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Banktoun #1
Black Wood
A face from the past. A secret best left buried.
When Gareth Maloney walks into Jo's bookshop in the sleepy town of Banktoun, the life she thought she'd rebuilt starts to unravel.
Because Jo recognises this man.
The man who attacked her and her friend Claire, all those years ago, leaving Claire paralysed, and Jo tortured by the memories, unable to forgive herself for what happened.
A desperate Jo turns to her friend, local policeman, Sergeant Davie Gray. The man she met after the attack. The kind, caring man who had vowed to look out for her since her mother's death.
But he doesn't believe her
As Jo battles her demons, a masked man is attacking young girls on the old railway track. Convinced it is connected to Maloney's return, Jo takes matters into her own hands.
With devastating consequences.
Fans of Big Little Lies, Broadchurch and Dark Places will love this claustrophobic small town psychological mystery.334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2012
238 people are currently reading
939 people want to read
About the author
S.J.I. Holliday
16 books231 followersLibrarian Note: Also writes under the name Susi Holliday.
Susi (S.J.I.) Holliday grew up near Edinburgh and spent many years working in her family’s newsagent and pub before studying microbiology and statistics at university. She has worked as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years, but it was on a 6-month round-the-world-trip that she took with her husband several years ago that she rediscovered her passion for writing.
You can find out more at www.sjiholliday.com, or on Twitter and Facebook @SJIHolliday.
Susi (S.J.I.) Holliday grew up near Edinburgh and spent many years working in her family’s newsagent and pub before studying microbiology and statistics at university. She has worked as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years, but it was on a 6-month round-the-world-trip that she took with her husband several years ago that she rediscovered her passion for writing.
You can find out more at www.sjiholliday.com, or on Twitter and Facebook @SJIHolliday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
April 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this psychological mystery thriller.
At first the story did seem to be rather slow burning, but as the story progressed, I grew to appreciate the slow-paced start to the book, and the way this helped to make the story more atmospheric, enable character development and encourage me to become part of the close-knit town community, before I discovered too much about each of the characters.
This story has quite a complex plot, but in a good way. There are a variety of interesting characters, with each one developing more depth as the story progresses, revealing more and more dark secrets. I loved the way the pieces of the story gradually came together like a jigsaw to build the full picture.
Sometimes this story felt rather dark and sinister with some shocking revelations. I wasn’t really sure whom to trust.
There were so many twists and turns, that my head was in a spin for the last 10% of the book. I couldn’t put it down!
What exactly did happen to those two young girls in the woods all those years ago, leaving one paralysed and the other with psychological issues? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
This was an excellent debut novel by S.J.I. Holliday, and I really look forward to reading more by her in the future.
At first the story did seem to be rather slow burning, but as the story progressed, I grew to appreciate the slow-paced start to the book, and the way this helped to make the story more atmospheric, enable character development and encourage me to become part of the close-knit town community, before I discovered too much about each of the characters.
This story has quite a complex plot, but in a good way. There are a variety of interesting characters, with each one developing more depth as the story progresses, revealing more and more dark secrets. I loved the way the pieces of the story gradually came together like a jigsaw to build the full picture.
Sometimes this story felt rather dark and sinister with some shocking revelations. I wasn’t really sure whom to trust.
There were so many twists and turns, that my head was in a spin for the last 10% of the book. I couldn’t put it down!
What exactly did happen to those two young girls in the woods all those years ago, leaving one paralysed and the other with psychological issues? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
This was an excellent debut novel by S.J.I. Holliday, and I really look forward to reading more by her in the future.
March 19, 2015
A debut crime novel that more than lives up to the promise of being a dark and extremely compelling psychological thriller. Inspired by a disturbing incident in the author’s own childhood, Black Wood explores the lives of two young women, Jo and Claire, deeply affected by an event that happened to them in their younger years in the local woods. This distressing incident left Claire paralysed and Jo with deep mental scars, but due to Claire’s memory loss, how much is Jo’s version of what happened to be trusted? Twenty-three years later, a familiar face walks into the local bookshop where Jo works, dredging up painful memories and rekindling her desire for revenge. At the same time, popular local police officer, Sergeant Davie Gray is investigating a man who is attacking women near the disused railway, shocking the sleepy village of Banktoun. But how is this man connected to Jo’s unwelcome visitor, and will the dependable Gray unravel the tangled web of secrets and lies to keep Jo safe and give her justice? And just who will survive the violence that must surely follow?
I should really start by saying how much I applaud Holliday in taking the decision to present us with a cast of characters who are all so singularly dislikeable. They range in character from self-absorbed, to screwed-up, from emotionally crippled to inherently evil, and all the worst points in-between. If I were to encounter any of them in real life, I would not seek their company again, but within the confines of this book, I liked them all immensely. I loved the premise of having this collection of oddball personalities, whether shaped by unfortunate experience or just as a result of their natural weirdness, in this claustrophobic community, and the fact that as a reader you could remain largely unaffected by their trials and tribulations. I was very much put in mind of a brilliant drama series from years ago, Cape Wrath, which instilled a similar feeling as to the largely nasty characters within it, but remained compulsive viewing. I liked the feeling of being unencumbered by empathy with Jo, in particular, and rather enjoyed the fact that she inhabited the role of victim, but had a rather unpleasant and manipulative streak to her. She seemed to wield some strange hypnotic effect over most of the male characters, including the dogged Sergeant Gray who was probably the only character registering at all on the niceness scale. The assured characterisation of such a cast of dark and twisted people was a real strength of the book overall, and as much as I disliked them, I derived great satisfaction from seeing into their lives- the good and the bad.
