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The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker
‘I will never forget the night I drowned…’
A village with something to hide.
Seventeen-year-old Eleanor Parker wakes up cold and alone in the river that twists through her quiet village. She has no memory of how she got there. But she does know that another girl was drowned in the same river the summer before, held under the water by an unknown killer…
A community torn apart.
Eleanor is a normal, every day teenager. She argues with her mum, spends her days with her best friend, and is looking forward to a carefree summer of sunshine and music. Who would want to hurt her?
A shocking secret.
Determined to unlock the mystery of what really happened to her, Eleanor can't escape the feeling that something awful links her to the previous summer's murder. But will she find out the truth before it’s too late?
A gripping and extraordinary coming of age novel that will make you question everything and keep you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of We Were Liars, Looking for Alaska by John Green and hit TV show Riverdale.
A village with something to hide.
Seventeen-year-old Eleanor Parker wakes up cold and alone in the river that twists through her quiet village. She has no memory of how she got there. But she does know that another girl was drowned in the same river the summer before, held under the water by an unknown killer…
A community torn apart.
Eleanor is a normal, every day teenager. She argues with her mum, spends her days with her best friend, and is looking forward to a carefree summer of sunshine and music. Who would want to hurt her?
A shocking secret.
Determined to unlock the mystery of what really happened to her, Eleanor can't escape the feeling that something awful links her to the previous summer's murder. But will she find out the truth before it’s too late?
A gripping and extraordinary coming of age novel that will make you question everything and keep you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of We Were Liars, Looking for Alaska by John Green and hit TV show Riverdale.
ebook
First published July 26, 2018
103 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
70 books1,069 followersRecent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
January 13, 2019
🕵️4 Death Defying Stars for The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker⚰️
The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is an intriguing YA thriller with a paranormal twist. Eleanor Parker wakes up in the local river - cold, half-dressed, water spraying from her mouth and no idea how she got there. From the start, you can't help but become engrossed in Eleanor's search for the truth. How did she end up in the river? Why does she have no memory of it?
"The memories are still just out of reach but there are two things of which I'm certain. I didn't fall into the river - I was drowned in it and, somehow, despite the fact I'm still here, I died last night."
I'm pretty good at suspending my disbelief and stretching my imagination which is a requirement in order to enjoy a read like this. If you can do that - this book is quite an enjoyable whodunnit. Eleanor was an extremely likable lead character. She was an average teenager with all the problems and drama that come with that age. Except of course that she is technically undead!
I have to admit that I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The supernatural element was interesting and we never fully quite know what to make of it all. I liked that Wilkinson left it open to the reader's interpretation.
"If a person believes in something, really believes, then it doesn't matter what others say."
The mystery was well paced and I didn't have it figured out - WIN! The whole vibe of the book was unique and enjoyable. This is one that will definitely keep you turning the pages.
Thank you to Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is an intriguing YA thriller with a paranormal twist. Eleanor Parker wakes up in the local river - cold, half-dressed, water spraying from her mouth and no idea how she got there. From the start, you can't help but become engrossed in Eleanor's search for the truth. How did she end up in the river? Why does she have no memory of it?
"The memories are still just out of reach but there are two things of which I'm certain. I didn't fall into the river - I was drowned in it and, somehow, despite the fact I'm still here, I died last night."
I'm pretty good at suspending my disbelief and stretching my imagination which is a requirement in order to enjoy a read like this. If you can do that - this book is quite an enjoyable whodunnit. Eleanor was an extremely likable lead character. She was an average teenager with all the problems and drama that come with that age. Except of course that she is technically undead!
I have to admit that I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The supernatural element was interesting and we never fully quite know what to make of it all. I liked that Wilkinson left it open to the reader's interpretation.
"If a person believes in something, really believes, then it doesn't matter what others say."
The mystery was well paced and I didn't have it figured out - WIN! The whole vibe of the book was unique and enjoyable. This is one that will definitely keep you turning the pages.
Thank you to Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2018
So it’s October... everyone is doing their spooky Halloween reads and I didn’t want to miss out on the fun. Only problem is...I scare easily, and have to tip-toe through all the spookiness!
This was the perfect pseudo-scary read for me!
Eleanor wakes up on the bank of a river. No memory of what happened or how she got there. In a fog of confusion she slowly makes her way home. She can’t fight the deep-seeded chill welling up inside her.
Then the awful reality sets in as she realizes… she’s dead...Or maybe not?
She can still interact with her family and friends. But the strangest things are happening. She can’t quite feel...or smell for that matter. And the thought of food just makes her wretch!
If indeed she was killed, Ellie is determined to find her killer before he strikes again!
This was a perfectly executed thriller in that all the clues were cleverly placed throughout, helping to piece this one together. Well, maybe with one unexpected twist. And as Kerry Wilkinson laid out the clues, I realized I missed each one! Oh well...that’s part of the fun of reading a thriller!
This book reads super-easy with maybe a slight YA feeling to it! But held my interest throughout, leading to an electrifying ending! It even left chills running up my arms.
I’ve been enjoying Kerry Wilkinson’s books and sadly that was the last on my shelf. But I’m on the lookout for more as he quickly becoming a new go to author for me!
Now I can say I’ve completed my scary fall read.👻 That was easy(whew!) Maybe I’m up for one more?!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
This was the perfect pseudo-scary read for me!
Eleanor wakes up on the bank of a river. No memory of what happened or how she got there. In a fog of confusion she slowly makes her way home. She can’t fight the deep-seeded chill welling up inside her.
Then the awful reality sets in as she realizes… she’s dead...Or maybe not?
She can still interact with her family and friends. But the strangest things are happening. She can’t quite feel...or smell for that matter. And the thought of food just makes her wretch!
If indeed she was killed, Ellie is determined to find her killer before he strikes again!
This was a perfectly executed thriller in that all the clues were cleverly placed throughout, helping to piece this one together. Well, maybe with one unexpected twist. And as Kerry Wilkinson laid out the clues, I realized I missed each one! Oh well...that’s part of the fun of reading a thriller!
This book reads super-easy with maybe a slight YA feeling to it! But held my interest throughout, leading to an electrifying ending! It even left chills running up my arms.
I’ve been enjoying Kerry Wilkinson’s books and sadly that was the last on my shelf. But I’m on the lookout for more as he quickly becoming a new go to author for me!
