Paradise Prison

by Faith Mortimer

During a huge row, Gillian stands up to her abusive boyfriend. The consequences are horrendous and far-reaching.
Terrified, she flees her home, seeking anonymity abroad while coming to terms with the outcome of her actions.
In Portugal, Gillian meets Harry, a yachtsman, needing crew for his Atlantic Ocean-crossing. She applies for the job. Half-way into the journey, after confessing to her crime, Harry offers her refuge on an uninhabited island in the Caribbean which he says he owns.
Confused and depressed, Gillian imagines this is the answer to her problems. She needs time to lie low and consider her options; confront the authorities or live in obscurity? Harry is offering the perfect hiding place…or is he?
When things start going horribly wrong, she asks herself if she is alone on the island. But maybe the biggest question of all is why she gets the gut feeling Harry wants to keep her there at all costs?
What happens when she says … no?

Genres: Thriller, Suspense

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2016

About the author

Faith Mortimer was born in Manchester and educated in Singapore, Malaya and Hampshire, England. A Registered nurse,then changed careers to oversee a number of travel and sport related companies. Faith is happily married and has two children. She lives in the south of England and so far, has written three series of books which are also, all standalone novels.

ALL BOOKS ARE PUBLISHED IN PAPERBACK & EBOOK FORM:

NEW! PARADISE PRISON published 7th Jan 2017 #4th book in The Dark Minds Psychological Thriller Series http://amzn.to/2gD2u8G

A VERY DISTANT AFFAIR #5 book in the Very Affair series (all standalone). Set in England and Australia. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Very-Distant...

THE GREEN ROOM #3rd book in The Dark Mind Psychological Thriller Series. Is NOW published!! Set in England http://amzn.to/1N1t7rO

THE ASSASSINS' VILLAGE,#1 Diana Rivers Series Murder mystery set in Cyprus. This novel was chosen by Harper Collins/Authonomy to be the Number 1 book. ttp://amzn.to/1DJ0s8r

CHILDREN OF THE PLANTATION,#2 Diana Rivers Series, murder mystery, set in Malaysia during the 1950s & the present. http://amzn.to/1AX0NVA

THE SURGEON'S BLADE,#3 Diana Rivers Series A tense psychological thriller set in England. http://amzn.to/1IAgrX8

THE BAMBOO MIRROR. An eclectic collection of short stories, covering ghosts, murder, mystery, romance and greed. http://amzn.to/1xOEeB1

THE SEEDS OF TIME BOOK 1 THE CROSSING. Set in Europe. Romance/Drama/Action. http://amzn.to/1AFLC43

HARVEST BOOK 2 THE CROSSING. Set in Europe. Romance/Drama/Action http://amzn.to/1shmqhs

CAMERA ACTION...MURDER! #4 Diana Rivers Series Mystery/suspense. Set in England. http://amzn.to/1tVdq2y

A VERY FRENCH AFFAIR,Edgy romantic drama.Set on the south coast of France. http://amzn.to/17taQH1

CHILDHUNT #5 Diana Rivers Series. Psychological Suspense Thriller, set in Cyprus. http://amzn.to/1AX02Mg

ON DEVIL'S BRAE #1 in the Dark Minds Series, set in Scotland: Psychological Suspense Thriller http://amzn.to/14FJqMY

ON CHRISTMAS HILL A Seasonal Romance in The Very Affair Series, set in England. http://amzn.to/1y2LJn0

A DEADLY LEARNING,The 6th #Diana Rivers Mystery suspense, set in Portugal. http://amzn.to/1y0q6GU

A VERY ENGLISH AFFAIR - Edgy romantic drama, set in England. http://amzn.to/14FJfRQ

BEHIND A TWISTED SMILE - #2 Dark Minds Psychological Thriller, set in England. http://amzn.to/1AWYEcy

NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS - Edgy romantic drama in The Very Affair Series, set in England. http://amzn.to/1y2Lpog

THE GREEN ROOM #3rd book in The Dark Minds Psychological Thriller Series. Set in England http://amzn.to/1N1t7rO

A VERY DISTANT AFFAIR Taut romantic drama, set in England and Australia. http://amzn.to/2hqySYN

NEW! PARADISE PRISON published 7th Jan 2017 #4th book in The Dark Minds Psychological Thriller Series http://amzn.to/2gD2u8G

I'm always glad to talk to readers & answer questions...contact me:

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Reviews

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradise Prison was a thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller that I found hard to put down.

At first I wasn’t quite sure where it was going, but once it got there, I was glued to my Kindle screen needing to know what was going to happen. I had various ideas of how this story was going to end, and although I guessed some of it, I definitely didn’t expect quite the ending that I was finally faced with.

