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34 Days
How much can your life change in just 34 days? Anna and Ray have been married for thirty-five years. They are parents and grandparents and appear to be a normal couple. But behind closed doors something isn’t right. On the day of their wedding anniversary Anna makes a decision that changes everything and throws her family into turmoil. Anna will discover that she is not the only one who has suffered and by leaving Ray she sparks a series of events so awful that it might just end in murder… "I loved that this book had me on the edge of my seat with each page" Karen "wow, I couldn't put this book down, and even missed my bus to work because I lost track of time." Paula "An absolutely stunning read. I have been completely and utterly absorbed and have read it in a matter of hours. Superb. !!!!" Dotty "chilling and heartbreaking at the same time" Joanne Davies 34 Days is the international bestselling psychological thriller. It will appeal to fans of authors like Louise Jensen, Shalini Boland and KL Slater. Anita Waller is also the author of bestselling psychological thrillers including, Strategy, Beautiful, Angel, Malignant & Captor, as well as the critically-acclaimed Kat and Mouse cozy mystery series.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2016
780 people are currently reading
1057 people want to read
About the author
Anita Waller
48 books469 followersI live in Sheffield, UK. I am retired and have recently fulfilled my lifelong ambition of becoming a published author with Bloodhound Books.
I am married (almost 50 years to Dave) with three children and seven grandchildren.
I am a patchwork and quilting tutor as well as a writer.
My first book was Beautiful and my second, a sequel to Beautiful, is called Angel.
I am married (almost 50 years to Dave) with three children and seven grandchildren.
I am a patchwork and quilting tutor as well as a writer.
My first book was Beautiful and my second, a sequel to Beautiful, is called Angel.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 285 reviews
February 4, 2017
Fantastic psychological thriller!
Anna wants to escape from her abusive husband.
As she looks to begin a new life, her daughter-in-law comes forth with alarming revelations that may change her new life.
34 Days. That's the time it took for Anna's life to go from liberation to.....well you'll just have to read this book to find out!
Secrets and lies.....Oh the tangled web we weave.
Went in directions I never saw coming!
Anna wants to escape from her abusive husband.
As she looks to begin a new life, her daughter-in-law comes forth with alarming revelations that may change her new life.
34 Days. That's the time it took for Anna's life to go from liberation to.....well you'll just have to read this book to find out!
Secrets and lies.....Oh the tangled web we weave.
Went in directions I never saw coming!
July 9, 2019
Anita Waller is a very clever author. I give full credit to Anita who has thought through , thoroughly an extremely good clever crime. How ever the ideas of the crime popped into Anita's head I just don't know. Any reader would think that Anita knows how crimes are committed and what makes someone kill in the first place. About 34 Days. Anna has been married for thirty five years to an abusive husband. She decided to leave him. But how well does Anna know her daughter in-law. All of the family seem to have secrets. What's the worst thing that can happen murder? Crime fans you all deserve a big treat and 34 Days is it.
October 5, 2016
This is the first book of Anita Waller’s that I’ve read and what a great one to start with. The book takes a normal family celebration (a 35th Wedding Anniversary) as a catalyst for a womans life changing decision. And it’s that everyday moment in time that scared me more than anything else in this book, it has normal people at its core but somehow murder still finds a way to affect them all.
Anna takes the decision, on what should be a day of love and joyous celebration, to leave her husband. We don’t really get much of an insight into Ray apart from a few minutes on that morning and some rather nasty phone calls to his wife when he realises she has left. But Anna seems a sweet but downtrodden spouse who has just had enough and she thankfully has the added bonus of being financially independent which greatly aids her flight to freedom. And from there the least you you about the plot the better! Apart from to say that you need to expect the unexpected and watch out for the twisty turns that arrive fast and furious with a fair few shocks!
I liked the premise of this and the way that the first part of the book was written also reinforced those 34 days that change Anna’s life forever. Anita has a very gentle writing style so that the shocks, when they appear, have much more of an impact. And I do like the way she has brought in her passions for quilting and Sheffield Wednesday into her book as well!
