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In Her Eyes
You're at home with your family. You think you're safe. You're wrong...
Ava's life is the kind other people envy: loving husband; great kids; beautiful house. Until the night that a violent home invasion plunges her world into chaos.
In the aftermath of the attack, Ava needs answers to two questions. Who has targeted her family? And why?
But things aren't adding up. She is starting to suspect that someone knows more than they are letting on. That everything she thought she knew about the people closest to her was a lie.
Ava needs to know what happened that night. And to do that she must decide who she can really trust. Because she's about to discover that her family is in more danger than she ever imagined...
For fans of Rachel Abbott, Laura Marshall and Cara Hunter, IN HER EYES is a brilliantly twisty thriller about the secrets that lie behind a seemingly perfect life.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2019
6319 people are currently reading
9423 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Alderson
28 books2,766 followersHaving spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and princess-obsessed daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home. After several months in India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where they lived for five years.
She finished her first novel, Hunting Lila (winner of the Kingston Book Award), just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they had reached Bali.
A third book, Fated, about a teenage demon slayer, was published in January 2012.
The Sound, a thriller romance set in Nantucket, was published in August 2013 and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Out of Control in May 2014.
Her first non-fiction book - CAN WE LIVE HERE? - based on her blog of the same name, was published in August 2015 by Blink.
She also writes New Adult romance for Pan Macmillan (UK) / Simon & Schuster (US) under the pen name Mila Gray.
You can find Sarah on facebook and at www.sarahalderson.com or follow her blog at www.canwelivhere.com
She finished her first novel, Hunting Lila (winner of the Kingston Book Award), just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they had reached Bali.
A third book, Fated, about a teenage demon slayer, was published in January 2012.
The Sound, a thriller romance set in Nantucket, was published in August 2013 and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Out of Control in May 2014.
Her first non-fiction book - CAN WE LIVE HERE? - based on her blog of the same name, was published in August 2015 by Blink.
She also writes New Adult romance for Pan Macmillan (UK) / Simon & Schuster (US) under the pen name Mila Gray.
You can find Sarah on facebook and at www.sarahalderson.com or follow her blog at www.canwelivhere.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 830 reviews
May 18, 2024
The book starts with a bang and maintains its momentum throughout. It’s a fast-paced, gripping read filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t wait to unravel the plot. The great reveal? Absolutely astounding, fulfilling, and completely unexpected!
Sure, there were moments that stretched believability, but that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise stellar read. "In Her Eyes" delivered everything I crave in a psychological thriller and then some.
If you’re looking for a special thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read. I’m already excited for my next adventure with this gifted author. Buckle up for a wild ride!
Sure, there were moments that stretched believability, but that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise stellar read. "In Her Eyes" delivered everything I crave in a psychological thriller and then some.
If you’re looking for a special thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read. I’m already excited for my next adventure with this gifted author. Buckle up for a wild ride!
July 24, 2019
Ava and successful husband Robert live in their mansion with her 12 year old daughter June, stepson Gene lives in an apartment over the garage. Their eldest daughter Hannah is studying in New York.
When armed men break into their house, leaving Ava and Robert injured and June fighting for her life,
Ava will stop at nothing to find out who and why her family were attacked so violently.
This is not a straight forward burglary gone wrong, there are lots of twists that will keep you hooked and this book just gets better and better!!
A must read thriller that keeps you guessing till the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
When armed men break into their house, leaving Ava and Robert injured and June fighting for her life,
Ava will stop at nothing to find out who and why her family were attacked so violently.
This is not a straight forward burglary gone wrong, there are lots of twists that will keep you hooked and this book just gets better and better!!
A must read thriller that keeps you guessing till the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
November 5, 2019
Brilliant start
Possibly so good it was never then going to replicate throughout
Ava is just out of the shower when she hears screaming, her family are the victims of a ‘home invasion’ and its scary stuff, literally heart pounding as the scene is described word for word in terrifying detail, the husband and 1 daughter are left hospitalised and Ava forever mentally scarred, 2 other adultish children fight their own demons as well as trying to cope with all that has happened
But who did this to them, and why?
The book continues as Ava tries to work this out and soon everyone comes under suspicion, at times it drags tbh and as the ‘plot thickens’ so ( imo ) does the ‘believability’ of what is unfolding
It is tense although never manages to rise to the crescendo of the opening and there are surprises but some were hard to swallow and as the book drew to a close so did my ability to believe it all
BUT its a good read, its exciting and I know I keep saying it but the opening was one of the best probably ever read
Easy written means easy read just not, this time, that easily believed at the end
7/10
November 11, 2019
Ava leads a privileged life. She lives in a big house in California, money is no object and her husband is handsome. But things haven't been easy for her either. Her daughter has just recovered from having cancer and her stepson smoked pot in their guest house. But her perfect life is shattered one night she was assaulted in her home after a burglary. Her ex, Nate is the investigating officer.
