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The Binding Song
A chilling debut for fans of Mo Hayder and Sharon Bolton, THE BINDING SONG takes you on a trip to Halvergate Prison. If you're lucky, you'll get to leave...
Dr Janet Palmer is the new lead psychologist at HMP Halvergate in a remote, bleak area of Norfolk. At first, she was excited by the promotion. Then she starts to see how many secrets are hiding behind the high walls.
A string of inmates have committed suicide, leaving no reasons why, and her predecessor has disappeared - along with his notes. The staff are hostile, the threat of violence is ever-present, and there are rumours of an eyeless woman stalking the corridors, punishing the inmates for their sins.
Janet is determined to find out what is really going on. But the longer she stays and the deeper she digs, the more uncertain she feels.
Halvergate is haunted by something. But it may be a terror worse than ghosts...
Dr Janet Palmer is the new lead psychologist at HMP Halvergate in a remote, bleak area of Norfolk. At first, she was excited by the promotion. Then she starts to see how many secrets are hiding behind the high walls.
A string of inmates have committed suicide, leaving no reasons why, and her predecessor has disappeared - along with his notes. The staff are hostile, the threat of violence is ever-present, and there are rumours of an eyeless woman stalking the corridors, punishing the inmates for their sins.
Janet is determined to find out what is really going on. But the longer she stays and the deeper she digs, the more uncertain she feels.
Halvergate is haunted by something. But it may be a terror worse than ghosts...
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2017
20 people are currently reading
1069 people want to read
About the author
Elodie Harper
10 books1,572 followersElodie Harper is a journalist and prize winning short story writer.
Her story 'Wild Swimming' won the 2016 Bazaar of Bad Dreams short story competition, run by The Guardian and Hodder & Stoughton and judged by Stephen King.
She is currently a reporter and presenter at ITV News Anglia, and before that worked as a producer for Channel 4 News.
Her story 'Wild Swimming' won the 2016 Bazaar of Bad Dreams short story competition, run by The Guardian and Hodder & Stoughton and judged by Stephen King.
She is currently a reporter and presenter at ITV News Anglia, and before that worked as a producer for Channel 4 News.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 5, 2017
Trigger warning: this book contains descriptions of rape
There are very few psychological thrillers/ horrors set in the prison environment, so when I read the synopsis for this book, I was really excited to read it. This book is one you’ll find yourself racing through, it’s so quick and exciting you’ll be determined to not put it down.
Elodie Harper was the 2016 winner of Stephen King’s short story competition, and this is her debut full length novel (not of the same story). I’m surprised to find this one is a debut because it’s so well put together and feels like the writing of someone more prolific and comfortable writing 300 page novels. There is no fault with Harper’s writing, that I could find. This book is creepy and moody in tone throughout and is certainly the kind of book you want to read with the lights on!
Our main character, Janet, is a hard headed woman in the prison industry, with a fiery temper, but also a softer side we get to see often throughout the story. Normally I find these sort of characters get a little annoying and either too big for their boots, or become too soppy, but Janet stayed as a great lead throughout the book. I did have one issue with her character, to do with her relationship, at the end of the novel, but I will talk about that in a spoiler section at the bottom.
As for the other side characters, I thought they were very well developed. My only issue was with Steven, who 1) felt a little unneeded for the plot, and 2) a bit unbelievable, but I still enjoyed his character nonetheless.
The plot is certainly different to others and I really enjoyed this uniqueness. While I had my ideas as to what we happening, I still was non-the-wiser until it all came to light, so it’s great to have a book that’s given me a shock twist. Each chapter in this book ends on a small cliffhanger, it’s so hard to ever out it down because you just want to know where the story is going next.
I'm going to hide this next paragraph as a spoiler, but it is extremely minor. It does not ruin the mystery, twist or plot in any way.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book all the way through, despite there being one or two choices I would have made differently towards the end. I’m certainly going to keep my eye out for more of Harper’s work in the future as she’s already proved to be a great story teller and character builder.
There are very few psychological thrillers/ horrors set in the prison environment, so when I read the synopsis for this book, I was really excited to read it. This book is one you’ll find yourself racing through, it’s so quick and exciting you’ll be determined to not put it down.
Elodie Harper was the 2016 winner of Stephen King’s short story competition, and this is her debut full length novel (not of the same story). I’m surprised to find this one is a debut because it’s so well put together and feels like the writing of someone more prolific and comfortable writing 300 page novels. There is no fault with Harper’s writing, that I could find. This book is creepy and moody in tone throughout and is certainly the kind of book you want to read with the lights on!
Our main character, Janet, is a hard headed woman in the prison industry, with a fiery temper, but also a softer side we get to see often throughout the story. Normally I find these sort of characters get a little annoying and either too big for their boots, or become too soppy, but Janet stayed as a great lead throughout the book. I did have one issue with her character, to do with her relationship, at the end of the novel, but I will talk about that in a spoiler section at the bottom.
As for the other side characters, I thought they were very well developed. My only issue was with Steven, who 1) felt a little unneeded for the plot, and 2) a bit unbelievable, but I still enjoyed his character nonetheless.
The plot is certainly different to others and I really enjoyed this uniqueness. While I had my ideas as to what we happening, I still was non-the-wiser until it all came to light, so it’s great to have a book that’s given me a shock twist. Each chapter in this book ends on a small cliffhanger, it’s so hard to ever out it down because you just want to know where the story is going next.
I'm going to hide this next paragraph as a spoiler, but it is extremely minor. It does not ruin the mystery, twist or plot in any way.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book all the way through, despite there being one or two choices I would have made differently towards the end. I’m certainly going to keep my eye out for more of Harper’s work in the future as she’s already proved to be a great story teller and character builder.
June 17, 2018
Okay, the synopsis didn't indicate in any way that this had a supernatural element to it and as I prefer to go into a book blind I had to discover this for myself. Had I read the reviews already posted I would have picked this up a lot earler. So, although this aspect did come as a surprise to me it didn't affect my overall enjoyment.
Dr Janet Palmer is elated to have a new job as lead psychiatrist at HMP Halvergate located in remote Norfolk. Working to rehabilitate sex offenders, she attempts to get to the bottom of what drove some prisoners to commit suicide but soon realises that solving the mystery will not be as easy as she first thought.
"The Binding Song" had a distinctive gothic flavour which I adored, it made for an atmospheric and unusual read. I learned that Elodie Harper took part in the Hodder & Stoughton & Guardian newspaper short story competition and her submission Wild Swimming" was chosen as the winner by Stephen King. That's quite an accolade. The characters are interesting - Janet's backstory is explored and is relevant to her decision to work in HMP Halvergate but she should really have gotten rid of the boyfriend who shows no love for her and has his own selfish desires at heart. There are some genuinely chilling and creeptastic moments and the whole atmosphere builds to a suspenseful and claustrophobic crescendo.
Now that I know what i'm dealing with - a thriller with a supernatural tinge - I would read another Elodie Harper book in the future. This is a great debut and I hope Harper continues to write in this vein. There are so many thriller writers out there now but adding this paranormal aspect does set her apart from the rest.
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Dr Janet Palmer is elated to have a new job as lead psychiatrist at HMP Halvergate located in remote Norfolk. Working to rehabilitate sex offenders, she attempts to get to the bottom of what drove some prisoners to commit suicide but soon realises that solving the mystery will not be as easy as she first thought.
