What do you think?
Rate this book
Seven Days
An incredible psychological crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the Top Ten Sunday Times bestselling author‘This is creepy storytelling of the highest spine-chilling and difficult to put down’ Daily Mail
A race against time to save her child…
In seven days, Maggie’s son, Max, turns three. But she’s not planning a party or buying presents or updating his baby book. She’s dreading it. Because in her world, third birthdays are the days on which the unthinkable happens… she loses her child.
For the last twelve years Maggie has been imprisoned in a basement. Abducted aged fifteen, she gave birth to two sons before Max, and on their third birthdays her captor came and took them from her.
She cannot let it happen again. But she has no idea how to stop it. And the clock is ticking…
'Great hook, fast-paced, fully engrossing. Don't miss out – read it now!' Sam Carrington, author of The Missing Wife
‘A superb read for suspense fans, this taut thriller will have you racing for the finish’ Heat
‘A gripping page turner’ Closer
‘An expert at crafting chilling scenes that will instantly capture a reader’s imagination’ Woman & Home
‘Evocative writing and emotional rawness’ Woman’s Weekly
‘By far the best proof I’ve received this year’ Reviews by Chloe
‘OMG – WOW!!! I have no other words…go buy and read this book now, it is that AMAZING!’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘WHAT. A. RIDE. The adrenaline raced through me as I read this jaw-dropping thriller’ Emma’s Biblio Treasures
‘I couldn’t put the story down’ Jaffa Reads Too
‘An addictive, tense and chilling read’ The Book Review Cafe
A race against time to save her child…
In seven days, Maggie’s son, Max, turns three. But she’s not planning a party or buying presents or updating his baby book. She’s dreading it. Because in her world, third birthdays are the days on which the unthinkable happens… she loses her child.
For the last twelve years Maggie has been imprisoned in a basement. Abducted aged fifteen, she gave birth to two sons before Max, and on their third birthdays her captor came and took them from her.
She cannot let it happen again. But she has no idea how to stop it. And the clock is ticking…
'Great hook, fast-paced, fully engrossing. Don't miss out – read it now!' Sam Carrington, author of The Missing Wife
‘A superb read for suspense fans, this taut thriller will have you racing for the finish’ Heat
‘A gripping page turner’ Closer
‘An expert at crafting chilling scenes that will instantly capture a reader’s imagination’ Woman & Home
‘Evocative writing and emotional rawness’ Woman’s Weekly
‘By far the best proof I’ve received this year’ Reviews by Chloe
‘OMG – WOW!!! I have no other words…go buy and read this book now, it is that AMAZING!’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘WHAT. A. RIDE. The adrenaline raced through me as I read this jaw-dropping thriller’ Emma’s Biblio Treasures
‘I couldn’t put the story down’ Jaffa Reads Too
‘An addictive, tense and chilling read’ The Book Review Cafe
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2019
874 people are currently reading
11375 people want to read
About the author
Alex Lake
14 books897 followersAlex Lake is a British novelist who was born in the North West of England. After Anna, the author’s first novel written under this pseudonym, was a No.1 bestselling ebook sensation and a top-ten Sunday Times bestseller. The author now lives in the North East of the US.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,369 reviews
October 6, 2019
It’s just 7 days until Max’s third birthday, but his mum Maggie isn’t planning any special treats, in fact she has no contact whatsoever with the outside world. Maggie was abducted at the age of fifteen, and twelve years later she’s still living in a windowless basement with Max but all her thoughts are concentrated on overpowering her captor somehow, because she had two little boys before Max after becoming pregnant by her captor, and on their third birthday he took them away from her. This time however she’s determined to think of something - he can’t take Max, he’s all she has and she adores her little boy, but can she come up with an idea before it’s too late? The clock is ticking!
Maggie’s disappearance twelve years earlier almost destroyed her parents, and they’ve watched as her brother James’s life spirals increasingly out of control. They’ve all had to deal with it in their own way, they don’t even know that Maggie was abducted, as far as they know she just disappeared. James keeps his feelings bottled up and eventually turns to drink and drugs as a coping strategy which of course is no help at all.
I like the way the author gives every family member a voice to relate their feelings, to demonstrate how Maggie’s disappearance has impacted on all their lives.
It goes without saying that this is a very dark subject matter, and is in turns horrifying, sad, moving and has some heart stopping moments, and Maggie and Max will have you rooting for them from first page to last.
* Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Maggie’s disappearance twelve years earlier almost destroyed her parents, and they’ve watched as her brother James’s life spirals increasingly out of control. They’ve all had to deal with it in their own way, they don’t even know that Maggie was abducted, as far as they know she just disappeared. James keeps his feelings bottled up and eventually turns to drink and drugs as a coping strategy which of course is no help at all.
I like the way the author gives every family member a voice to relate their feelings, to demonstrate how Maggie’s disappearance has impacted on all their lives.
It goes without saying that this is a very dark subject matter, and is in turns horrifying, sad, moving and has some heart stopping moments, and Maggie and Max will have you rooting for them from first page to last.
* Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
November 16, 2019
What a book! Seven Days by Alex Lake was a book that I was so completely engrossed in from the very beginning. How could you not be - the story is fantastic. It is written so well that you just keep turning those pages. It is a fast paced and very emotional book. I challenge you not to like this book. I have read all of Alex Lake's books and enjoyed them . Definitely an author to look into if you have not already.
The subject matter of this book is not always the easiest to read. Maggie Cooper is kidnapped when she is 15. 12 years later she is still being held captive in a hidden basement by the man. Over those years she has given birth to 3 sons, 2 of whom have been taken away from her on their 3rd birthdays. Now her 3rd son Max is about to tur 3 and she knows she has to do something to protect him. She has 7 days to come up with a plan to save her son - and hopefully escape with him.
I loved that the book is told from multiple points of view. Not only do we hear from Maggie and Max, but also her parents and brother James. We see how Maggies disappearance has impacted their lives and changed them forever. We also hear from the police officer looking for her, and still 12 years has not give up hope.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased..
The subject matter of this book is not always the easiest to read. Maggie Cooper is kidnapped when she is 15. 12 years later she is still being held captive in a hidden basement by the man. Over those years she has given birth to 3 sons, 2 of whom have been taken away from her on their 3rd birthdays. Now her 3rd son Max is about to tur 3 and she knows she has to do something to protect him. She has 7 days to come up with a plan to save her son - and hopefully escape with him.
I loved that the book is told from multiple points of view. Not only do we hear from Maggie and Max, but also her parents and brother James. We see how Maggies disappearance has impacted their lives and changed them forever. We also hear from the police officer looking for her, and still 12 years has not give up hope.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased..