I liked the unfolding complexity of the characters connections to one another within the central plot. I did read quite a way into the book with not the faintest clue as to how it would pan out, and I thought Holliday’s control of reveals was incredibly well-handled, keeping my interest throughout, as we became further embroiled in the nasty dark secrets and lies at the heart of this community. I wasn’t entirely convinced by the explosion of violence towards the end of the book, but no matter, as what proceeded it was more than satisfying. Oh- and there is a good twist right at the end of the book. I love it when that works, and this one did. All in all, a good debut, that contains all the necessary tension, and unwelcome surprises of a thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller. Seek this one out and you won’t be disappointed I’m sure.
I should really start by saying how much I applaud Holliday in taking the decision to present us with a cast of characters who are all so singularly dislikeable. They range in character from self-absorbed, to screwed-up, from emotionally crippled to inherently evil, and all the worst points in-between. If I were to encounter any of them in real life, I would not seek their company again, but within the confines of this book, I liked them all immensely. I loved the premise of having this collection of oddball personalities, whether shaped by unfortunate experience or just as a result of their natural weirdness, in this claustrophobic community, and the fact that as a reader you could remain largely unaffected by their trials and tribulations. I was very much put in mind of a brilliant drama series from years ago, Cape Wrath, which instilled a similar feeling as to the largely nasty characters within it, but remained compulsive viewing. I liked the feeling of being unencumbered by empathy with Jo, in particular, and rather enjoyed the fact that she inhabited the role of victim, but had a rather unpleasant and manipulative streak to her. She seemed to wield some strange hypnotic effect over most of the male characters, including the dogged Sergeant Gray who was probably the only character registering at all on the niceness scale. The assured characterisation of such a cast of dark and twisted people was a real strength of the book overall, and as much as I disliked them, I derived great satisfaction from seeing into their lives- the good and the bad.
I liked the unfolding complexity of the characters connections to one another within the central plot. I did read quite a way into the book with not the faintest clue as to how it would pan out, and I thought Holliday’s control of reveals was incredibly well-handled, keeping my interest throughout, as we became further embroiled in the nasty dark secrets and lies at the heart of this community. I wasn’t entirely convinced by the explosion of violence towards the end of the book, but no matter, as what proceeded it was more than satisfying. Oh- and there is a good twist right at the end of the book. I love it when that works, and this one did. All in all, a good debut, that contains all the necessary tension, and unwelcome surprises of a thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller. Seek this one out and you won’t be disappointed I’m sure.
August 27, 2015
Black Wood is a clever, intriguing and intelligent thriller. Crime fiction fans who like the more formulaic murder investigation stories may struggle with this one as it has a depth to the story that can be challenging at times. For me, it was the perfect blend of mystery, thrills and shocks combined with an exploration of the human brain and how the mind can be damaged by the actions of others.
Twenty three years ago, in Black Wood, on the outskirts of the small Scottish town of Banktoun something happened to two young girls. Those girls have been left scarred by their encounter with two boys on the river bank. Claire's scars are visible, there for all to see, a constant reminder to everyone. Jo, on the other hand, carries her scars deep within her, the only outwardly signs are seen in her behaviours. Her failed relationships, her history of suicide attempts, her general air of hopelessness.
Local people have always doubted Jo's version of the events of that day, and Claire has no memory of what happened. When, one day, a man walks into the bookstore that Jo works in, everything comes rushing back to her. Is Gareth Maloney really one of the two boys who ruined her life?
Jo is determined to uncover his true identity and prove to the doubters that she is not liar. However, what she really does is begin to uncover long covered secrets and horrors that will affect not just herself and Claire, but those around her too.
Black Wood has a large cast of characters, and for a short while it can be a little difficult to keep track of them all. However, Susi Holliday has personalised each of them so very well that they soon become familiar, each with their own unique identity and behaviour. For me, Sargeant Davie Gray is the star of the novel. He's a local man, born and bred in Banktoun and whilst he is the local copper, he's also a trusted friend to many of the residents. His involvement in the case, both now and twenty-three years ago brings the whole story together so well, he's not just the person who keeps Banktoun on the straight and narrow, he's the character who helps to keep the reader on track too.
Black Wood is a well-grounded, fascinating and powerful story that kept me gripped from the opening paragraph. Reviews have criticised it as being too 'Scottish' - whatever that means? I'm not a fan of local dialect in novels, and to be honest, if it wasn't for a couple of reminders within the dialogue every now and again, I would have forgotten that the setting is Scotland, so I'm really not sure what 'too Scottish' means?? Other reviews have been critical of the many threads to this story but for me, this is what makes it really work, and what sets the author's writing apart from many other crime thrillers on the market today. I'm a fan of the unusual, I like to make my brain work when I'm reading a thriller, I really don't want to work everything out by halfway through the story, and I didn't, and that makes Black Wood a winner for me.
Black Wood has atmosphere and tension. The writing is assured and confident and I really enjoyed it.
Twenty three years ago, in Black Wood, on the outskirts of the small Scottish town of Banktoun something happened to two young girls. Those girls have been left scarred by their encounter with two boys on the river bank. Claire's scars are visible, there for all to see, a constant reminder to everyone. Jo, on the other hand, carries her scars deep within her, the only outwardly signs are seen in her behaviours. Her failed relationships, her history of suicide attempts, her general air of hopelessness.
Local people have always doubted Jo's version of the events of that day, and Claire has no memory of what happened. When, one day, a man walks into the bookstore that Jo works in, everything comes rushing back to her. Is Gareth Maloney really one of the two boys who ruined her life?
