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Κρυφές Αμαρτίες
Ακόμη ονειρεύομαι το σπίτι της Άννα. Στα όνειρά μου το σπίτι έχει κακές προθέσεις. Στην πραγματικότητα, όμως, δεν έφταιγε το σπίτι για ό,τι συνέβη. Ήταν οι άνθρωποι και οι αμαρτίες τους…
Ο Τιμ Έλισον νοικιάζει ένα φτηνό δωμάτιο στο Φέιρβιου, μια εκπληκτική βίλα στο Σίντνεϊ, και πιστεύει πως η τύχη τού χαμογέλασε. Υπάρχει, όμως, ένας αδιαπραγμάτευτος όρος: είναι υποχρεωμένος να αναλάβει τις εξωτερικές δουλειές της εχθρικής, ασυνήθιστης και κλεισμένης στον εαυτό της ιδιοκτήτριας, της Άννα Λόντον. Μυστήρια, σχεδόν τρομακτικά πράγματα συμβαίνουν στο σπίτι τις νύχτες και ο Τιμ αναρωτιέται μήπως η επιλογή του ήταν λάθος. Σιγά σιγά, ωστόσο, τα αισθήματά του για την Άννα αλλάζουν και, όταν το παρελθόν επιστρέφει ζητώντας εκδίκηση, ο Τιμ βρίσκεται άθελά του παγιδευμένος στη δίνη.
Ένα θρίλερ με απρόοπτο τέλος, που διαβάζεται με κομμένη την ανάσα.
Ο Τιμ Έλισον νοικιάζει ένα φτηνό δωμάτιο στο Φέιρβιου, μια εκπληκτική βίλα στο Σίντνεϊ, και πιστεύει πως η τύχη τού χαμογέλασε. Υπάρχει, όμως, ένας αδιαπραγμάτευτος όρος: είναι υποχρεωμένος να αναλάβει τις εξωτερικές δουλειές της εχθρικής, ασυνήθιστης και κλεισμένης στον εαυτό της ιδιοκτήτριας, της Άννα Λόντον. Μυστήρια, σχεδόν τρομακτικά πράγματα συμβαίνουν στο σπίτι τις νύχτες και ο Τιμ αναρωτιέται μήπως η επιλογή του ήταν λάθος. Σιγά σιγά, ωστόσο, τα αισθήματά του για την Άννα αλλάζουν και, όταν το παρελθόν επιστρέφει ζητώντας εκδίκηση, ο Τιμ βρίσκεται άθελά του παγιδευμένος στη δίνη.
Ένα θρίλερ με απρόοπτο τέλος, που διαβάζεται με κομμένη την ανάσα.
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2015
38 people are currently reading
2244 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca James
4 books511 followersRebecca James is the author of BEAUTIFUL MALICE, SWEET DAMAGE and COOPER BARTHOLOMEW IS DEAD. She has worked as a waitress, a kitchen designer, an English teacher in both Indonesia and Japan, a barmaid, and (most memorably) a mini-cab telephone-operator in London. Rebecca lives in Warrnambool, Australia, with her partner and their five children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
October 18, 2014
Tim Ellison has been staying at his ex- girlfriends house where he's been sleeping on the couch, but clearly it's time for him to move on. Tim has a casual job as a cook at his father's restaurant and when he's not working he's enjoys surfing at Sydney's beaches. So when Tim is told about a cheap room to rent he decides to check it out although he's not expecting it to be much.
Tim is blown away once he arrives at Fairview and can't believe his luck. Fairview is a huge two storey sandstone and brick house which was built in 1890 and has one of the best and most spectacular views of Sydney. Anna London is the owner of Fairview and she inherited the house after her parents were killed in a tragic car accident. Tim finds Anna to be very quiet and withdrawn, but doesn't think to much of it. With renting the room comes conditions which explains why Anna is the way she is. Tim quickly learns that Anna suffers from a condition called agoraphobia an anxiety disorder. Anna gets panic attacks and she hasn't left the house for the last six months.
Tim has settled in well at Fairview and being close to work and the beach is an extra bonus for him. He doesn't see a lot of Anna, but when he does they don't have a lot to talk about. He knows it must be hard for Anna never leaving the house and enjoying the great outdoors something he could never imagine doing.
Then when strange and unexplained things start happening at night, Tim wonders if he has made the right decision in taking the room.
This book had me intrigued right from the start all the way to the end. The twists and turns had me turning the pages rather quickly as I was desperate to know how it was going to end. And I never would've guessed that ending. Another fantastic read by Aussie author Rebecca James. Highly recommended.
Tim is blown away once he arrives at Fairview and can't believe his luck. Fairview is a huge two storey sandstone and brick house which was built in 1890 and has one of the best and most spectacular views of Sydney. Anna London is the owner of Fairview and she inherited the house after her parents were killed in a tragic car accident. Tim finds Anna to be very quiet and withdrawn, but doesn't think to much of it. With renting the room comes conditions which explains why Anna is the way she is. Tim quickly learns that Anna suffers from a condition called agoraphobia an anxiety disorder. Anna gets panic attacks and she hasn't left the house for the last six months.
Tim has settled in well at Fairview and being close to work and the beach is an extra bonus for him. He doesn't see a lot of Anna, but when he does they don't have a lot to talk about. He knows it must be hard for Anna never leaving the house and enjoying the great outdoors something he could never imagine doing.
Then when strange and unexplained things start happening at night, Tim wonders if he has made the right decision in taking the room.
This book had me intrigued right from the start all the way to the end. The twists and turns had me turning the pages rather quickly as I was desperate to know how it was going to end. And I never would've guessed that ending. Another fantastic read by Aussie author Rebecca James. Highly recommended.
April 17, 2013
Tim Ellison is stuck, and has been for a long time. He was stuck right after high school, aimless and unmotivated. He’s happily stuck working at his dad’s restaurant in Manly, with no particular ambition to get a real job or go to university. And he’s really stuck in his constant spiral with ex-girlfriend, Lilla – they broke up months ago because he lacked ambition, and now he’s sleeping on her couch in the apartment she shares with new boyfriend, Patrick.
Something has to shift, so when Lilla shows him a room for rent ad in the local paper that sounds too good to be true, he decides to take a leap of faith and check it out. . .
Fairview is a grand mansion. Beautiful and cavernous, it is in a prime location with beautiful views of Sydney and rent is so cheap, even Tim can afford it on his measly paycheque. The one catch is that Tim will be rooming with the house’s owner, Anna London.
Anna is a young woman, and Tim’s first impressions of her are that she’s timid and seems weak. Her lawyers, brother and sister team Fiona and Marcus, are arranging her new roommate for her and they also help her run Fairview, which she inherited after her parents died a few years ago. Tim still can’t see the catch . . . until it’s explained that Anna is agoraphobic. She has an anxiety disorder that keeps her imprisoned in her childhood home, and she’ll rely on Tim to connect her to the outside world.
For the first time in a long time Tim feels like things are finally moving along for him and life is good. Even if Anna is a little odd – shut up in the attic, speaking mysteriously of a lost love called ‘Benjamin’. Then there’s Fairview itself. Tim hears things at night, and imagines a dark figure looming in his doorway as he sleeps. . .
‘Sweet Damage’ is the new young adult thrilled from Australian author, Rebecca James.
I vowed to read anything and everything Rebecca James writes after her 2010 debut blew me away. ‘Beautiful Malice’ was gritty and engrossing, a heart-palpitating story with twisted and brilliant characters – and I couldn’t wait to read whatever James’s devious mind came up with next. Well, ‘Sweet Damage’ certainly delivers on the breathtaking frights that are quickly becoming Jame’s stamp. . .