November 15, 2019
Max is three in seven days time. Maggie Cooper has seven days before her captor takes him as he had her previous two little boys. She has been held in captive for twelve years and was 15 years old when she was taken. They are being held in some sort of cellar with no natural light or proper washing or toilet facilities. She has been used and abused by her captor who is probably now in his late 60’s. This is the shocking premise of this novel by Alex Lake and although it is by no means an easy read it is at no point graphic because it doesn’t need to be. It focuses on Maggie’s desire to survive and save her son and it shines a spotlight on the impact her capture has on her family. This well written story goes on a countdown to Max’s birthday and back and forth from the events of the capture and the intervening years.
The stand out aspect for me in this book is the characters. Maggie is quite simply amazing. Her will to survive, her resourcefulness, the care and deep love of her children is tangible. She creates imaginative and wonderful worlds to transport gorgeous Max to so they can transcend their terrible circumstances. Maggie’s family are wonderful too, especially her father Martin, who should be dad of the year or even the decade. Brother James is the one who most overtly seems to suffer from Maggie’s loss as he goes down a catastrophic path of self destruction. Her mother Sandra, is kind and caring so much so that her generous nature leads to Maggie’s captor inserting himself in their lives. I think that is one of the most twisted aspects of him as it’s as if he sticking the knife in twice. He also taunts DI Jane Wynne over the years in the form of letters. The family’s rising panic when they realise Maggie is missing is so well described as are the ups and downs of learning to live without her. The tension builds up really well towards the seventh day as Maggie uses all her wits and resolve to get her freedom. The ending is very emotional.
Overall, a well written book which deals with a difficult topic as sensitively as possible and kudos to the author for that.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK - Harper Fiction.
The stand out aspect for me in this book is the characters. Maggie is quite simply amazing. Her will to survive, her resourcefulness, the care and deep love of her children is tangible. She creates imaginative and wonderful worlds to transport gorgeous Max to so they can transcend their terrible circumstances. Maggie’s family are wonderful too, especially her father Martin, who should be dad of the year or even the decade. Brother James is the one who most overtly seems to suffer from Maggie’s loss as he goes down a catastrophic path of self destruction. Her mother Sandra, is kind and caring so much so that her generous nature leads to Maggie’s captor inserting himself in their lives. I think that is one of the most twisted aspects of him as it’s as if he sticking the knife in twice. He also taunts DI Jane Wynne over the years in the form of letters. The family’s rising panic when they realise Maggie is missing is so well described as are the ups and downs of learning to live without her. The tension builds up really well towards the seventh day as Maggie uses all her wits and resolve to get her freedom. The ending is very emotional.
Overall, a well written book which deals with a difficult topic as sensitively as possible and kudos to the author for that.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK - Harper Fiction.
November 17, 2019
After reading “After Anna” and “Killing Alex” I was really looking forward to starting this book. I kept thinking about it all day at work!!
Maggie was abducted at the age of fifteen by Mr Best and has spent twelve years in a basement, she gave birth to three sons but two were taken from her on their third birthday.
She has a son Max soon to be three, she is counting down the days until his birthday, as her abductor always takes her sons when they reach three. Seb and Leo were taken, never to be seen again. This time she is determined to overcome her abductor and to escape.
The story alternates between the present and the time after she was taken. We get to see how the family is affected especially her brother James, whose life spirals out of control.
This book had me gripped from the first paragraph. It is well written and it keeps you intrigued even though you know early on who the abductor is, although it doesn’t ruin the story. I found myself screaming at the book at the audacity at Mr Best at how he infiltrates himself into Maggie’s family.
A must read book. I felt every emotion possible reading this book and although it’s not real I will be thinking about this for a long time.
Looking forward to Alex Lakes next book.
Maggie was abducted at the age of fifteen by Mr Best and has spent twelve years in a basement, she gave birth to three sons but two were taken from her on their third birthday.
She has a son Max soon to be three, she is counting down the days until his birthday, as her abductor always takes her sons when they reach three. Seb and Leo were taken, never to be seen again. This time she is determined to overcome her abductor and to escape.
The story alternates between the present and the time after she was taken. We get to see how the family is affected especially her brother James, whose life spirals out of control.
This book had me gripped from the first paragraph. It is well written and it keeps you intrigued even though you know early on who the abductor is, although it doesn’t ruin the story. I found myself screaming at the book at the audacity at Mr Best at how he infiltrates himself into Maggie’s family.
A must read book. I felt every emotion possible reading this book and although it’s not real I will be thinking about this for a long time.
Looking forward to Alex Lakes next book.
May 23, 2020
Wow, what a ride, this is the first novel from Alex Lake I have read, but it certainly won't be the last, very addictive yet very dark and bleak subject matter with some heartbreaking moments.
Maggie Cooper is a young 15 year old girl going to visit her older cousin whom she looks up to and wants a chat and a bit of advice girl to girl, but as a car suddenly pulls up along her route, she is suddenly drugged and taken against her will, she then wakes up alone trapped in a basement.
The story then skips between timeframes as a young Maggie and then 12 years later to the present day, in which Maggie has had 2 of her previous children taken away from her on their 3rd birthday and it's only 7 days before the same thing will happen to Max, her adorable and cheerful third child, Maggie is determined Max will not suffer the same fate as the others, though the odious kidnapper refuses to elaborate just what has happened.
Not only do we hear from Maggie we also get POV chapters from Maggies heartbroken family, who are obviously struggling to come to terms with their missing child, and we get to know Maggies mum (Sandra) and Dad (Martin) and younger brother James and the devastating impact this has.
When Sandra struggles with illness and James has issues with alcohol and even hard drug use, Martin feels at the end of his tether, and at times understandably wonders what has he done to deserve all this heartache.
As for the odious pathetic kidnapper, we get to see an insight into him from not only Maggie but others as well, such as the Detective in charge of the Maggie Cooper case, she knows something isnt right.
Often an infuriating read due to the arrogant POS who kidnapped poor Maggie and took away her children, a complete evil scumbag who genuinely believes he is doing what's best for Maggie, the arrogance is astounding, andnyou are really rooting for Maggie to finally make her escape and annihilate her captor, despite the infuriating and bleak nature of the story it was highly addictive, constantly praying for Maggie and her family, I finished this in a few days I would have done it in one sitting if I wasn't reading another novel and the ending itself packs a mighty punch, and the story stays with you a while after, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 Stars!.
Maggie Cooper is a young 15 year old girl going to visit her older cousin whom she looks up to and wants a chat and a bit of advice girl to girl, but as a car suddenly pulls up along her route, she is suddenly drugged and taken against her will, she then wakes up alone trapped in a basement.