Now I can say I’ve completed my scary fall read.👻 That was easy(whew!) Maybe I’m up for one more?!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2018
4.5 Bewitching Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a young adult thriller with a paranormal twist and it was brilliant! I’d like to encourage you to read this book with an open mind and the understanding that not everything in this book is “believable“... because the only way it is possible for somebody to investigate their own murder is for there to be a supernatural element... requiring us the reader to stretch our imagination.... for me this just was the perfect shift making an ordinary story extraordinary!
17-year-old Eleanor wakes up on a river bank with no memory of how she got there... is she dead? Is she alive? Is she a ghost? People can see her, she can walk, she can talk... but she cannot smell, taste, feel, and she is oh so cold... now Eleanor is determined to figure out what happened the night before she ended up in the river and who tried to kill her... and will they try again?
Eleanor was such a likable character... I loved playing detective right along with her, everyone was a suspect... her boyfriend, her best friend, her brother, the guy working at the local diner... I must give a special S/O to that diner love the idea of a wall filled with cassette tapes.... antique cassette tapes... ugh makes me feel old!
This truly is a genre defying book that I strongly encourage you to give a try! This was one of the best young adult books I’ve read this year and the uniqueness and supernatural element of the story should really appeal to a broad audience of younger readers.... I also need to give Kerry Wilkinson major props... as a grown man he did a phenomenal job of writing a book from a female teenager’s perspective... I certainly hope this is not his last young adult book, because I for one am looking forward to many more!
Absolutely recommend to readers of all ages, this was a well-done thriller with a unique twist!
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this wonderful book ***
📚 you can find all my reviews on my blog @
https://audiokilledthebookmark.com/
This was a young adult thriller with a paranormal twist and it was brilliant! I’d like to encourage you to read this book with an open mind and the understanding that not everything in this book is “believable“... because the only way it is possible for somebody to investigate their own murder is for there to be a supernatural element... requiring us the reader to stretch our imagination.... for me this just was the perfect shift making an ordinary story extraordinary!
17-year-old Eleanor wakes up on a river bank with no memory of how she got there... is she dead? Is she alive? Is she a ghost? People can see her, she can walk, she can talk... but she cannot smell, taste, feel, and she is oh so cold... now Eleanor is determined to figure out what happened the night before she ended up in the river and who tried to kill her... and will they try again?
Eleanor was such a likable character... I loved playing detective right along with her, everyone was a suspect... her boyfriend, her best friend, her brother, the guy working at the local diner... I must give a special S/O to that diner love the idea of a wall filled with cassette tapes.... antique cassette tapes... ugh makes me feel old!
This truly is a genre defying book that I strongly encourage you to give a try! This was one of the best young adult books I’ve read this year and the uniqueness and supernatural element of the story should really appeal to a broad audience of younger readers.... I also need to give Kerry Wilkinson major props... as a grown man he did a phenomenal job of writing a book from a female teenager’s perspective... I certainly hope this is not his last young adult book, because I for one am looking forward to many more!
Absolutely recommend to readers of all ages, this was a well-done thriller with a unique twist!
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this wonderful book ***
📚 you can find all my reviews on my blog @
https://audiokilledthebookmark.com/
July 14, 2018
The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker by Kerry Wilkinson is the sort of book that a reader like myself that enjoys many different genres craves. Even the author admits this one is tough to put into a genre as it’s a bit different for sure. I suppose I’d best describe this one as a young adult supernatural thriller that should appeal to many readers.
The story begins with seventeen year old Eleanor Parker waking up beside the river with no real memory of how she came to be there. As Ellie heads home and begins trying to piece together what happened to her she notices a lot of changes in herself. The feeling of being cold just won’t go away, food doesn’t seem to taste the same and she doesn’t smell the familiar scents around her. Ellie is quite certain that she died last night.
What is one to do when they are sure that someone must have killed them? Find the person responsible of course. With Ellie not knowing who to trust she steps back into her life and begins to investigate starting with the fact her brother’s girlfriend had been murdered the year before in the same river so she needs to know if there’s a connection.
After several books from the thriller camp not quite being overly thrilling The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker was a breathe of fresh air. I had a feeling going in though that I would like this one having read Kerry Wilkinson before but that was a straight up thriller and finding this one included so much was quite fun. In a way a character investigating their own death feels a bit cozy mysteryish without the laughs you might expect but whatever you want to call this one I found it very engaging and urge folks to give it a shot.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story begins with seventeen year old Eleanor Parker waking up beside the river with no real memory of how she came to be there. As Ellie heads home and begins trying to piece together what happened to her she notices a lot of changes in herself. The feeling of being cold just won’t go away, food doesn’t seem to taste the same and she doesn’t smell the familiar scents around her. Ellie is quite certain that she died last night.
What is one to do when they are sure that someone must have killed them? Find the person responsible of course. With Ellie not knowing who to trust she steps back into her life and begins to investigate starting with the fact her brother’s girlfriend had been murdered the year before in the same river so she needs to know if there’s a connection.
After several books from the thriller camp not quite being overly thrilling The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker was a breathe of fresh air. I had a feeling going in though that I would like this one having read Kerry Wilkinson before but that was a straight up thriller and finding this one included so much was quite fun. In a way a character investigating their own death feels a bit cozy mysteryish without the laughs you might expect but whatever you want to call this one I found it very engaging and urge folks to give it a shot.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 17, 2018
I’m a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson. This book comes off as more of a YA mystery and didn’t grab me the way his Jessica Daniels books do.
It’s a different premise. The book starts with Eleanor coming to in the middle of the river, with no memory of how she got there. But she has the feeling that she had died and come back to life. Her lack of three of the five senses (taste, smell and touch) bolster her belief. But folks still know she’s there, she’s not a ghost. Her brother’s girlfriend was drowned in the river a year earlier. Are these incidents connected? The book works from there as she tries to make sense of what has happened.
Eleanor is a typical teen, not part of the in crowd, somewhere in the middle on the popularity scale. I can’t say I really bonded with her. In fact, I didn’t feel much, one way or the other, about her.
There’s a bit of the supernatural element to this and that is not my genre.
There is one bit about how weird rom coms can be depending on how things are viewed that’s really funny and true. This is the first Kerry Wilkinson book that didn’t work for me. I’m willing to call it a one off. I’ll definitely be returning for the next book in the JD series.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
September 27, 2019
I think that The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker can be an intriguing YA thriller with the paranormal side to it for readers. However, I don't do well with supernatural elements sometimes. I get lost and then I lose interest. Unfortunately, thats what happened here and I just went through the motions just to get through it. Just a case of the wrong reader for this book.
July 18, 2018
I honestly can’t believe how much I liked this book—completely took me by surprise. Which really shouldn’t surprise me as I enjoy Kerry’s books as a general rule.
