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Halfway
Three women. One killer. No turning back.A chilling thriller set in isolated Welsh countryside, perfect for fans of In the Woods by Tana French and The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup .The Halfway Inn is closed to customers, side-lined by a bypass and hidden deep in inhospitable countryside. One winter's night, two women end up knocking on the door, seeking refuge as a blizzard takes hold.But why is the landlord less than pleased to see them? And what is his elderly father trying so hard to tell them?At the local police station PC Lissa Lloyd is holding the fort while the rest of her team share in the rare excitement of a brutal murder at an isolated farmhouse. A dangerous fugitive is on the run - but how can Lissa make a name for herself if she's stuck at her desk? When a call comes in saying the local district nurse is missing, she jumps at the chance to investigate her disappearance.The strangers at Halfway wait out the storm, but soon realise they might have been safer on the road. It seems not all the travellers will make it home for Christmas . . .__________________________What everyone's saying about Halfway :' I absolutely loved this book which kept me hooked and desperate to read just one more page! 'Reader review, 5 stars' SO twisty . . . very well written ' Reader review' Totally hooked! ' Reader review' A fast-paced, tension-filled, twisty read ' Reader review' One of the creepiest novels I have ever read . . . hooks you in and puts you on the edge of your seat' Reader review, 5 stars' A chilling twist . . . a fantastic thriller ' Reader review, 5 stars' BEST CRIME NOVEL I'VE READ THIS YEAR!!! ' Reader review, 5 stars' A really gripping read . . . couldn't put it down ' Reader review' Stunning . . . the only book I can compare Halfway to is Gone Girl ' Reader review, 5 stars' A twisty, thrilling ride ' Reader review, 5 stars' Mesmerising, irrestistible and full of suspense ' Reader review, 5 stars' A gripping, fast-paced thriller . . . I absolutely loved this ' Reader review, 5 stars
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
15 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
B.E. Jones
7 books110 followersI'm a former journalist who worked for The Western Mail newspaper and BBC Wales Today in Cardiff before becoming a press officer for the police.
My sixth novel 'Wilderness', is published by LittleBrown and has been adapted into a TV series by Firebird Pictures for Amazon Prime starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. My latest title, The Beach House, as Beverley Jones, is available in ebook and out in paperback in April 22.
You might already have seen me on Goodreads as I'm a voracious reader, rater and reviewer. I also have three other published novels, all psychological thrillers with a contemporary edge, under the name Beverley Jones. Check out that Goodreads profile to find out more or ask me a question - I love to chat, argue about and compare notes on all sorts of books.
Join me on Twitter and Instagram @bevjoneswriting
My sixth novel 'Wilderness', is published by LittleBrown and has been adapted into a TV series by Firebird Pictures for Amazon Prime starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. My latest title, The Beach House, as Beverley Jones, is available in ebook and out in paperback in April 22.
You might already have seen me on Goodreads as I'm a voracious reader, rater and reviewer. I also have three other published novels, all psychological thrillers with a contemporary edge, under the name Beverley Jones. Check out that Goodreads profile to find out more or ask me a question - I love to chat, argue about and compare notes on all sorts of books.
Join me on Twitter and Instagram @bevjoneswriting
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 18, 2019
On a snow blizzard night two women meet when one of of them is hitchhiking, but when the car breaks down they find themselves seeking shelter at Halfway a closed down Inn. But why doesn’t the landlord want them there?
Police are on the scene of a burglary gone wrong ,two people were involved but one has ran off.
Whilst reading this wonderful thriller it was like doing a jigsaw puzzle without the picture, you know the characters will link together but you are not sure how!! Loved that although this book starts slow there are loads of twists and it is definitely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Police are on the scene of a burglary gone wrong ,two people were involved but one has ran off.
Whilst reading this wonderful thriller it was like doing a jigsaw puzzle without the picture, you know the characters will link together but you are not sure how!! Loved that although this book starts slow there are loads of twists and it is definitely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
December 13, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
My full blog tour post can be seen at: https://readingbetweenwinessite.wordp...
Well, if you like a good crime fiction thriller and don't mind a bit of gore, Halfway by B.E. Jones may just be the book for you!
What it's about: Told in the space of one day, this book switches mostly between a hitchhiker trying to get out of town, the "old man" who is bedridden due to a stroke, and a young police officer named Lissa Lloyd who is trying to make a name for herself on the police force. Set in a small village in the heart of Western Wales during a snowstorm, this is a book about murder, lies, theft, and the connections between our players.
I don't want to say more about the plot because I think Halfway is another one of those novels where it is best to go in pretty much blind and let the story unfold. I will also warn people that the blurb for this book, in my opinion, is a bit deceiving and not completely accurate to the story. My suggestion is not to read it at all if you can help it, and just read the book (or read it and forget it like I did!).
