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Detective Mike Croft #1
The Greenway
Even in her dream Cassie could feel the exertion of that run...Then, the sudden shimmer, like a displaced heat haze; the feeling of heaviness cloaked around her shoulders, the ground shifting beneath her feet. Dimly, as she fell, she heard Suzie’s distant voice calling her name.
Cassie Maltham still has nightmares about that day in August 1975 when she and her twelve-year-old cousin Suzie took a short cut through The Greenway, an ancient enclosed pathway steeped in Norfolk legend. For somewhere along this path Suzie simply vanished...
Haunted also is John Tynan, the retired detective once in charge of Suzie’s case, still obsessed by the tragic disappearance he failed to solve.
Then another young girl goes missing at the entrance to The Greenway. And Cassie’s nightmares take on a new and terrifying edge....
Cassie Maltham still has nightmares about that day in August 1975 when she and her twelve-year-old cousin Suzie took a short cut through The Greenway, an ancient enclosed pathway steeped in Norfolk legend. For somewhere along this path Suzie simply vanished...
Haunted also is John Tynan, the retired detective once in charge of Suzie’s case, still obsessed by the tragic disappearance he failed to solve.
Then another young girl goes missing at the entrance to The Greenway. And Cassie’s nightmares take on a new and terrifying edge....
266 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 21, 1995
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702 people want to read
About the author
Jane A. Adams
59 books151 followersSome of her early books were published under the name of Jane Adams. This should not be confused with this Jane Adams who is a different author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
March 7, 2019
Cassie Maltham was just ten that August afternoon in 1975 when her cousin Suzie vanished. They had been walking along the Greenway, an ancient sheltered pathway when Suzie had disappeared. Now twenty years later Cassie has returned to try and lay some demons to rest. But now, another young girl has disappeared from the Greenway.
Cassie has been suffering from mental illness, she has been diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia. DI Mike Croft leads the investigation into the missing girl. John Tynan was the detective who had led the investigation into Suzie's disappearance and comes out of retirement to help in the new investigation. Cassie is the only link into both the girls disappearance, but do they trust or suspect her. There are twists galore in this page turning read. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this book. It's well written and fast paced.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Jane Adams for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cassie has been suffering from mental illness, she has been diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia. DI Mike Croft leads the investigation into the missing girl. John Tynan was the detective who had led the investigation into Suzie's disappearance and comes out of retirement to help in the new investigation. Cassie is the only link into both the girls disappearance, but do they trust or suspect her. There are twists galore in this page turning read. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this book. It's well written and fast paced.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Jane Adams for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2019
The Greenway is a kind of pathway that connects two large empty fields.
Twenty years ago two little girls took the shortcut home down the Greenway to get home before they gotin trouble for being late. Somewhere along this path, one of them went Poof! and disappeared. The other little girl remembers nothing of what happened.
Cassie is now a married woman, who still has nightmares about what happened to her cousin Suzie. Cassie still hasn't got her entire memory back. Are her nightmares her memory trying to make an appearance?
She and her husband make a trip back to where it all started.
But then ... another young girl goes missing along the Greenway. Cassie becomes a suspect when she has no alibi that can be proven. Is Cassie responsible for these two disappearances ... or is this an evil place, according to folk lore?
What really happened all those years ago ... and what has happened now?
This is an awesome psychological suspense that will keep the reader glued to every single riveting page. There are interesting twists and puzzling turns to follow. The characters are unique and finely drawn. The ending came as quite a surprise.
First published in 1995, it has held up to the test of time and is as "new" now as it was then. There are three additional books to this series. Have no fear .. there was no cliff hanger here.
Many thanks to the author / Jofe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this Psychological Drama. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 6, 2022
Sooooo ..... after being locked out of my Kindle app I've decided to have a bit of a clean up in my various "Books Read" lists. I'm onto my Couldn't-Get-Into-It-May-Try-Again pile now, which is where I will, in the future, slot books that I couldn't get through first read for whatever reason. I'll then go back to the list after a good length of time and either DNF it or put it into a new list.
As of 7th May 2022 I was prepared to give this another go but for some reason I have deleted it from my Kindle. I can't justify the $$ for a repurchase just for a re-review, so I'm moving this book to a new list of It's-Not-You-It's-Me pile. I've also changed my rating to 2.5 🌟 instead of 3, which I think will be my standard rating for all books that come under that list.
Original Review:
DNF at 22%.
Try as I might I just can't get going with this book, it's just not clicking with me. There is nothing wrong with it, it's more a case of "it's not you, it's me".
As of 7th May 2022 I was prepared to give this another go but for some reason I have deleted it from my Kindle. I can't justify the $$ for a repurchase just for a re-review, so I'm moving this book to a new list of It's-Not-You-It's-Me pile. I've also changed my rating to 2.5 🌟 instead of 3, which I think will be my standard rating for all books that come under that list.
Original Review:
DNF at 22%.
Try as I might I just can't get going with this book, it's just not clicking with me. There is nothing wrong with it, it's more a case of "it's not you, it's me".
March 11, 2019
The Greenway is Jane Adams's debut psychological thriller, and it's no surprise to me that it has been shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Award and for the Author's Club Best First Novel Award. It's a fast-paced, well written and blindingly atmospheric read with simmering suspense to keep you progressing. There are twists and turns aplenty and the characters are realistic and believable. The supernatural elements add further mystery and mystique to this page-turner. It's a quick, easy read and perfectly entertaining, although the conclusion left many questions floating around my head.
I did, however, feel that the characters could've been developed more to ensure the reader fully supported them, but the chocolate box British village setting creates a kind of claustrophobia which encompasses the whole novel; that's not an easy feat. First published in 1995 it's stood the test of time and rarely feels outdated in terms of content. I look forward to reading more of this series and learning more about main protagonist DI Mike Croft.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.
I did, however, feel that the characters could've been developed more to ensure the reader fully supported them, but the chocolate box British village setting creates a kind of claustrophobia which encompasses the whole novel; that's not an easy feat. First published in 1995 it's stood the test of time and rarely feels outdated in terms of content. I look forward to reading more of this series and learning more about main protagonist DI Mike Croft.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.
November 25, 2019
This is the first book in the DI Mike Croft crime series and was also the author’s debut novel.
The story has an almost supernatural feel to it with the legend of the Greenway. How can a child just disappear? Vanish with no trace and no leads? I felt for Cassie as she was the last person to see Suzie, the fact that another girl goes missing on her return in the same area, well my mind was going into overdrive as to who is behind the girls disappearances.
Mike is quite a gentle character for a detective inspector. He hasn’t been hardened to much by the job as he is still sensitive to the victims families as well as Cassie, although he also does get frustrated as her mental health is in question, which in turn causes him to take things more slower when he wants answers fast.