From the beginning we know that Eleanor has died, almost exactly a year ago that another girl had died. It’s a very small town in England, where everyone knows each other and what’s going on. So who killed Eleanor? This begins a week of her trying to solve her own death. Even suspicious of her closest friends and brother.
I will say this was unique. Eleanor is “dead” but is still living and nobody knows. She doesn’t even know why or how this is possible. Kerry did a great job with everything. It’s part coming of age, part mystery. One reviewer had likened this to a Twin Peaks type story. I would say I agree. It just had that supernatural-otherworldly feel to it. I loved it.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
From the beginning we know that Eleanor has died, almost exactly a year ago that another girl had died. It’s a very small town in England, where everyone knows each other and what’s going on. So who killed Eleanor? This begins a week of her trying to solve her own death. Even suspicious of her closest friends and brother.
I will say this was unique. Eleanor is “dead” but is still living and nobody knows. She doesn’t even know why or how this is possible. Kerry did a great job with everything. It’s part coming of age, part mystery. One reviewer had likened this to a Twin Peaks type story. I would say I agree. It just had that supernatural-otherworldly feel to it. I loved it.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2018
The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker isn't your typical young adult mystery — it's a genre-defying, original spin on investigating your own murder ... after the fact.
Ellie Parker is just your average teenage girl who suddenly finds herself with a slew of not-so-average problems when she wakes up on a riverbank with large gaps in her memory. Last night might be a blur, but she has the unsettling certainty that she was drowned the previous evening. And it's not just Ellie's memory that's gone—she's missing her sense of smell, can't stomach food, and is absolutely freezing all of the time.
How can you investigate your own murder when no one realizes you're really dead? Ellie struggles to determine who she can and can't trust, keeping everyone at arm's length as she begins trying to plug the holes in her memory. Her brother's girlfriend died in the river the previous year—is it connected? Or does it have to do with the mysterious man who's been spotted on the outskirts of town? Or with the way her boyfriend is suddenly hesitant to be around her? Wilkinson injects a witty humor into Ellie's voice that makes her mishaps and cynical societal commentary a joy to read. With far more suspects than clues, she must retrace her steps and solve her own murder, doing her best to ignore the fact it feels like time is running out, and she's not quite sure what will happen when it does.
I didn't realize just how literal Ellie's return from the death would be, but despite my initial surprise and wariness, I became fascinated by the unique plot. Not wanting anyone to find out the truth behind her not-so-alive predicament, Ellie does her best playing the expected role of best friend, girlfriend, sister, and daughter, even when she's doubting the intentions of everyone around her. It's a fun dichotomy, and I flew through this novel so much quicker than I had expected.
I love that we don't get bogged down by the existential technicalities of what happened to Ellie, but it does make her return from the dead come across as rather hand-wavy at times. I also wish there had been more focus on scratching beyond the surface of Ellie's interpersonal relationships. It felt like some of her friends and family were just plot points, which left me unsure where she stood with them at the end of the novel.
Nevertheless, The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is a quite enjoyable young adult mystery novel. It's got plenty of unique twists and a refreshing protagonist that will keep you on your toes. Be sure to be on the lookout for when it's released later this month!
Warm thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Ellie Parker is just your average teenage girl who suddenly finds herself with a slew of not-so-average problems when she wakes up on a riverbank with large gaps in her memory. Last night might be a blur, but she has the unsettling certainty that she was drowned the previous evening. And it's not just Ellie's memory that's gone—she's missing her sense of smell, can't stomach food, and is absolutely freezing all of the time.
How can you investigate your own murder when no one realizes you're really dead? Ellie struggles to determine who she can and can't trust, keeping everyone at arm's length as she begins trying to plug the holes in her memory. Her brother's girlfriend died in the river the previous year—is it connected? Or does it have to do with the mysterious man who's been spotted on the outskirts of town? Or with the way her boyfriend is suddenly hesitant to be around her? Wilkinson injects a witty humor into Ellie's voice that makes her mishaps and cynical societal commentary a joy to read. With far more suspects than clues, she must retrace her steps and solve her own murder, doing her best to ignore the fact it feels like time is running out, and she's not quite sure what will happen when it does.
I didn't realize just how literal Ellie's return from the death would be, but despite my initial surprise and wariness, I became fascinated by the unique plot. Not wanting anyone to find out the truth behind her not-so-alive predicament, Ellie does her best playing the expected role of best friend, girlfriend, sister, and daughter, even when she's doubting the intentions of everyone around her. It's a fun dichotomy, and I flew through this novel so much quicker than I had expected.
I love that we don't get bogged down by the existential technicalities of what happened to Ellie, but it does make her return from the dead come across as rather hand-wavy at times. I also wish there had been more focus on scratching beyond the surface of Ellie's interpersonal relationships. It felt like some of her friends and family were just plot points, which left me unsure where she stood with them at the end of the novel.
Nevertheless, The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is a quite enjoyable young adult mystery novel. It's got plenty of unique twists and a refreshing protagonist that will keep you on your toes. Be sure to be on the lookout for when it's released later this month!
Warm thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
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July 25, 2018
I received a free copy of The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker by Kerry Wilkinson from NetGalley for my honest review.
This book was a different read for me. Although it was a thriller it was more paranormal. Eleanor wakes up in a river and has to drag herself out. She doesn't remember how she got there but she does remember that someone held her under the water, trying to drowning her, and has bruises to prove it.
Eleanor doesn't sleep, eat or feel any pain. She knows she is alive because she can communicate with other people. She wants answers and wants to find out how she ended up in the river.
Even stranger, is Eleanor has a brother, Ollie. Ollie's girlfriend, Sarah, was found in the same river a year ago. Ollie struggled with the loss of his girlfriend and the accusations from other people that came with her loss.
Then another girl goes missing, and Ollie is under suspicion. Is Ollie responsible for the girls or is there something more out there?
I would consider this book a young adult supernatural thriller. I think it was just a bit far fetched for my liking.
This book was a different read for me. Although it was a thriller it was more paranormal. Eleanor wakes up in a river and has to drag herself out. She doesn't remember how she got there but she does remember that someone held her under the water, trying to drowning her, and has bruises to prove it.
Eleanor doesn't sleep, eat or feel any pain. She knows she is alive because she can communicate with other people. She wants answers and wants to find out how she ended up in the river.
Even stranger, is Eleanor has a brother, Ollie. Ollie's girlfriend, Sarah, was found in the same river a year ago. Ollie struggled with the loss of his girlfriend and the accusations from other people that came with her loss.