There are so many red herrings in this addictive read. I was guessing like crazy ut I eventually got it right. Ava is not a likeable character but I did feel sorry for her. I did enjoy the first half of the book more than the second half. It seemed to be more pacy. This is a cleverly crafted read that I'm sure you will enjoy.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author Sarah Alderson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are so many red herrings in this addictive read. I was guessing like crazy ut I eventually got it right. Ava is not a likeable character but I did feel sorry for her. I did enjoy the first half of the book more than the second half. It seemed to be more pacy. This is a cleverly crafted read that I'm sure you will enjoy.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author Sarah Alderson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2019
Ava, her husband, and her teen daughter are home one night during a home invasion. The burglary turns violent, leaving Ava's daughter fighting for survival in the hospital. Ava soon realizes the attack was not random. She delves into her family's lives to find out who the attackers were. It seems everyone in the family has been keeping secrets, including Ava.
A fast-paced and exciting mystery. What started as a night out, ended with a violent home invasion. Ava soon realizes she needs to find out what has been going on with her family to solve the mystery of why they were targeted. Everyone is lying and keeping secrets, including Ava. As more secrets are revealed, the story gets more complex and intriguing.
A well-written and twisty thriller. I enjoy books that keep me turning the pages, and this one was so gripping I stayed up late to finish reading it. Addictive, suspenseful, and clever.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A fast-paced and exciting mystery. What started as a night out, ended with a violent home invasion. Ava soon realizes she needs to find out what has been going on with her family to solve the mystery of why they were targeted. Everyone is lying and keeping secrets, including Ava. As more secrets are revealed, the story gets more complex and intriguing.
A well-written and twisty thriller. I enjoy books that keep me turning the pages, and this one was so gripping I stayed up late to finish reading it. Addictive, suspenseful, and clever.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2020
Ava’s perfect life is shattered after a violent home invasion sees her daughter June left fighting for her life, it soon appears that the attack wasn’t random - but why would someone target this happy loving family.
The first half is definitely the strongest part of this thriller, with the invasion itself completely terrifying and the immediate fallout leaves Ava completely distraught.
She’s not the easiest character to connect with but I certainly had sympathy for her plight.
As the investigation takes place and various non-subtle clues were scattered about, it soon becomes easier to spot the conclusion.
It’s definitely worth a read for the horrors of the first part alone and while an element of suspended disbelief will be needed to enjoy the remainder of the plot, it ticks all the right boxes as a gripping page turner.
The first half is definitely the strongest part of this thriller, with the invasion itself completely terrifying and the immediate fallout leaves Ava completely distraught.
She’s not the easiest character to connect with but I certainly had sympathy for her plight.
As the investigation takes place and various non-subtle clues were scattered about, it soon becomes easier to spot the conclusion.
It’s definitely worth a read for the horrors of the first part alone and while an element of suspended disbelief will be needed to enjoy the remainder of the plot, it ticks all the right boxes as a gripping page turner.
October 6, 2019
The premise for this book was different and had me intrigued. When they say it is unputdownable, for this book it was absolutely true. I read this very quickly, desperately needing to know what was going to happen to the characters and why. Having read previous books by this author I was expecting a good story but I wasn't ready for this addictive roller coaster ride. I thought that early on I had it all worked out and I am happy to say that I was wrong. This is an extremely twisty thriller where it is hard to know who to trust.
It begins with Ava, who from the outside has the perfect life. A great big house, loving husband and fantastic kids. All of this changes when late one night they are attacked in their own home and Ava fights back. The him either invasion leaves her daughter in a coma and her family traumatised and broken. But it soon becomes clear that this was not random and that they were targeted. But why? Who would want to kill them? The family secrets all start to come out and Ava does not know who to trust.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton, Mullholland Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
It begins with Ava, who from the outside has the perfect life. A great big house, loving husband and fantastic kids. All of this changes when late one night they are attacked in their own home and Ava fights back. The him either invasion leaves her daughter in a coma and her family traumatised and broken. But it soon becomes clear that this was not random and that they were targeted. But why? Who would want to kill them? The family secrets all start to come out and Ava does not know who to trust.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton, Mullholland Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
October 2, 2019
I received a free e-copy of In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson from NetGalley for my honest review.
Ava has it all. She has the am amazingly handsome husband , two beautiful children and an amazing home. Things take a very quick and disturbing turn when their home is invaded and their daughter is in the hospital in a coma barely surviving.
Ava will stop at nothing to figure out who did this and why. A thrilling book filled with twists, turns and lots of secrets and lies.
Ava has it all. She has the am amazingly handsome husband , two beautiful children and an amazing home. Things take a very quick and disturbing turn when their home is invaded and their daughter is in the hospital in a coma barely surviving.
Ava will stop at nothing to figure out who did this and why. A thrilling book filled with twists, turns and lots of secrets and lies.
June 30, 2025
This book is pure pulp fiction: elementary writing, cookie-cutter characters, half-baked plot.