The story then skips between timeframes as a young Maggie and then 12 years later to the present day, in which Maggie has had 2 of her previous children taken away from her on their 3rd birthday and it's only 7 days before the same thing will happen to Max, her adorable and cheerful third child, Maggie is determined Max will not suffer the same fate as the others, though the odious kidnapper refuses to elaborate just what has happened.
Not only do we hear from Maggie we also get POV chapters from Maggies heartbroken family, who are obviously struggling to come to terms with their missing child, and we get to know Maggies mum (Sandra) and Dad (Martin) and younger brother James and the devastating impact this has.
When Sandra struggles with illness and James has issues with alcohol and even hard drug use, Martin feels at the end of his tether, and at times understandably wonders what has he done to deserve all this heartache.
As for the odious pathetic kidnapper, we get to see an insight into him from not only Maggie but others as well, such as the Detective in charge of the Maggie Cooper case, she knows something isnt right.
Often an infuriating read due to the arrogant POS who kidnapped poor Maggie and took away her children, a complete evil scumbag who genuinely believes he is doing what's best for Maggie, the arrogance is astounding, andnyou are really rooting for Maggie to finally make her escape and annihilate her captor, despite the infuriating and bleak nature of the story it was highly addictive, constantly praying for Maggie and her family, I finished this in a few days I would have done it in one sitting if I wasn't reading another novel and the ending itself packs a mighty punch, and the story stays with you a while after, highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 Stars!.
January 24, 2020
Brilliant, bloody fucking brilliant
November 16, 2019
2 elements make this one of my favourite books of the year
The quick element of shock at the story and the wonderfully simplistic but engaging story telling style
We start by meeting Maggie who is held captive in a ‘cell’ by a ‘Mr Best’ we soon find out this has gone on for years and she has had 3 sons whilst there...2 have been taken by her captor on their 3rd birthdays and the 3rd son is due to be 3 in 7 days...hence the title, Maggie has 7 days to save him
The story bobs back and forth from present to past and past past but the effortless way the story is told means it is anything but confusing and at all times I knew which year and part of the story we were in/at
The story is emotive, brutal at times, dark and cold at others but at all times felt real, I believed it was all happening and was at various times angry, outraged, sad and wanting justice, the last part of the book really had me sat up on tenderhooks almost flicking the next kindle app page before I had finished the last
I detested ‘Mr Best’ everything about him was cruel, and the way he ingratiated himself with Maggie’s family was clever and sickening
Sub stories of a fight with cancer and drug addiction were well told and actually added to the story
There are uncomfortable scenes between Maggie and Mr Best that are there for the story and not simply put in for shock value, they are not over gratuitous and can be skipped over if needed and are a small part of the story
Really quite a brilliant book and I doubt even the casualest ( made up word ) of readers would take 7 days to read
Outstanding
10/10
5 Stars
October 4, 2019
Twelve years ago, Maggie was abducted. She has been kept in a windowless room ever since. She was just fifteen years old when the man took her. Maggie has a son, Max, who will be three years old in just seven days time. She has seven days to save him. Because Maggie knows that when his third birthday comes, the man will come and take Max, just as he had taken Maggie's other two sons.
The story is told mostly from Maggie's perspective but every character has a voice. We hear how her mum, dad and brother have coped over the years. There's also the policewoman, DI Wynne who has investigated the case from the beginning. My heart was in my mouth half the time reading this gripping read. I actually dreaded the day coming when Max would be three. The timeline jumps back and forward over the years, giving us more detail of what Maggie had to endure. The chapters are short and punchy. This is an addictive roller coaster read that you won't want to put down till the end. I routed for Maggie all the way. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Alex Lake for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told mostly from Maggie's perspective but every character has a voice. We hear how her mum, dad and brother have coped over the years. There's also the policewoman, DI Wynne who has investigated the case from the beginning. My heart was in my mouth half the time reading this gripping read. I actually dreaded the day coming when Max would be three. The timeline jumps back and forward over the years, giving us more detail of what Maggie had to endure. The chapters are short and punchy. This is an addictive roller coaster read that you won't want to put down till the end. I routed for Maggie all the way. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Alex Lake for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2020
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
Seven Days by Alex Lake. (2019).
In 7 days, Maggie's son Max turns 3. Maggie is dreading it. In her world, 3rd birthdays are when she loses her child. 12 years ago Maggie was abducted at age 15 and has been kept in a basement since. Before Max she has had 2 sons, both taken from her by her captor on their 3rd birthdays. She can't let it happen again but she has no idea how to stop it... the clock is ticking...
This one is intense the whole way through. First of all obviously it's a parent's worst nightmare that their child goes missing at all, let alone missing indefinitely. This book very cleverly demonstrated the long lasting damage of such an event on a family. Then of course we have poor Maggie who has not only been abducted and kept in a single room for 12 years so far, but everytime she has a child, her baby is taken from her when he turns 3. Absolutely horrific to imagine! I appreciated that the narrative was broken into Maggie, her parent's and her brother's perspectives, as well as alternating between the current timeline and various points in the past 12 years. It might sound confusing but the sections are clearly labeled so you don't get confused while reading. If you enjoy gripping suspense thrillers then definitely check this one out, I was honestly racing through the pages the closer to the end I got.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
Seven Days by Alex Lake. (2019).
In 7 days, Maggie's son Max turns 3. Maggie is dreading it. In her world, 3rd birthdays are when she loses her child. 12 years ago Maggie was abducted at age 15 and has been kept in a basement since. Before Max she has had 2 sons, both taken from her by her captor on their 3rd birthdays. She can't let it happen again but she has no idea how to stop it... the clock is ticking...
This one is intense the whole way through. First of all obviously it's a parent's worst nightmare that their child goes missing at all, let alone missing indefinitely. This book very cleverly demonstrated the long lasting damage of such an event on a family. Then of course we have poor Maggie who has not only been abducted and kept in a single room for 12 years so far, but everytime she has a child, her baby is taken from her when he turns 3. Absolutely horrific to imagine! I appreciated that the narrative was broken into Maggie, her parent's and her brother's perspectives, as well as alternating between the current timeline and various points in the past 12 years. It might sound confusing but the sections are clearly labeled so you don't get confused while reading. If you enjoy gripping suspense thrillers then definitely check this one out, I was honestly racing through the pages the closer to the end I got.
January 26, 2020
So while walking to her cousin's house fifteen-year-old Maggie is kidnapped and kept locked in a basement.
Her kidnapper has no name just the man, he gets her pregnant allowing her to keep her child until there third birthday when he then removes them from her care.
Maggie's third son Leo is approaching his third birthday and she knows if she doesn't find a way to free them both history will again repeat.
So this recounts back from when Maggie is first abducted all the way up to the present day flipping back and forth between the two timeframes.