I found Gillian's whole experience of life, past and present, rather emotional and at times somewhat horrifying. This story made me feel trapped and claustrophobic, yet at the same time, completely exposed to the world. Loneliness really can be truly terrifying!

I have a fear of oceans and what might be viewed as a slightly irrational fear of sharks. The kind of fear where I’m convinced a shark will get me if I’m left in a four foot deep swimming pool on my own. Because of this, I probably found this story more psychologically disturbing than some other readers would, but overall it was a great plot that had me emotionally involved and repeatedly trying to guess the outcome. Having finished it this morning, I can still feel the tension that built up within me, especially during the latter part of the book.

Moving away from my fear of sharks, there were aspects of this book that reminded me of my love of the book Robinson Crusoe and the film Cast Away. So despite being a psychological thriller, this actually filled me with quite positive thoughts at the same time. I kept half expecting Wilson the ball bloke from Cast Away to make an appearance, especially as I met him at a barbeque in Cornwall last summer. No wonder my emotions were all over the place.

Although Paradise Prison is the fourth book in the Dark Minds series, this is a standalone story. I’ve not read any of the other books in this series yet, but definitely hope to at some point in the future.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith is a great author, she really knows how to pull the reader in and keep you well entertained until the very end of a book. Paradise Prison was no exception to this. I went into reading this book with much gusto!

The book has so many positives going for it - the plot is really enjoyable and very different from anything else that I have read this year, I do like a bit of originality! Right from the beginning there are dark elements weaved into the story and that keeps up throughout the whole book, there are a lot of really suspenseful moments. I liked that I was unsure where the story was going and by the time the book was finished did NOT expect it to end the way it did - the element of surprise was great.



The characters are well-written and so easy to picture and connect with, both the goodies and the baddies! You may find like myself you get mixed feelings about the characters as the book evolves. The characters are imperfect, flawed and damaged and I absolutely loved that element to this novel. It made it really edgy and exciting, things were unpredictable.

By the time the book has hit it's peak with the plot (no spoilers) I was just quite stunned, I didn't see that coming and my heart was pumping fast through a lot of scenes. Then for a little bit of the book (and this is my only small negative) I felt it slowed down a little bit too much and was a touch repetitive on content, but it's really for good reason, it's part of the story. It just went out-of-sync for a while there for me but it wasn't long before the pace and plot really revved up again.



I found this to be a really enjoyable and easy book to read, simply as I was truly enjoying it so lost in the fictional world that Faith created with this book. I liked how dark the book gets towards the end and thought it was a very fitting finale. This is a book that fans of thrillers and psychological thrillers will get a real buzz out of. 4.5 stars from me for Paradise Prison!

I received an advance copy of this book direct from the author. All review opinions are my own and my review is completely unbiased.

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[Susan Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good psychological thriller! Gillian wants to disappear after tragic and unfortunate events occur with her best friend. Nathan and her abusive boyfriend, Laurence.She fleas to Europe and manages to get a passage as a crew member and cook, to the Carribean. With skipper Harry and his journalist friend Theo, Gillian's journey to Paradise begins. Once I picked this book up It was hard to put it down. Gillian's journey is not all plain sailing! A great read fraught with tension,intrigue and suspense from start to finish.
My thanks to the author for an ARC . This is my honest opinion.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of books and the majority of the time you get a real feel for the way a book is going. I also find that sometimes if I read too much of the same type of story, you attention wanders so having finished a decidedly fluffy and romantic book I decided to get stuck into this book which is the first of Faith Mortimer's I have read. When I started reading I thought I knew where the book would go, however not only was I hugely incorrect in my assumption I was kind of blown away with where it did go. I won't say too much as I don't want to spoil it for anybody reading it for the first time as I was.

Gillian is our lead character and in the opening of the book we see how terrified Gillian is whilst in an extremely abusive relationship. When Gillian stands up to her boyfriend, she has no clue just how much she has changed the course of her life and she then decides to do the only thing she can...run! While in Portugal she meets Harry, who is a Yachtsman needing crew hands. Gillian manages to bag herself the ideal job and once aboard her and Harry get along famously. He then offers her the opportunity to spend time at an island in the Caribbean and it seems to be the answer to her prayers.

The book held my interest from the very beginning and the most striking thing was how original it was reading it. Partly down to great timing and having not read anything of this type for a while, as well as excellent writing skills and characters that were certainly memorable. Gillian was such an interesting character to read about and I think that was part of my real intrigue with this book as she was written in such a way that she was so readable. She has had some seriously damaging incidents in her past and I was rooting for her, with that added edge of wondering what sort of life she will end up leading.