The story is narrated in the first-person, present tense by Ava who, after her home is burglarized and young daughter shot (and in a coma), starts running around with a gun trying to find the culprits and killing people.
There's drug dealing, police corruption, paternity fraud, attempted murder, actual murder, kidnapping, amnesia (because no OTT plot is complete without amnesia!).
The characters are a pack of fools. Every single one, including the injured 12-year-old, is guilty of something.
The twists should be obvious to anyone possessing rudimentary critical thinking skills. I've no clue why it took Ava so long to catch on, but when she did, she was all shocked Pikachu face (girl, why you surprised tho?).
That's it. That's the story. It's a manic soap opera on crack - as ridiculous as it is entertaining.
Annoyingly, most of the lower ratings are hating on this book because it "bashes Christians." This book is not great for many reasons, but Christian bashing is not one of them.
There are a couple brief mentions of a Christian mom Ava doesn't like because the woman is bigoted and hateful but acts holier than thou. (Where's the lie?) The author never brings up politics and appears to be firmly pro-gun.
Two-thirds of Americans identify as Christian. You can't persecute a majority. That's not how oppression works.
If an author painting one minor fictional character in a negative light makes you clutch your pearls and spew bullshit about a book you haven't read, well, you're proving a point about who is actually doing the persecuting in America.
Spoiler alert: It's you.
The story is narrated in the first-person, present tense by Ava who, after her home is burglarized and young daughter shot (and in a coma), starts running around with a gun trying to find the culprits and killing people.
There's drug dealing, police corruption, paternity fraud, attempted murder, actual murder, kidnapping, amnesia (because no OTT plot is complete without amnesia!).
The characters are a pack of fools. Every single one, including the injured 12-year-old, is guilty of something.
The twists should be obvious to anyone possessing rudimentary critical thinking skills. I've no clue why it took Ava so long to catch on, but when she did, she was all shocked Pikachu face (girl, why you surprised tho?).
That's it. That's the story. It's a manic soap opera on crack - as ridiculous as it is entertaining.
Annoyingly, most of the lower ratings are hating on this book because it "bashes Christians." This book is not great for many reasons, but Christian bashing is not one of them.
There are a couple brief mentions of a Christian mom Ava doesn't like because the woman is bigoted and hateful but acts holier than thou. (Where's the lie?) The author never brings up politics and appears to be firmly pro-gun.
Two-thirds of Americans identify as Christian. You can't persecute a majority. That's not how oppression works.
If an author painting one minor fictional character in a negative light makes you clutch your pearls and spew bullshit about a book you haven't read, well, you're proving a point about who is actually doing the persecuting in America.
Spoiler alert: It's you.
September 27, 2019
Ava appears to have it all: 2 beautiful daughters, a husband she adores, a spacious home. When Ava looks at other couples struggling, she thanks her lucky stars for the family she has. But when two masked burglars break into her home, all that changes.
Now her 12-year old daughter, June, is in a coma, barely living. And Ava feels like her world is falling apart around her. The lead detective on the case happens to be a high school fling of hers named Nate and Ava feels both comfort and uneasiness at being around him again. The burglars managed to get away after the brutal attack, and Ava wonders if they’ll come back for her family again.
But when the police start digging into Ava’s life, they discover that her husband has been far from truthful. Their financial situation is dire and he has every motive to be behind this burglary. Ava starts to wonder if she truly knows the man she married over 2-decades earlier, or could he be responsible for putting their innocent little girl in a life-threatening coma?
In Her Eyes is Sarah Alderson’s latest domestic thriller release. The start of this book had so much promise—I was hooked by the burglary and the secrets that start pouring out from Ava’s life. But toward the end of the book, things took too many unrealistic turns. I wanted better explanation and for the events to make some sort of sense. But unfortunately, I didn’t get that. I still enjoyed the book, but wish the ending had been executed better. 3/5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Sarah Alderson for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now her 12-year old daughter, June, is in a coma, barely living. And Ava feels like her world is falling apart around her. The lead detective on the case happens to be a high school fling of hers named Nate and Ava feels both comfort and uneasiness at being around him again. The burglars managed to get away after the brutal attack, and Ava wonders if they’ll come back for her family again.
But when the police start digging into Ava’s life, they discover that her husband has been far from truthful. Their financial situation is dire and he has every motive to be behind this burglary. Ava starts to wonder if she truly knows the man she married over 2-decades earlier, or could he be responsible for putting their innocent little girl in a life-threatening coma?
In Her Eyes is Sarah Alderson’s latest domestic thriller release. The start of this book had so much promise—I was hooked by the burglary and the secrets that start pouring out from Ava’s life. But toward the end of the book, things took too many unrealistic turns. I wanted better explanation and for the events to make some sort of sense. But unfortunately, I didn’t get that. I still enjoyed the book, but wish the ending had been executed better. 3/5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Sarah Alderson for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2020
The first third or so of this book was excellent. Ava, a mom, is home in her safe wealthy suburb with her husband, who has been acting strangely, when two masked men break in with guns to rob them. Quickly she gets a big shock from the police: could her husband, who recently took out a new insurance policy, have been behind it, and a plot gone wrong to kill Ava for the insurance? This is an old story but very well-executed here.
