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Před pikolou za pikolou
Jedna, dvě, tři… Lisa Daelová zavře oči a počítá do stovky během hry na schovávanou se svou čtyřletou dcerou Ellou. Obyčejná hra se ale rázem změní v nejhorší noční můru. Když Lisa otevře oči, Ella je pryč. Zmizela beze stopy. Hledá ji policie i média. Lisina rodina začíná pátrat na vlastní pěst. Kdo dceru unesl a proč? Co když člověk, který ji unesl, není vůbec cizí? Co když je přesvědčen, že dělá správnou věc? A co když je Lisina malá holčička v nebezpečí a zmizí navěky?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2016
1111 people are currently reading
6137 people want to read
About the author
Linda Green
77 books620 followersI was born in North London in 1970 and brought up in Hertfordshire. I wrote my first novella, the Time Machine, aged eight, shortly after which I declared that my ambition was to have a novel published (I could have been easy on myself and just said ‘to write a novel’ but no, I had to consign myself to years of torture and rejections). I was frequently asked to copy out my stories for the classroom wall (probably because my handwriting was so awful no one could read my first draft), and received lots of encouragement from my teachers Mr Roberts, Mrs Chandler (who added yet more pressure by writing in my autograph book when I left primary school that she looked forward to reading my first published novel!) and Mr Bird.
My first publication came when I was thirteen and my Ode to Gary Mabbutt won second prize in the Tottenham Weekly Herald ‘My Favourite Player’ competition. At fifteen I won the Junior Spurs Football Reporter of the Year Competition and got to report on a first division football match from the press box at White Hart Lane (I got lots of funny looks and none of the journalists spoke to me.)
At sixteen I embarked on ‘A’ levels and a journalism course at De Havilland College, Hertfordshire, and my college magazine interview about football hooliganism with local MP and football club chairman David Evans made a double page spread in Shoot! magazine (they never paid me) and back page headlines in several national newspapers (only a nice man at the Daily Star bothered to check the story with me).
I joined my local newspaper, the Enfield Gazette, as a trainee reporter at eighteen. During a ten year career in regional journalism I worked as a reporter on the Birmingham Daily News, news editor on the Birmingham Metro News and Chief Feature Writer on the Coventry Evening Telegraph, winning Highly Commended in the Feature Writer of the Year category of the 1997 Press Gazette Regional Press Awards.
I loved working on regional newspapers but by 1998 my features were getting too long and the urge to write a novel had become too great so I left my staff job to write my first novel and work as a freelance journalist. I have written for The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, The Times Educational Supplement, The Big Issue, Wanderlust and Community Care Magazine. I’ve also had a short story published in Best magazine
I found the writing and working from home a very solitary process so also worked as co-ordinator of the Birmingham Bureau of Children’s Express, a national charity which runs a learning through journalism programme for young people and taught journalism to schoolchildren for the National Academy of Writing. After I moved north in 2001 I qualified as an adult education tutor and taught creative writing classes to students aged between 18 and 82 for the Workers Educational Association across Calderdale, West Yorkshire.
After more than a hundred rejections from agents for my first novel (and more rewrites than I care to remember) I finally got an agent but still couldn’t get a publisher. I started work on my second novel I DID A BAD THING in 2003, finished the first draft and gave birth to my son Rohan in 2004, rewrote the novel and got a new agent in 2005, obtained a two-book deal with Headline Review in 2006.
I Did a Bad Thing was published in paperback in October 2007, made the top thirty official fiction bestsellers list (and number 3 in Tesco!) and has so far sold more than 77,000 copies. 10 Reasons Not to Fall in Love was published in paperback in March 2009, reached no 22 in the official fiction bestseller charts (and no 4 in Tesco) and has so far sold more than 80,000 copies. Both novels were also long-listed for the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award.
Following the success of my first two novels I got another two-book deal from Headline Review, with Things I Wish I'd Known being the first of these. I am currently working on my fourth novel.
I enjoy travelling.
My first publication came when I was thirteen and my Ode to Gary Mabbutt won second prize in the Tottenham Weekly Herald ‘My Favourite Player’ competition. At fifteen I won the Junior Spurs Football Reporter of the Year Competition and got to report on a first division football match from the press box at White Hart Lane (I got lots of funny looks and none of the journalists spoke to me.)
At sixteen I embarked on ‘A’ levels and a journalism course at De Havilland College, Hertfordshire, and my college magazine interview about football hooliganism with local MP and football club chairman David Evans made a double page spread in Shoot! magazine (they never paid me) and back page headlines in several national newspapers (only a nice man at the Daily Star bothered to check the story with me).
I joined my local newspaper, the Enfield Gazette, as a trainee reporter at eighteen. During a ten year career in regional journalism I worked as a reporter on the Birmingham Daily News, news editor on the Birmingham Metro News and Chief Feature Writer on the Coventry Evening Telegraph, winning Highly Commended in the Feature Writer of the Year category of the 1997 Press Gazette Regional Press Awards.
I loved working on regional newspapers but by 1998 my features were getting too long and the urge to write a novel had become too great so I left my staff job to write my first novel and work as a freelance journalist. I have written for The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, The Times Educational Supplement, The Big Issue, Wanderlust and Community Care Magazine. I’ve also had a short story published in Best magazine
I found the writing and working from home a very solitary process so also worked as co-ordinator of the Birmingham Bureau of Children’s Express, a national charity which runs a learning through journalism programme for young people and taught journalism to schoolchildren for the National Academy of Writing. After I moved north in 2001 I qualified as an adult education tutor and taught creative writing classes to students aged between 18 and 82 for the Workers Educational Association across Calderdale, West Yorkshire.
After more than a hundred rejections from agents for my first novel (and more rewrites than I care to remember) I finally got an agent but still couldn’t get a publisher. I started work on my second novel I DID A BAD THING in 2003, finished the first draft and gave birth to my son Rohan in 2004, rewrote the novel and got a new agent in 2005, obtained a two-book deal with Headline Review in 2006.
I Did a Bad Thing was published in paperback in October 2007, made the top thirty official fiction bestsellers list (and number 3 in Tesco!) and has so far sold more than 77,000 copies. 10 Reasons Not to Fall in Love was published in paperback in March 2009, reached no 22 in the official fiction bestseller charts (and no 4 in Tesco) and has so far sold more than 80,000 copies. Both novels were also long-listed for the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award.
Following the success of my first two novels I got another two-book deal from Headline Review, with Things I Wish I'd Known being the first of these. I am currently working on my fourth novel.
I enjoy travelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 895 reviews
May 12, 2016
There seems to have been a lot Novels published in the last six months with child abduction or child disappearances as the main theme and while I have read a few of these novels I am now tiring of the theme. I sometimes wonder if publishers encourage or set themes for novels which they think match the current market trends, last year it seemed to be titles containing the word girl and this year it seems to be books about missing children.
While my eyes were closed was fast paced and engaging. I especially liked the fact that it was told from the viewpoint of the several of the characters in alternating chapters and this really added to the overall understanding and feel for the story. The character of Muriel was interesting but I found most of the other characters flat and disappointing The ending felt a little rushed and I am not sure it was entirely believable. A three star read for me I liked it but didn't love it.