"The Binding Song" had a distinctive gothic flavour which I adored, it made for an atmospheric and unusual read. I learned that Elodie Harper took part in the Hodder & Stoughton & Guardian newspaper short story competition and her submission Wild Swimming" was chosen as the winner by Stephen King. That's quite an accolade. The characters are interesting - Janet's backstory is explored and is relevant to her decision to work in HMP Halvergate but she should really have gotten rid of the boyfriend who shows no love for her and has his own selfish desires at heart. There are some genuinely chilling and creeptastic moments and the whole atmosphere builds to a suspenseful and claustrophobic crescendo.
Now that I know what i'm dealing with - a thriller with a supernatural tinge - I would read another Elodie Harper book in the future. This is a great debut and I hope Harper continues to write in this vein. There are so many thriller writers out there now but adding this paranormal aspect does set her apart from the rest.
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
November 19, 2017
**4.5 stars**
The Binding Song is brilliantly compelling, eminently creepy and one of those books that has you looking over your shoulder and eyeing strangers oddly as if they might suddenly leap up and shout BOO.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, the story is utterly riveting, also extraordinarily haunting as you follow Janet, new recruit at Halvergate prison, trying to untangle the web of deceit left behind by her predecessor. Something evil stalks the corridors here but is it a human evil or something beyond our knowledge of the world? Well that is the question….
Elodie Harper keeps things off kilter as she explores some of the darkest minds, not all of them belonging to the prisoners. There is a real sense of menace pervading the narrative that creeps up on you unexpectedly and the play between the real and imagined is cleverly manipulated so you are not sure what to believe. Terrific writing with a real storytelling talent, The Binding Song is highly addictive and likely to keep you up at night so you can just read that one more chapter.
The ending is perfectly placed to match the feel of the rest of the novel, eerie and memorable, one of those that stays with you and leaves you pondering the state between fantasy and reality. I loved it. Unsettling and enthralling.
Overall a truly excellent debut that promises so much for the future. I can’t wait to see what Elodie Harper writes next. Stephen King should probably start upping his game…
Highly Recommended.
The Binding Song is brilliantly compelling, eminently creepy and one of those books that has you looking over your shoulder and eyeing strangers oddly as if they might suddenly leap up and shout BOO.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, the story is utterly riveting, also extraordinarily haunting as you follow Janet, new recruit at Halvergate prison, trying to untangle the web of deceit left behind by her predecessor. Something evil stalks the corridors here but is it a human evil or something beyond our knowledge of the world? Well that is the question….
Elodie Harper keeps things off kilter as she explores some of the darkest minds, not all of them belonging to the prisoners. There is a real sense of menace pervading the narrative that creeps up on you unexpectedly and the play between the real and imagined is cleverly manipulated so you are not sure what to believe. Terrific writing with a real storytelling talent, The Binding Song is highly addictive and likely to keep you up at night so you can just read that one more chapter.
The ending is perfectly placed to match the feel of the rest of the novel, eerie and memorable, one of those that stays with you and leaves you pondering the state between fantasy and reality. I loved it. Unsettling and enthralling.
Overall a truly excellent debut that promises so much for the future. I can’t wait to see what Elodie Harper writes next. Stephen King should probably start upping his game…
Highly Recommended.
July 16, 2017
Dr Janet Palmer is the new psychologist at Halvergate prison. Six men, sex offenders are on a sex offenders treatment programme. Dr Janet Palmer always makes a point of asking the sex offenders questions like how do you feel that the programme went and what are you hoping to get out of the programme? All of the prisoners were in the prison for a reason. One was a serial rapist, there were some convicted of statutory rape and sexually motivated murders. One man who was a paedophile. The prison also had some men that were a lot older and some of the prisoners were repeat offenders. It was a well-known fact to the prison that some of the sex offenders didn't get any family coming to visit them, so the prison put out an advert to visit the sex offenders treatment . Occasionally the prison experienced some of the inmates committed suicide. I really enjoyed this prison theme story were questioning everyone and trusting no one stands out well and truly.
November 6, 2017
This was one of the most powerful mystery thrillers I've read for a long time. Being a twin myself (the main character has a twin sister ...) and having explored the devastating consequences the exposure to highly manipulative people can have on someone in my own writing, as well as being fascinated by the power of mental delusions, this book managed to pack a punch with all those aspects combined. I finished it yesterday afternoon but am still recovering! Highly recommended.
February 5, 2017
This is probably one of the most atmospheric, eerie books I've ever read. I could imagine the prison, the bleak landscape, the weather, the feeling of dread that hovered over the main character, Janet as she begins her new job as a psychiatrist of Halvergate prison. But what happened to her predecessor? And why are his notes missing? I thought Janet was a really well constructed character who has demons of her own as she begins to investigate a spate of suicides at the prison. As the whispers of 'The White Visitor', an avenging woman with black eyes and a pale face sweep through the inmates, events take on a very creepy, very sinister turn. Parts of the story had my heart beating with fear and I suspected everyone. I didn't predict the ending at all, which was very clever and plausible. Highly recommended.
November 17, 2017
The Binding Song is a creepy, gothic book that creates a sense of foreboding from the very beginning and doesn’t let up until the final pages. Dr Janet Palmer is the new psychologist at Halvergate Prison and it is clear from her first day that there is something sinister going on in the prison, and she wants to know why.
I don’t want to say much more about the story because the author has done a great job of creating a level of tension and suspense that she keeps up until the final pages. The characters are well-written, divisive and in some parts, downright chilling. The plot is tightly woven and interspersed with pieces from Janet’s past, all of this lends itself very well to the gothic vibe running through the book. I found myself feeling apprehensive to turn the pages more than once because I was afraid of what I would read. I was creeped out more than once reading The Binding Song.
An elegant, gothic and sinister debut, The Binding Song is a great example of a psychological thriller and definitely one to add to your reading lists!
I don’t want to say much more about the story because the author has done a great job of creating a level of tension and suspense that she keeps up until the final pages. The characters are well-written, divisive and in some parts, downright chilling. The plot is tightly woven and interspersed with pieces from Janet’s past, all of this lends itself very well to the gothic vibe running through the book. I found myself feeling apprehensive to turn the pages more than once because I was afraid of what I would read. I was creeped out more than once reading The Binding Song.
An elegant, gothic and sinister debut, The Binding Song is a great example of a psychological thriller and definitely one to add to your reading lists!
February 9, 2018
Set in a prison and the main protagonist is a forensic psychologist – I need know nothing else – I’m reading this book!
Dr Janet Palmer is my favourite kind of psychologist – a forensic psychologist; so, it should come as no surprise that this is a book I have been wanting to read for ages and one I had high expectations for. And nothing makes me happier than when a book meets all my expectations!
The Binding Song is a dark psychological thriller perfect for fans of character-driven novels. Dr Janet Palmer takes up a new post at Halvergate prison and she is tasked with running the prison’s sex offender treatment programme, so this is your warning – this novel deals with themes of rape that may be upsetting to some readers. This novel is clouded in darkness and has a great horror vibe to it that works to make this read extremely unsettling and disturbing at times.
