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You Belong To Me
Can two wrongs ever make a right?
The police never found fifteen-year-old Ellie Hutton. She vanished ten years ago after walking home from school along a disused railway track. But Danny Sheppard knows exactly what happened to her. She is dead and buried in a field near Lassiter’s Brook.
Now Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Same age. Similar circumstances. And Danny also knows what has happened to her
Can Danny fight his demons and tell the truth this time?
Or will history repeat itself and leave another innocent girl dead?
The police never found fifteen-year-old Ellie Hutton. She vanished ten years ago after walking home from school along a disused railway track. But Danny Sheppard knows exactly what happened to her. She is dead and buried in a field near Lassiter’s Brook.
Now Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Same age. Similar circumstances. And Danny also knows what has happened to her
Can Danny fight his demons and tell the truth this time?
Or will history repeat itself and leave another innocent girl dead?
306 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2019
273 people are currently reading
668 people want to read
About the author
Mark Tilbury
27 books279 followersMark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.
He's always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark's writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He's published 12 thrillers, and his 13th novel, A Womb With A View, will be published Jan 19th 2023.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.
Did you know that you can follow authors on Amazon? If you hit the 'follow' button on my author page, you'll be kept updated of any price reductions and new publications.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Tilbury...
Thank you!
He's always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark's writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He's published 12 thrillers, and his 13th novel, A Womb With A View, will be published Jan 19th 2023.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.
Did you know that you can follow authors on Amazon? If you hit the 'follow' button on my author page, you'll be kept updated of any price reductions and new publications.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Tilbury...
Thank you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
December 26, 2018
3.5 Stars rounded up ⭐
Although this story required me to suspend disbelief at times, it was still an unputdownable book. I attribute that to the writing chops of Mark Tilbury.
Tilbury's style lends to a fast read that burns at full speed from start to finish. I don't think I ever skimmed so much as a sentence because every word propelled the plot forward, never allowing for even the slightest of a lull in the narrative.
This story follows a group of four boys approaching the end of their senior school days. What should have been a time of triumph and of making plans for their future turns into a nightmarish hell, leaving their lives and the lives of those they love in peril. Not only do their school days end, but their innocence as well.
Once they reunite as adults it's clear that the time they endured during that last year of school has left indelible scars of which they have each dealt with in equally destructive ways. Together they seek to settle a score and right some wrongs.
The suspension of disbelief was garnered mostly from the ages of the main characters in this story. Considering the decisions these boys made, it's very difficult to imagine that they are in their middle teens, no matter how immature they might have been. Had this story involved 10-12 year olds, I could have totally gotten on board.
Additionally, I found the fact that these boys parents had virtually nothing to do with their children and were oblivious to their trauma a bit hard to swallow.
I feel like these tiny indiscretions took what could have been a great book down to just a good book.
I felt confident that I had figured out the twist in this story very early on and I was correct. Sometimes that doesn't take much away from a story but in this case it really lent to a lackluster ending. For those that haven't figured it out, I imagine it will make for a great "omgggggg what just happened" moment.
Overall I really enjoyed this book for it's unflinching glimpse at the pure evil that can lurk in the heart of men. I will, without question, watch out for what is to come from Mark Tilbury.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Although this story required me to suspend disbelief at times, it was still an unputdownable book. I attribute that to the writing chops of Mark Tilbury.
Tilbury's style lends to a fast read that burns at full speed from start to finish. I don't think I ever skimmed so much as a sentence because every word propelled the plot forward, never allowing for even the slightest of a lull in the narrative.
This story follows a group of four boys approaching the end of their senior school days. What should have been a time of triumph and of making plans for their future turns into a nightmarish hell, leaving their lives and the lives of those they love in peril. Not only do their school days end, but their innocence as well.
Once they reunite as adults it's clear that the time they endured during that last year of school has left indelible scars of which they have each dealt with in equally destructive ways. Together they seek to settle a score and right some wrongs.
The suspension of disbelief was garnered mostly from the ages of the main characters in this story. Considering the decisions these boys made, it's very difficult to imagine that they are in their middle teens, no matter how immature they might have been. Had this story involved 10-12 year olds, I could have totally gotten on board.
Additionally, I found the fact that these boys parents had virtually nothing to do with their children and were oblivious to their trauma a bit hard to swallow.
I feel like these tiny indiscretions took what could have been a great book down to just a good book.
I felt confident that I had figured out the twist in this story very early on and I was correct. Sometimes that doesn't take much away from a story but in this case it really lent to a lackluster ending. For those that haven't figured it out, I imagine it will make for a great "omgggggg what just happened" moment.
Overall I really enjoyed this book for it's unflinching glimpse at the pure evil that can lurk in the heart of men. I will, without question, watch out for what is to come from Mark Tilbury.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2019
EXCERPT: The basement seemed to call out to him. Remember the good times we had, Danny-boy? The days when the grass was greener, the sky bluer, and the blood was redder? Why don't you come on in and sit with me a while? We can reminisce about the good old days. Dig up the past and see what the bones have to say.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Can two wrongs ever make a right?
The police never found fifteen-year-old Ellie Hutton. She vanished ten years ago after walking home from school along a disused railway track. But Danny Sheppard knows exactly what happened to her. She is dead and buried in a field near Lassiter’s Brook.
Now Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Same age. Similar circumstances. And Danny also knows what has happened to her.
Can Danny fight his demons and tell the truth this time?
Or will history repeat itself and leave another innocent girl dead?
MY THOUGHTS: 'Dark and gritty' are words that certainly describe Mark Tilbury's latest book 'You Belong to Me'. It is set in an atmosphere of almost poverty. A place where desperation and violence go hand in hand, a culture of bullying prevails, alcohol and drugs are a means of survival, and the cycle seems to be stuck endlessly on repeat. If that sounds bleak, then that's because it is bleak. Don't go into this read expecting joyous moments or sudden redemption. There may be the occasional promise of sunshine on the horizon, but nothing more.
I have to admit that I struggled a little with this book, purely because of the bleakness. I could feel it sucking at me and to counteract that, read most of it sitting out in the sun of our New Zealand summer days. It was almost too bleak. . . there were too few moments of normality which, on my part, a few more would have been appreciated, and which would have provided a much needed contrast. Or am I just talking about my normality? Perhaps the setting of Mark's book is normal for some people...
So, dark and gritty it is, and bleak. A story of mental illness in many guises, and the coping strategies that accompany it; of guilt and the damage it does knawing away at the psyche; of manipulation and revenge, of cruelty and bullying.
I can't say that I enjoyed this book, but I kept turning the pages to see where it was taking me.
😨😨😨.5
THE AUTHOR: Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.
After serving in the Royal Navy and raising his two daughters after being widowed, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.
He's always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have had six novels published by Bloodhound Books, including his most recent release, You Belong To Me.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found trying and failing to master blues guitar, and taking walks around the beautiful county of Cumbria.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to author Mark Tilbury and Bloodhound Books for providing a digital ARC of YouBelong to Me for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Can two wrongs ever make a right?
The police never found fifteen-year-old Ellie Hutton. She vanished ten years ago after walking home from school along a disused railway track. But Danny Sheppard knows exactly what happened to her. She is dead and buried in a field near Lassiter’s Brook.
Now Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Same age. Similar circumstances. And Danny also knows what has happened to her.
Can Danny fight his demons and tell the truth this time?
Or will history repeat itself and leave another innocent girl dead?
MY THOUGHTS: 'Dark and gritty' are words that certainly describe Mark Tilbury's latest book 'You Belong to Me'. It is set in an atmosphere of almost poverty. A place where desperation and violence go hand in hand, a culture of bullying prevails, alcohol and drugs are a means of survival, and the cycle seems to be stuck endlessly on repeat. If that sounds bleak, then that's because it is bleak. Don't go into this read expecting joyous moments or sudden redemption. There may be the occasional promise of sunshine on the horizon, but nothing more.
I have to admit that I struggled a little with this book, purely because of the bleakness. I could feel it sucking at me and to counteract that, read most of it sitting out in the sun of our New Zealand summer days. It was almost too bleak. . . there were too few moments of normality which, on my part, a few more would have been appreciated, and which would have provided a much needed contrast. Or am I just talking about my normality? Perhaps the setting of Mark's book is normal for some people...