While my eyes were closed was fast paced and engaging. I especially liked the fact that it was told from the viewpoint of the several of the characters in alternating chapters and this really added to the overall understanding and feel for the story. The character of Muriel was interesting but I found most of the other characters flat and disappointing The ending felt a little rushed and I am not sure it was entirely believable. A three star read for me I liked it but didn't love it.
January 25, 2016
This is a psychological thriller which concerns every parent’s worst nightmare – a child going missing. Lisa Dale is pretty typical of most mothers, juggling various different commitments and a busy working life with motherhood. Married to Alex, Lisa has an older daughter, Chloe, by a previous relationship and two younger children, Otis and Ella.
Daughter Ella is a bright and cheerful four year old. It is nearly the end of the summer holidays and she is due to start Reception the following week, along with her best friend and next door neighbour Charlie Wilson. When Lisa picks up Ella from her mother’s house, she is on her way to see Otis collect his football medal. However, first, Ella wants to go to the park, where they always finish off a visit with a game of hide and seek. While Ella is hiding, Lisa’s phone rings and suddenly, Ella is gone…
I do not wish to give away the plot of this moving and fast paced read. Suffice to say that we have two different narrators, one of which is Lisa herself. This is a book which examines maternal love, loss, the bonds between a mother and her child and also it looks at the harsher side of society and how people are viewed by those with only a brief idea of the facts. Not only is social media alive with blame, but Lisa is judged by her demeanour at a press conference, while her slightly wayward brother is viewed as a suspect and her volatile father and her family’s background are scrutinised.
I can hardly say a book about this subject is easy reading, but the author speeds the story along and makes this an exciting and interesting read. An assured, well paced and fascinating read.
Daughter Ella is a bright and cheerful four year old. It is nearly the end of the summer holidays and she is due to start Reception the following week, along with her best friend and next door neighbour Charlie Wilson. When Lisa picks up Ella from her mother’s house, she is on her way to see Otis collect his football medal. However, first, Ella wants to go to the park, where they always finish off a visit with a game of hide and seek. While Ella is hiding, Lisa’s phone rings and suddenly, Ella is gone…
I do not wish to give away the plot of this moving and fast paced read. Suffice to say that we have two different narrators, one of which is Lisa herself. This is a book which examines maternal love, loss, the bonds between a mother and her child and also it looks at the harsher side of society and how people are viewed by those with only a brief idea of the facts. Not only is social media alive with blame, but Lisa is judged by her demeanour at a press conference, while her slightly wayward brother is viewed as a suspect and her volatile father and her family’s background are scrutinised.
I can hardly say a book about this subject is easy reading, but the author speeds the story along and makes this an exciting and interesting read. An assured, well paced and fascinating read.
February 14, 2016
Busy mum Lisa Dale is distracted by a phone call and takes her eyes off her 4 year old daughter Ella, for just a few minutes whilst they are in the park and then the worst happened. Ella disappears. At first Lisa thought she was playing hide and seek but then when time passed she had to face the inevitable – that Ella had wandered off and got lost or the worst thing imaginable – someone had taken her.
This was my first book by Linda Green. I do love a thriller and although there have been a plethora of missing child thrillers recently, this one did sound a little different in that the person who takes her does so for concern, believing that the child is not being looked after properly. They convince themselves they have done nothing wrong and are only acting for the good.
This story is told in alternative chapters by three main characters. There is a back story told by one of the characters which eventually ties in to the conclusion. This was well done and although I suspected what had happened quite early on, it wasn’t until fairly late on in the story that I realised how it linked in. It’s not an in depth police procedural and the Family Liaison Officer assigned to the family is the main police spokesperson throughout but it focuses more on the abductor, their reasons for taking Ella and the pain caused to her family, especially her mother Lisa. Both Lisa and her family came under scrutiny and we see how quick people, especially the Press, are to judge and how easy it is to jump to the wrong conclusion.
This is very much character driven rather than action led and has a gentler pace than many of the psychological thrillers I am used to but that is not a criticism. We see how grief affects people and the unpredictability of the abductor’s moods did make me worry for Ella. With excellent characterisation and the right amount of tension and suspense, this psychological drama was a really good read and one I would recommend.
If you enjoyed Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan, then this may appeal too.
My paperback copy was received from the Amazon Vine review programme.
This was my first book by Linda Green. I do love a thriller and although there have been a plethora of missing child thrillers recently, this one did sound a little different in that the person who takes her does so for concern, believing that the child is not being looked after properly. They convince themselves they have done nothing wrong and are only acting for the good.
This story is told in alternative chapters by three main characters. There is a back story told by one of the characters which eventually ties in to the conclusion. This was well done and although I suspected what had happened quite early on, it wasn’t until fairly late on in the story that I realised how it linked in. It’s not an in depth police procedural and the Family Liaison Officer assigned to the family is the main police spokesperson throughout but it focuses more on the abductor, their reasons for taking Ella and the pain caused to her family, especially her mother Lisa. Both Lisa and her family came under scrutiny and we see how quick people, especially the Press, are to judge and how easy it is to jump to the wrong conclusion.
This is very much character driven rather than action led and has a gentler pace than many of the psychological thrillers I am used to but that is not a criticism. We see how grief affects people and the unpredictability of the abductor’s moods did make me worry for Ella. With excellent characterisation and the right amount of tension and suspense, this psychological drama was a really good read and one I would recommend.
If you enjoyed Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan, then this may appeal too.
My paperback copy was received from the Amazon Vine review programme.
June 14, 2018
A must buy must read. One of the best novels that I have read. Every reader who likes reading novels full of suspense should read While my eyes were closed by Linda Green.
I found it very hard not to cry while reading this book. Every word, every sentence, every page is very touching. This moving story is about a mother and her four year daughter playing hide and seek, When Ella goes missing. But who has taken little Ella and why?
I found it very hard not to cry while reading this book. Every word, every sentence, every page is very touching. This moving story is about a mother and her four year daughter playing hide and seek, When Ella goes missing. But who has taken little Ella and why?
May 3, 2016
While My Eyes Were Closed is an interesting and slightly different take on the plethora of missing child books there are around – in that it is very focused on cause and effect, on the fallout to the family, on the wider aspects rather than on “whodunnit” – I found this refreshing especially as Linda Green managed to make it thought provoking and interesting throughout.
It is a fast read in that you really want to keep going to find out what ultimately happens – this is more character study and social intricacy than it is thriller, although there is the edge of the seat aspect in waiting to discover how things will pan out. As such its a bit of a page turner, most of my fascination was with the abductor in this case and the fact that we get to see things from their point of view, even have the chance to sympathise with them despite their actions, made it an excellent read for me.
The vagaries of Social Media play a part, the anguish of the family, the way they are viewed and taken apart by people who know nothing about them beyond the media portrayal, this was cleverly done with an authentic turn. The author still manages to weave a twisty tale throwing in unexpected developments along the way, characters are well drawn and the writing is engaging and pacy.
Good read. Recommended for those who like their psychological thrillers to have more than a “by the numbers” feel, a fairly decent attempt to take it above and beyond. Will look forward to more from Linda Green.
It is a fast read in that you really want to keep going to find out what ultimately happens – this is more character study and social intricacy than it is thriller, although there is the edge of the seat aspect in waiting to discover how things will pan out. As such its a bit of a page turner, most of my fascination was with the abductor in this case and the fact that we get to see things from their point of view, even have the chance to sympathise with them despite their actions, made it an excellent read for me.
