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The Victim
Make the wrong choice, and you won’t live to make another...
When public relations executive Gem Golding becomes the victim of a carjacking at the hands of a dangerous criminal bent on her destruction, she must make a choice: Does she surrender to her attacker, or does she stand her ground and fight for her life? What follows are the two strands Gem’s life can take, and the chain of causes and effects that leads to Gem’s survival...or her eventual demise.
Emphasizing the power our choices have to determine who we become, The Victim is an ingenious high-concept psychological thriller following the devastating effects of two characters as they spiral toward their ultimate fates.
When public relations executive Gem Golding becomes the victim of a carjacking at the hands of a dangerous criminal bent on her destruction, she must make a choice: Does she surrender to her attacker, or does she stand her ground and fight for her life? What follows are the two strands Gem’s life can take, and the chain of causes and effects that leads to Gem’s survival...or her eventual demise.
Emphasizing the power our choices have to determine who we become, The Victim is an ingenious high-concept psychological thriller following the devastating effects of two characters as they spiral toward their ultimate fates.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2019
19 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Max Manning
9 books65 followersMax Manning is a former national newspaper journalist. He started his career as a news reporter on regional newspapers before moving on to Fleet Street. There he worked for several titles, including Today and the Daily Express. He later joined the staff of the Daily Telegraph where he worked for sixteen years as a news sub-editor. Now You See is his debut crime novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
July 5, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Max Manning, and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Max Manning develops an interesting approach to this story, using the narrative to tell two stories with loose parallels. This approach will work for some but leave other writers scratching their heads. Perhaps this was the intended end result, though I leave that to the individual reviewer. Gem Golding decides to stop in at the local store for someone on her way home from work. Little does she know, but her life is about to change quite dramatically. While in the parking lot, she is approached by a man who pulls out a knife and attacks her. It is here that Manning offers his literary fork in the road. In one version, Gem bows down to the man and allows him to take her car, injuring her in the struggle. Thereafter, she must live with the pain of being victimised and she becomes part of the headlines as the search for the attacker heats up. Personal loss follows and she is left waiting for the police to catch the man who turned her life upside down. In the alternative reaction, Gem refuses to stand down and eventually maims her attacker, receiving praise in all media outlets and helping the police as much as possible as they hunt down the attacker. As each story progresses, the reader learns more about the story from a variety of angles: Gem, her boyfriend, the attacker, the police, and even a journalist. All this comes together in a heart stopping culmination, where the reader can decide which of the two Gems they choose to be the true protagonist of the story. An interesting approach that will keep the reader thinking until the final page flip and shape the story throughout. Recommended to those who enjoy something a little different with their reading experience, particularly the reader who enjoys parallel narratives.
I have never read Max Manning before this novel, though this was surely an interesting introduction. The premise of this novel permits the reader to feel as though they are reading two stories in one, weaving the plots together and interchanging characters at will. Gem Golding is hard to gauge, particularly because it really depends which of the two you pick as your ‘true protagonist’. She can either be a weak and vulnerable woman who has to deal with having been attacked and then facing personal tragedy that only compounds the event, or she is a strong woman who overcame adversity and is lauded in the media as a hero for stopping what could have been a violent attack. Manning offers both these women up but does not seem to lean in either direction. There is a great supporting cast who works effectively to promote either Gem—interesting that both versions of the story use the same supports—and are helped along by an effective narrative. While some are surely more endearing than others, Manning creates a wonderful character base throughout. The story, while unique, is also well written and allows the reader to move between the two parallels with ease, hoping to find a happy home with a different set of readers. Short chapters push the story forward and keeps the reader wanting to complete the reading task in short order. I’ll definitely try some more Manning in the future, particularly if he uses this same technique in other novels.
Kudos, Mr. Manning, for this curious approach to a thriller. I am intrigued and I hope others find this style as enticing as I did.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Max Manning develops an interesting approach to this story, using the narrative to tell two stories with loose parallels. This approach will work for some but leave other writers scratching their heads. Perhaps this was the intended end result, though I leave that to the individual reviewer. Gem Golding decides to stop in at the local store for someone on her way home from work. Little does she know, but her life is about to change quite dramatically. While in the parking lot, she is approached by a man who pulls out a knife and attacks her. It is here that Manning offers his literary fork in the road. In one version, Gem bows down to the man and allows him to take her car, injuring her in the struggle. Thereafter, she must live with the pain of being victimised and she becomes part of the headlines as the search for the attacker heats up. Personal loss follows and she is left waiting for the police to catch the man who turned her life upside down. In the alternative reaction, Gem refuses to stand down and eventually maims her attacker, receiving praise in all media outlets and helping the police as much as possible as they hunt down the attacker. As each story progresses, the reader learns more about the story from a variety of angles: Gem, her boyfriend, the attacker, the police, and even a journalist. All this comes together in a heart stopping culmination, where the reader can decide which of the two Gems they choose to be the true protagonist of the story. An interesting approach that will keep the reader thinking until the final page flip and shape the story throughout. Recommended to those who enjoy something a little different with their reading experience, particularly the reader who enjoys parallel narratives.
I have never read Max Manning before this novel, though this was surely an interesting introduction. The premise of this novel permits the reader to feel as though they are reading two stories in one, weaving the plots together and interchanging characters at will. Gem Golding is hard to gauge, particularly because it really depends which of the two you pick as your ‘true protagonist’. She can either be a weak and vulnerable woman who has to deal with having been attacked and then facing personal tragedy that only compounds the event, or she is a strong woman who overcame adversity and is lauded in the media as a hero for stopping what could have been a violent attack. Manning offers both these women up but does not seem to lean in either direction. There is a great supporting cast who works effectively to promote either Gem—interesting that both versions of the story use the same supports—and are helped along by an effective narrative. While some are surely more endearing than others, Manning creates a wonderful character base throughout. The story, while unique, is also well written and allows the reader to move between the two parallels with ease, hoping to find a happy home with a different set of readers. Short chapters push the story forward and keeps the reader wanting to complete the reading task in short order. I’ll definitely try some more Manning in the future, particularly if he uses this same technique in other novels.
Kudos, Mr. Manning, for this curious approach to a thriller. I am intrigued and I hope others find this style as enticing as I did.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 23, 2019
The Victim by Max Manning was an intriguing story written in a unique style. I loved reading the two different strands of the same story. Everybody has wondered what if? This book explores just that - what is I had done something different - how would my life be different? How would people see me differently if I had made another choice? Very clever and well written.
Gem Golding is attacked on her way home from work late one night. A man attempted to car jack her and she has a split second to make a choice - fight or surrender? The chapters then alternate between the 2 choice and we see how Gem's life would be with each decision. Would things be better or worse if she had done it differently?
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Gem Golding is attacked on her way home from work late one night. A man attempted to car jack her and she has a split second to make a choice - fight or surrender? The chapters then alternate between the 2 choice and we see how Gem's life would be with each decision. Would things be better or worse if she had done it differently?
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
May 7, 2019
“Victims of crime react in one of three ways. Fight. Flight. Or Freeze. All are instinctive and the freeze response is the most primitive. Nobody should feel shame or be blamed for an instinctive response they have no control over.”