It was told from numerous Pov's so you really get a sense of where everyone is at.
This also showcased the aftermath and overall effect on maggies, immediate family, after she is taken and it was truly heartbreaking to realise just how near she was all this time.
All the small undetected clues that were screaming out but were undiscovered so sad.
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as my previous read by this author but it was still a solid offering.
slightly farfetched at times and I felt it did go on a bit too long and could have done with some condensing, Still, this was a suspenseful thriller that I did enjoy.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Seven Days.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
June 16, 2022
Quite disturbing. Honestly I have far too many books like this in my tbr library. All kinds of authors dabble in this subject matter. From my favorite JD Barker, to Jeff Strand, to Lars Kepler to Helen Fields – man it just doesn’t stop. The idea of women being abducted and kept as slaves. Having a daughter in her late 20’s who lives alone in a different city from us makes this really get to me. I even gave up watching one of my favorite tv shows Criminal Minds because each episode was virtually a carbon copy of the previous and the subject matter of sick f**k of a guy abducting and raping and killing women just seemed to play on my mind in such a negative way. Yet I keep buying this type of book. WHY!!! I’ll use the excuse that I got it in the cheap bin for like $6 Canadian or about $4USD.
Well honestly this was my first book by this author, Alex Lake. I was pretty disturbed right off the bat. This is a well written book about a disgusting subject and the author really hits the subject matter with a lot of emotion right out of the gate. How the family is affected and so on. My first reading I stopped at page 41 and the author had quickly brought me into a world I wasn’t comfortable with at all. That clearly was by design though but they did such a good job that I was actually thinking of scrapping the book which I rarely do (I think in my life I dnf’d three books tops). Yet I had merely fallen into the authors trap and had to know more and as I kept reading I kept needing to know more and more and how this would resolve itself.
Maggie is 15 when she is abducted and stowed away and used as a sex slave by her captor who claims to be saving her from the evils of the outside world. Yeah right. She is with her third child quickly enough and we learn that her two previous sons were taken by the captor on their third birthday. What happens with them once taken we are unsure of. Her current child Max is 7 days away from his third birthday and hence being stolen from her. The title derives from that “Seven Days”.
This book is creepy on a lot of levels. The captor becomes part of the lives of Maggie’s distraught family. He is like a fraudster who gets off on being intertwined with her family. It’s pretty sick but pretty well on the mark for one who has a deviant mind.
As I continued reading this I was convinced that the author was a woman. Just because it seemed so bang on at an emotional level. I couldn’t find anything on the author but my wife found out it was indeed a male and this surprised me at some level and I’m not sure why but I know it doesn’t really matter. It is written from a pov perspective as well as jumping time lines but it all flows very nicely.
The book was real good but I will say that it should have been very clear to Maggie very early on what she should use as a weapon. I won’t get into it as I don’t want to spoil things. I haven’t gotten into to much detail either as I will let you the reader enjoy the same sick path that I had to follow. I will say that I think you will be pleased with the overall journey though it is quite a disturbing and sick ride. I mean it’s a basic ride, pretty girl abucted, held as a sex slave for her own good and needing to be freed. As I pointed out when I started, those three previous points work quite well in the modern thriller/horror genre. Enjoy this one as it is a bit special in its own great warped way. Easily a four star rating and another new author to follow 😊 I believe I’m due for another break away from what I usually read. I hear Joe Ledger calling out to me…………
Well honestly this was my first book by this author, Alex Lake. I was pretty disturbed right off the bat. This is a well written book about a disgusting subject and the author really hits the subject matter with a lot of emotion right out of the gate. How the family is affected and so on. My first reading I stopped at page 41 and the author had quickly brought me into a world I wasn’t comfortable with at all. That clearly was by design though but they did such a good job that I was actually thinking of scrapping the book which I rarely do (I think in my life I dnf’d three books tops). Yet I had merely fallen into the authors trap and had to know more and as I kept reading I kept needing to know more and more and how this would resolve itself.
Maggie is 15 when she is abducted and stowed away and used as a sex slave by her captor who claims to be saving her from the evils of the outside world. Yeah right. She is with her third child quickly enough and we learn that her two previous sons were taken by the captor on their third birthday. What happens with them once taken we are unsure of. Her current child Max is 7 days away from his third birthday and hence being stolen from her. The title derives from that “Seven Days”.
This book is creepy on a lot of levels. The captor becomes part of the lives of Maggie’s distraught family. He is like a fraudster who gets off on being intertwined with her family. It’s pretty sick but pretty well on the mark for one who has a deviant mind.
As I continued reading this I was convinced that the author was a woman. Just because it seemed so bang on at an emotional level. I couldn’t find anything on the author but my wife found out it was indeed a male and this surprised me at some level and I’m not sure why but I know it doesn’t really matter. It is written from a pov perspective as well as jumping time lines but it all flows very nicely.
The book was real good but I will say that it should have been very clear to Maggie very early on what she should use as a weapon. I won’t get into it as I don’t want to spoil things. I haven’t gotten into to much detail either as I will let you the reader enjoy the same sick path that I had to follow. I will say that I think you will be pleased with the overall journey though it is quite a disturbing and sick ride. I mean it’s a basic ride, pretty girl abucted, held as a sex slave for her own good and needing to be freed. As I pointed out when I started, those three previous points work quite well in the modern thriller/horror genre. Enjoy this one as it is a bit special in its own great warped way. Easily a four star rating and another new author to follow 😊 I believe I’m due for another break away from what I usually read. I hear Joe Ledger calling out to me…………
November 28, 2019
Wow this was an absolutely brilliant book. I didn’t read the synopsis prior to reading the book as I love all of Alex Lake’s books. This definitely did not disappoint. It was excellent from start to finish. I really liked Maggie especially with her strength and determination. I also liked all of Maggie’s family especially Martin. He came across really well and I really warmed to him. I absolutely despised the person who took Maggie and was glad he got his comeuppance. I felt so bad for Maggie with what happened with her two other sons. It was so heartbreaking. The book was so thrilling and had you hooked straight from the beginning. I liked the fact that it told you who took Maggie early on in the book and we see how that impacts on the family especially when the man befriends the family. This book was amazing and I can’t wait for the next Alex Lake book already.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2020
This is a very fast read.
Don’t t be fool by the number of pages, 419.
The chapters are very short and there are big blank gaps between the chapters (at least my edition is like that).
The book started very well and I was immediately hooked.
The first 20% was very engaging and promising.
Unfortunately from there on there was a switch. The storyline turned from interesting to too unrealistic and the writing was quite repetitive. I know this is a work of fiction but I do need a level of plausibility in order to fully enjoy the story.
But I do have to confess that I had a hard time putting this book down, so I guess the author did something right to hold my attention and curiosity to the end.
