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Nemesister
It's a psychological mystery where the female protagonist stumbles into a deserted shack with no memory but a gun in her hand. There she meets an apparent stranger, Red, and the two find themselves isolated and under attack from unseen assailants.
Barricaded inside for a sweltering night, cabin fever sets in and brings her flashes of insight which might be memory or vision as the swamp sighs and moans around her.
Exploring in the dark she finds hidden keys that seem to reveal her identity and that of her mysterious host, but which are the more dangerous - the lies he's told her, or the ones she's told herself?
Barricaded inside for a sweltering night, cabin fever sets in and brings her flashes of insight which might be memory or vision as the swamp sighs and moans around her.
Exploring in the dark she finds hidden keys that seem to reveal her identity and that of her mysterious host, but which are the more dangerous - the lies he's told her, or the ones she's told herself?
- GenresThriller
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2017
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 21, 2017
Nemesister starts off with a young woman stumbling into a deserted shack in the middle of nowhere. She’s lost her memory, can’t remember why or how she ended up at this remote location and has no idea why she’s holding a gun in her hand. She meets Red and the two of them find themselves isolated as Red’s truck won’t start and the unnamed young woman has severe blisters, can’t walk properly and has also been injured somehow.
Good grief, this is one dark read. It has this insanely creepy and eerie vibe bubbling away under the surface and at times even I, who wasn’t even in the room, felt uncomfortable and threatened. There are numerous questions to be answered. Who is this young woman? How did she get there? Who is Red? What does he want? If anything. And is he friend or foe? All I know is he gave me the heebie-jeebies. Above all, there’s a big mystery that needs to be solved but you’ll have to read the book yourself to know what that’s all about.
Set in the swamps of Louisiana, Nemesister is rich in atmosphere and I loved the setting as the surroundings felt just as oppressive as the shack itself. I must admit I did find some of the early chapters a wee bit confusing at times and I wasn’t sure if this book was going to be for me but then suddenly I found myself gripped nonetheless and eager to find out more. The author manages to leave a trail of breadcrumbs and all the pieces of the puzzle culminate into an exciting ending that I couldn’t have predicted at all.
Good grief, this is one dark read. It has this insanely creepy and eerie vibe bubbling away under the surface and at times even I, who wasn’t even in the room, felt uncomfortable and threatened. There are numerous questions to be answered. Who is this young woman? How did she get there? Who is Red? What does he want? If anything. And is he friend or foe? All I know is he gave me the heebie-jeebies. Above all, there’s a big mystery that needs to be solved but you’ll have to read the book yourself to know what that’s all about.
Set in the swamps of Louisiana, Nemesister is rich in atmosphere and I loved the setting as the surroundings felt just as oppressive as the shack itself. I must admit I did find some of the early chapters a wee bit confusing at times and I wasn’t sure if this book was going to be for me but then suddenly I found myself gripped nonetheless and eager to find out more. The author manages to leave a trail of breadcrumbs and all the pieces of the puzzle culminate into an exciting ending that I couldn’t have predicted at all.
July 15, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley.
If you're looking for an entertaining read that will keep you guessing, then look no further. Once this gets started good, it's hard to put down. Lots of excitement and twists aplenty.
If you're looking for an entertaining read that will keep you guessing, then look no further. Once this gets started good, it's hard to put down. Lots of excitement and twists aplenty.
July 18, 2017
The blurb and the cover of Nemesister intrigued me enough to take a peek inside. This is a book that will make your skin crawl as you put yourself into the creepy situation .. young woman shows up at a fishing shack in the middle of nowhere injured she has no clue who she is, why she is armed or WTF she is doing. The shack isn’t empty though it is inhabited by a guy “call me Red” .. that sets the scene for a scary read.
There are so many twists and turns in this book that you will need to concentrate to grasp who all the characters are but there is a sh*t ton of action!
It reminded me of all the old horror movie cliches rolled into one .. who can you trust including yourself! Set mainly in Louisiana prepare yourself for some good ole country drawl which just adds to the tension and mystic.
As the woman slowly regains her memory we slowly unfurl events via flashbacks .. but is anyone who they think they are or is human nature so peculiar that the whole tale becomes bizarre? This will keep you glued and unprepared for the ending. It was a different style of writing for me but once I adapted I became fully involved and enjoyed Nemesister which is dark, deep and suitably chilling.