Then the book takes a very different turn and the book slows down a lot. It veers into the whole “mom as vigilante/amateur sleuth” theme which I don’t love when somehow the victim with no experience in law enforcement discovers things any mediocre cop would have found in the first 48 hours. This one got particularly eye rolling with Ava talking tough to wise guys and successfully getting information from them that the cops somehow couldn’t. Also frustrating was the fact that the big “twists” could be seen from a mile away.
Nevertheless I still give this book a 3.5 for the great beginning, the good writing and the great audiobook narrator. I like this writer’s style a lot, and would love to read a book by her that keeps up the high octane pace and interesting story that this one started out with.
Then the book takes a very different turn and the book slows down a lot. It veers into the whole “mom as vigilante/amateur sleuth” theme which I don’t love when somehow the victim with no experience in law enforcement discovers things any mediocre cop would have found in the first 48 hours. This one got particularly eye rolling with Ava talking tough to wise guys and successfully getting information from them that the cops somehow couldn’t. Also frustrating was the fact that the big “twists” could be seen from a mile away.
Nevertheless I still give this book a 3.5 for the great beginning, the good writing and the great audiobook narrator. I like this writer’s style a lot, and would love to read a book by her that keeps up the high octane pace and interesting story that this one started out with.
December 5, 2020
Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me an eARC copy of this book. All opinions and views discussed here are my own.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but for me the "twists" just seemed obvious and the last few pages really ruined the book for me and knocked it down to two stars whereas before I probably would have rated it three stars. I just found the overall plot to be unrealistic and far-fetched, and as things happened I just felt they were unbelievable.
I'd guessed pretty early on that Ava was the one that shot June because it just seemed an obvious twist to me. It was clearly what was causing her psychological issues; the trauma of shooting your own daughter would do that to you. I'd also guessed that Nate was involved with the burglary because the way he was acting was just the wrong side of creepy for me. The whole twist at the end of having Hannah be involved was just absolutely ridiculous for me; so she finds out that Nate is her father and begins building a relationship with him, starts to begin a romantic relationship with the police officer she met when her brother was arrested and then somehow ends up arranging that her family home is going to be burgled... to what? Set her brother up?? And then when these men make two attempts on her sisters life she doesn't do anything... and Ava finds out but doesn't do anything either? She was ready to sell Robert or Gene down the river but not Hannah?? It honestly just didn't seem well thought out to me.
I do have to question the character of Ava; by the sounds of it she doesn't work and is at home all the time but appears to be completely oblivious to everything that goes on around her. Her husband is financially crippled, her step-son is a drug dealer, her daughter stole money, and her other daughter has secretly been seeing her real father behind her parents back. It just baffled me how she had no inklings into anything that was going on with her family but she still found time to begin and end an affair... And then her actions throughout the book were just ridiculous. I don't believe for a second that her little "rant" at the drug dealers would have scared them into telling her the truth, and then her setting up with a Doctor the "sting" to make people think June was awake - again utterly ridiculous. The fact that she then goes onto shoot dead Jonathon and none of the police officers that arrive question or detain her; I appreciate that she was trying to find out who hurt her family but she set this up and then shot a man dead. It just seemed unbelievable to me as a whole plot.
I just felt that the whole plot of this book was so far-fetched that it wasn't enjoyable. There were too many times when I was just thinking... this would never happen that I couldn't enjoy it. Add in the fact that we have the obligatory cheating plot-line into this book it was clear this just wasn't a book I was going to enjoy.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but for me the "twists" just seemed obvious and the last few pages really ruined the book for me and knocked it down to two stars whereas before I probably would have rated it three stars. I just found the overall plot to be unrealistic and far-fetched, and as things happened I just felt they were unbelievable.
I'd guessed pretty early on that Ava was the one that shot June because it just seemed an obvious twist to me. It was clearly what was causing her psychological issues; the trauma of shooting your own daughter would do that to you. I'd also guessed that Nate was involved with the burglary because the way he was acting was just the wrong side of creepy for me. The whole twist at the end of having Hannah be involved was just absolutely ridiculous for me; so she finds out that Nate is her father and begins building a relationship with him, starts to begin a romantic relationship with the police officer she met when her brother was arrested and then somehow ends up arranging that her family home is going to be burgled... to what? Set her brother up?? And then when these men make two attempts on her sisters life she doesn't do anything... and Ava finds out but doesn't do anything either? She was ready to sell Robert or Gene down the river but not Hannah?? It honestly just didn't seem well thought out to me.