The first line of ‘Sweet Damage’ is . . .
I still dream about Fairview.
. . . And my first reaction was that it had echoes of Daphne du Maurier famous opening line to ‘Rebecca’;
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.
As Anna and Tim’s intersecting story unfolds, it becomes apparent that ‘Sweet Damage’ has a bit of du Maurier to it, a chilling ode to that famous novel about love and obsession, descents into madness and houses that have a hold over their residents. But this is a decidedly fresher take on classic Gothic interpretations of female lunacy, and places wielding extraordinary power over individuals for the memories they hold within.
James’s story is set in the trendy Sydney suburb of Manly; Tim is a surf-bum waiter, idling through life . . . and Anna is a complex heroine battling a crippling mental illness. Through altering narrations we learn the many layers of Anna’s life and ‘insanity’, and as Tim begins to place the pieces of the puzzle in her sad family history, a mystery also unfolds.
This is a fantastic Gothic-Thriller novel; it’s full of careening twists and turns, but it’s also a character-driven tale in which nobody is as they first appear. Anna starts out as a weak and frightened girl in Tim’s mind, but as her story unfolds she gains depth and remarkable courage;
As I watch Anna cry, I’m struck by how dignified and beautiful she is. She has endured the worst possible thing a person can go through. And all the time I've been living with her she has dealt with this grief, keeping it to herself, trying to cope alone with something so tragic and huge. Before, I thought she was weak; I ignorantly assumed that a stronger person would have been able to overcome the anxiety that kept her trapped. Now I think she’s courageous.
I know that ‘Sweet Damage’ is being put forth as a young adult novel – but I actually think this might be migrating closer to that love-hate emerging ‘new adult’ readership. Our characters are a little older, and world-weary – but at the same time, Tim has the appeal of being young and aimless, lacking ambition and determined to stay in his comfort zones – there’s something very young adult relatable to that too. Meanwhile, Anna’s experiences and tragedies run a little deeper, they make her more mature and damaged than even Tim first realises. Basically, I can see ‘Sweet Damage’ appealing to young and old – horror fans, and those who want to get lost in a good, twisting mystery.
Something has to shift, so when Lilla shows him a room for rent ad in the local paper that sounds too good to be true, he decides to take a leap of faith and check it out. . .
Fairview is a grand mansion. Beautiful and cavernous, it is in a prime location with beautiful views of Sydney and rent is so cheap, even Tim can afford it on his measly paycheque. The one catch is that Tim will be rooming with the house’s owner, Anna London.
Anna is a young woman, and Tim’s first impressions of her are that she’s timid and seems weak. Her lawyers, brother and sister team Fiona and Marcus, are arranging her new roommate for her and they also help her run Fairview, which she inherited after her parents died a few years ago. Tim still can’t see the catch . . . until it’s explained that Anna is agoraphobic. She has an anxiety disorder that keeps her imprisoned in her childhood home, and she’ll rely on Tim to connect her to the outside world.
For the first time in a long time Tim feels like things are finally moving along for him and life is good. Even if Anna is a little odd – shut up in the attic, speaking mysteriously of a lost love called ‘Benjamin’. Then there’s Fairview itself. Tim hears things at night, and imagines a dark figure looming in his doorway as he sleeps. . .
‘Sweet Damage’ is the new young adult thrilled from Australian author, Rebecca James.
I vowed to read anything and everything Rebecca James writes after her 2010 debut blew me away. ‘Beautiful Malice’ was gritty and engrossing, a heart-palpitating story with twisted and brilliant characters – and I couldn’t wait to read whatever James’s devious mind came up with next. Well, ‘Sweet Damage’ certainly delivers on the breathtaking frights that are quickly becoming Jame’s stamp. . .
The first line of ‘Sweet Damage’ is . . .
I still dream about Fairview.
. . . And my first reaction was that it had echoes of Daphne du Maurier famous opening line to ‘Rebecca’;
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.
As Anna and Tim’s intersecting story unfolds, it becomes apparent that ‘Sweet Damage’ has a bit of du Maurier to it, a chilling ode to that famous novel about love and obsession, descents into madness and houses that have a hold over their residents. But this is a decidedly fresher take on classic Gothic interpretations of female lunacy, and places wielding extraordinary power over individuals for the memories they hold within.
James’s story is set in the trendy Sydney suburb of Manly; Tim is a surf-bum waiter, idling through life . . . and Anna is a complex heroine battling a crippling mental illness. Through altering narrations we learn the many layers of Anna’s life and ‘insanity’, and as Tim begins to place the pieces of the puzzle in her sad family history, a mystery also unfolds.
This is a fantastic Gothic-Thriller novel; it’s full of careening twists and turns, but it’s also a character-driven tale in which nobody is as they first appear. Anna starts out as a weak and frightened girl in Tim’s mind, but as her story unfolds she gains depth and remarkable courage;
As I watch Anna cry, I’m struck by how dignified and beautiful she is. She has endured the worst possible thing a person can go through. And all the time I've been living with her she has dealt with this grief, keeping it to herself, trying to cope alone with something so tragic and huge. Before, I thought she was weak; I ignorantly assumed that a stronger person would have been able to overcome the anxiety that kept her trapped. Now I think she’s courageous.
I know that ‘Sweet Damage’ is being put forth as a young adult novel – but I actually think this might be migrating closer to that love-hate emerging ‘new adult’ readership. Our characters are a little older, and world-weary – but at the same time, Tim has the appeal of being young and aimless, lacking ambition and determined to stay in his comfort zones – there’s something very young adult relatable to that too. Meanwhile, Anna’s experiences and tragedies run a little deeper, they make her more mature and damaged than even Tim first realises. Basically, I can see ‘Sweet Damage’ appealing to young and old – horror fans, and those who want to get lost in a good, twisting mystery.
October 16, 2013
This post also appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Sweet Damage is the first book I’ve read that explores agoraphobia, a debilitating, traumatising and downright scary anxiety disorder that prevents the sufferer from being in public. Rebecca James captures the sheer horror and immense anxiety that comes with the condition perfectly.
Tim Ellison finds the perfect opportunity to rent a cheap room in a beautiful, old house. Unfortunately, his house mate, Anna London, is stand offish, strange, and has agoraphobia and never leaves the house. All he’ll have to do is to check on her and pick up extra groceries for her every once in a while, in exchange for an awesome room….or so he thinks. Soon after he moves in, creepy things start to happen like people watching him at night, the house getting trashed, and it all points back to Anna.
This is the second Rebecca James book I’ve read and she’s definitely skilled at conveying complex and damaged relationships in a realistic and believable way. Her books are scary because they deal with realistic psychological issues and people, and when it comes to real people, you can’t predict their behaviour. While Beautiful Malice mostly explored the a toxic, dishonest friendship, Sweet Damage had some pure horror scenes when Tim moves into the big, old house – vandalism, bloody red letters, spiders in his bed, people watching him sleep. Even though the tormentor seems to be Anna, Tim still ends up falling in love with her which reveals that Tim may have a few issues himself.
Every character in the book is complex. Tim is a trusting, optimistic and happy go lucky guy who is comfortable in his own skin. His only folly is his naivety, especially when it comes to women. He’s obsessed with his ex girlfriend Lila, who is a flirty, beautiful, self-obsessed and overly critical woman who obviously has issues. Even though she has a boyfriend, she constantly flirts with Tim and uses him to boost her ego, which he knows, yet he still sticks around. The twisted game she plays is scarily accurate, as I have known a few Tim and Lila’s in my life. Lila’s character reminds me a lot of Alice in Beautiful Malice, with a slightly different portrayal.