The vagaries of Social Media play a part, the anguish of the family, the way they are viewed and taken apart by people who know nothing about them beyond the media portrayal, this was cleverly done with an authentic turn. The author still manages to weave a twisty tale throwing in unexpected developments along the way, characters are well drawn and the writing is engaging and pacy.
Good read. Recommended for those who like their psychological thrillers to have more than a “by the numbers” feel, a fairly decent attempt to take it above and beyond. Will look forward to more from Linda Green.
March 30, 2024
I love a good psychological thriller – a book that has you so drawn in you resent having to put it down for even a second. This isn't it, despite the promise of a “vivid and unnerving story about the terrifying knife-edges of motherhood”......to explain:
Lisa, mother of three young children, fitness trainer at a local gym, is playing hide and seek in the park with her youngest child, four year old Ella. Ella disappears. This is not a spoiler, it's stated on the back cover. The search begins when Lisa realises Ella isn't just hiding, but has actually gone.
Shift the scene to a creepy old Muriel who lives up the road. Surprise, surprise, Muriel lures Ella home....but why?
In this book we have a predictable plot as thin as tissue paper, stilted dialogue and narrative with so much detail it's painful to read. Why can't editors advise writers that throwing so many words onto each page is not only unnecessary, but tiresome? I just couldn't warm to any of the characters, and as a mother myself, I should have been able to feel sympathy for Lisa, instead of which I was irritated by her. It's written in the present tense which, for me, just doesn't work in this particular book, and at just over 400 pages it's a good 150 pages too long.
Once more I'm let down by a book that fails to live up to it's promise of a nail-biting thriller; it has failed my 1/3rd rule which means if I'm not hooked by then I won't read any further.
Save your nails for a better book.
My thanks to Amazon (Vine) who sent me this specifically to review; but for you I would have found something more exciting to do with the last two days............unpacking my rucksack after several months in Vietnam, for instance.
Lisa, mother of three young children, fitness trainer at a local gym, is playing hide and seek in the park with her youngest child, four year old Ella. Ella disappears. This is not a spoiler, it's stated on the back cover. The search begins when Lisa realises Ella isn't just hiding, but has actually gone.
Shift the scene to a creepy old Muriel who lives up the road. Surprise, surprise, Muriel lures Ella home....but why?
In this book we have a predictable plot as thin as tissue paper, stilted dialogue and narrative with so much detail it's painful to read. Why can't editors advise writers that throwing so many words onto each page is not only unnecessary, but tiresome? I just couldn't warm to any of the characters, and as a mother myself, I should have been able to feel sympathy for Lisa, instead of which I was irritated by her. It's written in the present tense which, for me, just doesn't work in this particular book, and at just over 400 pages it's a good 150 pages too long.
Once more I'm let down by a book that fails to live up to it's promise of a nail-biting thriller; it has failed my 1/3rd rule which means if I'm not hooked by then I won't read any further.
Save your nails for a better book.
My thanks to Amazon (Vine) who sent me this specifically to review; but for you I would have found something more exciting to do with the last two days............unpacking my rucksack after several months in Vietnam, for instance.
May 18, 2017
#LindaGreen #IkTelTotTien (WhileMyEyesWereClosed)
Ik tel tot tien.......wie niet weg is is gezien........maar gezien wordt haar kind niet meer.......spoorloos verdwenen.......op klaarlichte dag......van het één op het andere moment......de nachtmerrie van iedere ouder dan wel niet ouder.....
Dit is het verhaal van Ik tel tot tien, van de Engelse auteur Linda Green. Een auteur die toch al een redelijke tijd schrijft, maar bij ons in thrillerland (voor zover mij bekend) een nieuwe naam.
Het kan niet anders dan dat dit boek haar grote doorbraak gaat worden! Ik tel tot tien is een geweldig geschreven boek! Een boek waarvan je zelf hoopt dat het je nooit zal overkomen! De verdwijning van je kind. Hoewel al heel snel duidelijk is wat er met het kind gebeurd is, blijf je toch heel erg geboeid met dit ontzettend goede boek.
Een boek dat enorm de nieuwsgierigheid wekt wat er allemaal nog staat te gebeuren en naar het einde toe steeds spannender wordt. En toch even allemaal anders in elkaar zit dan dat je zou denken. Ik weet zeker dat de auteur bij velen geliefd zal zijn nadat men dit boek gelezen heeft en dat men net als ik uitkijkt naar een volgende Linda Green!
★★★★½
Ik tel tot tien.......wie niet weg is is gezien........maar gezien wordt haar kind niet meer.......spoorloos verdwenen.......op klaarlichte dag......van het één op het andere moment......de nachtmerrie van iedere ouder dan wel niet ouder.....
Dit is het verhaal van Ik tel tot tien, van de Engelse auteur Linda Green. Een auteur die toch al een redelijke tijd schrijft, maar bij ons in thrillerland (voor zover mij bekend) een nieuwe naam.
Het kan niet anders dan dat dit boek haar grote doorbraak gaat worden! Ik tel tot tien is een geweldig geschreven boek! Een boek waarvan je zelf hoopt dat het je nooit zal overkomen! De verdwijning van je kind. Hoewel al heel snel duidelijk is wat er met het kind gebeurd is, blijf je toch heel erg geboeid met dit ontzettend goede boek.
Een boek dat enorm de nieuwsgierigheid wekt wat er allemaal nog staat te gebeuren en naar het einde toe steeds spannender wordt. En toch even allemaal anders in elkaar zit dan dat je zou denken. Ik weet zeker dat de auteur bij velen geliefd zal zijn nadat men dit boek gelezen heeft en dat men net als ik uitkijkt naar een volgende Linda Green!
★★★★½
June 14, 2017
Oehhh... Is Linda Green een vrouwelijke Beckett? Het begin deed me denken aan een softere vorm van de David Hunter-reeks van Beckett :).
"Je lichaam beseft eerder dan je hersenen dat je je kind kwijt bent. De lichamelijke navelstreng knapt. [...]"
Helaas was dit samen met de laatste 30 pagina's het enige spannende aan dit boek. Ik kan dit niet onder een thriller scharen. Het is interessant, maar niet spannend. Ook de onderhuidse spanning heb ik niet gevoeld, behalve bij de laatste 30 pagina's.
Wél was er een constante nieuwsgierigheid: Wat is er voorgevallen tussen Lisa en Chloe? Wat heeft Matthew met dit verhaal te maken? Wat is er gebeurd dat Muriel zo'n gestoorde geest heeft?
Het verhaal verloopt traag en laat stukje bij beetje meer van het verhaal los, waardoor de puzzelstukjes langzaam op hun plaats vallen. De schrijfstijl is wel uitnodigend en het boek leest dan ook als een trein weg. Ik wilde er gister aan beginnen, maar plotselinge visite gooide roet in het eten, dus begon er vanmiddag pas aan. Ergens op de avond was-ie alweer uit.