Gem is carjacked.
What happens after the carjacking is determined by how she responds to the attack.
In the even numbered chapters, Gem is the victim. SURRENDER
In the odd numbered chapters, an alternate version of events is told, where Gem fights off her attacker. FIGHT
But, if you surrender, must you remain a victim? And, if you fight, does that mean that you won’t feel like a victim after the attack? And, what if a coin toss decides your fate, whether or not you resist or submit?
A “sliding doors” story with lots of thought provoking questions that would probably be a great book for book clubs to read and discuss.
But, I had to reread several chapters because some events in the “Surrender” chapters felt like victories, and some events in the “Fight” chapters felt like defeats which made things a bit confusing.
Despite the violent crimes being committed, I think the format kept me emotionally disconnected from the victim.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Max Manning for the digital ARC received in exchange for a candid review. If the premise seems intriguing to you, look for this title on Aug. 6, 2019!
Gem is carjacked.
What happens after the carjacking is determined by how she responds to the attack.
In the even numbered chapters, Gem is the victim. SURRENDER
In the odd numbered chapters, an alternate version of events is told, where Gem fights off her attacker. FIGHT
But, if you surrender, must you remain a victim? And, if you fight, does that mean that you won’t feel like a victim after the attack? And, what if a coin toss decides your fate, whether or not you resist or submit?
A “sliding doors” story with lots of thought provoking questions that would probably be a great book for book clubs to read and discuss.
But, I had to reread several chapters because some events in the “Surrender” chapters felt like victories, and some events in the “Fight” chapters felt like defeats which made things a bit confusing.
Despite the violent crimes being committed, I think the format kept me emotionally disconnected from the victim.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Max Manning for the digital ARC received in exchange for a candid review. If the premise seems intriguing to you, look for this title on Aug. 6, 2019!
May 4, 2019
I loved this! The Victim is a sort of speculative fiction story. It's narrated in divergent story lines based on a choice one woman makes. The main character is the victim of a carjacking one night. The choice is fight back or go along with the carjacking? The results of each choice are played out and the consequences or benefits of each arc are made known. I find it fascinating to consider how one little thing can change the entire trajectory of a life. This reminds me of the butterfly effect where one thing causes ripples effects that are far reaching, even into other people's lives. And, there's always the question of fate being predetermined or fluid. I don't think this woman had any destined outcome one way or another. Did she know that this particular choice had the potential to steer her life in two different directions? No. It's just a choice like flipping a coin. The story is well written and complex with many layers. There is so much to consider here about chance and being unable to control anything. You do have to pay attention so as not to get confused with the dual perspectives. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoy a unique and engrossing story that will leave you thinking for days after the last page. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 11, 2019
Ay yi yi
The premise of The Victim is good, encompassing the alternate scenarios of a carjacking victim--fighting the aggressor leads down one road, surrendering leads down another. Unfortunately, the application was shaky at best.
The reader is basically getting two stories for the price of one...what happens in Gem's life after she fights off her carjacker and escapes, and what happens in her life when she gives in and becomes a victim. The two stories run parallel, with odd chapters covering the fight timeline, and even chapters covering the surrender.
Still with me so far?
Unfortunately, the author, Max Manning, muddied the waters by covering multiple perspectives in each chapter--those of Gem, the detective, the carjacker, and Gem's boyfriend. Trying to keep each of those story lines straight, for both sliding timelines, was nearly impossible to do. I had to keep going back and double checking the text to make sure I had it right.
If a reader is forced to keep going back in the book for double checking purposes, the writing is not strong. End of story.
For me, it was tedious and not remotely interesting. Worse, I figured out the twists very early on.
This is a hard pass for me. 1.5 stars rounded up for ingenuity.
**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a free copy of the story, in exchange for my review.
The premise of The Victim is good, encompassing the alternate scenarios of a carjacking victim--fighting the aggressor leads down one road, surrendering leads down another. Unfortunately, the application was shaky at best.
The reader is basically getting two stories for the price of one...what happens in Gem's life after she fights off her carjacker and escapes, and what happens in her life when she gives in and becomes a victim. The two stories run parallel, with odd chapters covering the fight timeline, and even chapters covering the surrender.
Still with me so far?
Unfortunately, the author, Max Manning, muddied the waters by covering multiple perspectives in each chapter--those of Gem, the detective, the carjacker, and Gem's boyfriend. Trying to keep each of those story lines straight, for both sliding timelines, was nearly impossible to do. I had to keep going back and double checking the text to make sure I had it right.
If a reader is forced to keep going back in the book for double checking purposes, the writing is not strong. End of story.
For me, it was tedious and not remotely interesting. Worse, I figured out the twists very early on.
This is a hard pass for me. 1.5 stars rounded up for ingenuity.
**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a free copy of the story, in exchange for my review.
December 20, 2019
Als ich vor ein paar Tagen zu lesen begonnen habe, gab es zu diesem Buch noch keine Bewertungen auf Goodreads oder Lovelybooks. Das hat mich verwirrt, denn normalerweise bin ich nicht die erste, die ein Buch liest. In der Zwischenzeit gibt es aber einige erste Bewertungen. Und ich kann mir vorstellen, dass die für Verlag und Autor doch eher enttäuschend sind. Die sind nämlich momentan nicht wirklich toll. Kann ich verstehen, auch wenn ich persönlich dieses Buch besser bewerte. Sobald man nämlich den Trick dieses Buchs verstanden hat, ist es ziemlich cool!
Also, was ist denn der Trick, den man kennen muss, um dieses Buch zu mögen? Alle, die von selbst draufkommen wollen, sollten diesen Absatz überspringen und einfach beim nächsten weiterlesen. Wenn ich eine von euch wäre, würde ich dieses Geheimnis nicht wissen wollen. Dieses Aha-Erlebnis ist nämlich einfach nur unglaublich. Na, immer noch da? Okay, da du es also wirklich wissen willst: Das Buch erzählt nicht eine, sondern zwei Geschichten parallel. In der ersten entscheidet sich Gem dazu zu kämpfen, in der anderen gibt Gem auf. Beides hat Konsequenzen, beides prägt ihren weiteren Lebensweg. Nur halt auf andere Weise. Bei beiden Optionen gibt es Parallelen. Kein Wunder, ist ja immer noch der gleiche Täter bei beiden. Aber doch waren sie so unterschiedlich, dass man eigentlich beide unabhängig von einander lesen könnte. Auf jeden Fall, sobald man das herausgefunden hat, kommt man ziemlich gut mit der Handlung zurecht. Ohne der Info glaube ich aber, dass dieses Buch wirklich sehr kompliziert sein kann. Ich persönlich habe auch überlegt, abzubrechen, bevor ich das verstanden habe. Aber sobald ich das herausgefunden hab, fand ich es cool.
Die Protagonistin ist Gem. Je nach Abschnitt des Buches ist sie ein Opfer oder eine Kämpferin. Sie ist eine sehr spannende Figur, auch wenn ich nie das Gefühlt hatte, sie so wirklich kennen zu lernen. Man blieb einfach immer an der Oberfläche mit ihr, gerade weil man eben über zwei verschiedene Gems liest.