What I most liked about this novel, was the character study of not only the prisoners but Janet and her colleagues too. You’ll meet some disturbing characters in this novel, and characters that have been disturbed by others. But you also get your likeable characters, most notably Janet Palmer; she’s determined and focused and working with some of the most dangerous men in the country, every day at work is a challenging one. To see how she handles herself, and through her work with the prisoners, we get a glimpse into the mind of the prisoners and I found this, in equal measures, fascinating and disturbing. Janet also has a vulnerable side to her, a weakness if you like, and it was interesting to see how she would cope as the rumours of the eyeless women stalking the prison become rifer.
This novel is made all the more unnerving by the fact that Janet has no allies in her colleagues, they are ready to discredit her at every turn. She does find some support in conversations with the prison’s Chaplin, but isolation is the last thing you want, especially when you don’t know if the rumours of the eyeless woman are true or not.
I found The Binding Song to be a gripping read, that held my full attention throughout. The setting, the themes and the characters – all dark. And this novel is so well written; a very impressive debut from Harper. She grabs your interest from the very first page and pulls you into the darkness and unnerves you. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
*My thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a digital copy of this title via Netgalley*
Dr Janet Palmer is my favourite kind of psychologist – a forensic psychologist; so, it should come as no surprise that this is a book I have been wanting to read for ages and one I had high expectations for. And nothing makes me happier than when a book meets all my expectations!
The Binding Song is a dark psychological thriller perfect for fans of character-driven novels. Dr Janet Palmer takes up a new post at Halvergate prison and she is tasked with running the prison’s sex offender treatment programme, so this is your warning – this novel deals with themes of rape that may be upsetting to some readers. This novel is clouded in darkness and has a great horror vibe to it that works to make this read extremely unsettling and disturbing at times.
What I most liked about this novel, was the character study of not only the prisoners but Janet and her colleagues too. You’ll meet some disturbing characters in this novel, and characters that have been disturbed by others. But you also get your likeable characters, most notably Janet Palmer; she’s determined and focused and working with some of the most dangerous men in the country, every day at work is a challenging one. To see how she handles herself, and through her work with the prisoners, we get a glimpse into the mind of the prisoners and I found this, in equal measures, fascinating and disturbing. Janet also has a vulnerable side to her, a weakness if you like, and it was interesting to see how she would cope as the rumours of the eyeless women stalking the prison become rifer.
This novel is made all the more unnerving by the fact that Janet has no allies in her colleagues, they are ready to discredit her at every turn. She does find some support in conversations with the prison’s Chaplin, but isolation is the last thing you want, especially when you don’t know if the rumours of the eyeless woman are true or not.
I found The Binding Song to be a gripping read, that held my full attention throughout. The setting, the themes and the characters – all dark. And this novel is so well written; a very impressive debut from Harper. She grabs your interest from the very first page and pulls you into the darkness and unnerves you. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
*My thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a digital copy of this title via Netgalley*
June 29, 2017
Oh my goodness, what a book. I loved it. This is totally my favourite kind of novel and totally worth the wait. SJI Holliday was not wrong. It is going to be one of my highlights of 2017.
So why did I like it so much? It's set in Norfolk for a start. That's not only my favourite place in the world but also a perfect location for a novel that has a bleak, gothic atmosphere about it. And it's about a new female psychologist working in a prison. A prison in a very remote area full of incredibly unpleasant inmates and staff that are equally hostile. Oh, and there has been a string of suicides amongst the inmates recently as well......
Fabulous.
Dr Janet Palmer wants to find out what secrets are hiding in the prison walls and what darkness is haunting the corridors to make the men take their own lives. But the deeper she digs, the more uncertain she becomes about what she is dealing with, what she is awakening and whether there is something much more sinister and evil at play.
Harper has created a compelling premise, location and cast of characters. Even from the blurb, it is clear this is a novel bursting with tension, suspense, threat and something very very dark.
By the end of the second paragraph of the first page, I was already fully transported to the woods in which the opening scene is set. I had completely fallen alongside the stride of the character as he stumbled through the trees in the wet weather and I could feel the tension prickling at my skin before I had even got to the bottom of the page. Immediately I was reminded of the opening of Great Expectations and filled with the same sense of trepidation that I felt watching the black and white film. I was already in love with Harper's writing.
I make notes when I'm reading - not just to help with my reviews but just because I love language, words and good writing. At the end of the prologue, I have simply annotated it with OMG.
Some of my favourite novels are The Woman in Black, Little Stranger and anything eerie, suggestive, and unnerving that will haunt me and make me too scared to get up in the night without flicking every single light in the house on. The Binding Song is like a perfect amalgamation of all of this. It's got echoes of some of the books I love and employs some great techniques with impressive effect. It's a blend of atmospheric description, allusions to the supernatural, ghostly hauntings and characters who are either master manipulators or preying on the vulnerable, using a mixture of confusion, mind games, reality and delusion to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I already know I will reread it and pause a little longer over some of the sentences that literally punch the breath out of you.
As well as incredibly gripping prose, this novel is also thought provoking. It raises lots of questions about mental health, psychosis and drugs. It also explores issues such as the possibility or belief in rehabilitation, the relationship between religion and evil, grief, reality, perception and delusion. The characters are very well crafted and the main protagonists, Janet is a really intriguing character. She appears strong, she appears driven in her professional life yet actually, she is fragile and deeply traumatised. Her reliability, objectivity and point of view is often flawed or ambiguous so the reader develops an interesting relationship with her as more and more about her character is revealed as the novel progresses.
The men in the prison are deeply unpleasant. They are manipulative, unnerving yet balanced and calm all at the same time. It's an ambitious novel but for me, one that captured my imagination, attention and still haunts me now.
I enjoyed the way the author used mirrors and reflections in a metaphorical way as well as a very straightforward way to create tension and add another layer to the plot. There is a satisfying play on the concept of twins, seeing true self and the question of perception and reality.
I don't know anything about working in prisons or with prisoners but I thought that placing Janet in this setting worked well because she puts herself in a situation that is only going to compound and complicate her fears, anxieties and search for closure and resolution. It also makes the novel quite intense and claustrophobic - despite the bleak, isolated countryside that surrounds the building.
I found this an exciting, dramatic, scary and compelling read. I loved the ending.
So why did I like it so much? It's set in Norfolk for a start. That's not only my favourite place in the world but also a perfect location for a novel that has a bleak, gothic atmosphere about it. And it's about a new female psychologist working in a prison. A prison in a very remote area full of incredibly unpleasant inmates and staff that are equally hostile. Oh, and there has been a string of suicides amongst the inmates recently as well......
Fabulous.
Dr Janet Palmer wants to find out what secrets are hiding in the prison walls and what darkness is haunting the corridors to make the men take their own lives. But the deeper she digs, the more uncertain she becomes about what she is dealing with, what she is awakening and whether there is something much more sinister and evil at play.
Harper has created a compelling premise, location and cast of characters. Even from the blurb, it is clear this is a novel bursting with tension, suspense, threat and something very very dark.
By the end of the second paragraph of the first page, I was already fully transported to the woods in which the opening scene is set. I had completely fallen alongside the stride of the character as he stumbled through the trees in the wet weather and I could feel the tension prickling at my skin before I had even got to the bottom of the page. Immediately I was reminded of the opening of Great Expectations and filled with the same sense of trepidation that I felt watching the black and white film. I was already in love with Harper's writing.