This is a dark domestic chiller that gradually creeps under your skin until the very shocking and unexpected climax. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day but have to say that the aftershocks have lasted slightly longer!
Anna takes the decision, on what should be a day of love and joyous celebration, to leave her husband. We don’t really get much of an insight into Ray apart from a few minutes on that morning and some rather nasty phone calls to his wife when he realises she has left. But Anna seems a sweet but downtrodden spouse who has just had enough and she thankfully has the added bonus of being financially independent which greatly aids her flight to freedom. And from there the least you you about the plot the better! Apart from to say that you need to expect the unexpected and watch out for the twisty turns that arrive fast and furious with a fair few shocks!
I liked the premise of this and the way that the first part of the book was written also reinforced those 34 days that change Anna’s life forever. Anita has a very gentle writing style so that the shocks, when they appear, have much more of an impact. And I do like the way she has brought in her passions for quilting and Sheffield Wednesday into her book as well!
This is a dark domestic chiller that gradually creeps under your skin until the very shocking and unexpected climax. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day but have to say that the aftershocks have lasted slightly longer!
February 5, 2017
DNF 56%.
It is not often that I do not finish a book but unfortunately this was just too unbelievable and far fetched for me to enjoy. I found myself skimming the pages as there were so many characters that were unhinged that I just did not like or relate to in any way.
It is not often that I do not finish a book but unfortunately this was just too unbelievable and far fetched for me to enjoy. I found myself skimming the pages as there were so many characters that were unhinged that I just did not like or relate to in any way.
October 31, 2016
What the heck...? Why is this book getting 4 and 5 stars?! The plot started out to be promising, but quickly loses steam and becomes a mundane, boring, poorly written piece of detritus. How many times can the main character make a sandwich and have a cup of tea?! As you can tell, I was really disappointed by this book.
June 25, 2018
There's very little I can say about the specifics of this book, since the blurb gives only the broadest overview. I don't want to spoil anything, so this is going to be a tricky review to write... but I'll do my best to entice your reading appetite.
The morning of their 35th anniversary, Anna left her husband, Ray, who is an abusive, controlling man. Days later, she is stunned when someone close to her confides a shocking secret about Ray. Anna finds herself swept away by a force she can't control, knowing it will change the lives of everyone she loves, but is utterly powerless to prevent what's coming.
34 Days has a swiftly moving plot, and it kept my eyes glued to the page (er... screen). I finished this one over the course of a single day, anxious to see what would happen next. I enjoyed reading the story, and cared about Anna, hoping that all would end well for her, despite the crazy circumstances she found thrust upon her life.
As I reflect upon the story as a whole, however, there were a few things I found wanting. Anna's decision to leave Ray happens immediately, so there was no opportunity for the reader to want this to happen. We're told Ray isn't a good guy, and there are examples of this given later on in the story, but I think I would have preferred to figure this out for myself—perhaps in a brief chapter or two that took place in the early years of the marriage—rather than being plunged into the midst of her decision in the opening chapter of the novel. I wanted to cheer her on for being courageous enough to leave... but I knew absolutely nothing about her marriage, so I wasn't sure if I should be happy for her or not.
I often wished the characters had been fleshed out a bit more, as so little is known about many of them. Particularly Ray, since he is the root cause for much of what happens in this book. The story revolves around two particular characters, but even with them, I found myself wishing I knew more about them—by what I was shown, not told. Several of the characters felt like window-dressing, and had very little impact on the story as a whole.
Many novels drop you right into the action, without giving the reader a chance to get to know the characters, and—depending on the story in question—can work well. I think 34 Days, on the other hand, would have benefited a great deal by doing the opposite. I would have felt infinitely more connected to Anna and other characters if I'd had time to get to know them prior to the main events being kicked off.
Don't get me wrong: I did enjoy reading this novel. I thought the premise was very good, and was excited to see what happened. There were a couple of explosive twists at the end that I loved, because they were so surprising. But I can't help but regret not being able to truly connect with Anna on such a level as to deeply care what happened to her—to be rocked to the core when something didn't go well for her. Even though I cared, it wasn't to that degree.