I know it’s weird, but you end up rooting for Tim and Anna, as scary as that sounds. She’s an interesting character, and as the story unfolds, you’re as conflicted as Tim is about her. With all the creepy stuff happening around the house, it’s clear that it’s Anna who must be behind it, but she denies doing any of it and clearly shows that she’s as shocked and upset by the occurrences as Tim. Aside from her obvious mental issues, she’s a sweet girl who slowly comes out of her shell through the course of the novel. It’s amazing how the author can manipulate our feelings about this girl from Tim’s observations and her point of view, despite the scary events that occur around the house.
With some shocking revelations and twists and turns, Sweet Damage is a psychological horror that threw me about. The characters are intense, complex and the scariest part is that they are so realistic. Rebecca James delves into some complex relationships in her novels and it’s strangely fascinating. I can’t wait to follow this author and read more of her stuff, it’s addictive and there needs to be more like it!
I received a review copy from Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for sending me this copy!
Sweet Damage is the first book I’ve read that explores agoraphobia, a debilitating, traumatising and downright scary anxiety disorder that prevents the sufferer from being in public. Rebecca James captures the sheer horror and immense anxiety that comes with the condition perfectly.
Tim Ellison finds the perfect opportunity to rent a cheap room in a beautiful, old house. Unfortunately, his house mate, Anna London, is stand offish, strange, and has agoraphobia and never leaves the house. All he’ll have to do is to check on her and pick up extra groceries for her every once in a while, in exchange for an awesome room….or so he thinks. Soon after he moves in, creepy things start to happen like people watching him at night, the house getting trashed, and it all points back to Anna.
This is the second Rebecca James book I’ve read and she’s definitely skilled at conveying complex and damaged relationships in a realistic and believable way. Her books are scary because they deal with realistic psychological issues and people, and when it comes to real people, you can’t predict their behaviour. While Beautiful Malice mostly explored the a toxic, dishonest friendship, Sweet Damage had some pure horror scenes when Tim moves into the big, old house – vandalism, bloody red letters, spiders in his bed, people watching him sleep. Even though the tormentor seems to be Anna, Tim still ends up falling in love with her which reveals that Tim may have a few issues himself.
Every character in the book is complex. Tim is a trusting, optimistic and happy go lucky guy who is comfortable in his own skin. His only folly is his naivety, especially when it comes to women. He’s obsessed with his ex girlfriend Lila, who is a flirty, beautiful, self-obsessed and overly critical woman who obviously has issues. Even though she has a boyfriend, she constantly flirts with Tim and uses him to boost her ego, which he knows, yet he still sticks around. The twisted game she plays is scarily accurate, as I have known a few Tim and Lila’s in my life. Lila’s character reminds me a lot of Alice in Beautiful Malice, with a slightly different portrayal.
I know it’s weird, but you end up rooting for Tim and Anna, as scary as that sounds. She’s an interesting character, and as the story unfolds, you’re as conflicted as Tim is about her. With all the creepy stuff happening around the house, it’s clear that it’s Anna who must be behind it, but she denies doing any of it and clearly shows that she’s as shocked and upset by the occurrences as Tim. Aside from her obvious mental issues, she’s a sweet girl who slowly comes out of her shell through the course of the novel. It’s amazing how the author can manipulate our feelings about this girl from Tim’s observations and her point of view, despite the scary events that occur around the house.
With some shocking revelations and twists and turns, Sweet Damage is a psychological horror that threw me about. The characters are intense, complex and the scariest part is that they are so realistic. Rebecca James delves into some complex relationships in her novels and it’s strangely fascinating. I can’t wait to follow this author and read more of her stuff, it’s addictive and there needs to be more like it!
I received a review copy from Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for sending me this copy!
November 3, 2018
Διαβάζω και στο οπισθόφυλλο και στις κριτικές το χαρακτηρισμό "θρίλερ" και θέλω να τραβήξω τα μαλλιά μου και να αρχίσω να ουρλιάζω..Φαντάζομαι πως και τα πραγματικά βιβλία θρίλερ,αν είχαν σκέψη,βούληση και χέρια,θα έσκιζαν τις σελίδες τους - κατά το "σκίζω τα πτυχία μου".
Το βιβλίο αυτό είναι μία ακόμα αποτυχημένη προσπάθειά μου να διαβάσω βιβλίο με ήρωες κάπου εκεί στα 20 και κάτι και να το απολαύσω..Φαίνεται πως απλά δεν το 'χω μαζί τους!
Οι "Κρυφές αμαρτίες" θα μπορούσε να είναι πολύ καλύτερο,αν δεν έδινε την εντύπωση πως γράφτηκε βιαστικά.Ήρωες καθόλου σκιαγραφημένοι,που μοιάζουν να χρησιμεύουν μόνο για να 'στηρίξουν' τις σκηνές.Αν ο λογοτεχνικός ήρωας δεν έχει δική του υπόσταση,δεν έχει και πολλή επιτυχία,κατά τη γνώμη μου.Σε όλο το βιβλίο φαίνεται σαν να ήθελε να γράψει και κάτι παραπάνω σε όσα τους αφορά η συγγραφέας,αλλά τελικά ποτέ δεν το έκανε.Εκείνος της Άννας,για παράδειγμα,πρόσφερε πολλή τροφή για επεξεργασία,αλλά πήγε χαμένη.Είναι μια ηρωίδα που ναι μεν τη λυπάσαι,αλλά δεν είναι καθόλου ατμοσφαιρική και δεν σε τραβάει.Το ίδιο και ο Τιμ,που μοιάζει να αιθεροβατεί και απλά γεμίζει τις σελίδες περιδιαβαίνοντας από δω κι από κει,μην κάνοντας όμως τίποτα ουσιαστικό.Ακόμα και η bitch της υπόθεσης,η Λίλα,απλά προκαλεί στον αναγνώστη έναν απέραντο εκνευρισμό(όσο το διάβαζα σκέφτηκα καμιά 700αριά σενάρια δολοφονίας)αλλά σε καμία περίπτωση δεν είναι ένας χαρακτήρας δυνατός,με γερές ρίζες,που θα σου μείνει στο μυαλό έστω μισή ώρα αφότου έχεις κλείσει το βιβλίο.
Όσο για το στόρυ,ως ιδέα είναι πολύ καλό και πιστεύω πως είχε προοπτικές,αλλά αν πρέπει να χρησιμοποιήσω μία μόνο λέξη για να το περιγράψω,αυτή θα ήταν: πασάλειμμα! Γραφή επίπεδη,επιφανειακή,χωρίς να εστιάζει ούτε καν στα πιο τραγικά γεγονότα.Όσο για τον "υποσχόμενο τρόμο" που οποιοδήποτε θρίλερ -και δη ψυχολογικό- υπόσχεται στον αναγνώστη,μην κάνετε καμία μα καμία όρεξη.
2 αστεράκια και πολύ του είναι.
Το βιβλίο αυτό είναι μία ακόμα αποτυχημένη προσπάθειά μου να διαβάσω βιβλίο με ήρωες κάπου εκεί στα 20 και κάτι και να το απολαύσω..Φαίνεται πως απλά δεν το 'χω μαζί τους!