Thanks to Sophie and Urbane for my copy and Abby for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
There are so many twists and turns in this book that you will need to concentrate to grasp who all the characters are but there is a sh*t ton of action!
It reminded me of all the old horror movie cliches rolled into one .. who can you trust including yourself! Set mainly in Louisiana prepare yourself for some good ole country drawl which just adds to the tension and mystic.
As the woman slowly regains her memory we slowly unfurl events via flashbacks .. but is anyone who they think they are or is human nature so peculiar that the whole tale becomes bizarre? This will keep you glued and unprepared for the ending. It was a different style of writing for me but once I adapted I became fully involved and enjoyed Nemesister which is dark, deep and suitably chilling.
Thanks to Sophie and Urbane for my copy and Abby for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
July 3, 2017
Nemesister, by Sophie Jonas-Hill, is the first book in a proposed series of American Gothic thrillers. The story opens in a remote and run-down lodge hidden within the swamps of Louisiana. The protagonist is a young woman who arrives at this place badly injured, with no recollection of who she is or why she is here. In her hand is a gun, in her pocket a leaflet. She can find no other clues to her identity.
As she stumbles into the damp-ridden shack a man appears who introduces himself to her as Red. She is terrified of him but has no idea why. Red offers her water and then a bed on the couch. When she wakes from exhausted sleep he has tended to her wounds. Despite these efforts the woman remains wary. With injured feet and no means of transport she has little choice but to stay. Red tells her that his truck requires attention, that once mended he will take her to the nearest town as she has requested.
Over the course of the following twenty-four hours Red tells the woman about himself. He was a soldier, had a wife, and is at the shack to meet his brother for a spot of fishing. He is not always consistent in what he says. The woman feels a strong urge to escape but when unknown assailants fire shots at the house, the doors are locked and the key pocketed by Red.
The woman’s memory returns gradually with brief flashbacks to scenes that as yet make little sense. It is unclear if she is remembering what happened to her or to others, and who those others are to her. Within the shack are clues, but the more she uncovers the less she understands. Then what happened to her sister returns.
From the first page the tale unsettles. Despite the unremitting tension it takes some time before the flashbacks coalesce and characters gain form and context, enabling greater reader engagement. From here the pace picks up as backstories are presented and woven together. The drip-fed details now make disturbing sense.
The writing is taut and polished. Each of the cast’s true motives keep the reader guessing to the end. Dark and disquieting throughout, this is an intense, compelling read.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Urbane.
As she stumbles into the damp-ridden shack a man appears who introduces himself to her as Red. She is terrified of him but has no idea why. Red offers her water and then a bed on the couch. When she wakes from exhausted sleep he has tended to her wounds. Despite these efforts the woman remains wary. With injured feet and no means of transport she has little choice but to stay. Red tells her that his truck requires attention, that once mended he will take her to the nearest town as she has requested.
Over the course of the following twenty-four hours Red tells the woman about himself. He was a soldier, had a wife, and is at the shack to meet his brother for a spot of fishing. He is not always consistent in what he says. The woman feels a strong urge to escape but when unknown assailants fire shots at the house, the doors are locked and the key pocketed by Red.
The woman’s memory returns gradually with brief flashbacks to scenes that as yet make little sense. It is unclear if she is remembering what happened to her or to others, and who those others are to her. Within the shack are clues, but the more she uncovers the less she understands. Then what happened to her sister returns.
From the first page the tale unsettles. Despite the unremitting tension it takes some time before the flashbacks coalesce and characters gain form and context, enabling greater reader engagement. From here the pace picks up as backstories are presented and woven together. The drip-fed details now make disturbing sense.
The writing is taut and polished. Each of the cast’s true motives keep the reader guessing to the end. Dark and disquieting throughout, this is an intense, compelling read.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Urbane.
