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The Visitor
Everyone has a secret in their past.
Everyone pretends to be something they’re not.
But someone is always watching… and that someone is closer than you think.
Holly returns to her home town after some time away – she has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover, and to plan the rest of her life. She finds a room in a quiet and leafy suburban street, in the home of Cora Barrett.
David lives next door to Cora Barrett and he sees everything that happens on Baker Crescent. David stays at home, and he watches: he likes to feel safe and he doesn’t like to leave the house. He wants to keep his friends and neighbours safe too. So he observes them, and he records every tiny detail of their lives, just in case the information is ever needed.
Both lonely and vulnerable, Holly and David gradually begin to strike up a friendship. But Holly can’t shake the feeling that someone from her past might have tracked her down. And David is always watching… But uncovering the secret that could save his new friend and neighbour could be the one thing that destroys him.
Everyone pretends to be something they’re not.
But someone is always watching… and that someone is closer than you think.
Holly returns to her home town after some time away – she has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover, and to plan the rest of her life. She finds a room in a quiet and leafy suburban street, in the home of Cora Barrett.
David lives next door to Cora Barrett and he sees everything that happens on Baker Crescent. David stays at home, and he watches: he likes to feel safe and he doesn’t like to leave the house. He wants to keep his friends and neighbours safe too. So he observes them, and he records every tiny detail of their lives, just in case the information is ever needed.
Both lonely and vulnerable, Holly and David gradually begin to strike up a friendship. But Holly can’t shake the feeling that someone from her past might have tracked her down. And David is always watching… But uncovering the secret that could save his new friend and neighbour could be the one thing that destroys him.
330 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2018
3603 people are currently reading
3929 people want to read
About the author
K.L. Slater
45 books4,697 followersKim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
March 25, 2018
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️
A new, delightfully creepy thriller from K.L. Slater
Life hasn’t exactly been a smooth road for Holly. Running away from what was left of her family, searching for a better life. Problem is, she’s running smack into more trouble than she could have ever imagined.
But right now, she’s simply hoping for the chance to put everything behind her and lead a normal life. A chance meeting with sweet, elderly Cora gives her the opportunity she’d been looking for. Cora has kindly extended a helping hand, inviting Holly into her life and into her home.
David lives in his mother’s home directly next door to Cora. He keeps a close, albeit creepy eye on the neighborhood from his bedroom window with his binoculars. And oh goody… he’s just spotted Cora’s new house-guest.
David makes it his mission to befriend Holly. But given rumors and whispers of a deep, dark past, everyone is becoming concerned with David’s intentions. And of course worried for Holly. No one wants to see the past repeated.
This book reads super-fast, is easy to lose yourself, and will have you constantly guessing what past secrets everyone is hiding.
Unfortunately the ending just didn’t...well, you know where I’m going! 😩
A Traveling Sister read with Brenda, Susanne and Sarah! 🤗
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.
A new, delightfully creepy thriller from K.L. Slater
Life hasn’t exactly been a smooth road for Holly. Running away from what was left of her family, searching for a better life. Problem is, she’s running smack into more trouble than she could have ever imagined.
But right now, she’s simply hoping for the chance to put everything behind her and lead a normal life. A chance meeting with sweet, elderly Cora gives her the opportunity she’d been looking for. Cora has kindly extended a helping hand, inviting Holly into her life and into her home.
David lives in his mother’s home directly next door to Cora. He keeps a close, albeit creepy eye on the neighborhood from his bedroom window with his binoculars. And oh goody… he’s just spotted Cora’s new house-guest.
David makes it his mission to befriend Holly. But given rumors and whispers of a deep, dark past, everyone is becoming concerned with David’s intentions. And of course worried for Holly. No one wants to see the past repeated.
This book reads super-fast, is easy to lose yourself, and will have you constantly guessing what past secrets everyone is hiding.
Unfortunately the ending just didn’t...well, you know where I’m going! 😩
A Traveling Sister read with Brenda, Susanne and Sarah! 🤗
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2018
3 Stars.
Holly is a woman with a past which haunts her. Now she returns to her home town with an agenda. Finding a place to live is easy. A woman named Cora takes her in. Little does Holly know, Cora has secrets too. David, Cora’s next door neighbor lives with his mother. He keeps tabs on everyone in the neighborhood. He even has cameras setup outside of his home (not that anyone knows that) and he also fills a notebook with everyone’s daily activities. It’s kind of like a neighborhood watch to the extreme. Over time, Holly and David become friendly. When both of their pasts catch up to them, they need each other’s help. And then, well, something wicked this way comes.
David is creepy and his actions kind of scare you, but then so do Holly’s. She is twisted and wholly unlikable. “The Visitor” by K.L. Slater was a well written mystery/suspense though I found it to be somewhat predictable, which was unfortunate. It was however a fast-paced, easy, enjoyable read.
This was a Traveling Sister read. For full group reviews, please see Brenda and Norma’s blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 3.24.18.
Holly is a woman with a past which haunts her. Now she returns to her home town with an agenda. Finding a place to live is easy. A woman named Cora takes her in. Little does Holly know, Cora has secrets too. David, Cora’s next door neighbor lives with his mother. He keeps tabs on everyone in the neighborhood. He even has cameras setup outside of his home (not that anyone knows that) and he also fills a notebook with everyone’s daily activities. It’s kind of like a neighborhood watch to the extreme. Over time, Holly and David become friendly. When both of their pasts catch up to them, they need each other’s help. And then, well, something wicked this way comes.
David is creepy and his actions kind of scare you, but then so do Holly’s. She is twisted and wholly unlikable. “The Visitor” by K.L. Slater was a well written mystery/suspense though I found it to be somewhat predictable, which was unfortunate. It was however a fast-paced, easy, enjoyable read.
This was a Traveling Sister read. For full group reviews, please see Brenda and Norma’s blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 3.24.18.
March 4, 2018
4.25 Secret filled stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25
Holly is escaping from something, but what? David won’t go out at night, but why? Secrets, secrets, and even more secrets..... this was a character driven, slow burning, thrill of a book.....
Holly is running from her past, trying to start a new life, but her past is not done with her.... David is a grown man who likes routine and Rules... he also feels it is his duty to protect himself and the neighborhood.... he is vigilant and keeps constant surveillance....
Holly and David form an unlikely friendship.... Holly needs David to help her figure out who if anybody is watching her.... David is just grateful to have somebody treat him like a human being.... neither Holly or David were terribly likable or relatable, however that did not matter they were so well developed.... also and this is something I always love in books.... they both became much more likable and relatable as the book progressed... as secrets were revealed you became to understand them and their motivations....
The absolute beauty of this book was I thought we were going in a completely different direction then we ended up in.... and at the end I was quite surprised with the outcome.... this book did not put me on the edge of my seat... but I rapidly turned those pages to find out what secret was going to be revealed next..... well paced, because secrets were dropped throughout the book, keeping you wanting more....
Absolutely recommend if you enjoy a slower burning psychological thriller with very well-developed characters....
*** thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
Holly is escaping from something, but what? David won’t go out at night, but why? Secrets, secrets, and even more secrets..... this was a character driven, slow burning, thrill of a book.....
Holly is running from her past, trying to start a new life, but her past is not done with her.... David is a grown man who likes routine and Rules... he also feels it is his duty to protect himself and the neighborhood.... he is vigilant and keeps constant surveillance....
Holly and David form an unlikely friendship.... Holly needs David to help her figure out who if anybody is watching her.... David is just grateful to have somebody treat him like a human being.... neither Holly or David were terribly likable or relatable, however that did not matter they were so well developed.... also and this is something I always love in books.... they both became much more likable and relatable as the book progressed... as secrets were revealed you became to understand them and their motivations....