So, dark and gritty it is, and bleak. A story of mental illness in many guises, and the coping strategies that accompany it; of guilt and the damage it does knawing away at the psyche; of manipulation and revenge, of cruelty and bullying.
I can't say that I enjoyed this book, but I kept turning the pages to see where it was taking me.
😨😨😨.5
THE AUTHOR: Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.
After serving in the Royal Navy and raising his two daughters after being widowed, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.
He's always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have had six novels published by Bloodhound Books, including his most recent release, You Belong To Me.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found trying and failing to master blues guitar, and taking walks around the beautiful county of Cumbria.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to author Mark Tilbury and Bloodhound Books for providing a digital ARC of YouBelong to Me for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 12, 2019
Mark Tilbury books are renown for his style of writing which I personally enjoy.
This one was slightly moving away from his usual supernatural/thriller type books which I loved.
The style in which he compelled the reader to move forward step by step, inch by inch. I didn’t have to work my brain too hard with this one it was very enjoyable to sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this adventure the authors taken me on.
The subject matter involves something that happened in this group of lads youth.
When first reading I kept wondering what on Earth was going to be revealed to me, the reader?
When we move on to the present day it made sense.
Did I like the storyline?
I did.
I love this authors quips, I’ll just quote,,,
“Four eyes”? That’s original. I’d better write that one down and remember it for when I’m stuck for something intelligent to say”
I loved the quips and remarks between the lads. And even when they got older.
These are my thoughts, and I think a “review” is not sitting on judgement of a book, it’s a persons thoughts from what they took from it. And I loved it. It’s not “edge of your seat” but a very very enjoyable read.
My enjoyment was 10/10
My ratings are 3.75
This one was slightly moving away from his usual supernatural/thriller type books which I loved.
The style in which he compelled the reader to move forward step by step, inch by inch. I didn’t have to work my brain too hard with this one it was very enjoyable to sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this adventure the authors taken me on.
The subject matter involves something that happened in this group of lads youth.
When first reading I kept wondering what on Earth was going to be revealed to me, the reader?
When we move on to the present day it made sense.
Did I like the storyline?
I did.
I love this authors quips, I’ll just quote,,,
“Four eyes”? That’s original. I’d better write that one down and remember it for when I’m stuck for something intelligent to say”
I loved the quips and remarks between the lads. And even when they got older.
These are my thoughts, and I think a “review” is not sitting on judgement of a book, it’s a persons thoughts from what they took from it. And I loved it. It’s not “edge of your seat” but a very very enjoyable read.
My enjoyment was 10/10
My ratings are 3.75
February 5, 2019
Ten years ago Ellie Hutton disappeared while walking home from school. The case was never solved.
Danny, Rob, Josh and Kieran were school chums back in the day when their classmate, Ellie Hutton, disappeared. Being typical teenage boys they didn't pay much attention to the news. They had bigger problems, namely, Calum Shepperd, Danny's older brother. Calum enjoyed terrorizing the boys on a daily basis in the most humiliating of ways. Finally, the boys having had enough, decide to take matters in their own hands for all the mental and physical torture they endured at the hands of Calum.
Now, back in the present, Cassie Rafferty has gone missing in similar circumstances, does Danny Shepperd know what has happened to these two missing girls?
He tracks down, with the help of a private investigator, his friends from the past and beckons their return to help him find Cassie and hopefully right the wrongs of their past but do two wrongs make a right?
I thought this story was incredibly gripping and Mark Tilbury wrote one of the most menacing villains I've read about in awhile but there were definitely some things I just could not overlook and these small details did detract from my full enjoyment of this novel. Mainly, I do not believe for a second that this would have escalated to the point it had or that so many adults were oblivious to what was happening. That being said this was an enjoyable read with one heck of a villain and that is something that I always appreciate. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley & Bloodhound Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Danny, Rob, Josh and Kieran were school chums back in the day when their classmate, Ellie Hutton, disappeared. Being typical teenage boys they didn't pay much attention to the news. They had bigger problems, namely, Calum Shepperd, Danny's older brother. Calum enjoyed terrorizing the boys on a daily basis in the most humiliating of ways. Finally, the boys having had enough, decide to take matters in their own hands for all the mental and physical torture they endured at the hands of Calum.
Now, back in the present, Cassie Rafferty has gone missing in similar circumstances, does Danny Shepperd know what has happened to these two missing girls?
He tracks down, with the help of a private investigator, his friends from the past and beckons their return to help him find Cassie and hopefully right the wrongs of their past but do two wrongs make a right?
I thought this story was incredibly gripping and Mark Tilbury wrote one of the most menacing villains I've read about in awhile but there were definitely some things I just could not overlook and these small details did detract from my full enjoyment of this novel. Mainly, I do not believe for a second that this would have escalated to the point it had or that so many adults were oblivious to what was happening. That being said this was an enjoyable read with one heck of a villain and that is something that I always appreciate. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley & Bloodhound Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2019
Dark
This is an extremely dark and intense story, I have read several books by Mark Tilbury and loved them all. But this one was a bit too much . I struggled to believe what was going on and that their parents were so oblivious to what was happening. I also struggled to believe the ending.
I have scored this 3.5 rounded up to 4.
This is an extremely dark and intense story, I have read several books by Mark Tilbury and loved them all. But this one was a bit too much . I struggled to believe what was going on and that their parents were so oblivious to what was happening. I also struggled to believe the ending.
I have scored this 3.5 rounded up to 4.
February 1, 2019
There is dark and then there is Noir DARK. You Belong to Me is on the darker shade of that Noir scale. It was so gritty that I had to take breaks, sit the book down and come up for air. Yep, it's that good!
Let me tell you first - THERE ARE NO SPOILERS HERE! Unfortunately, I read a review for this book that, quite literally, gave away the twist at the end. And what a great twist it is, too. Or, it would have been if I had not had it spoiled for me!! WHY do people do that!? Reviews do not include spoilers people!! The ending of this book is worth the reading of the entire book! I love great twists at the end. I love them!
Briefly, this is the story of four teenage boys who already are living on the wrong side of the tracks. They don't have the best that life has to offer, particularly Danny, but they are making it okay. Until one fateful day when they decide to seek revenge against Danny's brother for a lifetime of abuse that he has waged against all of them but especially upon Danny. What happens to these boys, what they discover about the brother and about themselves, will alter their lives to an extent that the four of them barely eek out an existence into adulthood.
Now it is several years later and events have aligned to bring these men back together again. A girl is missing, these men have seen this before. Can they find her before it's too late? What happens to them now will shock you to your core. Did I mention dark and twisty!? Tibury's writing will have you gripping the book and tearing through the pages to the end. The characters are sad and heartbreaking, some of them I didn't even like, but they were real and very dimensional. I cared about them and I came to care about their fate! The storyline could have been have placed in midwestern America as well as Ireland or any place in Europe. It's universal in its bleakness. It is a well told tale. If you like noir, psychological thrillers then this is absolutely the book for you!
Thank you to #Netgalley, #BloodhoundBooks and #MarkTilbury for my advanced copy of this - did I mention dark - thrilling book!
Let me tell you first - THERE ARE NO SPOILERS HERE! Unfortunately, I read a review for this book that, quite literally, gave away the twist at the end. And what a great twist it is, too. Or, it would have been if I had not had it spoiled for me!! WHY do people do that!? Reviews do not include spoilers people!! The ending of this book is worth the reading of the entire book! I love great twists at the end. I love them!
Briefly, this is the story of four teenage boys who already are living on the wrong side of the tracks. They don't have the best that life has to offer, particularly Danny, but they are making it okay. Until one fateful day when they decide to seek revenge against Danny's brother for a lifetime of abuse that he has waged against all of them but especially upon Danny. What happens to these boys, what they discover about the brother and about themselves, will alter their lives to an extent that the four of them barely eek out an existence into adulthood.
Now it is several years later and events have aligned to bring these men back together again. A girl is missing, these men have seen this before. Can they find her before it's too late? What happens to them now will shock you to your core. Did I mention dark and twisty!? Tibury's writing will have you gripping the book and tearing through the pages to the end. The characters are sad and heartbreaking, some of them I didn't even like, but they were real and very dimensional. I cared about them and I came to care about their fate! The storyline could have been have placed in midwestern America as well as Ireland or any place in Europe. It's universal in its bleakness. It is a well told tale. If you like noir, psychological thrillers then this is absolutely the book for you!