Then another girl goes missing, and Ollie is under suspicion. Is Ollie responsible for the girls or is there something more out there?
I would consider this book a young adult supernatural thriller. I think it was just a bit far fetched for my liking.
June 29, 2018
This is a very strange sort of novel. For starters, the concept is extremely odd to say the least, although I am pretty sure I have heard of it being used before in other titles - that's nothing new though. We all know it's nigh on impossible to produce a completely original idea for a book as everything has been done to death by this point.
"The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker" skirts the line between the young adult and mystery/thriller genres - equal parts coming-of-age novel and murder mystery and one that I found challenging to begin with but once I became accustomed to the storyline and what the author was trying to achieve it all clicked into place. As a result, that was the time I began to enjoy it more, too.
Eleanor (Ellie) Parker wakes up cold, wet and alone in the river that runs through her small village. She has no idea how she got there but she does remember that another girl was drowned in that same river last summer. Her killer was never caught and still noone knows exactly who carried out this shocking murder. Ellie cannot think of who would wish to inflict harm upon her, she's just a normal teenager who delights in doing all the things young girls enjoy doing. She begins to wonder if something links her assault and the drowning the year before. Can she find out the truth before it's too late?
What I loved about this was the ease at which I got into the story once I grasped what it was all about and the direction it was heading in. It starts off quite pedestrian in order to build up the tension and the various layers of the mystery but soon picks up and pushes forward at a stronger pace until the conclusion arrives.
All in all, a perfect summer read which will appeal to youngsters and adults alike. I have come across the name Kerry Wilkinson before but this is my first book by him that I have taken the plunge with. I will be placing the rest of his past works on my rather mountainous to-be-read pile and will no doubt pick them up in the future. Recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
"The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker" skirts the line between the young adult and mystery/thriller genres - equal parts coming-of-age novel and murder mystery and one that I found challenging to begin with but once I became accustomed to the storyline and what the author was trying to achieve it all clicked into place. As a result, that was the time I began to enjoy it more, too.
Eleanor (Ellie) Parker wakes up cold, wet and alone in the river that runs through her small village. She has no idea how she got there but she does remember that another girl was drowned in that same river last summer. Her killer was never caught and still noone knows exactly who carried out this shocking murder. Ellie cannot think of who would wish to inflict harm upon her, she's just a normal teenager who delights in doing all the things young girls enjoy doing. She begins to wonder if something links her assault and the drowning the year before. Can she find out the truth before it's too late?
What I loved about this was the ease at which I got into the story once I grasped what it was all about and the direction it was heading in. It starts off quite pedestrian in order to build up the tension and the various layers of the mystery but soon picks up and pushes forward at a stronger pace until the conclusion arrives.
All in all, a perfect summer read which will appeal to youngsters and adults alike. I have come across the name Kerry Wilkinson before but this is my first book by him that I have taken the plunge with. I will be placing the rest of his past works on my rather mountainous to-be-read pile and will no doubt pick them up in the future. Recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 15, 2018
What a thrilling and fantastic read!
I have read Kerry Wilkinson's books before and they are always a great read.
Each one of his novels is filled with tension and mystery. In the Death and Life of Eleanor Parker, our hero Eleanor wakes up in a river in the middle of the night.
With no memory of what happened to her, she goes home where she discovers she is not technically really alive anymore? Her skin is gray and she has no appetite for food or anything.
Eleanor tries to discover what has happened to her, mostly because the year before, her boyfriends girlfriend Sarah was also found drowned in the river.
As Eleanor tries to piece together what has happened to her that night, things greatly escalate.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a novel full of tension and great characters.
I have read Kerry Wilkinson's books before and they are always a great read.
Each one of his novels is filled with tension and mystery. In the Death and Life of Eleanor Parker, our hero Eleanor wakes up in a river in the middle of the night.
With no memory of what happened to her, she goes home where she discovers she is not technically really alive anymore? Her skin is gray and she has no appetite for food or anything.
Eleanor tries to discover what has happened to her, mostly because the year before, her boyfriends girlfriend Sarah was also found drowned in the river.
As Eleanor tries to piece together what has happened to her that night, things greatly escalate.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a novel full of tension and great characters.
July 30, 2018
17 year old Eleanor wakes up cold in a riverbank with no memory of what happened to her last night. She is covered with bruises but more importantly she’s dead.She goes home and realizes she does not have her senses of smell or taste and is always cold but people can see her and talk to her . So is she a ghost and how can she investigate her murder when no one knows she is dead?
Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is a YA murder mystery with a paranormal twist. It’s a different, light engaging summer read with a unique twist in the end.
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/
Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is a YA murder mystery with a paranormal twist. It’s a different, light engaging summer read with a unique twist in the end.
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/
July 19, 2018
I have only recently started reading and enjoying author Kerry Wilkinson's books so was keen to try this stand alone. I loved this book and found it different to many books I have read recently, in a good way.
Eleanor Parker died approximately a year after another girl had died in a small town in England where everyone knows each other's business. Seventeen-year-old Eleanor Parker wakes up cold in the river that runs through the village. Her memory is vague and has no idea how she got there but she does know that another girl was held under the water and drowned by an unknown killer. So who killed them? Eleanor is suspicious of everyone and attempts to find the answers. While Eleanor is dead, she appears to be still alive and nobody is aware of her death.
This novel is different and intriguing, twists and turns and full of suspense. An excellent book for anyone who is looking for a novel with a difference.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an hones review.
Eleanor Parker died approximately a year after another girl had died in a small town in England where everyone knows each other's business. Seventeen-year-old Eleanor Parker wakes up cold in the river that runs through the village. Her memory is vague and has no idea how she got there but she does know that another girl was held under the water and drowned by an unknown killer. So who killed them? Eleanor is suspicious of everyone and attempts to find the answers. While Eleanor is dead, she appears to be still alive and nobody is aware of her death.
This novel is different and intriguing, twists and turns and full of suspense. An excellent book for anyone who is looking for a novel with a difference.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an hones review.