The absolute beauty of this book was I thought we were going in a completely different direction then we ended up in.... and at the end I was quite surprised with the outcome.... this book did not put me on the edge of my seat... but I rapidly turned those pages to find out what secret was going to be revealed next..... well paced, because secrets were dropped throughout the book, keeping you wanting more....
Absolutely recommend if you enjoy a slower burning psychological thriller with very well-developed characters....
*** thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
February 18, 2018
3.5 stars
"Everyone has a secret in their past."
Holly has returned to her hometown after being away for several years. When she was younger she ran away with a friend in hopes of starting a new life. After years away, Holly is back, and she rents a room from a lonely widow named Cora and quickly finds a job and has hopes of building a future.
Cora is happy to have Holly living with her. She is a widow and is lonely living by herself. She is happy to have someone to talk with and look after. Cora also has David, her next-door neighbor, who occasionally does the odd job for her. He is an adult man still living with his Mother. Since David was a child, Cora has always welcomed him over and baked for him and gave him odd jobs to do.
David is quiet observer of the neighborhood and knows almost everyone's comings and goings. David presents as socially awkward and odd. He likes to follow rules and does not like when his life is disrupted by his Mother's "friend" Brian moving in. His interest is piqued when he learns that his neighbor, Cora has taken in a young woman to live with her.
When Holly begins her new job, she quickly learns that her neighbor, David works there as well. Both are lonely and don't have many people to talk with, so they strike up a friendship. As Holly goes about her days, she begins to feel as if she is being watched - just who is that shadowy figure she has been seeing in the garden? What secrets does she harbor? What secrets do the other characters in this book have?
The Visitor is a psychological thriller that does have a twist or two. Initially I was not sure how I felt about this book. It is one that I wanted to sit and think about upon finishing the book. As I was able to think about the plot, I began to appreciate the Author's ability to "reveal" secrets and drop little bombs along the way.
I found this book to be a very fast read due to the pacing and events happening in most of the characters’ lives. I enjoy when characters have secrets and watching their secrets unfold is very interesting and adds to the suspense in this novel. This is not your typical "page turner" which is why I needed to sit and think about the story-line upon finishing the book. The action will not have you on the edge of your seat, and yet there is the mystery as to why Holly is back in town, what occurred while she was away, who (if anyone) is watching her and lastly what is her secret?
This is a book which sneaks up on the reader and taps one on the shoulder to let the reader know it is not down revealing its secrets yet. Just wait! There is more to come. I really enjoy when a book can surprise me. I thought I had this book figured out early on and after a couple of twists and turns realized, the Author had a couple of tricks up her sleeve!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
"Everyone has a secret in their past."
Holly has returned to her hometown after being away for several years. When she was younger she ran away with a friend in hopes of starting a new life. After years away, Holly is back, and she rents a room from a lonely widow named Cora and quickly finds a job and has hopes of building a future.
Cora is happy to have Holly living with her. She is a widow and is lonely living by herself. She is happy to have someone to talk with and look after. Cora also has David, her next-door neighbor, who occasionally does the odd job for her. He is an adult man still living with his Mother. Since David was a child, Cora has always welcomed him over and baked for him and gave him odd jobs to do.
David is quiet observer of the neighborhood and knows almost everyone's comings and goings. David presents as socially awkward and odd. He likes to follow rules and does not like when his life is disrupted by his Mother's "friend" Brian moving in. His interest is piqued when he learns that his neighbor, Cora has taken in a young woman to live with her.
When Holly begins her new job, she quickly learns that her neighbor, David works there as well. Both are lonely and don't have many people to talk with, so they strike up a friendship. As Holly goes about her days, she begins to feel as if she is being watched - just who is that shadowy figure she has been seeing in the garden? What secrets does she harbor? What secrets do the other characters in this book have?
The Visitor is a psychological thriller that does have a twist or two. Initially I was not sure how I felt about this book. It is one that I wanted to sit and think about upon finishing the book. As I was able to think about the plot, I began to appreciate the Author's ability to "reveal" secrets and drop little bombs along the way.
I found this book to be a very fast read due to the pacing and events happening in most of the characters’ lives. I enjoy when characters have secrets and watching their secrets unfold is very interesting and adds to the suspense in this novel. This is not your typical "page turner" which is why I needed to sit and think about the story-line upon finishing the book. The action will not have you on the edge of your seat, and yet there is the mystery as to why Holly is back in town, what occurred while she was away, who (if anyone) is watching her and lastly what is her secret?
This is a book which sneaks up on the reader and taps one on the shoulder to let the reader know it is not down revealing its secrets yet. Just wait! There is more to come. I really enjoy when a book can surprise me. I thought I had this book figured out early on and after a couple of twists and turns realized, the Author had a couple of tricks up her sleeve!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
March 1, 2018
The Visitor by K.L. Slater is a psychological thriller that once I began reading I found very hard to put down. Having read several other books by this author I was not at all surprised to find once again wonderful writing that pulled me right into the story.
The story starts off with introducing David who is a bit of a loner with a lot of issues still living with his mother at forty. Usually keeping himself shut away other than to go to his job at a local department store as a parking attendant David often thinks of himself as the keeper of his neighborhood spying from his bedroom window.
When David sees an unfamiliar woman wandering around the home next door belonging to his elderly neighbor he immediately becomes curious knowing Cora doesn’t have any grown children. Soon it becomes apparent that Cora has taken in a border in Holly who is running from her own secretive past.
The book is one that reads at a rather fast pace while changing the point of view mostly between Holly and David. You just know while going along that there are going to be plenty of secrets to come which of course keeps the pages turning quickly. As it goes along there are glimpses into the past to get to know the characters better but this flowed very easily with the current events.
Being one that reads a lot of thrillers I had my suspicions as usual as to the outcome of the story as I went along. I’m happy to say though while I guessed a detail or two the ending was one that came with quite a bit of excitement and of course an extra little twist or two to wrap it all up quite nicely. Definitely still a fan of K.L. Slater and will look forward to what she publishes next.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story starts off with introducing David who is a bit of a loner with a lot of issues still living with his mother at forty. Usually keeping himself shut away other than to go to his job at a local department store as a parking attendant David often thinks of himself as the keeper of his neighborhood spying from his bedroom window.
When David sees an unfamiliar woman wandering around the home next door belonging to his elderly neighbor he immediately becomes curious knowing Cora doesn’t have any grown children. Soon it becomes apparent that Cora has taken in a border in Holly who is running from her own secretive past.
The book is one that reads at a rather fast pace while changing the point of view mostly between Holly and David. You just know while going along that there are going to be plenty of secrets to come which of course keeps the pages turning quickly. As it goes along there are glimpses into the past to get to know the characters better but this flowed very easily with the current events.
Being one that reads a lot of thrillers I had my suspicions as usual as to the outcome of the story as I went along. I’m happy to say though while I guessed a detail or two the ending was one that came with quite a bit of excitement and of course an extra little twist or two to wrap it all up quite nicely. Definitely still a fan of K.L. Slater and will look forward to what she publishes next.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 7, 2018
EXCERPT: ...she was in no rush. She could wait.
When Holly was prepared to open up a bit and trust her with her personal history, then Cora would tell her the truth.
That was, the truth about what Harold was really like.
Not the other truth.
She didn’t intend telling anyone about that until she'd made up her mind exactly what to do.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Everyone has a secret in their past.
Everyone pretends to be something they’re not.
But someone is always watching… and that someone is closer than you think.
Holly returns to her home town after some time away – she has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover, and to plan the rest of her life. She finds a room in a quiet and leafy suburban street, in the home of Cora Barrett.