Ik had persoonlijk erg moeite met de stukken die vanuit Muriel geschreven waren. Raar gestoord mens. Ik kon er gewoon geen sympathie voor opbrengen en had op die momenten een paar keer de neiging om het boek weg te leggen. Toch ben ik blij dat ik ben doorgegaan, want wanneer de puzzelstukjes eindelijk naar hun plekje schuiven, krijgt al het voorgaande ineens betekenis. Toch vind ik het jammer dat de verhaallijn van Muriel niet helemaal volledig is uitgewerkt. Ik heb het idee dat het nog niet helemaal af is, dat er nog één puzzelstukje mist...
Het laatste hoofdstuk vond ik erg sterk en laat me een halve ster meer geven. Hierdoor kom ik uit op 3,5*
"Je lichaam beseft eerder dan je hersenen dat je je kind kwijt bent. De lichamelijke navelstreng knapt. [...]"
Helaas was dit samen met de laatste 30 pagina's het enige spannende aan dit boek. Ik kan dit niet onder een thriller scharen. Het is interessant, maar niet spannend. Ook de onderhuidse spanning heb ik niet gevoeld, behalve bij de laatste 30 pagina's.
Wél was er een constante nieuwsgierigheid: Wat is er voorgevallen tussen Lisa en Chloe? Wat heeft Matthew met dit verhaal te maken? Wat is er gebeurd dat Muriel zo'n gestoorde geest heeft?
Het verhaal verloopt traag en laat stukje bij beetje meer van het verhaal los, waardoor de puzzelstukjes langzaam op hun plaats vallen. De schrijfstijl is wel uitnodigend en het boek leest dan ook als een trein weg. Ik wilde er gister aan beginnen, maar plotselinge visite gooide roet in het eten, dus begon er vanmiddag pas aan. Ergens op de avond was-ie alweer uit.
Ik had persoonlijk erg moeite met de stukken die vanuit Muriel geschreven waren. Raar gestoord mens. Ik kon er gewoon geen sympathie voor opbrengen en had op die momenten een paar keer de neiging om het boek weg te leggen. Toch ben ik blij dat ik ben doorgegaan, want wanneer de puzzelstukjes eindelijk naar hun plekje schuiven, krijgt al het voorgaande ineens betekenis. Toch vind ik het jammer dat de verhaallijn van Muriel niet helemaal volledig is uitgewerkt. Ik heb het idee dat het nog niet helemaal af is, dat er nog één puzzelstukje mist...
Het laatste hoofdstuk vond ik erg sterk en laat me een halve ster meer geven. Hierdoor kom ik uit op 3,5*
February 20, 2020
OMG THIS BOOK WAS SUCH A PLEASANT SURPRISE!
This book started off as a pretty average run of the mill 'missing children thriller'. I think a lot of people might DNF because its not the most gripping psychological thriller from the start.
But oh my this book turns into something wonderful.
I think this is the kind of thriller I like the most. The typical plot, that's been done a lot before, nothing too crazy or ambitious but instead has some really interesting characters and meaningful messages.
This book made me very sad. Like painfully sad in parts. I know that isn't the reaction that most people want from a thriller but honestly I think the underlying messages in this book were beautiful and so well done.
There was one twist towards the ending that I physically gasped out loud at. I've never had a physical reaction to a book like that before. It wasn't even the biggest twist but it completely caught me off guard.
There were lots of other moments well I could feel myself clenching up. The ending for me just made this book. So many thrillers I read I get disappointed by the endings but this one was just perfect. Although open ended, maybe an epilogue would have been good?
Even though I could see where this book was going and its quite clear from the start, this book really hit me hard and I feel like its going to be one that sticks in my memory for a very long time
TW: suicide
This book started off as a pretty average run of the mill 'missing children thriller'. I think a lot of people might DNF because its not the most gripping psychological thriller from the start.
But oh my this book turns into something wonderful.
I think this is the kind of thriller I like the most. The typical plot, that's been done a lot before, nothing too crazy or ambitious but instead has some really interesting characters and meaningful messages.
This book made me very sad. Like painfully sad in parts. I know that isn't the reaction that most people want from a thriller but honestly I think the underlying messages in this book were beautiful and so well done.
There was one twist towards the ending that I physically gasped out loud at. I've never had a physical reaction to a book like that before. It wasn't even the biggest twist but it completely caught me off guard.
There were lots of other moments well I could feel myself clenching up. The ending for me just made this book. So many thrillers I read I get disappointed by the endings but this one was just perfect. Although open ended, maybe an epilogue would have been good?
Even though I could see where this book was going and its quite clear from the start, this book really hit me hard and I feel like its going to be one that sticks in my memory for a very long time
TW: suicide
March 4, 2019
Heart wrenching with a good ending 😊
May 13, 2016
Lisa Dale and Ella her three four year old daughter are enjoying an afternoon in the park. Ella wanting firstly, to show how she can climb to the top of the big slide on her own and secondly, to prolong the trip by playing her favourite game of hide and seek.
Lisa, like many mums is juggling a working life with that of being a mum. Linda Green with very little text gives an inkling as to why Lisa is so driven to do well for herself and provide for her family. Growing up on the wrong side of town, always feeling she needs to prove herself appears to be the driver behind her need to excel. She gives two hundred percent to her job, sadly at the expense of spending lots of time with her daughter. The guilt has her agreeing to just one more game, a decision she lives to regret. Whilst taking a work call her daughter disappears.
So begins the worst nightmare of every mothers life.
Linda Green has written a book that will make you think. Can there ever be a reason to kidnap a child? In this case, apparently so. Her abductor took her to save her, thinking Ella would be better cared for than with her own family. After all - what sort of mother chats on the phone whilst someone calming walks out of the park with their child - an unfit one that's what!!
I never thought I would feel pity and empathy for someone who abducted a child. But, I do now! Linda Green showed that there is always two sides to every story. Normally we only get to see or hear about the anguish of the family who have lost a child but this time we get to hear from the abductor too. There's always a reason, it doesn't make it right, but there is always a reason behind everything we think and do in life.
In While My Eyes Were Closed, Linda Green has proven there is no love like the love a parent feels for their child, it really is quite unique. Most of us have said or thought we'd do anything to protect our children and throughout this book that premise over and over again by several characters, not just Ella's mum Lisa. When a mother loses a child in any circumstances, grief and emotions run high. They can cause people to act and behave in ways which are totally irrational and unthinkable in normal circumstances.
As the story switched back and forth between the kidnapper and Ella's family with the police in the middle, Linda Green gives a really perceptive insight into the tensions and emotions from both sides. My inner voice firstly berated, then felt pity and sadness for both sides, alternatively throughout the whole novel.
I feel it's wrong to say I loved this book because as a mother the storyline is just unthinkable - only in my worst nightmare. But, I did, I loved this book. Because of Linda Green and her writing style. She presented the facts without over dramatising or filling the pages with too much unnecessary detail in a balanced way that was more thought provoking than any book I've read for quite a while.
I fully engaged with all the characters and by the end of the book I wanted the best outcome for everyone. Even the suspects. Some crimes are never spent and the lives of those people trying to forge new beginnings can be almost impossible. Sadly, we all form opinions and judge and we're not always right to do this.
I highly recommend this book and have personally recommended it to so many of my friends already. I personally can't wait for my next read by Linda Green.