There is a VERY dark edge to this book and I think although that edge was there from the beginning it crept up on me and as the book progressed I was pretty gripped. I felt like I was watching a film where you know the main character shouldn't be going into a dark basement, especially when they start playing the music to accompany something terrifying happen. However, even though you have that sinking feeling you just HAVE to carry on watching, and this book manages to capture that feeling to a tee! This book really took me by surprise and I really loved it, and I would definitely recommend it for people wanting something a little bit different. I wouldn't say its for the faint-hearted mind you, but it's a cracking read!

I only have one minor criticism about this book and it's the cover. The cover is not good enough to convey how great the book is. Even though we are in an age where everything is digital I still think covers are a huge part in books, and think that with a different cover it may well appeal to more readers.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something really special about being looked after and cared for. Someone being attentive to your every need, asking where you are going and who you are going to meet. Telling you that they only need you and know you only need them, but one day it dawns. This isn't love this is complete control. This has become Gillian's life with her boyfriend and breaking his rules have to be punished. She has suffered the beatings that were always explained away but it is the continual beating of her mental state  that is the problem as it has become so horrendously  damaged. The ability to think rationally to make choices herself and see that she isn't useless and that people would take notice of her. She knows that she must get away but how? After a secret 10 minute coffee break with an old friend is discovered disaster strikes  and Gill has no choice now but to leave straight away. No one would ever believe her, not her side of what had happened.  This is all her fault.
Although heading to Portugal and keeping low for a month has helped she is still aware that dribs and drabs of the incident are still coming through in the English newspapers and she is wanted by the police, so after applying for a position on a yacht pays off Gill sets sail with the older but charming Harry towards the Caribbean. Things are looking up.
What a cracking story this is. Faith Mortimer, of course, is no stranger to delivering riveting psychological thrillers and she has certainly continued to do just that with this book. There was no, I know lets get to get know the characters chapters, definitely not! This was open the book and bang you are up to your neck in it and you can feel the panic. The having your legs swept from under you feeling and while your mind is making sense of what has just happened decisions have been made and you have left thinking no, no, no, don't do this. I loved the fact that I had no second guessing with what was going to happen next I was literally just living the moment as it happened. No time to think about what could happen.
The story is told through both Gill and Harry, how they both see things and as the story evolves more of both their past lives is revealed. This is a really brilliant novel that kept me completed engrossed. Loved the vivid descriptions of the journey and Island. Highly recommended.
I wish to thank the author for a review copy of this novel which I have chosen to review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradise Prison is the fourth book in the Dark Minds series. All books in the series are stand alone’s so don’t fret if you haven’t had the pleasure yet of reading the others. No doubt you will want to though after reading this one!

Gill is scared that she will be sent to prison after an horrendous incident in her own home. Fleeing the country she finds herself in Portugal where she meets Harry. Having no passport her safest bet is to travel by boat which Harry just happens to have.

Harry can see Gill is running away from something and he is intrigued by her and decides to give her a chance working on board his yacht.

I felt quite sorry for Gill, she hasn’t had the best of times and running away from things certainly is never a good idea and one that I believe she soon starts to regret. She likes Harry and feels safe on his boat and when he comes up with the idea of her hiding out on a small secluded island that he owns, she jumps at the chance.

Sadly Harry is not the saviour that she first thought. There are things lurking in his past that have made him mistrust women and want to control them. Poor Gill soon starts to see the type of man he really is and it certainly isn’t very pleasant.

Gill seems to go from one disaster to another. To start with I have to say I found her character quite frustrating as there didn’t seem to be much fight in her but as the story goes on and we find out more about her, I started to realise that a lot of what she has been through has left her quite dormant. It certainly made me more disgusted at the injustice of what she was going through.

Harry to start with I thought was going to be this really nice person but having read the rest of the Dark Minds series I should have known better. The author always manages to keep something up her sleeve that keeps you guessing as well as surprising you.

Paradise Prison is a story that is set on what sounds like a lovely little hideaway. This is one destination though that you would certainly not want to find yourself on! Full of suspense, this is one book you will struggle to put down once you have picked up. The author had me guessing throughout as to how everything was going to end and she certainly didn���t disappoint. Another great book in the series.

My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Joseph - Relax And Read Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradise turns into hell in Faith Mortimer's latest addition to her 'Dark Minds' series. 'Paradise Prison' is a brilliant psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish.

"It was the perfect place to hide for a while."

After a serious incident at home, Gill is desperate to flee from the UK and from the eye of the law. She travels down to Portugal where she meets a wealthy yachtsman named Harry. He offers her the perfect solution to her problem: to travel with him on his yacht across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Gill can't believe her luck. She trusts Harry as she sees in him a father figure and off she goes with him to start her new life away from everything she's left behind.