Die Geschichte fand ich gut. Sehr spannend, macht durchaus Sinn. Ich persönlich würde es cool finden, wenn man dieses Buch verfilmen würde. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass man so die Besonderheiten des Buches einfacher und vielleicht auch deutlicher als Film umsetzen könnte.
Der Schreibstil war in Ordnung. Ich habe das Buch innerhalb von weniger als einem Tag gelesen, was schon mal immer ein gutes Zeichen ist. Stellenweise war das Buch etwas verwirrend, aber das hab ich ja schon oben erwähnt.
Mein Fazit? Ganz interessantes Buch! Ich kann mir gut vorstellen, es nochmal zu lesen, damit ich auch die erste Hälfte richtig verstehe.
Ach ja, und liebe Grüße aus der Slowakei! Hier hab ich die letzten paar Tage verbracht. Jetzt bin ich aber schon wieder auf dem Weg nach Hause.
Also, was ist denn der Trick, den man kennen muss, um dieses Buch zu mögen? Alle, die von selbst draufkommen wollen, sollten diesen Absatz überspringen und einfach beim nächsten weiterlesen. Wenn ich eine von euch wäre, würde ich dieses Geheimnis nicht wissen wollen. Dieses Aha-Erlebnis ist nämlich einfach nur unglaublich. Na, immer noch da? Okay, da du es also wirklich wissen willst: Das Buch erzählt nicht eine, sondern zwei Geschichten parallel. In der ersten entscheidet sich Gem dazu zu kämpfen, in der anderen gibt Gem auf. Beides hat Konsequenzen, beides prägt ihren weiteren Lebensweg. Nur halt auf andere Weise. Bei beiden Optionen gibt es Parallelen. Kein Wunder, ist ja immer noch der gleiche Täter bei beiden. Aber doch waren sie so unterschiedlich, dass man eigentlich beide unabhängig von einander lesen könnte. Auf jeden Fall, sobald man das herausgefunden hat, kommt man ziemlich gut mit der Handlung zurecht. Ohne der Info glaube ich aber, dass dieses Buch wirklich sehr kompliziert sein kann. Ich persönlich habe auch überlegt, abzubrechen, bevor ich das verstanden habe. Aber sobald ich das herausgefunden hab, fand ich es cool.
Die Protagonistin ist Gem. Je nach Abschnitt des Buches ist sie ein Opfer oder eine Kämpferin. Sie ist eine sehr spannende Figur, auch wenn ich nie das Gefühlt hatte, sie so wirklich kennen zu lernen. Man blieb einfach immer an der Oberfläche mit ihr, gerade weil man eben über zwei verschiedene Gems liest.
Die Geschichte fand ich gut. Sehr spannend, macht durchaus Sinn. Ich persönlich würde es cool finden, wenn man dieses Buch verfilmen würde. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass man so die Besonderheiten des Buches einfacher und vielleicht auch deutlicher als Film umsetzen könnte.
Der Schreibstil war in Ordnung. Ich habe das Buch innerhalb von weniger als einem Tag gelesen, was schon mal immer ein gutes Zeichen ist. Stellenweise war das Buch etwas verwirrend, aber das hab ich ja schon oben erwähnt.
Mein Fazit? Ganz interessantes Buch! Ich kann mir gut vorstellen, es nochmal zu lesen, damit ich auch die erste Hälfte richtig verstehe.
Ach ja, und liebe Grüße aus der Slowakei! Hier hab ich die letzten paar Tage verbracht. Jetzt bin ich aber schon wieder auf dem Weg nach Hause.
June 28, 2019
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Well this was a shame. I was looking forward to this one because having an author follow the two possible paths a potential car jacking victim could go sounded so intriguing. Too bad that Manning didn't just focus on the main protagonist and added in POVs from so many people. Also I got so confused after a while if I was following Gem as survivor or Gem as warrior.
"The Victim" follows Gem Golding. Gem stops on her way home to get some painkillers and is accosted by a carjacker. Gem reels wondering if she should fight back or should she just acquiesce with the carjacker's demands. We get at the decision point and from there Manning follows Gem's life if she given in or if she had fought back.
At first I really liked the book. I liked Gem and understood why she was so focused on not being seen as a victim (in either timeline) and getting back to her job. I wish that Manning had stayed more focused on her since the whole point of the book was Gem and how her life was impacted. Manning then shows the different timelines for the same people (her boyfriend, the carjacker, the detectives, the reporter, and others) who follow if Gem was a victim or a survivor.
There was way too much going on and I had to keep going back and forth in my Kindle to make sure I was reading it correctly if Gem was a victim or survivor. After a while I just gave up and started to feel frustrated because it was hard to follow what was going on. Manning should have stripped out the other characters. We focused way too much on the carjacker who apparently went to how to be a serial killer school.
The writing was okay, but I think the scattered shot approach to everyone didn't work real well. I was disappointed in the conclusion of one of the story-lines (Gem as a survivor) and think that Manning should have followed up with an epilogue on both of those story-lines. However, I don't think it mattered to him much, since as I said, Gem wasn't really the focus as she should have been.
The flow was up and down throughout. Following so many people and different story-lines depending on which version of Gem we were with in the book was just confusing and definitely impacted what was going on. It didn't help that we had subplots going on with the detectives and carjacker and reporter as well. The boyfriend POVs don't really count considering how short they were.
The ending was a meh to one story-line with Gem and a "I guess" to the other one following her.
Well this was a shame. I was looking forward to this one because having an author follow the two possible paths a potential car jacking victim could go sounded so intriguing. Too bad that Manning didn't just focus on the main protagonist and added in POVs from so many people. Also I got so confused after a while if I was following Gem as survivor or Gem as warrior.
"The Victim" follows Gem Golding. Gem stops on her way home to get some painkillers and is accosted by a carjacker. Gem reels wondering if she should fight back or should she just acquiesce with the carjacker's demands. We get at the decision point and from there Manning follows Gem's life if she given in or if she had fought back.
At first I really liked the book. I liked Gem and understood why she was so focused on not being seen as a victim (in either timeline) and getting back to her job. I wish that Manning had stayed more focused on her since the whole point of the book was Gem and how her life was impacted. Manning then shows the different timelines for the same people (her boyfriend, the carjacker, the detectives, the reporter, and others) who follow if Gem was a victim or a survivor.
There was way too much going on and I had to keep going back and forth in my Kindle to make sure I was reading it correctly if Gem was a victim or survivor. After a while I just gave up and started to feel frustrated because it was hard to follow what was going on. Manning should have stripped out the other characters. We focused way too much on the carjacker who apparently went to how to be a serial killer school.
The writing was okay, but I think the scattered shot approach to everyone didn't work real well. I was disappointed in the conclusion of one of the story-lines (Gem as a survivor) and think that Manning should have followed up with an epilogue on both of those story-lines. However, I don't think it mattered to him much, since as I said, Gem wasn't really the focus as she should have been.
