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Blink
What if the person you love most in the world was in terrible danger … because of you?
Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.
But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.
Toni’s mind is trapped in a world of silence, her only chance to save herself is to manage the impossible. She must find a way to make herself heard. She must find her daughter.
A compelling, gripping thriller with a breathtaking twist that will keep you awake until the early hours. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and The Sister.
Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.
But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.
Toni’s mind is trapped in a world of silence, her only chance to save herself is to manage the impossible. She must find a way to make herself heard. She must find her daughter.
A compelling, gripping thriller with a breathtaking twist that will keep you awake until the early hours. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and The Sister.
328 pages, ebook
First published February 16, 2017
5800 people are currently reading
11181 people want to read
About the author
K.L. Slater
45 books4,691 followersKim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,567 reviews
February 7, 2017
*4.5 STARS*
'Blink' grabbed me right away with this opening sentence "You don't know this, but I watch you, I watch you a lot" It was clear that there would be a chill factor throughout, that 'shivers down your back' kind of feeling.
Toni Cotter and her five year old daughter Evie, have recently moved to Nottingham in the north of England, to be nearer Toni's mum. It's to be a fresh start after the tragic death of Toni's husband in Afghanistan.
Naturally she is having a hard time adjusting to life after the tragedy, and with money being scarce too, she relies more and more on medication to get her through each day. She eventually secures a job with a local estate agent, but really struggles to maintain control of her life. Evie meantime has started at her new school, but she changes from a happy, bubbly little girl, to one who is difficult and uncommunicative. And then comes that dreadful day - a day that would, without doubt, be every parents worst nightmare - Evie disappears! No witnesses, nothing, she just appears to have vanished from the face of the earth. The media blame Toni as she arrived late to pick Evie up from school, so as well as being driven crazy by thoughts of what has happened to her daughter, the panic, anguish and desolation, she has to cope with the fact that the public put the blame firmly at her door.
Investigations lead nowhere, and 3 years later, Evie's whereabouts are still unknown - the police have no idea whether she's even alive or not, but Toni is convinced that she's still alive, that she's out there somewhere, and is determined to find her.
Oh my! This was a phsychological thriller of the highest order. Misdirection is the name of the game, as it leads you to believe one thing, but be careful what you do believe as it's definitely a case of smoke and mirrors. The characters were well rounded, there were twists and turns galore, the plot was extremely clever, and it was difficult to put down.
'Blink' and you'll miss this one! Don't let that happen, get your hands on a copy, and see what all the fuss is about, you'll be glad that you did.
*Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for my ARC, for which I have given an honest, unbiased review*
'Blink' grabbed me right away with this opening sentence "You don't know this, but I watch you, I watch you a lot" It was clear that there would be a chill factor throughout, that 'shivers down your back' kind of feeling.
Toni Cotter and her five year old daughter Evie, have recently moved to Nottingham in the north of England, to be nearer Toni's mum. It's to be a fresh start after the tragic death of Toni's husband in Afghanistan.
Naturally she is having a hard time adjusting to life after the tragedy, and with money being scarce too, she relies more and more on medication to get her through each day. She eventually secures a job with a local estate agent, but really struggles to maintain control of her life. Evie meantime has started at her new school, but she changes from a happy, bubbly little girl, to one who is difficult and uncommunicative. And then comes that dreadful day - a day that would, without doubt, be every parents worst nightmare - Evie disappears! No witnesses, nothing, she just appears to have vanished from the face of the earth. The media blame Toni as she arrived late to pick Evie up from school, so as well as being driven crazy by thoughts of what has happened to her daughter, the panic, anguish and desolation, she has to cope with the fact that the public put the blame firmly at her door.
Investigations lead nowhere, and 3 years later, Evie's whereabouts are still unknown - the police have no idea whether she's even alive or not, but Toni is convinced that she's still alive, that she's out there somewhere, and is determined to find her.
Oh my! This was a phsychological thriller of the highest order. Misdirection is the name of the game, as it leads you to believe one thing, but be careful what you do believe as it's definitely a case of smoke and mirrors. The characters were well rounded, there were twists and turns galore, the plot was extremely clever, and it was difficult to put down.
'Blink' and you'll miss this one! Don't let that happen, get your hands on a copy, and see what all the fuss is about, you'll be glad that you did.
*Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for my ARC, for which I have given an honest, unbiased review*
September 29, 2019
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
3.5 Stars
This is my first read from K.L. Slater and after reading the description of BLINK, I thought it sounded like a book I would enjoy.
I was right. The book pulled me in right from the start.
PRESENT DAY
A patient is in what appears to be a vegetative state. The doctors and nurses don't realize that she can hear everything around her. She's hoping this is the day they will notice something that will make them see that she's not gone. Inside her head she's screaming "Look at Me". But as she lay there all she can do is think of is how she's all to blame...but for what?
THREE YEARS EARLIER (Toni)
After the death of her husband, Toni Cotter and her five-year-old daughter Evie have just moved to Nottingham. It is affordable, but the area makes Toni a bit uncomfortable, especially after she meets the neighbors. Toni is struggling and finding it hard to get through each day and she's been relying more on a "crutch" she keeps hidden from everyone. She promises she will fix things in her life soon. Evie will be starting school at St. Saviour's Primary. Toni's mother is a big help, and will pick up Evie from school most days. Her mother can be quite indulgent with Evie, which causes conflict between Toni and her mom.
THREE YEARS EARLIER (The Teacher)
Harriet Watson is the teachers assistant at St. Saviour's Primary, but with her background and 19 years of experience she considers herself a proper teacher. Harriet likes to take some children under her wing and help to give them insight and guidance in this difficult world. She picks the children she "helps" very carefully.
THREE YEARS EARLIER (Toni)
For once luck is on her side and Toni finds a job almost immediately. Unfortunately, one of her bosses takes an immediate dislike to Toni and does everything she can to make the work environment difficult. Toni is becoming increasingly overwhelmed. Evie is suddenly not wanting to go to school, her mother is criticizing her, and her job is challenging to say the least. She loves her daughter so much and just wants to do right by her. But more and more she finds herself leaning on her "crutch".
But things are about to get so much worse. After a particularly horrible day, Toni is on her way to pick up Evie from school but she's running late.
When she finally gets to the school her nightmare really begins...
Phew! This book was intense!
There were so many ways that things could go. I was sure I had things figured out and then something would happen that would send me into another direction. Although there were a few plausibility issues, they really didn't bother me all that much.
A clever story with an intriguing plot. The multiple perspectives, the Before, Three years earlier, and Present day were easy to follow. It all added to the story. I think it's a testament to the author's skill as a writer because even with all of the time frames and point of views, it was easy to keep things straight. Although, I was happy with how everything came out in the end, I would have liked to have known a little more of what happened afterward.
BLINK is a good psychological thriller. An easy and pleasurable read and I look forward to more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 Stars
This is my first read from K.L. Slater and after reading the description of BLINK, I thought it sounded like a book I would enjoy.
I was right. The book pulled me in right from the start.
PRESENT DAY
A patient is in what appears to be a vegetative state. The doctors and nurses don't realize that she can hear everything around her. She's hoping this is the day they will notice something that will make them see that she's not gone. Inside her head she's screaming "Look at Me". But as she lay there all she can do is think of is how she's all to blame...but for what?