Jo is determined to uncover his true identity and prove to the doubters that she is not liar. However, what she really does is begin to uncover long covered secrets and horrors that will affect not just herself and Claire, but those around her too.
Black Wood has a large cast of characters, and for a short while it can be a little difficult to keep track of them all. However, Susi Holliday has personalised each of them so very well that they soon become familiar, each with their own unique identity and behaviour. For me, Sargeant Davie Gray is the star of the novel. He's a local man, born and bred in Banktoun and whilst he is the local copper, he's also a trusted friend to many of the residents. His involvement in the case, both now and twenty-three years ago brings the whole story together so well, he's not just the person who keeps Banktoun on the straight and narrow, he's the character who helps to keep the reader on track too.
Black Wood is a well-grounded, fascinating and powerful story that kept me gripped from the opening paragraph. Reviews have criticised it as being too 'Scottish' - whatever that means? I'm not a fan of local dialect in novels, and to be honest, if it wasn't for a couple of reminders within the dialogue every now and again, I would have forgotten that the setting is Scotland, so I'm really not sure what 'too Scottish' means?? Other reviews have been critical of the many threads to this story but for me, this is what makes it really work, and what sets the author's writing apart from many other crime thrillers on the market today. I'm a fan of the unusual, I like to make my brain work when I'm reading a thriller, I really don't want to work everything out by halfway through the story, and I didn't, and that makes Black Wood a winner for me.
Black Wood has atmosphere and tension. The writing is assured and confident and I really enjoyed it.
February 24, 2015
**review from early copy: Update to follow.
So any fan of the psychological thriller definitely needs to keep an eye out for this next year – I was lucky enough to read it extremely early, so early in fact that as Susi herself pointed out to me, its probably completely changed by now. I am looking forward to reading the finished product to see how it has developed, but the heart of it will be there for sure, the story and the characters whilst possibly having had added to them a bit of spit and polish were right there from the start.
What I found was a character driven story with a very haunting and expressive feel that pulled me in immediately. Jo is an intriguing character, dealing with some difficult issues stemming from a childhood trauma – but with no-one to believe her and a memory that is flaky, she feels very alone and that comes out in the way she interacts with those close to her. Not always sympathetic as a character but ever fascinating, the mystery of what happened to her and Claire all those years ago is compelling and addictive.
Unless it has changed dramatically in the time since I read that early copy and now, this is not a book with those huge BAM out of nowhere twists and turns but is more an exploration of memory and emotion, how things from before can affect the after and is all the more powerful for it. Thats not to say there are no surprises, there most certainly are and a fair few of them, and as Jo goes on her journey of discovery and possible revenge, you will be completely and utterly hooked. Beautifully paced, it is one of those novels you sink into completely and have to shake off when you emerge back into real life.
It really is deliciously written, capturing the essence of village life perfectly and delivering an eclectic cast of characters, an appealing and exquisitely drawn enigma both in character and plot and overall would defnitely come highly recommended from me. Oh and beautiful job on the cover – captures the whole thing perfectly right there.
So any fan of the psychological thriller definitely needs to keep an eye out for this next year – I was lucky enough to read it extremely early, so early in fact that as Susi herself pointed out to me, its probably completely changed by now. I am looking forward to reading the finished product to see how it has developed, but the heart of it will be there for sure, the story and the characters whilst possibly having had added to them a bit of spit and polish were right there from the start.
What I found was a character driven story with a very haunting and expressive feel that pulled me in immediately. Jo is an intriguing character, dealing with some difficult issues stemming from a childhood trauma – but with no-one to believe her and a memory that is flaky, she feels very alone and that comes out in the way she interacts with those close to her. Not always sympathetic as a character but ever fascinating, the mystery of what happened to her and Claire all those years ago is compelling and addictive.
Unless it has changed dramatically in the time since I read that early copy and now, this is not a book with those huge BAM out of nowhere twists and turns but is more an exploration of memory and emotion, how things from before can affect the after and is all the more powerful for it. Thats not to say there are no surprises, there most certainly are and a fair few of them, and as Jo goes on her journey of discovery and possible revenge, you will be completely and utterly hooked. Beautifully paced, it is one of those novels you sink into completely and have to shake off when you emerge back into real life.
It really is deliciously written, capturing the essence of village life perfectly and delivering an eclectic cast of characters, an appealing and exquisitely drawn enigma both in character and plot and overall would defnitely come highly recommended from me. Oh and beautiful job on the cover – captures the whole thing perfectly right there.
March 23, 2015
The events of over 20 years ago in Black Wood have left their scars on both Jo and Claire. Clare is paralysed and Jo has been left with psychological problems – her dysfunctional family background has also impacted on her mental state and her meltdowns are a cause of concern for her friends.
There is a darkness and atmospheric quality to this thriller – both from the setting of Banktoun, the small Scottish town where everyone seems to know each other’s business and from the woods; where Jo and Claire’s life changed all those years ago, and on the old track where someone wearing a balaclava and a mask is now targeting young girls.
The release of information as to what happened to Claire and Jo is cleverly and slowly controlled throughout with clues, some being deliberately designed to lead you up the wrong path. I did eventually guess who was responsible but not before having my sights on other suspects.
All the main characters make an impact. Claire doesn’t appear to remember the events of that day and it seems that she doesn’t want to. My feelings were confused towards Jo, I felt sorry for her but I wasn’t sure if I liked her very much, however she was an intriguing character; psychologically damaged and although sometimes manipulative, she had ourage and determination. Sergeant Davie Gray was definitely the ‘good guy’ of the story. A policeman of the old school where common sense prevailed over petty rules and regulations, he was someone that you felt you could trust.