I loved the concept of the whole book being set in one day. Besides the prologue and what I would consider an epilogue, it starts on December 22 at 9:30 AM and ends the same day at 5:30 PM. I thought it was a very clever novel, and I was pretty blown away by how everything turns out in the end. This book reminded me a bit of movies like Crash, which isn't something I've read much before.
I don't know if I was a huge fan of any of the characters, and Lissa annoyed me, but that wasn't really a problem and I think it was part of the point. I was very into the story and it was a very fast read for me. Halfway does get a little gory, but there are really only a small number of scenes like this and it didn't gross me out too much. You also get a lot of backstory on some of the characters, so I would say the pace of this book isn't particularity fast, and some people may find it slow. For me, I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next and I didn't really spot anything coming.
The only thing that I really had any issues with was that I thought the ending got a tad confusing. The details of the jewelry robbery got a little convoluted for me and I didn't understand the significance of all the names the author ends up mentioning. Overall, this book is pretty easy to follow along with, but the end threw me for a loop when I started hearing a bunch of people's names I wasn't familiar with and how they were supposed to all tie together.
Final thought: Halfway is a bit of everything - crime, a character study, psychological thriller, and mystery. It was cleverly written, if a bit slow-paced, and had a very unique concept that I enjoyed. I would recommend this book to mystery fans that don't mind character detail, a slower pace, and some gore (mind you, NOT Karin Slaughter gore). Overall this was a very interesting and unique book, and I definitely look forward to reading more from B.E. Jones!
My full blog tour post can be seen at: https://readingbetweenwinessite.wordp...
Well, if you like a good crime fiction thriller and don't mind a bit of gore, Halfway by B.E. Jones may just be the book for you!
What it's about: Told in the space of one day, this book switches mostly between a hitchhiker trying to get out of town, the "old man" who is bedridden due to a stroke, and a young police officer named Lissa Lloyd who is trying to make a name for herself on the police force. Set in a small village in the heart of Western Wales during a snowstorm, this is a book about murder, lies, theft, and the connections between our players.
I don't want to say more about the plot because I think Halfway is another one of those novels where it is best to go in pretty much blind and let the story unfold. I will also warn people that the blurb for this book, in my opinion, is a bit deceiving and not completely accurate to the story. My suggestion is not to read it at all if you can help it, and just read the book (or read it and forget it like I did!).
I loved the concept of the whole book being set in one day. Besides the prologue and what I would consider an epilogue, it starts on December 22 at 9:30 AM and ends the same day at 5:30 PM. I thought it was a very clever novel, and I was pretty blown away by how everything turns out in the end. This book reminded me a bit of movies like Crash, which isn't something I've read much before.
I don't know if I was a huge fan of any of the characters, and Lissa annoyed me, but that wasn't really a problem and I think it was part of the point. I was very into the story and it was a very fast read for me. Halfway does get a little gory, but there are really only a small number of scenes like this and it didn't gross me out too much. You also get a lot of backstory on some of the characters, so I would say the pace of this book isn't particularity fast, and some people may find it slow. For me, I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next and I didn't really spot anything coming.
The only thing that I really had any issues with was that I thought the ending got a tad confusing. The details of the jewelry robbery got a little convoluted for me and I didn't understand the significance of all the names the author ends up mentioning. Overall, this book is pretty easy to follow along with, but the end threw me for a loop when I started hearing a bunch of people's names I wasn't familiar with and how they were supposed to all tie together.
Final thought: Halfway is a bit of everything - crime, a character study, psychological thriller, and mystery. It was cleverly written, if a bit slow-paced, and had a very unique concept that I enjoyed. I would recommend this book to mystery fans that don't mind character detail, a slower pace, and some gore (mind you, NOT Karin Slaughter gore). Overall this was a very interesting and unique book, and I definitely look forward to reading more from B.E. Jones!
October 24, 2018
Halfway by B. E. Jones is a psychological thriller set in a small town in the middle of a snowstorm. There has been a gruesome murder at a farmhouse and the police are looking for clues. There are people stranded and looking for somewhere to seek shelter from the storm. There is a killer on the loose. The author spends a lot of time introducing us to the characters and therefore the book was slow. I was irritated by the amount of bad language in this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK or my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2019
On a snow blizzard night two women meet when one of of them is hitchhiking, but when the car breaks down they find themselves seeking shelter at Halfway a closed down Inn. But why doesn’t the landlord want them there?
Police are on the scene of a burglary gone wrong ,two people were involved but one has ran off.
Whilst reading this wonderful thriller it was like doing a jigsaw puzzle without the picture, you know the characters will link together but you are not sure how!! Loved that although this book starts slow there are loads of twists and it is definitely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Police are on the scene of a burglary gone wrong ,two people were involved but one has ran off.