THREE YEARS EARLIER (Toni)
After the death of her husband, Toni Cotter and her five-year-old daughter Evie have just moved to Nottingham. It is affordable, but the area makes Toni a bit uncomfortable, especially after she meets the neighbors. Toni is struggling and finding it hard to get through each day and she's been relying more on a "crutch" she keeps hidden from everyone. She promises she will fix things in her life soon. Evie will be starting school at St. Saviour's Primary. Toni's mother is a big help, and will pick up Evie from school most days. Her mother can be quite indulgent with Evie, which causes conflict between Toni and her mom.
THREE YEARS EARLIER (The Teacher)
Harriet Watson is the teachers assistant at St. Saviour's Primary, but with her background and 19 years of experience she considers herself a proper teacher. Harriet likes to take some children under her wing and help to give them insight and guidance in this difficult world. She picks the children she "helps" very carefully.
THREE YEARS EARLIER (Toni)
For once luck is on her side and Toni finds a job almost immediately. Unfortunately, one of her bosses takes an immediate dislike to Toni and does everything she can to make the work environment difficult. Toni is becoming increasingly overwhelmed. Evie is suddenly not wanting to go to school, her mother is criticizing her, and her job is challenging to say the least. She loves her daughter so much and just wants to do right by her. But more and more she finds herself leaning on her "crutch".
But things are about to get so much worse. After a particularly horrible day, Toni is on her way to pick up Evie from school but she's running late.
When she finally gets to the school her nightmare really begins...
Phew! This book was intense!
There were so many ways that things could go. I was sure I had things figured out and then something would happen that would send me into another direction. Although there were a few plausibility issues, they really didn't bother me all that much.
A clever story with an intriguing plot. The multiple perspectives, the Before, Three years earlier, and Present day were easy to follow. It all added to the story. I think it's a testament to the author's skill as a writer because even with all of the time frames and point of views, it was easy to keep things straight. Although, I was happy with how everything came out in the end, I would have liked to have known a little more of what happened afterward.
BLINK is a good psychological thriller. An easy and pleasurable read and I look forward to more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
April 18, 2017
Blink had just about everything that I could wish for in a
psychological suspense thriller. This has been on my shelf for awhile now and I can't believe that I waited so long to read it. It has brilliantly gripping suspense. I couldn't put it down. It was like a roller coaster ride. Some of those twists just made my jaw drop.
When Toni's life has fallen apart she tries to rebuild it. She has lost her husband and tries so hard to get over it. Nothing seems to go right for her. Her daughter disappears without a trace.
This book kept me guessing all the way through about who was in the coma and who had taken Evie and who could you trust.
Its one of those stories that switches between the present and three years earlier. I usually don't care for books that does this but this one was fantastic.
I thought the characterization was done very well. I could just vision every character. I felt so sorry for Toni in the beginning but then changed how I felt because she became very negligent. There were so many times I felt like slapping Harriet. I found Harriet Watson the domineering teaching assistant who tries to pass herself off as Evie's teacher particularly sinister. Byrony was greedy and just cared about herself and didn't care whose shoes she stepped on. I thought most of the characters were pretty evil, and the next door neighbor was just too creepy.
I really adored Evie.
The ending was a burst of surprise. The twists just kept on coming. This was an awesome psychological thriller. I am looking forward to reading Safe With Me by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
psychological suspense thriller. This has been on my shelf for awhile now and I can't believe that I waited so long to read it. It has brilliantly gripping suspense. I couldn't put it down. It was like a roller coaster ride. Some of those twists just made my jaw drop.
When Toni's life has fallen apart she tries to rebuild it. She has lost her husband and tries so hard to get over it. Nothing seems to go right for her. Her daughter disappears without a trace.
This book kept me guessing all the way through about who was in the coma and who had taken Evie and who could you trust.
Its one of those stories that switches between the present and three years earlier. I usually don't care for books that does this but this one was fantastic.
I thought the characterization was done very well. I could just vision every character. I felt so sorry for Toni in the beginning but then changed how I felt because she became very negligent. There were so many times I felt like slapping Harriet. I found Harriet Watson the domineering teaching assistant who tries to pass herself off as Evie's teacher particularly sinister. Byrony was greedy and just cared about herself and didn't care whose shoes she stepped on. I thought most of the characters were pretty evil, and the next door neighbor was just too creepy.
I really adored Evie.
The ending was a burst of surprise. The twists just kept on coming. This was an awesome psychological thriller. I am looking forward to reading Safe With Me by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
January 10, 2017
You know that game that people play?
The one in which you have to guess which cup the tiny ball is under. The cups move back and forth and all around on the table. It's called a sleight of hand and twist of fate. That's exactly what's happening here.
Toni Cotter and her five year old daughter, Evie, are tempting that fate by starting over. What they've left behind are the tragic memories of a young husband who died too soon after returning home from a freak accident in Afghanistan. Toni can barely manage one day to the next even with the help of her mother who lives nearby.
Toni begins to numb the pain by taking pills left over from her husband's prescription. Like the Rolling Stones song, Mother's Little Helper, such careless behavior is dropping Toni further and further down the Rabbit Hole.
With her back against the wall and her finances in an uproar, Toni applies for a job in real estate part-time. She places spritely little Evie in St. Savior's Primary School. But young Evie gives Toni a hard time about attending. Her once upbeat personality begins to change.
And then the worst nightmare that can ever visit on the threshold of a parent's heart happens. Toni is late in picking Evie up from school because her mother is in the hospital. When she finally arrives, the school is closed with only the caretaker in charge. No sign of Evie anywhere. With panic rising by the millisecond, Toni collapses to the ground. Her world explodes.
K.L. Slater begins the first chapter with the thud of a deep chill. The story flips back and forth between "Three Years Earlier" and "Present Day" and this will keep you on your toes. I swear you will be hyperventilating along with Toni. Slater knows how to keep a story on track as she did in Safe With Me. Curiously, it is the quick turn of the head, the slight inattention, and the preoccupation with the mundane that take our eyes off the prize in everyday life.
Blink is a fast read that will definitely hold your attention. And just like the title, what you think you see and know can change rapidly in the blink of an eye.
I received a copy of Blink through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bookouture and to K.L. Slater for the opportunity.
The one in which you have to guess which cup the tiny ball is under. The cups move back and forth and all around on the table. It's called a sleight of hand and twist of fate. That's exactly what's happening here.
Toni Cotter and her five year old daughter, Evie, are tempting that fate by starting over. What they've left behind are the tragic memories of a young husband who died too soon after returning home from a freak accident in Afghanistan. Toni can barely manage one day to the next even with the help of her mother who lives nearby.
Toni begins to numb the pain by taking pills left over from her husband's prescription. Like the Rolling Stones song, Mother's Little Helper, such careless behavior is dropping Toni further and further down the Rabbit Hole.
With her back against the wall and her finances in an uproar, Toni applies for a job in real estate part-time. She places spritely little Evie in St. Savior's Primary School. But young Evie gives Toni a hard time about attending. Her once upbeat personality begins to change.
And then the worst nightmare that can ever visit on the threshold of a parent's heart happens. Toni is late in picking Evie up from school because her mother is in the hospital. When she finally arrives, the school is closed with only the caretaker in charge. No sign of Evie anywhere. With panic rising by the millisecond, Toni collapses to the ground. Her world explodes.