The flow was up and down throughout. Following so many people and different story-lines depending on which version of Gem we were with in the book was just confusing and definitely impacted what was going on. It didn't help that we had subplots going on with the detectives and carjacker and reporter as well. The boyfriend POVs don't really count considering how short they were.
The ending was a meh to one story-line with Gem and a "I guess" to the other one following her.
July 4, 2019
Finished reading: June 29th 2019
"Life is a game of lies, and death is the only truth. Time to play."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 18, 2019
***3.5-4 Stars ***
Publication Date: August 6th, 2019
Gem is a victim of a carjacking one night by a psychopath Norton, while she stops for some painkillers on the way home from work with a headache. What I found particularly unique about this read and I really enjoyed is the story is told in parallel universes alternating with Gem as a victim of the crime and Gem as a person who fought back during the crime. I didn't find this confusing, I was intrigued. Very fast paced read. The ending fell a little flat for me especially because I called part of it from the beginning but overall a solid 4 star read.
Special Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: August 6th, 2019
Gem is a victim of a carjacking one night by a psychopath Norton, while she stops for some painkillers on the way home from work with a headache. What I found particularly unique about this read and I really enjoyed is the story is told in parallel universes alternating with Gem as a victim of the crime and Gem as a person who fought back during the crime. I didn't find this confusing, I was intrigued. Very fast paced read. The ending fell a little flat for me especially because I called part of it from the beginning but overall a solid 4 star read.
Special Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2019
Let me say this first that the plot was amazing. The execution, unfortunately, not so.
Gem is attacked while returning from her work one day. The book describes the after effect of the attack. The chapters are divided into two parts, where one is Gem the victim and the other is Gem the warrior.
The victim is where she doesn’t fight back and then how the people react to her.
Then the warrior is where she fights back and then how people reacts to her.
It was an amazing concept. But the constant back and forth between the survivor and victim chapter was very confusing. At first I didn’t even knew that. I’m sure many will find this confusing too.
So keeping aside the confusing chapters, the book was not bad. There was a decent amount of suspense. Perhaps others will enjoy it a bit more than I did with the style in which it was written.
Gem is attacked while returning from her work one day. The book describes the after effect of the attack. The chapters are divided into two parts, where one is Gem the victim and the other is Gem the warrior.
The victim is where she doesn’t fight back and then how the people react to her.
Then the warrior is where she fights back and then how people reacts to her.
It was an amazing concept. But the constant back and forth between the survivor and victim chapter was very confusing. At first I didn’t even knew that. I’m sure many will find this confusing too.
So keeping aside the confusing chapters, the book was not bad. There was a decent amount of suspense. Perhaps others will enjoy it a bit more than I did with the style in which it was written.
December 31, 2019
The Victim
Fight or Flight?
Thank you Max Manning the publisher and NetGalley for my digital arc of The Victim. While I believe the author took artistic risks in the way he structured this book I had like many other readers a hard time following certain aspects. It made for an interesting read and added to the psychological factor of the story. Whether you think it works is a complete personal matter and honestly this might be the first arc that I have been given that I wish I had the actual book to better be able to go back and forth from chapter to chapter. I will say I loved the concept of Fight or Surrender it has a way of pulling you in what makes it more challenging is that there are far too many chapters and far too many points of views to keep straight and my fear with that for other readers is that most read for enjoyment and not to feel that reading is a task. I will however say that if you give this a chance you will find that Manning takes the time to be insightful as he explores all aspects of the characters personalities. Take Gem for example she feels others judge her based on her actions during the carjacking. And guess what? She’s right. One of the positive aspects of the multiple viewpoints is that we see how various people interpret her actions. The police try not to judge yet you get the impression they do anyway. The reporter is only interested when she is the strong warrior setting an example for others. The attacker in his delusional state of being takes her fear and makes it something horrid. All I kept thinking while reading this book is that quote by Robert Frost “Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
In this case would it make a difference thought?
My highlights of this book are the insights into the psychology of the attack and response While the plot is suspenseful, I think it would be an error of judgement to try to read The Victim as a straight-forward suspense novel. While it is beautifully packaged that way this one takes time an energy to get straight in your head. I know that many people will say that this is not worth the time. Even though I am a little late to the party with my review I will happily disagree and pick up another Max Manning book in the future.
Fight or Flight?
Thank you Max Manning the publisher and NetGalley for my digital arc of The Victim. While I believe the author took artistic risks in the way he structured this book I had like many other readers a hard time following certain aspects. It made for an interesting read and added to the psychological factor of the story. Whether you think it works is a complete personal matter and honestly this might be the first arc that I have been given that I wish I had the actual book to better be able to go back and forth from chapter to chapter. I will say I loved the concept of Fight or Surrender it has a way of pulling you in what makes it more challenging is that there are far too many chapters and far too many points of views to keep straight and my fear with that for other readers is that most read for enjoyment and not to feel that reading is a task. I will however say that if you give this a chance you will find that Manning takes the time to be insightful as he explores all aspects of the characters personalities. Take Gem for example she feels others judge her based on her actions during the carjacking. And guess what? She’s right. One of the positive aspects of the multiple viewpoints is that we see how various people interpret her actions. The police try not to judge yet you get the impression they do anyway. The reporter is only interested when she is the strong warrior setting an example for others. The attacker in his delusional state of being takes her fear and makes it something horrid. All I kept thinking while reading this book is that quote by Robert Frost “Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
In this case would it make a difference thought?
My highlights of this book are the insights into the psychology of the attack and response While the plot is suspenseful, I think it would be an error of judgement to try to read The Victim as a straight-forward suspense novel. While it is beautifully packaged that way this one takes time an energy to get straight in your head. I know that many people will say that this is not worth the time. Even though I am a little late to the party with my review I will happily disagree and pick up another Max Manning book in the future.
March 24, 2019
Title: The Victim
Author: Max Manning
Length: 300 pages
Publisher: Source Books
Genre: Crime Fiction, Thriller
Publishing date: August 6, 2019
My rating: 4/5
Summary:
The book is about an incident where the protagonist Gem makes a choice and what would have happened had she chosen a different route. The journey of both the choices available to Gem and the of the antagonist Norton.
My Take:
I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this beautiful crime fiction book.
The story starts with a thrilling scene of a Carjacking. It does give you an adrenaline rush while describing the events. One can completely empathise with the character of Gem and would abhor Norton, the antagonist. The characterization is brilliant and the history of every character brings depth in them.
The plot is great. If you’ve read Jeffrey Archer’s Heads you Win, you wouldn’t find this book confusing as just like Archer’s book, this book has two parallel plots based on the choices made by them. While I would say the ending of this book is more precise than Archer’s book.
The thrilling moments are there but I craved for more. I thoroughly enjoyed the narratives from Gem’s and Nortan’s perspectives and got a bit bored when the investigation part was covered, nevertheless it was critical for the story to move ahead.
The cover of the book is also apt for the story. I would not say that the revelation blew my mind as I could predict the same.
A great book for people who love reading crime fictions.