Lisa, like many mums is juggling a working life with that of being a mum. Linda Green with very little text gives an inkling as to why Lisa is so driven to do well for herself and provide for her family. Growing up on the wrong side of town, always feeling she needs to prove herself appears to be the driver behind her need to excel. She gives two hundred percent to her job, sadly at the expense of spending lots of time with her daughter. The guilt has her agreeing to just one more game, a decision she lives to regret. Whilst taking a work call her daughter disappears.
So begins the worst nightmare of every mothers life.
Linda Green has written a book that will make you think. Can there ever be a reason to kidnap a child? In this case, apparently so. Her abductor took her to save her, thinking Ella would be better cared for than with her own family. After all - what sort of mother chats on the phone whilst someone calming walks out of the park with their child - an unfit one that's what!!
I never thought I would feel pity and empathy for someone who abducted a child. But, I do now! Linda Green showed that there is always two sides to every story. Normally we only get to see or hear about the anguish of the family who have lost a child but this time we get to hear from the abductor too. There's always a reason, it doesn't make it right, but there is always a reason behind everything we think and do in life.
In While My Eyes Were Closed, Linda Green has proven there is no love like the love a parent feels for their child, it really is quite unique. Most of us have said or thought we'd do anything to protect our children and throughout this book that premise over and over again by several characters, not just Ella's mum Lisa. When a mother loses a child in any circumstances, grief and emotions run high. They can cause people to act and behave in ways which are totally irrational and unthinkable in normal circumstances.
As the story switched back and forth between the kidnapper and Ella's family with the police in the middle, Linda Green gives a really perceptive insight into the tensions and emotions from both sides. My inner voice firstly berated, then felt pity and sadness for both sides, alternatively throughout the whole novel.
I feel it's wrong to say I loved this book because as a mother the storyline is just unthinkable - only in my worst nightmare. But, I did, I loved this book. Because of Linda Green and her writing style. She presented the facts without over dramatising or filling the pages with too much unnecessary detail in a balanced way that was more thought provoking than any book I've read for quite a while.
I fully engaged with all the characters and by the end of the book I wanted the best outcome for everyone. Even the suspects. Some crimes are never spent and the lives of those people trying to forge new beginnings can be almost impossible. Sadly, we all form opinions and judge and we're not always right to do this.
I highly recommend this book and have personally recommended it to so many of my friends already. I personally can't wait for my next read by Linda Green.
March 28, 2016
A really gripping and uncomfortable story about a 4 year old girl being abducted whilst playing hide and seek with her mother in the park. Switching between the mothers story to the abductors point of view this book is a sad and thought provoking tale. I shall endeavour to pay more attention to my children from now on. 4 stars.
June 10, 2016
Psychological thrillers are the "in thing" at the moment - every author is giving it a go, some with more success than others, and Linda Green has made the switch, with the release of her new novel While My Eyes Were Closed. I got myself a copy from the library, and I was immediately gripped. This is one of those books where there's definitely two sides to the story, and even now I am still questioning how I felt about it all, because it wasn't necessarily black & white. There were shades of grey in there, and this wasn't exactly your run of the mill cut and dry child going missing story.
Here's the thing: what happened to Ella was wrong. Of course it was. You cannot do that, no matter what you think is right or wrong, or how you try and justify it. A child being taken from its mother is not in its best interests, unless the parent can't take care of her child, and that is not true for Lisa Dale. Lisa seemed like a great parent, along with Alex. She's got three kids, two with Alex, and they're a lovely family. BUT, I actually agreed with a lot of the reasons for why Ella was taken (although they were no justification, because actually Lisa wasn't on the phone when Ella disappeared, she had her eyes closed, counting, in a game of hide and seek). In this day and age, parents ARE more concerned with their mobile phones than their children, I see people every day ignoring their kids because their phone is more important, or sitting a kid down with a tablet because actually playing with your kid is a hard task (begging the question of why they had their child in the first place...). I could honestly talk for AGES about that, because I think it's so wrong to have a kid and then ignore it.
I loved seeing both sides to this story, because like I say, it's not just a random grab, Ella doesn't just vanish, with some sicko, although perhaps that depends on how much you like who takes her? For what it's worth - I thought they took good care of Ella. Totally wrong, but after what we learn, you can kinda see why it happened. You can see everything leading up to it, almost like a breaking point, and I don't necessarily think there was malicious intent, either. I think it was done with good thoughts, but it's obviously not something that can ever be right. It also made it so heartbreaking to see what Lisa, Alex, Otis and Chloe go through, because they didn't deserve it, so it really does leave you in a moral quandary, but it's written so well you feel for both sides.
While My Eyes Were Closed was perhaps not an edge-of-your-seat novel, because there's no surprise in who takes Ella, we're kept up to date with all the goings on there, but it is thrilling, because you're never sure what's going to happen next - will Ella be found? What will happen? There are plenty of questions, and one heck of a plot twist, that I actually didn't see coming. Although it brought the plots together even more, even though it was unwitting. Linda Green has hit it out of the park with While My Eyes Were Closed. I was glued to the book the entire time I was reading, and I can see why it was over 800 glowing reviews on Amazon, each one is very, very well deserved, this was a great read.
Here's the thing: what happened to Ella was wrong. Of course it was. You cannot do that, no matter what you think is right or wrong, or how you try and justify it. A child being taken from its mother is not in its best interests, unless the parent can't take care of her child, and that is not true for Lisa Dale. Lisa seemed like a great parent, along with Alex. She's got three kids, two with Alex, and they're a lovely family. BUT, I actually agreed with a lot of the reasons for why Ella was taken (although they were no justification, because actually Lisa wasn't on the phone when Ella disappeared, she had her eyes closed, counting, in a game of hide and seek). In this day and age, parents ARE more concerned with their mobile phones than their children, I see people every day ignoring their kids because their phone is more important, or sitting a kid down with a tablet because actually playing with your kid is a hard task (begging the question of why they had their child in the first place...). I could honestly talk for AGES about that, because I think it's so wrong to have a kid and then ignore it.
I loved seeing both sides to this story, because like I say, it's not just a random grab, Ella doesn't just vanish, with some sicko, although perhaps that depends on how much you like who takes her? For what it's worth - I thought they took good care of Ella. Totally wrong, but after what we learn, you can kinda see why it happened. You can see everything leading up to it, almost like a breaking point, and I don't necessarily think there was malicious intent, either. I think it was done with good thoughts, but it's obviously not something that can ever be right. It also made it so heartbreaking to see what Lisa, Alex, Otis and Chloe go through, because they didn't deserve it, so it really does leave you in a moral quandary, but it's written so well you feel for both sides.
While My Eyes Were Closed was perhaps not an edge-of-your-seat novel, because there's no surprise in who takes Ella, we're kept up to date with all the goings on there, but it is thrilling, because you're never sure what's going to happen next - will Ella be found? What will happen? There are plenty of questions, and one heck of a plot twist, that I actually didn't see coming. Although it brought the plots together even more, even though it was unwitting. Linda Green has hit it out of the park with While My Eyes Were Closed. I was glued to the book the entire time I was reading, and I can see why it was over 800 glowing reviews on Amazon, each one is very, very well deserved, this was a great read.
September 6, 2016
There appears to have been a flurry of missing child themed books in the last year or two; perhaps this is because of the renewed public interest in such real life cases.
Although this novel features some heavily cliched and overly exaggerated characters (chiefly, the harassed working mother who despite her good intentions, can appear too slapdash in her childcare, the elderly deluded spinster and the family support liaison officer who appears to do little else but make tea) this is an entirely readable story which is enjoyable enough without being too taxing on its readers.