Thank you to #Netgalley, #BloodhoundBooks and #MarkTilbury for my advanced copy of this - did I mention dark - thrilling book!
February 4, 2019
This is slightly reminiscent of Stephen King's IT. A private detective is hired by Danny Sheppard to deliver a written message to four of his friends .. the message being ..It's happening again. Please come.
Danny is the only one who has stayed in his hometown ... all the others left as soon as they possibly could and never went back. It's been 9 years and they are still haunted by what happened to them when they were 15-16 years old.
One turned to God ... another turned to drugs and alcohol ... another one started cutting .. and another one dreams of ways to kill himself.
A schoolgirl disappeared years ago and was never seen again ... except for Danny, his brother, and Danny's friends. They know what happened to her and exactly where she was buried.
The middle of the story takes the reader back to when these boys faced more horror than they could ever have imagined. They have never told another living soul what happened .. how it happened .... and who was responsible. They don't talk about how they were bullied, traumatized, threatened with death .. or worse by someone they know.
Now another girl is missing ... with a lot of similarity to the first missing girl. Danny knows who is responsible and what has happened to her. He vows it's going to turn out differently this time.... come hell or high water.
The final chapters have Danny and his friends reunited. All of them are terrified ... none of them want to be there ...
Highly suspenseful, this is a well written psychological thriller with twists and turns that just don't stop until the very last word on the very last page. Parts of this book sent chills up and down my spine. I couldn't wait to get to the end .. and yet, I was dreading it, too.
Each character is finely drawn and has a unique voice. Some the reader will like, some the reader will hate, and one, in particular, the reader will fear.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of YOU BELONG TO ME for my reading pleasure. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 9, 2022
Evil. Pure evil.
This book made me feel a different kind of rage. Honestly, I wanted to burst into the story and beat the living sh*t out of the main antagonist. I took long breaths, was punching air and reminded myself to calm down. So cruel, so so cruel. The amount of animal abuse in this whole story was a lump in my throat, I had to skip some of the scenes because I was not prepared to have nightmares, No.
The bullying made me imagine bad things about people and it really scared me. The author concocted a fatal shot of pity and rage and I could feel those emotions boiling inside of me. This is a dark book right here and all I want to do right now is to forget about it.
(I think I need to read something happy. I need cleansing.)
This book made me feel a different kind of rage. Honestly, I wanted to burst into the story and beat the living sh*t out of the main antagonist. I took long breaths, was punching air and reminded myself to calm down. So cruel, so so cruel. The amount of animal abuse in this whole story was a lump in my throat, I had to skip some of the scenes because I was not prepared to have nightmares, No.
The bullying made me imagine bad things about people and it really scared me. The author concocted a fatal shot of pity and rage and I could feel those emotions boiling inside of me. This is a dark book right here and all I want to do right now is to forget about it.
(I think I need to read something happy. I need cleansing.)
April 3, 2021
Sometimes Doing The Right Thing And Legal Thing Are NOT The Same..
This is an intense, dark story of young boys horrified in their High School years by the acts of an older brother of one...Danny has been terrified by his brother Callum since birth...Killing his puppy and torturing Danny with whimpers and squeals, hurting him for fun...But his last act sent four boys off into the world with nightmares that will Not go away....
They all suffer through the years, but it is finally time to do something about it...Danny writes to each friend, they have not seen each other since that evil day...Will they come, to face the darkness together...A girl is missing...Seems just like before...
A fantastic story showing how the men have changed, but all still hold the horror close, each in their own way...Can anything right the lives they lead...What an experience watching what happens now!!! A fantastic tale that could be enacted anywhere today....
This is an intense, dark story of young boys horrified in their High School years by the acts of an older brother of one...Danny has been terrified by his brother Callum since birth...Killing his puppy and torturing Danny with whimpers and squeals, hurting him for fun...But his last act sent four boys off into the world with nightmares that will Not go away....
They all suffer through the years, but it is finally time to do something about it...Danny writes to each friend, they have not seen each other since that evil day...Will they come, to face the darkness together...A girl is missing...Seems just like before...
A fantastic story showing how the men have changed, but all still hold the horror close, each in their own way...Can anything right the lives they lead...What an experience watching what happens now!!! A fantastic tale that could be enacted anywhere today....
January 6, 2019
You Belong To Me by Mark Tilbury was a fast but dark read. It is the first book by this author that I have read and I enjoyed it. The story was intense, and disturbing but at times I struggled with it.
It tells the story of 4 school friends 10 years ago and in the present. They boys haven't seen each other since the hell that they were involved with 10 years ago when Ellie Hutton went missing. Now another girl has disappeared and Danny Shepard knows what happened again. The twist at the end is brilliant, truly made me gasp! I did struggle with the fact that these boys, or almost men, seemed old enough to be able to walk away. I know that depression and bullying all comes into it but had the kids been younger it may have been more believable. Still it was a great story and I enjoyed the read.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
It tells the story of 4 school friends 10 years ago and in the present. They boys haven't seen each other since the hell that they were involved with 10 years ago when Ellie Hutton went missing. Now another girl has disappeared and Danny Shepard knows what happened again. The twist at the end is brilliant, truly made me gasp! I did struggle with the fact that these boys, or almost men, seemed old enough to be able to walk away. I know that depression and bullying all comes into it but had the kids been younger it may have been more believable. Still it was a great story and I enjoyed the read.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
April 4, 2019
YOU BELONG TO ME is a noir DARK psychological thriller by Mark Tilbury, author of dark and compelling psychological thrillers, including The Abattoir of Dreams, The Liar's Promise and The Ben Whittle Investigation Series. His books are set in Oxfordshire where he was raised.
His work includes the following:
Series
Ben Whittle Investigation
1. The Revelation Room (2016)
2. The Eyes of the Accused (2016)
Novels
The Abattoir of Dreams (2017)
The Liar's Promise (2017)
The Key to Death's Door (2018)
You Belong to Me (2019)
Can two wrongs ever make a right?
The police never found fifteen-year-old Ellie Hutton. She vanished ten years ago after walking home from school along a disused railway track. But Danny Sheppard knows exactly what happened to her. She is dead and buried in a field near Lassiter’s Brook.
Now Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Same age. Similar circumstances. And Danny also knows what has happened to her.
Can Danny fight his demons and tell the truth this time?
Or will history repeat itself and leave another innocent girl dead?
Wow…what a dark distressing read. It is the first book by this author that I have read (although I have a copy of all his other books to read) and while I enjoyed it, I found it very bleak and powerful at the same time.
This is the story of four teenage school boys who are living in poverty who haven’t had an easy life, being exposed to abuse, depression and bullying. Then one day, the group decide to seek revenge against Danny’s brother for his abuse against both Danny and the group. The result will change them forever. The story alternates between the past (ten years ago) and the present. The boys haven’t seen each other since a girl (Ellie Hutton) went missing.
Now., a few years later the group is back together. Now another girl is missing and Danny knows what happened.
The twist at the end left me in total shock! I didn’t see it coming.
You Belong To Me is a dark and gripping read, and one that will appeal to a wide audience. I give credit to the author for addressing such sensitive topics of depression, abduction and bullying, and bringing them to the forefront.
Many thanks to the author, and Bloodhound Books via NetGalley for my digital copy.
His work includes the following:
Series
Ben Whittle Investigation
1. The Revelation Room (2016)
2. The Eyes of the Accused (2016)
Novels
The Abattoir of Dreams (2017)
The Liar's Promise (2017)
The Key to Death's Door (2018)
You Belong to Me (2019)
Can two wrongs ever make a right?
The police never found fifteen-year-old Ellie Hutton. She vanished ten years ago after walking home from school along a disused railway track. But Danny Sheppard knows exactly what happened to her. She is dead and buried in a field near Lassiter’s Brook.
Now Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Same age. Similar circumstances. And Danny also knows what has happened to her.
Can Danny fight his demons and tell the truth this time?
Or will history repeat itself and leave another innocent girl dead?
Wow…what a dark distressing read. It is the first book by this author that I have read (although I have a copy of all his other books to read) and while I enjoyed it, I found it very bleak and powerful at the same time.
This is the story of four teenage school boys who are living in poverty who haven’t had an easy life, being exposed to abuse, depression and bullying. Then one day, the group decide to seek revenge against Danny’s brother for his abuse against both Danny and the group. The result will change them forever. The story alternates between the past (ten years ago) and the present. The boys haven’t seen each other since a girl (Ellie Hutton) went missing.