Author: Max Manning
Length: 300 pages
Publisher: Source Books
Genre: Crime Fiction, Thriller
Publishing date: August 6, 2019
My rating: 4/5
Summary:
The book is about an incident where the protagonist Gem makes a choice and what would have happened had she chosen a different route. The journey of both the choices available to Gem and the of the antagonist Norton.
My Take:
I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this beautiful crime fiction book.
The story starts with a thrilling scene of a Carjacking. It does give you an adrenaline rush while describing the events. One can completely empathise with the character of Gem and would abhor Norton, the antagonist. The characterization is brilliant and the history of every character brings depth in them.
The plot is great. If you’ve read Jeffrey Archer’s Heads you Win, you wouldn’t find this book confusing as just like Archer’s book, this book has two parallel plots based on the choices made by them. While I would say the ending of this book is more precise than Archer’s book.
The thrilling moments are there but I craved for more. I thoroughly enjoyed the narratives from Gem’s and Nortan’s perspectives and got a bit bored when the investigation part was covered, nevertheless it was critical for the story to move ahead.
The cover of the book is also apt for the story. I would not say that the revelation blew my mind as I could predict the same.
A great book for people who love reading crime fictions.
July 6, 2019
Fascinating Psychological Thriller
Gem Golding, a public relations executive, stops to pick up some items from an isolated convenience store on her way home from work late at night. The parking lot is practically empty and poorly lighted. As she returns to her car she is confronted by a carjacker carrying a knife. He demands her keys. Gem faces two choices, labelled as Fight or Surrender. The structure of the novel develops the two scenarios and what happens under each in alternating chapters. There is some confusion in following the story with this parallel structure because we are really reading two stories in short chunks and you could lose sight of what happened in each. Nonetheless I found this approach intriguing. In the Fight Scenario Gem rushes her attacker, makes it to her car and uses the car as a weapon when he tries to block her. She ends up running over his leg, injuring his leg and leaving the scene in haste. In the Surrender scenario Gem ends up on the ground and watches him flee in her car. In this scenario she ends up feeling weak and powerless.
Gem's husband Drew Bennett is initially sympathetic in both scenarios but a darker side of his nature ii revealed as the plot unfolds. The Police Detective, Elliot Day, and his assistant are portrayed as helpful in both but their attitudes toward the victim differ in the Fight and Surrender scenarios. The villain Norton ends up pursuing Gem under both outcomes, obsessed with the idea that they belong together.
There are many twists and turns and a few red herrings along the way. As both versions make their way toward the conclusion the author springs some major surprises which enrich our enjoyment of the novel.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. I highly recommend it.
Gem Golding, a public relations executive, stops to pick up some items from an isolated convenience store on her way home from work late at night. The parking lot is practically empty and poorly lighted. As she returns to her car she is confronted by a carjacker carrying a knife. He demands her keys. Gem faces two choices, labelled as Fight or Surrender. The structure of the novel develops the two scenarios and what happens under each in alternating chapters. There is some confusion in following the story with this parallel structure because we are really reading two stories in short chunks and you could lose sight of what happened in each. Nonetheless I found this approach intriguing. In the Fight Scenario Gem rushes her attacker, makes it to her car and uses the car as a weapon when he tries to block her. She ends up running over his leg, injuring his leg and leaving the scene in haste. In the Surrender scenario Gem ends up on the ground and watches him flee in her car. In this scenario she ends up feeling weak and powerless.
Gem's husband Drew Bennett is initially sympathetic in both scenarios but a darker side of his nature ii revealed as the plot unfolds. The Police Detective, Elliot Day, and his assistant are portrayed as helpful in both but their attitudes toward the victim differ in the Fight and Surrender scenarios. The villain Norton ends up pursuing Gem under both outcomes, obsessed with the idea that they belong together.
There are many twists and turns and a few red herrings along the way. As both versions make their way toward the conclusion the author springs some major surprises which enrich our enjoyment of the novel.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. I highly recommend it.
January 9, 2022
On her way home from work, Gem stops to pick up some pain killers for her headache. While in the parking lot, she’s approached by a dangerous man with a knife attempting to carjack her. Gem has 2 options, give him wants he wants and hope that she isn’t hurt in the process, or fight back.
This book explores what would happen for both scenarios. Which would have been nice knowing before I read the first 100 pages. I was seriously confused but thought it was just me getting things mixed up in my head. But once I figured out which events belonged to their timelines, I couldn’t put this down. It’s so intriguing to be able to explore the “what ifs”
It still did get a little confusing trying to keep everything in order in my head since either way the characters are all the same. Nothing too bad, but each chapter I had to kind of put away what just happened and get back in the correct mindset for the new chapter.
And really, both versions made for a really good book. This was just so much more elevated with both scenarios. And also being able to see some of the similarities and seeing what events were going to happen either way. Definitely a different kind of thriller and I definitely recommend this if you love thrillers but still want to change it up.
This book explores what would happen for both scenarios. Which would have been nice knowing before I read the first 100 pages. I was seriously confused but thought it was just me getting things mixed up in my head. But once I figured out which events belonged to their timelines, I couldn’t put this down. It’s so intriguing to be able to explore the “what ifs”
It still did get a little confusing trying to keep everything in order in my head since either way the characters are all the same. Nothing too bad, but each chapter I had to kind of put away what just happened and get back in the correct mindset for the new chapter.
And really, both versions made for a really good book. This was just so much more elevated with both scenarios. And also being able to see some of the similarities and seeing what events were going to happen either way. Definitely a different kind of thriller and I definitely recommend this if you love thrillers but still want to change it up.
August 22, 2019
The Victim by Max Manning was intriguing and uniquely different. It was written using two different strands of the same story. This book explores the 'what if's' - what if I had done something else, or how would following an alternative course of action have made my life any different if I had made another choice? Very cleverly thought-out and well written, this was a fantastic read, if a little confusing at times. Max Manning created a wonderful character base though some were more endearing than others. Short chapters helped to move the story along at a good pace until the conclusion when the author delivered some major surprises, which enhanced my enjoyment of The Victim.
I’ll definitely try some more of Max Manning's work in the future.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I’ll definitely try some more of Max Manning's work in the future.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 12, 2019
This was an audiobook listen but I got confused a lot of the time and so many points of view. Blah!
November 1, 2019
Rounded up 2.5 stars to 3.
I liked the story but all mixing of views and alternating scenarios was a bit confusing. I think if I'd had known that going in I would have understood it better. I had to back up several times before I realized what was going on.
I liked the story but all mixing of views and alternating scenarios was a bit confusing. I think if I'd had known that going in I would have understood it better. I had to back up several times before I realized what was going on.
March 7, 2019
The Victim is a psychological thriller that follows Gem Golding, an ambitious, young public relations officer who has everything she has ever wanted in life, a successful career, a doting boyfriend. Her life is thrown upside down when she makes an innocent stop one night at a quickie mart to get some painkillers and a carjacker approaches her and tries to take her vehicle. She gets into an altercation with the carjacker and the assault ends with her ending up in the hospital.