"Who was this man? Her saviour?"

Once on the yacht, Harry tells her that he owns a small island where she could live in hiding for as long as she wishes. But after agreeing to go there, Harry's true controlling character slowly starts to show. He's involved in some dodgy dealings around the Caribbean and soon Gill begins to wonder whether she's made the worst mistake of her life. How much can she really trust him?

Upon arrival on the island, Harry leaves Gill alone in his desolate cottage. At first she's quite happy there exploring the beautiful island, but she soon understands Harry's true intention. On this tiny island, with no way of calling for help, she's become nothing more than another of Harry's possessions, to do with as he liked. She's completely at his mercy. How can she ever escape this manipulative, devious monster?

Okay I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the setting of the story - first between sea and sky on Harry's yacht - it's evident that the author is familiar with and very knowledgeable about boats and seafaring. And then I loved the exotic island's setting which I found so original. Most thrillers are set either in the UK with its bleak dark weather or in the US. Faith's colourful, vivid descriptions took me to a place I've never been to before. Through Gill's eyes, I could very clearly visualise this beautiful place, with its golden sandy beaches, palm fronds swaying in the wind and the clear blue, menacing seas.

The book is very well written and its plot is exactly as I like them - intriguing and suspenseful, but not too complex. There are just a handful of characters mentioned and most of the story revolves around Gill and Harry.

All characters are well portrayed and realistic. Gill is quite an unlucky woman who has been abused and controlled all her life, but that's probably because she's too naive, gullible and trustful for her own good. You must be really desperate to embark on such a long sea journey alone with a total stranger. I mean what was she expecting? You can never take someone at face value. Doesn't a normal person evaluate the risks involved? Harry on the other hand is just a scheming controlling freak with a dubious lifestyle and some extreme unique fantasies which he puts to good use with Gill. But he knows how to lure a woman in need into his trap and in Gill he finds the perfect prey.

The ending left me both happy and sad. All I will say is that I did not expect it to end the way it did and I was impressed by the author's ability to create those final dramatic scenes.

With an original setting, beautiful vivid descriptions, realistic characters and various suspenseful, nail-biting, gut-wrenching moments, I think this book is just brilliant and I highly recommend it. I won't be surprised to see it made into a movie one day.

With thanks to the author for a copy of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the tagline on the front cover of Paradise Prison "The perfect hiding place...haven or hell?" It sums up perfectly this addition to the Dark Minds series which is a chilling standalone psychological thriller.

Be prepared for rather difficult to like and unsavoury characters right from the off here! We don't know much about Gill's character at the start only that she is in an abusive relationship with the vile Lawrence who keeps her from her friends. One night Gill runs away from her life in the UK leaving behind a dead body. While hiding out in Portugal she meets Harry and they sail away into what should be an idealistic trip to the Caribbean but has Gill just attracted the attention of another control freak?

I went into this book blind having not read the blurb, so every plot twist was a big surprise to me but even I gasped out loud towards the end-this definitely didn't have a predictable storyline! The atmosphere is dark and chilling and even though it's set in the heat and humidity of the Caribbean, I actually shivered a couple of times. I can't say that I took to Gill that much until quite near the end when there are further revelations about her past and then I started to viewed her actions rather differently.

I found that the midsection of the book became a little repetitive but that did mean that the tension built up slowly with a menacing air of foreboding as Gill gradually came to realise what had happened to her. This also meant that the ending felt a little rushed but I can forgive that because that ending quite literally took my breath away! Faith Mortimer has a fabulous writing style that very quickly feels familiar and therefore integrates you into the storyline with ease. I actually read this book in one sitting desperate to see how Gill would handle her time on her island hideaway and I wasn't disappointed.

Thank you to the author for my review copy of Paradise Prison which I have chosen to read and review.

[Mark Tilbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Gillian manages to flee from her abusive husband, she thinks she’s found the perfect escape route. But, is history about to repeat itself?

This is the first of Faith’s books I’ve read and it certainly won’t be my last. The locations in the story, and how the main character ends up where she does, help to set this novel apart from other stories in the same genre. I thought that Gillian was a complex and well-written character. She has led a troubled life. Her attitudes, personality and reactions to certain situations all seem to have been affected by what has happened to her. I also like how she has an ability to surprise you with her thoughts and opinions throughout the book.

Harry is also a great character, but for entirely different reasons. The motives for his behaviour are suspect to say the least and his outward calm hides an inner evil. There is a lot of dialogue between Gillian and Harry which is extremely well done and realistic. If you like your psychological thrillers full of suspense, then I highly recommend this book.