Now., a few years later the group is back together. Now another girl is missing and Danny knows what happened.
The twist at the end left me in total shock! I didn’t see it coming.
You Belong To Me is a dark and gripping read, and one that will appeal to a wide audience. I give credit to the author for addressing such sensitive topics of depression, abduction and bullying, and bringing them to the forefront.
Many thanks to the author, and Bloodhound Books via NetGalley for my digital copy.
February 8, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Wow you guys, You Belong To Me by Mark Tilbury wasn't quite what I was expecting but it was full of the disturbing.
What it's about: Can two wrongs make a right? 9 years ago a girl named Ellie Hutton vanished on her walk home from school never to be seen again. Now a girl named Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Danny knows what happened to Ellie and has an idea he knows exactly what happened to Cassie as well. Now what does he do with this information? For starters he brings his 3 school friends together... Second it's time to figure out if he can tell the truth about what happened or if another girl is about to die.
Not going to lie, this book is DARK. There is animal abuse and other forms of abuse, along with some topics that are rather hard to read about. It is gritty, but it is written in a way that I just could not stop reading. The flow made this book a very quick read, and I was a fan of Tilbury's writing. I kind of can't believe I haven't heard of him before because his writing is exactly the type of thing I like to read. Not because of the topic obviously, but the shocking conclusion and flow of writing was spot on for me.
You Belong To Me jumps POVs from Danny, his three friends, and his big brother Calum. All of these guys have secrets, and 4 of them are being destroyed by theirs. This book touches on murder, family, and coping with things no one should have to.
Final Thought: I thought this book was the perfect length and it was a very fast read. I recommend to mystery/thriller fans that don't mind disturbing, gritty topics. Most of the areas with these can be skimmed if needed as well. I will definitely be looking into more books by Tilbury.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wow you guys, You Belong To Me by Mark Tilbury wasn't quite what I was expecting but it was full of the disturbing.
What it's about: Can two wrongs make a right? 9 years ago a girl named Ellie Hutton vanished on her walk home from school never to be seen again. Now a girl named Cassie Rafferty has gone missing. Danny knows what happened to Ellie and has an idea he knows exactly what happened to Cassie as well. Now what does he do with this information? For starters he brings his 3 school friends together... Second it's time to figure out if he can tell the truth about what happened or if another girl is about to die.
Not going to lie, this book is DARK. There is animal abuse and other forms of abuse, along with some topics that are rather hard to read about. It is gritty, but it is written in a way that I just could not stop reading. The flow made this book a very quick read, and I was a fan of Tilbury's writing. I kind of can't believe I haven't heard of him before because his writing is exactly the type of thing I like to read. Not because of the topic obviously, but the shocking conclusion and flow of writing was spot on for me.
You Belong To Me jumps POVs from Danny, his three friends, and his big brother Calum. All of these guys have secrets, and 4 of them are being destroyed by theirs. This book touches on murder, family, and coping with things no one should have to.
Final Thought: I thought this book was the perfect length and it was a very fast read. I recommend to mystery/thriller fans that don't mind disturbing, gritty topics. Most of the areas with these can be skimmed if needed as well. I will definitely be looking into more books by Tilbury.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 4, 2019
Mark Tilbury takes a side step off the path that he usually goes down with his supernatural themed books and delivers a frightening and realistic story that is spine shiver worthy. The opening chapter really got under my skin and left me with that gut wrenching uneasy feeling of pure helplessness. As each sentence became set on the page and unable to change, the realisation of any good conclusion being possible simply set alongside each word like concrete.
The story jumps back and forth to present day following the lives of four best pals. The lads that paired together because they were literally the outcasts. Although that may have been their only link it was as strong as any other group. The lads had all gone different ways after school but when headlines hit the paper in present day it was enough to bring them all back together as grown men. They couldn’t change the past but they could influence present day. This would be their chance to shine and finally move on from the limbo they had been stuck in all these years.
This is a real edgy story that from the start never really eases up because of one particular character. What begins with them as being bullied escalates into them being over their necks in trouble and any chance of a normal life just a dream. As the story unfolds from the past it becomes utterly heart breaking, a terrible burden and living constantly traumatized and petrified. It is a game of all or nothing for more than them.
Another standout story line of pure uniqueness.
The story jumps back and forth to present day following the lives of four best pals. The lads that paired together because they were literally the outcasts. Although that may have been their only link it was as strong as any other group. The lads had all gone different ways after school but when headlines hit the paper in present day it was enough to bring them all back together as grown men. They couldn’t change the past but they could influence present day. This would be their chance to shine and finally move on from the limbo they had been stuck in all these years.
This is a real edgy story that from the start never really eases up because of one particular character. What begins with them as being bullied escalates into them being over their necks in trouble and any chance of a normal life just a dream. As the story unfolds from the past it becomes utterly heart breaking, a terrible burden and living constantly traumatized and petrified. It is a game of all or nothing for more than them.
Another standout story line of pure uniqueness.
February 5, 2019
Almost ten years ago, fifteen year old Ellie Hutton disappeared on her way home from school. She was never found. But Danny knows exactly what happened to her. Now, Cassie Rafferty goes missing. Once again, Danny knows what happened to her. But can he tell the truth this time around?
The disappearance of Cassie prompts Danny to reconnect with three friends who are also aware of what happened to Ellie. None of these have had the best of times in their lives. Some remain on a downward spiral, some have tried to find a way to turn their lives around. All of them are deeply affected by the events from all those years ago and will have to confront their demons.
Being asked to read a book by Mark Tilbury is right up there with being offered a piece of chocolate. I say yes so quickly that my brain barely has time to register what the question was. I’ve enjoyed his previous books so much that reading You Belong to Me was a no-brainer. This one is slightly different in that it doesn’t have the supernatural vibe Mark Tilbury has been known for so far. What it does have and where this author’s strength lies, is one of the most vile and despicable characters you’ll ever meet. Sheer evil through and through, making your blood boil and fear for everyone around them.
I couldn’t at all figure out how things would end up, nor what actually happened to Ellie and Cassie. These events almost took a backseat for me because I was so focused on the characters, sympathising with them, willing them on, hoping they’d find a way to pick up the pieces of their lives. And yet, as the book description says, can two wrongs ever make a right? This is thought-provoking stuff for sure and I still haven’t quite made up my mind. Is there anything more awesome than a book that makes you think?
With You Belong to Me, Mark Tilbury has delivered a cracking psychological thriller. This is another super tense, disturbing and incredibly gripping story with characters that will get under you skin, as I’ve come to expect from him. If you’re not familiar with this author’s work, you are really missing out. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next!
The disappearance of Cassie prompts Danny to reconnect with three friends who are also aware of what happened to Ellie. None of these have had the best of times in their lives. Some remain on a downward spiral, some have tried to find a way to turn their lives around. All of them are deeply affected by the events from all those years ago and will have to confront their demons.
Being asked to read a book by Mark Tilbury is right up there with being offered a piece of chocolate. I say yes so quickly that my brain barely has time to register what the question was. I’ve enjoyed his previous books so much that reading You Belong to Me was a no-brainer. This one is slightly different in that it doesn’t have the supernatural vibe Mark Tilbury has been known for so far. What it does have and where this author’s strength lies, is one of the most vile and despicable characters you’ll ever meet. Sheer evil through and through, making your blood boil and fear for everyone around them.
I couldn’t at all figure out how things would end up, nor what actually happened to Ellie and Cassie. These events almost took a backseat for me because I was so focused on the characters, sympathising with them, willing them on, hoping they’d find a way to pick up the pieces of their lives. And yet, as the book description says, can two wrongs ever make a right? This is thought-provoking stuff for sure and I still haven’t quite made up my mind. Is there anything more awesome than a book that makes you think?
With You Belong to Me, Mark Tilbury has delivered a cracking psychological thriller. This is another super tense, disturbing and incredibly gripping story with characters that will get under you skin, as I’ve come to expect from him. If you’re not familiar with this author’s work, you are really missing out. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next!
August 27, 2019
This is the first book I have read by this author and I found it to be quite the page-turner. I will definitely read others by him again. This was a fast paced, thriller with several twists and turns. It was told in a dual timeline and from multiple POVs. I loved the approach, which pulled the reader right into the story.