In the wake of her experience, Gem’s stable life starts to fall apart. She develops a paranoia that the attacker is following her, and her boyfriend who had long wanted for her to be a stay at home wife. He seizes on her newfound vulnerability to push his agenda that she needs to get a job that has better hours or better yet, she should just stay home, and take care of the house. Initially, Gem believes that she is just feeling vulnerable and that she just needs to get back in control of her life. It soon becomes apparent; however, that the carjacker has taken a personal obsession to Gem. The cops tasked with apprehending Gem’s carjacker soon realize that this is no ordinary petty criminal, they are dealing with an increasing dangerous psychopath. The body count rises when Gem’s boyfriend is targeted by the carjacker and he is killed. The case takes on fresh urgency as the body count rises and the vicious nature of the suspect becomes more and more apparent.
The story is fast paced, and told through the eyes of all the parties involved. This allows us as the reader to get an omnipotent perspective. There are a few different angles of storylines that develop, and they involve the same characters, so it did lead me to be slightly confused. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The story has enough surprises to keep me interested. The staging and characters are sufficiently creepy.
In the wake of her experience, Gem’s stable life starts to fall apart. She develops a paranoia that the attacker is following her, and her boyfriend who had long wanted for her to be a stay at home wife. He seizes on her newfound vulnerability to push his agenda that she needs to get a job that has better hours or better yet, she should just stay home, and take care of the house. Initially, Gem believes that she is just feeling vulnerable and that she just needs to get back in control of her life. It soon becomes apparent; however, that the carjacker has taken a personal obsession to Gem. The cops tasked with apprehending Gem’s carjacker soon realize that this is no ordinary petty criminal, they are dealing with an increasing dangerous psychopath. The body count rises when Gem’s boyfriend is targeted by the carjacker and he is killed. The case takes on fresh urgency as the body count rises and the vicious nature of the suspect becomes more and more apparent.
The story is fast paced, and told through the eyes of all the parties involved. This allows us as the reader to get an omnipotent perspective. There are a few different angles of storylines that develop, and they involve the same characters, so it did lead me to be slightly confused. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The story has enough surprises to keep me interested. The staging and characters are sufficiently creepy.
February 22, 2022
The novel The Victim by Max Manning is a mystery/psychological thriller that takes place late at night, outside a small shop in London. This book tells about the main character Gem Golding. She lives an ordinary life with a boyfriend, and a job that she loves. But this may change when she is put in a life or death experience of carjacking. She has the choice to fight or surrender. Every decision she makes in this situation will affect the outcome of the rest of her life. The carjacker isn’t simply looking for a new car, he thinks of it as a game where he controls everything. It also shows the point of view of each major character in the story such as Gem Golding, her attacker, the detective, her boyfriend, etc.
A quote that stood out to me was from Gem Golding, “I want to make it clear that I’m not a victim. I’ve been victimized by my attacker, of course, but I refuse to be a victim.”(57) She shows great strength, and courage when saying this. It helped to explain the story, and show how even when life-altering things happen, that you should stay strong. This also shows that when things like this happen we have to keep living our lives to the fullest.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The reason I gave it this rating is because I felt like at some points in the book it’s repetitive, and it was hard to stay interested during those parts. Even so, as I got deeper into the book I kept wanting to read more to find out what will happen next. There were a lot of twists and unexpected events that took place throughout the book.
I would certainly recommend this book to someone who enjoys suspense, and psychological twists. This book's events can very much happen in real life, so if someone enjoys reading more realistic stories, then this is the book for them.
A quote that stood out to me was from Gem Golding, “I want to make it clear that I’m not a victim. I’ve been victimized by my attacker, of course, but I refuse to be a victim.”(57) She shows great strength, and courage when saying this. It helped to explain the story, and show how even when life-altering things happen, that you should stay strong. This also shows that when things like this happen we have to keep living our lives to the fullest.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The reason I gave it this rating is because I felt like at some points in the book it’s repetitive, and it was hard to stay interested during those parts. Even so, as I got deeper into the book I kept wanting to read more to find out what will happen next. There were a lot of twists and unexpected events that took place throughout the book.
I would certainly recommend this book to someone who enjoys suspense, and psychological twists. This book's events can very much happen in real life, so if someone enjoys reading more realistic stories, then this is the book for them.
February 12, 2019
📖 REVIEW 🔊
The Victim by Max Manning
"When public relations executive Gem Golding becomes the victim of a carjacking at the hands of a dangerous criminal bent on her destruction, she must make a choice: Does she surrender to her attacker, or does she stand her ground and fight for her life? What follows are the two strands Gem's life can take, and the chain of causes and effects that leads to Gem's survival...or her eventual demise. Emphasizing the power our choices have to determine who we become, The Victim is an ingenious high-concept psychological thriller following the devastating effects of two characters as they spiral toward their ultimate fates.”
This book was COOL y’all! Remember those books from your childhood where you would choose what path the story took? This one made me so nostalgic of that. The Victim is basically two stories wrapped into one, the outcome dependent on how our victim/fighter reacts to being in a very threatening and scary situation. In the beginning, I struggled a little bit with keeping track of which storyline was which but as soon as I got used to it, I was almost mesmerized by the uniqueness of it all. It was different than anything I have read in a long time. There were twists and turns, recipe for any good psychological thriller obviously, but my favorite part was the psychopath in this story. He was really interesting to get to know via the very descriptive words of this author and I felt like I was there witnessing his creepiness and blatant disregard for human life.
This book comes out in August. Definitely add it to your TBR! Thanks to @netgalley and @sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this ARC!
The Victim by Max Manning
"When public relations executive Gem Golding becomes the victim of a carjacking at the hands of a dangerous criminal bent on her destruction, she must make a choice: Does she surrender to her attacker, or does she stand her ground and fight for her life? What follows are the two strands Gem's life can take, and the chain of causes and effects that leads to Gem's survival...or her eventual demise. Emphasizing the power our choices have to determine who we become, The Victim is an ingenious high-concept psychological thriller following the devastating effects of two characters as they spiral toward their ultimate fates.”
This book was COOL y’all! Remember those books from your childhood where you would choose what path the story took? This one made me so nostalgic of that. The Victim is basically two stories wrapped into one, the outcome dependent on how our victim/fighter reacts to being in a very threatening and scary situation. In the beginning, I struggled a little bit with keeping track of which storyline was which but as soon as I got used to it, I was almost mesmerized by the uniqueness of it all. It was different than anything I have read in a long time. There were twists and turns, recipe for any good psychological thriller obviously, but my favorite part was the psychopath in this story. He was really interesting to get to know via the very descriptive words of this author and I felt like I was there witnessing his creepiness and blatant disregard for human life.
This book comes out in August. Definitely add it to your TBR! Thanks to @netgalley and @sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this ARC!
April 29, 2019
The Victim by Max Manning is a psychological thriller following Gem Golding as she is violently attacked during a carjacking. She has two chooses: surrender or fight back. This book will take you down both of those paths and the life that comes after the two choices.
This book is so unique in the way that one character becomes both a victim and warrior. The book follows one event where the main character makes two different choices which puts her on two different timelines. It's something I've personally never seen before and it's an interesting little writing trick.