I make notes when I'm reading - not just to help with my reviews but just because I love language, words and good writing. At the end of the prologue, I have simply annotated it with OMG.
Some of my favourite novels are The Woman in Black, Little Stranger and anything eerie, suggestive, and unnerving that will haunt me and make me too scared to get up in the night without flicking every single light in the house on. The Binding Song is like a perfect amalgamation of all of this. It's got echoes of some of the books I love and employs some great techniques with impressive effect. It's a blend of atmospheric description, allusions to the supernatural, ghostly hauntings and characters who are either master manipulators or preying on the vulnerable, using a mixture of confusion, mind games, reality and delusion to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I already know I will reread it and pause a little longer over some of the sentences that literally punch the breath out of you.
As well as incredibly gripping prose, this novel is also thought provoking. It raises lots of questions about mental health, psychosis and drugs. It also explores issues such as the possibility or belief in rehabilitation, the relationship between religion and evil, grief, reality, perception and delusion. The characters are very well crafted and the main protagonists, Janet is a really intriguing character. She appears strong, she appears driven in her professional life yet actually, she is fragile and deeply traumatised. Her reliability, objectivity and point of view is often flawed or ambiguous so the reader develops an interesting relationship with her as more and more about her character is revealed as the novel progresses.
The men in the prison are deeply unpleasant. They are manipulative, unnerving yet balanced and calm all at the same time. It's an ambitious novel but for me, one that captured my imagination, attention and still haunts me now.
I enjoyed the way the author used mirrors and reflections in a metaphorical way as well as a very straightforward way to create tension and add another layer to the plot. There is a satisfying play on the concept of twins, seeing true self and the question of perception and reality.
I don't know anything about working in prisons or with prisoners but I thought that placing Janet in this setting worked well because she puts herself in a situation that is only going to compound and complicate her fears, anxieties and search for closure and resolution. It also makes the novel quite intense and claustrophobic - despite the bleak, isolated countryside that surrounds the building.
I found this an exciting, dramatic, scary and compelling read. I loved the ending.
January 4, 2018
The Binding Song has been on my radar for some time now. It was published by Mulholland Books in eBook and hardcover format earlier this year. The paperback is due to be launched in February 2018 so keep an eye out for that.
As Autumn fades and Winter approaches it’s that time of year when I want to dive into a creepy, gothic thriller and fictitious HMP Halvergate in Norfolk provided the most perfect of settings to do that. What a beautifully atmospheric and creepy story, one where I never really felt sure I knew exactly what was going on. Even the sceptic in me believed in ghosts at one point during Harper’s haunting tale. I felt apprehensive from the very first page and discovered a delightful ominous edge to Harper’s writing which had me hooked.
Dr Janet Palmer is the newly appointed forensic psychologist at the remote Norfolk-based Halvergate prison. Halvergate is nothing like the prison she worked at before in London but the promotion seemed worth upping sticks for and moving away from her partner, Arun, and their comfortable life together. Colleagues at the prison are distant and unfriendly, the prisoners are threatening and violent and Janet now feels very much alone. Janet is made aware of an alarming increase in the number of suicides on D Wing – an occurrence which started under Dr Helkin’s care, and something she is keen to call a halt to. But on starting work she discovers no one wishes to speak of her predecessor. And Janet is approaching her caseload blind as all of Helkin’s notes seem to be missing. She knows nothing about the deviant, sexual predators she faces on a daily basis and one particular prisoner both intrigues and repels her. And what of the White Visitor, a pale black-eyed woman who is said to visit certain prisoners shortly before they take their own lives. It’s down to Dr Palmer to uncover Halvergate’s secrets before more prisoners die and before the White Visitor comes to visit Janet…
As the story progresses you discover more about Janet and her tragic past. The reader is given flashbacks into her teenage years and the heartache she and her family experienced. At times I wondered why Janet would want to work in the prison service but as the story progressed and I was given more of an insight into her past, it all started to make sense. Janet’s only friend in Norfolk is the prison chaplain, Steve. Their relationship was interesting if a little stilted. The friendship started to blossom only to be nipped in the bud by Janet’s frightening discoveries. Knowing these two characters were friends but also so very alone created an eerie sense of isolation which sent shivers down my spine.
Would I recommend this book? I would and I’m looking forward to reading more from Elodie Harper in the future. It’s a surprisingly creepy read with a breath-taking atmospheric feel at its core. Ominous, tense and chock full of suspense.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review a copy of The Binding Song. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
As Autumn fades and Winter approaches it’s that time of year when I want to dive into a creepy, gothic thriller and fictitious HMP Halvergate in Norfolk provided the most perfect of settings to do that. What a beautifully atmospheric and creepy story, one where I never really felt sure I knew exactly what was going on. Even the sceptic in me believed in ghosts at one point during Harper’s haunting tale. I felt apprehensive from the very first page and discovered a delightful ominous edge to Harper’s writing which had me hooked.
Dr Janet Palmer is the newly appointed forensic psychologist at the remote Norfolk-based Halvergate prison. Halvergate is nothing like the prison she worked at before in London but the promotion seemed worth upping sticks for and moving away from her partner, Arun, and their comfortable life together. Colleagues at the prison are distant and unfriendly, the prisoners are threatening and violent and Janet now feels very much alone. Janet is made aware of an alarming increase in the number of suicides on D Wing – an occurrence which started under Dr Helkin’s care, and something she is keen to call a halt to. But on starting work she discovers no one wishes to speak of her predecessor. And Janet is approaching her caseload blind as all of Helkin’s notes seem to be missing. She knows nothing about the deviant, sexual predators she faces on a daily basis and one particular prisoner both intrigues and repels her. And what of the White Visitor, a pale black-eyed woman who is said to visit certain prisoners shortly before they take their own lives. It’s down to Dr Palmer to uncover Halvergate’s secrets before more prisoners die and before the White Visitor comes to visit Janet…
As the story progresses you discover more about Janet and her tragic past. The reader is given flashbacks into her teenage years and the heartache she and her family experienced. At times I wondered why Janet would want to work in the prison service but as the story progressed and I was given more of an insight into her past, it all started to make sense. Janet’s only friend in Norfolk is the prison chaplain, Steve. Their relationship was interesting if a little stilted. The friendship started to blossom only to be nipped in the bud by Janet’s frightening discoveries. Knowing these two characters were friends but also so very alone created an eerie sense of isolation which sent shivers down my spine.
Would I recommend this book? I would and I’m looking forward to reading more from Elodie Harper in the future. It’s a surprisingly creepy read with a breath-taking atmospheric feel at its core. Ominous, tense and chock full of suspense.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review a copy of The Binding Song. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 31, 2018
An outstanding debut novel, this book has everything you could want from a psychological thriller. There are chills aplenty as the menacing story, set in the violent prisoners wing of HMP Halvergate, gathers pace.
Psychologist Dr Janet Palmer is looking forward to the challenge of her new job working with sex offenders on a rehabilitation programme. There have been a number of suicides on the wing prior to her arrival, and Janet is hoping to prevent anymore. But she finds her colleagues at the prison unhelpful and unfriendly, discovers notes on the deceased prisoners missing and reports of a ghostly demon terrorising the remaining prisoners. Delving into events on the wing, Janet begins to expose secrets and finds herself caught up in the horror of Halvergate.