There were a couple of small details that keep from rating it a full five stars. I had trouble believing the mother’s character and her level of dysfunction. Maybe a little more detail or consistency in her character development would have been helpful. I also felt that one of the storylines used in connecting with the “good guys” and the “bad guy” was too repetitive and therefore seemed less believable as a tactic for a character who comes across as very intelligent at one point. It doesn’t seem likely that he would be gullible in the situation he was faced with.
Even with that being said, this was a well paced, dark and entertaining thriller.
#YouBelongToMe #NetGalley
There were a couple of small details that keep from rating it a full five stars. I had trouble believing the mother’s character and her level of dysfunction. Maybe a little more detail or consistency in her character development would have been helpful. I also felt that one of the storylines used in connecting with the “good guys” and the “bad guy” was too repetitive and therefore seemed less believable as a tactic for a character who comes across as very intelligent at one point. It doesn’t seem likely that he would be gullible in the situation he was faced with.
Even with that being said, this was a well paced, dark and entertaining thriller.
#YouBelongToMe #NetGalley
December 28, 2018
The story starts off in present day with Danny getting in touch with three of his childhood school friends. Not only was I intrigued as to why he wanted to see them all again but I also wanted to find out more about them. Their lives seem to be in a mess and it’s obvious that there is something tying them together which each individual is struggling to deal with.
The story tackles some serious subjects like abduction, bullying as well as depression. I thought it was great that the author tackles such a sensitive topic, especially with the media trying to push male depression/suicide more into getting more men to open up.
As soon as I picked the book up I was instantly drawn into the world of these four men. I enjoyed being taken into the past and finding out just what had happened to tie them altogether. The build up of suspense and tension was great and have to say I LOVED that ending!
You Belong To Me is a dark and gripping read. As always with this authors books, he had my full attention and I always have to set some free time aside as I know once I’ve picked up one of his books, I won’t be putting it down anytime soon. The king of twisted thrillers has done it again. Great book!
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story tackles some serious subjects like abduction, bullying as well as depression. I thought it was great that the author tackles such a sensitive topic, especially with the media trying to push male depression/suicide more into getting more men to open up.
As soon as I picked the book up I was instantly drawn into the world of these four men. I enjoyed being taken into the past and finding out just what had happened to tie them altogether. The build up of suspense and tension was great and have to say I LOVED that ending!
You Belong To Me is a dark and gripping read. As always with this authors books, he had my full attention and I always have to set some free time aside as I know once I’ve picked up one of his books, I won’t be putting it down anytime soon. The king of twisted thrillers has done it again. Great book!
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
February 4, 2019
4.5 ⭐️
There are authors whose books I read I consider to have a vivid imagination, and then there’s Mark Tilbury! An author who I consider to have a very twisted imagination, and I mean that as a compliment. The author has a knack of creating characters and plots that highlight the worse traits of human nature, that push the boundaries, but hell they make for a spine chilling read and You Belong To Me was no exception. Admittedly, it doesn’t have the supernatural element normally found in his books, but it has another of his trademarks an antagonist whose a vicious bully and a cruel excuse for a human being. The author explores the dark recesses of his character’s mind, and this is where the author comes into his own. This is an antagonist with the most twisted mind, it’s the characters the author creates which makes his books all the more creepy and disconcerting to read.
You Belong To Me opens with the disappearance of fifteen-year-Of Cassie Rafferty, her disappearance is similar to that of Ellie Hutton who vanished ten years earlier, and who was never found. At the same time of Cassie’s disappearance Danny Sheppard, gets in touch with three of his childhood school friends. Four very troubled men are forced to unite, it soon becomes clear that each of the men has endured difficult times in their childhood, trying to escape the past through a fog of drugs, alcohol and medication, but why the reunion? What secrets are the four men hiding? These were the questions I kept asking myself.
I thought the author did a fabulous job in creating four characters who were very troubled, the boys now grown men have very carried their guilt from the past with them into adulthood, leading to some very destructive behaviour, drugs and alcohol, and difficulties forming relationships. The author doesn’t shy away from describing their destructive behaviour, but in doing so you couldnt help feeling some sympathy for these four flawed men. Although some readers may question the credibility of their decisions, I’m very much of the thinking “it’s a fictional book” so I’m happy to stretch the realms of my own imagination.
As the author deftly reveals the disturbing secrets that changed the life’s of four school boys forever I felt many a chill run down by spine, as the tale grew more alarming and far more ominous. Despite this being a disturbing read which touches on addiction, bullying and depression Tilbury manages to inject some dark humour into the story which balances the plot perfectly. Not only did the ending seem very fitting, but it took me by surprise which always heightens my enjoyment of a read. Highly recommended to those who enjoy an addictive, violent, and intense as hell read.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
There are authors whose books I read I consider to have a vivid imagination, and then there’s Mark Tilbury! An author who I consider to have a very twisted imagination, and I mean that as a compliment. The author has a knack of creating characters and plots that highlight the worse traits of human nature, that push the boundaries, but hell they make for a spine chilling read and You Belong To Me was no exception. Admittedly, it doesn’t have the supernatural element normally found in his books, but it has another of his trademarks an antagonist whose a vicious bully and a cruel excuse for a human being. The author explores the dark recesses of his character’s mind, and this is where the author comes into his own. This is an antagonist with the most twisted mind, it’s the characters the author creates which makes his books all the more creepy and disconcerting to read.
You Belong To Me opens with the disappearance of fifteen-year-Of Cassie Rafferty, her disappearance is similar to that of Ellie Hutton who vanished ten years earlier, and who was never found. At the same time of Cassie’s disappearance Danny Sheppard, gets in touch with three of his childhood school friends. Four very troubled men are forced to unite, it soon becomes clear that each of the men has endured difficult times in their childhood, trying to escape the past through a fog of drugs, alcohol and medication, but why the reunion? What secrets are the four men hiding? These were the questions I kept asking myself.
I thought the author did a fabulous job in creating four characters who were very troubled, the boys now grown men have very carried their guilt from the past with them into adulthood, leading to some very destructive behaviour, drugs and alcohol, and difficulties forming relationships. The author doesn’t shy away from describing their destructive behaviour, but in doing so you couldnt help feeling some sympathy for these four flawed men. Although some readers may question the credibility of their decisions, I’m very much of the thinking “it’s a fictional book” so I’m happy to stretch the realms of my own imagination.
As the author deftly reveals the disturbing secrets that changed the life’s of four school boys forever I felt many a chill run down by spine, as the tale grew more alarming and far more ominous. Despite this being a disturbing read which touches on addiction, bullying and depression Tilbury manages to inject some dark humour into the story which balances the plot perfectly. Not only did the ending seem very fitting, but it took me by surprise which always heightens my enjoyment of a read. Highly recommended to those who enjoy an addictive, violent, and intense as hell read.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
January 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me abit of Stephen King's Stand By Me for some reason.
Loved the twist at the end.
Loved the twist at the end.
February 6, 2019
For full review - The Limit of Books Does Not Exist
So before I get into my review, I want to say that this book is dark, uncomfortably dark. At around the half way point of the novel, I almost marked it as a DNF because there is a lot of animal cruelty and bullying. I just couldn’t handle it at times.
You Belong To Me first starts off in the present day and talks about Cassie who gets kidnapped. This gets Danny’s attention as it reminds him very much of a similar event from 9 years ago. He rallies his 3 childhood friends and together they need to come up with a plan to save Cassie.
Then the novel flips back to what happened 9 years ago when Ellie went missing and how Danny and his friends were impacted. I think the novel spent too much time going back in time and like I mentioned before, it was uncomfortable to read about these events.
I don’t know if I would recommend this to others, unless they like dark novels and enjoyed the description. The novel just left a bad taste for me.
Thank you to Netgallery and Bloodhound Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
So before I get into my review, I want to say that this book is dark, uncomfortably dark. At around the half way point of the novel, I almost marked it as a DNF because there is a lot of animal cruelty and bullying. I just couldn’t handle it at times.
You Belong To Me first starts off in the present day and talks about Cassie who gets kidnapped. This gets Danny’s attention as it reminds him very much of a similar event from 9 years ago. He rallies his 3 childhood friends and together they need to come up with a plan to save Cassie.