K.L. Slater begins the first chapter with the thud of a deep chill. The story flips back and forth between "Three Years Earlier" and "Present Day" and this will keep you on your toes. I swear you will be hyperventilating along with Toni. Slater knows how to keep a story on track as she did in Safe With Me. Curiously, it is the quick turn of the head, the slight inattention, and the preoccupation with the mundane that take our eyes off the prize in everyday life.
Blink is a fast read that will definitely hold your attention. And just like the title, what you think you see and know can change rapidly in the blink of an eye.
I received a copy of Blink through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bookouture and to K.L. Slater for the opportunity.
February 7, 2017
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
Too many obvious "red herrings" spoiled this pot o'fish for me. Once upon a time, red herrings were slyly introduced into a storyline. The ones within these pages smack you upside your head like badly thrown fish at Seattle's Pike Place Fish Market.
Giving three stars for its readability and for one assumption I made early on that did not pan out. Also I loved the delivery of flowers that were so stingingly beautiful.
Too many obvious "red herrings" spoiled this pot o'fish for me. Once upon a time, red herrings were slyly introduced into a storyline. The ones within these pages smack you upside your head like badly thrown fish at Seattle's Pike Place Fish Market.
Giving three stars for its readability and for one assumption I made early on that did not pan out. Also I loved the delivery of flowers that were so stingingly beautiful.
September 21, 2017
Easily a 10 star review!
I couldn't put this book down.
I was hooked from the very first chapter.
Blink is, gripping, Exciting, keeps you in suspense, actually plays mind games there is so many goose bump moments and exciting twists.
It's a physiological suspense thriller that doesn't disappoint.
I'm not often speechless when it comes to reviewing books but if I sum this book up then I may give too much away.
I seriously don't want to do that as I plead with you to read it!
Briefly.... Evie is a 5 year old little girl who goes missing one day and never comes back!
Toni, Evie's Mum has just lost her husband and is struggling with life.
She moves Evie to be closer to her Mum for support.
It's from this very day they move into their new house, things take a sinister turn.
Will Toni and Evie ever be happy?
Who is watching them? Is anyone actually watching them?
Who takes Evie that day? Will she ever be found?
The characters in this book are fantastic.
Each one is carefully thought out.
I didn't particularly like the teacher Harriet.
There was something about her that made me shudder.
Blink has a dark feel to it and really plays with your emotions!
Did I guess right? Was my suspicions correct.... I couldn't possibly say :-)
Be prepared for one almighty twist.
There are plenty of little twists I was shocked. I had my suspicions but still had to read it twice! I was kicking myself for not seeing it!
I would love to hear your views on the twist to see if your suspicions were correct!
If your contemplating reading Blink, then please do read it. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.
I'm sorry my review is short, but I loved this book and don't want to spoil it.
A book that leaves you tingling and your pulses racing and the hairs on your arms stand up is definitely a keeper.
Can't wait for more books from KL Slater!
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via NetGalley.
My Review is also on my blog website:
http://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/09...
I couldn't put this book down.
I was hooked from the very first chapter.
Blink is, gripping, Exciting, keeps you in suspense, actually plays mind games there is so many goose bump moments and exciting twists.
It's a physiological suspense thriller that doesn't disappoint.
I'm not often speechless when it comes to reviewing books but if I sum this book up then I may give too much away.
I seriously don't want to do that as I plead with you to read it!
Briefly.... Evie is a 5 year old little girl who goes missing one day and never comes back!
Toni, Evie's Mum has just lost her husband and is struggling with life.
She moves Evie to be closer to her Mum for support.
It's from this very day they move into their new house, things take a sinister turn.
Will Toni and Evie ever be happy?
Who is watching them? Is anyone actually watching them?
Who takes Evie that day? Will she ever be found?
The characters in this book are fantastic.
Each one is carefully thought out.
I didn't particularly like the teacher Harriet.
There was something about her that made me shudder.
Blink has a dark feel to it and really plays with your emotions!
Did I guess right? Was my suspicions correct.... I couldn't possibly say :-)
Be prepared for one almighty twist.
There are plenty of little twists I was shocked. I had my suspicions but still had to read it twice! I was kicking myself for not seeing it!
I would love to hear your views on the twist to see if your suspicions were correct!
If your contemplating reading Blink, then please do read it. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.
I'm sorry my review is short, but I loved this book and don't want to spoil it.
A book that leaves you tingling and your pulses racing and the hairs on your arms stand up is definitely a keeper.
Can't wait for more books from KL Slater!
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via NetGalley.
My Review is also on my blog website:
http://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/09...
February 24, 2017
4 stars.
Blink is a quick, fast-paced, easy read that captures your attention immediately and won’t let go till the very last sentence.
Toni Cotter had it all – a loving husband and a beautiful little girl named Evie. But that life didn’t last. Her husband, Andrew got called back to Afghanistan and he died in an accident, causing her carefree life to go up in flames. Unable to care for her daughter on her own, she and Evie move closer to her mum as they are in need of a fresh start. There, five year-old Evie starts at new school and has a hard time adjusting - becoming extremely unhappy and very quiet. Meanwhile, Toni, who has had a hard time coping with the cards life has dealt her, ends up making some very poor choices ultimately putting Evie’s life in danger. Unfortunately, in the end, these choices lead to catastrophic events: one day little Evie disappears. Years go by. And still there is no trace of her.
Yet Toni does not give up. She is a mother and even though she, and everyone else, blame herself for Evie’s disappearance, she believes her daughter to be alive. And she will not rest until Evie is found.
Alternating between Toni’s recollection of “Three Years Earlier” and the “Present Day,” KL Slater does a phenomenal job in keeping the readers in suspense and in keeping us off guard. There were times when I was sure that I knew what was going on and was completely wrong. There were a few plot points that I felt were unnecessary (hence the 4 star v. 5 star rating) but all in all, this was a good psychological thriller. If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing and surprise you till the end, this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and KL Slater for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 2/23/17.
Blink is a quick, fast-paced, easy read that captures your attention immediately and won’t let go till the very last sentence.
Toni Cotter had it all – a loving husband and a beautiful little girl named Evie. But that life didn’t last. Her husband, Andrew got called back to Afghanistan and he died in an accident, causing her carefree life to go up in flames. Unable to care for her daughter on her own, she and Evie move closer to her mum as they are in need of a fresh start. There, five year-old Evie starts at new school and has a hard time adjusting - becoming extremely unhappy and very quiet. Meanwhile, Toni, who has had a hard time coping with the cards life has dealt her, ends up making some very poor choices ultimately putting Evie’s life in danger. Unfortunately, in the end, these choices lead to catastrophic events: one day little Evie disappears. Years go by. And still there is no trace of her.
Yet Toni does not give up. She is a mother and even though she, and everyone else, blame herself for Evie’s disappearance, she believes her daughter to be alive. And she will not rest until Evie is found.
Alternating between Toni’s recollection of “Three Years Earlier” and the “Present Day,” KL Slater does a phenomenal job in keeping the readers in suspense and in keeping us off guard. There were times when I was sure that I knew what was going on and was completely wrong. There were a few plot points that I felt were unnecessary (hence the 4 star v. 5 star rating) but all in all, this was a good psychological thriller. If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing and surprise you till the end, this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and KL Slater for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 2/23/17.
February 6, 2017
BLINK by K.L. Slater is the authors second psychological thriller. The book is set in Nottinghamshire. I loved her debut thriller, Safe With Me”, and I couldn’t wait to read this novel. I was not disappointed…I loved it.