I voluntarily chose to read and review an ARC copy of this book.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow this book was absolutely brilliant. It's a chilling psychological suspense thriller. It has everything this type of thriller should have. As soon as I started this book I just knew it was going to be one I wouldn't be able to put down. That was certainly true. I was shocked and enthralled right up to the very last word in the book. Brilliant !

My thanks to TBConFB and Faith Mortimer for the ARC. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is volume four in the 'Dark Mind' series.  I must admit that prior to reading this book, I had not read any of the 'Dark Mind' series but after reading 'Paradise Prison' I will definitely be seeking out the first three in the series.
Gillian is in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend and something happens which forces Gillian to flee.  She tries to put as much distance as she can between her and her home situation.  She ends up fleeing to Portugal and desperately tries to get a job on a boat in an attempt to get even further away.  She gets a job as a deckhand after meeting Harry, who to be honest is too good to be true.  When she confesses to her crime, Harry offers her the chance to lie low on his island in the Carribean and stay there until the dust settles.  However things go from bad to worse but that's all I am going to say about the plot as I don't want to spoil it for anybody.
This book concentrates on two characters- Gillian & Harry but there are appearances from other minor characters.  I must admit that I took to Gillian from the beginning and was on her side from the start.  I could see why she did what she did and why she decided to flee.  I think that she was wrong to flee, as I think that she should have stayed to face the music but that's just my opinion.  Who knows how you would react if you were in the same situation?  Considering what had happened to her I did think that she was a bit too eager to trust a man that she knew nothing about and sail across the sea with him.  Again that's just my opinion.  Gillian really is one tough lady.  Although she has experienced tragedy in her past, she does get up again, dust herself off and carry on.  Gillian does what she has to to survive.  Harry on the other hand made my skin crawl from the start for reasons which will become apparent.  I just knew that he was too good to be true and that he was hiding something.  (That's just my suspicious nature).
This is the first book I have read by the author, Faith Mortimer, but it most certainly will not be the last.  Ms. Mortimer is fantastic in her ability to really convey the sense of claustrophobia that you would find on a boat in the middle of nowhere and on an uninhabited island.  By the end of the book I felt claustrophobic and felt a desperate need to escape the island, even though I know it is fiction and not real life.  I just loved the psychological aspect to this book and the fact that both main characters played mind games with each other.  I thought that it was disturbing that Harry could change from nasty to nice and vice versa at the drop of a hat.  This book is really well written and just when I thought that I had worked out what was going to happen Ms. Mortimer threw me another curveball and the story went in the opposite direction or things happened that I was so not expecting.
In short I really did enjoy reading this book and I would definitely recommend it to others.  I'm definitely going to read the others in the Dark Minds series.  I award this book 4* out of 5*.  I can't wait to read more from the hugely talented Faith Mortimer.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradise Prison by faith mortimer is a gripping psychological thriller read.
During a huge row, Gillian stands up to her abusive boyfriend. The consequences are horrendous and far-reaching.
Terrified, she flees her home, seeking anonymity abroad while coming to terms with the outcome of her actions.
In Portugal, Gillian meets Harry, a yachtsman, needing crew for his Atlantic Ocean-crossing. She applies for the job. Half-way into the journey, after confessing to her crime, Harry offers her refuge on an uninhabited island in the Caribbean which he says he owns.
Confused and depressed, Gillian imagines this is the answer to her problems. She needs time to lie low and consider her options; confront the authorities or live in obscurity? Harry is offering the perfect hiding place…or is he?
When things start going horribly wrong, she asks herself if she is alone on the island. But maybe the biggest question of all is why she gets the gut feeling Harry wants to keep her there at all costs?
What happens when she says … no.
This was a really enjoyable read with great characters. I really felt for Gillian. twists and plots. I do hope there is more to come. could not put this down from the first page to the last page. 5*. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.

[Kaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradise Prison is a chilling psychological book from the Dark Mind series, a sailing trip across the atlantic ocean headed for the Caribbean sounds like the perfect answer to Gillian, a few weeks house sitting on a small island, away from her controlling boyfriend, and the death of her friend. In a panic Gillian fled the scene in fear for her own life, this would give her time to get her head together, as she finds herself wanted by the authortities, but running away from one nightmare she finds herself trapped on the island in another man's sick mind game. Well, I am still trying to get my head around the storyline here, I love the way Faith Mortimer writes, you feel right there with the characters, as the dialogue is so real the scenes really come to life , you feel how helpless Gillian is, how power control can change so quickly, and that some people, like Harry, have no feeling's what so ever on the pain they inflict on another person, just because they can. I just kept reading, no way did I expect the way the storyline went, it was pure reality and quite ingenious too. Faith Mortmer has written a true psychological classic, one that will keep you glued right to the last page.