Whilst reading this wonderful thriller it was like doing a jigsaw puzzle without the picture, you know the characters will link together but you are not sure how!! Loved that although this book starts slow there are loads of twists and it is definitely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
September 6, 2019
Setting: West Wales; 22-23 December 2007. In the middle of a snowstorm, police are investigating a home invasion at an isolated farmhouse; an old man is at the mercy of his carer at a dilapidated former pub; a female hitchhiker has made her way 'home' but finds she is not especially welcome so is back on the road. Told from the different points of view of the hitchhiker, the old man and a female police officer, these varied storylines come together as two women, caught out in the storm, seek shelter at the former pub. This is another brilliantly-executed tale with many of the reader's preconceptions being cleverly revealed as false as the story progresses. Loved her first book but this one was even better! - 10/10.
December 15, 2018
I love a book that messes with my head and keeps me guessing. I love a book in which the killer's identity isn't revealed too early in the story and I am given an opportunity to figure out who they are for myself. I love a story that is riveting and enthralling,holds my attention throughout and leaves me wanting more when I finish the book. Well, I am pleased to say that Half way is all that and so much more.
The Halfway inn is closed to customers, side-lined by a bypass and hidden in inhospitable countryside. One winter's night,two women end up knocking on the door, seeking refuge as a blizzard takes hold.
But why is the landlord less than pleased to see them? And what is his elderly father trying to tell them?
At the local police station PC Lissa Lloyd is reluctantly holding down the fort while the rest of her crew share in the rare excitement of a brutal murder at an isolated farmhouse. A dangerous fugitive is on the run, but how can Lissa make a name for herself if she is stuck behind her desk? When a call comes in saying that the local district nurse is missing, Lissa jumps at the chance to investigate her disappearance.
The strangers at Halfway wait out the storm, but soon realise they might have been safer on the road. It seems not all travellers will make it home for Christmas.
This gripping,fast paced thriller is set over the space of 23 hours and the story is told in chapters that alternate between Lissa (the law) the hitchhiker and the old man. Out of the small number of other characters,the only two who are really relevant to the plot are the landlord and the nurse. Unfortunately, many of us have a bad habit of judging people and the author has used this frailty in human nature as a brilliant plot devise. Misdirecting the reader, making you think you know the character's back stories when in reality, more than one of them is now who they appear to be. By the time I finished this riveting read, I had completely changed my feelings and opinion about more then one character and had realised that I had misjudged one character completely.
I absolutely loved this intricately plotted,well written psychological thriller from the heart pounding prologue, right through to the ending that had just a tiny dash of poetic justice. There are two morals to this story 1) don't be so quick to pass judgement on people and 2) be careful what you wish for. I would love to watch a film adaptation of this book. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last. Very very highly recommended by little old me
Many thanks to Little Brown Books Uk/Cornerstone and Emma Welton for the opportunity to read and review this book and take part in the Blog tour
May 29, 2018
Chilling thriller. Hitchhikers, dead bodies, remote farmhouse.And the car which breaks down at the worst time possible. Typical eh?
This hits on many nightmares I think and despite the slow start, builds up into something else. No locations as such but that's its strength here for you're not supposed to know or recognise where this woman and her car are. It's creepy when you think about it.
A lot of gruesome imagery. How I shouted at that woman to stay in the car? Not stop for the hitchhiker? But then where would the story be?
This hits on many nightmares I think and despite the slow start, builds up into something else. No locations as such but that's its strength here for you're not supposed to know or recognise where this woman and her car are. It's creepy when you think about it.
A lot of gruesome imagery. How I shouted at that woman to stay in the car? Not stop for the hitchhiker? But then where would the story be?
December 10, 2018
3.5* --> 4*
Ever feel like a book description gives away way too much information? I’m honestly glad I didn’t read the blurb above before I started reading Halfway. I much prefer discovering things on my own and not quite knowing what the book was about allowed me that.
Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Wales, in the midst of a blizzard, the reader meets a multitude of characters. It’s rather obvious from the start that their paths will cross at some point but how or why remains a mystery for quite a while. There’s the hitchhiker, whose either running away from or towards something. There’s an old man, who has suffered a stroke, stuck in his bed just wanting to be heard. And there’s a police officer, desperate to make a name for herself.
Out on an isolated farm, there’s been a vicious murder. The police officer is sidelined, not involved in the investigation at all. How is she supposed to move up the ranks if she can’t even get away from her desk? Who’s responsible for the murder up at the farm and why? What’s going on with the sick man in his room? As you can tell, there are a lot of questions that need answers and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to unravel the various threads.