September 10, 2017
*Four and a half stars out of five*
That blurb! It was the blurb which initially drew me to this book. An American gothic thriller set in the sweaty swamps of Louisiana? Here, take my (measly) life savings because I am well and truly sold! As you can imagine, I started reading Nemesister full of nervous excitement. And I’m sorry to say that it didn’t quite have the oomph I was hoping for. Now, it may just be me but I found the first half of the book slower going than I had hoped. I had built this book up in my own mind so the blame for that rests totally at my door. However. And it’s a big ‘however’ so prepare yourself. The second half of this book totally blew my socks off. Wonderfully twisted and dark, it felt like a real indulgence. Our main protagonist, we’ll call her Margarita – that’s not her name but it’s easier that way – is sassy, fiery and a bit of a badass. Having lost her memory and stumbled on a secluded shack, Margarita comes to with a gun in her hand and a stranger trying to coax her down. Locked in the shack overnight with the mysterious stranger, Margarita decides to search for clues, as well as a key to open the padlocked door. What she thought she knew and what she actually know turn out to be two very different things…
There isn’t a lot else I can say without dishing out some rather large spoilers. Nothing is as it seems and I love it when an author can trick me into thinking the story is heading one way, only to take a massive about-turn and take me somewhere completely unexpected. I’ve heard a rumour that this may be the start of a series and if that’s the case then please consider this my pre-order for book 2! I loved the language, with the ain’ts and darlin’s and that distinctive Louisiana feel which the author writes so well.
Would I recommend this book? I would but I can’t get away from the fact that I found the first half such slow going. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Jonas-Hill is setting the scene exactly as she should. Without that first half nothing else would make sense! But oh, that second half is SUBLIME! If there had been a touch more oomph in the first part I would have given this book five stars. I can’t help thinking the problem was more down to me than the actual story telling so I’m going to give it four and a half stars out of five.
Four and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Nemesister. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
That blurb! It was the blurb which initially drew me to this book. An American gothic thriller set in the sweaty swamps of Louisiana? Here, take my (measly) life savings because I am well and truly sold! As you can imagine, I started reading Nemesister full of nervous excitement. And I’m sorry to say that it didn’t quite have the oomph I was hoping for. Now, it may just be me but I found the first half of the book slower going than I had hoped. I had built this book up in my own mind so the blame for that rests totally at my door. However. And it’s a big ‘however’ so prepare yourself. The second half of this book totally blew my socks off. Wonderfully twisted and dark, it felt like a real indulgence. Our main protagonist, we’ll call her Margarita – that’s not her name but it’s easier that way – is sassy, fiery and a bit of a badass. Having lost her memory and stumbled on a secluded shack, Margarita comes to with a gun in her hand and a stranger trying to coax her down. Locked in the shack overnight with the mysterious stranger, Margarita decides to search for clues, as well as a key to open the padlocked door. What she thought she knew and what she actually know turn out to be two very different things…
There isn’t a lot else I can say without dishing out some rather large spoilers. Nothing is as it seems and I love it when an author can trick me into thinking the story is heading one way, only to take a massive about-turn and take me somewhere completely unexpected. I’ve heard a rumour that this may be the start of a series and if that’s the case then please consider this my pre-order for book 2! I loved the language, with the ain’ts and darlin’s and that distinctive Louisiana feel which the author writes so well.
Would I recommend this book? I would but I can’t get away from the fact that I found the first half such slow going. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Jonas-Hill is setting the scene exactly as she should. Without that first half nothing else would make sense! But oh, that second half is SUBLIME! If there had been a touch more oomph in the first part I would have given this book five stars. I can’t help thinking the problem was more down to me than the actual story telling so I’m going to give it four and a half stars out of five.
Four and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Nemesister. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
September 22, 2018
3.5 stars - The opening to Nemesister was as the blurb states, a mysterious woman with no memory stumbles into a shack with a gun in her hand. Immediately you’re hit with the uncertainly, can she trust Red, what happened, how immediate is further danger? You really feel this woman’s unease. Red calls her ‘Margarita’ and I’m going to do the same.
What follows, again is as the blurb states, cabin fever sets in, and this is the device that allows Margarita to regain most of her memory. And this is where the plot lost me, I felt so disconnected, so confused. You could argue the confusion was essential in the sense that this woman was experiencing cabin fever, so memories/visions won’t necessary be coherent and easily understood. But, it reminded me a lot of when I read Fever Dream and The Water Cure – that feeling of reading a book but not really being able to grasp what is happening; you keep trying to understand what’s going on, but you can’t quite get a grip on things. This may appeal to some readers but, for me, it’s something I’ve come to actively dislike, because it makes me feel a bit dim, like I’m not smart enough to understand what’s happening. I know that’s not the author’s intention to make a reader feel that way, and call me silly if you like, but I can’t help the way I feel, I can deal with deception, being misled, unreliable narrators, because at least I can follow events, even if they turn out to be untrue, but, what I’m naming ‘the fever dream’ trope just doesn’t work for me.