[Jackie Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book which I voluntarily reviewed.
I have read most of Ms Mortimer's books and loved each and every one. This, the 4th in the Dark Minds series, keeps up her very high standards.
Once I started reading I was totally gripped. This is a true psychological thriller where the reader is never sure what's going to happen next.
Each time I thought Gillian was going to have a happy-ever-after moment, BANG! Ms Mortimer throws a spanner in the works.
I went through every emotion whilst reading this. There were times when I wanted to give Gillian a good talking to and other times when I wanted to hug her.
If you haven't read any of Ms Mortimer's books, I strongly advise you to. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gillian has spent years in an abusive relationship with Leonard, years of his controlling behaviour and when her friend Nathan calls in to visit her tragedy strikes.
Desperate to escape the horror of her life she flees, she needs time to come to terms with what's happened.
A surprise meeting with a sailor gives her an idea, if she can catch a lift somewhere she can come to terms with whats happened.....Harry is an accomplished sailor, and happy for her to have a lift if she's able to work for her passage, everything is coming together Gillian thinks...is it?
This is a very good book, thrilling with the gasp moments that knock you sideways. Thank you to TBC and Faith Mortimer for giving me the chance to read and review this book

[Nolene Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a couple of Faith's books now and so far she hasn't disappointed me. Each book has been completely different. This book again surprised me and the outcome was a little bit of a shock. I found it hard to put down and was a little dazed at the end. This is quite an emotive book dealing with some quite shocking issues; abuse, kidnapping and involuntary imprisonment to name just a few.

The book writing style is easy to read, well paced and keeps you guessing. It doesn't pull any punches so be prepared to be shocked by some unvarnished raw life events.

A book I would highly recommend and a writer I will definitely have on my favourites list.

[Geeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally different setting to the norm for a type of story like this. I really enjoyed it.
I read Paradise Prison in less than a day as it was so engrossing yet chilling at the same time. Gill had endured a lot before she embarked on a trip to what she thought sounded like paradise. Harry seemed genuine enough and Gill had no reason to think otherwise.
Can Gill escape Paradise Prison?

[Hilary Mortz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be warned - this novel is the latest in a series called 'Dark Minds' and in this case the minds are very dark indeed.

Ms Mortimer is a natural born story teller and she is certainly pulling no punches with this chilling little tale of mounting terror.

Set on an idyllic Caribbean island where the menace in the air is as ever present as the dark-finned sharks that circle in the bay, we find our heroine, Gill - a lifelong victim of psychological abuse - falling out of the frying pan into the fire as she fights a desperate battle for survival.

As other reviews have stated, Paradise Prison is a real old fashioned 'page turner'. I certainly didn't get to sleep until I found out what happened in the end and then when I did it troubled my dreams. Well worth a read.

[Ciclochick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on to your hats, Mortimer fans. You’ll be blown away by this one.

This author never disappoints, but Paradise Prison is, in my view, jostling for position as one of her best.

Gillian flees the UK after a serious altercation with her abusive boyfriend ends very badly. Stopping over in Portugal, she manages to secure herself a passage to the Caribbean on a yacht owned by Harry. A wealthy man who passes his time cruising round the Caribbean ocean in not-so-legal activities, but he reckons a cook and crew will jolly up his travels. It all starts smoothly enough, and he suggests Gill stay on his little ‘one-man’ island looking after his house…just until she feels confident enough to rejoin civilisation and face the consequences of an argument gone wrong. At least, that’s what he tells her. But when history starts to repeat itself, Gillian realises that she has to escape the island and from Harry as soon as she can.

You couldn’t have two more opposite characters. And that’s what makes this story so very powerful. Harry is an insidiously loathsome vile character. Any uncertainty about Gill being a slightly downtrodden, nervous victim soon changes as she becomes resourceful, confident, focussed and determined. Her transformation is amazing.

And prepare yourself for the ending. I’ll just leave you with that.

[Melanie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll start my review of this 5 star book by telling you that it's 04.28 in the morning. Why such a ridiculous hour to post a review? Purely because I couldn't stop reading this book. I must have persuaded myself on numerous occasions to put it down and get some sleep, but the book was going round and around in my head and I just had to finish it. The story revolves around Gillian, who has made some seriously bad choices in men. Lawrence and Harry are the most terrifyingly repugnant men who compound this poor woman's unhappy life that started at the hands of her vicious father. I was totally hooked from the first chapter. I think I read the whole book whilst holding my breath the entire time. Ms Mortimer writes brilliantly, ever time you think that Gillian has a sliver of hope, it's whipped away from her. My emotions ranged from sympathy to frustration, from horror to sorrow, with every other emotion in between. I would love to see this book made into a film. If you read one book this year, make it Paradise Prison. Ms Mortimer, your writing is fabulously engrossing. This isn't a 5 star book; it's a 10. Wow!