Halfway is one intricately plotted puzzle. For the longest time, I couldn’t at all get a handle on things and didn’t have a clue what was going on. However, I found the chapters and the characters so immensely intriguing that I couldn’t stop reading. This story is very much on the slow side but does a brilliant job of setting the scene and delving into the minds of the various characters. Even if the pace puts you off at the start, stick with it. It pays off in the end when things come together rather cleverly.
Ever feel like a book description gives away way too much information? I’m honestly glad I didn’t read the blurb above before I started reading Halfway. I much prefer discovering things on my own and not quite knowing what the book was about allowed me that.
Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Wales, in the midst of a blizzard, the reader meets a multitude of characters. It’s rather obvious from the start that their paths will cross at some point but how or why remains a mystery for quite a while. There’s the hitchhiker, whose either running away from or towards something. There’s an old man, who has suffered a stroke, stuck in his bed just wanting to be heard. And there’s a police officer, desperate to make a name for herself.
Out on an isolated farm, there’s been a vicious murder. The police officer is sidelined, not involved in the investigation at all. How is she supposed to move up the ranks if she can’t even get away from her desk? Who’s responsible for the murder up at the farm and why? What’s going on with the sick man in his room? As you can tell, there are a lot of questions that need answers and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to unravel the various threads.
Halfway is one intricately plotted puzzle. For the longest time, I couldn’t at all get a handle on things and didn’t have a clue what was going on. However, I found the chapters and the characters so immensely intriguing that I couldn’t stop reading. This story is very much on the slow side but does a brilliant job of setting the scene and delving into the minds of the various characters. Even if the pace puts you off at the start, stick with it. It pays off in the end when things come together rather cleverly.
October 31, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. As the storm rages, the tension rises as most of the characters are hiding things. This makes for a very claustrophobic feel, given that a chunk of the book happens in one specific location - the Halfway house of the title. I couldn't put it down and read it in a couple of hours. I didn't guess the identity of the killer for quite some time and it's a good twist when it becomes obvious. My only downside is that it takes a while to get going and that might make some people stop reading before it gets really good. Very glad I kept going with it though!
December 11, 2018
I don't know about you but I have often wondered when I was driving somewhere new, what I would do if my car broke down late at night in an unfamiliar place. Well after reading this novel, that thought doesn't even bear thinking about and I am giving up driving (and I'm only half joking!).
In a secluded spot called The Halfway Inn, strangers take refuge on a cold winter's night but what should be a safe haven in the dark becomes anything but. Will they make it out alive? And who is the killer lurking in the shadows?
Intriguing, dark, and with plenty of twists along the way, HALFWAY by B.E. Jones is a fascinating read with plenty going for it. While I have to say that it is a little slow to get into the action, it wasn't long before I was fully engrossed and eager to find out exactly what was going on. Very atmospheric, HALFWAY by B.E. Jones is a compelling thriller and I look forward to reading more from this author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book via Netgalley
In a secluded spot called The Halfway Inn, strangers take refuge on a cold winter's night but what should be a safe haven in the dark becomes anything but. Will they make it out alive? And who is the killer lurking in the shadows?
Intriguing, dark, and with plenty of twists along the way, HALFWAY by B.E. Jones is a fascinating read with plenty going for it. While I have to say that it is a little slow to get into the action, it wasn't long before I was fully engrossed and eager to find out exactly what was going on. Very atmospheric, HALFWAY by B.E. Jones is a compelling thriller and I look forward to reading more from this author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book via Netgalley
May 2, 2018
halfway by BE Jones.
three women... one killer...no turning back...
the halfway inn has been shut for years but an old man and his son still live there. Becca is driving when a woman stands in front of her car hoping for a lift. She lets her get In but the car won't start. so they head up to the halfway inn. hoping for shelter.
This was a thriller of a read. I had no idea who the killer was. even though it was slow to start with it soon picked up. I liked the story and the characters. 4*.
three women... one killer...no turning back...
the halfway inn has been shut for years but an old man and his son still live there. Becca is driving when a woman stands in front of her car hoping for a lift. She lets her get In but the car won't start. so they head up to the halfway inn. hoping for shelter.
This was a thriller of a read. I had no idea who the killer was. even though it was slow to start with it soon picked up. I liked the story and the characters. 4*.
August 6, 2018
Halfway is a stunning book. I read it in three sittings and I only failed to read it from cover to cover in one sitting because I have to work and I have to sleep.
B E Jones is a marvellously ventriloquial writer - each of the three different points of view comes with a pitch-perfect voice. By turns self-revealing, heartbreakingly regretful and aggressively self-assertive her characters are never likeable but, by some strange reader-manipulation which defies analysis, Jones makes you want to know what's going to happens to them. I don't normally care for books where I'm not rooting for at least one character but in Halfway you are so desperate to know what exactly is going on, and how all these disparate characters will finally be shown to be related, that the likeability or otherwise of the main protagonists ceases to matter. They are simply the characters who are telling the story and they are utterly compelling.