Moving on, once this cabin fever section ended, I loved this novel – the success of this novel lies in the strength of the second half. That’s where you see the cleverness of the plot, the deception; you can follow, understand, and therefore appreciate, all that occurs. You can see the craftiness behind the author’s plotting, I was hooked. It isn’t necessarily a believable set of events, but it’s gripping, entertaining, thrilling, and brilliantly deceptive. Once Margarita regained her memory, she was a badass character, a character that you can really get behind. I loved her attitude, someone who meets fire with fire, and this made for an exciting second half to the novel.
While one aspect, the main aspect, was wonderfully concluded, the overall ending was a little vague, with this being the first book in a trilogy, that is to be expected. I’m looking forward to the next instalment, and as long as Margarita doesn’t experience cabin fever for a second time, I’m positive I’ll enjoy it all the way through.
Nemesister is such an atmospheric read, set in the swamps of Louisiana, it’s stifling, it’s tense. The isolated setting, and the limited characters, added to the atmosphere and created a sweltering, intense vibe which I really liked. It’s worth noting that I read this book in one sitting, so as much as I felt disconnected from the first half, once this novel ‘had me’, it ‘had me’ till the end!
What follows, again is as the blurb states, cabin fever sets in, and this is the device that allows Margarita to regain most of her memory. And this is where the plot lost me, I felt so disconnected, so confused. You could argue the confusion was essential in the sense that this woman was experiencing cabin fever, so memories/visions won’t necessary be coherent and easily understood. But, it reminded me a lot of when I read Fever Dream and The Water Cure – that feeling of reading a book but not really being able to grasp what is happening; you keep trying to understand what’s going on, but you can’t quite get a grip on things. This may appeal to some readers but, for me, it’s something I’ve come to actively dislike, because it makes me feel a bit dim, like I’m not smart enough to understand what’s happening. I know that’s not the author’s intention to make a reader feel that way, and call me silly if you like, but I can’t help the way I feel, I can deal with deception, being misled, unreliable narrators, because at least I can follow events, even if they turn out to be untrue, but, what I’m naming ‘the fever dream’ trope just doesn’t work for me.
Moving on, once this cabin fever section ended, I loved this novel – the success of this novel lies in the strength of the second half. That’s where you see the cleverness of the plot, the deception; you can follow, understand, and therefore appreciate, all that occurs. You can see the craftiness behind the author’s plotting, I was hooked. It isn’t necessarily a believable set of events, but it’s gripping, entertaining, thrilling, and brilliantly deceptive. Once Margarita regained her memory, she was a badass character, a character that you can really get behind. I loved her attitude, someone who meets fire with fire, and this made for an exciting second half to the novel.
While one aspect, the main aspect, was wonderfully concluded, the overall ending was a little vague, with this being the first book in a trilogy, that is to be expected. I’m looking forward to the next instalment, and as long as Margarita doesn’t experience cabin fever for a second time, I’m positive I’ll enjoy it all the way through.
Nemesister is such an atmospheric read, set in the swamps of Louisiana, it’s stifling, it’s tense. The isolated setting, and the limited characters, added to the atmosphere and created a sweltering, intense vibe which I really liked. It’s worth noting that I read this book in one sitting, so as much as I felt disconnected from the first half, once this novel ‘had me’, it ‘had me’ till the end!
September 12, 2017
Nemesister by Sophie Jonas-Hill.
It's a psychological mystery where the female protagonist stumbles into a deserted shack with no memory but a gun in her hand. There she meets an apparent stranger, Red, and the two find themselves isolated and under attack from unseen assailants. Barricaded inside for a sweltering night, cabin fever sets in and brings her flashes of insight which might be memory or vision as the swamp sighs and moans around her. Exploring in the dark she finds hidden keys that seem to reveal her identity and that of her mysterious host, but which are the more dangerous - the lies he's told her, or the ones she's told herself?