Little Ella is about to start school when she is lured away from the playground by a familiar face. Cue lots of frantic searches and press conferences, the storyline is eerily familiar of such real life missing child cases in the UK. I thought the author did an adequate job of acclimatising her reader to the sheer terror of finding your precious offspring missing from a public place. Conversely, much of the book is taken up by the search process and little is dedicated to the conclusion. I felt another fifty or so pages would have concluded the story better.
It's not a psychological thriller by any means. Think more family orientated drama. This is not necessarily a critique, but more of a personal observation.
Although this novel features some heavily cliched and overly exaggerated characters (chiefly, the harassed working mother who despite her good intentions, can appear too slapdash in her childcare, the elderly deluded spinster and the family support liaison officer who appears to do little else but make tea) this is an entirely readable story which is enjoyable enough without being too taxing on its readers.
Little Ella is about to start school when she is lured away from the playground by a familiar face. Cue lots of frantic searches and press conferences, the storyline is eerily familiar of such real life missing child cases in the UK. I thought the author did an adequate job of acclimatising her reader to the sheer terror of finding your precious offspring missing from a public place. Conversely, much of the book is taken up by the search process and little is dedicated to the conclusion. I felt another fifty or so pages would have concluded the story better.
It's not a psychological thriller by any means. Think more family orientated drama. This is not necessarily a critique, but more of a personal observation.
November 22, 2016
Lisa plays hide and seek in the park with her 4 year old daughter, Ella. Whilst she is " counting to 100", her phone rings and she takes the call. When she finishes she can't find Ella. Oh another missing child book I hear you say. There does appear to be a plethera of them about. This one draws you in and is very well written. The characters come to life and are very believeable, even the perpitrator. This is one with a different type of kidnapper , written so that you can see how they are thinking and acting albeit in their own warped world. The twist is excellent and this kept me gripped to the end.
May 23, 2016
What starts as a trip to the park, turns into Lisa’s worst nightmare when Ella, her daughter goes missing during a game of hide and seek.
The following seven days sees the family devastated that the four year old could have been abducted by a local man who is known to be on the sex offenders register.
While in reality my thoughts would always be with the parents of a missing child, Greens novel had me in a quandary as to whose ‘side’ I was on.
How Linda Green placed herself in the mind of the abductor whilst writing this fabulous and emotionally charged novel is beyond me. But it is something she has done brilliantly, leading the reader on a journey that speaks from the viewpoint of the mother and the abductor.
This is a one – sit -read, it is also an horrifically realistic tale. For anyone who has had children and lost them for any length of time, this tale is going send shivers.
Magnificent.
The following seven days sees the family devastated that the four year old could have been abducted by a local man who is known to be on the sex offenders register.
While in reality my thoughts would always be with the parents of a missing child, Greens novel had me in a quandary as to whose ‘side’ I was on.
How Linda Green placed herself in the mind of the abductor whilst writing this fabulous and emotionally charged novel is beyond me. But it is something she has done brilliantly, leading the reader on a journey that speaks from the viewpoint of the mother and the abductor.
This is a one – sit -read, it is also an horrifically realistic tale. For anyone who has had children and lost them for any length of time, this tale is going send shivers.
Magnificent.
September 9, 2017
3.5 stars
This one had a slow start and I found it hard to follow to begin with because there were like, 10 characters introduced within the first 30 pages :/ but it definitely got better as it went along. Without giving anything away, Muriel's character was super creepy!! And I enjoyed the twist at the end - even though the whole book wasn't all that mysterious and unexpected; I really wasn't expecting that twist!
This one had a slow start and I found it hard to follow to begin with because there were like, 10 characters introduced within the first 30 pages :/ but it definitely got better as it went along. Without giving anything away, Muriel's character was super creepy!! And I enjoyed the twist at the end - even though the whole book wasn't all that mysterious and unexpected; I really wasn't expecting that twist!
February 17, 2016
Very disappointing. certainly not mail biting thrilling as mentioned in the synopsis
Finding out what's happened to Ella from the very start takes away any real tension. You know from the outset what the conclusion will be
Wouldn't recommend this at all
Finding out what's happened to Ella from the very start takes away any real tension. You know from the outset what the conclusion will be
Wouldn't recommend this at all
October 3, 2018
Blij verrast door dit boek! Na enkele recensies gelezen te hebben verwachtte ik een matig boek, maar eigenlijk vond ik dit boek echt goed!
Het is een beetje afhankelijk van hoe je dit boek ingaat. Het is namelijk niet echt een thriller. Het heeft eerder wat weg van een psychologische thriller.
Je leest in dit boek over Lisa. Lisa is samen met haar dochter Ella in het park. Na een potje verstoppertje blijkt dat Ella zich wel erg goed kan verstoppen. Ze is spoorloos, verdwenen. En niemand vind ook maar enig spoor.
Het verhaal wordt verteld vanuit 3 standpunten; de moeder van Ella (Lisa), de ontvoerder en de zoon van de ontvoerder. Wat deze laatste met het verhaal te maken heeft is in het begin geheel onduidelijk, maar doorheen het verhaal kom je daar steeds meer over te weten. Zijn rol is namelijk behoorlijk groot!
Ik vond het heel interessant om vanuit Lisa en haar familie te lezen. Wat doet zo’n ontvoering met je familie? Hoe enorm wordt je hierdoor beïnvloed? Ik vond de hoofdstukken met de ontvoerder ook interessant, maar ik vond het zo’n akelig mens! Dat was vast ook de bedoeling, maar mennn wat een geschift persoon!
Het is grootste deel van het boek niet heel spannend, het is meer wat onderhuidse spanning. Vandaar dat ik het ook niet echt een thriller vind. De laatste hoofdstukken zijn wel spannend daarentegen. Wel vond ik de ontknoping iets te vlot. Ik begrijp wel waarom Linda hier voor kiest, maar ik had 1 hoofdstukje extra wel prettig gevonden.
Al met al echt een goed boek, beter dan verwacht!
Het is een beetje afhankelijk van hoe je dit boek ingaat. Het is namelijk niet echt een thriller. Het heeft eerder wat weg van een psychologische thriller.
Je leest in dit boek over Lisa. Lisa is samen met haar dochter Ella in het park. Na een potje verstoppertje blijkt dat Ella zich wel erg goed kan verstoppen. Ze is spoorloos, verdwenen. En niemand vind ook maar enig spoor.
Het verhaal wordt verteld vanuit 3 standpunten; de moeder van Ella (Lisa), de ontvoerder en de zoon van de ontvoerder. Wat deze laatste met het verhaal te maken heeft is in het begin geheel onduidelijk, maar doorheen het verhaal kom je daar steeds meer over te weten. Zijn rol is namelijk behoorlijk groot!
Ik vond het heel interessant om vanuit Lisa en haar familie te lezen. Wat doet zo’n ontvoering met je familie? Hoe enorm wordt je hierdoor beïnvloed? Ik vond de hoofdstukken met de ontvoerder ook interessant, maar ik vond het zo’n akelig mens! Dat was vast ook de bedoeling, maar mennn wat een geschift persoon!