I do have to question the character of Ava; by the sounds of it she doesn't work and is at home all the time but appears to be completely oblivious to everything that goes on around her. Her husband is financially crippled, her step-son is a drug dealer, her daughter stole money, and her other daughter has secretly been seeing her real father behind her parents back. It just baffled me how she had no inklings into anything that was going on with her family but she still found time to begin and end an affair... And then her actions throughout the book were just ridiculous. I don't believe for a second that her little "rant" at the drug dealers would have scared them into telling her the truth, and then her setting up with a Doctor the "sting" to make people think June was awake - again utterly ridiculous. The fact that she then goes onto shoot dead Jonathon and none of the police officers that arrive question or detain her; I appreciate that she was trying to find out who hurt her family but she set this up and then shot a man dead. It just seemed unbelievable to me as a whole plot.
I just felt that the whole plot of this book was so far-fetched that it wasn't enjoyable. There were too many times when I was just thinking... this would never happen that I couldn't enjoy it. Add in the fact that we have the obligatory cheating plot-line into this book it was clear this just wasn't a book I was going to enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2019
I really liked the first part of the book but at something of two-thirds I almost gave up. I noticed my thoughts wandering while reading. A story with twists and turns is fine; a story with so many twists and turns that turns the story hard to follow is not fine.
I gave it three stars because I could see what the author wanted to give her readers. It was just a bit too much for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
I gave it three stars because I could see what the author wanted to give her readers. It was just a bit too much for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
January 29, 2020
I found this book to be really enjoyable. It started off extremely well and continued that way throughout the book. There was only one downside which was it started to get a bit silly in places and just so unrealistic but that was the only downside. It had a lot of twists and turns and I really wanted to know who was involved in the home invasion. It was told only by Ava so we didn’t get to see other points of view but it didn’t change anything for me. The story was great and it was so well written. I recommend this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.
April 29, 2022
Nothing like a short, zippy thriller to force you to actually finish a book, I guess! Or at least that’s the plan, we’ll see how it goes. 🧐
May 22, 2024
I kinda suspected everyone at some point and couldn't trust my judgement 🫣 really well made!
October 2, 2020
ONE OF THE MOST OVERRATED BOOKS ON AMAZON/GOODREADS...
The book starts out in the middle of a home invasion in a well-to-do neighborhood. Ava and her husband Robert, the homeowners, got rich thanks to an app he developed. They have a 12 year old daughter June who's a cancer survivor, and a daughter who's in college. Ava also has a pot-smoking stepson currently living in an apartment over the garage. During the home invasion the 12-year-old is shot and critically wounded. At first the family appears to be random victims of a robbery, but soon evidence appears that they were targeted for some reason. Who and why is somebody trying to kill June, who's in ICU in a coma?
This book is billed as "An unputdownable, twisty, psychological thriller". Puffery is to be expected, but I don't understand all the 4 and 5 star ratings. This has to be one of the most overrated books on Amazon/Goodreads. The 5-star reviews say things like, "great plot", "well developed characters", "well written", "on the edge-of-your-seat exciting". I wouldn't use any of those adjectives to describe this book. The characters were flat; the plot implausible; the writing was a mish-mash. And at no time was I sitting on the edge of my seat. The book held some promise in the beginning, but as the story went on (and on), I became bored stiff and couldn't care less about who, what, or why.
Very unusual for me to give 1-star ratings. I hold psychological thrillers to a lower standard than, say, literary fiction. So if I manage to get through the book, I don't very often give it below 3 stars. But this has a 4.4 rating on Amazon. Really? I don't get it. The funny thing is, the tiny handful of 1-star reviews that I read didn't complain about the plot or writing style. They complained the book was anti-conservative, anti-Christian. I have to say it must have been pretty subtle because I never noticed any such thing. I just thought it was a badly written book. To each their own. Clearly, there were plenty who enjoyed the book. But I'm pretty sure I won't be reading any more books by this author.
One star.
The book starts out in the middle of a home invasion in a well-to-do neighborhood. Ava and her husband Robert, the homeowners, got rich thanks to an app he developed. They have a 12 year old daughter June who's a cancer survivor, and a daughter who's in college. Ava also has a pot-smoking stepson currently living in an apartment over the garage. During the home invasion the 12-year-old is shot and critically wounded. At first the family appears to be random victims of a robbery, but soon evidence appears that they were targeted for some reason. Who and why is somebody trying to kill June, who's in ICU in a coma?
This book is billed as "An unputdownable, twisty, psychological thriller". Puffery is to be expected, but I don't understand all the 4 and 5 star ratings. This has to be one of the most overrated books on Amazon/Goodreads. The 5-star reviews say things like, "great plot", "well developed characters", "well written", "on the edge-of-your-seat exciting". I wouldn't use any of those adjectives to describe this book. The characters were flat; the plot implausible; the writing was a mish-mash. And at no time was I sitting on the edge of my seat. The book held some promise in the beginning, but as the story went on (and on), I became bored stiff and couldn't care less about who, what, or why.