The story line has an almost haunting, melancholy feel to it. There is always something more sinister when a case involves children and I think the overwhelming sense of dread as to just what has happened to them, has you in two minds as to whether we really want to know.
The Greenway is a solid start to a new crime series to me. It has a likeable protagonist that has left me wanting to read more and get to know him better. This isn’t a fast paced crime book but the author’s storytelling gently pulls you in whilst holding your attention throughout. I enjoyed my first introduction to DI Mike Croft and look forward to more in the series.
The story has an almost supernatural feel to it with the legend of the Greenway. How can a child just disappear? Vanish with no trace and no leads? I felt for Cassie as she was the last person to see Suzie, the fact that another girl goes missing on her return in the same area, well my mind was going into overdrive as to who is behind the girls disappearances.
Mike is quite a gentle character for a detective inspector. He hasn’t been hardened to much by the job as he is still sensitive to the victims families as well as Cassie, although he also does get frustrated as her mental health is in question, which in turn causes him to take things more slower when he wants answers fast.
The story line has an almost haunting, melancholy feel to it. There is always something more sinister when a case involves children and I think the overwhelming sense of dread as to just what has happened to them, has you in two minds as to whether we really want to know.
The Greenway is a solid start to a new crime series to me. It has a likeable protagonist that has left me wanting to read more and get to know him better. This isn’t a fast paced crime book but the author’s storytelling gently pulls you in whilst holding your attention throughout. I enjoyed my first introduction to DI Mike Croft and look forward to more in the series.
March 29, 2016
This is a gripping mystery story.
Cassie is suffering from mental illness. She always was a sleepwalker, but then there was that fateful night when she and her cousin were walking home and she blacked out only to wake up and find her cousin was gone. After that incident (when she was 10) she's been diagnosed and treated for schizophrenia and depression.
Her loving husband (in my opinion he's smothering and controlling) has finally, 20 years after The Incident, brought her back to the Greenway to get over the last of her fears. They and another couple who they are friends with travel there on holiday.
After only being there only a day or two another little girl goes missing. The circumstances are almost identical to Sue's (Cassie's cousin) disappearance 20 years ago.
With the police investigating and the grieving, frantic families looking for someone to blame, Cassie is caught in the crossfire. Not only is her mental illness flaring up with a vengeance, but everyone suspects her of having kidnapped and murdered both her cousin (when Cassie was 10) and now this other girl. After all, she blacks out, loses time, sleepwalks, and is a known schizophrenic. What better scapegoat could there be?
Of course her fiercely protective husband does everything he can, and the lead cop (Mike) has a hunch Cassie didn't do it. But if she didn't do it, then who did? Is a murderer lurking in this small coastal town?
The thing that bugged me most about this book was Fergus, Cassie's husband. On one hand, it was really good he was there and so protective. Because he got her legal help, he called in her psychiatrist, and he did his best to protect her from the police. But on the other hand, how he treats her (before the girl goes missing on their vacation AND after) seems to me a little iffy. He hovers around her constantly, always monitoring her mood / what she's eating / how much she's sleeping. He's always "got his arms wrapped about her protectively" and he barely lets her have a conversation without leaping to (what he sees as) her defense. He also tells her what to do, tells her what's "best for her recovery", and pressures her to (for example) disclose nightmares she's been having to the police.
Now, I understand why he's so...watchful. After all he's watched his wife of five years struggle with schizophrenia, being in and out of hospitals, seeing professionals of all kinds, etc. etc. I can understand that he's afraid his wife's going to slip into madness again. But on the other hand, living with a guy like this (whether he had my best interests at heart or not) would annoy and frustrate me to no end. I kept waiting for her to tell him, "Back off." But she never does. Is he going to treat her like this for the rest of her life?!?!? I have no idea how she put up with 5 years of this crap.
I just read the non-fiction book BRAIN ON FIRE, about a woman who struggles with (what everyone thinks) is a severe mental illness. After everything is better, or at least as better as it's going to get, she talks about how she had to teach her boyfriend how to treat her like an equal again. Cassie, in this book, needs to do that. She needs to set some boundaries and force her husband to start treating her like a woman again and not a child.
That issue aside, this book grabs hold and doesn't let go. It's interesting and keeps you turning pages quickly to find out what will happen next.
Cassie is suffering from mental illness. She always was a sleepwalker, but then there was that fateful night when she and her cousin were walking home and she blacked out only to wake up and find her cousin was gone. After that incident (when she was 10) she's been diagnosed and treated for schizophrenia and depression.
Her loving husband (in my opinion he's smothering and controlling) has finally, 20 years after The Incident, brought her back to the Greenway to get over the last of her fears. They and another couple who they are friends with travel there on holiday.
After only being there only a day or two another little girl goes missing. The circumstances are almost identical to Sue's (Cassie's cousin) disappearance 20 years ago.
With the police investigating and the grieving, frantic families looking for someone to blame, Cassie is caught in the crossfire. Not only is her mental illness flaring up with a vengeance, but everyone suspects her of having kidnapped and murdered both her cousin (when Cassie was 10) and now this other girl. After all, she blacks out, loses time, sleepwalks, and is a known schizophrenic. What better scapegoat could there be?
Of course her fiercely protective husband does everything he can, and the lead cop (Mike) has a hunch Cassie didn't do it. But if she didn't do it, then who did? Is a murderer lurking in this small coastal town?
The thing that bugged me most about this book was Fergus, Cassie's husband. On one hand, it was really good he was there and so protective. Because he got her legal help, he called in her psychiatrist, and he did his best to protect her from the police. But on the other hand, how he treats her (before the girl goes missing on their vacation AND after) seems to me a little iffy. He hovers around her constantly, always monitoring her mood / what she's eating / how much she's sleeping. He's always "got his arms wrapped about her protectively" and he barely lets her have a conversation without leaping to (what he sees as) her defense. He also tells her what to do, tells her what's "best for her recovery", and pressures her to (for example) disclose nightmares she's been having to the police.
Now, I understand why he's so...watchful. After all he's watched his wife of five years struggle with schizophrenia, being in and out of hospitals, seeing professionals of all kinds, etc. etc. I can understand that he's afraid his wife's going to slip into madness again. But on the other hand, living with a guy like this (whether he had my best interests at heart or not) would annoy and frustrate me to no end. I kept waiting for her to tell him, "Back off." But she never does. Is he going to treat her like this for the rest of her life?!?!? I have no idea how she put up with 5 years of this crap.
I just read the non-fiction book BRAIN ON FIRE, about a woman who struggles with (what everyone thinks) is a severe mental illness. After everything is better, or at least as better as it's going to get, she talks about how she had to teach her boyfriend how to treat her like an equal again. Cassie, in this book, needs to do that. She needs to set some boundaries and force her husband to start treating her like a woman again and not a child.