Het is grootste deel van het boek niet heel spannend, het is meer wat onderhuidse spanning. Vandaar dat ik het ook niet echt een thriller vind. De laatste hoofdstukken zijn wel spannend daarentegen. Wel vond ik de ontknoping iets te vlot. Ik begrijp wel waarom Linda hier voor kiest, maar ik had 1 hoofdstukje extra wel prettig gevonden.
Al met al echt een goed boek, beter dan verwacht!
June 11, 2017
Lisa speelt verstoppertje in het park met haar 4-jarige dochter Ella. Als Lisa haar ogen opent is Ella er niet meer. Een zoektocht door de politie begint. Maar dan blijkt het een ander soort thriller te zijn omdat je niet de zoektocht van de politie leest maar als het ware bij de familie blijft. Je voelt de paniek en wanhoop van de familie van Ella en dit vond ik heel sterk geschreven. Al heel snel na de verdwijning lees je wie Ella mee heeft genomen uit het park en waarom. Hier moest ik echt even aan wennen en ik dacht wel vaker "vind ik het eigenlijk wel leuk nu we weten wie Ella mee heeft genomen?". Je leest dan over de geesteszieke Muriel, de pianomevrouw van Ella's broertje, die Ella meenam uit het park en ervan overtuigd is dat Ella's moeder een vreselijk slechte moeder is van de huidige tijd. Het verhaal gaat dan over of Muriel het kind teruggeeft aan de ouders of niet. En waarom ze zo geestesziek is geworden. Deze thriller is in dat opzicht anders omdat het er niet om gaat wie het heeft gedaan en wat er is gebeurd, maar of het kind terug komt bij haar ouders. Het blijft tot het laatste moment boeien en de auteur weet nog enige sympathie voor de dader op te wekken ook. Is het een thriller? Nou, een beetje, maar absoluut geen bloedstollende. Toch een heel sterk geschreven verhaal waarvoor ik vier sterren geef.
February 17, 2019
Oh my goodness, this is every mothers nightmare!
Imagine you take your little girl to the park to play, she is only 4 years old, and her favourite thing to do while you are there is to play Hide-and-Seek.
You are the person hiding, and she finds you, but wants one more go so that she gets to hide too, "just one more go Mummy, don't forget to count to 100, and make sure you close your eyes!"
One...
Two....
....
.....
One Hundred......................................
Only you can't find her, even when you shout that she is the winner....
And all of your nightmares come true!
This book made me hold my breath for a lot of it as I know that feeling, you know that feeling when you turn around and they are not there, only to breathe out the big sigh of relief when they appear around the corner, but what happens when they don't?
Switching between the mothers story, and the point of view of the abductor, this cleverly written story had me on the edge of my seat for the whole time.
🎧🎧 - Fabulously narrated by Emma Gregory, Maggie Mash and Gareth Bennett-Ryan who did an excellent job. i got this in the Audible sale, but it is well worth spending a credit on.
Imagine you take your little girl to the park to play, she is only 4 years old, and her favourite thing to do while you are there is to play Hide-and-Seek.
You are the person hiding, and she finds you, but wants one more go so that she gets to hide too, "just one more go Mummy, don't forget to count to 100, and make sure you close your eyes!"
One...
Two....
....
.....
One Hundred......................................
Only you can't find her, even when you shout that she is the winner....
And all of your nightmares come true!
This book made me hold my breath for a lot of it as I know that feeling, you know that feeling when you turn around and they are not there, only to breathe out the big sigh of relief when they appear around the corner, but what happens when they don't?
Switching between the mothers story, and the point of view of the abductor, this cleverly written story had me on the edge of my seat for the whole time.
🎧🎧 - Fabulously narrated by Emma Gregory, Maggie Mash and Gareth Bennett-Ryan who did an excellent job. i got this in the Audible sale, but it is well worth spending a credit on.
May 14, 2018
3,5 ster. Ik had meer spanning verwacht. Eigenlijk vond ik alleen het begin en het eind echt boeiend. Tussendoor kom je steeds meer te weten en valt alles op z’n plek maar ik vond het erg langzaam gaan.
Al met al wel een goede schrijfstijl en goed verhaal. Als je spanning verwacht dan raad ik het boek niet aan.
Al met al wel een goede schrijfstijl en goed verhaal. Als je spanning verwacht dan raad ik het boek niet aan.
March 17, 2018
Baš mi je držala pažnju i brzo ju pročitala. Sve bi bilo super samo da taj rasplet i kraj nije toliko BEZVEZE...
Ubila me tim nerealnim činom. Šteta!! mehhh
Ubila me tim nerealnim činom. Šteta!! mehhh
May 14, 2016
4.5 stars.
While My Eyes Were Closed felt like a very different take on story lines to do with a child going missing.
Lisa, Ella's mother, surprisingly is quite strong throughout the time her daughter is missing. She has a few break downs but mainly her and her husband handle the whole situation a lot better than I think I ever could. The couple obviously have a very strong relationship and are certainly very united.
I think having her daughter go missing makes Lisa totally re evaluate her whole life. She is a working mum who, even though missed out on special moments in her children's life, isn't one to beat herself up over it, that is until Ella goes missing and she realises the significance of all the things in the future she could miss out on as well as what she already has.
Ella I absolutely loved, she is your typical inquisitive child, full of sweetness and innocence. I could quite easily picture her in my head and made me think back to what my children were like at that age.
The story itself flicks between three characters. Even though I worked part of it out before it was presented it to me, it didn't spoil the story what so ever. It's hard to go into much more detail without fear of spoiling it for others, so I won't.
I have to say I really enjoyed this novel and I enjoyed how it all panned out at the end. The very last page that the author has written in the book hit me quite hard. I literally burst into tears as I found it very emotional. It actually left me very melancholy for the rest of the afternoon and have to say it's not very often that a few paragraphs have ever made such an impact on me.
Highly recommended.
While My Eyes Were Closed felt like a very different take on story lines to do with a child going missing.
Lisa, Ella's mother, surprisingly is quite strong throughout the time her daughter is missing. She has a few break downs but mainly her and her husband handle the whole situation a lot better than I think I ever could. The couple obviously have a very strong relationship and are certainly very united.
I think having her daughter go missing makes Lisa totally re evaluate her whole life. She is a working mum who, even though missed out on special moments in her children's life, isn't one to beat herself up over it, that is until Ella goes missing and she realises the significance of all the things in the future she could miss out on as well as what she already has.
Ella I absolutely loved, she is your typical inquisitive child, full of sweetness and innocence. I could quite easily picture her in my head and made me think back to what my children were like at that age.
The story itself flicks between three characters. Even though I worked part of it out before it was presented it to me, it didn't spoil the story what so ever. It's hard to go into much more detail without fear of spoiling it for others, so I won't.
I have to say I really enjoyed this novel and I enjoyed how it all panned out at the end. The very last page that the author has written in the book hit me quite hard. I literally burst into tears as I found it very emotional. It actually left me very melancholy for the rest of the afternoon and have to say it's not very often that a few paragraphs have ever made such an impact on me.
Highly recommended.