Then the novel flips back to what happened 9 years ago when Ellie went missing and how Danny and his friends were impacted. I think the novel spent too much time going back in time and like I mentioned before, it was uncomfortable to read about these events.
I don’t know if I would recommend this to others, unless they like dark novels and enjoyed the description. The novel just left a bad taste for me.
Thank you to Netgallery and Bloodhound Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2019
This is a fast paced, interesting thriller. We know from the synopsis what happened to Ellie but we don’t know how does it connect to Cassie. The writing is superb and the editing is at its best! This book does not have an ounce of flab to it. It’s crisp and to the point.
The story is based on a really dark personality. The pure evil nature of Callum makes me shudder. His mere presence makes the ambience seem darker and murkier. The impact his evil behavior has on so many lives is truly devastating. The choices the boys make as teenagers and as grown adults are questionable. What bothered me about the book was how oblivious the parents were to what was happening to their kids. I find it hard to believe that parents can be this blind to such severe trauma. This premise makes this an extremely dark read. If there were fifty share of dark, rest assured this is the darkest there is.
The ending has a nice twist to it. It made me sad to read it because it really shows how one dark shadow can ruin everything it touches. The characters are well developed and I appreciate how the author has taken the time to build the characters based on what they went through. The books starts off as suspenseful and gets even more so till such time that we go in to the flashback of what actually happened. The story builds well on how much bullying can impact a child’s life.
The writing style and plot remind me a lot of Stephen King’s style and I’ll definitely read more by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound books for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #YouBelongToMe
Also shared on: https://romasharma.blogspot.com
The story is based on a really dark personality. The pure evil nature of Callum makes me shudder. His mere presence makes the ambience seem darker and murkier. The impact his evil behavior has on so many lives is truly devastating. The choices the boys make as teenagers and as grown adults are questionable. What bothered me about the book was how oblivious the parents were to what was happening to their kids. I find it hard to believe that parents can be this blind to such severe trauma. This premise makes this an extremely dark read. If there were fifty share of dark, rest assured this is the darkest there is.
The ending has a nice twist to it. It made me sad to read it because it really shows how one dark shadow can ruin everything it touches. The characters are well developed and I appreciate how the author has taken the time to build the characters based on what they went through. The books starts off as suspenseful and gets even more so till such time that we go in to the flashback of what actually happened. The story builds well on how much bullying can impact a child’s life.
The writing style and plot remind me a lot of Stephen King’s style and I’ll definitely read more by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound books for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #YouBelongToMe
Also shared on: https://romasharma.blogspot.com
July 7, 2023
In the early 2000s, many people used Friends Reunited to get back in touch with old school friends. Danny Shepherd doesn't use the internet to catch up with his old mates, however. He hires a private investigator to deliver a message to his former friends - Josh, Rob and Kieran but his note isn't greeted with any pleasure. It's rapidly obvious that all four men have been terribly affected by something in their past and their mental health issues, addictions, fear of commitment and suicide attempts bear testimony to that. Danny sends his message after a teenage girl, Cassie Rafferty goes missing; the book actually opens with an unnerving scene in which the reader sees the moments leading up to Cassie's abduction and her initial interactions with her kidnapper but for most of the novel we are left wondering about her fate.
The four old friends share a dreadful secret which they have tried and failed to move on from over the years. The novel takes us back to the fateful events which ended up causing them such misery and it makes for disturbing reading. I discovered that Mark Tilbury is able to create characters capable of some almost unimaginably evil acts when I read his previous book, The Key to Death's Door and in You Belong to Me, he once again introduces an antagonist whose actions are truly horrific. This probably isn't going to appeal to those of a more sensitive disposition; the violence is brutal and upsetting and includes cruelty to animals but it never feels gratuitous and is often described after the actual act has taken place which allows the reader to feel slightly more detached from the horror than if it was written about as happening in the moment.
One of the things I most enjoyed about The Key to Death's Door was Mark Tilbury's ability to capture the voices of his teenage protagonists so well and the same is true here. The first part of the book is set in the present but after the four men are reunited, the story goes back nine years to when they were still boys and it is here that we finally learn what abhorrent event has cast such a long shadow over their lives. We see the boys set on a course of dangerous revenge but despite their initial triumph, there is always a sense of ominous foreboding as it seems inevitable that their nemesis will soon regain the upper hand once again. When retribution comes, it is shocking and vicious and before long their teenage bravado is destroyed as they become mere shadows of themselves, their futures destroyed by what they experience at a time when they should still be dreaming of the promise of their lives ahead.
This cleverly plotted novel drew me until I was left contemplating my own morals and asking just what is acceptable when confronting pure evil. The characterisation is absolutely top-notch, with the four boys each having clearly defined personalities which are still apparent in the very damaged men they eventually become and the cruel malevolence of the villain is terrifying. The shocking twists sent chills down my spine and meant I raced through the pages, desperate to discover whether the men would achieve the resolution they - and Cassie Rafferty - so desperately needed. Mark Tilbury's book is gripping, gritty crime fiction which never shies away from the darker side of humanity and yet still remembers the victims and the long-term consequences of the horror they are forced to endure. Compelling, thought-provoking and very highly recommended.
The four old friends share a dreadful secret which they have tried and failed to move on from over the years. The novel takes us back to the fateful events which ended up causing them such misery and it makes for disturbing reading. I discovered that Mark Tilbury is able to create characters capable of some almost unimaginably evil acts when I read his previous book, The Key to Death's Door and in You Belong to Me, he once again introduces an antagonist whose actions are truly horrific. This probably isn't going to appeal to those of a more sensitive disposition; the violence is brutal and upsetting and includes cruelty to animals but it never feels gratuitous and is often described after the actual act has taken place which allows the reader to feel slightly more detached from the horror than if it was written about as happening in the moment.
One of the things I most enjoyed about The Key to Death's Door was Mark Tilbury's ability to capture the voices of his teenage protagonists so well and the same is true here. The first part of the book is set in the present but after the four men are reunited, the story goes back nine years to when they were still boys and it is here that we finally learn what abhorrent event has cast such a long shadow over their lives. We see the boys set on a course of dangerous revenge but despite their initial triumph, there is always a sense of ominous foreboding as it seems inevitable that their nemesis will soon regain the upper hand once again. When retribution comes, it is shocking and vicious and before long their teenage bravado is destroyed as they become mere shadows of themselves, their futures destroyed by what they experience at a time when they should still be dreaming of the promise of their lives ahead.
This cleverly plotted novel drew me until I was left contemplating my own morals and asking just what is acceptable when confronting pure evil. The characterisation is absolutely top-notch, with the four boys each having clearly defined personalities which are still apparent in the very damaged men they eventually become and the cruel malevolence of the villain is terrifying. The shocking twists sent chills down my spine and meant I raced through the pages, desperate to discover whether the men would achieve the resolution they - and Cassie Rafferty - so desperately needed. Mark Tilbury's book is gripping, gritty crime fiction which never shies away from the darker side of humanity and yet still remembers the victims and the long-term consequences of the horror they are forced to endure. Compelling, thought-provoking and very highly recommended.
Want to read
February 14, 2019Found through Dita's review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 8, 2019
The thought of what makes somebody evil, doesn't get close to the evil in one of these characters.
Friends Rob, Josh, Kieran, and Danny hang around as teenagers do. Danny has not recovered from his father's sudden death some years earlier. His mother hasn't been the same either. She has lost her grip on reality and just exists from day to day with the help medication. Danny has lost his mother too, as she is unable to cook and do what mother's do. He is duty bound to just get on with it and put up with his vile brother, Calum.
Rose, their mother, can find no fault with Calum. He is the apple of her eye. Helpful, hard-working, kind and appears to be far better than Danny. Little does she know how he taunts Danny and his friends. He is a bully and delights in insulting them continuously. The live in a small town, Feelham, and friends, especially Danny, cannot wait to finish school and leave the area.
Fast forward 9 years and they meet up again, by arrangement through a PI who was detailed to find them. A local girl has gone missing, Calum being the prime suspect behind it. He had done it before.
The author is brilliant at depicting pure evil. The characters are so well depicted, and his grasp of evil is second to none. It deserves a well earned 5 ***** from me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
Friends Rob, Josh, Kieran, and Danny hang around as teenagers do. Danny has not recovered from his father's sudden death some years earlier. His mother hasn't been the same either. She has lost her grip on reality and just exists from day to day with the help medication. Danny has lost his mother too, as she is unable to cook and do what mother's do. He is duty bound to just get on with it and put up with his vile brother, Calum.