“A gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist you’ll never forget.”
The story opens with a women in a medical centre who has suffered a stroke currently on a respirator, in a vegetative state as she cannot speak or move. But she is very much alive…a prisoner in a corpse…and she remembers everything…but the doctors think she is brain-dead!
Toni Cotter had moved to Nottinghamshire with her 5-year-old daughter, Evie for a fresh start, and to be close to her mom, after her husband, Andrew had been killed during a special operation in Afghanistan. It was hard for both Evie after the death of her father, adapting to a new area and new school with no friends. Toni tried to be a strong mother, dealing with financial problems as well as grief, and resorted to taking her dead husband’s sedatives to cope with life.
“Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.”
TONI BELIEVES HER DAUGHTER IS ALIVE. SHE MUST FIND HER DAUGHTER.
The story flips back and forth between "Three Years Earlier" and "Present Day" and “Diary Entry” and this will keep you flipping the pages, trying to fill in the total picture.
The mystery of what has happened to Evie is gripping and any one of a number of characters could have been involved in her disappearance. Packed with twists and red herrings that keep the reader guessing. At the 80% mark in my Kindle, the story breaks wide open. WOW! I was scrambling to race ahead and see what was going to happen. And then the ending was POW! I won’t reveal anything more. Just read this book.
BLINK… BLINK
Highly recommended for all psychological lovers.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
“A gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist you’ll never forget.”
The story opens with a women in a medical centre who has suffered a stroke currently on a respirator, in a vegetative state as she cannot speak or move. But she is very much alive…a prisoner in a corpse…and she remembers everything…but the doctors think she is brain-dead!
Toni Cotter had moved to Nottinghamshire with her 5-year-old daughter, Evie for a fresh start, and to be close to her mom, after her husband, Andrew had been killed during a special operation in Afghanistan. It was hard for both Evie after the death of her father, adapting to a new area and new school with no friends. Toni tried to be a strong mother, dealing with financial problems as well as grief, and resorted to taking her dead husband’s sedatives to cope with life.
“Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.”
TONI BELIEVES HER DAUGHTER IS ALIVE. SHE MUST FIND HER DAUGHTER.
The story flips back and forth between "Three Years Earlier" and "Present Day" and “Diary Entry” and this will keep you flipping the pages, trying to fill in the total picture.
The mystery of what has happened to Evie is gripping and any one of a number of characters could have been involved in her disappearance. Packed with twists and red herrings that keep the reader guessing. At the 80% mark in my Kindle, the story breaks wide open. WOW! I was scrambling to race ahead and see what was going to happen. And then the ending was POW! I won’t reveal anything more. Just read this book.
BLINK… BLINK
Highly recommended for all psychological lovers.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
January 6, 2017
Well...I finished this book last night and now feel able to write my review. I had been dying to read this second psychological thriller by this author following her first, Safe With Me, which I positively devoured. Without giving too much away I enjoyed this even more which I didn't think was possible. The book had me from the very first sentence and kept hold of me until I finished it. The author expertly lined up suspects and scenarios throughout the book, sending me in one direction and then another until my head was spinning with possibilities. It is a testament to the characterisation in this book that I was terrified of at least three characters while wanting to reach in and shake others, I felt I knew them all that well. There are twists galore but on one occasion my jaw actually dropped open as I realised that all was not as it seemed. Fantastic writing, excellent characterisation that has left me salivating for book number three!
March 20, 2020
3.0 stars— I have been wanting to read K.L. Slater, so what better time to do this than when I’m sitting at home bored out of my mind. “Blink” seemed like a logical place to start as I have heard nothing but good things about it since its release. “Blink” is told from multiple perspectives and follows the life of Toni, a newly widowed mother who has had a very difficult time adjusting to the loss of her husband. The story is told in both the present and three years prior to the incident and covers the mystery of the disappearance of Toni’s daughter. To say that the identity of the perpetrator is a mystery is an understatement. The author goes out of her way to make every character a suspect which leads to some strange interactions and plot twists. The ending was even stranger where the term “out of left field” doesn’t even begin to define the ridiculous way the book concludes. I would describe “Blink” as riding in a car with a reckless driver — you can’t stop going, but with all of the ridiculous twists and turns, you’re not enjoying it, and you can’t wait to get out of the car.
August 19, 2017
Blink.
5/5
This had me hook line and sinker.
I always take note of Titles and book covers and this sure told a great story.
It's a Mums worse nightmare. Your child going missing.
I've read lots of stories of children being taken, blaming the parents because they allowed them to swim in the pool, walk to the shop only three doors away, play in they're own back garden.
just what was the Mother thinking not keeping an eye on them! <\b>
This story wasn't what happened. Not in any of those instances mentioned above, but, for the Mother, it was the same.
Not only has this Mum got her own guilty feeling but, her daughters gone. And cruelty prevails by the public masses.
Lots of distinctive characters within these pages. I thought I had it figured out.
This authors mind is very very clever, you don't get this until right at the very end.
Then you are gasping, panting and your jaw drops, I kid you not.
So where does the title come in?
I'm not telling.
Blink, and you may miss it.
Blink and no one may see.
Got you guessing? I really hope so.
This is the authors second psychological thriller.
I'm now going to fit in her first one. I've found a new author I can stalk! I mean.....follow.
My thanks to Bookoutour one of my favourite publisher via Net Galley for my copy
February 6, 2017
A wonderful preface to this book, which just grabbed me. It's a wonderful description. When something awful happens, what truly is the worst of the moments that follow?
Then the book backs up and leads you through a young widow’s story. Having lost her husband from an incident in Afghanistan, she moves to Nottingham to be closer to her mother. After a very promising beginning, the book seemed very leaden. The narrative shifts between the time of the move and the present day, after her daughter has gone missing. Toni has a lot of issues, an addiction to pills, financial trouble and an overwhelming mom. Still, I found it hard to feel any sort of sympathy or kinship with her. Toni and the rest of the characters come across as two dimensional. The assistant teacher for her daughter Evie’s class is a real cliche, as is her nasty work cohort. The book is purposely obtuse about the time between the move and the abduction of her daughter.
Someone is trying to make life even more difficult for Toni than it already is. From the very beginning, someone is sabotaging her life. You get hints in the form of a “report” being written to someone. This was just intriguing enough to make me read to the end. The pace picks up towards the end as it all comes together. But the ending also has a cliche that irritates.
This one just didn't do it for me. I felt cheated after the very promising first few pages.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
Then the book backs up and leads you through a young widow’s story. Having lost her husband from an incident in Afghanistan, she moves to Nottingham to be closer to her mother. After a very promising beginning, the book seemed very leaden. The narrative shifts between the time of the move and the present day, after her daughter has gone missing. Toni has a lot of issues, an addiction to pills, financial trouble and an overwhelming mom. Still, I found it hard to feel any sort of sympathy or kinship with her. Toni and the rest of the characters come across as two dimensional. The assistant teacher for her daughter Evie’s class is a real cliche, as is her nasty work cohort. The book is purposely obtuse about the time between the move and the abduction of her daughter.
Someone is trying to make life even more difficult for Toni than it already is. From the very beginning, someone is sabotaging her life. You get hints in the form of a “report” being written to someone. This was just intriguing enough to make me read to the end. The pace picks up towards the end as it all comes together. But the ending also has a cliche that irritates.