There are some good moments, yes, and I did feel the despair and the pain of the situation.
This is not the best book I read this year but it was quite entertaining.
Don’t t be fool by the number of pages, 419.
The chapters are very short and there are big blank gaps between the chapters (at least my edition is like that).
The book started very well and I was immediately hooked.
The first 20% was very engaging and promising.
Unfortunately from there on there was a switch. The storyline turned from interesting to too unrealistic and the writing was quite repetitive. I know this is a work of fiction but I do need a level of plausibility in order to fully enjoy the story.
But I do have to confess that I had a hard time putting this book down, so I guess the author did something right to hold my attention and curiosity to the end.
There are some good moments, yes, and I did feel the despair and the pain of the situation.
This is not the best book I read this year but it was quite entertaining.
October 22, 2019
OMG - WOW! What. A. Ride. I literally could not put this book down and cursed every moment that I had to! I just have one thing to say before I go on...
...go out and buy this book NOW! Read it! You won't regret it!
Maggie has SEVEN DAYS before her son Max's 3rd birthday. Seven days before he will be ripped from her arms, never to be seen again, just as her two other sons - Seb and Leo - before him were taken on their 3rd birthdays. Seven days to devise a plan to thwart the man's intentions. Seven days to save her son Max from an unknown fate.
Twelve years ago, the year is 2006, and 15 year old Maggie Cooper is a typical teenager. She has two loving parents, a young brother who annoys her, a circle of friends she confides in and a boyfriend she's thinking of breaking up with. She decides she will walk over to her cousin Anne's place on the other side of the village and talk things over with her. But before she does, her father confronts her with the extortionate phone bill to which she responds wouldn't be a problem if only they would allow her a mobile phone. "Not until you're 16!" her father tells her. But unlike typical teenagers, they agree to discuss things later and call out "I love yous" as she leaves. Her father offered to drive her to Anne's but after pondering Maggie decided to walk...that way she could sneak in a cigarette on the way.
When she doesn't return home for dinner that night, her parents aren't overly worried but think it strange that she didn't let them know a change in plans. They thought maybe it was her way of saying "it wouldn't happen if you got me a mobile!" But soon the hours turned into days and Maggie still hadn't returned. Friends had been called, her boyfriend, her cousin Anne who said she had never turned up, and the police were notified. No one thought this was a typical missing teenager case. Something had happened to Maggie. And yet she had disappeared without a trace.
And yet the reader is privy to Maggie's quandary throughout...even if her loved ones weren't.
On her way to Anne's, Maggie was abducted whilst performing an act of kindness to a stranger. She was sedated and awoke to find herself in a small basement with nothing but a mattress, two buckets, a bowl and a barrel. There are no windows so she cannot see the sun, the rain, the birds or the trees. She can hear nothing from outside. All she knows now is this basement...and the man who comes to her with breakfast and dinner...and sometimes later in the night, dressed in nothing but a blue robe. She soon learns what seeing him in that blue robe means.
As the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months then years, Maggie soon realises that this is her new reality. She will never see her family again - her mother, her father, her brother - or her friends. The man now keeps her prisoner - "for her protection" he says. Protection from what? She does not know; nor does she have any idea who he is, why he has taken her or where she even is.
Maggie was 15 when she was abducted and by the time she is 27 she has given birth to three sons - first Seb, then Leo and now Max. The man has kept her prisoner in this basement for twelve years. She has not seen the sun or felt the fresh air on her skin in all this time. Her sons have never known life beyond this little room...until their third birthdays, when they are taken from her, wretched from her arms and never seen again. But not Max. Maggie has vowed she will do anything she can to protect her son from whatever fate awaits him beyond that basement door. The man is not taking Max from her. She will die before he does.
In the wake of Maggie's disappearance, her family have become distraught by her sudden absence. Her parents, Martin and Sandra, are trying their best to keep what is left of their family together but James, their then 14 year old son, feels his sister's loss deeply. He grows up with severe trust issues and the only serious relationship he had ended after his obsessive behaviour, and constant need to know where his girlfriend was and who she was speaking to, tore them apart. But James was scared of losing another loved one just as Maggie had disappeared. He couldn't go through that again.
DI Wynne is the detective in charge of Maggie's disappearance. She has her suspicions but she is unable to act on them as the man she suspects knows more about her disappearance has had allegations made against him in the past that were never proven. Therefore, she cannot disclose this information in the course of her enquiries as that would be slanderous and she could lose her job. But determined to get to the bottom of Maggie's disappearance, she continues her investigation...keeping a close eye on her suspect as she goes.
Colin Best is cunning. He knows DI Wynne is watching him. He knows she suspects him. But she has no proof. And he enjoys toying with her every time he sees her.
As the world continues above her basement prison, Maggie has no idea if her parents are still alive or if her brother is married with kids. But she knows one thing for sure...that she has just seven days to save herself and her son. Before the man comes to take him from her too.
"The man", Maggie's captor, is a sinister and terrifying character. Straight from an episode of Criminal Minds, his delusions are the most frightening. He is so convinced that he truly believes that he had no choice - that imprisoning her and raping her for twelve years is saving her. And then his audacity in so many of his actions were incredibly infuriating that it made my blood boil! As was his toying arrogance that he would never be caught. He was malevolent and a fine example that evil can truly exist in masked form anywhere.
Told from multiple perspectives, the story unfolds in a very clever timeline beginning from 7th July 2006 - the day Maggie vanished - to the days following her disappearance. We are then taken to the days surrounding the anniversary every four years until we reach the present day, of which we are witness the the final seven days. Throughout the different stages of their lives following Maggie's disappearance, we see how it has affected her family and continues to do so. We also see Maggie at these different stages of her life in captivity, as she bears each son to having him ripped from her.
Although it is written in multiple POVs and timelines, it is very cleverly done and is not as confusing as it might sound. You are never confused with whose narrative it is or when it is taking place. It just flows seamlessly as each piece is cleverly woven together to create what essentially is the bigger picture. We know who has Maggie from early on and while that is never a secret, it cleverly gives you palpable tension with the suspense building as you wonder if it will indeed end well for those affected. It is like a Hitchcock film - that same tension, that same suspense, that same edge-of-your-seat thrill ride...even though you know who is behind it all, you are still scared witless for all those entangled within.
SEVEN DAYS is a psychological thriller of magnificent proportions. We are embroiled within everyone's lives as we see how they cope with their loss, the tragedy, their grief. Throughout every page we are entwined within a plot that twists and turns at every opportunity to leave us feeling breathless.
Will Maggie be able to save Max? Will she save herself? Will she ever see her family again? Will DI Wynne close the case? Are Seb and Leo OK and living happy lives? Will there be a happy end for all?