The writing trick of creating two separate timelines is good and bad. For one, it's more interesting. If you were to read just one of the two outcomes this novel would not be nearly as attention grabbing. However, it would be a lot less confusing. It was hard for me to keep track of which timeline I was reading. Thankfully, the chapters have it clearly labeled for you, but that still didn't stop me from getting mixed up.
The author did something really brave and unique by creating two different timelines, but the plotline itself is good too. I didn't really find anything else that really stood out as wonderful, but nothing else was terrible either. If you like a good thriller and think you can read two different timelines simultaneously without becoming confused, than give this book a try.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.
This book is so unique in the way that one character becomes both a victim and warrior. The book follows one event where the main character makes two different choices which puts her on two different timelines. It's something I've personally never seen before and it's an interesting little writing trick.
The writing trick of creating two separate timelines is good and bad. For one, it's more interesting. If you were to read just one of the two outcomes this novel would not be nearly as attention grabbing. However, it would be a lot less confusing. It was hard for me to keep track of which timeline I was reading. Thankfully, the chapters have it clearly labeled for you, but that still didn't stop me from getting mixed up.
The author did something really brave and unique by creating two different timelines, but the plotline itself is good too. I didn't really find anything else that really stood out as wonderful, but nothing else was terrible either. If you like a good thriller and think you can read two different timelines simultaneously without becoming confused, than give this book a try.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.
February 14, 2019
thank you to Netgalley, source books and author Max Manning for this digital ARC in return for an unbiased review
here comes the blurb as they say it so much better than i can do! :)
When public relations executive Gem Golding becomes the victim of a carjacking at the hands of a dangerous criminal bent on her destruction, she must make a choice: Does she surrender to her attacker, or does she stand her ground and fight for her life? What follows are the two strands Gem’s life can take, and the chain of causes and effects that leads to Gem’s survival...or her eventual demise.
Emphasizing the power our choices have to determine who we become, The Victim is an ingenious high-concept psychological thriller following the devastating effects of two characters as they spiral toward their ultimate fates.
really enjoyed this book so many vibes of the old choose your own adventure books ihad as a child loved seeing the twists and turn the timelines gave, as this was a digital ARC i was on my KOBO and i feel this would be a much better book to read as a hard copy, i think you would understand the flow of the timelines so much more and i see others feel the same in there reviews so glad its not just me!
fantastic read!
here comes the blurb as they say it so much better than i can do! :)
When public relations executive Gem Golding becomes the victim of a carjacking at the hands of a dangerous criminal bent on her destruction, she must make a choice: Does she surrender to her attacker, or does she stand her ground and fight for her life? What follows are the two strands Gem’s life can take, and the chain of causes and effects that leads to Gem’s survival...or her eventual demise.
Emphasizing the power our choices have to determine who we become, The Victim is an ingenious high-concept psychological thriller following the devastating effects of two characters as they spiral toward their ultimate fates.
really enjoyed this book so many vibes of the old choose your own adventure books ihad as a child loved seeing the twists and turn the timelines gave, as this was a digital ARC i was on my KOBO and i feel this would be a much better book to read as a hard copy, i think you would understand the flow of the timelines so much more and i see others feel the same in there reviews so glad its not just me!
fantastic read!
July 6, 2019
Imagine someone’s holding a knife to your throat and you have to choose fight or surrender. Whatever you choose will determine if you survive or die. Which do you choose? In Max Manning’s novel of Gem Golding being held at knifepoint , he plays out both options. After first being introduced to The Victim, Gem, you are then thrust into a bi-lateral plot. You are given each scenario, Gem who fought and Gem who surrendered, and the plots that unfurl from both. It is written with each chapter going back and forth. It was a little confusing the keep straight the details and what was happening in each plot. The characters are also the same in each scenario but different things happen to them. It was a little tricky to figure out what was happening in each scenario. If I could reread to book or give you any tips it would be to keep notes so you know what’s happening in each. I enjoyed Gem from both angles. I can not recommend this book enough. It was like a Criminal Minds episode in two parts. Very well written with well developed characters! It was a unique story that I never thought I would get the chance to read. But thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, I received a free copy to read for an unbiased review.
September 6, 2019
I love a mystery thriller and it's probably my favorite genre to read. Max Manning certainly put a different spin on this thriller. This story is told in 2 parallel stories both with the same characters, world, and situation; however, with different "what if" scenarios. Gem is walking to her car when she is attacked. The 2 different stories are her either becoming the victim or the media hero. I really enjoyed reading this parallel story and the fact that Max Manning did not try to persuade you one way or the other. It did take me a few chapters to catch onto to this reading style. Usually in a parallel story it is 2 different characters and perspectives. Each chapter alternates in telling the story and it reads pretty fast because the chapters are short. There are so many surprises along the way that totally throw off your thinking and the outcome that you want. You meet various other characters from Gem's husband, Drew, the detective and the villain. It was a fun way to read a story and a fun way to look at 2 different endings. Do they come together at the end? Do they intertwine? You will have to read it to find out! I would really rate this book at 3 1/2 to almost 4 stars!
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
May 27, 2019
**Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**
I really fell into this book. We're given 2 versions of the story, alternating each chapter between Fight and Surrender. Ultimately, however, it seems it really doesn't matter what choice is made (so if you're looking for advice, look elsewhere).
The two different versions of the same story can be frustrating at times. I don't normally make notes for myself while reading, but with this book you almost have to. Some of the events that happen in each timeline are so similar or happen in slightly different ways, which is challenging to keep track of when the timeline switches with each chapter. Though, one thing I did enjoy about this structure, is the timing of certain events happening either in tandem or juxtaposed between the timelines.
Both versions of this story could stand on their own as separate novels, though I (surprisingly) found myself preferring the Surrender chapters more.
All in all, a fun thriller with a few twists I saw coming and some turns that I didn't!
I really fell into this book. We're given 2 versions of the story, alternating each chapter between Fight and Surrender. Ultimately, however, it seems it really doesn't matter what choice is made (so if you're looking for advice, look elsewhere).
The two different versions of the same story can be frustrating at times. I don't normally make notes for myself while reading, but with this book you almost have to. Some of the events that happen in each timeline are so similar or happen in slightly different ways, which is challenging to keep track of when the timeline switches with each chapter. Though, one thing I did enjoy about this structure, is the timing of certain events happening either in tandem or juxtaposed between the timelines.
Both versions of this story could stand on their own as separate novels, though I (surprisingly) found myself preferring the Surrender chapters more.
All in all, a fun thriller with a few twists I saw coming and some turns that I didn't!
July 1, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
The Victim.
I requested this because the concept sounded interesting, a Sliding Doors twist on the crime genre.
But it's a literary device extremely difficult to pull off and the way the story is structured made it a confusing read for me.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
PR professional Gem Golding is attacked by a thug in a parking lot when she stops at a convenience store to buy aspirin for her headache.
The narrative suddenly splits into two multi-verse arcs; one where Gem submits to her attacker and another where she fights back.
These two separate storylines happen simultaneously and we as the readers are pulled along on both tangents, following Gem's recovering from the ordeal and the two detectives tasked to the investigation.