July 3, 2018
. : ☾⋆ — 5 ★
READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG!!!
https://bit.ly/2KG8Rq1
arc provided from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (thank you Bookouture!!)
this book is so unique and so original and just funky enough to be a goodreads favorite and i’m so mad that it’s only coming out on kindle because it honestly deserves to be in the NYT bestseller’s list with a huge promo following and book tours and stuff and it deserves to have twitter and goodreads hype behind it and for the hardcover to be sold out in every barnes & noble in the continent. THAT’S how good The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is.
and then again i think maybe just probably i might have a thing for necromancy as a subgenre. MAYBE.
this book follows—you guessed it—Eleanor Parker. Eleanor wakes up after a night of partying with some friends to find out that she died the night before, almost exactly a year apart from another girl, Sarah, who was killed in the exact same place as Eleanor. even though she knows for a fact that she’s dead—she’s lost her sense of taste, smell and touch, she’s not hungry, she’s not tired, she’s always cold and her fingers are starting to decompose a little—she’s strangely been given another chance at life, so she makes it her mission to find out who murdered her, and if whoever murdered her was also Sarah’s murderer.
so despite the fact that the plot is pretty heavily loaded, (investigating your own murder??!?!??!) this is surprisingly a character driven book, which i personally really liked because the characters were all honestly very compelling and flawlessly fleshed out. i do like me some well developed characters. Eleanor herself never felt like a tedious POV character. she was easy to follow and, for a book written in first person, she was surprisingly not whiny or annoying or boring or dumb, and i hate myself for saying this, but first person POV’s are like that most times and this book wasn’t like that at all. anyway, i loved Eleanor and i especially loved her mom and her brother. the rest of the characters were great, 10/10 would recommend.
this book was equal parts YA contemporary and murder mystery/thriller. (there was also surprisingly a teeny-tiny bit of sci-fi there right at the end and a lowkey religious vibe throughout, especially during some scenes where Eleanor’s talking about belief, and then again with that strange guardian angel thing near the climax of the book.) ANYWAY, i was kept completely at the edge of my seat all through the book and, dare i say, the twist at the end was very unexpected!! kerry wilkinson obviously has some experience in the mystery/thriller field, but i do like books that can take me by surprise in a non-outrageous way and still be completely in tune with the characters and general tone of the book.
ANYWAY so like i said before this book deserves to be a NYT bestseller and you can quote me on that later. even though it took me a really long time to get through because i didn’t have much time to read during the week, i was still holding onto my chest in shock every time i picked it back up because it was SO GOOD. gotta blast.
READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG!!!
https://bit.ly/2KG8Rq1
arc provided from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (thank you Bookouture!!)
this book is so unique and so original and just funky enough to be a goodreads favorite and i’m so mad that it’s only coming out on kindle because it honestly deserves to be in the NYT bestseller’s list with a huge promo following and book tours and stuff and it deserves to have twitter and goodreads hype behind it and for the hardcover to be sold out in every barnes & noble in the continent. THAT’S how good The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is.
and then again i think maybe just probably i might have a thing for necromancy as a subgenre. MAYBE.
this book follows—you guessed it—Eleanor Parker. Eleanor wakes up after a night of partying with some friends to find out that she died the night before, almost exactly a year apart from another girl, Sarah, who was killed in the exact same place as Eleanor. even though she knows for a fact that she’s dead—she’s lost her sense of taste, smell and touch, she’s not hungry, she’s not tired, she’s always cold and her fingers are starting to decompose a little—she’s strangely been given another chance at life, so she makes it her mission to find out who murdered her, and if whoever murdered her was also Sarah’s murderer.
so despite the fact that the plot is pretty heavily loaded, (investigating your own murder??!?!??!) this is surprisingly a character driven book, which i personally really liked because the characters were all honestly very compelling and flawlessly fleshed out. i do like me some well developed characters. Eleanor herself never felt like a tedious POV character. she was easy to follow and, for a book written in first person, she was surprisingly not whiny or annoying or boring or dumb, and i hate myself for saying this, but first person POV’s are like that most times and this book wasn’t like that at all. anyway, i loved Eleanor and i especially loved her mom and her brother. the rest of the characters were great, 10/10 would recommend.
this book was equal parts YA contemporary and murder mystery/thriller. (there was also surprisingly a teeny-tiny bit of sci-fi there right at the end and a lowkey religious vibe throughout, especially during some scenes where Eleanor’s talking about belief, and then again with that strange guardian angel thing near the climax of the book.) ANYWAY, i was kept completely at the edge of my seat all through the book and, dare i say, the twist at the end was very unexpected!! kerry wilkinson obviously has some experience in the mystery/thriller field, but i do like books that can take me by surprise in a non-outrageous way and still be completely in tune with the characters and general tone of the book.
ANYWAY so like i said before this book deserves to be a NYT bestseller and you can quote me on that later. even though it took me a really long time to get through because i didn’t have much time to read during the week, i was still holding onto my chest in shock every time i picked it back up because it was SO GOOD. gotta blast.
July 19, 2018
So color me surprised, but this book was pretty damn fantastic. The writing was great. It was well paced. The plot was super engaging and had me hooked from the start. The characters were intriguing. Throw in a twist that I DID NOT see coming, and you have a cracking good way to spend a few hours. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.
October 18, 2019
I enjoyed this a lot even if it wasn't perfect and I wanted a different ending. I had no issues with the whodunnit part but well, you need to read it and decide for yourself but I wanted a less perfect end.
Eleanor wakes up in a river and by rights should be dead. She then sets out to discover from a handful of people who may have been the one to kill her. It's YA so not as gritty as this premise could be and she's no Nancy Drew but I did like the internal monologue as she went about her task showing the pros and cons of what she was doing and trying to work out the best way to uncover the truth.
There are lots of twists and some red herrings as we are led one way only to find entirely innocent behaviours. The characters are typical teenagers and behave as such.
I don't know much about the authors other works so I don't feel disappointed like many readers on Goodreads seem to be. Overall it passed the time while on a 4 hour train trip for work and I managed to read it very quickly and that's all I ask at the minute.
Eleanor wakes up in a river and by rights should be dead. She then sets out to discover from a handful of people who may have been the one to kill her. It's YA so not as gritty as this premise could be and she's no Nancy Drew but I did like the internal monologue as she went about her task showing the pros and cons of what she was doing and trying to work out the best way to uncover the truth.
There are lots of twists and some red herrings as we are led one way only to find entirely innocent behaviours. The characters are typical teenagers and behave as such.
I don't know much about the authors other works so I don't feel disappointed like many readers on Goodreads seem to be. Overall it passed the time while on a 4 hour train trip for work and I managed to read it very quickly and that's all I ask at the minute.
August 20, 2018
This is definitely a hype-generating book. Eerie and wild with imagination.
I like a good mystery within a mystery as in the borders of reality are stretched.
I tend to go through books in two ways - devour them overnight, highlighting most of the pages and falling so madly in love with at least some of the characters that I redefine parts of my life by them. Or read the Prologue (1 chapter), put it down to think about it, come back...keep reading...jump to the last chapter not being able to stand the building suspense.