This one just didn't do it for me. I felt cheated after the very promising first few pages.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
February 7, 2017
Tori lost her husband in an accident that took place in Afghanistan. She moved into a home closer to her mum. Tori's 5-year-old daughter was still dealing with her father's death and then she had to adapt to a new home, a new school, making new friends.
Tori hasn't handled things as well as she should have. Having to still take sedatives 2 years after her husband's death is hiding from the pain ... not learning to live with it.
Three years ago, her daughter disappeared. Tori was late picking her up from school and when she got there, her daughter was gone. No one saw anything, no one heard anything.
The story is told in chapters that alternate between what happened 3 years ago and the present time. They finally merge at the end of the book. Take a deep breath ... nothing is what you thought it was. The ending is nothing short of stunning with a surprise twist.
Just WOW! If you are a person who enjoys psychological thrillers, you will LOVE this one! If you only read one book this year ... let it be this one!
This is definitely one author that I am going to follow religiously!
Many thanks to the author / Bookoutre / Netgalley for the opportunity to read BLINK. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
Tori hasn't handled things as well as she should have. Having to still take sedatives 2 years after her husband's death is hiding from the pain ... not learning to live with it.
Three years ago, her daughter disappeared. Tori was late picking her up from school and when she got there, her daughter was gone. No one saw anything, no one heard anything.
The story is told in chapters that alternate between what happened 3 years ago and the present time. They finally merge at the end of the book. Take a deep breath ... nothing is what you thought it was. The ending is nothing short of stunning with a surprise twist.
Just WOW! If you are a person who enjoys psychological thrillers, you will LOVE this one! If you only read one book this year ... let it be this one!
This is definitely one author that I am going to follow religiously!
Many thanks to the author / Bookoutre / Netgalley for the opportunity to read BLINK. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
August 6, 2019
Wait wait wait. WHAT?? That was not just a twist. That, my friends, had so many 'twists' it resembled a tangled up Slinky!
As if this didn't make me feel like I was
paralyzed, unable to breath on my own, in the first place, then BAM! Slinky time! And that was only the beginning of playtime with Slinky!
Blink 'A Psychological Thriller with a Killer Twist You'll Never Forget'
That's a title that's dead on!! Just brilliant!
I already own two other books by K.L. Slater, Liar and Safe With Me. And that makes me very happy!
As if this didn't make me feel like I was
paralyzed, unable to breath on my own, in the first place, then BAM! Slinky time! And that was only the beginning of playtime with Slinky!
Blink 'A Psychological Thriller with a Killer Twist You'll Never Forget'
That's a title that's dead on!! Just brilliant!
I already own two other books by K.L. Slater, Liar and Safe With Me. And that makes me very happy!
June 9, 2017
Oh dear. I much preferred 'Safe With Me ', the first book I read by K L Slater. That was a book that swept me along in its current.
Blink is very different. The premise is great, the execution not so wonderful, and the promotional blurb tells lies.
The journey was okay. It was a reasonable read but I have issues, particularly with the ending, which I can't discuss without giving away vital spoilers. All in all, I was disappointed. 2.5☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Blink for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Blink is very different. The premise is great, the execution not so wonderful, and the promotional blurb tells lies.
The journey was okay. It was a reasonable read but I have issues, particularly with the ending, which I can't discuss without giving away vital spoilers. All in all, I was disappointed. 2.5☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Blink for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
February 6, 2017
2.5 stars
Not sure if you caught the fact that this a twist in this book? (Insert heavy sarcasm here)
The publisher didn't even leave it up to the reader to point out in their review. Nope-they felt they needed to add it right there next to the title where it will smack you in the face. You know-just in case you might miss it...
This is part of the reason for the lower rating. Anytime a publisher alerts me to what's coming, I'm on high alert and therefore already thinking of every scenario possible of what the big 'twist' is going to be. So when it was actually revealed, all I could do was pat myself on the shoulder for already having figured out part of it. That's right-only part of it. I think that was the saving grace for me about this book, as there were some elements that I didn't see coming.
Another reason I couldn't rate this higher is that I didn't care for any of the characters. The author tried to make the reader sympathetic to the main protag, but I just couldn't do it. Same old plot-Wife loses husband tragically, she has melt down and becomes reliant on pills. Her young daughter is struggling with the new move, sketchy neighbors, strange behavior from those around her that she completely ignores...yada yada yada.
There was just too much predictability here and not enough intensity for me to call this a 'psychological thriller'. Others disagree with my feelings, so if you are on the fence, I say give it a shot as it's a fast read coming in under 300 pages, and decide for yourself.
I heard that her first book was really strong- I'm just not sold enough on this one to go check it out. Maybe if I can get my TBR mountain cleared out. (Again, insert sarcasm here)
ARC provided by NetGalley
Not sure if you caught the fact that this a twist in this book? (Insert heavy sarcasm here)
The publisher didn't even leave it up to the reader to point out in their review. Nope-they felt they needed to add it right there next to the title where it will smack you in the face. You know-just in case you might miss it...
This is part of the reason for the lower rating. Anytime a publisher alerts me to what's coming, I'm on high alert and therefore already thinking of every scenario possible of what the big 'twist' is going to be. So when it was actually revealed, all I could do was pat myself on the shoulder for already having figured out part of it. That's right-only part of it. I think that was the saving grace for me about this book, as there were some elements that I didn't see coming.
Another reason I couldn't rate this higher is that I didn't care for any of the characters. The author tried to make the reader sympathetic to the main protag, but I just couldn't do it. Same old plot-Wife loses husband tragically, she has melt down and becomes reliant on pills. Her young daughter is struggling with the new move, sketchy neighbors, strange behavior from those around her that she completely ignores...yada yada yada.
There was just too much predictability here and not enough intensity for me to call this a 'psychological thriller'. Others disagree with my feelings, so if you are on the fence, I say give it a shot as it's a fast read coming in under 300 pages, and decide for yourself.
I heard that her first book was really strong- I'm just not sold enough on this one to go check it out. Maybe if I can get my TBR mountain cleared out. (Again, insert sarcasm here)
ARC provided by NetGalley
April 14, 2017
3 Stars
This book is about a young widow, Toni, who her husband has died in a special operation in Afghanistan. Now she has moved to another city to be near her mother. She has financial troubles and she uses her dead husband’s pills as a sedative. Some time later her five-year-old daughter, Evie, gone missing. This story has been told in multiple POV and contains two parts. The first part is more than half of the book and it was really flat. I mean it wasn’t a little bit exciting even! You are just waiting to something happens and it wasn’t happened until 60%-70% of the story. After that the story is getting a little bit better. And the ending was really surprising for me, but its slowness was really on my nerves. I didn’t like the characters even Toni. She was an irresponsible and an awful mother. And I think at some point the author wanted to justify her actions. Another issue was that this story isn’t a psychological thriller. I think It was a weak story and this 3 Stars is just for the remaining 30%-40%.
This book is about a young widow, Toni, who her husband has died in a special operation in Afghanistan. Now she has moved to another city to be near her mother. She has financial troubles and she uses her dead husband’s pills as a sedative. Some time later her five-year-old daughter, Evie, gone missing. This story has been told in multiple POV and contains two parts. The first part is more than half of the book and it was really flat. I mean it wasn’t a little bit exciting even! You are just waiting to something happens and it wasn’t happened until 60%-70% of the story. After that the story is getting a little bit better. And the ending was really surprising for me, but its slowness was really on my nerves. I didn’t like the characters even Toni. She was an irresponsible and an awful mother. And I think at some point the author wanted to justify her actions. Another issue was that this story isn’t a psychological thriller. I think It was a weak story and this 3 Stars is just for the remaining 30%-40%.