One of my favourite parts - along with just about everything else - is the short snappy chapters which keep the story moving along at a rapid pace and has you turning pages long into the night, devouring every word.
Highly addictive and heart-stopping, SEVEN DAYS is a dark, disturbing, twisted tale of masterful suspense. It is easily one of my favourite books - one of the best I have EVER read - and I guarantee you won't want to let this one pass by.
I've read Alex Lake's first book After Anna" but it pales in comparison to this and it would take something momentous to outdo and outshine SEVEN DAYS. I doubt he could top this one it is THAT BRILLIANT!!
If I could give it more than FIVE STARS I would. It deserves a TEN STAR rating!!
I would like to thank #AlexLake, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #SevenDays in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
...go out and buy this book NOW! Read it! You won't regret it!
Maggie has SEVEN DAYS before her son Max's 3rd birthday. Seven days before he will be ripped from her arms, never to be seen again, just as her two other sons - Seb and Leo - before him were taken on their 3rd birthdays. Seven days to devise a plan to thwart the man's intentions. Seven days to save her son Max from an unknown fate.
Twelve years ago, the year is 2006, and 15 year old Maggie Cooper is a typical teenager. She has two loving parents, a young brother who annoys her, a circle of friends she confides in and a boyfriend she's thinking of breaking up with. She decides she will walk over to her cousin Anne's place on the other side of the village and talk things over with her. But before she does, her father confronts her with the extortionate phone bill to which she responds wouldn't be a problem if only they would allow her a mobile phone. "Not until you're 16!" her father tells her. But unlike typical teenagers, they agree to discuss things later and call out "I love yous" as she leaves. Her father offered to drive her to Anne's but after pondering Maggie decided to walk...that way she could sneak in a cigarette on the way.
When she doesn't return home for dinner that night, her parents aren't overly worried but think it strange that she didn't let them know a change in plans. They thought maybe it was her way of saying "it wouldn't happen if you got me a mobile!" But soon the hours turned into days and Maggie still hadn't returned. Friends had been called, her boyfriend, her cousin Anne who said she had never turned up, and the police were notified. No one thought this was a typical missing teenager case. Something had happened to Maggie. And yet she had disappeared without a trace.
And yet the reader is privy to Maggie's quandary throughout...even if her loved ones weren't.
On her way to Anne's, Maggie was abducted whilst performing an act of kindness to a stranger. She was sedated and awoke to find herself in a small basement with nothing but a mattress, two buckets, a bowl and a barrel. There are no windows so she cannot see the sun, the rain, the birds or the trees. She can hear nothing from outside. All she knows now is this basement...and the man who comes to her with breakfast and dinner...and sometimes later in the night, dressed in nothing but a blue robe. She soon learns what seeing him in that blue robe means.
As the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months then years, Maggie soon realises that this is her new reality. She will never see her family again - her mother, her father, her brother - or her friends. The man now keeps her prisoner - "for her protection" he says. Protection from what? She does not know; nor does she have any idea who he is, why he has taken her or where she even is.
Maggie was 15 when she was abducted and by the time she is 27 she has given birth to three sons - first Seb, then Leo and now Max. The man has kept her prisoner in this basement for twelve years. She has not seen the sun or felt the fresh air on her skin in all this time. Her sons have never known life beyond this little room...until their third birthdays, when they are taken from her, wretched from her arms and never seen again. But not Max. Maggie has vowed she will do anything she can to protect her son from whatever fate awaits him beyond that basement door. The man is not taking Max from her. She will die before he does.
In the wake of Maggie's disappearance, her family have become distraught by her sudden absence. Her parents, Martin and Sandra, are trying their best to keep what is left of their family together but James, their then 14 year old son, feels his sister's loss deeply. He grows up with severe trust issues and the only serious relationship he had ended after his obsessive behaviour, and constant need to know where his girlfriend was and who she was speaking to, tore them apart. But James was scared of losing another loved one just as Maggie had disappeared. He couldn't go through that again.
DI Wynne is the detective in charge of Maggie's disappearance. She has her suspicions but she is unable to act on them as the man she suspects knows more about her disappearance has had allegations made against him in the past that were never proven. Therefore, she cannot disclose this information in the course of her enquiries as that would be slanderous and she could lose her job. But determined to get to the bottom of Maggie's disappearance, she continues her investigation...keeping a close eye on her suspect as she goes.
Colin Best is cunning. He knows DI Wynne is watching him. He knows she suspects him. But she has no proof. And he enjoys toying with her every time he sees her.
As the world continues above her basement prison, Maggie has no idea if her parents are still alive or if her brother is married with kids. But she knows one thing for sure...that she has just seven days to save herself and her son. Before the man comes to take him from her too.
"The man", Maggie's captor, is a sinister and terrifying character. Straight from an episode of Criminal Minds, his delusions are the most frightening. He is so convinced that he truly believes that he had no choice - that imprisoning her and raping her for twelve years is saving her. And then his audacity in so many of his actions were incredibly infuriating that it made my blood boil! As was his toying arrogance that he would never be caught. He was malevolent and a fine example that evil can truly exist in masked form anywhere.
Told from multiple perspectives, the story unfolds in a very clever timeline beginning from 7th July 2006 - the day Maggie vanished - to the days following her disappearance. We are then taken to the days surrounding the anniversary every four years until we reach the present day, of which we are witness the the final seven days. Throughout the different stages of their lives following Maggie's disappearance, we see how it has affected her family and continues to do so. We also see Maggie at these different stages of her life in captivity, as she bears each son to having him ripped from her.
Although it is written in multiple POVs and timelines, it is very cleverly done and is not as confusing as it might sound. You are never confused with whose narrative it is or when it is taking place. It just flows seamlessly as each piece is cleverly woven together to create what essentially is the bigger picture. We know who has Maggie from early on and while that is never a secret, it cleverly gives you palpable tension with the suspense building as you wonder if it will indeed end well for those affected. It is like a Hitchcock film - that same tension, that same suspense, that same edge-of-your-seat thrill ride...even though you know who is behind it all, you are still scared witless for all those entangled within.
SEVEN DAYS is a psychological thriller of magnificent proportions. We are embroiled within everyone's lives as we see how they cope with their loss, the tragedy, their grief. Throughout every page we are entwined within a plot that twists and turns at every opportunity to leave us feeling breathless.
Will Maggie be able to save Max? Will she save herself? Will she ever see her family again? Will DI Wynne close the case? Are Seb and Leo OK and living happy lives? Will there be a happy end for all?
One of my favourite parts - along with just about everything else - is the short snappy chapters which keep the story moving along at a rapid pace and has you turning pages long into the night, devouring every word.