The character driven story, the atmospheric descriptions together with sinister twists and turns make this an extremely good debut and I was so engrossed that I read it in less than 2 days. It’s a complex tale and one which requires full concentration. I did enjoy the style of writing and do hope Ms Holliday produces another book, I would certainly love to see what she comes up with next.
There is a darkness and atmospheric quality to this thriller – both from the setting of Banktoun, the small Scottish town where everyone seems to know each other’s business and from the woods; where Jo and Claire’s life changed all those years ago, and on the old track where someone wearing a balaclava and a mask is now targeting young girls.
The release of information as to what happened to Claire and Jo is cleverly and slowly controlled throughout with clues, some being deliberately designed to lead you up the wrong path. I did eventually guess who was responsible but not before having my sights on other suspects.
All the main characters make an impact. Claire doesn’t appear to remember the events of that day and it seems that she doesn’t want to. My feelings were confused towards Jo, I felt sorry for her but I wasn’t sure if I liked her very much, however she was an intriguing character; psychologically damaged and although sometimes manipulative, she had ourage and determination. Sergeant Davie Gray was definitely the ‘good guy’ of the story. A policeman of the old school where common sense prevailed over petty rules and regulations, he was someone that you felt you could trust.
The character driven story, the atmospheric descriptions together with sinister twists and turns make this an extremely good debut and I was so engrossed that I read it in less than 2 days. It’s a complex tale and one which requires full concentration. I did enjoy the style of writing and do hope Ms Holliday produces another book, I would certainly love to see what she comes up with next.
March 15, 2015
Black Wood is one book that I've been looking forward to reading for most of last year. Yes it's a crime novel but there is so much more to it. Jo and Claire had a traumatic experience in their childhood that left Claire paralysed and Jo struggling to cope with the memories.
Whilst Clare copes the best way she can, choosing not to remember it is Jo who seems to suffer more. Very much a loner for all of her life, she manages to alienate most people around her. Though not the easiest character to like I had quite a bit of sympathy for her. Rejected by her father and ridiculed by school friends she was always going to be an outsider.
No huge shocks but there were a few surprises along the way.
I enjoyed the setting of the novel in the fictional town of Banktoun, it was refreshing to read about a police investigation set in a small town rather than a city, and I adored Davey Gray.
I'm really looking forward to reading more of Susi's novels or short stories in the future.
With thanks to Susi and the publisher for the copy of the novel.
Whilst Clare copes the best way she can, choosing not to remember it is Jo who seems to suffer more. Very much a loner for all of her life, she manages to alienate most people around her. Though not the easiest character to like I had quite a bit of sympathy for her. Rejected by her father and ridiculed by school friends she was always going to be an outsider.
No huge shocks but there were a few surprises along the way.
I enjoyed the setting of the novel in the fictional town of Banktoun, it was refreshing to read about a police investigation set in a small town rather than a city, and I adored Davey Gray.
I'm really looking forward to reading more of Susi's novels or short stories in the future.
With thanks to Susi and the publisher for the copy of the novel.
May 4, 2015
while I enjoyed the book I wasn't as fond of the ending which was not really a shock.
I never did really like jo I found her to be too dependant but the character was well written even if I didn't like her. Claire also wasn't a character I likes either I found her to be a bit hollow.
the character I likes was Davie who seemed to be very interesting and had a lot to him
I never did really like jo I found her to be too dependant but the character was well written even if I didn't like her. Claire also wasn't a character I likes either I found her to be a bit hollow.
the character I likes was Davie who seemed to be very interesting and had a lot to him
April 29, 2015
Good plot, very atmospheric, some nice twists so that even if you've guessed some of them, you won't have them all. Jo is a nicely-drawn character, too, and her reactions to what happens around her seem entirely plausible as her back-story emerges. I was also impressed by the shifts between narrators (first and third person), time period and tense, which can undo many an accomplished writer but were skilfully-handled here.
So why not 5 stars? I felt it seemed a little hurried at times, even forced, as if the all-encompassing need for "pace" had trumped the organic development of the plot. There was enough material here for a Crow Road, but is was packed into something much shorter and faster and in the end I felt that either the book should have been longer or some of the less essential red herrings or side-plots should have been eliminated. A minor niggle, though, in a generally excellent book.
So why not 5 stars? I felt it seemed a little hurried at times, even forced, as if the all-encompassing need for "pace" had trumped the organic development of the plot. There was enough material here for a Crow Road, but is was packed into something much shorter and faster and in the end I felt that either the book should have been longer or some of the less essential red herrings or side-plots should have been eliminated. A minor niggle, though, in a generally excellent book.
April 28, 2015
Black Wood is set in a small sleepy village not far from Edinburgh. This is an ideal setting for a psychological thriller with dark secrets at its root. SJI Holliday has captured village life beautifully, with astute observations of the village inhabitants and graphic descriptions of the local surroundings. Everyone wants to know each other's business, especially the town busybody, yet the villagers still have secrets to hide. Strangers get noticed and treated with suspicion, but they are not always the ones to watch.
The story centres around what happened to Jo and Claire in Black Wood all those years ago. A vicious attack by two boys left both of their lives in tatters. Jo is a complex character, shaped by both her childhood and the events on that fateful day - she is confused, distrustful and psychologically damaged. Claire was left paralysed, but tries desperately to get on with her life. She is unable to remember what happened in Black Wood and prefers to leave it that way.