Very unusual for me to give 1-star ratings. I hold psychological thrillers to a lower standard than, say, literary fiction. So if I manage to get through the book, I don't very often give it below 3 stars. But this has a 4.4 rating on Amazon. Really? I don't get it. The funny thing is, the tiny handful of 1-star reviews that I read didn't complain about the plot or writing style. They complained the book was anti-conservative, anti-Christian. I have to say it must have been pretty subtle because I never noticed any such thing. I just thought it was a badly written book. To each their own. Clearly, there were plenty who enjoyed the book. But I'm pretty sure I won't be reading any more books by this author.
One star.
January 22, 2020
A fantastic edge of your seat thriller. So, many excellent twists and turns. 4.5*
July 20, 2019
In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson was a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. It had so many twists and turns it left me dizzy. I was so engrossed in this story that I read the book in one sitting.
Ava's life is turn upside down when intruders enter her house intending to rob her.
This incident leaves her husband badly beaten, Ava in hospital with a head injury and her twelve year old daughter fighting for her life.
Ava will stop at nothing to find out why this has happened to her family.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will certainly be looking out for more of her work. Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ava's life is turn upside down when intruders enter her house intending to rob her.
This incident leaves her husband badly beaten, Ava in hospital with a head injury and her twelve year old daughter fighting for her life.
Ava will stop at nothing to find out why this has happened to her family.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will certainly be looking out for more of her work. Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2020
Okay! A bit OTT for me.
I am more of characterisation, scene-setting, etc type - this is far too plot-driven with a far too convoluted yet obvious solution to the mystery. 2.5 stars rounded up.
I am more of characterisation, scene-setting, etc type - this is far too plot-driven with a far too convoluted yet obvious solution to the mystery. 2.5 stars rounded up.
November 22, 2019
I am a Sarah Alderson novice and I was so impressed with this outstanding psychological thriller, although I have had another of this fabulous author’s books - Friends Like These - on my Kindle for a while. The premise of In Her Eyes beckoned to me and I knew that I had to read this novel!
In Her Eyes definitely did not disappoint. It had everything I would expect from a psychological thriller - a great plot, well-drawn characters and terrific pacing.
Even though I have read quite a few books with a similar premise to this one - a 'perfect' family, unexposed secrets, compulsive lies, domestic drama and several twists, so I began this book in the knowledge of what was to come. This novel has also been a great delight, full of fracas, melodrama, tension, to-do and fascinating characters, whether they were loved or hated and unexpected outcomes. There was oodles of suspense and it was definitely an enthralling reading experience that had me hooked throughout.
I loved the shock factor and twisting plot, making this extremely difficult to put down. I really appreciated the smooth writing style of Sarah Alderson and it was easy to connect with the characters - to imagine them, sympathise with them, love or hate them.
The great reveal was astounding, fulfilling and unexpected. In Her Eyes was everything I wanted in what was a pretty special psychological thriller and I am already looking forward to my next read by this gifted author.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Mulholland via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
In Her Eyes definitely did not disappoint. It had everything I would expect from a psychological thriller - a great plot, well-drawn characters and terrific pacing.
Even though I have read quite a few books with a similar premise to this one - a 'perfect' family, unexposed secrets, compulsive lies, domestic drama and several twists, so I began this book in the knowledge of what was to come. This novel has also been a great delight, full of fracas, melodrama, tension, to-do and fascinating characters, whether they were loved or hated and unexpected outcomes. There was oodles of suspense and it was definitely an enthralling reading experience that had me hooked throughout.
I loved the shock factor and twisting plot, making this extremely difficult to put down. I really appreciated the smooth writing style of Sarah Alderson and it was easy to connect with the characters - to imagine them, sympathise with them, love or hate them.
The great reveal was astounding, fulfilling and unexpected. In Her Eyes was everything I wanted in what was a pretty special psychological thriller and I am already looking forward to my next read by this gifted author.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Mulholland via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 17, 2019
Absolutely fantastic thriller which had me longing for more.
The premise was so different. The beginning chapter blew me away. Ava apparently led a great life with family, children, stepson. A home invasion changed it all. Daughter went into coma and the family destroyed. Ava needed to get to the truth. Secrets were revealed which broke her trust.
My first book by this author, and I was simply enthralled with the writing. I had to get to the truth so tapping on my kindle was at a rapid pace. Twists were aplenty, and the writing style was smooth, increasing the tension across the scenes.
A compelling thriller, I would say. My kinda read!!
The premise was so different. The beginning chapter blew me away. Ava apparently led a great life with family, children, stepson. A home invasion changed it all. Daughter went into coma and the family destroyed. Ava needed to get to the truth. Secrets were revealed which broke her trust.
My first book by this author, and I was simply enthralled with the writing. I had to get to the truth so tapping on my kindle was at a rapid pace. Twists were aplenty, and the writing style was smooth, increasing the tension across the scenes.
A compelling thriller, I would say. My kinda read!!