As to the plot, I realised that all could not quite be as it seemed - it couldn't be or Halfway woudln't be worth the title of thriller - but exactly what shape reality would actually fall into when the plot kaleidoscope turned I failed to guess. And the reveal was brilliant. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to go back and read it all again to see whether I could have spotted it sooner if I'd been cleverer. (I'm going to guess no, but that may be self-serving of me.)
West Wales is not often the setting for a thriller but the background - both toopgraphical and demographic - to the book could not be better. Halfway could only have been set where it is - a closed community where everybody knows everybody and identity is a mutable thing. The plot, the mystery and the characters spring inevitably from the harshness of the farming community and the rigidity of people's permitted roles within it.
I think the only book I can compare Halfway to is Gone Girl and I can only hope it reaches the same kind of audience - it deserves to.
After Where She Went and Halfway, I can't wait to see what B E Jones does next.
B E Jones is a marvellously ventriloquial writer - each of the three different points of view comes with a pitch-perfect voice. By turns self-revealing, heartbreakingly regretful and aggressively self-assertive her characters are never likeable but, by some strange reader-manipulation which defies analysis, Jones makes you want to know what's going to happens to them. I don't normally care for books where I'm not rooting for at least one character but in Halfway you are so desperate to know what exactly is going on, and how all these disparate characters will finally be shown to be related, that the likeability or otherwise of the main protagonists ceases to matter. They are simply the characters who are telling the story and they are utterly compelling.
As to the plot, I realised that all could not quite be as it seemed - it couldn't be or Halfway woudln't be worth the title of thriller - but exactly what shape reality would actually fall into when the plot kaleidoscope turned I failed to guess. And the reveal was brilliant. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to go back and read it all again to see whether I could have spotted it sooner if I'd been cleverer. (I'm going to guess no, but that may be self-serving of me.)
West Wales is not often the setting for a thriller but the background - both toopgraphical and demographic - to the book could not be better. Halfway could only have been set where it is - a closed community where everybody knows everybody and identity is a mutable thing. The plot, the mystery and the characters spring inevitably from the harshness of the farming community and the rigidity of people's permitted roles within it.
I think the only book I can compare Halfway to is Gone Girl and I can only hope it reaches the same kind of audience - it deserves to.
After Where She Went and Halfway, I can't wait to see what B E Jones does next.
June 6, 2018
I found this book a little slow to begin with, building up the story and trying to keep following from all the different story tellers, in saying that it comes together very cleverly with a thriller of a twist to set your mind racing. Very well written, overall I enjoyed it.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for giving me the opportunity to review same in exchange for my honest opinion.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for giving me the opportunity to review same in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 25, 2018
This started slowly, and was - dare I say it - not one I thought I’d finish. But as the various strands started to pull together, and you sensed the links between this large cast of characters, it got much more interesting.
Set in a small Welsh village there’s an awful lot going on. A police officer determined to atone for some rookie mistake gets caught up in a gruesome scene. An elderly couple are discovered, the woman murdered and the man visibly shaken. There’s talk of people searching for hidden wealth, and a local lad confesses a very odd story. Caught up in events beyond your wildest imaginings, we suddenly have a wanted killer on the loose.
Alongside these events we have a female hitchhiker who is rescued by a local nurse. Spooked by the bad weather the two women head to the local abandoned pub to try to shelter. Once there it’s clear that nothing is quite what it seems, and I was quite surprised by one or two of the revelations that came out.
It was a long time coming - too long, really - but once we began to piece together the various stories it was a tense thriller. Intriguing ending that really changed my view of one or two of our characters.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Set in a small Welsh village there’s an awful lot going on. A police officer determined to atone for some rookie mistake gets caught up in a gruesome scene. An elderly couple are discovered, the woman murdered and the man visibly shaken. There’s talk of people searching for hidden wealth, and a local lad confesses a very odd story. Caught up in events beyond your wildest imaginings, we suddenly have a wanted killer on the loose.
Alongside these events we have a female hitchhiker who is rescued by a local nurse. Spooked by the bad weather the two women head to the local abandoned pub to try to shelter. Once there it’s clear that nothing is quite what it seems, and I was quite surprised by one or two of the revelations that came out.
It was a long time coming - too long, really - but once we began to piece together the various stories it was a tense thriller. Intriguing ending that really changed my view of one or two of our characters.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
July 4, 2018
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and particularly enjoyed reading about the main character, the probationer police officer. It was a change to have a police officer who was a dreamer and already in trouble for running away from a crime scene.