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

After fighting to free herself from an abusive relationship, Gillian escapes abroad and finds a job on a yacht owned by the wealthy Harry. She’s later offered the opportunity to take a peaceful break on Harry’s private island, which she leaps at. She’s in for far more than she could have guessed.

This book is a roller-coaster, taking both Gill’s hopes and fears, and those of the readers, on a breath-taking adventure. There are some heart-in-mouth situations and you’ll find yourself wanting to shout at some of the characters for their actions or attitudes. I didn’t guess the stunning outcome but the story whipped me along in its wake. A great read.

I received a review copy of Paradise Prison.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspense, tension, creepy undertones, and action all rolled into a great thriller.

When Gillian stands up to her abusive boyfriend, tragedy strikes. Unwisely, she runs away... right into yachtsman Harry's arms. When she confesses to Harry, he offers her refuge on his Caribbean island. And then the nightmare really begins...

Haunting yet relatable, with a tightly wound plot, this is a suspense thriller charting what can happen when you try to run away from your perceived problems. With twists and an ending that had me holding my breath, this is a good yarn for thriller fans.

*Thank you to the author for my free copy of the book.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book on Kindle from the Book Review Club, it is the first Faith Mortimer book I have read and enjoyed the whole book. The story line of a woman running away from her abusive partner draws you in to her world and you can feel her distress as she tries to come to terms with what has happened and what she has done. It made me feel uncomfortable, but that didn't detract from the story and the whole tale moves along a very fast pace. I particularly liked the twists and thought they made the ending seem quite believable, would certainly recommend.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really has you on the edge of your seat, the kind of psychological thriller that I enjoy; more mind games and control than blood and guts. The author is skilled at building up the suspense and making you wonder at the start if the victim might just have another agenda. The ending wasn't at all what I expected and it's the kind of story that you can't stop thinking about long after you finish it. Can thoroughly recommend.

[Lesley Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from Faith Mortimer in the Dark Minds series. Had me gripped from the beginning. Great psychological thriller that had me feeling different emotions for each character, one in particular I would like to have happily slapped as he was so horrible. Great plot line and very deserving of five stars. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves Faith Mortimer's books.

[Sue Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Read in 24 hours. Could not put it down. Well written and easy to follow edge of your seat thriller. Gill has a past she's running away from but runs into Harry!!! One evil man. Enjoy.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5*

I’ve never read any of Faith Mortimer’s books despite having at least three sat patiently on my kindle. I’d heard good things about the author’s novels from readers with similar tastes to mine so when offered a copy of her latest novel Paradise Prison, I said yes!

The start of the book was quite shocking with the accumulation of a number of years of psychological and physical abuse from her husband Lawrence, Gill finally snaps with rather drastic consequences. Her reaction is to run and she disappears to Europe and then to the high seas with captain Harry. Harry offers her time to sort herself out on his deserted Caribbean island. Sounds bliss doesn’t it? Sun, sea and solitude, no hassles or worries, just time to think. But is Harry all that he seems?

I really felt for Gill, she’s been through the mill with her abusive husband and all she wants is time to clear her head but she’s gone from one problem to another and this time it might not be so easy to escape!

Paradise Prison is a good read with plenty of atmosphere, intrigue and shocks as Gill and Harry’s story progresses across the Atlantic. I found it very readable and well written. I felt I was there on the boat and the Caribbean island with Gill. The only thing for me was it was a little predictable in places; for me a psychological thriller needs to mess with my head and I don’t know what’s going to happen next. Unfortunately Paradise Prison fell short of doing that for me but then again I have read some dark psychological thrillers over the years.

This hasn’t put me off reading any more of Ms Mortimer’s books as like I said, I’ve heard good things about her writing. I will be unearthing and reading those books buried on my rather overloaded kindle at some point.

Many thanks to Faith Mortimer for giving me a copy of Paradise Prison.

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillian didn't grow up in a loving family. At the start of her relationship with Lawrence she thinks that she has finally found love. Lawrence treats her like a princess and they have a wonderful time, until his darker side begins to show. He easily isolates her from the world leaving only him to rely on. Gillian can't go anywhere without Lawrence. He's extremely jealous and seeks out arguments with her over the smallest things. Gillian only has two friends left, Nathan and Bex. Nathan shows up at Gillian's house just when she's having an argument with Lawrence. Nathan is shocked when he sees that Gillian can barely stand. Lawrence flips and beats Nathan to death. Gillian tries to save Nathan, but she's too late. Thinking that she has killed Lawrence when she was trying to fight him off, Gillian panics and flees.