Highly addictive and heart-stopping, SEVEN DAYS is a dark, disturbing, twisted tale of masterful suspense. It is easily one of my favourite books - one of the best I have EVER read - and I guarantee you won't want to let this one pass by.
I've read Alex Lake's first book After Anna" but it pales in comparison to this and it would take something momentous to outdo and outshine SEVEN DAYS. I doubt he could top this one it is THAT BRILLIANT!!
If I could give it more than FIVE STARS I would. It deserves a TEN STAR rating!!
I would like to thank #AlexLake, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #SevenDays in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 30, 2022
ugh what a boring, repetitive piece of tripe. dull. badly written. poor excuse for 'fan fiction' based on Room. Can I please get the time back that I spent with this book. And all these 4s and 5s for it???? Were they bribed by the publisher to give it good reviews?
November 23, 2022
داستان تا حدود زیادی شبیه به کتاب اتاق بود، اما در عین حال حس تکراری بودن و دل زدگی رو ایجاد نمیکرد و واقعا روایت جذابی داشت.
January 5, 2020
Oh dear, described as a thriller but it wasn’t really as there were no twists turns or surprises in this book unless you count the major one that ultimately let this book down for me. On page 3 of this book we find out what happens on Seb’s (the first child) third birthday. The man said he would take him for ice cream, after all it was his birthday so she agreed and that was the last she saw of her first born. Ok. So how come on pages 249-252 we have a detailed description of how the man squeezed her throat till she passed out when he came to take Seb on his third birthday. I flipped between these pages so many times thinking I’d read or got something wrong, if I did can someone tell me?? This totally let the book down for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2020
This book is amazing. It’s mentally terrifying and at times made me physically ill. This author knows how to weave a tale like no other author. The character seemed so real and I felt myself in the room with Maggie. I wanted so much so be able to save her. The description of the book gives you enough info so all I will say is you HAVE to read this book. Suspense at its best.
January 31, 2020
A week too long.. decent execution, barring repetition, of a unbelievably far-fetched premise!
Given that the premise of Seven Days revolves around an abducted teenager being imprisoned for twelve years and having given birth to three children in that time the book requires an immediate suspension of disbelief to engage with. However given this proviso Seven Days is a solidly executed and well-written story of one girls abduction, the painful years that follow for both her and her family, and the profound consequences on all of their lives.
The prologue drops the reader straight into Maggie’s plight in 2018 as she is faced with just seven days until her third child, Max, turns three and the man who has kept her prisoner for over a decade removes him from her care. Having experienced this with her two previous sons, neither of whom have ever been returned, she knows she cannot go through this torture again and resolves to do all she can to find a way to ensure Max survives and gets to experience life outside of their basement prison. The story then winds back to 2006, twelve years earlier, as fifteen-year-old Maggie Cooper leaves her family home in Stockton Heath with the intention of visiting her cousin. Failing to return home in the days that follow a major investigation is launched, headed up by tenacious DI Wynne and the story shows Maggie’s parents, Martin and Sandra and her fourteen-year-old brother, James, struggling to cope. Right from the start DI Wynne has her suspicions about the perpetrator and is frustrated only by her inability to finger him for something and investigate the man fully.
As the story moves through Maggie’s years in captivity it also portrays her families devastated reactions and the impact of her absence upon each of them, including her father’s immense feelings of guilt about not being able to protect his child. As the story progresses, the narrative continues to present not only Maggie’s point of view but also that of her parents, brother, and the investigating officer individually, allowing the reader to appreciate the affects on their futures, most fundamentally that of James. It was the points of view of Maggie’s family whose stories impressed me the most, with Maggie’s perspective heavy on repetition (probably rightly so given she has been held captive for years) and a little dull.
Whilst the novel undoubtedly has credibility issues as regards the plot likelihood my biggest disappointment was that the reader is never given any insight into the mind of Maggie’s captor who creepily insinuates himself into her families life whilst holding her prisoner. Even in the aftermath there is no attempt to address the question that underpins so much of this story and present his warped rationale.
Suspense is pretty much absent until the day that Max turns three where the chapters come thick and fast and a resolution appears in sight. Given there are 350 pages prior to the point, with some extensive repetition from Maggie’s point of view, the novel was not gripping throughout its entirety. Easily readable, entertaining and undemanding, the multiple points of view together with a timeline that moves back and forth over the duration of Maggie’s captivity combined to make Seven Days a surprisingly emotive story that left me satisfied.
Given that the premise of Seven Days revolves around an abducted teenager being imprisoned for twelve years and having given birth to three children in that time the book requires an immediate suspension of disbelief to engage with. However given this proviso Seven Days is a solidly executed and well-written story of one girls abduction, the painful years that follow for both her and her family, and the profound consequences on all of their lives.
The prologue drops the reader straight into Maggie’s plight in 2018 as she is faced with just seven days until her third child, Max, turns three and the man who has kept her prisoner for over a decade removes him from her care. Having experienced this with her two previous sons, neither of whom have ever been returned, she knows she cannot go through this torture again and resolves to do all she can to find a way to ensure Max survives and gets to experience life outside of their basement prison. The story then winds back to 2006, twelve years earlier, as fifteen-year-old Maggie Cooper leaves her family home in Stockton Heath with the intention of visiting her cousin. Failing to return home in the days that follow a major investigation is launched, headed up by tenacious DI Wynne and the story shows Maggie’s parents, Martin and Sandra and her fourteen-year-old brother, James, struggling to cope. Right from the start DI Wynne has her suspicions about the perpetrator and is frustrated only by her inability to finger him for something and investigate the man fully.
As the story moves through Maggie’s years in captivity it also portrays her families devastated reactions and the impact of her absence upon each of them, including her father’s immense feelings of guilt about not being able to protect his child. As the story progresses, the narrative continues to present not only Maggie’s point of view but also that of her parents, brother, and the investigating officer individually, allowing the reader to appreciate the affects on their futures, most fundamentally that of James. It was the points of view of Maggie’s family whose stories impressed me the most, with Maggie’s perspective heavy on repetition (probably rightly so given she has been held captive for years) and a little dull.
Whilst the novel undoubtedly has credibility issues as regards the plot likelihood my biggest disappointment was that the reader is never given any insight into the mind of Maggie’s captor who creepily insinuates himself into her families life whilst holding her prisoner. Even in the aftermath there is no attempt to address the question that underpins so much of this story and present his warped rationale.
Suspense is pretty much absent until the day that Max turns three where the chapters come thick and fast and a resolution appears in sight. Given there are 350 pages prior to the point, with some extensive repetition from Maggie’s point of view, the novel was not gripping throughout its entirety. Easily readable, entertaining and undemanding, the multiple points of view together with a timeline that moves back and forth over the duration of Maggie’s captivity combined to make Seven Days a surprisingly emotive story that left me satisfied.