David lives next door to Cora Barrett and he sees everything that happens on Baker Crescent. David stays at home, and he watches: he likes to feel safe and he doesn’t like to leave the house. He wants to keep his friends and neighbours safe too. So he observes them, and he records every tiny detail of their lives, just in case the information is ever needed.
Both lonely and vulnerable, Holly and David gradually begin to strike up a friendship. But Holly can’t shake the feeling that someone from her past might have tracked her down. And David is always watching… But uncovering the secret that could save his new friend and neighbour could be the one thing that destroys him.
MY THOUGHTS: The Visitor by K.L. Slater had me sitting up until 1am doing the 'just one more chapter, then I'll go to sleep' routine. Once started, I couldn't bear to put it down. So be warned, if you plan on reading this, and you should, clear your diary.
This is a slow burner of a book, but from the start you can feel that something isn't right. My grandmother used to say 'I can feel it in my water', and I could. There are veiled references to what has happened in the past, and Slater slowly removes the veils one by one to reveal the truth. In fact, the dance of the seven veils is a wonderful parallel for The Visitor. It is a mesmerising read. It took over my mind so that I could think of little else but this cast of misfits, their secrets and machinations. Because none of them are what they seem. They all have secrets, things to hide. Some you will guess, some you won't. But I defy anyone to guess the ending.
5 mesmerising stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Visitor for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
When Holly was prepared to open up a bit and trust her with her personal history, then Cora would tell her the truth.
That was, the truth about what Harold was really like.
Not the other truth.
She didn’t intend telling anyone about that until she'd made up her mind exactly what to do.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Everyone has a secret in their past.
Everyone pretends to be something they’re not.
But someone is always watching… and that someone is closer than you think.
Holly returns to her home town after some time away – she has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover, and to plan the rest of her life. She finds a room in a quiet and leafy suburban street, in the home of Cora Barrett.
David lives next door to Cora Barrett and he sees everything that happens on Baker Crescent. David stays at home, and he watches: he likes to feel safe and he doesn’t like to leave the house. He wants to keep his friends and neighbours safe too. So he observes them, and he records every tiny detail of their lives, just in case the information is ever needed.
Both lonely and vulnerable, Holly and David gradually begin to strike up a friendship. But Holly can’t shake the feeling that someone from her past might have tracked her down. And David is always watching… But uncovering the secret that could save his new friend and neighbour could be the one thing that destroys him.
MY THOUGHTS: The Visitor by K.L. Slater had me sitting up until 1am doing the 'just one more chapter, then I'll go to sleep' routine. Once started, I couldn't bear to put it down. So be warned, if you plan on reading this, and you should, clear your diary.
This is a slow burner of a book, but from the start you can feel that something isn't right. My grandmother used to say 'I can feel it in my water', and I could. There are veiled references to what has happened in the past, and Slater slowly removes the veils one by one to reveal the truth. In fact, the dance of the seven veils is a wonderful parallel for The Visitor. It is a mesmerising read. It took over my mind so that I could think of little else but this cast of misfits, their secrets and machinations. Because none of them are what they seem. They all have secrets, things to hide. Some you will guess, some you won't. But I defy anyone to guess the ending.
5 mesmerising stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Visitor for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 12, 2018
Holly is back in her hometown .... almost penniless, homeless. At her wits end, crying, not knowing where to turn, fate takes a turn. An elderly lady, Cora, takes pity on the girl and invites her to stay at her home until she gets on her feet again. Cora loves having the company with someone to talk to and Holly feels safe for the first time in a long time.
Cora's next door neighbor, David, is what most people would call an odd ball. He's certainly different. Forty years old and he's afraid of the dark. He spends a lot of time in his upstairs bedroom watching the neighborhood. He's intrigued by Holly... but Holly has been warned that she should stay away from him, but not exactly why.
Holly has left her old life behind. No one knows where she is.... or so she thinks. Who is creeping around the house? Why is someone blaming her for mistakes at work? Who wrote the threatening letter?
There are so many twists and turns along the way. The ending blew me away .... it was so unexpected. This is a terrific psychological thriller. Each of this author's books are better than the last. Highly recommend to read.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Cora's next door neighbor, David, is what most people would call an odd ball. He's certainly different. Forty years old and he's afraid of the dark. He spends a lot of time in his upstairs bedroom watching the neighborhood. He's intrigued by Holly... but Holly has been warned that she should stay away from him, but not exactly why.
Holly has left her old life behind. No one knows where she is.... or so she thinks. Who is creeping around the house? Why is someone blaming her for mistakes at work? Who wrote the threatening letter?
There are so many twists and turns along the way. The ending blew me away .... it was so unexpected. This is a terrific psychological thriller. Each of this author's books are better than the last. Highly recommend to read.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 3, 2018
I was lost in the shadows of the trees in the murky coulee with three of my Traveling Sisters reading The Visitor.
The Visitor is a fast, easy and entertaining story that started off a little slow for us but still kept us interested enough to turn the pages.
K.L. Slater does a good job creating mysterious characters here with our main characters Holly and David. Both characters had us feeling a little uneasy with one who is always watching and the other one pretending to be someone they are not. Like our characters, we started to feel a little vulnerable in the coulee and we kept looking over our shoulders for someone watching us or tracking us down. As secrets are revealed we started to feel a little less vulnerable and the story didn’t quite come together for us as well as we would have liked.
Published on March 2, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for a copy to read and review.
Review written and posted on our themed group book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
The Visitor is a fast, easy and entertaining story that started off a little slow for us but still kept us interested enough to turn the pages.
K.L. Slater does a good job creating mysterious characters here with our main characters Holly and David. Both characters had us feeling a little uneasy with one who is always watching and the other one pretending to be someone they are not. Like our characters, we started to feel a little vulnerable in the coulee and we kept looking over our shoulders for someone watching us or tracking us down. As secrets are revealed we started to feel a little less vulnerable and the story didn’t quite come together for us as well as we would have liked.
Published on March 2, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for a copy to read and review.
Review written and posted on our themed group book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
February 18, 2018
This is the 5th novel I have read by author K.L. Slater and have found them all very entertaining and extremely well written. This psychological thriller was no different and was so very close to getting a 5 star rating off me. The book was instantly readable and in fact I hadn't planned to read it this weekend but once started I couldn't put it down. Excellent characters, full of suspense and so well paced it is a must read for anyone who like psychological thrillers.
Holly is the 'visitor' having left Nottingham 10 years ago, believing she would never return. But following a bad experience in Manchester she has returned and is staying with Cora. David is 40 years old and lives at home with his mother and will not go out after dark, following an incident that no one will mention. He works part time as a car park attendant but spends his afternoons watching the people on the street, keeping a close eye on their lives under the self appointed neighbourhood watch tag.
Holly and David strike up an odd friendship, both hoping that they can make fresh start. But both have dark secrets that they would like to keep hidden and trouble seems to be the likely outcome.
This really is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Holly is the 'visitor' having left Nottingham 10 years ago, believing she would never return. But following a bad experience in Manchester she has returned and is staying with Cora. David is 40 years old and lives at home with his mother and will not go out after dark, following an incident that no one will mention. He works part time as a car park attendant but spends his afternoons watching the people on the street, keeping a close eye on their lives under the self appointed neighbourhood watch tag.
Holly and David strike up an odd friendship, both hoping that they can make fresh start. But both have dark secrets that they would like to keep hidden and trouble seems to be the likely outcome.
This really is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2018
The Visitor by K.L.Slater is a psychological thriller that is bound to be well received. This is the fifth psychological thriller by this author, and the fourth book I have read… and her novels just get better and better. This is a fabulous read, that will reel you in …one line at a time…
Everyone has a secret in their past.