Οι "Κρυφές αμαρτίες" θα μπορούσε να είναι πολύ καλύτερο,αν δεν έδινε την εντύπωση πως γράφτηκε βιαστικά.Ήρωες καθόλου σκιαγραφημένοι,που μοιάζουν να χρησιμεύουν μόνο για να 'στηρίξουν' τις σκηνές.Αν ο λογοτεχνικός ήρωας δεν έχει δική του υπόσταση,δεν έχει και πολλή επιτυχία,κατά τη γνώμη μου.Σε όλο το βιβλίο φαίνεται σαν να ήθελε να γράψει και κάτι παραπάνω σε όσα τους αφορά η συγγραφέας,αλλά τελικά ποτέ δεν το έκανε.Εκείνος της Άννας,για παράδειγμα,πρόσφερε πολλή τροφή για επεξεργασία,αλλά πήγε χαμένη.Είναι μια ηρωίδα που ναι μεν τη λυπάσαι,αλλά δεν είναι καθόλου ατμοσφαιρική και δεν σε τραβάει.Το ίδιο και ο Τιμ,που μοιάζει να αιθεροβατεί και απλά γεμίζει τις σελίδες περιδιαβαίνοντας από δω κι από κει,μην κάνοντας όμως τίποτα ουσιαστικό.Ακόμα και η bitch της υπόθεσης,η Λίλα,απλά προκαλεί στον αναγνώστη έναν απέραντο εκνευρισμό(όσο το διάβαζα σκέφτηκα καμιά 700αριά σενάρια δολοφονίας)αλλά σε καμία περίπτωση δεν είναι ένας χαρακτήρας δυνατός,με γερές ρίζες,που θα σου μείνει στο μυαλό έστω μισή ώρα αφότου έχεις κλείσει το βιβλίο.
Όσο για το στόρυ,ως ιδέα είναι πολύ καλό και πιστεύω πως είχε προοπτικές,αλλά αν πρέπει να χρησιμοποιήσω μία μόνο λέξη για να το περιγράψω,αυτή θα ήταν: πασάλειμμα! Γραφή επίπεδη,επιφανειακή,χωρίς να εστιάζει ούτε καν στα πιο τραγικά γεγονότα.Όσο για τον "υποσχόμενο τρόμο" που οποιοδήποτε θρίλερ -και δη ψυχολογικό- υπόσχεται στον αναγνώστη,μην κάνετε καμία μα καμία όρεξη.
2 αστεράκια και πολύ του είναι.
October 17, 2014
The casual laid back lifestyle that Tim Ellison had adopted since returning from Indonesia to Sydney made him happy – he was only young at not much past twenty years old, so the morning surf at Manly Beach and working for his father in their very popular restaurant were all he needed. He’d been crashed on the couch in his old girlfriend Lilla’s small unit and she was forever at him to get a “real” job and make something of himself. Finally she found him a room to rent, urging him to apply…
Fairview was a beautiful old home, a home he had long admired – it was walking distance from the restaurant and close to shops and the beach. He couldn’t fault it – wondered what the catch was with renting the room. When he met the owner, young, fragile and shy Anna London, and was told the conditions of his rental, he was fine with it – after all, anything would be worth living in this location, wouldn’t it?
But as the days turned into weeks, the bleak and strange nature of Anna and the situation at the house started to wear Tim down. When a birthday party for Tim which was held in the ballroom of Fairview and attended by all of his friends, plus Fiona and Marcus, Anna’s friends, had frightening effects, Tim couldn’t work out what was going on. Was he imagining things? Was Anna’s problem more serious than he could possibly imagine? With terrifying certainty, Tim knew that something was seriously wrong….
I love Aussie author Rebecca James’ work! She has an amazing talent which drew me in from the very start and didn’t let me go until I had read the last word. A psychological thriller with real bite, this one would be suited to both YA and adults alike. Twists, turns and a chilling finale! Excellent – highly recommended.
Fairview was a beautiful old home, a home he had long admired – it was walking distance from the restaurant and close to shops and the beach. He couldn’t fault it – wondered what the catch was with renting the room. When he met the owner, young, fragile and shy Anna London, and was told the conditions of his rental, he was fine with it – after all, anything would be worth living in this location, wouldn’t it?
But as the days turned into weeks, the bleak and strange nature of Anna and the situation at the house started to wear Tim down. When a birthday party for Tim which was held in the ballroom of Fairview and attended by all of his friends, plus Fiona and Marcus, Anna’s friends, had frightening effects, Tim couldn’t work out what was going on. Was he imagining things? Was Anna’s problem more serious than he could possibly imagine? With terrifying certainty, Tim knew that something was seriously wrong….
I love Aussie author Rebecca James’ work! She has an amazing talent which drew me in from the very start and didn’t let me go until I had read the last word. A psychological thriller with real bite, this one would be suited to both YA and adults alike. Twists, turns and a chilling finale! Excellent – highly recommended.
December 10, 2014
Tim's ex-girlfriend Lilla has a strong hold on Tim, he can't seem to completely want her out of his life. Things start to change for Tim when he takes a room in the big old house of Fairview and meets Anna, a young girl who owns the house but has a whole range of mental problems and a terrible grief stemming from a horrible incident in her past.
Many unlikable characters in this one, Lila especially. Tom seems rather blah until the end. Plenty of secrets are revealed,and some are life changing. A good, rather light read with some twists I didn't see coming.
ARC from publisher.
Many unlikable characters in this one, Lila especially. Tom seems rather blah until the end. Plenty of secrets are revealed,and some are life changing. A good, rather light read with some twists I didn't see coming.
ARC from publisher.
October 15, 2015
De leitura fácil e sempre com bastante suspense criado ao longo da narrativa, o que torna o livro bastante fluído, Doce Tortura acaba por revelar sempre surpresas ao virar da página. É certo que queremos desvendar a vida sombria de Anna, e o que é guarda tão misteriosamente no sótão, mas há medida que o livro avança, outros mistérios se avizinham e outras personagens ocultam segredos que só começam a ser revelados mais para o fim do livro. Confesso que apenas alguns não consegui descortinar.
Gostei muito.
Opinião completa aqui: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...-
rebacca-james-opiniao.html
Gostei muito.
Opinião completa aqui: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...-
rebacca-james-opiniao.html
October 2, 2015
Estava com imensa expectativa com este livro e não me desiludiu.
Uma história bem contada, escrita de tal forma que me agarrou desde o inicio.
Adorei o Tim, mesmo gente boa. Quanto à Anna, apesar de me ter irritado boa parte do tempo, estava supee curiosa com os motivos dela ser estranha. A Lilla irritou-me desde o início, detesto gente assim.
Gostei mesmo mto, aconselho
Uma história bem contada, escrita de tal forma que me agarrou desde o inicio.
Adorei o Tim, mesmo gente boa. Quanto à Anna, apesar de me ter irritado boa parte do tempo, estava supee curiosa com os motivos dela ser estranha. A Lilla irritou-me desde o início, detesto gente assim.
Gostei mesmo mto, aconselho
July 31, 2015
Aqui está um livro que me surpreendeu pela positiva. Nunca havia lido Rebecca James e por isso fui sem qualquer tipo de expectativas para esta leitura, sendo que conseguiu prender-me logo desde o início. As páginas eram lidas umas atrás das outras, o tempo passava sem dar conta e quando um livro tem este efeito no leitor raramente é menos do que intrigante. A escritora conseguiu criar um enredo muito interessante, com doses de mistério, suspense e até algum terror, nas doses certas. Este género, apelidado de Thriller Psicológico, tem tido um sucesso crescente em Portugal e Doce Tortura é sem dúvida uma bela adição à biblioteca dos seus apreciadores.
Tim vivia com a ex-namorada (que tem um outro namorado), Lilla, até que a situação se tornou algo como insuportável e, como que caída do céu, eis que surge uma oportunidade barata numa casa imponente e cheia de história - que ele ainda não conhece. Anna, a dona da casa, vive sozinha e sofre de agorafobia. Tim não se sente incomodado por tal e decidi mudar-se. O entendimento inicial não é fácil nem difícil, mas é algo estranho. Anna desaparece durante o dia para o sótão, durante a noite aconteceu coisas estranhas e dormir torna-se cada vez mais complicado, a não ser quando amanhece. "A morte vive aqui", inscrição que aparece pintada dentro de casa a certa altura. O medo é cada vez maior, mas ao mesmo tempo Tim vai descobrindo uma Anna que nunca julgou ser possível existir.