That issue aside, this book grabs hold and doesn't let go. It's interesting and keeps you turning pages quickly to find out what will happen next.
March 19, 2019
think this is one of the creepiest and oft disturbing psychological thrillers I’ve read in a while, one in which the author manages to keep it surface steady whilst letting the dark undertones sneak up on you.
Cassie is a fascinating character, whose mind plays tricks on her and whose dreams may hold the key to an age old mystery. But a new missing child overshadows Cassie’s attempts to heal.
This is a multi arc drama featuring police investigation and Cassie’s ongoing trauma . Jane Adams weaves a mystical and intriguing tale, where superstition and practicality collide, where the unexpected lurks and the finale may well play on the mind.
Clever. Great writing and layered characters.
Recommended.
Cassie is a fascinating character, whose mind plays tricks on her and whose dreams may hold the key to an age old mystery. But a new missing child overshadows Cassie’s attempts to heal.
This is a multi arc drama featuring police investigation and Cassie’s ongoing trauma . Jane Adams weaves a mystical and intriguing tale, where superstition and practicality collide, where the unexpected lurks and the finale may well play on the mind.
Clever. Great writing and layered characters.
Recommended.
June 10, 2019
The title has the claim "a stunning psychological thriller full of absolutely breathtaking twists," I kid you not. And this is why I have given it one star, it would have been two but the shameless hustle, the cheap attempt to market this load of cane toad droppings has made me very cranky! It was not stunning, not thrilling and I couldn't find a twist. The plot led inexorably in one direction, there was no veering off the path. And this explains my waning interest in this genre. I mean if you're new to reading this stuff you might think - oh, I wasn't expecting that. But for the more experienced readers among us... sigh.
Twenty years ago young Cassie Maltham and her cousin Suzie Ashmore were hurrying back to Suzie's place, taking a shortcut through the greenway which is essentially a tunnel of trees that meet overhead in the middle. Suzy disappeared never to be seen again and Cassie blacked out and can't remember anything. For some reason she has felt guilty ever since, because of course whenever anything bad happens to someone you know it must be your fault. Now Cassie, her husband Fergus and two friends are back to see if Cassie can come to terms with it all. Naturally, another young girl goes missing in the same spot. Of course they must be related - you think?
Of all the disappearing child stories I have read this has to be one of the most boring. There was some attempt to make it ghostly and creepy but OMG it was so lame. Character development was minimal. The detective, Mike Croft, came across as a surly bad-tempered bugger (and there is a spin off series about him - heeeelp). Cassie came across as a fruit loop. I'm really sorry Jane Adams, I normally try a bit harder to be 'nice' but I am sick to death of blurbs promising the world and delivering halitosis. Avoid unless you don't have any toothpicks to jam under your fingernails for entertainment.
Twenty years ago young Cassie Maltham and her cousin Suzie Ashmore were hurrying back to Suzie's place, taking a shortcut through the greenway which is essentially a tunnel of trees that meet overhead in the middle. Suzy disappeared never to be seen again and Cassie blacked out and can't remember anything. For some reason she has felt guilty ever since, because of course whenever anything bad happens to someone you know it must be your fault. Now Cassie, her husband Fergus and two friends are back to see if Cassie can come to terms with it all. Naturally, another young girl goes missing in the same spot. Of course they must be related - you think?
Of all the disappearing child stories I have read this has to be one of the most boring. There was some attempt to make it ghostly and creepy but OMG it was so lame. Character development was minimal. The detective, Mike Croft, came across as a surly bad-tempered bugger (and there is a spin off series about him - heeeelp). Cassie came across as a fruit loop. I'm really sorry Jane Adams, I normally try a bit harder to be 'nice' but I am sick to death of blurbs promising the world and delivering halitosis. Avoid unless you don't have any toothpicks to jam under your fingernails for entertainment.
May 1, 2020
I started reading this and gave up after two chapters, finding it extremely dull. But then, after reading the 4 star reviews on here, I decided to give it another chance. Wish I hadn’t. That’s two days of my life I’m never getting back!
March 6, 2019
A very British murder mystery. Well, technically is starts with a kidnapping, and then another decades later, but murder mystery is what it ends up being. And that’s what DI Mike Croft ends up solving. This one was originally published some 23 years ago as a start of Mike Croft mystery series. Now Joffe publishers have picked it up, dusted it off, gave it a new snazzy cover and obsequious amounts of praise, the kind that is difficult to believe does anyone any good, because it sets up difficult to meet expectations and here you go. The book, actually, doesn’t read too dated and has all the quaintness of a small town setting that British crime dramas always utilize so well and even some psychological suspense, especially since one of the persons involve is somewhat mentally unstable and makes for a less than reliable witness/suspect. But overall, it’s just ok, it doesn’t especially wow or make you want to read all of Croft’s mysteries immediately, it’s decent, it’s respectably average, but there is nothing outstanding here. Personally, I prefer this type of British crime drama as done by BBC. In fact, those are lovely, I’m quite a fan. In a book form it was perfectly serviceable, it entertained and I enjoyed the supernatural undertones. Definitely more of a procedural than a dark psychological thriller, if you’re into that sort of thing. It read very quickly. Thanks Netgalley.
March 14, 2019
Cassie is haunted by the disappearance of her cousin Susie, twenty years previously, and unable to remember what happened that day. In a bid to exorcise the ghosts of her past her husband Fergus takes her back to The Greenway.
Another child goes missing, who looks exactly like Suzie. Is it just a coincidence or something else? DI Mike Croft is tasked to investigate.
Having struggled with reading for the last couple of days it was nice to dive into a quick and easy read like this.
The Greenway is a creepy and haunting read with a storyline that really grabbed me from the very beginning.
I love a bit of the otherworldly stuff and I liked the way that folklore, like fairy hills and superstitions, were combined into the storyline giving that extra bit of atmosphere in the book.
I was expecting a psychological thriller but I felt it turned out to be more of a police procedural, which I’m not really annoyed about because Joffe do them so well, it’s just not what I was expecting.
I have to be honest, while the ending was a bit of a surprise, it fell a little flat for me. Also I love a book that highlights mental health but I felt like Cassie’s diagnosis of schizophrenia was more of plot device to explain away her odd behaviour and strange dreams more than anything else.
Overall The Greenway is a quick and atmospheric read with some good twists and turns and a touch of the supernatural.
Another child goes missing, who looks exactly like Suzie. Is it just a coincidence or something else? DI Mike Croft is tasked to investigate.
Having struggled with reading for the last couple of days it was nice to dive into a quick and easy read like this.
The Greenway is a creepy and haunting read with a storyline that really grabbed me from the very beginning.
I love a bit of the otherworldly stuff and I liked the way that folklore, like fairy hills and superstitions, were combined into the storyline giving that extra bit of atmosphere in the book.