Everyone pretends to be something they’re not.
But someone is always watching… and that someone is closer than you think.
Holly Newman is a “visitor” following a bad experience in Manchester returns to her home town, Nottingham, 10 years later. She has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover and build a new future. She finds a room in a quiet suburban area, in the home of Cora Barrett, a lonely old woman who is looking for company and someone to talk to.
“I’m always just a visitor in everyone’s life…I come and go, but nothing ever changes.”
David is a “little different” but a kind person who lives at home with his mother, next door to Cora, and observes everything that happens on the street. David occasionally does the odd job for Cora. He is considered “odd” by society… an outsider, non-sociable who stays at home and will not go out after dark. He works part time as a car park attendant. In his spare time, he watches and records all activity on the street through the use of hidden video cameras.
Holly and David gradually begin to strike up a friendship... both lonely and vulnerable. But Holly can’t shake the feeling that someone from her past might have tracked her down. And David is always watching…
Both Holly and David have dark secrets they would like to keep hidden.
Each short chapter is devoted to one of the above characters, to allow the reader to get to know all three characters in greater depth. They all play a part in the overall picture. The different stories all come together.
This is a fast-paced mystery that is sure to please. I did not expect the most surprising twist at the end of the book…OMG I didn’t see it coming. I was probably too engrossed in the story line. This really is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to my favourite publisher, Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy.
Everyone has a secret in their past.
Everyone pretends to be something they’re not.
But someone is always watching… and that someone is closer than you think.
Holly Newman is a “visitor” following a bad experience in Manchester returns to her home town, Nottingham, 10 years later. She has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover and build a new future. She finds a room in a quiet suburban area, in the home of Cora Barrett, a lonely old woman who is looking for company and someone to talk to.
“I’m always just a visitor in everyone’s life…I come and go, but nothing ever changes.”
David is a “little different” but a kind person who lives at home with his mother, next door to Cora, and observes everything that happens on the street. David occasionally does the odd job for Cora. He is considered “odd” by society… an outsider, non-sociable who stays at home and will not go out after dark. He works part time as a car park attendant. In his spare time, he watches and records all activity on the street through the use of hidden video cameras.
Holly and David gradually begin to strike up a friendship... both lonely and vulnerable. But Holly can’t shake the feeling that someone from her past might have tracked her down. And David is always watching…
Both Holly and David have dark secrets they would like to keep hidden.
Each short chapter is devoted to one of the above characters, to allow the reader to get to know all three characters in greater depth. They all play a part in the overall picture. The different stories all come together.
This is a fast-paced mystery that is sure to please. I did not expect the most surprising twist at the end of the book…OMG I didn’t see it coming. I was probably too engrossed in the story line. This really is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to my favourite publisher, Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy.
March 6, 2018
4.5*
I LOVE this author!
Review up soon
March 9, 2018
I received a free e-copy of The visitor by K.L. Slater from Netgalley for my review. A psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. A young woman, Holly who lived in a town with her Aunt and his boyfriend. Holly couldn't stand to be around her Aunt's boyfriend any long and decided to leave town with her friend Markus to Manchester. She wanted nothing more than an fresh start. Holly once thought life with her Aunt was rough, never fitting in at school, always being the odd one out, etc. Now she finds that things are going to get a lot tougher. In Manchester she gets herself in a very bad situation that she needs to get out of. She returns back to her home town with no money and nowhere to go. A widow woman, Cora, takes Holly in and helps her by giving her room and food for her companionship. Holly soon finds that you can't hide from your past. Holly's past has come back to haunt her and it seems everyone has secrets. Cora has secrets, the man next door, David has secrets, Holly has secrets and others in town do as well. So many twists and turns in this book that keep you reading till the very end. Wonderfully written novel that keeps you guessing.
February 10, 2018
The Visitor by K.L. Slater is a psychologist thriller that has you on the edge of your seat. It has plenty of twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the end. Holly has had a bad time in Manchester and returns to the place she grew up to make a new life for herself. She meets Cora, who gives her a room in her house because Cora is lonely and wants some company. Cora's next door neighbour is David who still lives with his mother. David is a nervous person who doesn't like to go out and spends most of his time spying on his neighbours and recording their habits. David takes a special interest in Holly. This book is full of secrets and deception with interesting characters. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2018
Everyone has a secret in their past. Everyone pretends to be something they're not.
Holly returns to her home town after some time away - she has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover. She finds a room in the quiet suburban street, in the home of Cora Barrett. David lives next door to Cora and he sees everything that happens on Baker Crescent. David stays at home and watches, he does not like to leave the house. He wants to keep his friends and neighbours safe.
Is it just me or is there a lot of books just now where there is someone who can't/won't leave their home., but like to people watch and record what they see.? Holly has left her old life behind but feels someone from her past has tracked her down. There is lots of twists in this fast paced book. The story tells us about her living and working in Nottingham and her ordeal when she was living in Manchester. This book has suspense, mystery and most important for me, we get all the loose ends tied up.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the K. L. Slater for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Holly returns to her home town after some time away - she has been through something terrible and now she needs a safe haven in which to recover. She finds a room in the quiet suburban street, in the home of Cora Barrett. David lives next door to Cora and he sees everything that happens on Baker Crescent. David stays at home and watches, he does not like to leave the house. He wants to keep his friends and neighbours safe.
Is it just me or is there a lot of books just now where there is someone who can't/won't leave their home., but like to people watch and record what they see.? Holly has left her old life behind but feels someone from her past has tracked her down. There is lots of twists in this fast paced book. The story tells us about her living and working in Nottingham and her ordeal when she was living in Manchester. This book has suspense, mystery and most important for me, we get all the loose ends tied up.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the K. L. Slater for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2018
2.5 unfortunately for me dull stars
Sometimes thrillers pull you in at the get go. Sometimes, they have a slow burn that has you turning pages into the night. However, sometimes, they just are plain dull and make the reader feel they need to make quantum leaps of believably. Unfortunately, this book was of the latter type.
Holly is a young woman who left home because of a step father making unwarranted advances. She and her friend, Marcus, have made plans to go to another city where a promise of jobs await them. The promise for Holly turns out to be more of a nightmare. She is left destitute, but by chance meets an elderly lady who takes Holly into her home. The next door neighbor, David, is an older unusual man. He spies on his neighbors and has cameras at the ready to see the comings and goings of his neighbors.
Holly eventually lands a job in a posh furniture store where one of the shop girls, Emily, takes an immediate dislike to her. Life is hard for Holly. She teems up with David, who also works a the store, and as Holly's story unveils, David and others are drawn into the tale of Holly's former life.
Unfortunately, in this story there were a lot that pushed believably. There were things going on that did not make much sense and ultimately resulted in a book that was slow and highly predictable. The secrets revealed about the characters stretched one's imagination. While yes, we all carry around secrets, these secrets seemed implausible.
So, unfortunately for me this book did not hit the mark for a thriller that thrilled me. I know this author writes wonderful stories, but I felt this was just not one of them
Thanks you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for making this book available to me.
Sometimes thrillers pull you in at the get go. Sometimes, they have a slow burn that has you turning pages into the night. However, sometimes, they just are plain dull and make the reader feel they need to make quantum leaps of believably. Unfortunately, this book was of the latter type.
Holly is a young woman who left home because of a step father making unwarranted advances. She and her friend, Marcus, have made plans to go to another city where a promise of jobs await them. The promise for Holly turns out to be more of a nightmare. She is left destitute, but by chance meets an elderly lady who takes Holly into her home. The next door neighbor, David, is an older unusual man. He spies on his neighbors and has cameras at the ready to see the comings and goings of his neighbors.