June 14, 2020
Ava wollte eigentlich einen Mädelsabend mit ihrer besten Freundin Laurie verbringen, als ihr Handy klingelt. Ihre Tochter June möchte von einer Freundin abgeholt werden, ihr Vater geht nicht ans Telefon. Nachdem Ava und June zu Hause angekommen sind, passiert das Unvorstellbare: in ihr Haus wird eingebrochen und June wird lebensgefährlich verletzt. Als die Ermittlungen beginnen wird klar, dass so gut wie jeder ein Motiv haben könnte...
Ich bin einfach so begeistert von den Thrillern von Sarah Alderson! Diese Frau kann so gut schreiben und die Geschichten, die sie sich ausdenkt, sind wirklich grandios. Schon bei "Meine beste Freundin" war ich total angetan, aber auch bei "Meine liebe Familie" gab es wieder so viele Cliffhanger, Twists und Verdächtige, dass ich beim Lesen ganz aus dem Häuschen war.
Ich habe einfach eine Schwäche für toll ausgearbeitete Thriller. Die Logik, die mir bei anderen Büchern aus diesem Genre oft fehlt, war hier so gut wie immer gegeben und ich konnte das Buch kaum weglegen.
Sarah Alderson spielt mit Alltagssituationen und den Ängsten der Menschen und schubst den/die Leser*in immer wieder in andere Gedankenrichtungen. Habe ich auf der einen Seite noch X verdächtigt, war auf der nächsten Seite schon wieder Y mein*e Täter*in.
Einzig die Auflösung am Ende hat mir nicht zu 100 % gefallen. Da hätte ich mir etwas Eindeutigeres gewünscht oder ein paar Seiten mehr zu den Hintergründen. Das hat aber mein Lesevergnügen insgesamt kaum geschmälert.
Toll ausgearbeitete Protagonist*innen treffen hier mal wieder auf eine hochspannende Story. Ich vergebe 4,5 / 5 ⭐ und hoffe auf weitere Pageturner der Autorin!
Ich bin einfach so begeistert von den Thrillern von Sarah Alderson! Diese Frau kann so gut schreiben und die Geschichten, die sie sich ausdenkt, sind wirklich grandios. Schon bei "Meine beste Freundin" war ich total angetan, aber auch bei "Meine liebe Familie" gab es wieder so viele Cliffhanger, Twists und Verdächtige, dass ich beim Lesen ganz aus dem Häuschen war.
Ich habe einfach eine Schwäche für toll ausgearbeitete Thriller. Die Logik, die mir bei anderen Büchern aus diesem Genre oft fehlt, war hier so gut wie immer gegeben und ich konnte das Buch kaum weglegen.
Sarah Alderson spielt mit Alltagssituationen und den Ängsten der Menschen und schubst den/die Leser*in immer wieder in andere Gedankenrichtungen. Habe ich auf der einen Seite noch X verdächtigt, war auf der nächsten Seite schon wieder Y mein*e Täter*in.
Einzig die Auflösung am Ende hat mir nicht zu 100 % gefallen. Da hätte ich mir etwas Eindeutigeres gewünscht oder ein paar Seiten mehr zu den Hintergründen. Das hat aber mein Lesevergnügen insgesamt kaum geschmälert.
Toll ausgearbeitete Protagonist*innen treffen hier mal wieder auf eine hochspannende Story. Ich vergebe 4,5 / 5 ⭐ und hoffe auf weitere Pageturner der Autorin!
October 12, 2019
This novel of suspense had a terrific start – it grabbed me from page one and kept me turning pages. It grabbed hold of my emotions with the 12 year old in a coma. The “why” kept me turning pages as did the intensity of the plot line and it did move in a straight forward time line which I always appreciate.
About half way through the story devolved into lies and secrets so if that’s your genre, you’d really like this one. The characters changed their hats (from white to black to white and back to black) so many times, the reader needed a program to keep up with who was good or bad in the current chapter (which would have been the opposite of the previous chapter). So if you like being confused about the good guys and the bad guys, you’ll like this book. And finally the ending of the book sinks into depravity, even involving incest.
I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, but it’s just not my kind of story.
About half way through the story devolved into lies and secrets so if that’s your genre, you’d really like this one. The characters changed their hats (from white to black to white and back to black) so many times, the reader needed a program to keep up with who was good or bad in the current chapter (which would have been the opposite of the previous chapter). So if you like being confused about the good guys and the bad guys, you’ll like this book. And finally the ending of the book sinks into depravity, even involving incest.
I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, but it’s just not my kind of story.
January 24, 2021
I feel like I should clarify my low rating for this book. I am an ICU RN who has been involved with organ donation and the care of these patients. This book was very misleading and not at all what really happens in an ICU and with brain death. I especially do not like to see misleading information re this topic because it is so hard to understand and involves many emotions for the family of the patient. I wish the author had done more research on this subject and portrayed it in a more realistic fashion.