I was expecting a psychological thriller but I felt it turned out to be more of a police procedural, which I’m not really annoyed about because Joffe do them so well, it’s just not what I was expecting.
I have to be honest, while the ending was a bit of a surprise, it fell a little flat for me. Also I love a book that highlights mental health but I felt like Cassie’s diagnosis of schizophrenia was more of plot device to explain away her odd behaviour and strange dreams more than anything else.
Overall The Greenway is a quick and atmospheric read with some good twists and turns and a touch of the supernatural.
November 12, 2020
This review and many more can be found on my blog: https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/
Cassie Maltham, her husband Fergus, and another couple are vacationing in rural Norfolk. The holiday is an experiment of sorts. Fergus thinks that coming back here will be therapeutic for Cassie, who experienced a childhood trauma in the area. Twenty years previously, Cassie and her cousin Suzie were taking a shortcut home through the 'Greenway' when Suzie vanished.
The Greenway is an ancient ceremonial pathway of some sort that is viewed with superstition in the minds of the locals. Many believe it is a sort of portal to the spirit world.
Now, just days into their holiday, another young girl goes missing. Sara Jane Cassidy was also last seen by her friends on 'The Greenway'. Curiously, Sara Jane resembles Suzie Ashmore in appearance...
The policemen, D.I. Mike Croft and his sergeant Bill Enfield are tasked with the case of finding Sara Jane. D.I. Mike Croft, a young man, is divorced after the death of his only son in a hit-and-run accident, and lives alone. Enfield is married, a career copper with little ambition to move up the ranks, and due to retire soon.
Because the case has so many similarities to the Suzie Ashmore case twenty years before, they enlist the aid of retired D.I. Tynan who worked that case. Tynan jumps at the chance to help out. The Suzie Ashmore case was never solved and he felt it was his own personal failure. Also, he is lonely and at loose ends since his retirement and the death of his beloved wife two years previously.
The two cases have three striking parallels. Both young girls vanished in broad daylight. Both girls disappeared while walking through the Greenway, AND, both girls vanished when Cassie Maltham was in the area... A coincidence?
Cassie, who never fully recovered from her cousin's disappearance, suffers nightmares to this day. Under the care of a psychiatrist, some would consider her mentally unstable.Police frustrations mount...
MY THOUGHTS
"The Greenway" was a satisfying blend of police procedural mystery and thriller. Written in a forthright, linear way it was very easy to follow. The characters were likable. I especially enjoyed the growing friendship between Croft and Tynan. The current D.I. and the retired D.I. are both single, lonely men who are driven by police work. The rural Norfolk setting was atmospheric and well described. The bizarre nature of the case kept my interest throughout.
Although the resolution of the case explained the who and the how, it did not entirely explain the 'why' of the matter as much as I might have liked.
I really enjoyed reading "The Greenway" and plan to read the second Mike Croft novel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of "The Greenway" from Joffe Books via NetGalley for review purposes and reading enjoyment.
Cassie Maltham, her husband Fergus, and another couple are vacationing in rural Norfolk. The holiday is an experiment of sorts. Fergus thinks that coming back here will be therapeutic for Cassie, who experienced a childhood trauma in the area. Twenty years previously, Cassie and her cousin Suzie were taking a shortcut home through the 'Greenway' when Suzie vanished.
The Greenway is an ancient ceremonial pathway of some sort that is viewed with superstition in the minds of the locals. Many believe it is a sort of portal to the spirit world.
Now, just days into their holiday, another young girl goes missing. Sara Jane Cassidy was also last seen by her friends on 'The Greenway'. Curiously, Sara Jane resembles Suzie Ashmore in appearance...
The policemen, D.I. Mike Croft and his sergeant Bill Enfield are tasked with the case of finding Sara Jane. D.I. Mike Croft, a young man, is divorced after the death of his only son in a hit-and-run accident, and lives alone. Enfield is married, a career copper with little ambition to move up the ranks, and due to retire soon.
Because the case has so many similarities to the Suzie Ashmore case twenty years before, they enlist the aid of retired D.I. Tynan who worked that case. Tynan jumps at the chance to help out. The Suzie Ashmore case was never solved and he felt it was his own personal failure. Also, he is lonely and at loose ends since his retirement and the death of his beloved wife two years previously.
The two cases have three striking parallels. Both young girls vanished in broad daylight. Both girls disappeared while walking through the Greenway, AND, both girls vanished when Cassie Maltham was in the area... A coincidence?
Cassie, who never fully recovered from her cousin's disappearance, suffers nightmares to this day. Under the care of a psychiatrist, some would consider her mentally unstable.Police frustrations mount...
MY THOUGHTS
"The Greenway" was a satisfying blend of police procedural mystery and thriller. Written in a forthright, linear way it was very easy to follow. The characters were likable. I especially enjoyed the growing friendship between Croft and Tynan. The current D.I. and the retired D.I. are both single, lonely men who are driven by police work. The rural Norfolk setting was atmospheric and well described. The bizarre nature of the case kept my interest throughout.
Although the resolution of the case explained the who and the how, it did not entirely explain the 'why' of the matter as much as I might have liked.
I really enjoyed reading "The Greenway" and plan to read the second Mike Croft novel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of "The Greenway" from Joffe Books via NetGalley for review purposes and reading enjoyment.
August 8, 2019
Dull. Not breath taking, Not a thriller
April 3, 2019
Is there such a thing as co-incidence? Twenty years ago, Suzie Ashmore, 12 years old, vanishes while playing with her cousin, Cassie, in the Greenway (a pathway between two fields lined with impenetrable hedge). The body was never found and the case never solved. Fast forward to present day when Cassie Maltham has returned to Norfolk to lay her demons to rest after being plagued with mental illness since the day her cousin vanished. While she and her husband, Fergus, are holidaying with two of their close friends, a 10-year-old girl named Sara Jane Cassidy goes missing.
DI Mike Croft, new to the area, is put in charge of the investigation and the detective who was on the Suzie Ashmore case joins even though he's been retired because he's been haunted by the fact that he never found Suzie. Together they sift through the old and new information trying to piece together events though complicated by the fact that Cassie is experiencing some trigger that results in her developing some strange behavior and dreams. It's all odd: "First, there's Cassie Maltham being here again. Two, there's the disappearance of a kid from the same place. Three, it happened at almost the same time of day and practically in full view of others...Four, the kids even look similar..Five, there's no logical way either child could have left the Greenway." Is there an answer to this puzzle?
Although this debut (republished from 1995) has received many superlative blurbs, I felt a little let down by the way the story is written and how it plays out. I'm not a huge fan of dream sequences and don't let me get started on repressed memories. I never really got a true feel for any of the characters and the narrative flow sometimes made it hard to follow logically. The ending was a bit of a bust as it felt rushed and indequate as far as explanation and detail. I didn't feel the paranormal vibe either. It is, however, a quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the e-book ARC to read and review. I'm a fan of detective stories and mysteries, but don't know if I'd read another by this author.