Holly eventually lands a job in a posh furniture store where one of the shop girls, Emily, takes an immediate dislike to her. Life is hard for Holly. She teems up with David, who also works a the store, and as Holly's story unveils, David and others are drawn into the tale of Holly's former life.
Unfortunately, in this story there were a lot that pushed believably. There were things going on that did not make much sense and ultimately resulted in a book that was slow and highly predictable. The secrets revealed about the characters stretched one's imagination. While yes, we all carry around secrets, these secrets seemed implausible.
So, unfortunately for me this book did not hit the mark for a thriller that thrilled me. I know this author writes wonderful stories, but I felt this was just not one of them
Thanks you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for making this book available to me.
February 20, 2018
This was once again a truly 'unputdownable' book for me.
This author has been one of the ones I eagerly follow all over Social Media anticipating her every new release.
I would have written my review sooner however, I've a lot taking up my time at the moment and decided to write this later, so although I say I am eager to read it, yes I did, right away, but slower at presenting my thoughts on it.
Holly.
She has lived away from her home town for a while now.
I loved reading why she left and what her life was like where she went to. I'm thinking, sometimes we make decisions that seem for the best and then years later reflect, were they they right decisions though and what did I gain from that.
The life she led.
David.
He was a fascinating character to me. If anyone knows or watches the soap Coronation Street, he reminded me of Roy the owner of the cafe. Seemingly stilted in speech, unattached to people, and devoid of emotions. Slow of speech and thought, I almost had him in a mans cardigan with a clipboard doing his job in the carpark he attends to.
Still rivers run deep.
I also thought underneath all of that he had an acute awareness of people.
Everyone knew David as "not quite right".
Cora
She lives next door to David and his Mother.
David is now 40, but Cora has known him from a young lad who did little jobs for her, and still does.
Cora took Holly into her home when she had nowhere else to go, they are not related. You will read how that evolves once you pick up this book.
David was my main character who amused me in this story, not as in 'laughing' but intrigued me, I wanted to get inside his head and see what made him tick.
Holly became quite rooted within the story too, when she started working that brought out a new side to her.
Holly and David made a connection, a sort of friendship and although I felt that David wanted more Holly was only aware of him as a 'friend'.
At every turn of the page, someone was watching.
Just who it was for sure I had no idea, but it was creepy.
I had ideas, never proven, never 100% sure.
Someone somewhere had secrets that much I did know.
I would pick up this authors books eagerly whatever I am doing.
I am a huge fan.
My thanks to Bookoutour for my copy
This author has been one of the ones I eagerly follow all over Social Media anticipating her every new release.
I would have written my review sooner however, I've a lot taking up my time at the moment and decided to write this later, so although I say I am eager to read it, yes I did, right away, but slower at presenting my thoughts on it.
Holly.
She has lived away from her home town for a while now.
I loved reading why she left and what her life was like where she went to. I'm thinking, sometimes we make decisions that seem for the best and then years later reflect, were they they right decisions though and what did I gain from that.
The life she led.
David.
He was a fascinating character to me. If anyone knows or watches the soap Coronation Street, he reminded me of Roy the owner of the cafe. Seemingly stilted in speech, unattached to people, and devoid of emotions. Slow of speech and thought, I almost had him in a mans cardigan with a clipboard doing his job in the carpark he attends to.
Still rivers run deep.
I also thought underneath all of that he had an acute awareness of people.
Everyone knew David as "not quite right".
Cora
She lives next door to David and his Mother.
David is now 40, but Cora has known him from a young lad who did little jobs for her, and still does.
Cora took Holly into her home when she had nowhere else to go, they are not related. You will read how that evolves once you pick up this book.
David was my main character who amused me in this story, not as in 'laughing' but intrigued me, I wanted to get inside his head and see what made him tick.
Holly became quite rooted within the story too, when she started working that brought out a new side to her.
Holly and David made a connection, a sort of friendship and although I felt that David wanted more Holly was only aware of him as a 'friend'.
At every turn of the page, someone was watching.
Just who it was for sure I had no idea, but it was creepy.
I had ideas, never proven, never 100% sure.
Someone somewhere had secrets that much I did know.
I would pick up this authors books eagerly whatever I am doing.
I am a huge fan.
My thanks to Bookoutour for my copy
March 27, 2018
I am a big fan of K.L. Slater, so I was really looking forward to picking this one up and even happier to read it as a group. It kept me reading and wondering, but the ending went off the rails a bit for me. There is some nice suspense going on here, but I ended up having a hard time buying all of the big finale.
Holly never wanted to move back to the smaller town she grew up in, but after life in the big city doesn't work out quite so well, she has returned. Relying on the kindness of others, she's broke and constantly looking over her shoulder. Sweet old lady Cora has randomly offered to help her out, not so much as a lodger but "a visitor". She's welcome to stay as long as it takes to get back on her feet. It isn't long before the neighborhood starts to wonder about Holly... especially David, Cora's neighbor. Though he's been grown for a long time, he still lives with his mother and has little independence. He works a part-time job and resents his mother's new beau for taking her attention away from him. He does have a "full-time" work of sorts though: keeping an eye on the neighborhood. Who comes, who goes... what everyone is up to. Now that includes Holly.
Holly is secretive and slightly nervous, and it's clear that she has things to hide. David is incredibly socially awkward and certainly has things in his past he'd rather keep secret as well. As their secrets and histories slowly come to light to the reader, it's clear that they won't be able to hide them from everyone else for much longer.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Holly never wanted to move back to the smaller town she grew up in, but after life in the big city doesn't work out quite so well, she has returned. Relying on the kindness of others, she's broke and constantly looking over her shoulder. Sweet old lady Cora has randomly offered to help her out, not so much as a lodger but "a visitor". She's welcome to stay as long as it takes to get back on her feet. It isn't long before the neighborhood starts to wonder about Holly... especially David, Cora's neighbor. Though he's been grown for a long time, he still lives with his mother and has little independence. He works a part-time job and resents his mother's new beau for taking her attention away from him. He does have a "full-time" work of sorts though: keeping an eye on the neighborhood. Who comes, who goes... what everyone is up to. Now that includes Holly.
Holly is secretive and slightly nervous, and it's clear that she has things to hide. David is incredibly socially awkward and certainly has things in his past he'd rather keep secret as well. As their secrets and histories slowly come to light to the reader, it's clear that they won't be able to hide them from everyone else for much longer.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
March 2, 2018
Wow! Wow! Wow! Each book I read from this author just gets better and better. I have loved them all but there was something intensely creepy about the secrets being kept by all the main characters. As ever the characters were drawn brilliantly and could have been people living in my street. I especially warmed to David and felt connected to him throughout the narrative. The story moves along at an amazing pace constantly teasing me to follow to get the answers that the author has skilfully posed towards an ending that just blew me away. I may say this each time this lady puts pen to paper but this is now definitely my favourite of her works. Already eagerly awaiting the next.
February 10, 2018
Wow... that ending blew me away! I could not wait to read this book after enjoying all of KL Slaters other book.
Holly left Nottingham 10 years ago.. and thought she would never return. But life in Manchester did not quite go the way she planned and something terrible happened to her. She has returned and is a visitor staying with Cora.
Cora's neighbour David is a bit different... he is 40 years old and still lives at home with his mother. After an incident a few years ago he no longer likes to leave the house after dark. He spends his afternoons watching the people on the street and keeping a close eye on their lives.
Will Holly will be able to start fresh in Nottingham, and will David be able to be her friend.?