I definitely had a mixed reaction to this book, but I'm glad I read it.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bloodhound Books via Netgalley.
The morning of their 35th anniversary, Anna left her husband, Ray, who is an abusive, controlling man. Days later, she is stunned when someone close to her confides a shocking secret about Ray. Anna finds herself swept away by a force she can't control, knowing it will change the lives of everyone she loves, but is utterly powerless to prevent what's coming.
34 Days has a swiftly moving plot, and it kept my eyes glued to the page (er... screen). I finished this one over the course of a single day, anxious to see what would happen next. I enjoyed reading the story, and cared about Anna, hoping that all would end well for her, despite the crazy circumstances she found thrust upon her life.
As I reflect upon the story as a whole, however, there were a few things I found wanting. Anna's decision to leave Ray happens immediately, so there was no opportunity for the reader to want this to happen. We're told Ray isn't a good guy, and there are examples of this given later on in the story, but I think I would have preferred to figure this out for myself—perhaps in a brief chapter or two that took place in the early years of the marriage—rather than being plunged into the midst of her decision in the opening chapter of the novel. I wanted to cheer her on for being courageous enough to leave... but I knew absolutely nothing about her marriage, so I wasn't sure if I should be happy for her or not.
I often wished the characters had been fleshed out a bit more, as so little is known about many of them. Particularly Ray, since he is the root cause for much of what happens in this book. The story revolves around two particular characters, but even with them, I found myself wishing I knew more about them—by what I was shown, not told. Several of the characters felt like window-dressing, and had very little impact on the story as a whole.
Many novels drop you right into the action, without giving the reader a chance to get to know the characters, and—depending on the story in question—can work well. I think 34 Days, on the other hand, would have benefited a great deal by doing the opposite. I would have felt infinitely more connected to Anna and other characters if I'd had time to get to know them prior to the main events being kicked off.
Don't get me wrong: I did enjoy reading this novel. I thought the premise was very good, and was excited to see what happened. There were a couple of explosive twists at the end that I loved, because they were so surprising. But I can't help but regret not being able to truly connect with Anna on such a level as to deeply care what happened to her—to be rocked to the core when something didn't go well for her. Even though I cared, it wasn't to that degree.
I definitely had a mixed reaction to this book, but I'm glad I read it.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bloodhound Books via Netgalley.
June 20, 2022
Anna succeeds in escaping from her abusive husband on their 35th anniversary and among 34 days, her life changes forever that made her rethink if she was right in doing what she want or not.
I liked the short and fast paced chapters also I liked how it ended
I liked the short and fast paced chapters also I liked how it ended
October 30, 2016
Keep looking
This was poorly written. The story could have been completed in half the pages. Not worth the time to read it. Very disappointing.
This was poorly written. The story could have been completed in half the pages. Not worth the time to read it. Very disappointing.
October 3, 2016
Anna is such a lovely character. She’s not had a happy marriage but has put up with her husband for the sake of her children. As the youngest is now nineteen, Anna feels it’s finally time to leave the nest and start living her life for herself.
I’m not sure if Anna knew what a can of worms she was opening by leaving home that she would actually have gone through with it. Even though she is happier than she has ever been, leaving her husband has quite a dramatic knock on effect that threatens to rip apart her family.
I have to admit to being slightly envious of Anna’s new life, set up in a wonderful apartment in Sheffield, with a balcony and great views to look out onto. To not have to answer to anyone and having the freedom to do what she wants. Even though she will do anything for her children and is always there for them, she is loving her new found independence and luckily money is something she doesn’t need to worry about, as you will see with the endless amounts of shopping, like I said, who wouldn’t be envious?
I can’t really say much more about the story itself without probably giving spoilers away so I won’t, all I will say is that 34 Days is a very disturbing read that left me chilled to the bone. Without a doubt it is a gripping read and a total page turner. A great read for fans of psychological thrillers.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not sure if Anna knew what a can of worms she was opening by leaving home that she would actually have gone through with it. Even though she is happier than she has ever been, leaving her husband has quite a dramatic knock on effect that threatens to rip apart her family.