DI Mike Croft, new to the area, is put in charge of the investigation and the detective who was on the Suzie Ashmore case joins even though he's been retired because he's been haunted by the fact that he never found Suzie. Together they sift through the old and new information trying to piece together events though complicated by the fact that Cassie is experiencing some trigger that results in her developing some strange behavior and dreams. It's all odd: "First, there's Cassie Maltham being here again. Two, there's the disappearance of a kid from the same place. Three, it happened at almost the same time of day and practically in full view of others...Four, the kids even look similar..Five, there's no logical way either child could have left the Greenway." Is there an answer to this puzzle?
Although this debut (republished from 1995) has received many superlative blurbs, I felt a little let down by the way the story is written and how it plays out. I'm not a huge fan of dream sequences and don't let me get started on repressed memories. I never really got a true feel for any of the characters and the narrative flow sometimes made it hard to follow logically. The ending was a bit of a bust as it felt rushed and indequate as far as explanation and detail. I didn't feel the paranormal vibe either. It is, however, a quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the e-book ARC to read and review. I'm a fan of detective stories and mysteries, but don't know if I'd read another by this author.
March 14, 2019
3 stars
I am not sure how I feel about this book. On one hand it was a good story; the idea was good and it flowed smoothly. On the other hand, however, it was a little confused. By that I mean the people in the story were confused. No one seemed to be very fleshed out or had much depth to them. The characters were superficial.
This book is a little police procedural, a little mystery and has some vague supernatural elements. The killer is however, very real and comes as somewhat of a surprise.
I want to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley or forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.
I am not sure how I feel about this book. On one hand it was a good story; the idea was good and it flowed smoothly. On the other hand, however, it was a little confused. By that I mean the people in the story were confused. No one seemed to be very fleshed out or had much depth to them. The characters were superficial.
This book is a little police procedural, a little mystery and has some vague supernatural elements. The killer is however, very real and comes as somewhat of a surprise.
I want to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley or forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.
February 24, 2020
It's been six years since I last tried a book by this author but thought I'd give her another go. The others I've read/tried were full of mistakes and I was sure that would've been remedied by now. Not so, however, and I gave up on this one too at 30%.
I also found it pretty confusing in places, too.....so coupled with the errors I wasn't going to stick with this, I'm afraid. This passage made me roll my eyes and pretty much switch off altogether, "...how it was an expression of the duality of nature, and of people, worshipping a twinned male and female image as a symbol of the God-force".......for real ??
At the beginning it's advised that British English is used throughout but it isn't.....the spellings in so many words are Americanised.....like tantalizingly/realized/emphasized.
There were missing speechmarks and then speechmarks added where nobody was speaking along with apostrophes being misplaced, although the main errors seem to be where perhaps someone has copied words and totally misread them, but still included the wrong ones, nonetheless. They bear no relation to what they should be, like writing 1 and not I, then modem and not modern and comer not corner (more than the once). We also had sooth not soothe.
Mike knew Cassie was married to the "bloke with the beard" but I don't know how and we're informed later on that he's a teacher and Bill is a sales rep, yet they'd looked to Bill for lessons earlier and explanations for things so this left me totally baffled and I gave up, then. And this time I will not be revisiting this author in another half a dozen years !
I also found it pretty confusing in places, too.....so coupled with the errors I wasn't going to stick with this, I'm afraid. This passage made me roll my eyes and pretty much switch off altogether, "...how it was an expression of the duality of nature, and of people, worshipping a twinned male and female image as a symbol of the God-force".......for real ??
At the beginning it's advised that British English is used throughout but it isn't.....the spellings in so many words are Americanised.....like tantalizingly/realized/emphasized.
There were missing speechmarks and then speechmarks added where nobody was speaking along with apostrophes being misplaced, although the main errors seem to be where perhaps someone has copied words and totally misread them, but still included the wrong ones, nonetheless. They bear no relation to what they should be, like writing 1 and not I, then modem and not modern and comer not corner (more than the once). We also had sooth not soothe.
Mike knew Cassie was married to the "bloke with the beard" but I don't know how and we're informed later on that he's a teacher and Bill is a sales rep, yet they'd looked to Bill for lessons earlier and explanations for things so this left me totally baffled and I gave up, then. And this time I will not be revisiting this author in another half a dozen years !
March 6, 2019
REVIEW:
I have to say, this book didn’t keep me entertained, I thought it was drawn out and tedious. I couldn’t gel with the characters, poor Cassie didn’t know if she was coming or going due to her illness and Fergus was a controlling fussarse.
The police weren’t that strong characters. They didn’t seem to do much st all!!
I did, however finish it but have to say it was slow and the conclusion wasn’t thrilling at all.
My thanks to Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
I have to say, this book didn’t keep me entertained, I thought it was drawn out and tedious. I couldn’t gel with the characters, poor Cassie didn’t know if she was coming or going due to her illness and Fergus was a controlling fussarse.
The police weren’t that strong characters. They didn’t seem to do much st all!!
I did, however finish it but have to say it was slow and the conclusion wasn’t thrilling at all.
My thanks to Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
April 27, 2020
SPOILER ALERT
I thought this poorly written, confusing and frantic. DI John Tynan, retired, seeks out DI Mike Croft in the disappearance of a child, Sarah Jane, on the Greenway. It is not unlike the disappearance of Suzie Ashmore more than 20 year ago, a case that was never solved and has plagued his retirement peace. At the same time as this disappearance, Cassie Maltham has returned with her husband Fergus and her friends Simon and Anna Thomas to Norfolk to face her demons. She was ten at the time her friend Suzie disappeared, and she was with her. She had been told by some to forget the experience, and that had led to bad dreams, institutionalization for schizophrenia and general fears. But the newly disappeared Sarah Jane Cassidy puts that quest in question as police and community alike put her in the spotlight and as a suspect. She eventually finds the girl, through hearing her calling and thinking at first that it is Suzie. She is found in a hidey hole in the brambled hedge on the Greenway, a place that carries evil, myth and fairies.
The police are also looking for an itinerant woman who is found murdered at the bottom of Tan's Hill when Sarah Jane is found. First one skeleton is found in the hole, too old to be Suzie, then a second one that is Suzie. It appears that Suzie may have found the remains and it led to her abduction. The older remains lead to the disappearance of Emma Cooper fifty years earlier and her strange family. I don't think the story resolves the mystery around this family. Liza is the woman murdered by her father. But why? The answer is vague, and the author acknowledges that the reasons are obscured in the past. But it not a satisfying end. This connection is only brought in at the end, and clearly was not investigated when Suzie disappeared. That the police even speculate that Cassie could have been partly responsible for Suzie abduction when she was ten is ludicrous and not within my realm of belief. Overall, a poor start to this series, and one that does not compel me to continue with it.