SJI Holliday has written an atmospheric thriller with intriguing characters. She cleverly weaves past and present together to gradually expose chilling secrets. This is a well-written tale of discovery, revenge and deception. Various twists and turns lead the reader off track, resulting in stunning revelations at the end.
SJI Holliday is one to watch - this is an excellent debut.
I received this from the publisher as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres around what happened to Jo and Claire in Black Wood all those years ago. A vicious attack by two boys left both of their lives in tatters. Jo is a complex character, shaped by both her childhood and the events on that fateful day - she is confused, distrustful and psychologically damaged. Claire was left paralysed, but tries desperately to get on with her life. She is unable to remember what happened in Black Wood and prefers to leave it that way.
SJI Holliday has written an atmospheric thriller with intriguing characters. She cleverly weaves past and present together to gradually expose chilling secrets. This is a well-written tale of discovery, revenge and deception. Various twists and turns lead the reader off track, resulting in stunning revelations at the end.
SJI Holliday is one to watch - this is an excellent debut.
I received this from the publisher as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2015
a brilliantly chilling debut novel.
March 1, 2015
An absorbing and at times shocking read.
"Something happened to Claire and Jo in Black Wood: something that left Claire paralysed and Jo with deep mental scars. But with Claire suffering memory loss and no evidence to be found, nobody believes Jo’s story...Sergeant Davie Gray must unravel a tangled web of past secrets, broken friendship and tainted love. But can he crack the case before Jo finds herself with blood on her hands?"
A couple of times while reading Black Wood I felt as if I had been slapped in the face I was so thrown by what I was reading. The story is based in the claustrophobic small town of Banktoun, a place and an atmosphere skilfully created by the author as the backdrop for a truly twisted plot.
There are enough red herrings to make a fish pie and my head was spinning as I tried to relate the present day action to the disastrous events of 20-odd years before.
I recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers but you need to pay attention if you're going to pick up the clues to what really lies at the heart of Black Wood.
My copy was purchased from Amazon Kindle Store.
"Something happened to Claire and Jo in Black Wood: something that left Claire paralysed and Jo with deep mental scars. But with Claire suffering memory loss and no evidence to be found, nobody believes Jo’s story...Sergeant Davie Gray must unravel a tangled web of past secrets, broken friendship and tainted love. But can he crack the case before Jo finds herself with blood on her hands?"
A couple of times while reading Black Wood I felt as if I had been slapped in the face I was so thrown by what I was reading. The story is based in the claustrophobic small town of Banktoun, a place and an atmosphere skilfully created by the author as the backdrop for a truly twisted plot.
There are enough red herrings to make a fish pie and my head was spinning as I tried to relate the present day action to the disastrous events of 20-odd years before.
I recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers but you need to pay attention if you're going to pick up the clues to what really lies at the heart of Black Wood.
My copy was purchased from Amazon Kindle Store.
March 8, 2015
What a clever and intriguing story. Holliday’s style is smooth and subtle, beautifully conjuring up the atmosphere of Banktoun, a small town in Scotland, its suspicions and claustrophobia, the way you can never escape your past and everywhere around lie memories to trip you up. Jo is a fabulous central character, flawed yet honest and courageous. I was desperate to know what lay at the heart of her story – the truth about what happened to two young girls in Black Wood.
But what I loved most about this novel is that it gives nothing away too soon. Holliday offers readers a puzzle, an intricate trail of clues hidden in the details, building to a dramatic and heart-stopping conclusion. It’s a great debut and no doubt the beginning of a stellar career in crime writing. I’ll be just one of many fans eagerly awaiting her next one.
But what I loved most about this novel is that it gives nothing away too soon. Holliday offers readers a puzzle, an intricate trail of clues hidden in the details, building to a dramatic and heart-stopping conclusion. It’s a great debut and no doubt the beginning of a stellar career in crime writing. I’ll be just one of many fans eagerly awaiting her next one.
March 30, 2015
The story is set in an East Lothian village and centres around what happened 20 odd years ago to friends Jo and Claire in Black Wood when two boys attacked them. Jo is left with mental scars and Claire in a wheelchair. Everyone knows everyone in the village. A stranger who Jo recognises from the past comes into the bookshop where she works and she is keen to pursue it but Claire tells her to leave well alone. An ending I just didn't see coming. A great fast paced read.
April 15, 2015
An intriguing story about what happened to Claire and Jo more than 20 years ago and about what has brought all the tension bubbling to the surface again. I liked the way that the author mixed her chapters between past and present and told them from different characters points of view. It was clever that you didn't know just who some of the narrators were until near the end. Life in a small town was well portrayed with everyone knowing everyone else's business - or do they? Coming from nearby Edinburgh, I was trying to figure out exactly which small East Lothian town the author was writing about - although I imagine it was just an amalgam of a few places! There were quite a few red herrings in this story which meant I genuinely didn't know who had done what and who could be trusted until quite far on in the book. And the final revealing chapter showed that all was not as everyone thought anyway. I liked Sergeant Grey and hope that he may feature in more of SJI Holliday's future novels.
February 19, 2016
Black Wood is a debut psychological thriller that has been sitting on my Kindle for a while. As are many, many books. Enough said about that! It's a character led tale set in a fictional small town called Banktoun near Edinburgh. Jo and Claire are childhood friends and we know from the outset that Claire incurred an injury many years before that left her in a wheelchair. The incident in the woods left Claire not remembering anything and Jo deeply scarred but unable to discuss anything with anyone.