A good read with good characters. Little slow in places but I managed to read it. 3*. Netgalley and urban publications.
It's a psychological mystery where the female protagonist stumbles into a deserted shack with no memory but a gun in her hand. There she meets an apparent stranger, Red, and the two find themselves isolated and under attack from unseen assailants. Barricaded inside for a sweltering night, cabin fever sets in and brings her flashes of insight which might be memory or vision as the swamp sighs and moans around her. Exploring in the dark she finds hidden keys that seem to reveal her identity and that of her mysterious host, but which are the more dangerous - the lies he's told her, or the ones she's told herself?
A good read with good characters. Little slow in places but I managed to read it. 3*. Netgalley and urban publications.
July 26, 2017
4.5 stars
After reading the description I was really intrigued to find out the story of Nemesister and couldn't wait to get reading. What then followed was a very complex story, there seemed to be several different things going on and I will admit I was a little confused, but in a good way I must add.
Let me explain......
The book opens with a young woman stumbling into an old house, she's injured, in a mess and has no memory what so ever, not only that she is holding a gun and has no idea how or why she is there. Slowly through the book her memories come back and the story jumps from present day to childhood with memories also leading up to the present day. This was where I found the confusion, it's so well written that I felt like I'd lost my memory and as the young woman was piecing things together so was I. I was totally part of the story.
Nemesister is a very atmospheric book, on more than one occasion I found I had goose bumps and I found myself racing through the book. This really is an intriguing story that totally pulls you in, I couldn't put the book down and read this in one sitting. There's so many questions through out the book needing answers you can't help reading on, its a real sleep stealer.
This really is a book you need to read if you like a story that is dark, twisted and full of suspense. I highly recommend Nemesister and I'm looking forward to reading more from Sophie Jonas-Hill.
After reading the description I was really intrigued to find out the story of Nemesister and couldn't wait to get reading. What then followed was a very complex story, there seemed to be several different things going on and I will admit I was a little confused, but in a good way I must add.
Let me explain......
The book opens with a young woman stumbling into an old house, she's injured, in a mess and has no memory what so ever, not only that she is holding a gun and has no idea how or why she is there. Slowly through the book her memories come back and the story jumps from present day to childhood with memories also leading up to the present day. This was where I found the confusion, it's so well written that I felt like I'd lost my memory and as the young woman was piecing things together so was I. I was totally part of the story.
Nemesister is a very atmospheric book, on more than one occasion I found I had goose bumps and I found myself racing through the book. This really is an intriguing story that totally pulls you in, I couldn't put the book down and read this in one sitting. There's so many questions through out the book needing answers you can't help reading on, its a real sleep stealer.
This really is a book you need to read if you like a story that is dark, twisted and full of suspense. I highly recommend Nemesister and I'm looking forward to reading more from Sophie Jonas-Hill.
October 27, 2017
Sophie Jonas-Hill’s novel is an incredibly atmospheric thriller that swings from eerie to brooding to intense as the central character negotiates a world full of confusion and threat.
The narrative opens as ‘Margarita’ – her real name or not? – finds herself arriving at a crumbling house in the bayou with a gunshot wound, a head injury and a memory full of holes. Those opening scenes are laden with oppressive ambience. You can feel the heat and humidity, and although the creaking, groaning house and the foetid swamp that surrounds it are realised strikingly, they could just as easily be ‘Margarita’s’ nightmare. In the house, she encounters the charismatic Red, an ex-soldier with speech you could cut with a knife, who might be an old-fashioned Southern gent just as easily as he might be a homicidal misogynist. Why have they come to this house in the middle of nowhere? Do they know each other? Who shot ‘Margarita’ and why – and are they still coming after her?
The following hours, trapped in the house, proceed through dreamlike scenes punctuated by fragmentary revelations and voices that could be memories, hallucinations, even clairvoyance. The broken cascade is sometimes confusing, but it’s best to just go with the flow – while it can be hard to follow the various threads at times, things will become clearer, if far from straightforward.