I thought this poorly written, confusing and frantic. DI John Tynan, retired, seeks out DI Mike Croft in the disappearance of a child, Sarah Jane, on the Greenway. It is not unlike the disappearance of Suzie Ashmore more than 20 year ago, a case that was never solved and has plagued his retirement peace. At the same time as this disappearance, Cassie Maltham has returned with her husband Fergus and her friends Simon and Anna Thomas to Norfolk to face her demons. She was ten at the time her friend Suzie disappeared, and she was with her. She had been told by some to forget the experience, and that had led to bad dreams, institutionalization for schizophrenia and general fears. But the newly disappeared Sarah Jane Cassidy puts that quest in question as police and community alike put her in the spotlight and as a suspect. She eventually finds the girl, through hearing her calling and thinking at first that it is Suzie. She is found in a hidey hole in the brambled hedge on the Greenway, a place that carries evil, myth and fairies.
The police are also looking for an itinerant woman who is found murdered at the bottom of Tan's Hill when Sarah Jane is found. First one skeleton is found in the hole, too old to be Suzie, then a second one that is Suzie. It appears that Suzie may have found the remains and it led to her abduction. The older remains lead to the disappearance of Emma Cooper fifty years earlier and her strange family. I don't think the story resolves the mystery around this family. Liza is the woman murdered by her father. But why? The answer is vague, and the author acknowledges that the reasons are obscured in the past. But it not a satisfying end. This connection is only brought in at the end, and clearly was not investigated when Suzie disappeared. That the police even speculate that Cassie could have been partly responsible for Suzie abduction when she was ten is ludicrous and not within my realm of belief. Overall, a poor start to this series, and one that does not compel me to continue with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2019
An excellent read
This was my first book by Jane Adams so I was unsure what to expect but I needn't have worried I was gripped from the very beginning.
Cassie returns to Norfolk to face her demons. Twenty years ago Cassie and Suzie were taking a shortcut home along The Greenway when Suzie disappeared. She was never found and Cassie has been tormented by her memories (or lack of them) and bullied by her mother, blamed by Suzie's parents she struggles mentally. Suzie was never found.
Now married to Fergus with Annie and Simon the 4 return to the area to try to lay the skeletons to rest but then another child, the splitting image of Suzie goes missing while playing on the Greenway ...
Is Cassie involved or just an innocent victim and is the supernatural playing a part in the disappearing children. A retired detective and DI Mike Croft are determined to solve this crime and find out what happened all those years ago.
This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that had me turning page after page as the mystery and intrigue increases along with the many twists and turns making this a very entangled story that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The characters are realistic, all with issues they are dealing with that brings a human touch to the complex characters that develop well into the story. The area is described with great skill in that I could envisage in my mind The Greenway and Tan's Hill.
An excellent read, I can't wait for the next in the series. 5 stars from me.
This was my first book by Jane Adams so I was unsure what to expect but I needn't have worried I was gripped from the very beginning.
Cassie returns to Norfolk to face her demons. Twenty years ago Cassie and Suzie were taking a shortcut home along The Greenway when Suzie disappeared. She was never found and Cassie has been tormented by her memories (or lack of them) and bullied by her mother, blamed by Suzie's parents she struggles mentally. Suzie was never found.
Now married to Fergus with Annie and Simon the 4 return to the area to try to lay the skeletons to rest but then another child, the splitting image of Suzie goes missing while playing on the Greenway ...
Is Cassie involved or just an innocent victim and is the supernatural playing a part in the disappearing children. A retired detective and DI Mike Croft are determined to solve this crime and find out what happened all those years ago.
This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that had me turning page after page as the mystery and intrigue increases along with the many twists and turns making this a very entangled story that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The characters are realistic, all with issues they are dealing with that brings a human touch to the complex characters that develop well into the story. The area is described with great skill in that I could envisage in my mind The Greenway and Tan's Hill.
An excellent read, I can't wait for the next in the series. 5 stars from me.
March 14, 2019
Unfortunately, ‘The Greenway’ is a 3-star read.
I love a good fork lord, cold case story! And so the premise of ‘The Greenway’ was very appealing to me.
Synopsis: Twenty years ago, Suzie, Cassie’s cousin, disappeared while playing on the Greenway. Without closure or evidence, Suzie’s case remains unsolved and Cassie remains haunted. So, Cassie has decided to confront her fears and return back to Norfolk. Yet, as soon as she returns, another young girl has gone missing and Cassie is under suspicion. Does Cassie have something to do with these disappearances OR is the legend of the Greenway real?
Cool plot right? And for the most part, it was entertaining, but the character development was insufficient. Cassie was the most rounded character. You learn that she’s struggling with mental illness and that plays a heavy part in whether she can even believe her own testimony about these disappearances. But DI Croft was more a fluff character than the protagonist, which I found odd because there is a series stemming from his role.
Also, the writing wasn’t my particular favorite; it often felt like I was reading a stream of consciousness. And the character dialogue was very rigid/formal at times.
Also, for a fork lord story, the supernatural element wasn’t strong enough to be believable.
I love a good fork lord, cold case story! And so the premise of ‘The Greenway’ was very appealing to me.
Synopsis: Twenty years ago, Suzie, Cassie’s cousin, disappeared while playing on the Greenway. Without closure or evidence, Suzie’s case remains unsolved and Cassie remains haunted. So, Cassie has decided to confront her fears and return back to Norfolk. Yet, as soon as she returns, another young girl has gone missing and Cassie is under suspicion. Does Cassie have something to do with these disappearances OR is the legend of the Greenway real?
Cool plot right? And for the most part, it was entertaining, but the character development was insufficient. Cassie was the most rounded character. You learn that she’s struggling with mental illness and that plays a heavy part in whether she can even believe her own testimony about these disappearances. But DI Croft was more a fluff character than the protagonist, which I found odd because there is a series stemming from his role.
Also, the writing wasn’t my particular favorite; it often felt like I was reading a stream of consciousness. And the character dialogue was very rigid/formal at times.
Also, for a fork lord story, the supernatural element wasn’t strong enough to be believable.
April 5, 2019
Thank You Net Galley, Joffe books and Jane Adams for a chance to read and review this book.
The Greenway was first published in 1995 a fact that I found out only when going through Good Reads. Usually when one reads a book published at least a decade earlier, it can be sensed upon but the brilliant thing about Greenway is that it never felt even a bit outdated. The writing is still apt and the mystery was mind boggling. There are twists and turns at every point of the story keeping the reader engaged. There's an atmospheric and sinister tone to the story that blends well and the characters comes alive in a real sense.