This fell somewhere in the middle.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
I like a good mystery within a mystery as in the borders of reality are stretched.
I tend to go through books in two ways - devour them overnight, highlighting most of the pages and falling so madly in love with at least some of the characters that I redefine parts of my life by them. Or read the Prologue (1 chapter), put it down to think about it, come back...keep reading...jump to the last chapter not being able to stand the building suspense.
This fell somewhere in the middle.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 24, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Tasha Leigh
"Life’s a lot like a well made sandwich. The two ends are kinda boring but what truly matters is all the fancy stuff in the middle."
Eleanor Parker lives in the quiet town of Westby with her mother and brother after her father died. It’s a town where nothing ever really happens. Except for when the post office got broken into last week. And when that girl, Sarah, got murdered last year and found in the river. In the lead up to the anniversary of her death, the town begins to mourn, and they are ever conscious of the fact that her killer has not been found.
Eleanor decided to disobey her mother and go to a party with her friends two nights before the anniversary of Sarah’s death. Barely able to remember her friends let alone the events of that night, Eleanor has no idea of what could have happened. But now she’s dead, so what should it matter? Waking up on the eve of Sarah’s death in the same river, barefoot and bruised with her lungs full of water, Eleanor is determined to work out how she died and who is responsible. But with so many suspects, how can she be sure that anyone is telling the truth?
This book was a rollercoaster to say the least—the premise of this story is that the main character has been murdered, but literally no one else knows, so she is required to investigate her own death. An interesting one which I have personally rarely seen.
It started off on a high—Eleanor wakes up in a river, unable to remember the night before, lungs full of water and hand marks on her neck. Supported by the fact that she can’t taste, smell, or feel pretty much anything, she’s unequivocally dead. But she’s sloshing her way home at 5.15am on a Sunday morning. Just let that sink in…
For the first 20% of the book, familial relationships are the focus of the narrative, causing the reader to question themselves. Was it the brother? What about the boyfriend? Was it the best friend or the mother? The reader is led to believe everyone to be suspect, artfully written so as no stone is left unread within the reader’s mind. Following this the story turns in a more self-discovery direction with Eleanor focusing upon unravelling the night before and why her boyfriend is being weird, leaving the whole murder-y business on the back-burner for a while.
Unfortunately, around the halfway point, the story temporarily derails, hinting to a possible supernatural cause for Eleanor’s existence. This honestly felt nonsensical within the overall scope of her tale. Thankfully, Wilkinson quickly gets the story back on track with the next act being pleasantly predictable (I think that’s a thing). Events took a turn, visible from a mile away in any good thriller, and quickly approached resolution. Assuming the final pages contained an ending, which seemed logical, out of nowhere came a massive twist, one which on a second read through would be blatantly obvious. Although in hindsight it was predictable, the ending did not feel forced and adequately tied up all loose ends.
Set in an English town, which is as boring as it is dreary, this novel utilises the public’s assumed knowledge of British society to its advantage. Trips between the main setting of the novel and other towns are mentioned but not described in detail—a type of storytelling one can only assume is meant to force the reader to either focus more on the characters than the setting or allow the consumer to fill in the blanks themselves.
The majority of characters have a distinct purpose within the narrative, allowing a greater connection to be made with each. The exception however, is the character of Rebecca and her lackeys—while mentioned frequently within Eleanor’s journey, moments of progression of the story relating to Rebecca could have been performed by literally any other character.
Overall, this was an enjoyable narrative. The character building within seems to be designed to help the audience to better relate to all characters, not just the book’s namesake. The path the story took, while long-winded in places, felt like it steered itself in generally the right direction—everyone has hiccups. All loose ends were resolved by the end and allow the reader to feel a sense of closer in relation to Parker’s plight. While not being ground-breaking, this novel should be rated as above average due to its imaginative nature and edgy premise.
"Life’s a lot like a well made sandwich. The two ends are kinda boring but what truly matters is all the fancy stuff in the middle."
Eleanor Parker lives in the quiet town of Westby with her mother and brother after her father died. It’s a town where nothing ever really happens. Except for when the post office got broken into last week. And when that girl, Sarah, got murdered last year and found in the river. In the lead up to the anniversary of her death, the town begins to mourn, and they are ever conscious of the fact that her killer has not been found.
Eleanor decided to disobey her mother and go to a party with her friends two nights before the anniversary of Sarah’s death. Barely able to remember her friends let alone the events of that night, Eleanor has no idea of what could have happened. But now she’s dead, so what should it matter? Waking up on the eve of Sarah’s death in the same river, barefoot and bruised with her lungs full of water, Eleanor is determined to work out how she died and who is responsible. But with so many suspects, how can she be sure that anyone is telling the truth?
This book was a rollercoaster to say the least—the premise of this story is that the main character has been murdered, but literally no one else knows, so she is required to investigate her own death. An interesting one which I have personally rarely seen.
It started off on a high—Eleanor wakes up in a river, unable to remember the night before, lungs full of water and hand marks on her neck. Supported by the fact that she can’t taste, smell, or feel pretty much anything, she’s unequivocally dead. But she’s sloshing her way home at 5.15am on a Sunday morning. Just let that sink in…
For the first 20% of the book, familial relationships are the focus of the narrative, causing the reader to question themselves. Was it the brother? What about the boyfriend? Was it the best friend or the mother? The reader is led to believe everyone to be suspect, artfully written so as no stone is left unread within the reader’s mind. Following this the story turns in a more self-discovery direction with Eleanor focusing upon unravelling the night before and why her boyfriend is being weird, leaving the whole murder-y business on the back-burner for a while.
Unfortunately, around the halfway point, the story temporarily derails, hinting to a possible supernatural cause for Eleanor’s existence. This honestly felt nonsensical within the overall scope of her tale. Thankfully, Wilkinson quickly gets the story back on track with the next act being pleasantly predictable (I think that’s a thing). Events took a turn, visible from a mile away in any good thriller, and quickly approached resolution. Assuming the final pages contained an ending, which seemed logical, out of nowhere came a massive twist, one which on a second read through would be blatantly obvious. Although in hindsight it was predictable, the ending did not feel forced and adequately tied up all loose ends.
Set in an English town, which is as boring as it is dreary, this novel utilises the public’s assumed knowledge of British society to its advantage. Trips between the main setting of the novel and other towns are mentioned but not described in detail—a type of storytelling one can only assume is meant to force the reader to either focus more on the characters than the setting or allow the consumer to fill in the blanks themselves.