May 1, 2019
Dit boek leek mij een super spannende thriller. Een kind verdwijnt tijdens een spelletje verstoppertje spelen. Wel een kleine opmerking, Lisa en Ella tellen altijd tot honderd in plaats van tot tien, maar ik snap ook wel dat dat minder mooi is als titel, haha. Als lezer weet je al snel wat er met Ella is gebeurd. Dat maakt het verhaal iets minder spannend, maar wat je niet weet, is of Ella wel weer terug kan naar haar ouders.
Lisa voelt zich heel erg schuldig dat Ella verdwenen is. Ze voelt zich een slechte moeder. De hele familie is aangedaan door het voorval. Zelfs de oudste dochter van Lisa komt terug van vakantie, omdat haar zusje verdwenen is.
Naarmate het verhaal vordert, wordt de ontvoerder steeds gekker en kom je als lezer steeds meer puzzelstukjes te weten. Hoe dichter je bij het einde komt, hoe spannender het verhaal wordt. Het is niet zo dat er per se spannende gebeurtenissen zijn, maar het verhaal is psychologisch spannend. Het zet je aan het denken.
Eerlijk gezegd had ik meer van dit boek verwacht, maar ik vond het toch wel een goed boek. Je moet geen 5 sterren topper verwachten, maar het is wel een fijne thriller voor tussendoor!
Lisa voelt zich heel erg schuldig dat Ella verdwenen is. Ze voelt zich een slechte moeder. De hele familie is aangedaan door het voorval. Zelfs de oudste dochter van Lisa komt terug van vakantie, omdat haar zusje verdwenen is.
Naarmate het verhaal vordert, wordt de ontvoerder steeds gekker en kom je als lezer steeds meer puzzelstukjes te weten. Hoe dichter je bij het einde komt, hoe spannender het verhaal wordt. Het is niet zo dat er per se spannende gebeurtenissen zijn, maar het verhaal is psychologisch spannend. Het zet je aan het denken.
Eerlijk gezegd had ik meer van dit boek verwacht, maar ik vond het toch wel een goed boek. Je moet geen 5 sterren topper verwachten, maar het is wel een fijne thriller voor tussendoor!
March 5, 2016
Outstanding book
Good God what a book and more so what a author.Gripping writing totally believable , a heart wrenching story , brilliant plot and I can't wait to read more from this author , linda green you were born to write !
Good God what a book and more so what a author.Gripping writing totally believable , a heart wrenching story , brilliant plot and I can't wait to read more from this author , linda green you were born to write !
January 21, 2018
Good read but way too many „like“‘s in the writing. Very annoying. Otherwise good story.
October 9, 2019
Boek snel uitgelezen. Maar moet zeggen dat ik het niet heel erg spannend vond worden. Het einde was ook behoorlijk simpel. Dus twijfel beetje tussen 2,5*/3*....
March 20, 2021
Oh wow, wow, wow!
I do love an audiobook but this particular one has to be the book I have listened to in the shortest amount of time, favouring it over books I could read, rather than listen to, just because I was so eager to find out what would happen next.
Ella is going to be going to school for the very first time soon, only sadly she doesn't make it. A game of hide and seek in the park ends in devastating consequences, which upends the Dale's family life, for older half sister Chloe, for brother Otis, and marks the beginning of a parental nightmare for Alex and Lisa. But it isn't just the nuclear family that are affected, Ella's grandparents and her uncle are grief stricken too. Suspicion lands on anyone with a criminal record and anyone linked to abduction and sexual abuse cases. Because it has to be a monster who has taken Ella doesn't it?
Told from two distinct voices, this is a tale of one side versus the other, with some genuinely shocking relevations that held me in absolute reading thrall. The narration, and there are three narrators, is superb, and I found myself hearing the different voices even when I wasn't listening to the book!
A truly brilliant, well crafted domestic thriller with bits of police procedure, exploring a mother's love, the enormity of grief and loss and the personal dilemma of hanging on or letting go. I found it heart breaking, sensitive, chilling, and so very, very readable.
While My Eyes Were Closed it not what you think it is at all!
I do love an audiobook but this particular one has to be the book I have listened to in the shortest amount of time, favouring it over books I could read, rather than listen to, just because I was so eager to find out what would happen next.
Ella is going to be going to school for the very first time soon, only sadly she doesn't make it. A game of hide and seek in the park ends in devastating consequences, which upends the Dale's family life, for older half sister Chloe, for brother Otis, and marks the beginning of a parental nightmare for Alex and Lisa. But it isn't just the nuclear family that are affected, Ella's grandparents and her uncle are grief stricken too. Suspicion lands on anyone with a criminal record and anyone linked to abduction and sexual abuse cases. Because it has to be a monster who has taken Ella doesn't it?
Told from two distinct voices, this is a tale of one side versus the other, with some genuinely shocking relevations that held me in absolute reading thrall. The narration, and there are three narrators, is superb, and I found myself hearing the different voices even when I wasn't listening to the book!
A truly brilliant, well crafted domestic thriller with bits of police procedure, exploring a mother's love, the enormity of grief and loss and the personal dilemma of hanging on or letting go. I found it heart breaking, sensitive, chilling, and so very, very readable.
While My Eyes Were Closed it not what you think it is at all!
February 3, 2018
This book features what must be every single parent's worst nightmare - turning on back just for a moment and your child has disappeared. For Lisa Dale that is exactly what happens and the book focuses on how she and her family cope in the aftermath of four year old Ella not being found during a game of Hide and Seek.
What we get as readers though is also chapters from the person who has taken Ella, which as the story proceeds becomes slightly disturbing. They have in their own mind valid reasons for having walked out of a park with someone else's child, and not owning up to the police when they realise how far its gone.
Due to being able to see what was going on from all sides, meant I found the book easy to follow, but apart from one "oh that's how it fits together" moments, nothing seemed to surprise, and it didn't really get under my skin the way psychological drama books tend to normally.
I did though find it a fabulous look at the emotions on both sides of this, and also seeing how Ella was adapting to the situation. It is clear there is a lot of family love in this book, although at times perhaps the characters were too loving.
If I had children, the odds are I would have been far more affected by the story. As it is I was interested in what was going on, I hoped that the child would be ok, but I didn't feel the compulsion to keep reading the whole time, which is what I want from books of this genre.
Still this was the author's first book writing in a slightly dark genre and its a very good book, and I having already read After I've Gone, I know its a groove she is just starting to form, and I am looking forward to seeing more from the author, as I used to love her women's fiction books too.
What we get as readers though is also chapters from the person who has taken Ella, which as the story proceeds becomes slightly disturbing. They have in their own mind valid reasons for having walked out of a park with someone else's child, and not owning up to the police when they realise how far its gone.
Due to being able to see what was going on from all sides, meant I found the book easy to follow, but apart from one "oh that's how it fits together" moments, nothing seemed to surprise, and it didn't really get under my skin the way psychological drama books tend to normally.
I did though find it a fabulous look at the emotions on both sides of this, and also seeing how Ella was adapting to the situation. It is clear there is a lot of family love in this book, although at times perhaps the characters were too loving.
If I had children, the odds are I would have been far more affected by the story. As it is I was interested in what was going on, I hoped that the child would be ok, but I didn't feel the compulsion to keep reading the whole time, which is what I want from books of this genre.
Still this was the author's first book writing in a slightly dark genre and its a very good book, and I having already read After I've Gone, I know its a groove she is just starting to form, and I am looking forward to seeing more from the author, as I used to love her women's fiction books too.
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