The claustrophobic feel of the small village, the mental illness that Cassie endures after the trauma of her cousin's disappearance, the grief of the parents of the missing child, each and every aspect f the story was interesting and the supernatural elements leaving the reader to wonder about Cassie's dreams adds the thrill to this excellent drama. Highly recommended for thriller fans.
The Greenway was first published in 1995 a fact that I found out only when going through Good Reads. Usually when one reads a book published at least a decade earlier, it can be sensed upon but the brilliant thing about Greenway is that it never felt even a bit outdated. The writing is still apt and the mystery was mind boggling. There are twists and turns at every point of the story keeping the reader engaged. There's an atmospheric and sinister tone to the story that blends well and the characters comes alive in a real sense.
The claustrophobic feel of the small village, the mental illness that Cassie endures after the trauma of her cousin's disappearance, the grief of the parents of the missing child, each and every aspect f the story was interesting and the supernatural elements leaving the reader to wonder about Cassie's dreams adds the thrill to this excellent drama. Highly recommended for thriller fans.
April 29, 2021
THE GREENWAY HAS SECRETS.
Cassie and husband Fegus come back with their two friends to The Greenway after 20 years, Cassie and her cousin had taken the short cut home up Tams hill. Only Cassie came home. With years of nightmares from that evening Fergus hope it helps Cassie. When more things happen it only makes, Cassie' s troubles worse. And more questions with no answers. This book has a heartbreaking storyline, with some great characters that come in it with the police trying to put the pieces together. What did happen on Tam's hill. This book keeps you turning the pages to find out and when the truth is revealed, it will stay with you, long after it's finished.
I will be reading more of Jane Adam's books.
A Highly recommended read.
Cassie and husband Fegus come back with their two friends to The Greenway after 20 years, Cassie and her cousin had taken the short cut home up Tams hill. Only Cassie came home. With years of nightmares from that evening Fergus hope it helps Cassie. When more things happen it only makes, Cassie' s troubles worse. And more questions with no answers. This book has a heartbreaking storyline, with some great characters that come in it with the police trying to put the pieces together. What did happen on Tam's hill. This book keeps you turning the pages to find out and when the truth is revealed, it will stay with you, long after it's finished.
I will be reading more of Jane Adam's books.
A Highly recommended read.
March 24, 2019
Gripping read
This is a real page turner. Cassie Malthams life changes. The book is set in Norfolk. My first book by this author, and after twenty years cassie returns to Norfolk with her husband and friends Anna and Simon. Not giving any of the story away. I did enjoy this book right through to the end. A chilling psychological thriller that I hope others will enjoy
This is a real page turner. Cassie Malthams life changes. The book is set in Norfolk. My first book by this author, and after twenty years cassie returns to Norfolk with her husband and friends Anna and Simon. Not giving any of the story away. I did enjoy this book right through to the end. A chilling psychological thriller that I hope others will enjoy
May 29, 2022
Another crime mystery set in my native Norfolk. As a mystery this was pretty decent with some unique elements to the story. It wasn't one I could figure out until close to the end.
As for the setting, this could really have been set anywhere. There was very little location reference which I found a bit disappointing.
Decent read, and I may read others in the series.
As for the setting, this could really have been set anywhere. There was very little location reference which I found a bit disappointing.
Decent read, and I may read others in the series.
April 28, 2019
This story had me entrapped from the start, darn it was intriguing and a bit thrilling. It had a few twists and some surprising turns. The storyline kept me glued to its mystified pages This has been an interesting and fascinating read, I love the paranormal ending it clinches it for me.
November 26, 2022
I didn't realize this would focus so much on cops when I picked it up. I wish the focus had been on Cassie and Fergus instead.
March 28, 2019
I think the author forgot to include the ending.
This was a quick read and I almost gave up at one point because it was taking a direction that appeared to be paranormal. I then read a review that addressed that and so I went back to reading.
I couldn't connect with the characters. The were like paper dolls, pretty but no depth.
Cassie: Her background story is muddled. There isn't any hint of what happened when her cousin disappeared. There is a LOT of reference to her adult psychiatric history but not very realistic. From what I know of schizophrenia it isn't brought on by a traumatic event. I could be wrong but it didn't feel believable. Nothing about her says she'd be a credible witness. She just kind of floats about like a marionette. I can't seem to put into words what I want to say about her. It's like she was being hand led through her own life.
Fergus: I didn't like him one bit. I couldn't determine if he really cared about Cassie's mental health or if he considered it an annoyance and wished she'd just get over it. I mean what kind of person forces someone to take a three day trip to revisit the place of the traumatic incident that supposedly caused her schizophrenia? That sounds like something her psychiatrist should have decided and been present for instead of being called in afterward.
Simon: What is this guy's problem? He's very intense and dramatic. He seems angry about everything once he finds out about Cassie's past and then suddenly he's happy as a clam about his wife's unexpected news. There isn't any background story on him and he and his wife are more like filler characters, completely unnecessary to the story/plot.
Anna: Cassie's best friend? She doesn't seem to know much about her for supposedly being her best friend. My best friends know just about everything there is to know about me because I trust them with even my darkest secrets past and present. I felt they barely knew each other at all. NONE of my best friends would even consider that I had anything to do with kidnapping a child! And why if they are best friends is Cassie not consistently on the phone updating her on what's going on with the case? Why isn't she calling or texting Cassie to see how she's doing? Instead she and her husband learn everything from newspaper headlines. Sorry but I don't think these two women are even friends. This woman and her intense hubby have absolutely no purpose in this story.
DI Mike: Really? I liked him but he seemed a little wishy washy for a detective. At one point he decides to just sleep over at the home of ex detective Tynan. It made sense at the time but later on a different visit Tynan asks, "Do you want to spend the night?" The question was awkward and didn't sound like something one man would say to another man that they had just met a week before, or maybe it was only days and I felt like it was a week.
The scenery descriptions need to be a bit fuller. Just not enough detail to enable me to see the image in my mind. Only the strip of Greenway was visible to me. and I could only picture it as two rows of tall hedges plopped out in the open going nowhere in either direction except up a hill to overlook thorny branches in a sea of tangles.
The end: I think the author may have forgotten to write it or include it. We find out who but we NEVER find out even one single why. It's as if the director called "Cut" and then everyone walked off set. I was very disappointed. I can't say much more without giving out spoilers and I never ever give spoilers if it can be avoided.
Overall I just didn't enjoy this book. I think the author gave a good effort but fell short of creating a "stunning thriller full of breathtaking twists".
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a chance to read an advance copy of this book.
This was a quick read and I almost gave up at one point because it was taking a direction that appeared to be paranormal. I then read a review that addressed that and so I went back to reading.
I couldn't connect with the characters. The were like paper dolls, pretty but no depth.