The ending was similar to a slap stick comedy and very entertaining
Highly recommended.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and particularly enjoyed reading about the main character, the probationer police officer. It was a change to have a police officer who was a dreamer and already in trouble for running away from a crime scene.
The ending was similar to a slap stick comedy and very entertaining
Highly recommended.
August 29, 2018
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book,very well written and easy to follow. Like the lay out and the journey the book takes you on. Edgy. Tense. Great story line. Recommended
December 28, 2018
I read the synopsis for ‘Halfway’ and it certainly sounded like the perfect kind of read for a dark winter’s evening. I was curious to find out which direction the story was going to take and I couldn’t wait to start reading. I have to say that I did enjoy ‘Halfway’ but more about that in a bit.
Each of the four main characters got on my nerves a bit and as a result I can’t say that I took to any of them. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though because it meant I could keep more of a distance between me and them. I got the impression that each of the characters were hiding their own little secrets and on occasion, I did think that they wouldn’t be able to tell the truth if their lives depended on it.
I must admit that it took me a little while to get into this book. Initially it confused me as I couldn’t see how the main characters could possibly be connected to each other. With a little patience and a little time, it all became clear as the saying goes. I read this book in a couple of bursts rather than on a reading binge. I had to take a little time after putting the book down, to remind myself what I had just read and how that affected the story. That has more to do with fact that I was tired rather than the book was overly complicated.
I think that ‘Halfway’ is well written. I love the way in which the author sets the scene. She uses such powerful descriptions that I could literally picture the scene in my head as it were. The characters seemed to come alive and jump off the page. I found that I felt every emotion that the various characters felt and to say that it was an emotional rollercoaster of a read is an understatement. I literally felt as though I was part of the story myself.
Reading ‘Halfway’ is very much like going on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. There were also several unexpected surprises along the way that had the same effect on me as would a punch to the gut. I felt that I had had the stuffing knocked out of me and I was actually lost for words, which doesn’t happen all that often I can tell you.
In short, I did eventually enjoy reading ‘Halfway’ and I would certainly recommend it to other readers, but particularly to those readers who like more of a slow burn sort of book. I can’t wait to read what B. E. Jones comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
Each of the four main characters got on my nerves a bit and as a result I can’t say that I took to any of them. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though because it meant I could keep more of a distance between me and them. I got the impression that each of the characters were hiding their own little secrets and on occasion, I did think that they wouldn’t be able to tell the truth if their lives depended on it.
I must admit that it took me a little while to get into this book. Initially it confused me as I couldn’t see how the main characters could possibly be connected to each other. With a little patience and a little time, it all became clear as the saying goes. I read this book in a couple of bursts rather than on a reading binge. I had to take a little time after putting the book down, to remind myself what I had just read and how that affected the story. That has more to do with fact that I was tired rather than the book was overly complicated.
I think that ‘Halfway’ is well written. I love the way in which the author sets the scene. She uses such powerful descriptions that I could literally picture the scene in my head as it were. The characters seemed to come alive and jump off the page. I found that I felt every emotion that the various characters felt and to say that it was an emotional rollercoaster of a read is an understatement. I literally felt as though I was part of the story myself.
Reading ‘Halfway’ is very much like going on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. There were also several unexpected surprises along the way that had the same effect on me as would a punch to the gut. I felt that I had had the stuffing knocked out of me and I was actually lost for words, which doesn’t happen all that often I can tell you.
In short, I did eventually enjoy reading ‘Halfway’ and I would certainly recommend it to other readers, but particularly to those readers who like more of a slow burn sort of book. I can’t wait to read what B. E. Jones comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
September 6, 2024
A shorter psychological thriller told from multiple perspectives. The plot was enjoyable, if not a little obvious at times! A few of the characters narrations were slightly unlikable, but still a good read nonetheless!
November 1, 2018
“The Halfway Inn is closed to customers, side-lined by a bypass and hidden deep in inhospitable countryside. One winter's night, two women end up knocking on the door, seeking refuge as a blizzard takes hold.
But why is the landlord less than pleased to see them? And what is his elderly father trying so hard to tell them?”
The blurb really intrigued me and I really enjoyed this book.
The prologue gives you a glimpse of how the day ends for the three characters, and is very intriguing. It certainly made me want to know what events led to this point.
The story then takes you back to the beginning of that day and the chapters are then told from different characters point of view.
This is a steadily paced story with a gripping final few chapters.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
But why is the landlord less than pleased to see them? And what is his elderly father trying so hard to tell them?”
The blurb really intrigued me and I really enjoyed this book.
The prologue gives you a glimpse of how the day ends for the three characters, and is very intriguing. It certainly made me want to know what events led to this point.
The story then takes you back to the beginning of that day and the chapters are then told from different characters point of view.