As the nature of the mystery is slowly revealed, a sometimes brutal story emerges. One of revenge, rescue and remorse, survivor’s guilt and the scars of abuse. But this is still a world where nothing and no-one are as they seem. It’s clear there is a significant deception underway, but who is deceiving whom? Whenever you think you have everything figured out, it twists on you again. As the story moves from the initial confusion of the amnesiac bayou to a web of con and counter-con, Nemesister will keep you guessing – and hooked – until the very end.
The narrative opens as ‘Margarita’ – her real name or not? – finds herself arriving at a crumbling house in the bayou with a gunshot wound, a head injury and a memory full of holes. Those opening scenes are laden with oppressive ambience. You can feel the heat and humidity, and although the creaking, groaning house and the foetid swamp that surrounds it are realised strikingly, they could just as easily be ‘Margarita’s’ nightmare. In the house, she encounters the charismatic Red, an ex-soldier with speech you could cut with a knife, who might be an old-fashioned Southern gent just as easily as he might be a homicidal misogynist. Why have they come to this house in the middle of nowhere? Do they know each other? Who shot ‘Margarita’ and why – and are they still coming after her?
The following hours, trapped in the house, proceed through dreamlike scenes punctuated by fragmentary revelations and voices that could be memories, hallucinations, even clairvoyance. The broken cascade is sometimes confusing, but it’s best to just go with the flow – while it can be hard to follow the various threads at times, things will become clearer, if far from straightforward.
As the nature of the mystery is slowly revealed, a sometimes brutal story emerges. One of revenge, rescue and remorse, survivor’s guilt and the scars of abuse. But this is still a world where nothing and no-one are as they seem. It’s clear there is a significant deception underway, but who is deceiving whom? Whenever you think you have everything figured out, it twists on you again. As the story moves from the initial confusion of the amnesiac bayou to a web of con and counter-con, Nemesister will keep you guessing – and hooked – until the very end.
July 11, 2017
The description for Nemesister instantly grabbed my attention and I couldn't wait to discover the truth. So what did I think...
I loved the opening it really set the scene by having you wonder what is really happening and I was left eager to discover the truth. With bits and pieces slowly revealed that kept me quickly turning the pages. The mystery is a good one and the puzzle of who Margarita really is and what happened to her is brilliant. Even though she has lost her identity her character is strong and determined.
I guess it's safe to say that Nemesister took me by surprise and I loved the twists and turns that feature in the plot. I was definitely kept on my toes as the tension is slowly but surely ramped up as the book progresses. The whole story had that tense atmospheric feel mainly because of the location. You can't get more chilling than being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a complete stranger. Lies and secrets flow through Nemesister with the added flashbacks creating an unsettling and dark feeling throughout. As the reader at times I felt as off balance as Margarita did and it's Sophie Jonas-Hill's writing that completely sets the scene for this.
Filled with tension and flawed characters - Nemesister is an intriguing and dark story!
With thanks to Abby for the invite to join the tour & Urbane Publications for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved the opening it really set the scene by having you wonder what is really happening and I was left eager to discover the truth. With bits and pieces slowly revealed that kept me quickly turning the pages. The mystery is a good one and the puzzle of who Margarita really is and what happened to her is brilliant. Even though she has lost her identity her character is strong and determined.
I guess it's safe to say that Nemesister took me by surprise and I loved the twists and turns that feature in the plot. I was definitely kept on my toes as the tension is slowly but surely ramped up as the book progresses. The whole story had that tense atmospheric feel mainly because of the location. You can't get more chilling than being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a complete stranger. Lies and secrets flow through Nemesister with the added flashbacks creating an unsettling and dark feeling throughout. As the reader at times I felt as off balance as Margarita did and it's Sophie Jonas-Hill's writing that completely sets the scene for this.
Filled with tension and flawed characters - Nemesister is an intriguing and dark story!
With thanks to Abby for the invite to join the tour & Urbane Publications for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 8, 2019
Oh my goodness, this is one psychological thriller I could not put down! Nemesister by Sophie-Jonas Hill is the first book in the House of Crooked Sisters trilogy and it is certainly a book full of intense tension, twists and turns and one which will keep you guessing until the very end. Set in Louisiana the book is about a young woman who finds herself in a deserted shack, with no memory of where she is or why she is holding the item she is holding. What happens next is such an intriguing read with a great plot, superb atmospheric setting descriptions and brilliant characters. Parts of the book were very dark and eerie but that is what made the book. I highly recommend Nemesister - 5 stars!