Davie Gray, the local police officer is called in to investigate a person who appears to be wearing a balaclava and is terrorising young women in the woods. Knowing the girls from the past Gray's investigation leads him to areas where new possibilities may be arising. Could past cases and present ongoings be linked?
Initially, it took me a while to get my head around all the characters present but once they were all in place, it all unfolded really well. So, whilst it may appear complicated in parts, a keen eye on chapter headings keeps placements and timeframes in check and storyline flowing.
So, I shall begin by saying that Black Wood is a terrific read. I loved that we really got to know all the characters. Told at a steady pace we really get into the backgrounds and where they are now. This was never really meant to be a whodunnit in the strictest sense, more an exploration of how the past can affect the present and how. I especially liked the observational work with some really good laugh out loud moments, that had me rolling around trying not to laugh too loudly in the dead of night. Such is the humour at times I was stifling myself with pillows! It's all brilliantly told with some great descriptive work. Ms Holliday has a terrific way of capturing nuances and the ordinary, things that people would never really talk about; things that happens to us all but not enough to mention and beautifully captured here. I'd give examples but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
As for the characters, well it didn't really bother me that most of them were unlikeable, that wasn't the point. They were just brought to life in a way that totally captivates and keeps interest levels up. Little reveals are made throughout as a town's secrets start to spill and it culminates in an ending that is surprising but not. You kind of know.... but you don't. A possibility that you entertain and let go. Again, very well done. And that's where I'm going to leave it. In short, if you want a read that is beautifully observed, well told, with great humour and engaging characters, then look no further. Looking forward to what Ms Holliday comes up with next time!
Recommended.
PS. I've just looked closely at the bookcover. Captures the story brilliantly. Great cover!
Davie Gray, the local police officer is called in to investigate a person who appears to be wearing a balaclava and is terrorising young women in the woods. Knowing the girls from the past Gray's investigation leads him to areas where new possibilities may be arising. Could past cases and present ongoings be linked?
Initially, it took me a while to get my head around all the characters present but once they were all in place, it all unfolded really well. So, whilst it may appear complicated in parts, a keen eye on chapter headings keeps placements and timeframes in check and storyline flowing.
So, I shall begin by saying that Black Wood is a terrific read. I loved that we really got to know all the characters. Told at a steady pace we really get into the backgrounds and where they are now. This was never really meant to be a whodunnit in the strictest sense, more an exploration of how the past can affect the present and how. I especially liked the observational work with some really good laugh out loud moments, that had me rolling around trying not to laugh too loudly in the dead of night. Such is the humour at times I was stifling myself with pillows! It's all brilliantly told with some great descriptive work. Ms Holliday has a terrific way of capturing nuances and the ordinary, things that people would never really talk about; things that happens to us all but not enough to mention and beautifully captured here. I'd give examples but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
As for the characters, well it didn't really bother me that most of them were unlikeable, that wasn't the point. They were just brought to life in a way that totally captivates and keeps interest levels up. Little reveals are made throughout as a town's secrets start to spill and it culminates in an ending that is surprising but not. You kind of know.... but you don't. A possibility that you entertain and let go. Again, very well done. And that's where I'm going to leave it. In short, if you want a read that is beautifully observed, well told, with great humour and engaging characters, then look no further. Looking forward to what Ms Holliday comes up with next time!
Recommended.
PS. I've just looked closely at the bookcover. Captures the story brilliantly. Great cover!
April 30, 2015
I bought this book last month and it was chosen for a book group BOTM read.
Well, what can I say about this book. It was gripping at parts for me, was slow at the start like others have suggested due to getting to know the characters. I guessed a few things about the plot and the characters, but all in all I enjoyed bits.
I was kinda happy that it ended the way it did and wonder as it's been left on a cliff hanger, will SJI Holliday do a follow up to the story or has she left the cliff hanger on purpose lol.
Well, what can I say about this book. It was gripping at parts for me, was slow at the start like others have suggested due to getting to know the characters. I guessed a few things about the plot and the characters, but all in all I enjoyed bits.
I was kinda happy that it ended the way it did and wonder as it's been left on a cliff hanger, will SJI Holliday do a follow up to the story or has she left the cliff hanger on purpose lol.
March 24, 2015
Wow! What a read!!!
Black Wood is a gripping rollercoaster of read with unpredictable twists and turns from start to finish. I found it extremely well written, with believable characters and settings portrayed so well if I rolled up in Banktoun I would know immediately where I was. Perfect... I can't wait for more!
Highly recommended!!!
Black Wood is a gripping rollercoaster of read with unpredictable twists and turns from start to finish. I found it extremely well written, with believable characters and settings portrayed so well if I rolled up in Banktoun I would know immediately where I was. Perfect... I can't wait for more!
Highly recommended!!!
January 1, 2016
Black Wood. A story of two girls playing in the woods and they come across two masked boys with who knows what on their minds....fast forward and we meet Jo and Claire. BFFs but with a mammoth load of baggage between them. A chance meeting at Jo's work sends her spiralling into what seems like self-destruct mood but the course can not be changed and must follow its path....
The story switches between the present and the past dropping clues as to who the girls and who the boys are but the jigsaw isn't complete until the last stand at Black Wood.
It's a compulsive read that keeps you guessing who is who and what's going to happen next. I look forward to seeing what Susi Holliday writes next. A cracking read to start a writing career
The story switches between the present and the past dropping clues as to who the girls and who the boys are but the jigsaw isn't complete until the last stand at Black Wood.