This is a steadily paced story with a gripping final few chapters.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 13, 2019
This thriller managed to catch me off-guard a couple of times with plot twists I did not see coming and therefore enjoyed very much. Also, throughout the story the author reveals some weird connections between the remarkable characters, which she seemed to have spun with a wicked sense of humor... However, despite the interesting plot the writing did not instantly pull me in, and it took some time to get in the flow. Still, I had a really good time with this one were, in the end, nothing was as it seemed and everything was different.
(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
September 13, 2018
This was a strange book. The synopsis appealed to me but when reading I honestly thought it was the wrong book. It was very slow to get going, lots of getting to know characters without actually knowing them and so quite a confusing read.
Then suddenly everything happens leading to the conclusion but for me personally I'd have preferred more action earlier rather than a slow build up.
I've learnt from this book, learnt that I prefer a fast moving book rather than a slow burn. If you like a slow build up to a story this is worth reading for a surprising twist.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Then suddenly everything happens leading to the conclusion but for me personally I'd have preferred more action earlier rather than a slow build up.
I've learnt from this book, learnt that I prefer a fast moving book rather than a slow burn. If you like a slow build up to a story this is worth reading for a surprising twist.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
October 15, 2018
Well... this blew my mind a little along the way. For those of you who prefer your thrillers to hit the ground running, be warned that this, for me anyway, was a bit of a slow burn. But the author does build up the tension and intrigue nicely along the way until, suddenly, well... the punches start coming thick and fast. We first follow a hitch hiker who appears to have a bit of a past. She teams up with a nurse whose car journey home has been scuppered by the snowy weather. Together they proceed on foot to the Halfway Inn which has been closed for a while. There they meet the landlord and his elderly bed-ridden father. He is not really up for visitors for reasons that eventually become clear. Meanwhile, we also follow a young PC who is holding the fort whilst the rest of her squad investigate a brutal murder. She is chomping at the bit for a bit of action so, when a potential missing person call comes in, she jumps at the chance to make a name for herself. But how far will she go...
This book was jam packed full of secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour that, for the most time, appeared a bit disjointed but which did come together really nicely at the end. An end that satisfied but also gave a lot of food for thought and was potentially left open for a sequel. Or could this be the start of a series with a series arc. Who knows?
Characterisation is tricky to explain but, on the whole, the characters were very well described, within the aforementioned duplicity of course! I did find some of the goings on a bit strange but then, when the curve ball was delivered, everything made perfect sense. With how things ended, I also think that there is potential for more to come from certain characters and I'd definitely be up for some of that.
Pacing was a tad hit and miss even given the slow build up. There is quite a lot of description but this gave the book quite a claustrophobic atmosphere which, in turn, increased the tension throughout. Once a lot of key things were revealed, it took off at a rate of knots!
All in all, a good solid read that I do not hesitate to recommend to fans of the genre who like slow burners. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
This book was jam packed full of secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour that, for the most time, appeared a bit disjointed but which did come together really nicely at the end. An end that satisfied but also gave a lot of food for thought and was potentially left open for a sequel. Or could this be the start of a series with a series arc. Who knows?
Characterisation is tricky to explain but, on the whole, the characters were very well described, within the aforementioned duplicity of course! I did find some of the goings on a bit strange but then, when the curve ball was delivered, everything made perfect sense. With how things ended, I also think that there is potential for more to come from certain characters and I'd definitely be up for some of that.
Pacing was a tad hit and miss even given the slow build up. There is quite a lot of description but this gave the book quite a claustrophobic atmosphere which, in turn, increased the tension throughout. Once a lot of key things were revealed, it took off at a rate of knots!
All in all, a good solid read that I do not hesitate to recommend to fans of the genre who like slow burners. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
December 12, 2018
If you’re a fan of true crime then I would recommend this crime thriller as a book that comes close to giving the reader a similar kind of shock value. Halfway uses its characters to tell the story over the course of one day which worked well as a storytelling tool and gave it a stylish, current feel. The threads are told in different points of view from The Law, The Hitchhiker and The Old Man and they gradually come together until they collide with some unexpected and shocking twists!
One of the things that struck me whilst reading was that it could easily have been a play due to the Halfway pub playing such a huge part in the plot with everything revolving around this isolated and creepy location. The atmospheric setting was practically a character in its own right, it played such a huge part in what happened when all the characters came together at last. And I have to say I did love how the connections finally became clear as Beverley Jones was far cleverer than I gave her credit for! Very well played!
This is the first of this authors books that I have read but I’d happily read another in an instant. She has a contemporary crime writing style that felt fresh and interesting throughout with some cracking twists. A creepy and chilling crime thriller.