October 31, 2021
This right here is why I subscribe to a box of stories. What an utterly brilliant book, from an author I’ve never heard of, but I shall certainly be looking out for the other two books in this trilogy. Wow I have really enjoyed this 😊
November 10, 2021
Engrossing and sticky.
July 25, 2017
It is definately one twisted suspense thriller. Loved it. Need to read more from this author
August 18, 2017
If I could say just two words about Nemesister they would be READ IT! But, that would completely defeat the purpose of participating in a blog tour so I’m going to try and say as much as I can without any spoilers. Nemesister is the kind of thriller that keeps you on your toes and always guessing what is coming next. This intense psychological thriller is a must read for those that loves some twists and turns, and especially for those that love characters with inexcusable flaws.
Let’s start at the beginning though – I just couldn’t get enough of that opening! The description was so enticing, well written, and shrouded in mystery that I was absolutely hooked from the first few sentences. I could feel the southern heat, Margarita’s fear, and genuinely thought that the encounter with Red was absolutely happenstance. And the best part? Even though Nemesister started out on a high point it just kept gaining momentum.
The intertwining of the elements of memory and flashbacks, evocation of the senses, and meticulous description worked to create the kind of narrative that you have to stop and think about as you move along. More than once I found myself staring at the pages open-mouthed and dumbfounded only to be rapidly burning through the pages to find out what happened next. I found myself constantly questioning what was actually happening and what was being remembered, but the fluidity of the shifts between tenses was not only beautifully done but really worked to recreate the experience of someone regaining memory after a trauma. As a reader, I felt that I was experiencing the same confusion and remembrance as Margarita and appreciated the way in which those memories affected the situations that she was facing.
The characters were just the right levels of twisted, WTF, and entirely believable. And, the ending was one that I really wasn’t expecting. Seriously, who licks up blood?! I threw my book (okay, my kindle) across the room I was so horrified. Obviously I picked it up and kept reading because you can’t not keep reading after something like that, but man do I love it when you really don’t see something coming. The structure comes together like a beautiful jigsaw where the final piece is a resounding OMG!
Word of warning though, I enjoy profanity in books, particularly when it is character and situation appropriate. For those that take offence at the presence of swears, this book won’t be for you. But for everyone else, the language and use of southern drawl created a tense, believable, and in my opinion highly realistic atmosphere. Lets face it, if I woke up in a backwater fishing shack, having been shot and devoid of my memory I would be swearing like a sailor too!
Let’s start at the beginning though – I just couldn’t get enough of that opening! The description was so enticing, well written, and shrouded in mystery that I was absolutely hooked from the first few sentences. I could feel the southern heat, Margarita’s fear, and genuinely thought that the encounter with Red was absolutely happenstance. And the best part? Even though Nemesister started out on a high point it just kept gaining momentum.
The intertwining of the elements of memory and flashbacks, evocation of the senses, and meticulous description worked to create the kind of narrative that you have to stop and think about as you move along. More than once I found myself staring at the pages open-mouthed and dumbfounded only to be rapidly burning through the pages to find out what happened next. I found myself constantly questioning what was actually happening and what was being remembered, but the fluidity of the shifts between tenses was not only beautifully done but really worked to recreate the experience of someone regaining memory after a trauma. As a reader, I felt that I was experiencing the same confusion and remembrance as Margarita and appreciated the way in which those memories affected the situations that she was facing.
The characters were just the right levels of twisted, WTF, and entirely believable. And, the ending was one that I really wasn’t expecting. Seriously, who licks up blood?! I threw my book (okay, my kindle) across the room I was so horrified. Obviously I picked it up and kept reading because you can’t not keep reading after something like that, but man do I love it when you really don’t see something coming. The structure comes together like a beautiful jigsaw where the final piece is a resounding OMG!
Word of warning though, I enjoy profanity in books, particularly when it is character and situation appropriate. For those that take offence at the presence of swears, this book won’t be for you. But for everyone else, the language and use of southern drawl created a tense, believable, and in my opinion highly realistic atmosphere. Lets face it, if I woke up in a backwater fishing shack, having been shot and devoid of my memory I would be swearing like a sailor too!
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