It's a compulsive read that keeps you guessing who is who and what's going to happen next. I look forward to seeing what Susi Holliday writes next. A cracking read to start a writing career
August 2, 2015
Brilliant psychological thriller and didn't guess the ending which was a bonus.
May 7, 2015
I actually would give this book 3.5 stars but Goodreads would not allow me to do that. I have seen mixed reviews about this book and I had it on my TBR list prior to it being chosen as The Book of The Month for THE Book Club I am a member of. Overall I thought the storyline was fairly good. Unfortunately it seemed, to me anyway, to be a bit all over the place...I found it to be chaotic in places and it took me a while to get into the overall storyline. I appreciate the concept of looking back to explain the story and how it evolves, however I thought it was a bit too sketchy to get a grasp of, if that makes any sense.
I also felt that some of the characters, Jo, Claire and Davie were interesting but again not as well developed as they could have been. Whilst other characters...Scott, Gareth and Jake had real potential but the author just fell short of giving them the 'reality-feel' of the characters they could have been. What I mean by this is that they played a pretty significant part in the storyline's development but there was not much about them as characters to grip me.
There were seem really good parts in the book as well. It started off pretty slow for me but then picked up pace when I got to the middle of the book. I enjoyed that part(the middle) but wished (a) it had not taken so long and (b) that the pace carried on throughout.
I also figured out the twist before I knew it was the twist. That disappointed me as I expected a real "OMG" moment and for me...it never came.
I have to say however that this book had a lot of potential that I believed was missed, but as a story, I did enjoy it. Based on that, I would recommend others to read it and would love to hear their views. I will, however, keep my eyes open for more of SJI Holliday's books as I would be interested to see what comes next.
I also felt that some of the characters, Jo, Claire and Davie were interesting but again not as well developed as they could have been. Whilst other characters...Scott, Gareth and Jake had real potential but the author just fell short of giving them the 'reality-feel' of the characters they could have been. What I mean by this is that they played a pretty significant part in the storyline's development but there was not much about them as characters to grip me.
There were seem really good parts in the book as well. It started off pretty slow for me but then picked up pace when I got to the middle of the book. I enjoyed that part(the middle) but wished (a) it had not taken so long and (b) that the pace carried on throughout.
I also figured out the twist before I knew it was the twist. That disappointed me as I expected a real "OMG" moment and for me...it never came.
I have to say however that this book had a lot of potential that I believed was missed, but as a story, I did enjoy it. Based on that, I would recommend others to read it and would love to hear their views. I will, however, keep my eyes open for more of SJI Holliday's books as I would be interested to see what comes next.
May 4, 2015
an amazing debut novel taking the mystery thriller and making it fresh and captivating from the first page. This is done by slowly revealing the story through the present day eyes of Jo and incomplete teasers from the past which we stuggle initially to make any sense of these strands of plot. It is so well crafted and meticulously managed that the story remains interesting and a mystery. Not so much a who done it; though that is a surprise, rather it is a what really happened that day in the woods and what are the true relationships of the characters. Most of whom seem to be damaged and have something to hid in this small town where everyone knows each other and what they don't know they tend to make up anyway.
There are many revelations in this story that is a russian doll of a read, a jigsaw you never find the box lid until the final few pages.
Some beautiful writing and excellent skills to express herself, the author has written a novel she can be proud of and which will draw much praise.
This is a must read for 2015 and a book if re-read would reveal so much more. No-one is quite what they seem and one wonders how so much could be hidden deep in the Black Wood.
There are many revelations in this story that is a russian doll of a read, a jigsaw you never find the box lid until the final few pages.
Some beautiful writing and excellent skills to express herself, the author has written a novel she can be proud of and which will draw much praise.
This is a must read for 2015 and a book if re-read would reveal so much more. No-one is quite what they seem and one wonders how so much could be hidden deep in the Black Wood.
February 20, 2019
Mmmmm, not sure. A little too bitty for me. I didn't quite get it - a small village, a huge number of "nut cases" per square foot. No clear reason why a psycho from the past returns - why does the main character have a "spare" property that she can just go back to when her mates offer of a room is no good.
It has all the makings of a great book, but for me it misses its mark - even at the end when all is meant to become clear. Good try :)
It has all the makings of a great book, but for me it misses its mark - even at the end when all is meant to become clear. Good try :)
March 11, 2015
Set in the quiet Scottish town of Banktoun, it’s not difficult to know everyone’s business. But despite the gossips, it soon becomes clear that the locals don’t really know the real truth about each other and this town is a perfect breeding ground for a few secrets…
The story’s timeline flicks backwards and forwards between the past and the present. Childhood friends Jo and Claire have been through much together, although an incident in the Black Wood some twenty years earlier has affected them in different ways; Jo is not fully recovered psychologically and although Claire’s trying to get on with life, her wheelchair is a constant reminder of that day.
Soon, Jo’s already troubled life is turned upside down in more ways than one when she is convinced she has recognised someone from her past. Everyone tells her to forget it, including Claire, but Jo can’t walk away from this new arrival in town.
More tension is added to the story when ladies walking alone are being targeted by a menacing presence ski mask / balaclava. The small, local police force is struggling to track the offender down and local chief, Davie Gray, is making slow progress with his enquiries.
The story builds slowly to quite a crescendo before taking quite a sinister turn. And all the time Jo is close to snapping the fragile bonds with her closest allies. Still, she is determined to confront the past that’s returned to haunt her, in more ways than one and regardless of the consequences.
It appears the writer has endeavoured to torment Jo throughout this story and I so desperately wanted to discover what had caused this fictional character to behave like she did. It may sound harsh, but despite everything that happened to the poor girl I still had such a hard time liking her!