I have to admit to being slightly envious of Anna’s new life, set up in a wonderful apartment in Sheffield, with a balcony and great views to look out onto. To not have to answer to anyone and having the freedom to do what she wants. Even though she will do anything for her children and is always there for them, she is loving her new found independence and luckily money is something she doesn’t need to worry about, as you will see with the endless amounts of shopping, like I said, who wouldn’t be envious?
I can’t really say much more about the story itself without probably giving spoilers away so I won’t, all I will say is that 34 Days is a very disturbing read that left me chilled to the bone. Without a doubt it is a gripping read and a total page turner. A great read for fans of psychological thrillers.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2016
*** 3.5 "You Don't Know Him" Stars ***
Review to come....
Review to come....
November 6, 2016
I actually read the reviews for this book before writing MY review, and I'm rather glad I did, because my inner bitch is just getting warmed up...
If you've read the book, you'll know that Anna decides to leave her abusive husband the morning of their 35th anniversary. For the reviewer who asked WHY an abused woman would wait so long, please feel free to come to my door asking for help when you (obviously an empowered woman) find yourself unexpectedly beat to a pulp by your partner, so that I may ask you what you did to deserve it, and slam the fucking door in your face. You probably did something major, like put the forks in the dishwasher upside down...
For those of you complaining that the book was "too long," please just give up reading completely and wait for the movie to come out. In the meantime, drink some bleach or something that will ensure sterility. You know, there's a website called "Rotten Tomatoes." I think you took a wrong turn on the internet.
Finally, regarding the actual book, Jenny comes up with a pretty clever plan. The only thing I would've done differently would've been to substitute paper and envelopes only touched by Anna (very easy to have her do, as she had her own printer, old people shed dry skin like dander, and Jenny had initial access to the apartment and safe) so that the letters implicated only Anna. Jenny's paranoia was her own downfall.
Don't get me wrong--Ray deserved to be fertilizer years ago, but the moral of this story is that group projects never work because there's always a slacker in the group who cuts corners (or in Anna's case, starts to get all flakey over some guy).
Disclaimer: I do not condone the murder of innocent dogs.
If you've read the book, you'll know that Anna decides to leave her abusive husband the morning of their 35th anniversary. For the reviewer who asked WHY an abused woman would wait so long, please feel free to come to my door asking for help when you (obviously an empowered woman) find yourself unexpectedly beat to a pulp by your partner, so that I may ask you what you did to deserve it, and slam the fucking door in your face. You probably did something major, like put the forks in the dishwasher upside down...
For those of you complaining that the book was "too long," please just give up reading completely and wait for the movie to come out. In the meantime, drink some bleach or something that will ensure sterility. You know, there's a website called "Rotten Tomatoes." I think you took a wrong turn on the internet.
Finally, regarding the actual book, Jenny comes up with a pretty clever plan. The only thing I would've done differently would've been to substitute paper and envelopes only touched by Anna (very easy to have her do, as she had her own printer, old people shed dry skin like dander, and Jenny had initial access to the apartment and safe) so that the letters implicated only Anna. Jenny's paranoia was her own downfall.
Don't get me wrong--Ray deserved to be fertilizer years ago, but the moral of this story is that group projects never work because there's always a slacker in the group who cuts corners (or in Anna's case, starts to get all flakey over some guy).
Disclaimer: I do not condone the murder of innocent dogs.
October 22, 2017
This is one of those books that makes you think it's going in one direction, and then veers off on another at a very speedy pace. I really like Anita's writing style and how the plot delivers a number of 'I didn't see that coming' moments. Characters Anna and Jenny were both interesting characters and had personalities that worked together through the story - although they have very different opinions on the situation they find themselves in.
An excellent suspense filled read, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Strategy.
An excellent suspense filled read, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Strategy.