The bleak and eerie setting of the prison and the surrounding Norfolk Broads lent a wonderfully sinister air to the whole story and I was totally transported to the setting. I Loved the characters, especially Stephen, the prison chaplain and Janet herself. Her back story was superbly thought out and interlinked well into the main plot. I sat up half the night to finish this book as I just couldn't wait to reach the conclusion...and the bleary eyes were totally worth it! An exciting 5 star read!
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Psychologist Dr Janet Palmer is looking forward to the challenge of her new job working with sex offenders on a rehabilitation programme. There have been a number of suicides on the wing prior to her arrival, and Janet is hoping to prevent anymore. But she finds her colleagues at the prison unhelpful and unfriendly, discovers notes on the deceased prisoners missing and reports of a ghostly demon terrorising the remaining prisoners. Delving into events on the wing, Janet begins to expose secrets and finds herself caught up in the horror of Halvergate.
The bleak and eerie setting of the prison and the surrounding Norfolk Broads lent a wonderfully sinister air to the whole story and I was totally transported to the setting. I Loved the characters, especially Stephen, the prison chaplain and Janet herself. Her back story was superbly thought out and interlinked well into the main plot. I sat up half the night to finish this book as I just couldn't wait to reach the conclusion...and the bleary eyes were totally worth it! An exciting 5 star read!
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2017
Dr Janet Palmer has commenced a new career as a psychologist based at HMP Halvergate in the sparsely populated and bleak Norfolk countryside. This is an institution where inmates are incarcerated due to criminal or sexual crimes and it is hoped that their period of internment will allow the authorities, and in particular the staff, time to address, and hopefully in some way cure this deviant behaviour.
Apart from the prison chaplain Steven Finch the staff at Halvergate are not very welcoming towards Dr Palmer and she begins to feels somewhat isolated not helped by the news that her boyfriend Arun is soon to depart on a work placement in America. As the good doctor begins to acquaint herself with the residents she soon shares their concerns of an apparition stalking the walls and corridors; a sinister white presence, a lady with dark eyes. One patient in particular, Michael Donovan, greatly disturbs Janet, she will soon discover a connection between this evil man and her sister Izzy who died tragically many years ago.......
There is no doubt that using a Gothic institution such as HMP Halvergate adds a sinister tone to the story telling. The reader can certainly sense and feel the great uneasiness that permeates each chapter of this short ghostly tale. However, the telling of the story and the shallow characters involved, from a self centred boyfriend to a confused gay vicar, did little to endear me to the outcome, no matter how shocking the author intended that to be. Many thanks to the publisher Mulholland for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
Apart from the prison chaplain Steven Finch the staff at Halvergate are not very welcoming towards Dr Palmer and she begins to feels somewhat isolated not helped by the news that her boyfriend Arun is soon to depart on a work placement in America. As the good doctor begins to acquaint herself with the residents she soon shares their concerns of an apparition stalking the walls and corridors; a sinister white presence, a lady with dark eyes. One patient in particular, Michael Donovan, greatly disturbs Janet, she will soon discover a connection between this evil man and her sister Izzy who died tragically many years ago.......
There is no doubt that using a Gothic institution such as HMP Halvergate adds a sinister tone to the story telling. The reader can certainly sense and feel the great uneasiness that permeates each chapter of this short ghostly tale. However, the telling of the story and the shallow characters involved, from a self centred boyfriend to a confused gay vicar, did little to endear me to the outcome, no matter how shocking the author intended that to be. Many thanks to the publisher Mulholland for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
April 29, 2018
Elodie Harper came to my attention first as the winner of a short story competition, judged by Stephen King(have I ever mentioned he is my favourite author of all time? Quite possibly done that a few times, apologies!)
The publication of 'Six Scary Stories' by the ever excellent Cemetery Dance crew was a must buy and on the basis of the story I pre-ordered 'The Binding Song'.
It is dark, in all the right ways, a progressive mystery with excellent characterisation and a spookiness that gives you chills.
It has quite rightly been lauded by critics and fellow writers, and I would happily join their throng.I have bought this and pre-ordered her second book and I think if you enjoy dark thrillers then this is a book for you. It does not feel like a debut offering, it is very assured indeed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this copy in return for an honest review.
The publication of 'Six Scary Stories' by the ever excellent Cemetery Dance crew was a must buy and on the basis of the story I pre-ordered 'The Binding Song'.
It is dark, in all the right ways, a progressive mystery with excellent characterisation and a spookiness that gives you chills.
It has quite rightly been lauded by critics and fellow writers, and I would happily join their throng.I have bought this and pre-ordered her second book and I think if you enjoy dark thrillers then this is a book for you. It does not feel like a debut offering, it is very assured indeed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this copy in return for an honest review.
March 15, 2019
Janet Palmer is the new psychologist at HMS Halvergate. She is there to run a sex therapy course for both a group and the individuals within the group. I loved the premise of the story, thought the dreary descriptions of both the inside of the prison and the outside flat topography of Norfolk were well done and was immersed in the story until the supernatural started to play a part. It just didn't work for me and at the end I wasn't really sure why it was used as a technique. The vicar was a great character and really came alive for me. The development of the plot with Micheal was also quite powerful. Looking forward to the next novel from Elodie Harper.
April 21, 2017
Ooh this is an eerie, gothic horror. Full review to follow
August 31, 2017
Janet has her work cut out for her at HMP Halvergate. A series of suicides has rocked the prison and it doesn’t seem as if they are going to stop any time soon.
Not only does she have to deal with the insidious nature of her clients crimes and their questionable characters, she also has to cope with staff members with ulterior motives. Inmates seem convinced that a ghost, a spirit or perhaps even a demon is killing fellow inmates.
The real question is whether the evil spirit is real or is it just mass hysteria. Mass hysteria spreading through the prison from inmate to inmate and also to the staff. The power of suggestion is strong, especially in a somewhat solitary environment.
At the same time Janet is trying to deal with the disintegration of her relationship. It seems impossible to fit two ambitious careers under one roof.
I have to be honest Arun was a bit of a toad and Janet should have used some of that tough guy attitude on him. Take no mercy, instead of being a simpering weakling afraid of being alone. There are plenty more fish in the sea.
What Harper does quite well is to portray the prisoners as vulnerable men, and in the same breath she reminds the reader that they are criminals and some of them are sexual deviants. The type of men who wouldn’t think twice about committing an act of brutality upon an innocent person, and yet still want the support, comfort and safety they secretly crave.
Personally I do think Janet should have been more diligent about her own safety, which was put at risk quite a few times. A prison isn’t a playground for the pseudo intellectual to practice their theoretical knowledge in.
The story has a gothic feel to it, which is mixed with a plain old crime scenario. The creepier element could have been drawn out more and given more depth. Harper brings the crime and the ghostly together to create a tense and often worrying read.
Not only does she have to deal with the insidious nature of her clients crimes and their questionable characters, she also has to cope with staff members with ulterior motives. Inmates seem convinced that a ghost, a spirit or perhaps even a demon is killing fellow inmates.
The real question is whether the evil spirit is real or is it just mass hysteria. Mass hysteria spreading through the prison from inmate to inmate and also to the staff. The power of suggestion is strong, especially in a somewhat solitary environment.