Rose, their mother, can find no fault with Calum. He is the apple of her eye. Helpful, hard-working, kind and appears to be far better than Danny. Little does she know how he taunts Danny and his friends. He is a bully and delights in insulting them continuously. The live in a small town, Feelham, and friends, especially Danny, cannot wait to finish school and leave the area.
Fast forward 9 years and they meet up again, by arrangement through a PI who was detailed to find them. A local girl has gone missing, Calum being the prime suspect behind it. He had done it before.
The author is brilliant at depicting pure evil. The characters are so well depicted, and his grasp of evil is second to none. It deserves a well earned 5 ***** from me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
February 4, 2019
Another brilliant read
I have read and loved the previous books by this author. They all had a spiritual twist and I know this one was different so I was intrigued to see how he would approach a psychological thriller. I wasn't disappointed this is a brilliant read.
The story covers 2 different time periods but focusses on the same characters. Characters that we meet as adults and then learn more about their backgrounds as we go back in time to their teenage years. All the characters are realistic as is the story.
Callum is Danny's older brother and is a psychopath in the true sense of the word. Danny has been bullied by Callum all his life but things take a turn for the worse when their Dad dies in an accident. Danny was very close to his Dad and is devastated but the effect on their mother, Rose is worse and long lasting. Danny is the one who cares and looks after her but Callum is the perfect son in her eyes. Rose only sees the good side of Callum whereas Danny is subjected to all that is bad in him.
Danny and his friends go their separate ways after they finish school as they each try to deal with the memories of a traumatic event. 9 years after that event the boys meet to try to prevent history repeating itself but this is at great personal cost to each of them.
I love the complex characters and the totally unique story that is interlaced with adrenaline pumping suspense all the way through making for a gripping page-turner.
Although different to his previous books Mark has, again, written a brilliant book full of twists and turns all the way to the jaw-droppingly shocking epilogue.
WOW 5 stars from me and I cant wait to see what Mark writes next.
I have read and loved the previous books by this author. They all had a spiritual twist and I know this one was different so I was intrigued to see how he would approach a psychological thriller. I wasn't disappointed this is a brilliant read.
The story covers 2 different time periods but focusses on the same characters. Characters that we meet as adults and then learn more about their backgrounds as we go back in time to their teenage years. All the characters are realistic as is the story.
Callum is Danny's older brother and is a psychopath in the true sense of the word. Danny has been bullied by Callum all his life but things take a turn for the worse when their Dad dies in an accident. Danny was very close to his Dad and is devastated but the effect on their mother, Rose is worse and long lasting. Danny is the one who cares and looks after her but Callum is the perfect son in her eyes. Rose only sees the good side of Callum whereas Danny is subjected to all that is bad in him.
Danny and his friends go their separate ways after they finish school as they each try to deal with the memories of a traumatic event. 9 years after that event the boys meet to try to prevent history repeating itself but this is at great personal cost to each of them.
I love the complex characters and the totally unique story that is interlaced with adrenaline pumping suspense all the way through making for a gripping page-turner.
Although different to his previous books Mark has, again, written a brilliant book full of twists and turns all the way to the jaw-droppingly shocking epilogue.
WOW 5 stars from me and I cant wait to see what Mark writes next.
February 4, 2019
Again Mark Tilbury delivers a cracking book in his style of dragging you in & along for the ride.
Young boys grow into young men & as they get back in touch with each other the story unfolds. We are led into their lives & not so wonderful times.
Def worth reading & taking the time to get to know these characters.
Young boys grow into young men & as they get back in touch with each other the story unfolds. We are led into their lives & not so wonderful times.
Def worth reading & taking the time to get to know these characters.
February 14, 2019
This book is about a young girl Ellie Hutton who went missing one day after school nearly 9 years ago. Three men Josh, Rob and Kieran are going about there normal life when they are found and given a note via a private investigator saying that they need to go back to there hometown to meet there old friend Danny. And it's very apparent that neither any of the boys want to step back anywhere near there hometown or be reminded of the past. It's soon found out that a second young girl has gone missing Cassie.
The four men are clearly haunted by there past and have fueled there adult lives deep in drugs, alcohol, self harm and turning to religion. And the only one to stay around is Danny who takes care of his mother and forced to deal with his psychotic brother who made his childhood absolute hell.
I absolutely love this cover. Bright and Simple.
The story actually made me completely speechless and made me doubt a lot of things, what ifs, morals etc
He really knows how to make you dive deep into the character's mind whether they are good and bad. And you keep doubting how you feel all the way through like you are playing tug of war.
It is very dark and I don't think this is a book for everyone if you are particularly sensitive to animal abuse and dark subjects such as drugs, alcohol, self-harm, violence. I would be cautious. But with that said it is totally and utterly worth it.
It is so well written, it is told from the past and present throughout the book which is very very well done I might add. It absolutely gets you completely sucked into this fantastic, dark, gut wrenching and shocking world.
The characters are very well written, unbelievably realistic and you feel like you are those characters, you feel and think As if you are them. There hopes, dreams, there dark dark thoughts. Even down to the victims.
Overall I highly bloody recommend.
April 16, 2019
You Belong to Me by Mark Tilbury, for me I thought this was a pretty interesting mystery it dragged a little here and there but the storyline and characters were interesting and drew me in to the whole story and kept me intrigued until the end. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for this book and letting me leave my opinion.
May 4, 2019
Mark is affectionately known as the sicko author for his crime novels tinged with horror and the supernatural. You Belong To Me is a bit of a departure for him. It's much more of a psychological thriller, and a wee bit tamer. But don't think it's not horrific, because it certainly is in places.
Three friends who haven't seen each other since leaving school the best part of ten years previously all receive a note from a fourth friend, stating only 'It's happened again" and giving a time and a place to meet up. The letter has a profound unsettling effect on the recipients but soon the four young men are together again.
The story starts in the present day, then flips back to ten years previously when 'it' happened the first time and the guys were just fifteen years old, before moving back into the present for the tense ending.
I have deliberately not given any details about the plot because I don't want to give anything away. But Danny, Rob, Keiran and Josh are all beautifully described, both as fifteen year old boys and twenty-four, twenty-five year old men. The story deals with kidnap, neglect, depression, suicidal thoughts and a whole lot of bullying of all four boys. I have read some comments that the story would have been more believable if the boys were younger. Well, in my opinion, those people don't understand the impact bullying can have. It certainly rang true to me.
I love to loathe characters and, in Calum, Mark has created a true, and very real, monster. I spent most of the book wanting to do significant physical harm to him, and to shake some sense into his mum.
This is a real page turner. I was drawn in right at the beginning, and just kept going. Mark's writing is fast paced and I always wanted to know what was coming next. I found a couple of examples of his writing, neither of which give any spoilers. The first is an illustration of Mark's more upfront writing (I'm sure there will be a technical term for this that I don't know).
"A train thundered past the platform. The back draft seduced him, teased him, sucked him closer to the edge. The 11.15am bound for Hell, calling at Hopelessness, Desperation and Don't Give A Fuck on The way. All lost souls welcome."
The other is a beautiful description of a sad situation.
"The medication helped. Before that, she had been hovering between depressed and suicidal. It was if her years had fallen to the ground and turned into eggshells."
I just love this variety in the writing.
The more gruesome elements of the situation ten years ago are teased out until we finally see the true horror of what went on. As others have mentioned, there is a twist towards the end. I did work it out, but only just before it was revealed.
This is a tale of friendship and loyalty, bullying and revenge, and wanting to do the right thing. And I loved the wee reference to The Liars Promise! Can Mark Tilbury write a good psychological thriller? That would be a very resounding yes!
Three friends who haven't seen each other since leaving school the best part of ten years previously all receive a note from a fourth friend, stating only 'It's happened again" and giving a time and a place to meet up. The letter has a profound unsettling effect on the recipients but soon the four young men are together again.
The story starts in the present day, then flips back to ten years previously when 'it' happened the first time and the guys were just fifteen years old, before moving back into the present for the tense ending.