October 2, 2017
Three years ago, Toni's five year old daughter Evie went missing after leaving school. The hunt was on for Evie, but with no CCTV footage, no clues and no witnesses the police are unable to find little Evie.
Toni believes her daughter is still alive, but getting anyone to believe her will be more than difficult as she lays in a hospital bed unable to communicate with anyone. Toni knows she must find a way of being heard or her daughter may never be found.
I just love psychological thrillers that keep me up reading late into the night and that's precisely what this book did. Highly recommended.
Toni believes her daughter is still alive, but getting anyone to believe her will be more than difficult as she lays in a hospital bed unable to communicate with anyone. Toni knows she must find a way of being heard or her daughter may never be found.
I just love psychological thrillers that keep me up reading late into the night and that's precisely what this book did. Highly recommended.
January 22, 2017
Another satisfying read from author KL Slater. A fast paced psychological thriller that draws the reader in and ties them up in knots with superb twists and turns.
This novel features Toni whose five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school three years ago. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.
Toni is convinced her daughter is still alive and she is determined to find out the truth.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for another great read in exchange for an honest review.
This novel features Toni whose five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school three years ago. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.
Toni is convinced her daughter is still alive and she is determined to find out the truth.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for another great read in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2020
Beware: in this story, you won't trust anyone!
I have to admit that, over the years, I got tired of missing child stories, but this one had some elements that kept me enthralled.
Although the ending was a bit far-fetched, I enjoyed every minute of this fast read. It was perfect for my solo evening!
I have to admit that, over the years, I got tired of missing child stories, but this one had some elements that kept me enthralled.
Although the ending was a bit far-fetched, I enjoyed every minute of this fast read. It was perfect for my solo evening!
February 9, 2017
K.L.Slater had me gripped from the start of this, her second psychological thriller. The story flips back and forwards from 3 years ago to the present day.
Toni has moved back closer to her Mum after the death of her husband, so she can help her look after Toni's daughter, Evie, who is 5 years old. But then Evie disappears after leaving school and with no trace or CCTV evidence, the police struggle to find her.
Another tense read from the author. With a few twists along the way, make this edge of the seat read hard to put down. You will think you will know who the guilty party is, then the curve ball comes and sends you in a different direction. I do recommend this novel. Loved it.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author K.L. Slater for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Toni has moved back closer to her Mum after the death of her husband, so she can help her look after Toni's daughter, Evie, who is 5 years old. But then Evie disappears after leaving school and with no trace or CCTV evidence, the police struggle to find her.
Another tense read from the author. With a few twists along the way, make this edge of the seat read hard to put down. You will think you will know who the guilty party is, then the curve ball comes and sends you in a different direction. I do recommend this novel. Loved it.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author K.L. Slater for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2023
A great fast paced novel that will grab you early on and keep you keen until the end. Not too heavy and not too light, just right.
The story is written with moments of shock and minor clues sewn in as you go. Clues. Things to retain for later when you try to piece it together. A child is taken, a mother is blamed for being late and therefore irresponsible. Lives change in one day from one degree of pain to horrific pain that won't show mercy.
There are plenty of messed up characters in this book, I had a blast working out who was really on the good team or not. Trust nobody.The writing itself is clear and simple - this is not a complicated read therefore you can just read and enjoy it.
I liked the twists and reveals near the end but really wanted the very end moments to be expanded upon further. I felt that moment was blunted and cut too short. I wanted to see more emotion, more trauma.
The pace of the book is great, it keeps you happily moving along and all round this was a good book that I'd happily recommend to those that like abduction themes and psychological thrillers. It's a little gem. I give it 4 very happy stars! Nice one.
I received an ARC of this book thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley. All review opinions are my own and my review is totally unbiased.
The story is written with moments of shock and minor clues sewn in as you go. Clues. Things to retain for later when you try to piece it together. A child is taken, a mother is blamed for being late and therefore irresponsible. Lives change in one day from one degree of pain to horrific pain that won't show mercy.
There are plenty of messed up characters in this book, I had a blast working out who was really on the good team or not. Trust nobody.The writing itself is clear and simple - this is not a complicated read therefore you can just read and enjoy it.
I liked the twists and reveals near the end but really wanted the very end moments to be expanded upon further. I felt that moment was blunted and cut too short. I wanted to see more emotion, more trauma.
The pace of the book is great, it keeps you happily moving along and all round this was a good book that I'd happily recommend to those that like abduction themes and psychological thrillers. It's a little gem. I give it 4 very happy stars! Nice one.
I received an ARC of this book thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley. All review opinions are my own and my review is totally unbiased.
February 16, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
I’m starting to think Slater’s books need to come with a warning label: Do not start reading this unless you’re prepared to sacrifice sleep and be so consumed that nothing will take your attention from it until you’ve turned the last page. I read this on Valentine’s Day and my poor husband fell asleep while waiting for me to finish reading haha whoops!
I loved Slater’s debut, Safe With Me and I can safely say that I loved Blink even more! I also did a buddy read for the first time with Annie at The Misstery and Danielle at The Blonde Likes Books and it was SO fun. Even though we all finished at different times it was really great to be able to discuss theories and opinions with these two fabulous ladies, can’t wait to do this again!
This is told partly in flashbacks from three years ago and partly in the present day and from multiple points of view, and this structure is flawlessly executed by the author. There’s a woman in a coma in the present day portions and she’s suffered a stroke and is now a victim of locked in syndrome where her body is physically unable to move, yet her mind works just fine. She can hear the doctors talking about the possibility of ending her life, yet she can’t let them know that she’s still very much aware. Can you even imagine?! Shudders. Toni is a single mom to Evie and narrates the flashbacks. Her husband Andrew died and she’s just trying to survive, even though she’s having a really hard time. There are several other perspectives but you’ll have to read those for yourself, you guys know I don’t do spoilers.
This is relentlessly paced, there was no way that I was able to put this down until I figured out exactly what was really going on. Having read so many thrillers I was distrustful and suspicious of everyone, but every single character was so very twisted and untrustworthy that it was impossible to decipher who was really up to no good here. I was mislead so many times my head was spinning and by the time the big twist was revealed I was gobsmacked, what a truly killer turn things took. This was a cleverly crafted psychological thriller and I cannot wait to see what Slater comes up with next! She just signed a new four book deal with Bookouture and I couldn’t be more excited for her.
I’m starting to think Slater’s books need to come with a warning label: Do not start reading this unless you’re prepared to sacrifice sleep and be so consumed that nothing will take your attention from it until you’ve turned the last page. I read this on Valentine’s Day and my poor husband fell asleep while waiting for me to finish reading haha whoops!
I loved Slater’s debut, Safe With Me and I can safely say that I loved Blink even more! I also did a buddy read for the first time with Annie at The Misstery and Danielle at The Blonde Likes Books and it was SO fun. Even though we all finished at different times it was really great to be able to discuss theories and opinions with these two fabulous ladies, can’t wait to do this again!