July 13, 2023
I thought this book was excellent. My stomach was in knots with the moral dilemma but was in knots not reading it, needed to know what happens. We chose this for book club and can't wait to see what the others thought.
May 26, 2018


Member Review

34 Days
by Anita Waller
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2017
Review by

Lisa C, Reviewer
Last updated on 25 May 2018
I Recommend This Book
Yes
Anna is in a violent marriage. Seeing her anniversary cards is enough for her to leave him. But her daughter-in-law, Jenny comes to her with a story of being raped by her husband, Ray. This happened before she married Mark. Jenny now had a plan to kill Ray. The family all know how he treats Anna. So begins this story. A story that keeps you on the edge!

Member Review

34 Days
by Anita Waller
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2017
Review by

Lisa C, Reviewer
Last updated on 25 May 2018
I Recommend This Book
Yes
Anna is in a violent marriage. Seeing her anniversary cards is enough for her to leave him. But her daughter-in-law, Jenny comes to her with a story of being raped by her husband, Ray. This happened before she married Mark. Jenny now had a plan to kill Ray. The family all know how he treats Anna. So begins this story. A story that keeps you on the edge!
July 12, 2018
I really really loved this book! I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read it!
Was the story far fetched? YES
Was it hard to trust the characters? YES
Were there moments of “ummm did that just happen? YES
Twists? YES
This book was everything I look for in a Psychological thriller. It was a huge page turner for me.
Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and the author for my free copy.
5 creepy scandalous ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‘s!!!!
Was the story far fetched? YES
Was it hard to trust the characters? YES
Were there moments of “ummm did that just happen? YES
Twists? YES
This book was everything I look for in a Psychological thriller. It was a huge page turner for me.
Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and the author for my free copy.
5 creepy scandalous ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‘s!!!!
April 6, 2019
3.75 but would have been 5 without the last chapter before the epilogue
November 3, 2016
First I want to say, that last year when I accidentally came across this excellent, thriller called “Beautiful”. I was shocked and amazed that the author, Anita Waller had just started her writing career at age 70. Which showed me it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams. Then she followed that book up with the very successful sequel “Angel”.
Now we have “34 Days”, another riveting, psychological thriller by author, Anita Waller that I couldn’t put down. Plus, looking at that unique cover art, just speaks volumes of the storyline. The Dandelion once bloomed turns into very, light seed filaments. Once called Blow Away & Make Wish, in a single second “poof” all is gone. That’s how I watched the main character of the book, Anna Carbrook’s life, slowly go from wishful happiness to intense horror. The author showed an excellent depiction of domestic, physical abuse and violence. Plus, how certain situations makes one stay for 35 years in a relationship. Anna had made her decision years ago, letting herself be the punching bag for the safety of her children… Ray’s temper with the three children were always taken out on Anna, so she stayed to keep them from danger.. Once they were all grown, she made her escape to start a new. Now she is off the grid, completely safe and even found love again. But in a single instant, that wind will blow in the wrong direction and evil seeds are planted.
Now numbered days over the chapters, are counting down to the unspeakable events. Once it’s completed, it cannot be undone. Now everyone is keeping terrifying secrets afraid they may be revealed. Anna going along with daughter-in-law, Jenny’s actions may have dire consequences. Mid-way in the book you already know, but the rest don’t.
The final tragic ending, leads to seals that are broken and a bloodcurdling scream that sent chills down my spine. Then it fades to black. Yes, a cool effect added by having the next kindle page blank, thinking it’s finally over. Yet, don’t forget to flip to the epilogue, for someone is hiding in the shadows.
By robinleehorrorbookreviews.com
Now we have “34 Days”, another riveting, psychological thriller by author, Anita Waller that I couldn’t put down. Plus, looking at that unique cover art, just speaks volumes of the storyline. The Dandelion once bloomed turns into very, light seed filaments. Once called Blow Away & Make Wish, in a single second “poof” all is gone. That’s how I watched the main character of the book, Anna Carbrook’s life, slowly go from wishful happiness to intense horror. The author showed an excellent depiction of domestic, physical abuse and violence. Plus, how certain situations makes one stay for 35 years in a relationship. Anna had made her decision years ago, letting herself be the punching bag for the safety of her children… Ray’s temper with the three children were always taken out on Anna, so she stayed to keep them from danger.. Once they were all grown, she made her escape to start a new. Now she is off the grid, completely safe and even found love again. But in a single instant, that wind will blow in the wrong direction and evil seeds are planted.