Gostei muito deste livro, para além de ter sido uma leitura bastante rápida pela fluidez do texto, a escritora soube como manter um bom nível curiosidade sobre o que se seguiria. Apesar da narrativa estar na primeira pessoa pela perspectiva de Tim, esta vai tendo alternâncias com uma perspectiva de Anna na terceira pessoa. Ao mesmo tempo que é criando um certo distanciamento, a forma como as descrições estão feitas impõem uma certa dose de receio. Para além de Tim e de Anna, temos então Lilla que é irritante desde o início ao derradeiro fim. Acaba por ser uma espécie de rastilho que vai dizendo ao nosso cérebro que algo não está bem, que há uma peça no meio de tudo que não encaixa. E não posso deixar de mencionar o estranho casal de irmãos, únicos amigos de Anna, que a certa altura também eles contribuem para que a confusão nas nossas ideias se instale.
Resumindo: uma excelente leitura para qualquer altura do ano e que balanceia bem o thriller com o romance, a maldade inata com uma certa dose de inocência, destacando a sensação de dor e de perda que é bem patente desde o início, mas da qual só temos verdadeira consciência quando Anna revela o ponto de viragem na sua vida, e também o egoísmo e a crueldade de alguém que só pensa em si mesmo sem ligar às consequências do que diz e faz, como no caso de Lilla. Recomendo sem restrições.
Tim vivia com a ex-namorada (que tem um outro namorado), Lilla, até que a situação se tornou algo como insuportável e, como que caída do céu, eis que surge uma oportunidade barata numa casa imponente e cheia de história - que ele ainda não conhece. Anna, a dona da casa, vive sozinha e sofre de agorafobia. Tim não se sente incomodado por tal e decidi mudar-se. O entendimento inicial não é fácil nem difícil, mas é algo estranho. Anna desaparece durante o dia para o sótão, durante a noite aconteceu coisas estranhas e dormir torna-se cada vez mais complicado, a não ser quando amanhece. "A morte vive aqui", inscrição que aparece pintada dentro de casa a certa altura. O medo é cada vez maior, mas ao mesmo tempo Tim vai descobrindo uma Anna que nunca julgou ser possível existir.
Gostei muito deste livro, para além de ter sido uma leitura bastante rápida pela fluidez do texto, a escritora soube como manter um bom nível curiosidade sobre o que se seguiria. Apesar da narrativa estar na primeira pessoa pela perspectiva de Tim, esta vai tendo alternâncias com uma perspectiva de Anna na terceira pessoa. Ao mesmo tempo que é criando um certo distanciamento, a forma como as descrições estão feitas impõem uma certa dose de receio. Para além de Tim e de Anna, temos então Lilla que é irritante desde o início ao derradeiro fim. Acaba por ser uma espécie de rastilho que vai dizendo ao nosso cérebro que algo não está bem, que há uma peça no meio de tudo que não encaixa. E não posso deixar de mencionar o estranho casal de irmãos, únicos amigos de Anna, que a certa altura também eles contribuem para que a confusão nas nossas ideias se instale.
Resumindo: uma excelente leitura para qualquer altura do ano e que balanceia bem o thriller com o romance, a maldade inata com uma certa dose de inocência, destacando a sensação de dor e de perda que é bem patente desde o início, mas da qual só temos verdadeira consciência quando Anna revela o ponto de viragem na sua vida, e também o egoísmo e a crueldade de alguém que só pensa em si mesmo sem ligar às consequências do que diz e faz, como no caso de Lilla. Recomendo sem restrições.
April 2, 2013
Sweet Damage is the second novel by Rebecca James. Her first, Beautiful Malice, gained international success for it's chilling story of twisted friendship.
In Sweet Damage, Tim, an easy going, twenty something kitchen hand who has been staying on his ex-girlfriends couch since his return from an overseas trip. When she insists he finds his own space he is thrilled to find an inexpensive room in a large house in the leafy Australian suburb of Fairlight. The only catch is his young, agoraphobic enigmatic housemate, and landlord, Alice, who is not only haunted by unspeakable tragedy, but perhaps something altogether more sinister.
I was immediately drawn to the premise of Sweet Damage, tantalised by the gothic overtones and the promise of a chilling mystery and I was barely a quarter of the way through when the first wave of shivers rolled over me. It wasn't the last time I felt that tingle of dread, the measured pace allows the suspense to build as the narrative weaves in and out of the past and present, before twisting unexpectedly.
Anna is such an interesting protagonist, and the ambiguity surrounding her character plays beautifully into the suspense. Her agoraphobia, her secretiveness and her difficulty interacting with Tim suggests she has something to hide and as strange things begin to happen in the house, it is understandable that Tim suspects her, especially since she is unable to deny any wrongdoing.
Tim is a little wary of Anna and her odd behaviour but with the arrogance of youth he is not really threatened by the odd occurrences at Fairview. Tim is more concerned with his on again/off again relationship with Lilla, his ex-girlfriend, with whom he admits an obsession. However Anna ignites his protective instinct and he is drawn to her vulnerability which contrasts so vividly with Lilla's brash personality.
The writing is finely crafted to create an atmospheric and gripping story of psychological suspense. Several suspects move in and out of the frame as the mystery unfolds. As the story reaches it's climax I thought perhaps Anna and Tim piece things together perhaps a little too quickly but the final confrontation is shocking and not everyone will see it coming.
I devoured Sweet Damage in a few hours, it is an easy yet engrossing read. I think it can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages (16 and up) and recommend it to those who enjoy spine tingling suspense.
January 6, 2014
I haven’t read the author’s first book. This is a bit different to what I normally read. That said I found the book extremely readable and an interesting read. What I didn’t find it was, ’chillingly and nail-bitingly suspenseful storytelling’ or one to read with ‘the lights on as the front and back cover promised
Tim can’t believe his luck when he ends up with cheap room for rent in a huge sandstone mansion at Fairlight, only occupied by one other person, the mysterious Anna who does not set foot outside the house. I think perhaps I had a different idea about what the ’strange and terrifying things’ that happen in the house would be. The one incident that nearly did stop me reading all together had to do with a whole heap of spiders in the bed. But by then the image was l already in my head so I kept going. I guess I thought this book would be creepier. Maybe that was my expectations based on the cover.
I felt for Anna and had sympathy for her. The reason for Anna’s behaviour is well explained but Tim behaviour especially when it concerns Lilla his ex girlfriend is bizarre. I kept wanting to read the book despite largely unlikable characters in Lilla, Marcus, Fiona. Even Tim annoyed me much of the time. I found him weak. Lilla in particular is selfish, egotistical, vain, spiteful and a thoroughly unlikable character. What Tim or anyone ever saw in her was beyond me. Benjamin is meant to be the mystery person for a lot of the book. But I’d already figured out where he fitted into the picture. There is a twist towards the end that may surprise some reads.
By the time I got to the end I was so over the language. But maybe that was indicative of the type of people being written about. It didn’t stop me reading because I wanted to see how it all turned out. But the language did make it feel like wading through molasses.
Tim can’t believe his luck when he ends up with cheap room for rent in a huge sandstone mansion at Fairlight, only occupied by one other person, the mysterious Anna who does not set foot outside the house. I think perhaps I had a different idea about what the ’strange and terrifying things’ that happen in the house would be. The one incident that nearly did stop me reading all together had to do with a whole heap of spiders in the bed. But by then the image was l already in my head so I kept going. I guess I thought this book would be creepier. Maybe that was my expectations based on the cover.