This is told partly in flashbacks from three years ago and partly in the present day and from multiple points of view, and this structure is flawlessly executed by the author. There’s a woman in a coma in the present day portions and she’s suffered a stroke and is now a victim of locked in syndrome where her body is physically unable to move, yet her mind works just fine. She can hear the doctors talking about the possibility of ending her life, yet she can’t let them know that she’s still very much aware. Can you even imagine?! Shudders. Toni is a single mom to Evie and narrates the flashbacks. Her husband Andrew died and she’s just trying to survive, even though she’s having a really hard time. There are several other perspectives but you’ll have to read those for yourself, you guys know I don’t do spoilers.
This is relentlessly paced, there was no way that I was able to put this down until I figured out exactly what was really going on. Having read so many thrillers I was distrustful and suspicious of everyone, but every single character was so very twisted and untrustworthy that it was impossible to decipher who was really up to no good here. I was mislead so many times my head was spinning and by the time the big twist was revealed I was gobsmacked, what a truly killer turn things took. This was a cleverly crafted psychological thriller and I cannot wait to see what Slater comes up with next! She just signed a new four book deal with Bookouture and I couldn’t be more excited for her.
January 11, 2018
Wow. This is an excellent thriller and I’m still processing what just happened. Every time I thought I had an “inkling” of who did what, nope, I was all wrong!! I could not put this book down and highly recommend to all who love a psychological thriller with lots of twists in it, all the way till the end.
September 23, 2020
It could have been so much better. It was on track to be a four star read. All the elements were there - unreliable narrator, numerous suspects, things going bump in the night and other unexplained phenomena and a fair amount of pretty well done misdirection as the narrative moves between the past and the present.
Toni moves with her five year old daughter, Evie, to be closer to her mother after her husband is killed in Afghanistan. But Toni is still grieving and pops the occasional pill (or two) to help take the edge off her anxiety. She is also struggling with debt but in the way of these novels doesn't want to share her problems with anyone, hoping they will just go away. Evie is not happy at her new school and a teaching assistant there appears to have taken an unhealthy interest in the child. Then Evie disappears from school one afternoon and the shit hits the fan. All that is three years in the past.
In the present we keep coming back to a hospital patient who is, to all intents and purposes in a vegetative state. But actually they are awake and suffering from 'locked in' syndrome. We are not told who this is but you make certain assumptions. As it turns out these are likely to be wrong.
But what ruined it for me was that ending. It came abruptly out of nowhere and was totally implausible. I mean yes, it was time to wrap things up as I was getting bored with Toni remonstrating with herself over what a crap mother she was and then not doing anything about it. There was too much whiny, self-serving pity. And then bang - that crap ending and it's all over. I know most people enjoyed it but it wasn't for me.
Toni moves with her five year old daughter, Evie, to be closer to her mother after her husband is killed in Afghanistan. But Toni is still grieving and pops the occasional pill (or two) to help take the edge off her anxiety. She is also struggling with debt but in the way of these novels doesn't want to share her problems with anyone, hoping they will just go away. Evie is not happy at her new school and a teaching assistant there appears to have taken an unhealthy interest in the child. Then Evie disappears from school one afternoon and the shit hits the fan. All that is three years in the past.
In the present we keep coming back to a hospital patient who is, to all intents and purposes in a vegetative state. But actually they are awake and suffering from 'locked in' syndrome. We are not told who this is but you make certain assumptions. As it turns out these are likely to be wrong.
But what ruined it for me was that ending. It came abruptly out of nowhere and was totally implausible. I mean yes, it was time to wrap things up as I was getting bored with Toni remonstrating with herself over what a crap mother she was and then not doing anything about it. There was too much whiny, self-serving pity. And then bang - that crap ending and it's all over. I know most people enjoyed it but it wasn't for me.
February 12, 2017
Blink - that's what the woman lying in a hospital ward in a coma is trying to do. She needs to tell them she is still alive inside her unresponsive body before her life support is turned off. Memories are coming back to her, memories that she desperately needs to tell someone.
Three years earlier Toni Cotter and her five year old daughter Evie moved to her mother's town hoping to make a fresh start after the sudden death of her husband fighting in Afghanistan. With a new job, Evie unhappy at a new school and still mourning her husband, Toni has trouble coping and occassionally pops a sedative to help her get through the day. Matters come to ahead when Toni is late to pick Evie up from school one day and when she gets there Evie is nowhere to be found.
The full story is revealed slowly in this gripping mystery with Toni remembering back to the past and trying to work out who could have taken Evie. There are several suspects and K.L Slater artfully makes us distrust them all. However, there are unexpected twists and shocks that will take you by surprise. A very suspenseful page turner.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital copy to read and review
Three years earlier Toni Cotter and her five year old daughter Evie moved to her mother's town hoping to make a fresh start after the sudden death of her husband fighting in Afghanistan. With a new job, Evie unhappy at a new school and still mourning her husband, Toni has trouble coping and occassionally pops a sedative to help her get through the day. Matters come to ahead when Toni is late to pick Evie up from school one day and when she gets there Evie is nowhere to be found.
The full story is revealed slowly in this gripping mystery with Toni remembering back to the past and trying to work out who could have taken Evie. There are several suspects and K.L Slater artfully makes us distrust them all. However, there are unexpected twists and shocks that will take you by surprise. A very suspenseful page turner.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital copy to read and review
February 16, 2017
Told in alternating timelines, Blink is the story of a five year old girl who is abducted while her mother is barely holding it together as it is. Blink alternates between the present time, where Evie is missing, and three years prior, which reflect the events leading up to the kidnapping.
What happened to Evie and who took her? Read to find out, and make sure to trust no one...
I loved Blink! This was my first K.L. Slater book and now I can't wait to read her other novel, Safe With Me! Blink was fast paced, and I was hooked from the first page. Toni, Evie's mother, is a flawed character who relies on sedatives to get through her day to day life after losing her husband two years prior.
I loved that each character in the book did things that were suspicious, leaving you with the feeling that you can't trust anyone. There are so many parts of the book that the hair on the back of my neck stood up! For one, part of the present day narratives are told by a woman who is in a hospital, attached to a ventilator. Doctors are convinced she's in a vegetative state and that she'll never wake up...only, she can hear and understand everything that's happening, she just can't make her body move or make herself talk. That on its own is terrifying! There's the creepy next door neighbor who has a history of being in jail, the meddling know it all mother, the overbearing teacher who seems to like Evie way too much, and the boss from hell. There are so many characters that are all creepy in their own way! Then, as the story continues, creepy things happen, and Toni starts questioning her own sanity because she loses pieces of time.
If you're looking for a dark, fast-paced thriller, with deeply flawed characters, each with their own agendas and problems, this is the book for you! A huge thank you go Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review. Blink is officially on sale TODAY 2/16/17, so be sure to pick up a copy!
I read Blink as a buddy read with two of my favorite ladies: Amy from Novel Gossip and Annie from The Misstery, so be sure to check out their blogs to see their reviews!i
What happened to Evie and who took her? Read to find out, and make sure to trust no one...
I loved Blink! This was my first K.L. Slater book and now I can't wait to read her other novel, Safe With Me! Blink was fast paced, and I was hooked from the first page. Toni, Evie's mother, is a flawed character who relies on sedatives to get through her day to day life after losing her husband two years prior.