I loved this book... not knowing until the end the truth behind the characters behaviours. I have had a quiet weekend of reading and read this one in a few hours.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
Holly left Nottingham 10 years ago.. and thought she would never return. But life in Manchester did not quite go the way she planned and something terrible happened to her. She has returned and is a visitor staying with Cora.
Cora's neighbour David is a bit different... he is 40 years old and still lives at home with his mother. After an incident a few years ago he no longer likes to leave the house after dark. He spends his afternoons watching the people on the street and keeping a close eye on their lives.
Will Holly will be able to start fresh in Nottingham, and will David be able to be her friend.?
I loved this book... not knowing until the end the truth behind the characters behaviours. I have had a quiet weekend of reading and read this one in a few hours.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
March 3, 2018
Keep your seatbelts fastened, this roller coaster is about to leave the platform and the ride ahead is filled with twists, turns, shocking revelations and deviously dark secrets. K.L. Slater’s THE VISITOR is a story of secrets, lies and the machinations of twisted minds. Are people really as they seem on the surface? Could evil be hiding behind the face of a seemingly sweet girl who had had a rough life? Could it be hiding behind the troubled man whose focus is on “watching” the world, his neighborhood and the new girl that lives next door? Will his vigilance become his downfall or his time to shine as a hero?
Holly has returned to her hometown in search of a safe haven after finding the world a little too cold, a little too calculating. Her shy manner and her willingness to work for a secret goal make her a very likable character. Her story is one of turmoil. David has mental issues, but he functions well with his medications and routines. Well-intentioned, he is a self-appointed guardian for those around him, even at his job, yet, to those around him, he is at best, a strange duck who has struck up an unlikely friendship with Holly. Who better to watch out for her when her past comes peering from the shadows?
K.L. Slater’s THE VISITOR teems with intrigue as “the rest of the story” remains shrouded in the fog of the unknown until that very last twist around the bend!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Bookouture!
Publisher: Bookouture (March 2, 2018)
Publication Date: March 2, 2018
Genre: Mystery | Suspense
Print Length: 350 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Holly has returned to her hometown in search of a safe haven after finding the world a little too cold, a little too calculating. Her shy manner and her willingness to work for a secret goal make her a very likable character. Her story is one of turmoil. David has mental issues, but he functions well with his medications and routines. Well-intentioned, he is a self-appointed guardian for those around him, even at his job, yet, to those around him, he is at best, a strange duck who has struck up an unlikely friendship with Holly. Who better to watch out for her when her past comes peering from the shadows?
K.L. Slater’s THE VISITOR teems with intrigue as “the rest of the story” remains shrouded in the fog of the unknown until that very last twist around the bend!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Bookouture!
Publisher: Bookouture (March 2, 2018)
Publication Date: March 2, 2018
Genre: Mystery | Suspense
Print Length: 350 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 5, 2018
Holly escapes her past from Manchester and and arrives back in her hometown 10 years later where she boards with Cora. Cora’s neighbor David is a 40 year old who still lives with his mom. He works as a part time car park attendant and the rest of the afternoon watches people in his neighborhood. Holly and David strike an odd friendship where each have their secrets that they want protected for if revealed can have deadly results.
The Visitor was a slow building psychological thriller with a completely unexpected outcome with quite a bit of twists and turns. An exciting read with intriguing characters that I thoroughly enjoyed and cannot wait to read the next one by K.L.Slater
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Visitor was a slow building psychological thriller with a completely unexpected outcome with quite a bit of twists and turns. An exciting read with intriguing characters that I thoroughly enjoyed and cannot wait to read the next one by K.L.Slater
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
March 31, 2018
According to merriam-webster's definition of a THRILLER
one that thrills, especially a work of fiction designed to hold the interest, by the use of high degree of intrigue, suspense, or adventure
I will go one step further, merriam-webster defines PSYCHOLOGICAL as
directed toward the will or toward the mind specifically in its conative function
Join the two, then you get
A work of fiction, directed towards the mind, designed to hold the interest by the use of high degree of intrigue or suspense.
By this definition, this book fails royally, in fact, so do most books released this year.
A slow pace + 3 main characters + life intermingling + hidden secrets = The Visitor
The premise sounds so interesting, unfortunately that's it. The buck stops here!!
Holly meets Cora, a 70 year old, who offers a room in her house, as Holly seems to be in dire straits. Holly has a past, the story keeps on visiting the past at regular intervals, about Holly's life in Manchester. Cora has her own hidden secrets. David, a 40 year old neighbor, with some mental health issues is the self-assigned 'guardian angel' of the neighborhood, has cctv to record happenings in the neighborhood, telescope in the bedroom to keep a watch. And the story revolves around them and their issues.
I couldn't believe that K. L. Slater has written this book, I have liked all her past books. This book bored me totally. So I hopped, skipped, and jumped to read only the main parts. The ending was supposed to be a surprise, but I guessed it long before I reached the ending. The characters were absolutely unlikable, the pace was slower than a snail, and the secrets were as expected. All the characters lived in an illusionary world and ended up in the same manner.
This trend of slow moving pace of writing, slow development of characters should be killed at once, before authors start thinking that's the way to write thrillers. Uh-huh Webster does not agree too. Readers like me who have been reading for a decades, are going to soon stop reading such thrillers if only the last page thrills. Publishers take note. Change the trend. Giving characters mental health issues and secrets does not make a book psychological thriller.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
one that thrills, especially a work of fiction designed to hold the interest, by the use of high degree of intrigue, suspense, or adventure
I will go one step further, merriam-webster defines PSYCHOLOGICAL as
directed toward the will or toward the mind specifically in its conative function
Join the two, then you get
A work of fiction, directed towards the mind, designed to hold the interest by the use of high degree of intrigue or suspense.
By this definition, this book fails royally, in fact, so do most books released this year.
A slow pace + 3 main characters + life intermingling + hidden secrets = The Visitor
The premise sounds so interesting, unfortunately that's it. The buck stops here!!
Holly meets Cora, a 70 year old, who offers a room in her house, as Holly seems to be in dire straits. Holly has a past, the story keeps on visiting the past at regular intervals, about Holly's life in Manchester. Cora has her own hidden secrets. David, a 40 year old neighbor, with some mental health issues is the self-assigned 'guardian angel' of the neighborhood, has cctv to record happenings in the neighborhood, telescope in the bedroom to keep a watch. And the story revolves around them and their issues.
I couldn't believe that K. L. Slater has written this book, I have liked all her past books. This book bored me totally. So I hopped, skipped, and jumped to read only the main parts. The ending was supposed to be a surprise, but I guessed it long before I reached the ending. The characters were absolutely unlikable, the pace was slower than a snail, and the secrets were as expected. All the characters lived in an illusionary world and ended up in the same manner.
This trend of slow moving pace of writing, slow development of characters should be killed at once, before authors start thinking that's the way to write thrillers. Uh-huh Webster does not agree too. Readers like me who have been reading for a decades, are going to soon stop reading such thrillers if only the last page thrills. Publishers take note. Change the trend. Giving characters mental health issues and secrets does not make a book psychological thriller.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 3, 2018
You know those books that hook you from page one, that instant interest, the feeling that you won’t be able to stop reading until you have all of the answers? Slater writes those type of books, you are well and truly engaged immediately despite having NO idea what will happen next. It’s always unexpected and always entreating! The Visitor is no exception and Slater is definitely on my auto buy authors list, she writes one hell of a psychological thriller.
Holly is the visitor the title alludes to, she moves in with Cora, an older widow who is lonely and likes the idea of a friendly companion. Holly’s past is shrouded in mystery, you know there is something dark and dangerous about her life before but Slater reveals things painstakingly slowly throughout the book. You also hear from David, Cora and Holly’s neighbor and he too is hiding something from Holly. Everybody has secrets in this one and trust me, they are juicy!