At the same time Janet is trying to deal with the disintegration of her relationship. It seems impossible to fit two ambitious careers under one roof.
I have to be honest Arun was a bit of a toad and Janet should have used some of that tough guy attitude on him. Take no mercy, instead of being a simpering weakling afraid of being alone. There are plenty more fish in the sea.
What Harper does quite well is to portray the prisoners as vulnerable men, and in the same breath she reminds the reader that they are criminals and some of them are sexual deviants. The type of men who wouldn’t think twice about committing an act of brutality upon an innocent person, and yet still want the support, comfort and safety they secretly crave.
Personally I do think Janet should have been more diligent about her own safety, which was put at risk quite a few times. A prison isn’t a playground for the pseudo intellectual to practice their theoretical knowledge in.
The story has a gothic feel to it, which is mixed with a plain old crime scenario. The creepier element could have been drawn out more and given more depth. Harper brings the crime and the ghostly together to create a tense and often worrying read.
March 4, 2018
Newly promoted psychologist Janet Palmer is met with coldness and hostility on her arrival at HMP Halvergate. It’s staff refuse to talk about her elusive predecessor who left with the wind in his tails and the prisoners whisper of a ghostly white lady who stalks the halls, persecuting them for their horrendous crimes, driving them to commit suicide. As Janet settles into her grim new landscape, she discovers that despite several years as its psychologist, John Helkin has left barely any traces of his work, any traces of his existence. A few t-shirts in his house, a few confusing notes in his office. Who was this man and why did he really leave Halvergate in such a hurry? As more men take their own lives, Janet comes to realise that something terrible is taking place at the prison. And as her tragic past liaises with the poison of Halvergate, her plight for the brutal truth could end up being her downfall because sometime secrets are volatile and the truth is a very dangerous foe.
From the beginning it is clear that there is darkness lodged in the bricks of Haklvergate, a poison infecting the halls, a malevolent force swathing the cells. And it isn’t just a ghost that is evil here. As Janet tries to coax its secrets from the staff, her attempts at marshalling the fragments of Halvergate’s past into a coherent whole reveal the terrifying truth. The opening chapter deposits a single drop of dread in your heart and before you know a thick blanket of goosebumps is settling across your skin.
Elodie Harper keeps a thick flow of menace and threat breathing through the book – not once did it let up in tension. I found myself wondering if a single soul in this book could be trusted. As Janet’s pursuit for the truth continues, you can really feel her struggle to be rational, to keep her grasp on reality. I was whole-heartedly drawn into her story. Her hopes and fears felt as if they were mine. Every ounce of fear that nudged at her heart, felt as if it nudged at mine. Elodie Harper has written a searing and enthralling book!
I love Elodie Harper’s writing. Her prose is eloquent and gripping. Her unsettling descriptions of Halvergate and its inhabitants will sink into your mind and chill the very bones of you. A stunning book from a mind-bogglingly talented author! Can’t even describe how excited I am to read her next book!
Dark. Unsettling. Creepy.
From the beginning it is clear that there is darkness lodged in the bricks of Haklvergate, a poison infecting the halls, a malevolent force swathing the cells. And it isn’t just a ghost that is evil here. As Janet tries to coax its secrets from the staff, her attempts at marshalling the fragments of Halvergate’s past into a coherent whole reveal the terrifying truth. The opening chapter deposits a single drop of dread in your heart and before you know a thick blanket of goosebumps is settling across your skin.
Elodie Harper keeps a thick flow of menace and threat breathing through the book – not once did it let up in tension. I found myself wondering if a single soul in this book could be trusted. As Janet’s pursuit for the truth continues, you can really feel her struggle to be rational, to keep her grasp on reality. I was whole-heartedly drawn into her story. Her hopes and fears felt as if they were mine. Every ounce of fear that nudged at her heart, felt as if it nudged at mine. Elodie Harper has written a searing and enthralling book!
I love Elodie Harper’s writing. Her prose is eloquent and gripping. Her unsettling descriptions of Halvergate and its inhabitants will sink into your mind and chill the very bones of you. A stunning book from a mind-bogglingly talented author! Can’t even describe how excited I am to read her next book!
Dark. Unsettling. Creepy.
October 24, 2017
All of my reviews can be found at: https://hookedfrompageoneblog.wordpre...
The Binding Song is an outstanding, atmospheric novel from debut novelist Elodie Harper. It is a novel that will give you genuine chills as it takes you into the heart of an isolated prison in Norfolk. If you’re lucky you’ll get to leave.
Dr Janet Palmer is the new lead psychologist at Halvergate, an isolated Prison in Norfolk. Janet works with some of the most dangerous criminals. She tries to help them understand their actions and to understand the minds of their victims at the time of the attack. But all is not what it seems at Halvergate. There have been a spate of recent suicides at the prison and reports that prisoners have been terrorised by a demon, a woman in white, which ultimately results in their deaths. Can Janet get to the bottom of what is going on in Halvergate before more deaths occur? And can she make sure that she doesn’t go mad herself?
Elodie has created a cast of intriguing characters in her debut novel. Although the criminals in this book are inside for committing heinous crimes, Janet has to believe that she can make a difference to their lives and she has to believe that to some extent, that they deserve a second chance. One particular prisoner who we are introduced to is Michael Donovan, a creepy character who will really get under your skin. Elodie did a brilliant job of creating an extremely unlikable character but she also created an intriguing individual in him. I even felt sympathy for some of the other prisoners as Janet got to know them.
Elodie’s description in this book is top class! I found myself utterly absorbed in her writing as she took us on a journey through the bleak Norfolk landscape to the isolated prison. Elodie is a writer with a huge talent and I can’t wait to read more from her.
An outstanding debut!
The Binding Song is an outstanding, atmospheric novel from debut novelist Elodie Harper. It is a novel that will give you genuine chills as it takes you into the heart of an isolated prison in Norfolk. If you’re lucky you’ll get to leave.
Dr Janet Palmer is the new lead psychologist at Halvergate, an isolated Prison in Norfolk. Janet works with some of the most dangerous criminals. She tries to help them understand their actions and to understand the minds of their victims at the time of the attack. But all is not what it seems at Halvergate. There have been a spate of recent suicides at the prison and reports that prisoners have been terrorised by a demon, a woman in white, which ultimately results in their deaths. Can Janet get to the bottom of what is going on in Halvergate before more deaths occur? And can she make sure that she doesn’t go mad herself?
Elodie has created a cast of intriguing characters in her debut novel. Although the criminals in this book are inside for committing heinous crimes, Janet has to believe that she can make a difference to their lives and she has to believe that to some extent, that they deserve a second chance. One particular prisoner who we are introduced to is Michael Donovan, a creepy character who will really get under your skin. Elodie did a brilliant job of creating an extremely unlikable character but she also created an intriguing individual in him. I even felt sympathy for some of the other prisoners as Janet got to know them.
Elodie’s description in this book is top class! I found myself utterly absorbed in her writing as she took us on a journey through the bleak Norfolk landscape to the isolated prison. Elodie is a writer with a huge talent and I can’t wait to read more from her.
An outstanding debut!