The majority of characters have a distinct purpose within the narrative, allowing a greater connection to be made with each. The exception however, is the character of Rebecca and her lackeys—while mentioned frequently within Eleanor’s journey, moments of progression of the story relating to Rebecca could have been performed by literally any other character.
Overall, this was an enjoyable narrative. The character building within seems to be designed to help the audience to better relate to all characters, not just the book’s namesake. The path the story took, while long-winded in places, felt like it steered itself in generally the right direction—everyone has hiccups. All loose ends were resolved by the end and allow the reader to feel a sense of closer in relation to Parker’s plight. While not being ground-breaking, this novel should be rated as above average due to its imaginative nature and edgy premise.
August 17, 2018
The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker
follows the titular character who wakes up in a river early on a Sunday morning, unsure of just how she got there. Walking home barefoot, she can't seem to shake off the feeling of being extremely cold (unusual during the summer weather), and she finds she can't eat, sleep or feel anything anymore. Eleanor quickly comes to the conclusion that she's dead and she's pretty sure someone murdered her last night.
This is taking place a year after her brother's girlfriend Sarah was murdered after being drowned in the river. Suspicion soon fell on Ollie, but police couldn't charge him after finding no evidence. Could the same person who drowned Sarah also have drowned Eleanor?
Loved loved loved this book! What a crazy twisty premise, and poor Eleanor! It must be terrifying to realise that someone tried to kill you the night before, and even more so when you realise that they succeeded and you've been resurrected somehow?
I did not see the ending coming. I think I suspected most people in this book, but I didn't think it would be the person that it was.
Overall, great great book, and I will definitely be reading more from this author!
This is taking place a year after her brother's girlfriend Sarah was murdered after being drowned in the river. Suspicion soon fell on Ollie, but police couldn't charge him after finding no evidence. Could the same person who drowned Sarah also have drowned Eleanor?
Loved loved loved this book! What a crazy twisty premise, and poor Eleanor! It must be terrifying to realise that someone tried to kill you the night before, and even more so when you realise that they succeeded and you've been resurrected somehow?
I did not see the ending coming. I think I suspected most people in this book, but I didn't think it would be the person that it was.
Overall, great great book, and I will definitely be reading more from this author!
August 3, 2018
In a very small town, Eleanor awakens with the realization that she’s dead, and that someone murdered her. She doesn’t remember who or why, so everyone is a suspect. It also seems highly coincidental (or not?) that this happened on the anniversary of another girl’s death.
This novel is edged with paranormal elements that I had to suspend my disbelief over, but it’s not nearly as dark and gritty as I thought it would be. Eleanor takes everything in stride, including her own death, and her snarky observations are what makes this book fun to read. More snark, please!
I was a teensy bit disappointed with the ending, but that’s just me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
This novel is edged with paranormal elements that I had to suspend my disbelief over, but it’s not nearly as dark and gritty as I thought it would be. Eleanor takes everything in stride, including her own death, and her snarky observations are what makes this book fun to read. More snark, please!
I was a teensy bit disappointed with the ending, but that’s just me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
July 26, 2018
This was one amazing book! A roller-coaster of a read! Thrilling and absolutely addictive! I love this author and this is, in y opinion one of his very best books and that's saying a lot as every one of his books is stunning!
July 10, 2018
It wasn’t as suspenseful as I expected and I didn’t get everything, but still enjoyable!! I couldn’t guess the ending :P
July 25, 2018
First, I don't read that many mystery books, However, I decided to give it a chance with this, since there is also a YA book.
As for the mistery part, I have to say that I am satisfy. The book kept me intrigued the whole time trying to figure it out who was the criminal. It is a good signal for me that I wasn't figuring it out until close the ending, when all the clues were sorted.
Even thought there were parts I felt totally unnecessary, the main plot kept me with the interest alive. I NEEDED ANSWERS. Those unnecessary moments were mostly the YA part of the book. Nevertheless, the author managed pretty well to make it feel natural. Our main character was a teenager after all. And I cannot lie, it fill my drama cravings.
As for the paranormal part, was -sorry to say- the portion of the plot that dissapointed me the most. Even when it was the main reason why the story started, it was the least paid attention. And at the end is totally unresolved, just left aside like a "lucky circumstance". I wish we could know more insight of how and why that happened, if the necklace meant something, some kind of background. We got none. The only part where Ellie tried to find some answers about it was so ridiculous that it totally felt like a filler, just to justify some time in the story.
Would I recommend it? Maybe to a very expecific kind of reader: a young one with no much background on thrillers and that can be easily distracted with the teenage drama of the story.
As for the mistery part, I have to say that I am satisfy. The book kept me intrigued the whole time trying to figure it out who was the criminal. It is a good signal for me that I wasn't figuring it out until close the ending, when all the clues were sorted.
Even thought there were parts I felt totally unnecessary, the main plot kept me with the interest alive. I NEEDED ANSWERS. Those unnecessary moments were mostly the YA part of the book. Nevertheless, the author managed pretty well to make it feel natural. Our main character was a teenager after all. And I cannot lie, it fill my drama cravings.
As for the paranormal part, was -sorry to say- the portion of the plot that dissapointed me the most. Even when it was the main reason why the story started, it was the least paid attention. And at the end is totally unresolved, just left aside like a "lucky circumstance". I wish we could know more insight of how and why that happened, if the necklace meant something, some kind of background. We got none. The only part where Ellie tried to find some answers about it was so ridiculous that it totally felt like a filler, just to justify some time in the story.
Would I recommend it? Maybe to a very expecific kind of reader: a young one with no much background on thrillers and that can be easily distracted with the teenage drama of the story.
July 5, 2018
ALL THE STARS! 5 across the board!
Wow. I wasn't sure where this plot was heading at all through the entire book which made it that more intriguing and mysterious and thrilling. I was getting "Riverdale", "Twin Peaks", "The Lovely Bones" and "The Sixth Sense" vibes from the very beginning.
Kerry Wilkinson has done a really phenomenal job of NOT making this a cheesy horror/slasher/ghost plot which it could have easily become.
Instead, the writing is beautiful and somewhat poetic. The scenes, the feelings, the emotions were so full of emotion. The scenes at the river i could picture so vividly because of how well Mr. Wilkinson described them.
I realized at about 55% through what the author was trying to do with the main character and it made the plot even that much more addicting. I couldn't put this book down. And yes, what I thought, was what it was and it was so real and so believable, to me anyway.