As I found myself striding deeper into the book it was clear more things than meet the eye have happened in the Black Wood over time. Subtle clues are littered throughout the story at intervals but I didn’t spot them all. In fact, I didn’t know who to trust right up to the end, as most of the town seemed to be hiding something!
It has atmosphere, suspense and did keep me in the dark. Good stuff.
The story’s timeline flicks backwards and forwards between the past and the present. Childhood friends Jo and Claire have been through much together, although an incident in the Black Wood some twenty years earlier has affected them in different ways; Jo is not fully recovered psychologically and although Claire’s trying to get on with life, her wheelchair is a constant reminder of that day.
Soon, Jo’s already troubled life is turned upside down in more ways than one when she is convinced she has recognised someone from her past. Everyone tells her to forget it, including Claire, but Jo can’t walk away from this new arrival in town.
More tension is added to the story when ladies walking alone are being targeted by a menacing presence ski mask / balaclava. The small, local police force is struggling to track the offender down and local chief, Davie Gray, is making slow progress with his enquiries.
The story builds slowly to quite a crescendo before taking quite a sinister turn. And all the time Jo is close to snapping the fragile bonds with her closest allies. Still, she is determined to confront the past that’s returned to haunt her, in more ways than one and regardless of the consequences.
It appears the writer has endeavoured to torment Jo throughout this story and I so desperately wanted to discover what had caused this fictional character to behave like she did. It may sound harsh, but despite everything that happened to the poor girl I still had such a hard time liking her!
As I found myself striding deeper into the book it was clear more things than meet the eye have happened in the Black Wood over time. Subtle clues are littered throughout the story at intervals but I didn’t spot them all. In fact, I didn’t know who to trust right up to the end, as most of the town seemed to be hiding something!
It has atmosphere, suspense and did keep me in the dark. Good stuff.
April 14, 2015
A step away from my usual genre, I'm normally a chic lit lover but as it was suggested to me I thought I'd give it a go.
In short it's brilliant. I admit parts of it confused me and the end was a little wishy washy but loved how it all came together, who the characters were all interwoven. Definitely one to read
In short it's brilliant. I admit parts of it confused me and the end was a little wishy washy but loved how it all came together, who the characters were all interwoven. Definitely one to read
March 27, 2015
The book opens as two young girls play in the woods. A deep sense of menace pervades the scene and it becomes noticeable, very quickly, that danger lurks in the shadows. Twenty-three years later, Claire and Jo have now grown to adulthood. They have remained close friends, but, there is always a sense of something kept hidden. Both girls, now young women, have hidden demons they would rather not challenge but when a familiar face walks into the bookshop where Jo works, dreadful memories are rekindled, and the past, once thought buried, surfaces with devastating consequences.
The story is a well written mystery with just the right amount of menace layering between the hidden clues of the storyline. The main protagonists are realistic and the police procedural element, ably led by police sergeant Davie Gray, is well controlled and nicely focused on the present, but with relevant hints towards the past. The insularity of the Scottish town of Banktoun is presented in a no nonsense kind of way, which I thought worked well, as this is the kind place where everyone knows each other’s business, and yet, there is still room for secrets and lies.
I really enjoyed Black Wood. I thought that the mystery at the heart of the novel was exciting. The twists and turns in the plot were complex and credible and the overall integrity of the ending worked well within the context of the story.
This is a good debut novel and I am sure that this exciting new writer will continue to go from strength to strength.
The story is a well written mystery with just the right amount of menace layering between the hidden clues of the storyline. The main protagonists are realistic and the police procedural element, ably led by police sergeant Davie Gray, is well controlled and nicely focused on the present, but with relevant hints towards the past. The insularity of the Scottish town of Banktoun is presented in a no nonsense kind of way, which I thought worked well, as this is the kind place where everyone knows each other’s business, and yet, there is still room for secrets and lies.
I really enjoyed Black Wood. I thought that the mystery at the heart of the novel was exciting. The twists and turns in the plot were complex and credible and the overall integrity of the ending worked well within the context of the story.
This is a good debut novel and I am sure that this exciting new writer will continue to go from strength to strength.
April 19, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Got hooked fairly early on and it kept me gripped until the end. Great read.
July 14, 2015
I love books that are about memory, and the effect our remembered and forgotten past has on our present. This is something the author sets up well. Both Claire and Jo suffered a traumatic event when they were younger, and neither are coping with it in their adult lives. I liked the way Holliday showed the individual responses to their shared past and it really helped in bringing the characters alive for me. Especially because, as with so many books recently, the people in this novel aren't particularly likeable. The author's presentation of the two women's background made them understandable, but I didn't connect with either. The male characters in the book were treated much more lightly, though there were chapters on their actions in the past, the reasons for their behaviour were not dealt with as well as I would have liked. The ending was not a surprise, but I think that may be in part because it seemed the obvious outcome for the characters Holliday had portrayed.
The pace was bitty and some parts felt extraneous. Rather than acting to build a picture, some of the viewpoints simply let the author add some more action without adding to the story. Various female characters were added only in order to describe their attacks to the reader.
I don't want to be too harsh a critic because this is an interesting thriller. I think the author is one to keep an eye on.
August 31, 2015
An excellent, mystery thriller about secrets and keeping the past at bay and how it shapes your future.
Will write a little more about it as soon as I have time.
Will write a little more about it as soon as I have time.
February 16, 2015
A brilliantly assured debut, chilling and page-turning. Highly recommended.
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