The thing is, the narratives are culled together with subheadings having to remind readers what multiverse we are in.
A better idea would have to split both arcs into two separate parts entirely, not group them together.
The next problem was how much I disliked Gem.
There was something so whiny and doormat-y about her.
It didn't help that I had no idea why she and her douchebag boyfriend, Drew, were together in the first place.
I saw no common interests between them nor was there any exposition as to why or how they hooked up.
And if there was, I must have missed it in the varying timelines.
Next, the author must love PR or worked in PR or owed a bet to someone because he states nearly a half dozen times Gem's cool job in PR and how she has struggled to rise to top in her industry; how vital and important she is in her firm because she is an executive and how proud her single mother is that her only child works in the glamorous world of PR.
Okay, we get it. Gem loves her job. Too bad she's unlikable.
Then, the bad guy, Norton.
Is he just a basic thug or is he a delusional nutter? Or both?
Which works if we had exposition about his disposition earlier but his sudden fixation on Gem as the future love of his life seems out of left field.
I would have understood his fixation if he was just angry that she had escaped his clutches in the 'fight' arc and wanted payback but to add sexual violence and obsession to the mix was phony and unnecessary.
There were a couple of twists, all of which I saw coming, but only because I read so many of these types of books so that's not the author's fault.
This was an okay read but I didn't like anyone and the characters were one dimensional and cliche.
I requested this because the concept sounded interesting, a Sliding Doors twist on the crime genre.
But it's a literary device extremely difficult to pull off and the way the story is structured made it a confusing read for me.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
PR professional Gem Golding is attacked by a thug in a parking lot when she stops at a convenience store to buy aspirin for her headache.
The narrative suddenly splits into two multi-verse arcs; one where Gem submits to her attacker and another where she fights back.
These two separate storylines happen simultaneously and we as the readers are pulled along on both tangents, following Gem's recovering from the ordeal and the two detectives tasked to the investigation.
The thing is, the narratives are culled together with subheadings having to remind readers what multiverse we are in.
A better idea would have to split both arcs into two separate parts entirely, not group them together.
The next problem was how much I disliked Gem.
There was something so whiny and doormat-y about her.
It didn't help that I had no idea why she and her douchebag boyfriend, Drew, were together in the first place.
I saw no common interests between them nor was there any exposition as to why or how they hooked up.
And if there was, I must have missed it in the varying timelines.
Next, the author must love PR or worked in PR or owed a bet to someone because he states nearly a half dozen times Gem's cool job in PR and how she has struggled to rise to top in her industry; how vital and important she is in her firm because she is an executive and how proud her single mother is that her only child works in the glamorous world of PR.
Okay, we get it. Gem loves her job. Too bad she's unlikable.
Then, the bad guy, Norton.
Is he just a basic thug or is he a delusional nutter? Or both?
Which works if we had exposition about his disposition earlier but his sudden fixation on Gem as the future love of his life seems out of left field.
I would have understood his fixation if he was just angry that she had escaped his clutches in the 'fight' arc and wanted payback but to add sexual violence and obsession to the mix was phony and unnecessary.
There were a couple of twists, all of which I saw coming, but only because I read so many of these types of books so that's not the author's fault.
This was an okay read but I didn't like anyone and the characters were one dimensional and cliche.
August 19, 2019
Told in two opposing timelines, The Victim explores what can happen as a result of the choices you make. Surprisingly, this is the third book I have read this year with a similar concept. I think playing out various choices in a situation is extremely thought-provoking. Manning shows how Gem’s adverse decisions as the victim of a violent crime impacted the timeline of her life and her character as a whole. The author’s experience as a news reporter was evident in his writing.
I want to give some credit to the author and publisher for the format of this book. There are two rival timelines: The Fight and The Surrender. It is also told from a few different perspectives: Gem, The Detective, The Mastermind, The Reporter and The Boyfriend. The book is laid out in a way that makes it very easy to know which timeline you are reading at any given time and whose viewpoint you are reading. Not only is it labeled, but the chapters have a different design element making it easy to check at first glance. Bravo for that choice!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy.
I want to give some credit to the author and publisher for the format of this book. There are two rival timelines: The Fight and The Surrender. It is also told from a few different perspectives: Gem, The Detective, The Mastermind, The Reporter and The Boyfriend. The book is laid out in a way that makes it very easy to know which timeline you are reading at any given time and whose viewpoint you are reading. Not only is it labeled, but the chapters have a different design element making it easy to check at first glance. Bravo for that choice!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy.
December 7, 2020
Was it just a random carjacking resulting in minor injuries or something much more sinister? Listed as a psychological thriller as well as mystery and suspense, The Victim by Max Manning delivers all of that as well as the, by now, anticipated twists and turns to weave together an interesting storyline with believable (given the depravity of some of our fellow human beings) situations. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? It depends on your definition of good and bad. I will say this, the author did a nice job of laying out an interesting enough to hold the readers' attention with enough surprises to keep their brains alert by trying to anticipate what may happen next. This was a well-written and believable storyline that I just wanted to keep reading instead of getting things done that I should be working on. I don't really read a lot of fiction novels but this book was one of the Hoopla Bonus Reads offering and the description sounded interesting. After reading it I may have to reassess why I usually pass on fiction. Buckle up and get ready for a good ride/read!
April 26, 2019
Max Manning has given us another edge-of-your-seat thriller. Gem Golding has to make a life-altering decision one night when she is carjacked. She can choose to fight her attacker, a cold blooded psychopath, or submit to him. Manning alternates chapters with the consequences of these two decisions in a groundbreaking literacy feat.
I loved that Manning took on this technique of the two outcomes of a decision. I found it to be original and refreshing. With that said, I did find myself confused at times, especially towards the end, because I couldn’t remember what had happened in which scenario. I think part of this was because I read the book over several days, instead of in one straight sitting. I would also recommend reading a print version rather than an ebook because you may want to flip back and forth at times.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Max Manning for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved that Manning took on this technique of the two outcomes of a decision. I found it to be original and refreshing. With that said, I did find myself confused at times, especially towards the end, because I couldn’t remember what had happened in which scenario. I think part of this was because I read the book over several days, instead of in one straight sitting. I would also recommend reading a print version rather than an ebook because you may want to flip back and forth at times.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Max Manning for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 17, 2019
One carjacking, two possible scenarios - Fight or flight. That's where the story splits off into two different directions, one with Gem the warrior and one with Gem the victim. It's an interesting concept, and it did make for an intriguing storyline. That said, some things worked and some, well, not so much. The contrast between the two Gem's worked, but did get somewhat confusing as the story progressed, so I was flipping back and forth to keep track which Gem said or did what thing. I think part of that was due to a handful of other characters thrown in and of course, there actions and conversations were also different, depending on which timeline they were in. The chapters are labeled with the appropriate Surrender/Fight reality, but it's still a lot to keep up with. In the end, The Victim is an interesting story, a strange one at times, but interesting nonetheless. So, for me, it comes out somewhere in the middle. Parts were terrific, but others fell a little flat.
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