One of the things that struck me whilst reading was that it could easily have been a play due to the Halfway pub playing such a huge part in the plot with everything revolving around this isolated and creepy location. The atmospheric setting was practically a character in its own right, it played such a huge part in what happened when all the characters came together at last. And I have to say I did love how the connections finally became clear as Beverley Jones was far cleverer than I gave her credit for! Very well played!
This is the first of this authors books that I have read but I’d happily read another in an instant. She has a contemporary crime writing style that felt fresh and interesting throughout with some cracking twists. A creepy and chilling crime thriller.
January 10, 2020
I thought I would really enjoy this book from reading the cover. But what a mistake I made.
The outline of the story had such promise. And I would really have enjoyed it if it wasn’t for the writing style.
There was too many embellished descriptions that went on for too long.
I enjoyed the twists to the story but I could see them coming 20 pages before it happened.
I enjoyed the short chapters and it being told from different characters point of view.
All in all an ok book. I wouldn’t recommend it. And I definitely wouldn’t read it again.
The outline of the story had such promise. And I would really have enjoyed it if it wasn’t for the writing style.
There was too many embellished descriptions that went on for too long.
I enjoyed the twists to the story but I could see them coming 20 pages before it happened.
I enjoyed the short chapters and it being told from different characters point of view.
All in all an ok book. I wouldn’t recommend it. And I definitely wouldn’t read it again.
February 19, 2019
I was halfway with this novel.
A good psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns, set in a eerie, claustrophobic small town, a run down bar and a snowstorm.
The Characters were well described but I ever warmed to any of them, however as soon as you thought you knew one of them, something changed your perceptive, very clever.
Well written but with a slow pace that only just kept my interest, it could have been a little better, a little faster but all in all a solid read.
A good psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns, set in a eerie, claustrophobic small town, a run down bar and a snowstorm.
The Characters were well described but I ever warmed to any of them, however as soon as you thought you knew one of them, something changed your perceptive, very clever.
Well written but with a slow pace that only just kept my interest, it could have been a little better, a little faster but all in all a solid read.
June 6, 2018
Halfway by BE Jones is a slow burner to begin with, building a nice level of tension throughout the book. I loved the twists and turns and like other readers it reminded me a little of the hotel and snow setting in The Shining. A chilling psychological triller with an unexpected twist. I enjoyed it.
November 22, 2018
I found this book very disjointed to begin with. I also didn't like the fact that none of the characters have names but are initially referred to by their job or function eg nurse. However, the more I read, the more engrossed I became as everything became clear. There are numerous plot twists and I don't want to give out any spoilers so let's just say trust nobody, believe nobody! I don't think any of the characters are likeable but it's a fascinating book nonetheless.
November 17, 2018
Set in an extremely rural part of Wales just before Christmas, this is a slow burner of a book told from the perspective of several different characters. It's written in such a way that you don't necessarily know exactly who they are.
It starts with the brutal murder of an old lady and her dog, not the normal sort of crime they usually experience in such a quiet village.
The setting is cold and bleak and the action eventually leads to an ex public house. It's here that the body count escalates quickly and the characters' masks are removed, old crimes uncovered and true identities revealed.
It's gory and brutal but yet with a subtle vein of comedy at times.
I'll be extra vigilant next time I'm in Wales!
It starts with the brutal murder of an old lady and her dog, not the normal sort of crime they usually experience in such a quiet village.
The setting is cold and bleak and the action eventually leads to an ex public house. It's here that the body count escalates quickly and the characters' masks are removed, old crimes uncovered and true identities revealed.
It's gory and brutal but yet with a subtle vein of comedy at times.
I'll be extra vigilant next time I'm in Wales!
June 30, 2018
Halfway is a psychological thriller about stranded travellers in the snow, a creepy inn and a serial killer! This story was a fairly slow starter but gathers momentum as the story progresses and ends with a chilling twist. Over all a fantastic thriller. Thank you netgalley for this ARC.
November 17, 2018
I was sent a free copy of this book by TripFiction, through the FB Good Housekeeping Book Room.
It’s a fairly quick read but full of atmosphere, twists and turns. Each of the voices we hear is from a flawed and/or tortured character. In fact, none of the main characters were appealing to me.
The use of different voices to narrate the story was a very useful device in keeping the reader guessing about the role each would play in the final denouement. The weather also played a key role in maintaining the suspense.
It is a well written book with enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages.
It’s a fairly quick read but full of atmosphere, twists and turns. Each of the voices we hear is from a flawed and/or tortured character. In fact, none of the main characters were appealing to me.
The use of different voices to narrate the story was a very useful device in keeping the reader guessing about the role each would play in the final denouement. The weather also played a key role in maintaining the suspense.
It is a well written book with enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages.
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