Now numbered days over the chapters, are counting down to the unspeakable events. Once it’s completed, it cannot be undone. Now everyone is keeping terrifying secrets afraid they may be revealed. Anna going along with daughter-in-law, Jenny’s actions may have dire consequences. Mid-way in the book you already know, but the rest don’t.
The final tragic ending, leads to seals that are broken and a bloodcurdling scream that sent chills down my spine. Then it fades to black. Yes, a cool effect added by having the next kindle page blank, thinking it’s finally over. Yet, don’t forget to flip to the epilogue, for someone is hiding in the shadows.
By robinleehorrorbookreviews.com
April 28, 2023
It was a good read, got boring to a point though that I started skimming through the chapters.
The ending could've been better? I guess.
The ending could've been better? I guess.
November 4, 2016
Anna decides after decades in an abusive marriage to leave her abusive husband. She finds freedom quickly in a new place and wants to begin a new life. Then her daughter in law whom she hadn't had a close relationship in many years decides they need to talk and that is when 34 days takes off.
I thought the premise to the book was interesting and the first 34 days was a whirl wind but after that the book kind of fell flat and could have been condensed into a much shorter read. I mean I could have made a drinking game out of how many times these people had tea and biscuits. (Oh take a shot, someone had a tea). There were just details about the days that weren't necessary or even vital to the story.
The ending when it finally came felt then rushed like the author knew it was way too long and had to hurry up and end it. I was very disappointed in the ending as again it not only fell flat but didn't seem even believable. (I don't want to add any spoilers).
So overall I give this 3 stars.
I thought the premise to the book was interesting and the first 34 days was a whirl wind but after that the book kind of fell flat and could have been condensed into a much shorter read. I mean I could have made a drinking game out of how many times these people had tea and biscuits. (Oh take a shot, someone had a tea). There were just details about the days that weren't necessary or even vital to the story.
The ending when it finally came felt then rushed like the author knew it was way too long and had to hurry up and end it. I was very disappointed in the ending as again it not only fell flat but didn't seem even believable. (I don't want to add any spoilers).
So overall I give this 3 stars.
August 16, 2017
The beginning was great how it all unfolded and was an unusual story line, then the middle seemed to plod along, then the ending was a bit rushed. overall I enjoyed the story but felt the time line should have been moved a long more smoothly
August 9, 2017
The day of Anna’s 35th wedding Anniversary is certainly something to celebrate. Today is the end of a reign of terror from her abusive husband Ray. This is Day 1 for Anna, the day she will slip away after all the cards from family have been opened and read. She knows that she must go into hiding even from her now grown up children, because if she could get beatings from Ray for the no reason at all, he would kill her for leaving him!
Financially secure, Anna soon finds the perfect retreat for herself and as the days go by she gains confidence and courage. She has established phone calls with her children, where she discovers they knew more than she thought but what could they have done? Ray of course demands her return.
What a fabulous story this is that just held surprise after surprise on every page. I was simply blown away. Anna’s leaving Ray was a trigger for another family member to go into melt down that would impact everyone a million times more. 34 days from Anna leaving that is all the time it takes. I was stunned. I was shocked. I was in psychological thriller readers heaven.
How damaged can one person be? because whoa this soon becomes pretty gripping and shocking in equal measures and at moments incredibly sad with the collateral damage that is attached to it. Anita Waller’s novel is truly a jaw dropping read but it doesn’t finish here. There is a follow on book to this. Strategy. This is a very highly recommended read.
Financially secure, Anna soon finds the perfect retreat for herself and as the days go by she gains confidence and courage. She has established phone calls with her children, where she discovers they knew more than she thought but what could they have done? Ray of course demands her return.