The plot to me was so convoluted and unbelieveable.
The plot to me was so convoluted and unbelieveable.
December 19, 2019
This book started off quite slow and for the first 50 pages I wasn't really enjoying it but then it got going and boy did it get going...
This is a psychological/ domestic thriller which centres around a home invasion. It is incredibly fast paced and action packed.
I thought the writing was really good, it was fast paced and a very compelling read.
I didn't really connect to the characters at the start but as the book went on, they definitely did grow on me.
The only reason I didn't give it the full five star was because I found the beginning quite slow and the ending a little bit predictable but it was definitely an action packed, on the edge of your seat kind of ending.
Overall, I think this was a really solid thriller. If you like fast paced, thrilling thrillers you will love it!
TW: home invasion
This is a psychological/ domestic thriller which centres around a home invasion. It is incredibly fast paced and action packed.
I thought the writing was really good, it was fast paced and a very compelling read.
I didn't really connect to the characters at the start but as the book went on, they definitely did grow on me.
The only reason I didn't give it the full five star was because I found the beginning quite slow and the ending a little bit predictable but it was definitely an action packed, on the edge of your seat kind of ending.
Overall, I think this was a really solid thriller. If you like fast paced, thrilling thrillers you will love it!
TW: home invasion
March 16, 2024
What a ride
This is a new author for me, but one I don't regret trying. How well do you know your family? And how well do you know their secrets? Ava and Robert seem to have a great marriage with three kids. But during a home invasion, everything changes. Who do you trust or believe when your life is turned upside down? A good quick read that hooks you early and never lets go.
This is a new author for me, but one I don't regret trying. How well do you know your family? And how well do you know their secrets? Ava and Robert seem to have a great marriage with three kids. But during a home invasion, everything changes. Who do you trust or believe when your life is turned upside down? A good quick read that hooks you early and never lets go.
May 5, 2021
I actually liked this story, it was gripping and well written.
I particularly enjoyed the plot twists, I wasn't expecting the ending so well planned and meticulously developed.
I'm blown away by how this book turned out.
Extremely recommended to anyone who loved the stories when no one is who it seems, starting with Ava from whom you expect the usual sins and then the complete opposite is to be true!
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone interested in reading this book and is quite hard for me not to jump on details. What a good read...
I particularly enjoyed the plot twists, I wasn't expecting the ending so well planned and meticulously developed.
I'm blown away by how this book turned out.
Extremely recommended to anyone who loved the stories when no one is who it seems, starting with Ava from whom you expect the usual sins and then the complete opposite is to be true!
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone interested in reading this book and is quite hard for me not to jump on details. What a good read...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2023
That's a twist!
November 21, 2019
Oh wow is what I thought as soon as I finished reading In Her Eyes! What a fabulously fast and furious rollercoaster ride this book was! With twists and turns around every corner, it was driving me mad that I couldn’t work out exactly who was responsible for the break-in at the Walkers home or why? I trusted no one as everyone seemed to be keeping some pretty big secrets but were any of those secrets dangerous enough to kill for?
Ava has a life most people would kill for anyway! She has a beautiful family home, a kind husband and lovely children. She’s been through a tough time already when he daughter June was diagnosed with cancer but with help from her family and close friends they got through it. But a home invasion leaves daughter June fighting for her life and Ava unable to know who to trust. But she’s a fighter and won’t let go until she finds out exactly who was responsible for the break-in and why.
I barely had time to breathe between revelations in this book and felt like I’d spent 3 hours on the fastest and twistiest rollercoaster known to man after I’d finished it! What a ride! Ava is amazing and I loved her! She is strong minded and determined in her quest for justice only letting that mask slip occasionally as her fear for her daughters safety keeps her going. But the storyline is everything here, projecting a visual narrative off the page that kept me engaged from start to finish. This is definitely a “just one more chapter” book but like a deliciously addictive bar of chocolate, once you’ve unwrapped it then you’re very unlikely to want to stop.
A highly recommended thriller.
Ava has a life most people would kill for anyway! She has a beautiful family home, a kind husband and lovely children. She’s been through a tough time already when he daughter June was diagnosed with cancer but with help from her family and close friends they got through it. But a home invasion leaves daughter June fighting for her life and Ava unable to know who to trust. But she’s a fighter and won’t let go until she finds out exactly who was responsible for the break-in and why.
I barely had time to breathe between revelations in this book and felt like I’d spent 3 hours on the fastest and twistiest rollercoaster known to man after I’d finished it! What a ride! Ava is amazing and I loved her! She is strong minded and determined in her quest for justice only letting that mask slip occasionally as her fear for her daughters safety keeps her going. But the storyline is everything here, projecting a visual narrative off the page that kept me engaged from start to finish. This is definitely a “just one more chapter” book but like a deliciously addictive bar of chocolate, once you’ve unwrapped it then you’re very unlikely to want to stop.
A highly recommended thriller.
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