listened to in audio format.
Never Alone was the November read for my GR group. This is the first book I've listened to by Elizabeth Hayes, although I have the Darkest Corner on my TBR pile.
Sarah Carpenter is a widow with two grown up children Louis and Kitty. She lives alone with 2 Labradors and has a wide circle of friends. Out of the blue she sees a message on Facebook from her old boyfriend Aiden Beck. Aiden has been living abroad and is returning the UK and wants a place to stay.
Sarah has a spare cottage that she rents out to Aiden to earn some extra cash. However Aiden has his own secrets he is keeping Sarah.
This story was split into chapters about Sarah, Aiden and an anonymous person. Because I was listening to this rather then reading I thought Aiden was the anonymous voice, It took me until halfway through the book until I guessed who the baddie was.
I liked the character of Sarah who seemed mumsy but was actually a bit of a MILF. When Aidan moved into the cottage next door there were actually some quite saucy parts in the book. However when you find out Aiden's job you find this is actually relevant to the story.
I loved the setting of this book an isolated farmhouse in Yorkshire. The story is scary especially when the snowstorm struck and Sarah and her daughter were stuck in the middle of nowhere with a killer in the house.
This book was gripping, perfect for a cold winter night with the doors locked.
Never Alone was the November read for my GR group. This is the first book I've listened to by Elizabeth Hayes, although I have the Darkest Corner on my TBR pile.
Sarah Carpenter is a widow with two grown up children Louis and Kitty. She lives alone with 2 Labradors and has a wide circle of friends. Out of the blue she sees a message on Facebook from her old boyfriend Aiden Beck. Aiden has been living abroad and is returning the UK and wants a place to stay.
Sarah has a spare cottage that she rents out to Aiden to earn some extra cash. However Aiden has his own secrets he is keeping Sarah.
This story was split into chapters about Sarah, Aiden and an anonymous person. Because I was listening to this rather then reading I thought Aiden was the anonymous voice, It took me until halfway through the book until I guessed who the baddie was.
I liked the character of Sarah who seemed mumsy but was actually a bit of a MILF. When Aidan moved into the cottage next door there were actually some quite saucy parts in the book. However when you find out Aiden's job you find this is actually relevant to the story.
I loved the setting of this book an isolated farmhouse in Yorkshire. The story is scary especially when the snowstorm struck and Sarah and her daughter were stuck in the middle of nowhere with a killer in the house.
This book was gripping, perfect for a cold winter night with the doors locked.
November 2, 2016
I will preface this review by saying I am a MASSIVE Elizabeth Haynes fan. Her first novel, Into The Darkest Corner is one of my all time favourite books EVER!!! Needless to say, I am extremely grateful to be on the blog tour for her latest book, Never Alone.
Never Alone is a chilling psychological thriller. It is a compelling read, and coupled with bleak weather, it only serves to reinforce the cold tone running through the book.
Following Sarah, and the arrival of a friend from the past, Aiden, Never Alone begins to weave its web around the reader from the very beginning. Sarah lives in an isolated area, widowed and with her children living away from home, she is looking for someone to move into the cottage on her grounds. Enter the enigmatic Aiden.
I really enjoy how Elizabeth Haynes crafts her characters. This is no different. The cast of characters between the pages of Never Alone are all supremely written, with their own flaws and secrets hiding just below the surface. You always know trouble is never far away in psychological thrillers. I won’t say any more…
I thoroughly enjoyed Never Alone. It’s a cracking read, and I found myself racing to the end to see what happens. That’s always the sign of a great book to me. Thrilling, chilling and unputdownable. Highly recommended!
Never Alone is a chilling psychological thriller. It is a compelling read, and coupled with bleak weather, it only serves to reinforce the cold tone running through the book.
Following Sarah, and the arrival of a friend from the past, Aiden, Never Alone begins to weave its web around the reader from the very beginning. Sarah lives in an isolated area, widowed and with her children living away from home, she is looking for someone to move into the cottage on her grounds. Enter the enigmatic Aiden.
I really enjoy how Elizabeth Haynes crafts her characters. This is no different. The cast of characters between the pages of Never Alone are all supremely written, with their own flaws and secrets hiding just below the surface. You always know trouble is never far away in psychological thrillers. I won’t say any more…
I thoroughly enjoyed Never Alone. It’s a cracking read, and I found myself racing to the end to see what happens. That’s always the sign of a great book to me. Thrilling, chilling and unputdownable. Highly recommended!
January 8, 2017
Wow!!!!! I'm left breathless after finishing this book. I first came across Elizabeth Haynes when I read Into the Darkest corner a few years ago, which is a book that has consistently remained in my top 5 reads. I actually think that this book is on a par with that, if not slightly better. Whatever. This was a 5* read and a book that I'm going to be shouting from the rooftops about!
Read
July 16, 2016Elizabeth is a writer to watch that's for sure!
Careful where you stay if you're off to Yorkshire on your hols.... ;)
Booktrail the locations here: Location map of Never Alone
August 8, 2021
Ugh, glad this book is over. It is possible the slowest “suspense” book I’ve ever read. The first almost 300 pages are just about the main characters relationships and everyone she’s slept with. Aiden’s entire character seems pointless in the end. The whole time you think this mysterious previous love is going to go wrong at some point, but really he’s just in the way. Most of his chapters seem pointless as well. Did we really need a re-enactment of him fingering an old lady? Really didn’t help the plot one bit. 90% of this book is so focused on him and Sarah and then once the suspense finally kicks in, where is he? Gone. Not mentioned for a good while. I could not even stand Sarah as a main character. She does seem a little sex obsessed seeing as all she thinks about is who she’s already been with and who her best friend Sophie is having it with. And when the book finally picks up (almost at the end of it) she is so frustrating and plain stupid. If you had a previous fling with a guy who you think is not only going to share that secret, but who has been letting himself into your house unannounced, who you have reason to suspect has poisoned your dog and taken and hurt your daughter and your friends, would you let them slowly undress you because the snow got your clothes wet and then wait for them to rummage through your clothes and help you into the dry ones they picked out?! NO! You’d beat his ass out of your house and call the damn police! Not Sarah though. Instead she becomes completely docile. It’s so maddening, especially when it took over 300 pages just to get to that point. This book was frankly a waste of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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