What a fabulous story this is that just held surprise after surprise on every page. I was simply blown away. Anna’s leaving Ray was a trigger for another family member to go into melt down that would impact everyone a million times more. 34 days from Anna leaving that is all the time it takes. I was stunned. I was shocked. I was in psychological thriller readers heaven.
How damaged can one person be? because whoa this soon becomes pretty gripping and shocking in equal measures and at moments incredibly sad with the collateral damage that is attached to it. Anita Waller’s novel is truly a jaw dropping read but it doesn’t finish here. There is a follow on book to this. Strategy. This is a very highly recommended read.
October 23, 2024
This was crazy and this family is a dysfunctional disaster. I had a good time reading this, watching everything unfold and fall apart and the storyline get crazier and crazier. The last couple pages toward the end were fantastic and I gasped out loud. This was a quick, thrilling read.
March 29, 2024
Was a really good book. Just not sure that I really liked the ending!
October 5, 2016
I received 34 Days from Bloodhound Books in exchange for my honest opinion.
I love this author, first, we had Beautiful followed by Angel, now 34 Days. I couldn't put the book down, I loved Anna's character and when she escaped her abusive marriage I just wanted her to be happy.
This thriller was brilliant, keeping me wanting to finish just to see what will happen although I didn't want to finish. I so wanted Anna to have the happy ending that she deserved.
I am so excited to see what Anita will come up with next, she is definitely one of my favourite authors. I so recommend you buy this book and see for yourself.
I love this author, first, we had Beautiful followed by Angel, now 34 Days. I couldn't put the book down, I loved Anna's character and when she escaped her abusive marriage I just wanted her to be happy.
This thriller was brilliant, keeping me wanting to finish just to see what will happen although I didn't want to finish. I so wanted Anna to have the happy ending that she deserved.
I am so excited to see what Anita will come up with next, she is definitely one of my favourite authors. I so recommend you buy this book and see for yourself.
November 2, 2016
35 years?
Anna finally decides to leave her brute of a husband on their 35th anniversary. Thirty-five years of getting her ass beat? Who would take 35 years of beatings? But I digress.
Anna's leaving sets into motion a number of things, one of which results in the death of her husband. Anna may be a lovely woman, but not too bright, as it seems keeping secrets that she shouldn't have, that most people wouldn't have, lead to some awful consequences for her. And then there's her totally psycho daughter-in-law.
Not a bad read, just not that much of a "thriller" either. Too much time when not much of anything interesting happens. Also a major plot contrivance that I can't imagine anyone actually doing.
Anna finally decides to leave her brute of a husband on their 35th anniversary. Thirty-five years of getting her ass beat? Who would take 35 years of beatings? But I digress.
Anna's leaving sets into motion a number of things, one of which results in the death of her husband. Anna may be a lovely woman, but not too bright, as it seems keeping secrets that she shouldn't have, that most people wouldn't have, lead to some awful consequences for her. And then there's her totally psycho daughter-in-law.
Not a bad read, just not that much of a "thriller" either. Too much time when not much of anything interesting happens. Also a major plot contrivance that I can't imagine anyone actually doing.
November 5, 2016
A brilliant idea and story, but horribly written. It was a huge effort to force myself through it to discover the supposed twist...rather disappointing ending as it felt the author had hit her word quota and needed to wrap things up.
September 12, 2017
Apparently books about domestic violence are on trend. I have come across quite a few in the past couple years.
34 Days is very distasteful. Maybe the author thought domestic violence alone wasn't depressing enough, because she decided to throw in everything she could to make sure the book was impossibly foul.
Anna was quite pathetic, there isn't much else to be said on that end. She sat around for three decades letting some loser beat her and control her every move. I would have been a bit more understanding had Anna been poor, or if she really loved the loser, or if she'd had nowhere else to turn.
It is extremely hard for me to understand why women stay so their children can have a two-parent household. A two-parent household means nothing if it is toxic.