Gillian ends up in Portugal where she's looking for a job and a place to hide. She finds a job on the White Lady. This yacht belongs to Harry. Harry says he owns an island. He offers this island to Gillian, so she can live there for a while, until she feels ready to face the world again. Being on a secluded island soon turns sour when Gillian's only way of survival is Harry. He brings her food and water, but is asking complete obedience in return. Gillian recognizes the dark mind games from her time with Lawrence and soon regrets her choice of going to this island. The only way off is by boat, so she has to convince Harry to let her go or take the White Lady by force. Physical circumstances make it impossible for Gillian to act right away, so she has to bide her time. What will happen when Gillian finally has enough? Will she be strong to stand up for herself and make it off the island?

Gillian has a soft heart and is a bit naive in her choices. She never felt truly loved and she thought she found what she was looking for in Lawrence. Even after escaping him she still sees the good in people and this part of her personality is exactly what makes her a victim of cruelty every time. She doesn't see Lawrence and Harry's true nature until it is too late. My heart ached for her since she is only looking for love, which is something almost all of us do. She amazed me with her will to survive. When she is on the island she takes care of herself and manages to make it through some terribly rough times. Gillian eventually appears to be stronger than I gave her credit for and her story kept me on the edge of my seat, especially when her attitude changes and she chooses to no longer be a victim of any kind of abuse. I found that incredibly impressive.

Paradise Prison is a compelling read with lots of suspense. The whole story builds up to a climax and it's an explosive one. The ending completely surprised me and left me sitting on the couch with my mouth wide open. Faith Mortimer has written a mind-blowing gripping story. The mind games were so obvious for me and this made me want to scream at Gillian to open her eyes before it would be too late. Paradise Prison is not for the faintest of heart, since there are some really difficult problems Gillian has to deal with on her journey. If you're up for the emotional rollercoaster of your life, then Paradise Prison will have power over you until the very last page.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Bad Judgment and Bad Luck had a Queen, it would be Priscilla Gillian (Gill) Hodges.

From a childhood filled with abuse and mental cruelty to an abusive relationship as an adult, to…Paradise Prison. I’m surprised she’s anything close to sane. The woman was a victim all her life, and apart from her two close friends, Rebecca (Bex) and Nathan, she had no one.

After a violent situation in her home goes from bad to worse, Gill goes on the run. Such an impractical move could only mean there was something in her past that haunted (or terrified) her.

With nowhere else to turn, Gill goes to Bex, and despite her own better judgment, Bex helps Gill flee the area.

Knowing she must not stay in one place for too long, lest she be found, Gill comes up with a plan, which leads her to…Harry. At first the right amount of compassion and ambivalence, Harry does seem like the answer to Gill’s problem. However, as he draws her in and builds up her trust, Gill’s life will never be the same.

This read captured my attention from the first page. The author does a great job of building the suspense while still adding unanswered questions to enhance the mystery.

The mind games and control tactics are barely noticeable in the beginning...to Gill. She is suspicious but continues to reason away things Harry says and/or does because of her circumstances. This is a mistake, but understandable given the trauma Gill suffered in her youth. I sympathized with her because of this and even rooted for her, but I didn’t necessarily like her. Despite her bad judgment and even worse decisions, she was not annoying or even a weak woman. While she had bouts of hopelessness (and who wouldn’t in the same situation?), and feigned complacency to win Harry over, Gill never stopped looking for a way to save herself. But with all she was going through, I never felt a connection with Gill. My interest was more into finding answers to open-ended questions/stories.

Answers began to show up after Harry and Gill reach Isla de Cabra, but entirely too slowly. For me, the story began to drag even before it reached the halfway mark…very frustrating.

To be fair, time was needed for the psychological aspects to come into play, and for Gill’s subsequent physical issue to play out, but I must confess, I skimmed. In trying to show the passage of time, and the effects it had on Gill, to me the story became redundant. I went from putting bits and pieces of the characters’ stories together, to just wanting the situation to resolve itself.

I admired Gill’s decision to take a stand, but it was anti-climactic and somewhat sad. After such a great buildup, I was ready for a serious explosion but got a smoldering instead that felt rushed. I did not need it to be different, I needed it to be more.

I do recommend Paradise Prison. While it wasn’t as ‘thrilling’ as I’d like, it was suspenseful, held my attention for the most part, and I did read it in one sitting. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I would read more of her work.

Enjoy!

[J.B (Debbie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow