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Beneath the Surface
Dean Hudson didn’t look evil ... so what could drive an ordinary boy to kill?
When the teenage son of Holly Gold’s school friend brutally murders his parents before killing himself, her sleepy home town is rocked by the sudden tragedy.
Appalled, Holly investigates. What could have caused the happy-go-lucky boy she remembers to commit such a heinous crime? When another teen commits suicide, she uncovers a horrifying link between the recent deaths and a dark conspiracy to hide the truth.
But someone doesn’t want Holly asking questions and, as she hunts for evidence to prove her theory, she’s dragged into a nightmare that threatens her life and her sanity. Then tragedy strikes again - and this time it’s closer to home ...
When the teenage son of Holly Gold’s school friend brutally murders his parents before killing himself, her sleepy home town is rocked by the sudden tragedy.
Appalled, Holly investigates. What could have caused the happy-go-lucky boy she remembers to commit such a heinous crime? When another teen commits suicide, she uncovers a horrifying link between the recent deaths and a dark conspiracy to hide the truth.
But someone doesn’t want Holly asking questions and, as she hunts for evidence to prove her theory, she’s dragged into a nightmare that threatens her life and her sanity. Then tragedy strikes again - and this time it’s closer to home ...
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2017
602 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
About the author
Sibel Hodge
53 books925 followersSibel Hodge is the author of the #1 Bestsellers Look Behind You, Untouchable, and Duplicity. Her books have sold over one million copies and are international bestsellers in the UK, USA, Australia, France, Canada and Germany. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, and is a passionate human and animal rights advocate.
Her work has been nominated and shortlisted for numerous prizes, including the Harry Bowling Prize, the Yeovil Literary Prize, the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition, The Romance Reviews’ prize for Best Novel with Romantic Elements and Indie Book Bargains’ Best Indie Book of 2012 in two categories. She was the winner of Best Children’s Book in the 2013 eFestival of Words; nominated for the 2015 BigAl’s Books and Pals Young Adult Readers’ Choice Award; winner of the Crime, Thrillers & Mystery Book from a Series Award in the SpaSpa Book Awards 2013; winner of the Readers’ Favorite Young Adult (Coming of Age) Honorable award in 2015; a New Adult finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s International Digital Awards 2015, and 2017 International Thriller Writers Award finalist for Best E-book Original Novel. Her novella Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave has been listed as one of the top forty books about human rights by Accredited Online Colleges.
For Sibel’s latest book releases, giveaways and gossip, sign up to her newsletter at www.sibelhodge.com/contact-followme.php.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
July 4, 2017
3.5* Rounded up to 4*
Holly is a struggling journalist. After losing touch with her childhood best friend Jess, she discovers that she is too late to rekindle their friendship. Or anything else, for that matter. Jess, her husband and teenage son are all dead. Presumably and unthinkably at the hands of Jess's son Dean.
Holly has promised Jess's mother Barbara that she will commit herself and her journalistic skills to the task of revealing the mystery surrounding these deaths. She won’t quit until she discovers how and why this tragedy has visited her best friend. Even at the serious risk of her own life as well as her family's.
There were a lot of current topics jam-packed into this book. Unethical drug companies, (a real stretch!) The pressure on today's youth in school to over-achieve, teenage suicide, as well as touching on the plight of homeless veterans. They were all covered in great depth throughout this book. As a result, the story-line suffered somewhat, taking a back seat at times. The focus was just a bit off.
I’ve read numerous Sibel Hodges' books and have enjoyed them all. While I did like this one, it was not one of my favorites from her. If you’re a fan of Sibel Hodge and/or enjoy books that pull in many of today's current events, then you will definitely be a fan of this one!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sibel Hodge and Thomas and Mercer.
Holly is a struggling journalist. After losing touch with her childhood best friend Jess, she discovers that she is too late to rekindle their friendship. Or anything else, for that matter. Jess, her husband and teenage son are all dead. Presumably and unthinkably at the hands of Jess's son Dean.
Holly has promised Jess's mother Barbara that she will commit herself and her journalistic skills to the task of revealing the mystery surrounding these deaths. She won’t quit until she discovers how and why this tragedy has visited her best friend. Even at the serious risk of her own life as well as her family's.
There were a lot of current topics jam-packed into this book. Unethical drug companies, (a real stretch!) The pressure on today's youth in school to over-achieve, teenage suicide, as well as touching on the plight of homeless veterans. They were all covered in great depth throughout this book. As a result, the story-line suffered somewhat, taking a back seat at times. The focus was just a bit off.
I’ve read numerous Sibel Hodges' books and have enjoyed them all. While I did like this one, it was not one of my favorites from her. If you’re a fan of Sibel Hodge and/or enjoy books that pull in many of today's current events, then you will definitely be a fan of this one!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sibel Hodge and Thomas and Mercer.
July 7, 2017
3.5 stars
I was a little disappointed in this one. I loved Duplicity by this author and when I finished it, I bought Untouchable as a Christmas present for myself. I still have to read that book because I hear it is so good. When I saw this was a Read Now on Netgalley I was so excited. I couldn't wait to read it. I felt that this book just seemed to drag for me. I liked it and the last 25% of the book was great it was very gripping. I loved the suspense. If the rest of the book was like this, it would of been excellent. I just found it went into too much long winded detail.
Holly is a journalist. Dean Hudson, is the son of a school friend of Holly's. Although, Holly hasn't seen him since he was three she doesn't believe Dean could commit such a terrible crime. As a journalist, she feels it is her duty to look into the strange circumstances for the sake of her friend's mother who has lost her whole family. Holly begins to investigate Dean's behaviour before the incident. The further Holly looks the more shocking truths she uncovers.
Holly leads herself into an investigation of a pharmaceutical company. It really makes you think about what could happen, if things like this happened when pharmaceutical companies are getting their drugs approved. It was very informative about pharmaceutical companies in this business. I thought that the book went a little too much in depth detail about Caprixanine, the anti-depressant that Dean was prescribed shortly before the murders.
Even though I didn't love this book and just liked it, I feel many readers will end up loving it. Now I will for surely be reading more of this author's books since I loved Duplicity. I will be reading Untouchable very soon.
I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and Sibel Hodge for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2017
Beneath the Surface by Sibel Hodge.
Beneath the Surface is an excellent thriller about a reporter Holly Gold looking into the murder/suicide of a friends family that leads to an investigation of a pharmaceutical company. This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Beneath the Surface is an excellent thriller about a reporter Holly Gold looking into the murder/suicide of a friends family that leads to an investigation of a pharmaceutical company. This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2017
BENEATH THE SURFACE by talented author Sibel Hodge is the author of UK and Austrian #1 bestseller “Look Behind You” followed by “Untouchable” and now “Beneath the Surface”. I have read all of her books and am never disappointed. She is one of my favorite psychological thriller writers, but writes in many genres. I would classify this new novel as more of a medical thriller, starting off slowly but soon building up the tension, having you flipping the pages so fast to see what would happen next! I always know that I am in for a real treat when I pick up one of her books.
“Dean Hudson didn’t look evil…so what could drive an ordinary boy to kill?”
“But sometimes it’s better to stay blind. Because what lies beneath the surface can be deadly.”
“When the teenage son of Holly Gold’s school friend brutally murders his parents before killing himself, her sleepy home town is rocked by the sudden tragedy.”
“Appalled, Holly investigates. What could have caused the happy-go-lucky boy she remembers to commit such a heinous crime? When another teen commits suicide, she uncovers a horrifying link between the recent deaths and a dark conspiracy to hide the truth.”
But someone is following Holly and wants to shut her up and stop investigating the terrible tragedies.
I loved Holly's character, a strong and courageous woman, that never gave up…Holly paid a heavy price for the truth!
Buy this book! It is so good! This was a great book, very well written, well researched and gripping with layers of kidnapping, bribery and corruption. The ending was a surprise.
Thank you so much Sibel Hodge and to Thomas & Mercer for my advanced review copy.
“Dean Hudson didn’t look evil…so what could drive an ordinary boy to kill?”
“But sometimes it’s better to stay blind. Because what lies beneath the surface can be deadly.”
“When the teenage son of Holly Gold’s school friend brutally murders his parents before killing himself, her sleepy home town is rocked by the sudden tragedy.”
“Appalled, Holly investigates. What could have caused the happy-go-lucky boy she remembers to commit such a heinous crime? When another teen commits suicide, she uncovers a horrifying link between the recent deaths and a dark conspiracy to hide the truth.”
But someone is following Holly and wants to shut her up and stop investigating the terrible tragedies.
I loved Holly's character, a strong and courageous woman, that never gave up…Holly paid a heavy price for the truth!
Buy this book! It is so good! This was a great book, very well written, well researched and gripping with layers of kidnapping, bribery and corruption. The ending was a surprise.
Thank you so much Sibel Hodge and to Thomas & Mercer for my advanced review copy.
December 28, 2017
This is the first novel by Sibel Hodge that I have read and just after finishing this book I looked for her another novel (and I wasn't disappointed to read that one either).
Beneath the Surface is a thriller about the dark side of pharmaceutical companies. Sibel Hodge has done extensive research and I highly appreciate her efforts. I couldn't find a single plot hole in the story. It maintained the aura of a medical thriller perfectly well while encapsulating all the dirty money-making tricks of pharma compaines and realistic details of clinical trials. All I want to say is whatever written in this novel actually do happen in real life. A medical rep friend of mine once called pharma companies "butchers". All they care about is profits. Human life has no value for them.
I like this book but still I am rating it 4 stars because I couldn't connect to the characters. I felt no sympathy towards any character nor did she make me feel hatred for the culprits. For me, this story lacked in developing an emotional connection. Except that, this book is great, insightful and everyone should read it.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Beneath the Surface is a thriller about the dark side of pharmaceutical companies. Sibel Hodge has done extensive research and I highly appreciate her efforts. I couldn't find a single plot hole in the story. It maintained the aura of a medical thriller perfectly well while encapsulating all the dirty money-making tricks of pharma compaines and realistic details of clinical trials. All I want to say is whatever written in this novel actually do happen in real life. A medical rep friend of mine once called pharma companies "butchers". All they care about is profits. Human life has no value for them.
I like this book but still I am rating it 4 stars because I couldn't connect to the characters. I felt no sympathy towards any character nor did she make me feel hatred for the culprits. For me, this story lacked in developing an emotional connection. Except that, this book is great, insightful and everyone should read it.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2017
This is a 3.5 from me. It's a very interesting and topical story, but it just didn't keep my attention quite as much as I expected. I'm a big fan of Sibel Hodge, and her book Untouchable was a five star read for me. This one just didn't quite reach that. There's a whole lot going on here, so it would probably be best to read this one in as few sittings as possible so you don't lose track.
Holly is a journalist, but she spends her time writing feel-good stories because her boss won't assign her anything else. She seems to be a bit too sensitive and empathetic to push people in order to get those big, sordid headlines that sell papers. This story is different... she hadn't been assigned it, and is encouraged to stay away. She can't... she knows the victims.
Her old best friend's son has apparently snapped and killed both of his parents before killing himself. Though she hasn't seen him since he was a very small child, she can't wrap her head around it. She feels guilty that she didn't get back in touch with old friend Jess when she moved back to town. She was ashamed that her career wasn't going well and dealing with a break up and a miscarriage. Getting back in touch with Jess wasn't first on her list of priorities... but now she'll regret it forever.
Unable to accept that the teenager simply snapped without a reason, she starts to investigate. Grief and her own problem with alcohol aren't making things easy, and she has a hard time finding allies. People just seem to think she's making excuses for a very disturbed young man.
It's not long before her investigation leads her to the pharmaceutical industry. Turns out Dean had been seeing a therapist and been prescribed some relatively new mediation. When she looks into other teen suicides, she starts to find connections. But one woman against a gigantic industry cannot end well, and there's no end to what some people will do to protect the secrets that keep them rich and successful.
This book managed to surprise me a few times, and made me think. I do think it went into a little too much detail about the drugs and perhaps stuffed too many topics into one book. Still a very interesting read that I would recommend.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Holly is a journalist, but she spends her time writing feel-good stories because her boss won't assign her anything else. She seems to be a bit too sensitive and empathetic to push people in order to get those big, sordid headlines that sell papers. This story is different... she hadn't been assigned it, and is encouraged to stay away. She can't... she knows the victims.
Her old best friend's son has apparently snapped and killed both of his parents before killing himself. Though she hasn't seen him since he was a very small child, she can't wrap her head around it. She feels guilty that she didn't get back in touch with old friend Jess when she moved back to town. She was ashamed that her career wasn't going well and dealing with a break up and a miscarriage. Getting back in touch with Jess wasn't first on her list of priorities... but now she'll regret it forever.
Unable to accept that the teenager simply snapped without a reason, she starts to investigate. Grief and her own problem with alcohol aren't making things easy, and she has a hard time finding allies. People just seem to think she's making excuses for a very disturbed young man.
It's not long before her investigation leads her to the pharmaceutical industry. Turns out Dean had been seeing a therapist and been prescribed some relatively new mediation. When she looks into other teen suicides, she starts to find connections. But one woman against a gigantic industry cannot end well, and there's no end to what some people will do to protect the secrets that keep them rich and successful.
This book managed to surprise me a few times, and made me think. I do think it went into a little too much detail about the drugs and perhaps stuffed too many topics into one book. Still a very interesting read that I would recommend.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
June 11, 2017
Sibel Hodge is an author that I can't but eagerly await her "latest book" I just know I'm in for a fabulous read, I can always be assured of this. She's one of my top psychological thriller writers.
From the very first book I read written by this author I was hooked.
I find her books well worth waiting for.
I'm surprised at each different plot, different theme, realistic characters in her book, how she feeds life, breath and emotion into each.
When I started this book I knew I wouldn't be able to do much else. I'd want to sit and read it all.
The female lead is a strong woman, the author also lets her readers in to her vulnerability too to make her more human. Emotional. So we can find sympathy.
The way the story starts grabs you in its net and that's where you wriggle around in your seat reading this.
Enjoying the plot.
There are deaths, unexplained suicides. She has a lead, like a hunter, she goes after her prey.
I loved the topical theme within this plot. It gave me something to think about in reality too.
This is newsworthy stuff!
Secrets
Money
Lies
Who is to be trusted.
The families who suffered in this domino effect I really felt for.
My review will become clearer once you've read the book.
I thank the author. I thank Thomas & Mercer via Net Galley for my copy.
From the very first book I read written by this author I was hooked.
I find her books well worth waiting for.
I'm surprised at each different plot, different theme, realistic characters in her book, how she feeds life, breath and emotion into each.
When I started this book I knew I wouldn't be able to do much else. I'd want to sit and read it all.
The female lead is a strong woman, the author also lets her readers in to her vulnerability too to make her more human. Emotional. So we can find sympathy.
The way the story starts grabs you in its net and that's where you wriggle around in your seat reading this.
Enjoying the plot.
There are deaths, unexplained suicides. She has a lead, like a hunter, she goes after her prey.
I loved the topical theme within this plot. It gave me something to think about in reality too.
This is newsworthy stuff!
Secrets
Money
Lies
Who is to be trusted.
The families who suffered in this domino effect I really felt for.
My review will become clearer once you've read the book.
I thank the author. I thank Thomas & Mercer via Net Galley for my copy.
August 19, 2018
Beneath the Surface is the third book I’ve listened to by this author, and proved yet again to be a gripping and rather thought provoking thriller, covering death, suicide, prescription drugs and ruthless money grabbing pharmaceutical companies.
I’ve always been very cautious about taking medication, and will only take it if I can’t avoid it or find a natural way to treat whatever ailment I’m dealing with. I’ve even refused medication offered to me by my doctor. This book has only reinforced my caution of taking prescription drugs, and really did make me think about how so many things are viewed as a ‘disorder’ these days, and whether that benefits the patient or the pharmaceutical companies.
I thought this worked really well as an audiobook and was well narrated. Definitely one I recommend to fans of thought provoking thrillers.
I borrowed this through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
I’ve always been very cautious about taking medication, and will only take it if I can’t avoid it or find a natural way to treat whatever ailment I’m dealing with. I’ve even refused medication offered to me by my doctor. This book has only reinforced my caution of taking prescription drugs, and really did make me think about how so many things are viewed as a ‘disorder’ these days, and whether that benefits the patient or the pharmaceutical companies.
I thought this worked really well as an audiobook and was well narrated. Definitely one I recommend to fans of thought provoking thrillers.
I borrowed this through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
July 24, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
3.5/5
I've only recently become a fan of Sibel Hodge, I LOVED Duplicity and was so excited to see she had a new book coming out! The premise for this intrigued me, I love a good conspiracy, but I had no idea just how dark and devious this book would actually be.
This explores some really interesting and timely issues and I have to applaud Hodge for that. The main focus is unethical pharmaceutical companies, but she also touches on homelessness, teen suicide and mental health issues. I was floored by the lengths pharmaceutical companies will go just to make money, it was appalling and you can tell that the author did some heavy research. All of these issues were written about in a sensitive manner and were definitely eye opening for me.
I really like Hodge's style, but I have to admit that there was something missing for me here. I'm not sure exactly what it was, the pacing was a bit of a mixed bag. Some parts seemed to drag a little and others were super fast. It just didn't have the same great feeling that her previous psychological thriller and I also wasn't super connected to the lead character. Overall it was a pretty good read, there were surprises and great moments, just not my favorite from her.
3.5/5
I've only recently become a fan of Sibel Hodge, I LOVED Duplicity and was so excited to see she had a new book coming out! The premise for this intrigued me, I love a good conspiracy, but I had no idea just how dark and devious this book would actually be.
This explores some really interesting and timely issues and I have to applaud Hodge for that. The main focus is unethical pharmaceutical companies, but she also touches on homelessness, teen suicide and mental health issues. I was floored by the lengths pharmaceutical companies will go just to make money, it was appalling and you can tell that the author did some heavy research. All of these issues were written about in a sensitive manner and were definitely eye opening for me.
I really like Hodge's style, but I have to admit that there was something missing for me here. I'm not sure exactly what it was, the pacing was a bit of a mixed bag. Some parts seemed to drag a little and others were super fast. It just didn't have the same great feeling that her previous psychological thriller and I also wasn't super connected to the lead character. Overall it was a pretty good read, there were surprises and great moments, just not my favorite from her.
March 31, 2018
I am not going to write a long review on this book by Sibel Hodge as I did not like it what so ever it was long winded & drawn out I didn't like the characters at all, although it was a dark subject Miss Hodge was dealing with, I have read all her other books & for me this just didn't cut it.
For me there were so many questions left unanswered, i lost concentration numerous times throughout this book. There was suspense but that did not happen to the last 25% which was a disappointment.
My heart went out to Barbara who with Holly wanted the truith to come out suicide after suicide got to me a bit as i suffer anxiety & depression there were times i felt like giving this one away but stuck with it this was not one of her better books that is not to say i wont be reading more as i love this author as all authors have books that the reader does not like this was way to slow for me.
3.5 stars
For me there were so many questions left unanswered, i lost concentration numerous times throughout this book. There was suspense but that did not happen to the last 25% which was a disappointment.
My heart went out to Barbara who with Holly wanted the truith to come out suicide after suicide got to me a bit as i suffer anxiety & depression there were times i felt like giving this one away but stuck with it this was not one of her better books that is not to say i wont be reading more as i love this author as all authors have books that the reader does not like this was way to slow for me.
3.5 stars
March 6, 2020
“Beneath the Surface" is my second novel by Sibel Hodge. I enjoy how she incorporates practical social issues into her fictional writing. Beneath the Surface is a well-crafted story that takes an in-depth look at the pharmaceutical industry and Off-Label Prescribing. Holly Gold's best friend is murder along with her husband by their only son, Dean. Soon after murdering his parents, Dean committed suicide. Holly begins her investigation on what drove a normal boy to commit such a heinous crime. As she took upon her research on what happened with Dean, Holly's already fragile personal and professional life crumbles. Holly becomes even more determined to get justice to uncover a conspiracy that is bigger than she thinks. Beneath the Surface will be an excellent choice for a book club as it offers a lot of themes for discussions. 4/5
July 26, 2017
Holly is a reporter for a paper but not a very good one. She cares to much about the people she is writing the stories about. She certainly isn’t one of the pushy ones that we tend to expect in the television shows and crime novels. She is determined though to help Barbara the mum of her dead friend find out why a normal teenage boy would suddenly turn round and kill his own family.
This is one of those conspiracy type stories. It reminded me of a cross between Erin Brockovitch and Enemy Of The State as Holly discovers something that links a sudden speight of suicides in the area. Only problem is, is that Holly has been trying to cope with something that has happened and no one seems to be able to take her seriously.
I have to say I really enjoyed reading this book. The build up of tension and suspense was just agonising. It was so hard to see Holly fighting for justice and struggling to get any further forward and for people to believe her. It is very much a David and Goliath story of one woman’s fight against something way bigger than her. If you love a nail biting read that will have you on the edge of your seat then this is the book for you.
Another brilliant read from the author.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
This is one of those conspiracy type stories. It reminded me of a cross between Erin Brockovitch and Enemy Of The State as Holly discovers something that links a sudden speight of suicides in the area. Only problem is, is that Holly has been trying to cope with something that has happened and no one seems to be able to take her seriously.
I have to say I really enjoyed reading this book. The build up of tension and suspense was just agonising. It was so hard to see Holly fighting for justice and struggling to get any further forward and for people to believe her. It is very much a David and Goliath story of one woman’s fight against something way bigger than her. If you love a nail biting read that will have you on the edge of your seat then this is the book for you.
Another brilliant read from the author.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
July 27, 2017
OMG!! What a thrilling ride!! I've loved all this author's previous books, however this must be her best to date. It had me hooked from start to finish.
"I often wonder what would happen if everything we hid under the surface showed on the outside."
That's how this brilliant chilling thriller by one of my favourite authors, Sibel Hodge, starts. Makes you think, eh? With this sentence the author drew me into the story straight away and I found myself unable to stop reading till I reached the very last page.
Holly Gold has just returned from London leaving behind pain and disappointment. She's now in Ashfield, her hometown, writing features for a local magazine.
One day the town is rocked by devastating news. A teenage boy, Dean, slaughters his parents in a frenzied attack and then takes his own life at home. Everyone in Ashfield is shocked by this horrible event. The boy's mother was Holly's best friend. Urged by Dean's grandmother to find out the truth as to what really happened in the Hudsons' household, Holly begins her own investigation. She can't believe Dean could do something as terrible as this. Did he really do it? Or was someone else involved? If he did it, why? What happened? What was the trigger that made a normal boy, a bright student, snap like that, obliterating his entire family? When another teen commits suicide soon after, Holly starts looking for any links between the two tragedies. But someone is not happy with her snooping about and will do anything to stop her in her quest. Holly could never have imagined the consequences of her investigation.
This book is not just your usual investigation-into-a-murder-case kind of book. It's goes much deeper and is more thought-provoking than that. I certainly wasn't expecting the direction the story took. Thanks to her clean, articulate writing, the author kept me intrigued and took me on a chilling ride that made me literally shiver at times... and think. I won't say much more about the plot for fear of spoiling it to other readers. I'll just say that this is a fast-paced story of corruption, fraud, scandal and murder. It is the story of a woman seeking justice. A courageous woman who finds herself alone against an invincible enemy. But she will do anything to dig deep for answers, even if that means losing everything she holds dear in the process.
Well, 'Beneath the Surface' is a totally shocking, believable, alarming story that gave me the chills. It is a fantastic work of fiction with a very disturbing (and quite realistic) notion at its centre.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I think it's brilliant and I highly recommend it. Well done Ms. Hodge. Bring on the next one!
With thanks to the author for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
"I often wonder what would happen if everything we hid under the surface showed on the outside."
That's how this brilliant chilling thriller by one of my favourite authors, Sibel Hodge, starts. Makes you think, eh? With this sentence the author drew me into the story straight away and I found myself unable to stop reading till I reached the very last page.
Holly Gold has just returned from London leaving behind pain and disappointment. She's now in Ashfield, her hometown, writing features for a local magazine.
One day the town is rocked by devastating news. A teenage boy, Dean, slaughters his parents in a frenzied attack and then takes his own life at home. Everyone in Ashfield is shocked by this horrible event. The boy's mother was Holly's best friend. Urged by Dean's grandmother to find out the truth as to what really happened in the Hudsons' household, Holly begins her own investigation. She can't believe Dean could do something as terrible as this. Did he really do it? Or was someone else involved? If he did it, why? What happened? What was the trigger that made a normal boy, a bright student, snap like that, obliterating his entire family? When another teen commits suicide soon after, Holly starts looking for any links between the two tragedies. But someone is not happy with her snooping about and will do anything to stop her in her quest. Holly could never have imagined the consequences of her investigation.
This book is not just your usual investigation-into-a-murder-case kind of book. It's goes much deeper and is more thought-provoking than that. I certainly wasn't expecting the direction the story took. Thanks to her clean, articulate writing, the author kept me intrigued and took me on a chilling ride that made me literally shiver at times... and think. I won't say much more about the plot for fear of spoiling it to other readers. I'll just say that this is a fast-paced story of corruption, fraud, scandal and murder. It is the story of a woman seeking justice. A courageous woman who finds herself alone against an invincible enemy. But she will do anything to dig deep for answers, even if that means losing everything she holds dear in the process.
Well, 'Beneath the Surface' is a totally shocking, believable, alarming story that gave me the chills. It is a fantastic work of fiction with a very disturbing (and quite realistic) notion at its centre.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I think it's brilliant and I highly recommend it. Well done Ms. Hodge. Bring on the next one!
With thanks to the author for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
August 16, 2017
After the breakdown of her marriage, a failed career and the loss of her pregnancy, Holly returns to her hometown to work for a small-town newspaper and mourn her losses. Defeated and ashamed of her thwarted ambitions, she does not make contact with many of her old friends, keeping to herself and plugging away in her joyless job with little hope for something better to happen in her life. She is shocked and saddened to hear of the murder/suicide of one of her former best friends at the hand of her friend’s own teenage son, unwilling to believe that the sweet little boy she knew in the past could do such a terrible thing. Reaching out to the victim’s mother Barbara, who used to be a mother figure to her in her childhood, Holly learns that Barbara also finds it impossible to believe that her grandson would be capable of such a horrific act, and begs Holly to investigate, hoping to be able to clear his name.
Beneath the Surface has been touted a “gripping suspense thriller”, which is usually something I cannot resist! Not having read any previous books by Hodge, I was also curious to explore a new author and was thrilled to have been granted a preview copy of the novel on Netgalley. Hodge’s writing drew me into the story very quickly, and I was intrigued by Holly’s damaged character and the unspeakable crime, which took up the first chapters of the book. Who would not be shocked and saddened to hear that their best friend had been murdered, especially at the hands of her own son? I could imagine the grief that rocked the whole community, and understood Holly’s desire to investigate.
However, it was after this point that things started to bug me. Despite admitting to having been a journalist working for a fluffy women’s magazine, Holly makes some vast leaps of imagination and deduction to very quickly come up with her conspiracy theory into what had caused young Dean’s descent into madness and murder, which seemed a bit far-fetched to me. For a person without any medical background, or previous experience of the field through investigative journalism, some of Holly’s convictions didn’t ring true to me. I would have preferred if more time had been spent on Holly investigating the crime and finding a lot more clues before being convinced of her (at that stage rather far-fetched) theory of what had caused Dean’s murderous rampage.
I am trying to tread carefully here, so as not to give anything away, so will only say that the author spends some time later in the book explaining her theory – and she has obviously done her research into the topic at hand – but to me it felt a bit too conspiracy-theory like all the way through. Perhaps I am just the wrong audience for this type of book, as I felt that the background conspiracy got in the way of being able to engage with the main characters, and I totally lost any emotional connection with Holly in the process. The ending also seemed rushed to me, tying all ends just a bit too neatly and quickly, and I turned the last page feeling rather let down by the whole story. There just wasn’t enough tension or mystery in it for me, and I certainly wouldn’t call it a psychological thriller, as it is pretty obvious from the start where the book is heading. The story didn’t mess with my mind nearly enough to justify the tag in the genre, in my opinion. However, I am sure that a lot of readers will enjoy the fast-paced last third of the novel, and concede that if I had known the focus of the book I would not have chosen it, as I am well aware that I am the wrong audience for this type of story.
2.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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Beneath the Surface has been touted a “gripping suspense thriller”, which is usually something I cannot resist! Not having read any previous books by Hodge, I was also curious to explore a new author and was thrilled to have been granted a preview copy of the novel on Netgalley. Hodge’s writing drew me into the story very quickly, and I was intrigued by Holly’s damaged character and the unspeakable crime, which took up the first chapters of the book. Who would not be shocked and saddened to hear that their best friend had been murdered, especially at the hands of her own son? I could imagine the grief that rocked the whole community, and understood Holly’s desire to investigate.
However, it was after this point that things started to bug me. Despite admitting to having been a journalist working for a fluffy women’s magazine, Holly makes some vast leaps of imagination and deduction to very quickly come up with her conspiracy theory into what had caused young Dean’s descent into madness and murder, which seemed a bit far-fetched to me. For a person without any medical background, or previous experience of the field through investigative journalism, some of Holly’s convictions didn’t ring true to me. I would have preferred if more time had been spent on Holly investigating the crime and finding a lot more clues before being convinced of her (at that stage rather far-fetched) theory of what had caused Dean’s murderous rampage.
I am trying to tread carefully here, so as not to give anything away, so will only say that the author spends some time later in the book explaining her theory – and she has obviously done her research into the topic at hand – but to me it felt a bit too conspiracy-theory like all the way through. Perhaps I am just the wrong audience for this type of book, as I felt that the background conspiracy got in the way of being able to engage with the main characters, and I totally lost any emotional connection with Holly in the process. The ending also seemed rushed to me, tying all ends just a bit too neatly and quickly, and I turned the last page feeling rather let down by the whole story. There just wasn’t enough tension or mystery in it for me, and I certainly wouldn’t call it a psychological thriller, as it is pretty obvious from the start where the book is heading. The story didn’t mess with my mind nearly enough to justify the tag in the genre, in my opinion. However, I am sure that a lot of readers will enjoy the fast-paced last third of the novel, and concede that if I had known the focus of the book I would not have chosen it, as I am well aware that I am the wrong audience for this type of story.
2.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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August 22, 2017
Holly is horrified when she learns that her best friends teenage son Hudson murdered both of his parents before taking her own life. Holly can’t help but investigate. It’s been years since she’s seen her friend, but the events don’t at all match up with how she remembers Hudson.
Shortly after Hudson’s murders and death, another teenager commits suicide, and Holly can’t help but wonder if the two incidents are related. The more she digs, the more she uncovers a link between the deaths that hits much closer to home than she imagined. Someone doesn’t want her looking into these incidents, and Holly quickly realizes her investigation is putting her in danger.
I was really intrigued by the premise of the book, and immediately caught the link between the deaths before it was revealed in the book. I don’t want to give away too much, but what I will say is that the most terrifying thing about this book is understanding how deep corruption can go when money is involved. In Beneath the Surface, all of the right people had been paid off, so Holly was totally on her own.
I will say that I enjoyed the last third of the book more than the middle, as there were points in the middle of the book that seemed to drag on too long. The end of the book was action packed, and while there weren’t any twists and turns in the book, I liked how everything came to a conclusion.
There were a number of unlikeable characters in the book, including Holly’s brother and coworkers, and the scenes with those characters were hard to read because I wanted to slap them all! That said, I did like Holly as our lead character and I liked how her storyline ended.
Overall, this was not my favorite book by Sibel Hodge, but was a decent read regardless. If you’re looking for a quick thriller that deals with moral and ethical issues, this would be a good choice for you!
Shortly after Hudson’s murders and death, another teenager commits suicide, and Holly can’t help but wonder if the two incidents are related. The more she digs, the more she uncovers a link between the deaths that hits much closer to home than she imagined. Someone doesn’t want her looking into these incidents, and Holly quickly realizes her investigation is putting her in danger.
I was really intrigued by the premise of the book, and immediately caught the link between the deaths before it was revealed in the book. I don’t want to give away too much, but what I will say is that the most terrifying thing about this book is understanding how deep corruption can go when money is involved. In Beneath the Surface, all of the right people had been paid off, so Holly was totally on her own.
I will say that I enjoyed the last third of the book more than the middle, as there were points in the middle of the book that seemed to drag on too long. The end of the book was action packed, and while there weren’t any twists and turns in the book, I liked how everything came to a conclusion.
There were a number of unlikeable characters in the book, including Holly’s brother and coworkers, and the scenes with those characters were hard to read because I wanted to slap them all! That said, I did like Holly as our lead character and I liked how her storyline ended.
Overall, this was not my favorite book by Sibel Hodge, but was a decent read regardless. If you’re looking for a quick thriller that deals with moral and ethical issues, this would be a good choice for you!
July 10, 2017
i have recently discovered the books of Sibel Hodge and I am a big fan. this book was fantastic! thanks to netgalley, the publisher and Sibel for an advance copy of this book. the book deals with mental health and the drugs used to help people..and how the drug companies get rich. so many twists and omg moments. do yourself a favour and read this book!!
July 7, 2017
Beneath the Surface by Sibel Hodge is an interesting edge of seat medical thriller.
Holly is a struggling reporter who returns to her hometown after having a disastrous relationship that almost destroyed her career. Back at home she has a tenuous relationship with her mom and brother Miles but her sister offers her love and support. Working at her local office she hears about her best friend Jess and her husband’s murder by their son Dean who later commits suicide. Ridden with guilt about not keeping touch with Jess , Holly promises Jess’s mom Barbara to get to the bottom of why Dean decided to commit murder-suicide. As she investigates she comes across more suspicious teenage suicides but someone is watching her every move and will do anything to stop Holly from investigating.
The book touches some strong topics and is well researched by the author. It makes you wonder how corrupt the corporate world is. The characters in this book are well developed with the protagonist flawed but strong. Sibel Hodge makes you think and I will definitely be looking more by this author.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer & NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Holly is a struggling reporter who returns to her hometown after having a disastrous relationship that almost destroyed her career. Back at home she has a tenuous relationship with her mom and brother Miles but her sister offers her love and support. Working at her local office she hears about her best friend Jess and her husband’s murder by their son Dean who later commits suicide. Ridden with guilt about not keeping touch with Jess , Holly promises Jess’s mom Barbara to get to the bottom of why Dean decided to commit murder-suicide. As she investigates she comes across more suspicious teenage suicides but someone is watching her every move and will do anything to stop Holly from investigating.
The book touches some strong topics and is well researched by the author. It makes you wonder how corrupt the corporate world is. The characters in this book are well developed with the protagonist flawed but strong. Sibel Hodge makes you think and I will definitely be looking more by this author.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer & NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
September 2, 2017
Junk writing
This woman believes that antidepressants and vaccinations are bad. This book is her vehicle for her opinions. Don't waste your time.
This woman believes that antidepressants and vaccinations are bad. This book is her vehicle for her opinions. Don't waste your time.
August 7, 2018
This one was just "okay" to me. To be honest, I didn't find it all that memorable. I literally just looked at the title and thought "Oh, I need to review this one, umm... what was it about again?"
Don't misunderstand me, there are aspects of the novel that I can see will appeal to many. For me, I just didn't care for the storyline. It didn't "grip" me like I wanted. This is only my second book from Sibel Hodge, and so far, she hasn't blown me away. She's proven to be a quality writer, but I haven't found that one... unforgettable.
I currently have another Sibel Hodge title on my shelf awaiting me, I guess we'll see how this one turns out for me.
Don't misunderstand me, there are aspects of the novel that I can see will appeal to many. For me, I just didn't care for the storyline. It didn't "grip" me like I wanted. This is only my second book from Sibel Hodge, and so far, she hasn't blown me away. She's proven to be a quality writer, but I haven't found that one... unforgettable.
I currently have another Sibel Hodge title on my shelf awaiting me, I guess we'll see how this one turns out for me.
August 3, 2017
Review to follow.
July 24, 2017
Golly, this is quite the disturbing storyline and sometimes made for some incredibly uncomfortable reading.
When the son of Holly’s childhood friend kills his parents and then himself, Holly can’t quite wrap her head around these events. Dean wasn’t an evil child so what would make him do something so ghastly? When Holly realises another young person has taken their own life, she sets out to investigate but she quickly puts herself and her family in danger as someone is desperate to hide the truth and nobody can be trusted.
Sibel Hodge effortlessly guides us through the murky world of the pharmaceutical industry and the lengths they will go to to cover things up. It’s a story of greed and corruption with devastating consequences and I may never take any medication again.
This is the third book I’ve read by this author and while I don’t feel it is her best, she sure knows how to spin a tale and keep a reader hooked. The plot is brilliantly executed, as you would expect from this author. The storyline is incredibly gripping and even though I felt some parts were rather predictable and maybe even if a tad far-fetched, it kept my attention from start to finish. If you like Sibel Hodge’s other books, I have no doubt you will enjoy this one too and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
When the son of Holly’s childhood friend kills his parents and then himself, Holly can’t quite wrap her head around these events. Dean wasn’t an evil child so what would make him do something so ghastly? When Holly realises another young person has taken their own life, she sets out to investigate but she quickly puts herself and her family in danger as someone is desperate to hide the truth and nobody can be trusted.
Sibel Hodge effortlessly guides us through the murky world of the pharmaceutical industry and the lengths they will go to to cover things up. It’s a story of greed and corruption with devastating consequences and I may never take any medication again.
This is the third book I’ve read by this author and while I don’t feel it is her best, she sure knows how to spin a tale and keep a reader hooked. The plot is brilliantly executed, as you would expect from this author. The storyline is incredibly gripping and even though I felt some parts were rather predictable and maybe even if a tad far-fetched, it kept my attention from start to finish. If you like Sibel Hodge’s other books, I have no doubt you will enjoy this one too and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
July 28, 2017
I'm new to Hodge's books, but I became an instant fan with Beneath the Surface.
When Holly hears about a long-lost friend dying in a murder-suicide that police claim was done by the son Dean, Holly can't believe it. What would make the sweet little boy she once knew snap and kill his family? And perhaps seeking out answers will reboot her lost career as a journalist, something that she's been missing since her ex and former boss fired her. Though with pure motives she wants to find answers for the remaining family members as to what happened, and why.
As the questions unearth a series of complications and larger conspiracies, Holly has her own dramas and losses to deal with. But what really gripped me was the reality of suicide that Hodge paints--the stresses in today's competitive world that lead innocent kids down a dark path. These societal implications are woven throughout without blasting the reader too hard, and Holly's discoveries shed light on the corruption that exists behind the curtain.
Overall an intriguing and riveting read.
When Holly hears about a long-lost friend dying in a murder-suicide that police claim was done by the son Dean, Holly can't believe it. What would make the sweet little boy she once knew snap and kill his family? And perhaps seeking out answers will reboot her lost career as a journalist, something that she's been missing since her ex and former boss fired her. Though with pure motives she wants to find answers for the remaining family members as to what happened, and why.
As the questions unearth a series of complications and larger conspiracies, Holly has her own dramas and losses to deal with. But what really gripped me was the reality of suicide that Hodge paints--the stresses in today's competitive world that lead innocent kids down a dark path. These societal implications are woven throughout without blasting the reader too hard, and Holly's discoveries shed light on the corruption that exists behind the curtain.
Overall an intriguing and riveting read.
June 28, 2017
I always enjoy Sibel Hodge novels and I enjoyed this one - a mash up of psychological and medical thriller which finds our main protagonist, Holly Gold, caught up in pharmaceutical cover ups.
Beneath the Surface is one of those page turners that you read fast - the characters were decently drawn, the author throws in some little twists, it shows the underbelly of the industry very clearly, some of the scientific aspects were both fascinating and horrifying.
Whilst it did lose cohesion midway and became a bit circular, the majority of Beneath the Surface was brilliantly imagined - with a beautifully placed emotive ending.
Recommended.
Beneath the Surface is one of those page turners that you read fast - the characters were decently drawn, the author throws in some little twists, it shows the underbelly of the industry very clearly, some of the scientific aspects were both fascinating and horrifying.
Whilst it did lose cohesion midway and became a bit circular, the majority of Beneath the Surface was brilliantly imagined - with a beautifully placed emotive ending.
Recommended.
July 8, 2017
This is my first Hodge book and I had high expectations.
There is a great story line - unusual, interesting and it grabbed my attention and the second part of the book was excellent with a lot of suspense and events which kept coming and getting steadily worse and worse. There is murder, there's intrigue, there's plenty of danger and there's a conspiracy that journalist Holly is determined to get to the bottom of.
For me, there was a bit too much space given to the main character, Holly, rehashing her thoughts about why she feels a failure, what went wrong in her professional life, why her personal life is a train-wreck and why everyone around her seems to be happier/richer/more content that she is. I'd have preferred a bit less of this and more action up front (plenty of which comes later on).
That said, it was a smooth, excellently written story and Hodge has a style that makes it easy to read, with no blips or complications.
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
There is a great story line - unusual, interesting and it grabbed my attention and the second part of the book was excellent with a lot of suspense and events which kept coming and getting steadily worse and worse. There is murder, there's intrigue, there's plenty of danger and there's a conspiracy that journalist Holly is determined to get to the bottom of.
For me, there was a bit too much space given to the main character, Holly, rehashing her thoughts about why she feels a failure, what went wrong in her professional life, why her personal life is a train-wreck and why everyone around her seems to be happier/richer/more content that she is. I'd have preferred a bit less of this and more action up front (plenty of which comes later on).
That said, it was a smooth, excellently written story and Hodge has a style that makes it easy to read, with no blips or complications.
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
July 7, 2017
Another fantastic and thrilling story from Sibel Hodge, an author I get excited about and look forward to.
The teenage son of Holly Gold’s school friend brutally murders his parents before killing himself. Holly Gold, a journalist, refuses to believe that the sweet boy she knew could turn into a psychopathic killer and decides to investigate. What she uncovers is frightening and deadly.
I loved Holly and her courageous character even though her investigation put her life at risk. She soon discovers that there is more than one teenage suicide and all the kids were put on the same anti-depressant by the same psychiatrist.
Beneath the Surface is a page turning thriller that was so well researched and believable.
This is my 5th book by this author and is sure to be another massive success.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing a copy of this wonderful book and this is my honest review.
The teenage son of Holly Gold’s school friend brutally murders his parents before killing himself. Holly Gold, a journalist, refuses to believe that the sweet boy she knew could turn into a psychopathic killer and decides to investigate. What she uncovers is frightening and deadly.
I loved Holly and her courageous character even though her investigation put her life at risk. She soon discovers that there is more than one teenage suicide and all the kids were put on the same anti-depressant by the same psychiatrist.
Beneath the Surface is a page turning thriller that was so well researched and believable.
This is my 5th book by this author and is sure to be another massive success.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing a copy of this wonderful book and this is my honest review.
July 17, 2017
I always look forward to a new Sibel Hodge book-she has the ability to make me totally unaware of my surroundings whilst I’m reading! I usually try to save her latest release for my Summer holidays so I can indulge myself fully in her intricately detailed psychological thrillers but this one intrigued me more than usual so I just had to bump it up the TBR pile!
The detailed plot, which had been extensively researched, really made this one standout for me! Whilst predominantly a thriller with a mystery to solve, once the pharmaceutical industry was brought in I was gripped! Always a fan of medical sciences and research due to my NHS background, my inner geek became thoroughly involved with the fascinating insights into that side of the drug industry. Sibel has done a huge amount of research here which gave Beneath The Surface a sinister realism as it continued to explore some very topical issues.
There were plenty of twists and turns to maintain my interest throughout, with subtly placed red herrings so that you were never quite sure who to trust. I raced through the frantic last few chapters and then got my breath back reading the very powerful and moving epilogue as my heart rate returned to normal.
At times harrowing, but always sympathetically handled especially whilst dealing with some very sensitive issues, this was exactly the sort of engrossing but heart wrenching tale I have come to expect from this author. A highly recommended read.
The detailed plot, which had been extensively researched, really made this one standout for me! Whilst predominantly a thriller with a mystery to solve, once the pharmaceutical industry was brought in I was gripped! Always a fan of medical sciences and research due to my NHS background, my inner geek became thoroughly involved with the fascinating insights into that side of the drug industry. Sibel has done a huge amount of research here which gave Beneath The Surface a sinister realism as it continued to explore some very topical issues.
There were plenty of twists and turns to maintain my interest throughout, with subtly placed red herrings so that you were never quite sure who to trust. I raced through the frantic last few chapters and then got my breath back reading the very powerful and moving epilogue as my heart rate returned to normal.
At times harrowing, but always sympathetically handled especially whilst dealing with some very sensitive issues, this was exactly the sort of engrossing but heart wrenching tale I have come to expect from this author. A highly recommended read.
July 28, 2020
3,5 Stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the first half very much. But as soon as the main topic began to unfold I lost interest. I don’t like kiss-and-tell-stories. And I was not aware that this book was that kind of book. I expected something else or maybe a different handling of the topic.
In the first half we meet Holly. We get to know her and learn about her problems. I liked reading the book although I was a bit annoyed by everybody telling her she was paranoid and a crazy drunk. But then the story turns into an action thriller. The exposure of the criminal doings of pharmaceutical companies became more important than telling a story. The author did a great job with her research and the topic is shocking and has to be revealed. But it did not work in this book for me. I don’t know how I can explain it. But I think telling this story, revealing everything, became so important for the author that she missed to form it into a harmonic story.
I am sorry to say that the book did not work for me. It felt like something was missing. I liked the writing and the first half was very well composed. But then it turned into a kind of story I don’t like to read. If I had known that I would not have requested it from NetGalley. But because this is just me and my personal taste I round it up to 4 stars.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the first half very much. But as soon as the main topic began to unfold I lost interest. I don’t like kiss-and-tell-stories. And I was not aware that this book was that kind of book. I expected something else or maybe a different handling of the topic.
In the first half we meet Holly. We get to know her and learn about her problems. I liked reading the book although I was a bit annoyed by everybody telling her she was paranoid and a crazy drunk. But then the story turns into an action thriller. The exposure of the criminal doings of pharmaceutical companies became more important than telling a story. The author did a great job with her research and the topic is shocking and has to be revealed. But it did not work in this book for me. I don’t know how I can explain it. But I think telling this story, revealing everything, became so important for the author that she missed to form it into a harmonic story.
I am sorry to say that the book did not work for me. It felt like something was missing. I liked the writing and the first half was very well composed. But then it turned into a kind of story I don’t like to read. If I had known that I would not have requested it from NetGalley. But because this is just me and my personal taste I round it up to 4 stars.
August 2, 2017
I have recently lost my reading mojo and this book was highly recommended by members of THE Book Club as one to rekindle my kindle. I have mixed feelings about this book, initially I was intrigued by the story line, a failed and troubled journalist returns home with her tail between her legs to her small town and starts to investigate the murder/suicide of her childhood friend and son and a spate of teenage suicides.
It didn’t take me long to work out where this book was going and what was behind these tragic deaths and where and what the twists were. This is obviously a well researched book and whilst it is topical and thought provoking, it lacked the “psychological edge” that I have enjoyed in this author’s previous books. Having said that, I was reading it at 5am this morning and the author certainly has a talent for story telling. 3.5 stars
It didn’t take me long to work out where this book was going and what was behind these tragic deaths and where and what the twists were. This is obviously a well researched book and whilst it is topical and thought provoking, it lacked the “psychological edge” that I have enjoyed in this author’s previous books. Having said that, I was reading it at 5am this morning and the author certainly has a talent for story telling. 3.5 stars
November 2, 2018
I'd give it ZERO, especially the ending...
I found this book to be okay for what it was, a basic crime thriller. It was an easy to read story for bedtime, but as the book went on it got more and more unbelievable. The quality of writing drops even further and the grammar becomes worse. The big, bad pharmaceutical company does make a fairly decent storyline but then the author starts adding her own toxic beliefs into the ending and perpetuates the ridiculous myth that vaccines cause autism. I was so disappointed that the author chose to use a crime thriller to push dangerous anti-vaccination myths that have been discredited and ARE NOT TRUE. Anti Vaxxers are a modern nightmare. Maybe she can write a book next about children dying from avoidable diseases due to being unvaccinated... Now THAT'S scary story.
I found this book to be okay for what it was, a basic crime thriller. It was an easy to read story for bedtime, but as the book went on it got more and more unbelievable. The quality of writing drops even further and the grammar becomes worse. The big, bad pharmaceutical company does make a fairly decent storyline but then the author starts adding her own toxic beliefs into the ending and perpetuates the ridiculous myth that vaccines cause autism. I was so disappointed that the author chose to use a crime thriller to push dangerous anti-vaccination myths that have been discredited and ARE NOT TRUE. Anti Vaxxers are a modern nightmare. Maybe she can write a book next about children dying from avoidable diseases due to being unvaccinated... Now THAT'S scary story.
June 30, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
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