I grew up in a two-parent household and sincerely wish I hadn't. I'd have been better off with just my amazing mother raising me, instead of having a creep around who contributed nothing but gloom to the home. My mother stayed because she was afraid it would come down to someone dying in order for us all to be set free.
I didn't feel any of that was the case for Anna. It was all about being unable to leave because of the kids, but by the time the kids were 34 and 19 she was still sitting there being bullied, until she was finally ready to make her move.
I wanted Anna to have a chance to thrive once she was away from the abuse, but that never happened, if anything she was even more frightened and pathetic.
There is no way to talk about the actions of another character without giving crucial details of the story away, so I won't bother. I'll just say that this book includes the vicious murder of a dog and innocent people. It's a nasty little story.
34 Days is very distasteful. Maybe the author thought domestic violence alone wasn't depressing enough, because she decided to throw in everything she could to make sure the book was impossibly foul.
Anna was quite pathetic, there isn't much else to be said on that end. She sat around for three decades letting some loser beat her and control her every move. I would have been a bit more understanding had Anna been poor, or if she really loved the loser, or if she'd had nowhere else to turn.
It is extremely hard for me to understand why women stay so their children can have a two-parent household. A two-parent household means nothing if it is toxic.
I grew up in a two-parent household and sincerely wish I hadn't. I'd have been better off with just my amazing mother raising me, instead of having a creep around who contributed nothing but gloom to the home. My mother stayed because she was afraid it would come down to someone dying in order for us all to be set free.
I didn't feel any of that was the case for Anna. It was all about being unable to leave because of the kids, but by the time the kids were 34 and 19 she was still sitting there being bullied, until she was finally ready to make her move.
I wanted Anna to have a chance to thrive once she was away from the abuse, but that never happened, if anything she was even more frightened and pathetic.
There is no way to talk about the actions of another character without giving crucial details of the story away, so I won't bother. I'll just say that this book includes the vicious murder of a dog and innocent people. It's a nasty little story.
April 17, 2020
Anna is in an unhappy marriage. Ray is not a kind person, and now that her children are grown up she decides to take back control of her life. On the day of her 35th wedding anniversary, she packs her bags and leaves her home and Lincoln for good. Ray is furious but believes she will go back to him after a few days but, as she finds herself a modern apartment in a new town, she starts to feel safe and joyously elated. Then Jenny, her daughter-in-law, drops two bombshells which rocks Anna to her core.
This is a serial killer thriller like no other. I've never before read such an impacting and unique storyline – family secrets past and present, murder to hide murder – and I rushed through the book needing to know whether Anna and Jenny's secret, their lives, were safe.
Anita Waller is a fabulous writer. She creates friendly, believable characters and puts them in monstrous situations. This is the first of her books I've read, but now I've discovered her I have several earmarked for the top of my reading mountain.
This is a serial killer thriller like no other. I've never before read such an impacting and unique storyline – family secrets past and present, murder to hide murder – and I rushed through the book needing to know whether Anna and Jenny's secret, their lives, were safe.
Anita Waller is a fabulous writer. She creates friendly, believable characters and puts them in monstrous situations. This is the first of her books I've read, but now I've discovered her I have several earmarked for the top of my reading mountain.
June 27, 2017
An interesting sounding enough premise for a novel, but let down by poor writing and an entirely one dimensional cast. By large I generally agree with the masses with regard to book ratings, but this was one exception; I felt disappointed in the books progress and the authors ability to build tension and suspense.
The lead character, Anna, seems pleasant enough but there is no fire in her belly, nothing to make her interesting or for the reader to want to get to know her better. She's past middle aged and quite frankly, a rather bland stereotype of that generation. The rest of the family aren't much better and as the book developed the storyline become more and more ridiculous.
A psychological thriller this is not.
The lead character, Anna, seems pleasant enough but there is no fire in her belly, nothing to make her interesting or for the reader to want to get to know her better. She's past middle aged and quite frankly, a rather bland stereotype of that generation. The rest of the family aren't much better and as the book developed the storyline become more and more ridiculous.
A psychological thriller this is not.
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