Cassie: Her background story is muddled. There isn't any hint of what happened when her cousin disappeared. There is a LOT of reference to her adult psychiatric history but not very realistic. From what I know of schizophrenia it isn't brought on by a traumatic event. I could be wrong but it didn't feel believable. Nothing about her says she'd be a credible witness. She just kind of floats about like a marionette. I can't seem to put into words what I want to say about her. It's like she was being hand led through her own life.
Fergus: I didn't like him one bit. I couldn't determine if he really cared about Cassie's mental health or if he considered it an annoyance and wished she'd just get over it. I mean what kind of person forces someone to take a three day trip to revisit the place of the traumatic incident that supposedly caused her schizophrenia? That sounds like something her psychiatrist should have decided and been present for instead of being called in afterward.
Simon: What is this guy's problem? He's very intense and dramatic. He seems angry about everything once he finds out about Cassie's past and then suddenly he's happy as a clam about his wife's unexpected news. There isn't any background story on him and he and his wife are more like filler characters, completely unnecessary to the story/plot.
Anna: Cassie's best friend? She doesn't seem to know much about her for supposedly being her best friend. My best friends know just about everything there is to know about me because I trust them with even my darkest secrets past and present. I felt they barely knew each other at all. NONE of my best friends would even consider that I had anything to do with kidnapping a child! And why if they are best friends is Cassie not consistently on the phone updating her on what's going on with the case? Why isn't she calling or texting Cassie to see how she's doing? Instead she and her husband learn everything from newspaper headlines. Sorry but I don't think these two women are even friends. This woman and her intense hubby have absolutely no purpose in this story.
DI Mike: Really? I liked him but he seemed a little wishy washy for a detective. At one point he decides to just sleep over at the home of ex detective Tynan. It made sense at the time but later on a different visit Tynan asks, "Do you want to spend the night?" The question was awkward and didn't sound like something one man would say to another man that they had just met a week before, or maybe it was only days and I felt like it was a week.
The scenery descriptions need to be a bit fuller. Just not enough detail to enable me to see the image in my mind. Only the strip of Greenway was visible to me. and I could only picture it as two rows of tall hedges plopped out in the open going nowhere in either direction except up a hill to overlook thorny branches in a sea of tangles.
The end: I think the author may have forgotten to write it or include it. We find out who but we NEVER find out even one single why. It's as if the director called "Cut" and then everyone walked off set. I was very disappointed. I can't say much more without giving out spoilers and I never ever give spoilers if it can be avoided.
Overall I just didn't enjoy this book. I think the author gave a good effort but fell short of creating a "stunning thriller full of breathtaking twists".
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a chance to read an advance copy of this book.
November 26, 2019
Enjoyable
A reasonably good plot but I guessed the answer to the missing children mystery before the reveal.
Very well written and well paced, story moves along well
Enough to keep your interest.
The police side of the book was a good balance and avoided all the tedious procedures and pointless banter that can slow a story down.
Not doing a plot resume as this is covered in the book information itself.
Good read on kindle unlimited and recommended.
Alice Pearson
A reasonably good plot but I guessed the answer to the missing children mystery before the reveal.
Very well written and well paced, story moves along well
Enough to keep your interest.
The police side of the book was a good balance and avoided all the tedious procedures and pointless banter that can slow a story down.
Not doing a plot resume as this is covered in the book information itself.
Good read on kindle unlimited and recommended.
Alice Pearson
Want to read
November 4, 2019Synopsis: Cassie Maltham was ten when her cousin Suzie vanished; she's come back twenty years later.
March 18, 2019
I have to say that Joffe publishers are fast becoming one of my go to people for crime reads as I have yet to read book I didn't enjoy from them.
Twenty years ago Cassie's life is changed forever whilst playing on The Greenway with her cousin Suzie. Cassie passed out and her cousin Suzie was never seen again. With no memory of the events and the mystery never being solves, Cassie's life has been plagued by issues relating to this.
Twenty years later and Cassie, her husband and their friends take a cottage break back to the area where Suzie disappeared in the hope of allowing Cassie to put her demons to rest. Within days, history repeats itself and a little girl goes missing in exactly the same spot - making Cassie a prime suspect. With no evidence or sightings, the conjecture of spiritual and magical forces surrounds the case. DI Inspector Croft enlists the help of the detective from Suzie's case, John Tynan and determined to crack the case they hunt down every lead possible, regardless of how limited. Can they crack this mysterious case?
The book is told from two perspectives.
In the beginning, there is a heavy focus on Cassie and her friends, explaining her visit to The Greenway area and introducing all the psychological issues that she has been left with since her cousin's disappearance. Alongside this we see Fergus (her husband) who seems to want to the best for her but comes across as a little forceful and controlling. Cassie's begins to exhibit erratic and unexplained behaviour As the story moves on we visit with Cassie regularly to gather more pieces of the puzzle. These chapters are what provides the psychological thriller aspect to the novel. The setting is superbly described and there is always an eerie and sinister feel to the descriptions.
The perspective of the investigation is told in a more matter-of-fact way making this book a perfect mixture of police procedural and psychological thriller. We travel with DI Croft through the investigation and the piecing together of sparse information in order to solve this crime.
I love the fact that you have no way of guessing the ending and what sets out as a crime story, develops into shocking twists and turns that you'll never see coming.
Twenty years ago Cassie's life is changed forever whilst playing on The Greenway with her cousin Suzie. Cassie passed out and her cousin Suzie was never seen again. With no memory of the events and the mystery never being solves, Cassie's life has been plagued by issues relating to this.
Twenty years later and Cassie, her husband and their friends take a cottage break back to the area where Suzie disappeared in the hope of allowing Cassie to put her demons to rest. Within days, history repeats itself and a little girl goes missing in exactly the same spot - making Cassie a prime suspect. With no evidence or sightings, the conjecture of spiritual and magical forces surrounds the case. DI Inspector Croft enlists the help of the detective from Suzie's case, John Tynan and determined to crack the case they hunt down every lead possible, regardless of how limited. Can they crack this mysterious case?
The book is told from two perspectives.
In the beginning, there is a heavy focus on Cassie and her friends, explaining her visit to The Greenway area and introducing all the psychological issues that she has been left with since her cousin's disappearance. Alongside this we see Fergus (her husband) who seems to want to the best for her but comes across as a little forceful and controlling. Cassie's begins to exhibit erratic and unexplained behaviour As the story moves on we visit with Cassie regularly to gather more pieces of the puzzle. These chapters are what provides the psychological thriller aspect to the novel. The setting is superbly described and there is always an eerie and sinister feel to the descriptions.
The perspective of the investigation is told in a more matter-of-fact way making this book a perfect mixture of police procedural and psychological thriller. We travel with DI Croft through the investigation and the piecing together of sparse information in order to solve this crime.
I love the fact that you have no way of guessing the ending and what sets out as a crime story, develops into shocking twists and turns that you'll never see coming.
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