I have deliberately not given any details about the plot because I don't want to give anything away. But Danny, Rob, Keiran and Josh are all beautifully described, both as fifteen year old boys and twenty-four, twenty-five year old men. The story deals with kidnap, neglect, depression, suicidal thoughts and a whole lot of bullying of all four boys. I have read some comments that the story would have been more believable if the boys were younger. Well, in my opinion, those people don't understand the impact bullying can have. It certainly rang true to me.
I love to loathe characters and, in Calum, Mark has created a true, and very real, monster. I spent most of the book wanting to do significant physical harm to him, and to shake some sense into his mum.
This is a real page turner. I was drawn in right at the beginning, and just kept going. Mark's writing is fast paced and I always wanted to know what was coming next. I found a couple of examples of his writing, neither of which give any spoilers. The first is an illustration of Mark's more upfront writing (I'm sure there will be a technical term for this that I don't know).
"A train thundered past the platform. The back draft seduced him, teased him, sucked him closer to the edge. The 11.15am bound for Hell, calling at Hopelessness, Desperation and Don't Give A Fuck on The way. All lost souls welcome."
The other is a beautiful description of a sad situation.
"The medication helped. Before that, she had been hovering between depressed and suicidal. It was if her years had fallen to the ground and turned into eggshells."
I just love this variety in the writing.
The more gruesome elements of the situation ten years ago are teased out until we finally see the true horror of what went on. As others have mentioned, there is a twist towards the end. I did work it out, but only just before it was revealed.
This is a tale of friendship and loyalty, bullying and revenge, and wanting to do the right thing. And I loved the wee reference to The Liars Promise! Can Mark Tilbury write a good psychological thriller? That would be a very resounding yes!
February 8, 2019
I always get excited when I hear that Mark Tilbury has a new book coming out as I know that I'm in for a treat and You Belong To Me is no exception.
When Danny Sheppard hears that a young girl called Cassie has gone missing on her way home from school he reaches out to friends that he hasn't seen for years. He's worried that he knows what's happened to her as the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are eerily similar to that of another girl called Ellie who disappeared ten years previously and was never found.
All of the friends that Danny reaches out to are troubled in their own way and this can be traced back to their childhood and an events that links them to a time that they would all rather forget so Danny doesn't know if they will agree to confront their demons and help him.
I'm a huge fan of Mark Tilbury's books - I would call myself his number one fan but I don't want to be compared with Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's Misery - but I was a little bit worried when I heard that You Belong To Me was going to be missing the supernatural element that I've come to know and love in his books. Well let me tell you, there was absolutely nothing lacking at all, it was just as dark, sick, twisted and disturbing - so I loved every single page. With the story being told in the past and the present, it was great way to give an insight into the characters of Danny, Rob, Kieran and Josh when they were young and to show how they have all been affected by the events of ten years ago. Mark's books always have that one character that makes my skin crawl and manages to sneak into my dreams and in You Belong To Me that character was Danny's brother Calum. It got to the point where I was dreading seeing his character appear, he was THAT despicable! it's often said that authors base their characters on people that they know and if that's true in Calum's case than Mark needs to seriously consider getting some new friends!
You Belong To Me is a triumph of a book and his reputation for writing some of the best twisted thrillers I've ever read is definitely intact!
When Danny Sheppard hears that a young girl called Cassie has gone missing on her way home from school he reaches out to friends that he hasn't seen for years. He's worried that he knows what's happened to her as the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are eerily similar to that of another girl called Ellie who disappeared ten years previously and was never found.
All of the friends that Danny reaches out to are troubled in their own way and this can be traced back to their childhood and an events that links them to a time that they would all rather forget so Danny doesn't know if they will agree to confront their demons and help him.
I'm a huge fan of Mark Tilbury's books - I would call myself his number one fan but I don't want to be compared with Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's Misery - but I was a little bit worried when I heard that You Belong To Me was going to be missing the supernatural element that I've come to know and love in his books. Well let me tell you, there was absolutely nothing lacking at all, it was just as dark, sick, twisted and disturbing - so I loved every single page. With the story being told in the past and the present, it was great way to give an insight into the characters of Danny, Rob, Kieran and Josh when they were young and to show how they have all been affected by the events of ten years ago. Mark's books always have that one character that makes my skin crawl and manages to sneak into my dreams and in You Belong To Me that character was Danny's brother Calum. It got to the point where I was dreading seeing his character appear, he was THAT despicable! it's often said that authors base their characters on people that they know and if that's true in Calum's case than Mark needs to seriously consider getting some new friends!
You Belong To Me is a triumph of a book and his reputation for writing some of the best twisted thrillers I've ever read is definitely intact!
February 4, 2019
You Belong To Me by Mark Tilbury
5 stars
A great plot with a twist I never saw coming.
A fifteen-year-old girl, Cassie Rafferty, has gone missing in Feelham. The police are baffled but Danny Shepheard is sure he knows who is responsible, his brother Callum.
Ten years previously, another young girl, Ellie Hutton had disappeared in exactly the same circumstances. Danny and his three best schoolmates, Rob Wallace, Kieran Clarke and Josh McBain had all inadvertently got drawn into this crime. Calum’s psychotic behaviour to his younger brother has been going on for years, attacking him, killing his puppy, destroying his school work and Danny decides to enlist his three friends in an effort to punish Calum. They lure Calum to an abandoned cellar in order to threaten him but to their horror found Ellie near to death having been kidnapped and starved by Calum. Calum forces Rob to bury Ellie’s body with Kieran’s jumper so his DNA is present and swears all four of them to secrecy. He insists that they will be blamed for the murder if they breathe a word to anyone and the terrified 14-year-old boys agree.
All of the boys have suffered terrible traumas due to this horrific secret. Only Danny remains living in Feelham with his chain-smoking alcoholic mother. Calum has disappeared whereabouts unknown. The other three are trying to make lives elsewhere, Kieran has a wife and child but self-harms constantly. Josh is living in a derelict bedsit with no job and Rob is plagued with nightmares constantly.
Suddenly they all receive a notification from Danny imploring them to come back to Feelham. Danny needs their help to find Cassie and ensure that his brother is rightly accused this time as well as ensuring he admits to the previous murder.
None of them wants to return to a place and an event that haunts their lives but reluctantly they agree to help Danny track down both Calum and force him to tell them where he has hidden Cassie. The way this is planned and implemented is brilliant and the ending was totally unexpected for me and so clever.
I loved this book, it was completely plausible and the author gets inside the heads of the four boys when explaining how their whole lives have been ruined by the tragic circumstances that they have witnessed.
I now need to read Mark Tilbury’s earlier books!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
5 stars
A great plot with a twist I never saw coming.
A fifteen-year-old girl, Cassie Rafferty, has gone missing in Feelham. The police are baffled but Danny Shepheard is sure he knows who is responsible, his brother Callum.
Ten years previously, another young girl, Ellie Hutton had disappeared in exactly the same circumstances. Danny and his three best schoolmates, Rob Wallace, Kieran Clarke and Josh McBain had all inadvertently got drawn into this crime. Calum’s psychotic behaviour to his younger brother has been going on for years, attacking him, killing his puppy, destroying his school work and Danny decides to enlist his three friends in an effort to punish Calum. They lure Calum to an abandoned cellar in order to threaten him but to their horror found Ellie near to death having been kidnapped and starved by Calum. Calum forces Rob to bury Ellie’s body with Kieran’s jumper so his DNA is present and swears all four of them to secrecy. He insists that they will be blamed for the murder if they breathe a word to anyone and the terrified 14-year-old boys agree.
All of the boys have suffered terrible traumas due to this horrific secret. Only Danny remains living in Feelham with his chain-smoking alcoholic mother. Calum has disappeared whereabouts unknown. The other three are trying to make lives elsewhere, Kieran has a wife and child but self-harms constantly. Josh is living in a derelict bedsit with no job and Rob is plagued with nightmares constantly.
Suddenly they all receive a notification from Danny imploring them to come back to Feelham. Danny needs their help to find Cassie and ensure that his brother is rightly accused this time as well as ensuring he admits to the previous murder.
None of them wants to return to a place and an event that haunts their lives but reluctantly they agree to help Danny track down both Calum and force him to tell them where he has hidden Cassie. The way this is planned and implemented is brilliant and the ending was totally unexpected for me and so clever.
I loved this book, it was completely plausible and the author gets inside the heads of the four boys when explaining how their whole lives have been ruined by the tragic circumstances that they have witnessed.
I now need to read Mark Tilbury’s earlier books!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
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