This was another page turner, a gripping read as I raced through the pages eager to find out what everyone was hiding. By the time I got to the end I was holding my breath and my jaw dropped to the floor. There were several stunning revelations that left me reeling, it was so well plotted, I’m impressed.
The Visitor in three words: Compulsive, Addictive and Deft.
Holly is the visitor the title alludes to, she moves in with Cora, an older widow who is lonely and likes the idea of a friendly companion. Holly’s past is shrouded in mystery, you know there is something dark and dangerous about her life before but Slater reveals things painstakingly slowly throughout the book. You also hear from David, Cora and Holly’s neighbor and he too is hiding something from Holly. Everybody has secrets in this one and trust me, they are juicy!
This was another page turner, a gripping read as I raced through the pages eager to find out what everyone was hiding. By the time I got to the end I was holding my breath and my jaw dropped to the floor. There were several stunning revelations that left me reeling, it was so well plotted, I’m impressed.
The Visitor in three words: Compulsive, Addictive and Deft.
May 18, 2018
Well I am kind of proud myself for finishing this. At 70% I lost the will to finish this....
This started out really great. I was so excited till 40%. then I reached to 50-60-70% ?? still no significant improvements - huh?
Last 10% was exciting but by the time, I either guessed all the twists or stopped caring.
I like to think that there was potential in the story but somehow execution failed. Regardless, I see myself reading Slater in the future so there is something there I am ready to further explore.
This started out really great. I was so excited till 40%. then I reached to 50-60-70% ?? still no significant improvements - huh?
Last 10% was exciting but by the time, I either guessed all the twists or stopped caring.
I like to think that there was potential in the story but somehow execution failed. Regardless, I see myself reading Slater in the future so there is something there I am ready to further explore.
March 3, 2018
4.5 stars.
The story flicks between Holly and David. Holly’s chapters go back and forth from past to present so that the story builds up to events that happened as a teenager. We know something happened as she seems to be running scared but we don’t know quite what. I really liked Holly as she is obviously wanting to get her life back on track and I was willing for everything to turn out right for her.
David is very much an odd ball. I didn’t know quite what to make of him. He has done something in his past, of which I was dying to know just exactly what. It took me a while to warm up to him as I wasn’t quite sure where exactly he fitted into the whole story but the further into the book I got, the more he started to grow on me. He actually reminded me very much of Jim Nicholson in As Good As It Gets and the friendship that him and Helen Hunt strike up.
The Visitor is yet another compelling read by the author that had me totally hooked. I know as soon I start one of her books that I won’t be disappointed and I emerge myself totally into the story forgetting the world outside. The tension and suspense mounts as the story goes a long, guaranteeing those pages getting turned. Whilst some things I guessed correctly, others totally took me by surprise and have to say I absolutely loved that ending.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story flicks between Holly and David. Holly’s chapters go back and forth from past to present so that the story builds up to events that happened as a teenager. We know something happened as she seems to be running scared but we don’t know quite what. I really liked Holly as she is obviously wanting to get her life back on track and I was willing for everything to turn out right for her.
David is very much an odd ball. I didn’t know quite what to make of him. He has done something in his past, of which I was dying to know just exactly what. It took me a while to warm up to him as I wasn’t quite sure where exactly he fitted into the whole story but the further into the book I got, the more he started to grow on me. He actually reminded me very much of Jim Nicholson in As Good As It Gets and the friendship that him and Helen Hunt strike up.
The Visitor is yet another compelling read by the author that had me totally hooked. I know as soon I start one of her books that I won’t be disappointed and I emerge myself totally into the story forgetting the world outside. The tension and suspense mounts as the story goes a long, guaranteeing those pages getting turned. Whilst some things I guessed correctly, others totally took me by surprise and have to say I absolutely loved that ending.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
March 2, 2018
I am a big fan of K.L. Slater! She always manages to make the twistiest of twists work so well in her books and does so with a side order of relish! I really don’t know how she does it but she always ends up fooling me not just once but often twice or more! I am always on the look out for her next psychological thriller to get my fix cos this woman really rocks her twists!!!
There are three main characters here and they take turns with telling the story, each hiding secrets and all unreliable narrators. There is Holly who has come back to her home town, fleeing a past life in Manchester and convinced someone is watching her every move. She’s trying to move on with a good job, and a nice place to stay but is her past about to catch up with her? David is still living at home with his mum after an “incident” that no one talks about. When Holly moves in next door and ends up working for the same company they become friends. But is his “hobby” about to get him into trouble? And then there is Cora who has taken in Holly to help her. Is this lovely old lady to be trusted as her memory doesn’t seem to be working as well as it used to? As small clues start to appear it is obvious that someone is in danger but from who and why?
Well, I just flew through this book in just one afternoon. I couldn’t rest until I got to the bottom of what had happened to Holly and why? There was a permanent taste of fear and anxiety in my mouth as the tension started to build up towards what I had half hoped wouldn’t happen…..BUT IT DID! But boy, did the last few pages prove that I know NOTHING!!! The twists came thick and fast and just when you thought you had it all then BAM! another one came along to floor you! Oh the deception…..I LOVED IT! This is one of those books you just want to go back and start from the beginning again so you can read it with the knowledge that you now have just so you can see exactly how clever this book is!
Full of intriguing characters that you’re never quite sure if you like or not, The Visitor is a gripping read with a killer hook and some twistier than twisty shocks. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
There are three main characters here and they take turns with telling the story, each hiding secrets and all unreliable narrators. There is Holly who has come back to her home town, fleeing a past life in Manchester and convinced someone is watching her every move. She’s trying to move on with a good job, and a nice place to stay but is her past about to catch up with her? David is still living at home with his mum after an “incident” that no one talks about. When Holly moves in next door and ends up working for the same company they become friends. But is his “hobby” about to get him into trouble? And then there is Cora who has taken in Holly to help her. Is this lovely old lady to be trusted as her memory doesn’t seem to be working as well as it used to? As small clues start to appear it is obvious that someone is in danger but from who and why?
Well, I just flew through this book in just one afternoon. I couldn’t rest until I got to the bottom of what had happened to Holly and why? There was a permanent taste of fear and anxiety in my mouth as the tension started to build up towards what I had half hoped wouldn’t happen…..BUT IT DID! But boy, did the last few pages prove that I know NOTHING!!! The twists came thick and fast and just when you thought you had it all then BAM! another one came along to floor you! Oh the deception…..I LOVED IT! This is one of those books you just want to go back and start from the beginning again so you can read it with the knowledge that you now have just so you can see exactly how clever this book is!
Full of intriguing characters that you’re never quite sure if you like or not, The Visitor is a gripping read with a killer hook and some twistier than twisty shocks. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
February 15, 2018
I have found K.L. Slater’s books to be a bit hit and miss when it comes to my enjoyment of them. I am so glad to say that The Visitor was a huge HIT. I loved it and couldn’t read quick enough to see how everything would conclude.
The suspense in The Visitor is fantastic. The setting is well-imagined to the point where it was somewhere I really wouldn’t want to live. As somebody who enjoys my own company, I’ve often joked about wishing I lived in a village where I could lock myself away and read books all day long. The problem with small settings like that is that everybody knows your business, and you never know who is watching you. The anonymity of city life where we mostly ignore our neighbours is perhaps the safer place for now! That kind of setting is present here where we have David who keeps watch on all of his neighbours. Whilst an extraordinarily creepy character, I found myself identifying with David at times in his struggle to make sense of the real, adult world. I have sometimes spent too long living in the past and, creepiness aside, there was something in David that I almost related to. And I say almost because there’s more to this character than meets the eye.