I loved that each character in the book did things that were suspicious, leaving you with the feeling that you can't trust anyone. There are so many parts of the book that the hair on the back of my neck stood up! For one, part of the present day narratives are told by a woman who is in a hospital, attached to a ventilator. Doctors are convinced she's in a vegetative state and that she'll never wake up...only, she can hear and understand everything that's happening, she just can't make her body move or make herself talk. That on its own is terrifying! There's the creepy next door neighbor who has a history of being in jail, the meddling know it all mother, the overbearing teacher who seems to like Evie way too much, and the boss from hell. There are so many characters that are all creepy in their own way! Then, as the story continues, creepy things happen, and Toni starts questioning her own sanity because she loses pieces of time.
If you're looking for a dark, fast-paced thriller, with deeply flawed characters, each with their own agendas and problems, this is the book for you! A huge thank you go Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review. Blink is officially on sale TODAY 2/16/17, so be sure to pick up a copy!
I read Blink as a buddy read with two of my favorite ladies: Amy from Novel Gossip and Annie from The Misstery, so be sure to check out their blogs to see their reviews!i
June 5, 2017
I wont lie with Blink by KL Slater I was struggling in the beginning as I found it difficult to follow, until the author brought in the character of Harriet Watson, then it just exploded I absolutely loved it from then on, could not stop reading it was so absorbing even though some characters drove me mad including Toni in the beginning but by the end she just got stronger & stronger with her child taken away for 3 years.
I wont give too much away , lets just say there was a excellent twist at the end I didn't see coming it knocked my socks off I felt sorry for Harriet Watson having a controlling mother that never gave her any positives about her life, always demeaning her this sent Harriet crazy, I thought her character was well written.
I never picked the perp but lets just say I never never expected the outcome to happen.
kudos to Miss K.L Slater for writing a compelling psychological thriller that will keep you up late at night 5 BIG FAT STAR*S
I wont give too much away , lets just say there was a excellent twist at the end I didn't see coming it knocked my socks off I felt sorry for Harriet Watson having a controlling mother that never gave her any positives about her life, always demeaning her this sent Harriet crazy, I thought her character was well written.
I never picked the perp but lets just say I never never expected the outcome to happen.
kudos to Miss K.L Slater for writing a compelling psychological thriller that will keep you up late at night 5 BIG FAT STAR*S
January 15, 2017
WOW,What a corker of a book,gripping story,believable untrustworthy characters and not just one but two totally jaw dropping unexpected twists.oh and the title is just ingenious,once you have read the book then you will understand what I mean.
This engrossing tale is told in chapters that alternate between the present day and three years before until the two time frames converge towards the end of the book.The chapters are narrated by Toni cotter who is the mother of five year old Evie and Harriet Watson who is a teaching assistant at Evie`s primary school.There is also the thoughts of a mysterious person who is a patient at Queens medical Centre,a number of pages from a diary written by a unknown person.A couple of chapters that are narrated by young Evie and later in the book some chapters that are voiced by a nurse called Nancy.Although the story is narrated by more than one voice the chapters are named and dated so the story is very easy to follow.There is no break in the flow of the story when there is a change in time frame or character.The mystery of what has happened to Evie is gripping and intense,any one of a number of characters could have been involved in her disappearance.The story is jam packed with twists,turns and red herrings that keep the reader guessing and devouring the pages as fast as possible in eagerness to find out what is going to happen next.
I thoroughly enjoyed this intense psychological thriller just as much as I enjoyed Safe With Me,unfortunately now I have the long wait for KL Slaters next book
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This engrossing tale is told in chapters that alternate between the present day and three years before until the two time frames converge towards the end of the book.The chapters are narrated by Toni cotter who is the mother of five year old Evie and Harriet Watson who is a teaching assistant at Evie`s primary school.There is also the thoughts of a mysterious person who is a patient at Queens medical Centre,a number of pages from a diary written by a unknown person.A couple of chapters that are narrated by young Evie and later in the book some chapters that are voiced by a nurse called Nancy.Although the story is narrated by more than one voice the chapters are named and dated so the story is very easy to follow.There is no break in the flow of the story when there is a change in time frame or character.The mystery of what has happened to Evie is gripping and intense,any one of a number of characters could have been involved in her disappearance.The story is jam packed with twists,turns and red herrings that keep the reader guessing and devouring the pages as fast as possible in eagerness to find out what is going to happen next.
I thoroughly enjoyed this intense psychological thriller just as much as I enjoyed Safe With Me,unfortunately now I have the long wait for KL Slaters next book
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
March 7, 2023
Warning!
The word blink (blinks/blinked/blinking) is used 69 times (mostly in the last 15%). Hence the title?
Anyways… I read 3 books in a row by this author, which is something that I rarely do, but the reason I did it was because I had purchased 13 of her books (she has been releasing since 2016 at a rate of 3 books per year) and the audiobooks were “free” of additional charges for a limited time (until March 22, 2023) on Audible, so I felt tempted and I thought that it was a great opportunity to clear my tbr.
I do confess that I love her writing, therefore I my 3 stars.
Her ideas/premises are quite good. Unfortunately the execution of each book is far from flawless.
It seems that she easily forgets what was written in the previous chapters.
The structure here is the same as in the previous books that I have read, same kind of timeline (alternating present and past), characters with the same kind of personality (mental illness/evil…) and with practically zero surprising twists.
Here, once again the villain has an opportunity to explain why it was done.
Did I like the conclusion?
Not a bit.
Still, flawless or not, I couldn’t stop reading this book, not because I found it thrilling, but because my curiosity led me to stick with it. There are lots of good moments and good dialogues, and the audiobook, which I played while reading, helped my enjoyment.
Am I going to keep reading her books? Yes. And I do expect that she will surprise me.
Paperback: 326 pages (divided into 76 chapters - yes, 76! Clearly a fast read)
Ebook (Kobo): 325 pages, 88k words
Audiobook narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis: 8h 19min (normal speed) - a good narrator (although sometimes it was hard to distinguish between characters, a problem solved because I was reading at the same time)
The word blink (blinks/blinked/blinking) is used 69 times (mostly in the last 15%). Hence the title?
Anyways… I read 3 books in a row by this author, which is something that I rarely do, but the reason I did it was because I had purchased 13 of her books (she has been releasing since 2016 at a rate of 3 books per year) and the audiobooks were “free” of additional charges for a limited time (until March 22, 2023) on Audible, so I felt tempted and I thought that it was a great opportunity to clear my tbr.
I do confess that I love her writing, therefore I my 3 stars.
Her ideas/premises are quite good. Unfortunately the execution of each book is far from flawless.
It seems that she easily forgets what was written in the previous chapters.
The structure here is the same as in the previous books that I have read, same kind of timeline (alternating present and past), characters with the same kind of personality (mental illness/evil…) and with practically zero surprising twists.
Here, once again the villain has an opportunity to explain why it was done.
Did I like the conclusion?
Not a bit.
Still, flawless or not, I couldn’t stop reading this book, not because I found it thrilling, but because my curiosity led me to stick with it. There are lots of good moments and good dialogues, and the audiobook, which I played while reading, helped my enjoyment.
Am I going to keep reading her books? Yes. And I do expect that she will surprise me.
Paperback: 326 pages (divided into 76 chapters - yes, 76! Clearly a fast read)
Ebook (Kobo): 325 pages, 88k words
Audiobook narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis: 8h 19min (normal speed) - a good narrator (although sometimes it was hard to distinguish between characters, a problem solved because I was reading at the same time)
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