I felt for Anna and had sympathy for her. The reason for Anna’s behaviour is well explained but Tim behaviour especially when it concerns Lilla his ex girlfriend is bizarre. I kept wanting to read the book despite largely unlikable characters in Lilla, Marcus, Fiona. Even Tim annoyed me much of the time. I found him weak. Lilla in particular is selfish, egotistical, vain, spiteful and a thoroughly unlikable character. What Tim or anyone ever saw in her was beyond me. Benjamin is meant to be the mystery person for a lot of the book. But I’d already figured out where he fitted into the picture. There is a twist towards the end that may surprise some reads.
By the time I got to the end I was so over the language. But maybe that was indicative of the type of people being written about. It didn’t stop me reading because I wanted to see how it all turned out. But the language did make it feel like wading through molasses.
November 6, 2013
Mini review:
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.
I guess this just goes to show how much of a wimp I am. I nearly ran to my parent's room because I could hear tiny creaking noises in the floorboard after reading a clearly not so scary scene for everyone else. I. Scare. Easily.
Tim thinks it's a huge stroke of luck when he finds a not only dirt cheap, but also huge expensive house up for sale. However here's the catch, he has to live with the owner of the house, Anna London. Anna is agoraphobic, meaning that she gets uncomfortable outside in crowds. She's rather mysterious and freaked me out several times. Honestly, the crying and disappearing and to be said tragic history made me want to put the book down and back away from her as far as possible. I really liked Tim on the other hand. He is laid back and an average person just trying to live his life. He was generous towards Anna and tried to make her feel better about herself and aids Anna as we find out more about her ghastly past.
My main complaint with this novel was the pacing. Sure, it starts out swiftly, pushing us into the plot immediately however that's where it lingers for the next 200 pages. The suspense was present, we have red paint on the wall, spiders in the bed (holy crap) and shadows looking over your bed. Nonetheless, we don't know who or what is doing this and why it's happening. Answers don't appear until the very end, making it seem awfully rushed and too much to handle. Also, a little too much sex. I get that it's NA, but it felt so unnecessary.
Overall, a satisfying read though a little too plain and monotonous in the middle.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.
I guess this just goes to show how much of a wimp I am. I nearly ran to my parent's room because I could hear tiny creaking noises in the floorboard after reading a clearly not so scary scene for everyone else. I. Scare. Easily.
Tim thinks it's a huge stroke of luck when he finds a not only dirt cheap, but also huge expensive house up for sale. However here's the catch, he has to live with the owner of the house, Anna London. Anna is agoraphobic, meaning that she gets uncomfortable outside in crowds. She's rather mysterious and freaked me out several times. Honestly, the crying and disappearing and to be said tragic history made me want to put the book down and back away from her as far as possible. I really liked Tim on the other hand. He is laid back and an average person just trying to live his life. He was generous towards Anna and tried to make her feel better about herself and aids Anna as we find out more about her ghastly past.
My main complaint with this novel was the pacing. Sure, it starts out swiftly, pushing us into the plot immediately however that's where it lingers for the next 200 pages. The suspense was present, we have red paint on the wall, spiders in the bed (holy crap) and shadows looking over your bed. Nonetheless, we don't know who or what is doing this and why it's happening. Answers don't appear until the very end, making it seem awfully rushed and too much to handle. Also, a little too much sex. I get that it's NA, but it felt so unnecessary.
Overall, a satisfying read though a little too plain and monotonous in the middle.
December 30, 2023
3.5* jei ne pradžia, būčiau ir 4* davusi.
February 6, 2016
Nunca tinha lido nada da australiana Rebecca James, nem tão pouco tinha ouvido falar dela até Doce Tortura me ter chegado a casa, cortesia da editora Suma de Letras. Li algumas opiniões positivas e fiquei bastante interessada, pelo que não demorei a pegar-lhe.
Doce Tortura é uma história contada sob dois pontos de vista; Tim, na primeira pessoa, conta-nos como a ex-namorada, com quem ainda vivia, lhe sugeriu um quarto para alugar numa maravilhosa mansão, propriedade de uma jovem de 18 anos, Anna; e é dela o segundo ponto de vista da história, desta vez na terceira pessoa, mostrando-nos uma jovem gravemente perturbada pela perda trágica dos seus pais e que parece desde cedo carregar ainda mais mágoas.
À medida que a história avança, coisas estranhas vão acontecendo na casa para onde Tim foi morar, que o deixam cada vez de pé mais atrás com a decisão de se mudar para lá. Mas ao mesmo tempo Tim sente-se intrigado pelo choro constante de Anna e pelas suas estranhas atitudes, que não parecem combinar com os resquícios de uma outra Anna que Tim vai encontrando pela casa. A ex-namorada de Tim, Lilla, continua a ser presença constante na sua vida e a perturbar a sua sanidade mental, uma vez que ainda se sente atraído por ela, mas ao mesmo tempo não consegue deixar de se recordar da relação obssessiva que viviam.
É do mistério que rodeia Anna que o livro vive, e a leitura avança mais rapidamente com a vontade de saber afinal o que lhe aconteceu. O tema da depressão de Anna é bem explorado e não é tratado de forma leviana, como esta doença muitas vezes é. As principais revelações e reviravoltas estão guardadas para o final do livro e ainda que me tenham parecido um pouco novelescas, não deixaram de ser interessantes e de dar uma conclusão satisfatória ao livro. Mesmo sem ter sido uma leitura que me arrebatasse, trata-se de um livro que conjuga bem os elementos de suspense e romance e que se lê com prazer. Fiquei curiosa com a outra obra da autora publicada em Portugal, Não Há Bela sem Senão.
Nota: Este livro foi-me disponibilizado pela respetiva editora, em troca de uma opinião honesta.
Doce Tortura é uma história contada sob dois pontos de vista; Tim, na primeira pessoa, conta-nos como a ex-namorada, com quem ainda vivia, lhe sugeriu um quarto para alugar numa maravilhosa mansão, propriedade de uma jovem de 18 anos, Anna; e é dela o segundo ponto de vista da história, desta vez na terceira pessoa, mostrando-nos uma jovem gravemente perturbada pela perda trágica dos seus pais e que parece desde cedo carregar ainda mais mágoas.
À medida que a história avança, coisas estranhas vão acontecendo na casa para onde Tim foi morar, que o deixam cada vez de pé mais atrás com a decisão de se mudar para lá. Mas ao mesmo tempo Tim sente-se intrigado pelo choro constante de Anna e pelas suas estranhas atitudes, que não parecem combinar com os resquícios de uma outra Anna que Tim vai encontrando pela casa. A ex-namorada de Tim, Lilla, continua a ser presença constante na sua vida e a perturbar a sua sanidade mental, uma vez que ainda se sente atraído por ela, mas ao mesmo tempo não consegue deixar de se recordar da relação obssessiva que viviam.
É do mistério que rodeia Anna que o livro vive, e a leitura avança mais rapidamente com a vontade de saber afinal o que lhe aconteceu. O tema da depressão de Anna é bem explorado e não é tratado de forma leviana, como esta doença muitas vezes é. As principais revelações e reviravoltas estão guardadas para o final do livro e ainda que me tenham parecido um pouco novelescas, não deixaram de ser interessantes e de dar uma conclusão satisfatória ao livro. Mesmo sem ter sido uma leitura que me arrebatasse, trata-se de um livro que conjuga bem os elementos de suspense e romance e que se lê com prazer. Fiquei curiosa com a outra obra da autora publicada em Portugal, Não Há Bela sem Senão.