Holly arrives next door to David and moves in with Cora. Holly is a character shrouded in mystery and both I and David couldn’t wait to find out more about her. With snippets of her life back in Manchester, we are slowly fed little bits of information about that previous life and the real reason Holly has moved to the area. For the majority of the book I really liked Holly, and had no idea just where the story was going to go. The back and forth nature of how the story was told felt a little disjointed and I felt italicised paragraphs or dates breaking things up might have helped those flashbacks flow a little better. That said it was a lot of fun reading about Holly’s old life and trying to make sense of it all.
Now, as we neared about the 70% mark my interest was waning a little bit. I felt the story had gone on too long without anything majority exciting happening. Then, EVERYTHING happened. In some of Kim’s other books I could sense the twist coming from a mile away and here in The Visitor I was at about 89% and still I had no idea what was going to be revealed. The reveal (or reveals should I say) when it came was brilliant and completely knocked me for six. It was a chilling, haunting ending and that means these characters will be living in my mind for a while longer yet. The ending was probably the best part of the book and whilst it was an intense and suspenseful read in places, I did find it lacking in others. But, with such a creepy and gripping tale to be had here I can’t do anything but highly recommend The Visitor. As books like this always do, it’s making me want to look over my shoulder and question each twitch of a neighbour’s window or each light left on at 2 in the morning. You never know who’s watching you.
The suspense in The Visitor is fantastic. The setting is well-imagined to the point where it was somewhere I really wouldn’t want to live. As somebody who enjoys my own company, I’ve often joked about wishing I lived in a village where I could lock myself away and read books all day long. The problem with small settings like that is that everybody knows your business, and you never know who is watching you. The anonymity of city life where we mostly ignore our neighbours is perhaps the safer place for now! That kind of setting is present here where we have David who keeps watch on all of his neighbours. Whilst an extraordinarily creepy character, I found myself identifying with David at times in his struggle to make sense of the real, adult world. I have sometimes spent too long living in the past and, creepiness aside, there was something in David that I almost related to. And I say almost because there’s more to this character than meets the eye.
Holly arrives next door to David and moves in with Cora. Holly is a character shrouded in mystery and both I and David couldn’t wait to find out more about her. With snippets of her life back in Manchester, we are slowly fed little bits of information about that previous life and the real reason Holly has moved to the area. For the majority of the book I really liked Holly, and had no idea just where the story was going to go. The back and forth nature of how the story was told felt a little disjointed and I felt italicised paragraphs or dates breaking things up might have helped those flashbacks flow a little better. That said it was a lot of fun reading about Holly’s old life and trying to make sense of it all.
Now, as we neared about the 70% mark my interest was waning a little bit. I felt the story had gone on too long without anything majority exciting happening. Then, EVERYTHING happened. In some of Kim’s other books I could sense the twist coming from a mile away and here in The Visitor I was at about 89% and still I had no idea what was going to be revealed. The reveal (or reveals should I say) when it came was brilliant and completely knocked me for six. It was a chilling, haunting ending and that means these characters will be living in my mind for a while longer yet. The ending was probably the best part of the book and whilst it was an intense and suspenseful read in places, I did find it lacking in others. But, with such a creepy and gripping tale to be had here I can’t do anything but highly recommend The Visitor. As books like this always do, it’s making me want to look over my shoulder and question each twitch of a neighbour’s window or each light left on at 2 in the morning. You never know who’s watching you.
March 2, 2018
One word - spectacular! This author gets better and better with every book. This book had me on tenterhooks and there were times I forgot to breathe. The author is adept at creating flawed characters who you root for despite knowing they are not to be trusted. She is a master of creating tense, pacy plots where nothing is as it seems and in this book she has exceeded the high standards she set in her previous books. Brilliant! An amazing, addictive, thrilling, unputdownable, fabulous read.
March 3, 2018
"If you do a really good job, it’s amazing how people around you will start believing in the person who isn’t really you."
Intriguing, huh? I’m sure we’re all familiar with wearing a mask from time to time, pretending to be someone we’re not or pretending to feel absolutely fabulous when we’re actually feeling incredibly low. But who is not who they are portraying themselves to be in this story? And why?
I really like K.L. Slater’s books so I was pretty darn excited when the opportunity to read this one popped up. It’s fair to say, I think that The Visitor is slightly different from the author’s previous works but that is absolutely not a bad thing. This is a slow-burner, more about the characters, their actions and motivations, than any twists and turns that leave your head spinning but it’s intensely gripping nonetheless.
The chapters alternate between Holly and David. Holly has just returned to her hometown after ten years away. She needs a place to stay, somewhere where she feels safe and can figure out how to get her life back on track. David lives next door and is very set in his ways. He likes his routine and watching his neighbours to make sure they’re safe from harm. Admittedly, slightly on the creepy side. But who’s watching who?
It’s obvious early on that all these characters have secrets but the reveals are slow to come, especially where Holly’s past is concerned. Yet I quite happily followed the trail of breadcrumbs up the proverbial garden path, utterly unable to figure things out. The Visitor isn’t fast-paced or action-packed or the nail-biting sort of story you might expect from this genre. But it is brilliantly written and I found that despite the slower pace, it was still incredibly compelling, engrossing and a thoroughly entertaining psychological thriller. I can’t wait to read more by K.L. Slater!
Intriguing, huh? I’m sure we’re all familiar with wearing a mask from time to time, pretending to be someone we’re not or pretending to feel absolutely fabulous when we’re actually feeling incredibly low. But who is not who they are portraying themselves to be in this story? And why?
I really like K.L. Slater’s books so I was pretty darn excited when the opportunity to read this one popped up. It’s fair to say, I think that The Visitor is slightly different from the author’s previous works but that is absolutely not a bad thing. This is a slow-burner, more about the characters, their actions and motivations, than any twists and turns that leave your head spinning but it’s intensely gripping nonetheless.
The chapters alternate between Holly and David. Holly has just returned to her hometown after ten years away. She needs a place to stay, somewhere where she feels safe and can figure out how to get her life back on track. David lives next door and is very set in his ways. He likes his routine and watching his neighbours to make sure they’re safe from harm. Admittedly, slightly on the creepy side. But who’s watching who?
It’s obvious early on that all these characters have secrets but the reveals are slow to come, especially where Holly’s past is concerned. Yet I quite happily followed the trail of breadcrumbs up the proverbial garden path, utterly unable to figure things out. The Visitor isn’t fast-paced or action-packed or the nail-biting sort of story you might expect from this genre. But it is brilliantly written and I found that despite the slower pace, it was still incredibly compelling, engrossing and a thoroughly entertaining psychological thriller. I can’t wait to read more by K.L. Slater!
March 7, 2018
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I am a massive fan of this author's works and always get excited when I see that she is bring out a new story - I stop reading my current books and put them aside as I know I am in for a treat!
Well I have to say that for me she has done it again and I loved this book!!
It had a great plot that was woven so well between the individual characters and their plot lines, I had guessed at an ending but I wasn't correct - the one in the book is way better!
The main characters are great and the supporting ones allow just enough doubt for you to question your thoughts about Holly and David.
5 stars from me - very enjoyable and an addictive read!
I am a massive fan of this author's works and always get excited when I see that she is bring out a new story - I stop reading my current books and put them aside as I know I am in for a treat!
Well I have to say that for me she has done it again and I loved this book!!
It had a great plot that was woven so well between the individual characters and their plot lines, I had guessed at an ending but I wasn't correct - the one in the book is way better!
The main characters are great and the supporting ones allow just enough doubt for you to question your thoughts about Holly and David.
5 stars from me - very enjoyable and an addictive read!
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