And OMG the ending! WHOA! That was a huge "What the what??!!" moment!
This book comes out Jul 26 - I can't say enough good things about it.
Thank you to the Publisher and the author and #NetGalley for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!!
Wow. I wasn't sure where this plot was heading at all through the entire book which made it that more intriguing and mysterious and thrilling. I was getting "Riverdale", "Twin Peaks", "The Lovely Bones" and "The Sixth Sense" vibes from the very beginning.
Kerry Wilkinson has done a really phenomenal job of NOT making this a cheesy horror/slasher/ghost plot which it could have easily become.
Instead, the writing is beautiful and somewhat poetic. The scenes, the feelings, the emotions were so full of emotion. The scenes at the river i could picture so vividly because of how well Mr. Wilkinson described them.
I realized at about 55% through what the author was trying to do with the main character and it made the plot even that much more addicting. I couldn't put this book down. And yes, what I thought, was what it was and it was so real and so believable, to me anyway.
And OMG the ending! WHOA! That was a huge "What the what??!!" moment!
This book comes out Jul 26 - I can't say enough good things about it.
Thank you to the Publisher and the author and #NetGalley for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!!
July 17, 2018
The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker by Kerry Wilkinson satisfied my need for a gripping thriller. This mystery novel is unlike anything I’ve read before as the main character tries to solve her own murder. Eleanor is likeable and perseverant, and the writing is very suspenseful. I definitely enjoyed this one, and I would recommend it to mystery fans.This book tells the story of a girl who wakes up to remember being drowned in a river. A girl had previously been killed in the same river she was attacked in, so she believes there is a link between the two of them. I enjoyed how Eleanor works to investigate her own murder and how fast-paced the novel is. The ending was something that I could figure out fairly early on. However the shocking twist really makes up for it.
Full review on The Candid Cover
Full review on The Candid Cover
July 18, 2018
Finished reading: July 14th 2018
"The moment you allow yourself to be frightened of everything is the moment you stop living your life."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 22, 2018
This is a very intriguing book and one which had me desparate to know what was really going on....
Elle wakes up by the river feeling strange and unsure how she got there.
She makes her way home but can’t remember anything about the night before. She tries to sleep but as soon as she closes her eyes she feels like she’s drowning.
Elle can’t understand what is happening, but tells us she ‘feels like she’s died.’
She tries to carry on as normal but deep down she knows something is wrong.
The village around her want to mark the Anniversary of the death of Sarah, a girl who was drowned a year ago in the river and Elle joins in.
Soon another girl is missing and Elle and her boyfriend try and find her.
This is a gripping read, but a bit of a strange one!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Elle wakes up by the river feeling strange and unsure how she got there.
She makes her way home but can’t remember anything about the night before. She tries to sleep but as soon as she closes her eyes she feels like she’s drowning.
Elle can’t understand what is happening, but tells us she ‘feels like she’s died.’
She tries to carry on as normal but deep down she knows something is wrong.
The village around her want to mark the Anniversary of the death of Sarah, a girl who was drowned a year ago in the river and Elle joins in.
Soon another girl is missing and Elle and her boyfriend try and find her.
This is a gripping read, but a bit of a strange one!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 4, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
I dnf'd this book because I was really bored reading it, it really wasn't my thing but I can see a lot of other people really liking this because it has a really cool premise.
This follows a teenager who wake up in the river in the same position as another girl that died a year before by a mysterious killer. Like I didn't get far enough into this book to tell you anymore about this.
I think in a few years I'll pick up the book and hopefully enjoy it but for now this is not a book I enjoyed.
I dnf'd this book because I was really bored reading it, it really wasn't my thing but I can see a lot of other people really liking this because it has a really cool premise.
This follows a teenager who wake up in the river in the same position as another girl that died a year before by a mysterious killer. Like I didn't get far enough into this book to tell you anymore about this.
I think in a few years I'll pick up the book and hopefully enjoy it but for now this is not a book I enjoyed.
July 26, 2018
Where to start with The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker? Where better than the cover and the title? The cover is very striking with the contrast between the leaves and the earth. And that title….such a twist on the established phrase and so fitting for this book!
I’ve only read one of Kerry Wilkinson’s books before but I really enjoyed it so I was intrigued when I read the blurb to The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker. I was totally intrigued why Ellie was still alive and how she could possibly be linked to a death a year previous. Being a teenager is hard enough without being dead!
Mr Wilkinson definitely played his cards close to his chest when he wrote this. Even at half way through, I couldn’t settle on a suspect. Everyone close to Ellie had a motive even if Ellie was finding these things out as she went along. Memory loss must be a pain when you’re trying to solve your own murder!
I found this rather an addictive read, it helped me escape the real world which had its own problems. Shadowing Ellie as she solved the problems in her life totally captured my imagination. I could see this as a drama on TV, similar to the epic Pretty Little Liars….but not quite as long.
It’s murder mystery with a difference, a touch of the paranormal. If you don’t like anything of that ilk, I wouldn’t suggest you read this. But if you keep an open mind, this is a cracking read. It may be a YA book but this not so young adult really enjoyed it. The YA label is such a wide-ranging genre, it can cover variety of topics so if you’re attracted to the blurb but put off by the label, give it a try; you might be surprised!
I’ve only read one of Kerry Wilkinson’s books before but I really enjoyed it so I was intrigued when I read the blurb to The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker. I was totally intrigued why Ellie was still alive and how she could possibly be linked to a death a year previous. Being a teenager is hard enough without being dead!
Mr Wilkinson definitely played his cards close to his chest when he wrote this. Even at half way through, I couldn’t settle on a suspect. Everyone close to Ellie had a motive even if Ellie was finding these things out as she went along. Memory loss must be a pain when you’re trying to solve your own murder!
I found this rather an addictive read, it helped me escape the real world which had its own problems. Shadowing Ellie as she solved the problems in her life totally captured my imagination. I could see this as a drama on TV, similar to the epic Pretty Little Liars….but not quite as long.
It’s murder mystery with a difference, a touch of the paranormal. If you don’t like anything of that ilk, I wouldn’t suggest you read this. But if you keep an open mind, this is a cracking read. It may be a YA book but this not so young adult really enjoyed it. The YA label is such a wide-ranging genre, it can cover variety of topics so if you’re attracted to the blurb but put off by the label, give it a try; you might be surprised!
June 12, 2018
I can almost see chris pratt in the lead for this....honestly kerry has done it again, I'm a huge jessica daniels fan but this one off is just fab. Quirky, enthralling, dare I say it has a twist?
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