Nota: Este livro foi-me disponibilizado pela respetiva editora, em troca de uma opinião honesta.
April 20, 2021
Διασκεδαστικό θα το χαρακτήριζα αν και διασκεδαστικό δεν μπορείς να πεις ένα ψυχολογικό θρίλερ. Τίμιο βιβλιαράκι που διαβάστηκε με ενδιαφέρον, γρήγορο με αρκετές πινελιές δράματος και ωραίες ανατροπές προς το τέλος τους βιβλίου. Αριστουργήμα το είδος του δεν είναι αλλά δεν ήταν και άσχημο. Χαίρομαι που το διάβασα
April 27, 2015
*This review also appears on the blog Chasm of Books*
Chilling, thrilling,and undeniably addictive, Sweet Damage is a thriller that I will not be forgetting anytime soon. With a plot expertly woven to reveal the innermost and darkest secrets of the main characters, this story demonstrates that there is often more to an old empty house and its inhabitants than first meets the eye.
When Tim finds the offer of a cheap room in a grand house with one of the best views in Sydney, he definitely takes the bait. However, there's a catch - the house is owned by Anna London, someone quiet, withdrawn and obviously a few issues of her own. Soon some strange things start happening in the house and secrets about her past and that of the people he meets along the way are revealed with shocking clarity.
If I need any more reassurance that Rebecca James is a brilliant author, then this book just proved it to me. I read her other novel Beautiful Malice, and did definitely enjoy it, but I found that Sweet Damage just took the shock and creep factors to the next level. The fact that it is set in Australia and places that I know added to the suspense and feeling of reality for this book. The plot itself is absolutely brilliant in the most chilling and suspenseful way, the writing style captivating from the very first sentence of each chapter to the very last of the novel.
Now from the synopsis you might think this is just some sort of modern-day novel trying to take a few tips from the gothic period of literature. In a few ways, I guess you might very well see it like that - with a big old house and creepy things happening in the night. But there is so much more to the story than this - and certainly more than I would have ever expected. There are psychological elements, and there are some very complex ties and relationships between the characters that don't come to light straight away. I loved getting to see and read about Anna's perspective on things, and having these sections told in third person as opposed to first as Tim's side is was quite an interesting twist which really added to the depth of the story. Each character was invested in, their inner turmoils explored and some shocking revelations made for a story that I couldn't put down.
*CONCLUSION*
In conclusion, if you're looking for a thriller which will keep you addicted with its suspenseful prose and chilling plot then Sweet Damage is sure to appeal. After this I can't wait to see what Rebecca James will write next because she definitely has a real talent for writing these creepy stories that will have you on the edge of your seat.
There's a lot more to her than she wants to let on. Her bland, robotic persona is some kind of disguise. A protective armour. The real Anna is hiding.
Chilling, thrilling,and undeniably addictive, Sweet Damage is a thriller that I will not be forgetting anytime soon. With a plot expertly woven to reveal the innermost and darkest secrets of the main characters, this story demonstrates that there is often more to an old empty house and its inhabitants than first meets the eye.
Eventually she will, of course, have to tell him everything. It's not a secret she can keep forever. But even then, he will only know it as a story, a sad piece of her history, and he will never look at her in the same part-pitying, part-morbidly curious way her old friends do now.
When Tim finds the offer of a cheap room in a grand house with one of the best views in Sydney, he definitely takes the bait. However, there's a catch - the house is owned by Anna London, someone quiet, withdrawn and obviously a few issues of her own. Soon some strange things start happening in the house and secrets about her past and that of the people he meets along the way are revealed with shocking clarity.
If I need any more reassurance that Rebecca James is a brilliant author, then this book just proved it to me. I read her other novel Beautiful Malice, and did definitely enjoy it, but I found that Sweet Damage just took the shock and creep factors to the next level. The fact that it is set in Australia and places that I know added to the suspense and feeling of reality for this book. The plot itself is absolutely brilliant in the most chilling and suspenseful way, the writing style captivating from the very first sentence of each chapter to the very last of the novel.
Now from the synopsis you might think this is just some sort of modern-day novel trying to take a few tips from the gothic period of literature. In a few ways, I guess you might very well see it like that - with a big old house and creepy things happening in the night. But there is so much more to the story than this - and certainly more than I would have ever expected. There are psychological elements, and there are some very complex ties and relationships between the characters that don't come to light straight away. I loved getting to see and read about Anna's perspective on things, and having these sections told in third person as opposed to first as Tim's side is was quite an interesting twist which really added to the depth of the story. Each character was invested in, their inner turmoils explored and some shocking revelations made for a story that I couldn't put down.
*CONCLUSION*
In conclusion, if you're looking for a thriller which will keep you addicted with its suspenseful prose and chilling plot then Sweet Damage is sure to appeal. After this I can't wait to see what Rebecca James will write next because she definitely has a real talent for writing these creepy stories that will have you on the edge of your seat.
May 26, 2013
While not exactly the "thriller" this is touted as (sure a few creepy things happen, but it didn't scare my pants off. Probably a good thing, literally, for you and I), but true to it's namesake, this desirable tome is both sweet and deliciously damaged. Rebecca James writes characters - and the delicate relationships they have with each other so deftly, it's like watching her balance peas on the edge of a knife with one hand while she effortlessly stirs the plot with the other. Her pacing is one of my most favourite in the world, it takes zero effort to get into the book and you never want to stop. Set in a gothic mansion by the ocean, it lacks the hair-raising effect of Night Beach, but at the heart, it is a wonderful New Adult character study and a strong and worthy successor to Beautiful Malice.
January 27, 2016
Mais um exelente thriller!
Adorei especialmente poder acompanhar e sentir todo o sofrimento que Anna passa nesta história. Todos os seus ataques pânico, todas as suas ansiedades, todos os seus medos.
Leva-nos a acreditar que tudo tem um destino traçado e que mesmo no meio de uma situação 99% desfavorável e triste, existe sempre uma réstia de esperança. Fiquei bastante "ligado" a Anna e isso agradou-me imenso!
Como ponto negativo, destaco apenas alguns acontecimentos ao longo do livro que para mim acabaram sem resposta e sem muito sentido sinceramente, no entanto, não acabou por afetar a história no seu global, mas deixou-me um pouco desiludido por não ter sido mais explorado.
Leitura simples e sem grandes rodeios, o que também foi uma grande vantagem para o tipo de história que se trata.
Adorei especialmente poder acompanhar e sentir todo o sofrimento que Anna passa nesta história. Todos os seus ataques pânico, todas as suas ansiedades, todos os seus medos.
Leva-nos a acreditar que tudo tem um destino traçado e que mesmo no meio de uma situação 99% desfavorável e triste, existe sempre uma réstia de esperança. Fiquei bastante "ligado" a Anna e isso agradou-me imenso!
Como ponto negativo, destaco apenas alguns acontecimentos ao longo do livro que para mim acabaram sem resposta e sem muito sentido sinceramente, no entanto, não acabou por afetar a história no seu global, mas deixou-me um pouco desiludido por não ter sido mais explorado.
Leitura simples e sem grandes rodeios, o que também foi uma grande vantagem para o tipo de história que se trata.
May 23, 2018
Sooo this book started out as a four star, as it moved along it became a three, when it ended it was a solid two maybe even less. I really liked how the author made this book read like a movie script but I hated how at times she played the drama out like we as readers were SUPPOSED to keep up with all the insane bits. She tried to ease us into the weird and creepy things happening at Fairview, but it just fell flat on its face when it could have soared so many times. Each dramatic revelation was just boring, disappointing, and predictable. PLUS plot holes galore, be ready to finish the book thinking...well wasn’t that ending convenient for the MILLION things the author left unanswered?? This clearly was something that was written hurriedly and overexcitedly, and just ended up in the reject pile of Lifetime Movie Network teleplays.