September 5, 2023
Dr Janet Palmer is a psychologist who goes to work at HMP Halvergate in Norfolk. The prisoners that she is to work with are there because of sexual crimes including rape. The prisoners see an apparition of a ghostly figure that torments.
I liked this book although there is a lot of content about rape so trigger warning here. Set in a prison the story has that sinister feel to it along side the ghostly goings on. This is another book which I would say is a thriller with a supernatural element to it.
The story was interesting and Janet has her own story which all comes clear at the end. I did think the ending entered into thrillerland like a lot of books out there. The story did have a few creepy moments and been set in a prison did have atmosphere.
I liked the book enough to give the author another go in the future. Enjoying both thrillers and horror a book like this has a bit of both.
I liked this book although there is a lot of content about rape so trigger warning here. Set in a prison the story has that sinister feel to it along side the ghostly goings on. This is another book which I would say is a thriller with a supernatural element to it.
The story was interesting and Janet has her own story which all comes clear at the end. I did think the ending entered into thrillerland like a lot of books out there. The story did have a few creepy moments and been set in a prison did have atmosphere.
I liked the book enough to give the author another go in the future. Enjoying both thrillers and horror a book like this has a bit of both.
August 15, 2017
If there was ever a book whose synopsis made me want to read it, it was this one! The Binding Song is a debut novel and fills me with hopes for this author's future.
Based in HMP Halvergate, our new physiologist takes on her first full time position after her predecessor left abruptly.
Suicides seem rife within the walls of this prison and bolstered by the new challenge, Janet begins her research with Ferver, only to keep hitting blank walls and a deep amount of secrecy.
With no help from colleagues, management or the inmates, Janet embarks on a disturbing journey to try to uncover the truth.
Well written and plotted with very believable characters, The Binding Song takes you along it's unnerving route into supernatural possibilities. A cracking read all round! I hope we hear more from Ms Harper.
Based in HMP Halvergate, our new physiologist takes on her first full time position after her predecessor left abruptly.
Suicides seem rife within the walls of this prison and bolstered by the new challenge, Janet begins her research with Ferver, only to keep hitting blank walls and a deep amount of secrecy.
With no help from colleagues, management or the inmates, Janet embarks on a disturbing journey to try to uncover the truth.
Well written and plotted with very believable characters, The Binding Song takes you along it's unnerving route into supernatural possibilities. A cracking read all round! I hope we hear more from Ms Harper.
August 9, 2018
This was a book that was probably better suited to a stormy October ( Halloween) night by a log fire but as it was I read it whilst sleepless in the heatwave.Although it didn't set my world on fire it was nevertheless an enjoyable,easy read that evoked strong images of a wild,flat Norfolk and a prison full of the biggest bunch of unpleasant nutters I have ever come across.
A bit spooky,a bit crazy but it entertained.
A bit spooky,a bit crazy but it entertained.
March 24, 2018
No idea why I persevered with this. The ending was a cop out, and nothing much happened at all throughout.
February 2, 2019
A very good psychological thriller which is very creepy. Although I worked out the twist it was still an excellent read which at times was a bit scary!!!
February 13, 2021
2.5 stars
This was okay and had a really strong start. I liked the threatening and sinister vibe of the prison itself but didn't connect much with the main character and some of the other characters just felt kind of 'tacked on' to the main story (the boyfriend and the vicar) and somehow not really a part of it. Not really a fan of the ending, either, but this has lots of positive reviews so maybe it just wasn't for me.
This was okay and had a really strong start. I liked the threatening and sinister vibe of the prison itself but didn't connect much with the main character and some of the other characters just felt kind of 'tacked on' to the main story (the boyfriend and the vicar) and somehow not really a part of it. Not really a fan of the ending, either, but this has lots of positive reviews so maybe it just wasn't for me.
February 14, 2018
Wow! This was a slow starter but once it got going it was wam bam thank you mam! Harper’s writing is very much in the here and now, but cleverly weaves an otherness that you don’t know whether to believe in or not. By the end I still couldn’t fathom what was real, and all the better for it. Read if you dare! Excellent!
September 22, 2017
A very atmospheric thriller
Dr Janet Palmer has just taken up a new position as the lead psychologist at HMP Halvergate Prison in a remote area of Norfolk. She comes to the job full of excitement about a new challenge. There has been a string of suicides with no apparent motive; her predecessor has disappeared along with his notes on her current prisoners; her colleagues are all unfriendly and unhelpful and there are rumours of a ghostly female figure pursuing the inmates to punish them for their sins.
Janet has been given the house of her predecessor to live in but this is a cold and dingy place that gives her no respite from her working life and to cap it all it always seems to be raining and cold.
The word atmospheric really sums up this book. Ms Harper is expert at building a picture of a bleak and hostile environment. This is obviously to be expected when dealing with sex offenders but she manages to make the whole environment around Janet seem gloomy and creepy.
Janet is full of enthusiasm with her new challenge and tries to use her expertise to talk to the prisoners and help them come to terms with their actions but she is impeded in every way and only manages to find one ally, the prison chaplain Stephen, with whom to discuss the ever-growing problems she is facing.
Despite Janet’s best efforts, suicides are still occurring and the rumour of the eyeless woman sending the prisoners to their deaths will not go away. This was the sort of book that you read quickly because you want to find out what happens next. There are sub-plots and links to Janet’s past and you have to admire her tenacity in trying to discover what has been going on even though all she encounters is hostility.
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because of the ongoing problem with Janet’s relationship with her partner Arun which, to me, just did not make sense. They had been together for 11 years but no real reason was given as to why, when Janet took on her new job a hundred miles away, she seems to still want to continue seeing Arun. He did not seem to have any real presence in the book and I thought although the ending was brilliant with a good twist it was spoilt by the continuing or otherwise of this relationship.
This is the author’s first book and it is a very satisfying debut which means that I look forward to reading any future offerings from Ms Harper.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Dr Janet Palmer has just taken up a new position as the lead psychologist at HMP Halvergate Prison in a remote area of Norfolk. She comes to the job full of excitement about a new challenge. There has been a string of suicides with no apparent motive; her predecessor has disappeared along with his notes on her current prisoners; her colleagues are all unfriendly and unhelpful and there are rumours of a ghostly female figure pursuing the inmates to punish them for their sins.
Janet has been given the house of her predecessor to live in but this is a cold and dingy place that gives her no respite from her working life and to cap it all it always seems to be raining and cold.
The word atmospheric really sums up this book. Ms Harper is expert at building a picture of a bleak and hostile environment. This is obviously to be expected when dealing with sex offenders but she manages to make the whole environment around Janet seem gloomy and creepy.
Janet is full of enthusiasm with her new challenge and tries to use her expertise to talk to the prisoners and help them come to terms with their actions but she is impeded in every way and only manages to find one ally, the prison chaplain Stephen, with whom to discuss the ever-growing problems she is facing.
Despite Janet’s best efforts, suicides are still occurring and the rumour of the eyeless woman sending the prisoners to their deaths will not go away. This was the sort of book that you read quickly because you want to find out what happens next. There are sub-plots and links to Janet’s past and you have to admire her tenacity in trying to discover what has been going on even though all she encounters is hostility.
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because of the ongoing problem with Janet’s relationship with her partner Arun which, to me, just did not make sense. They had been together for 11 years but no real reason was given as to why, when Janet took on her new job a hundred miles away, she seems to still want to continue seeing Arun. He did not seem to have any real presence in the book and I thought although the ending was brilliant with a good twist it was spoilt by the continuing or otherwise of this relationship.
This is the author’s first book and it is a very satisfying debut which means that I look forward to reading any future offerings from Ms Harper.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
June 3, 2020
The writing is a bit hit and miss for me; it's good and gave a creepy vibe, but there's some really fluffy writing (e.g. massive grey clouds spread overhead like a blanket hung on a low ceiling) which didn't so much as set the scene, as it did just elicit major eye rolls. The story itself is great for anyone interested in the psychology of sex offenders, but it's possible that the psychology angle took away from the story a bit, on top of that I just didn't take to Janet as a lead character.
Sometimes a story as normal as 'psychologist gets job in a rubbish prison, trying to rehabilitate sex offenders' shouldn't take on a supernatural twist. Once I got to the 60% point it was hard to push through and finish. For a book to go from majorly creepy to downright dull, is super disappointing.
Sometimes a story as normal as 'psychologist gets job in a rubbish prison, trying to rehabilitate sex offenders' shouldn't take on a supernatural twist. Once I got to the 60% point it was hard to push through and finish. For a book to go from majorly creepy to downright dull, is super disappointing.
March 3, 2023
Novel difficult to get into; especially the motivation of an intelligent, educated, sensitive psychiatrist would want to work in an obviously corrupt, disfunctional prison for the criminally insane. Clues to help reader understand connection of “ghost,” “Furies”, serial rapist, hypnotism, not clearly connected. Quite a few unanswered questions.
February 2, 2018
This never quite hit the spot for me.... it felt quite slow at times.
A super idea,and some proper creepy moments in there,but they were tied in with some less believable ones.
I wanted to like it more,but it didn't get beyond ok.
A super idea,and some proper creepy moments in there,but they were tied in with some less believable ones.
I wanted to like it more,but it didn't get beyond ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2018
I instantly loved the sound of this book; Dr Janet Palmer has taken up a new position at Halvergate Prison as their head psychologist but even upon her first day, she notices that things aren’t quite right. First of all, her predecessor, Dr John Helkin, left suddenly, leaving no notes or information about any of the prisoners he worked with and the prison has been experiencing a string of suicides and nobody knows why. As Janet gets further and further into her position, she’s determined to find out what weird things are going on and why these prisoners are committing suicide. Until things start turning personal, Janet might have to fight for her life, as well as the prison.
Firstly, the prison setting was a welcome change to a Thriller novel and not something I personally tend to stumble across too often. Anything prison related I love to watch; from Trevor McDonald to Prison Break so I really liked this aspect of the book. This was a really rich book. The detail and description that went into everything was outstanding. I loved the setting in Norfolk as well – I’ve been on a few Norfolk Broads holidays so it was nice to recognise a few of the place names. Elodie brings everything to life, from the grotty and dull house Janet is staying in to the cold, eerie and threatening prison, to the wide landscape of the country. It was an incredibly easy book to imagine in your minds eye.
The story-line did not go where I expected it to go. And that’s always a positive in a book, isn’t it? Without giving too many spoilers away, any films with possession, ghosts and demonic aspect type plots I absolutely love so it was a welcome surprise to read it in a book. Despite being a good, old Mystery / Thriller, it definitely (for me anyway) had horror-esque elements to it. I say that because at times, it scared me! I loved Janet, I loved her passion towards her job and her willingness to find out what was going on. It makes a change from the unreliable female main character that we’ve all come to know and love.
But as well as enjoying it, the fact that Janet worked with sex offenders was an ambitious move but done superbly. It’s very honest and no-nonsense, no sugar-coating but neither making it more extreme than it needs to be. I think that element of the book was brilliantly written from Janet’s point of view as a woman, coming face to face with numerous men who have committed sexual crimes. Janet always knew where to stand and her position and that’s another reason I admire Janet as a character.
As with all my reviews, I try and be fair and completely honest and although this is a blog tour review, I’m not going to approach my review any differently. Whilst I really enjoyed the book, I have a few tiny issues. It took me quite a while to read, I’m not entirely sure why; the chapters weren’t particularly long (we all know I hate long chapters!) and it was easy to read and get in to. I’m thinking that perhaps it’s because it was a bit of a slow-burner and I also got a bit frazzled with so many names. Although we have the main characters who I had a clear picture of, there’s an awful lot of other names flying around; prisoners and prison staff, a few of them I completely forgot who they were, when I shouldn’t have.
So to wrap up this review, The Binding Song is a really solidly good book which captures a lot of different elements from religion, demons, crime, greek mythology and revenge. It covers a wide, wide ground, is something a little different for the hard-core Thriller fan like me and is genuinely creepy, leaving you wary about looking in the bathroom mirror at night! The Binding Song would make a fantastic movie.
You can find all my book reviews here: www.jennyinneverland.com
Firstly, the prison setting was a welcome change to a Thriller novel and not something I personally tend to stumble across too often. Anything prison related I love to watch; from Trevor McDonald to Prison Break so I really liked this aspect of the book. This was a really rich book. The detail and description that went into everything was outstanding. I loved the setting in Norfolk as well – I’ve been on a few Norfolk Broads holidays so it was nice to recognise a few of the place names. Elodie brings everything to life, from the grotty and dull house Janet is staying in to the cold, eerie and threatening prison, to the wide landscape of the country. It was an incredibly easy book to imagine in your minds eye.
The story-line did not go where I expected it to go. And that’s always a positive in a book, isn’t it? Without giving too many spoilers away, any films with possession, ghosts and demonic aspect type plots I absolutely love so it was a welcome surprise to read it in a book. Despite being a good, old Mystery / Thriller, it definitely (for me anyway) had horror-esque elements to it. I say that because at times, it scared me! I loved Janet, I loved her passion towards her job and her willingness to find out what was going on. It makes a change from the unreliable female main character that we’ve all come to know and love.
But as well as enjoying it, the fact that Janet worked with sex offenders was an ambitious move but done superbly. It’s very honest and no-nonsense, no sugar-coating but neither making it more extreme than it needs to be. I think that element of the book was brilliantly written from Janet’s point of view as a woman, coming face to face with numerous men who have committed sexual crimes. Janet always knew where to stand and her position and that’s another reason I admire Janet as a character.
As with all my reviews, I try and be fair and completely honest and although this is a blog tour review, I’m not going to approach my review any differently. Whilst I really enjoyed the book, I have a few tiny issues. It took me quite a while to read, I’m not entirely sure why; the chapters weren’t particularly long (we all know I hate long chapters!) and it was easy to read and get in to. I’m thinking that perhaps it’s because it was a bit of a slow-burner and I also got a bit frazzled with so many names. Although we have the main characters who I had a clear picture of, there’s an awful lot of other names flying around; prisoners and prison staff, a few of them I completely forgot who they were, when I shouldn’t have.
So to wrap up this review, The Binding Song is a really solidly good book which captures a lot of different elements from religion, demons, crime, greek mythology and revenge. It covers a wide, wide ground, is something a little different for the hard-core Thriller fan like me and is genuinely creepy, leaving you wary about looking in the bathroom mirror at night! The Binding Song would make a fantastic movie.
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