July 28, 2015
This is pretty bad. The pacing is poor (too little happens for 200+ pages and then a bunch of plot points happen too quickly), said plot points are really stupid, and the characters are cardboard and/or deeply obnoxious.
Also, the prose is totally artless. The vocabulary and sentence structure seem pitched at around a 4th grade reading level. There is not one well written phrase in this book. It is just as lame stylistically as it is substantively.
This isn't the type of book I usually read but I think it is important to try new things sometimes. This was a failed experiment for me. I really don't recommend this.
Also, the prose is totally artless. The vocabulary and sentence structure seem pitched at around a 4th grade reading level. There is not one well written phrase in this book. It is just as lame stylistically as it is substantively.
This isn't the type of book I usually read but I think it is important to try new things sometimes. This was a failed experiment for me. I really don't recommend this.
June 27, 2014
I picked up Sweet Damage and was hooked by the second page: gorgeous, evocative writing (in parts reminding me of Kirsty Eagar), an effortlessly likeable Aussie male protag, gothick-y and twisty plot (I did not guess the reveal), above all this book does what it's genre should do best: sucks you in and keeps you up all night. James knows how to plot and how to keep those pages turning. 4am finish for me <3
June 5, 2016
A minha opinião em vídeo: https://youtu.be/cXTbh7jpIqs
Como estive muito tempo para matar entre aeroporto e vôos, consegui devorá-lo num só dia. Este livro foi uma surpresa muito agradável, gostei bastante.
Não sendo uma obra prima, lê-se bem, torna-se viciante e a história é original.
Não é um thriller muito elaborado mas fiquei contente por ter apostado neste livro.
Como estive muito tempo para matar entre aeroporto e vôos, consegui devorá-lo num só dia. Este livro foi uma surpresa muito agradável, gostei bastante.
Não sendo uma obra prima, lê-se bem, torna-se viciante e a história é original.
Não é um thriller muito elaborado mas fiquei contente por ter apostado neste livro.
August 28, 2015
Muito bom. Um tipo de leitura diferente daquele a que estou habituada, mas que, ainda assim, me prendeu da primeira à última pagina. Posso dizer que me viciou. Mistério, loucura, romance, ciúme, doença e paranóia. Tudo isto fez do livro um "must read"
September 12, 2015
Adorei esta leitura. Obrigada amiga Dora pelo empréstimo. <3
March 6, 2018
Fantástico!!
Aqui está mais um exemplo do género literário que mais gosto de ler presentemente.
Algo sombrio, carregado de tensão e mistério e muito difícil de largar, apetece ler sempre mais pois torna-se urgente descobrir mais acerca de cada um dos personagens.
Altamente recomendado!
Aqui está mais um exemplo do género literário que mais gosto de ler presentemente.
Algo sombrio, carregado de tensão e mistério e muito difícil de largar, apetece ler sempre mais pois torna-se urgente descobrir mais acerca de cada um dos personagens.
Altamente recomendado!
March 21, 2014
Sweet Damage is a compelling New Adult mystery with a distinctly gothic feel. I was new to Rebecca James' work so the quality of her storytelling took me completely by surprise. She is a master at building suspense to almost unbearable levels and leaving her readers terrified of their own shadows.
In other words, this woman scared the living daylights out of me.
In addition, good male narrators are hard to find, and Tim is far better than most. His voice isn't particularly strong or particularly memorable, but it's easy to slip into. Even though he is at times extremely unsympathetic and frustratingly weak, his numerous flaws make him seem more human and far more approachable, which allows readers to effortlessly slip into his skin. We've all known a Tim at some point: the not-quite-boy-and-not-quite-man, determined to avoid responsibility at all costs. He pines for his ex-girlfriend, a manic pixie dream girl type, not because she's especially lovable, but because she makes him feel wild and unrestrained.
In his effort to avoid the dreaded real life, he ends up living with the agoraphobic, recently orphaned Anna in her mansion. On the surface, Anna seems weak and vulnerable, but inexplicable things tend to happen to people around her, things that can’t just be explained away. After some very strange events and a few sleepless nights, Tim has to wonder whether Anna is unstable enough to hurt herself, and possibly even him.
Sweet Damage was so skillfully planned and constructed that it kept me guessing to the very end. I had no idea what might be the story behind Anna’s strange self-imprisonment, but I knew it must be awful beyond belief. I also couldn’t even begin to guess who was to blame for her situation, and while I had my doubts, none of them turned out to be correct.
Sweet Damage is frightening, fascinating, frustrating and so incredibly good. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it seems that when it comes to Aussie writers, wonders never cease.
August 25, 2014
The product description for this book says 400 pages but it reads more like 200, with a story that just races along. The story is set in Manly, and I loved the main character, Tim. He is a bit of a drifter, a surf dude who is quite happy working in the family restaurant and camping out in his ex girlfriend Lilla’s apartment. That is, until she asks him to leave because he is cramping her style with new boyfriend Patrick.
He moves into a house share with timid, mouse like, and very mysterious Anna who is suffering from agoraphobia and as the story progresses we find out she has some very dark secrets in her past. As the couple start to get closer, however, strange things start to happen. Someone or something is trying to scare Tim.
The story is creepy and some of the characters we meet just ooze creepiness, particularly Marcus and Fiona, Anna’s cold, emotionless lawyers. You will start to suspect everyone of trying to put the wind up Tim, but it wasn’t until JUST before everything started to get tied up in the book that I sussed it out – and even then the author still had some surprises up her sleeve. A very enjoyable, dark, suspense filled read. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
He moves into a house share with timid, mouse like, and very mysterious Anna who is suffering from agoraphobia and as the story progresses we find out she has some very dark secrets in her past. As the couple start to get closer, however, strange things start to happen. Someone or something is trying to scare Tim.
The story is creepy and some of the characters we meet just ooze creepiness, particularly Marcus and Fiona, Anna’s cold, emotionless lawyers. You will start to suspect everyone of trying to put the wind up Tim, but it wasn’t until JUST before everything started to get tied up in the book that I sussed it out – and even then the author still had some surprises up her sleeve. A very enjoyable, dark, suspense filled read. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
December 2, 2014
If there is one thing I have come to except from one of Rebecca's reads it is that it will completely mess with my mind and my emotions.
I never know what to think, who to trust, or even what in the world is really going on until the very end.
Her reads are filled with the unexpected, the strange, and it makes you leery, distrustful, and down right anxious to know what will happen next, eagerly turning the pages wanting more and dreading what will be next.
I love that they keep me guessing, keep me on my toes and on the edge of my seat, heart pounding and adrenaline pumping.
I am not even going to tell you what this is about other than if you want a fun read full of stomach dropping twists and turns, pick up one of her books. You won't be sorry and you won't be disappointed.
I never know what to think, who to trust, or even what in the world is really going on until the very end.
Her reads are filled with the unexpected, the strange, and it makes you leery, distrustful, and down right anxious to know what will happen next, eagerly turning the pages wanting more and dreading what will be next.
I love that they keep me guessing, keep me on my toes and on the edge of my seat, heart pounding and adrenaline pumping.
I am not even going to tell you what this is about other than if you want a fun read full of stomach dropping twists and turns, pick up one of her books. You won't be sorry and you won't be disappointed.
January 15, 2019
Despite being a thriller this is a light book, fast-paced and easy to read.
I enjoyed it.
This was a pleasant surprise and great to read between "heavier" books.
I enjoyed it.
This was a pleasant surprise and great to read between "heavier" books.
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