February 21, 2020
3.5 Stars
CW: Sexual assault, drugs addiction, suicidal thoughts
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Maggie Cooper was 15 years old, she was snatched from the street by a stranger, and held captive in an underground room. Now 12 years later, Maggie is counting the days until her son - born in captivity and conceived through rape - turns three. She's had two other sons and both were taken by their captor on their third birthday. Maggie is not prepared to lose a third son and will do anything she can to save him.
This was a fast-paced gripping read, and I really enjoyed the mix of Room and The Lovely Bones this book felt like. Maggie is a character to root for - amazingly resilient and still full of love for her children and her family. The storyline in this book flashed back and forth from when Maggie was taken and the police reaction to present day and what she was up to planning how to save Max, and what her family was doing while trying to survive the tragedy of her disappearance.
I did find the police quite inept in this and I did think the immediate pin pointing of a culprit a bit strange - and then I also wondered at the author choice to have the culprit be known so early on odd., But then as was in the family's lives, it gave the book a perversity that was difficult to read because he was so vile but also added a lot to the story.
I don't think the actual writing in this was the best I've ever read - but in saying that, I was still gripped to the story and what was going to happen to Maggie and Max. I also don't think that the addiction storyline the author tried to go down with James wasn't handled as well as it could have been and it didn't feel particularly believable.
CW: Sexual assault, drugs addiction, suicidal thoughts
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Maggie Cooper was 15 years old, she was snatched from the street by a stranger, and held captive in an underground room. Now 12 years later, Maggie is counting the days until her son - born in captivity and conceived through rape - turns three. She's had two other sons and both were taken by their captor on their third birthday. Maggie is not prepared to lose a third son and will do anything she can to save him.
This was a fast-paced gripping read, and I really enjoyed the mix of Room and The Lovely Bones this book felt like. Maggie is a character to root for - amazingly resilient and still full of love for her children and her family. The storyline in this book flashed back and forth from when Maggie was taken and the police reaction to present day and what she was up to planning how to save Max, and what her family was doing while trying to survive the tragedy of her disappearance.
I did find the police quite inept in this and I did think the immediate pin pointing of a culprit a bit strange - and then I also wondered at the author choice to have the culprit be known so early on odd., But then as was in the family's lives, it gave the book a perversity that was difficult to read because he was so vile but also added a lot to the story.
I don't think the actual writing in this was the best I've ever read - but in saying that, I was still gripped to the story and what was going to happen to Maggie and Max. I also don't think that the addiction storyline the author tried to go down with James wasn't handled as well as it could have been and it didn't feel particularly believable.
August 25, 2019
OMG - WOW!!! I have no other words...
.... go buy and read this book now, it is that AMAZING!
I've literally just sat in my garden for two hours and have devoured every last word of this book - there is great amounts of tension and the question that keeps driving the story forward is, will Maggie be able to save her son in 7 days time, and if so how.
She was kidnapped and imprisoned 12 years before that and the man who took her, has fathered three children with her, and each one was taken away on their third birthday, never to be seen again. Maggie is determined that it won't happen again this time, but equally she has no idea just what will work as she has tried to escape over the years.
From the readers point of view we see the present day situation with Maggie, in addition to sections from her family members and police, all in incredibly short and more-ish chapters. All the time lines are introduced clearly so you always know where you are in the story and who the current focus is on.
I think the very short chapters work really well in this book as they create as sense of urgency, and I wouldn't have been able to put this book down if you had asked.
I've read most of Alex Lake's books and without a doubt this is an author who started off with fabulous books and is improving and writing even better, more addictive stories each time. This must be her best yet.
From our viewpoint, we knew how had taken Maggie, but I just couldn't quite reach inside the pages and tell the police what was going on.
Maggie's experiences are horrifying, I would hate to ever be in a similar situation but we also see how her being missing has affected the entire family.
Simply put this is one fantabulous book, which hooked me in really quickly, from the prologue and didn't let me go until the last page.
Thank you to Felicity Denham for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
.... go buy and read this book now, it is that AMAZING!
I've literally just sat in my garden for two hours and have devoured every last word of this book - there is great amounts of tension and the question that keeps driving the story forward is, will Maggie be able to save her son in 7 days time, and if so how.
She was kidnapped and imprisoned 12 years before that and the man who took her, has fathered three children with her, and each one was taken away on their third birthday, never to be seen again. Maggie is determined that it won't happen again this time, but equally she has no idea just what will work as she has tried to escape over the years.
From the readers point of view we see the present day situation with Maggie, in addition to sections from her family members and police, all in incredibly short and more-ish chapters. All the time lines are introduced clearly so you always know where you are in the story and who the current focus is on.
I think the very short chapters work really well in this book as they create as sense of urgency, and I wouldn't have been able to put this book down if you had asked.
I've read most of Alex Lake's books and without a doubt this is an author who started off with fabulous books and is improving and writing even better, more addictive stories each time. This must be her best yet.
From our viewpoint, we knew how had taken Maggie, but I just couldn't quite reach inside the pages and tell the police what was going on.
Maggie's experiences are horrifying, I would hate to ever be in a similar situation but we also see how her being missing has affected the entire family.
Simply put this is one fantabulous book, which hooked me in really quickly, from the prologue and didn't let me go until the last page.
Thank you to Felicity Denham for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 10, 2020
Very intense. Claustrophobic book .
March 24, 2022
⭐ Rated 5/5 stars! ⭐
What a ride!!!!!
I finished this last night and holy smokes!! What a gripping, page-turner!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! 😳😳😱😱
It is kind of dark... It contains some disturbing themes (rape, graphic violence, drugs, etc). But wowza! What a story. It pulled me in and didn't let go til the last word.
This is exactly what a thriller should be!! Highly recommend! 👏
What a ride!!!!!
I finished this last night and holy smokes!! What a gripping, page-turner!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! 😳😳😱😱
It is kind of dark... It contains some disturbing themes (rape, graphic violence, drugs, etc). But wowza! What a story. It pulled me in and didn't let go til the last word.
This is exactly what a thriller should be!! Highly recommend! 👏
February 22, 2022
WoW! That was quite the story. It had everything a good thriller is supposed to have. It was chilling, disturbing, and creepy all rolled into one. I loved the twists and turns and right when you thought it was over, it wasn't. So well written. It flowed well with never a dull moment.
The plot is what sold me on reading the book in the first place. I mean a girl who is abducted at 15 and left to survive in a basement for 12 years, baring 3 children from the monster who had abducted her. Leaving her entire family and then left to fight for her life and the lives of her kids. Yea it sucked me in rather quickly.
The characters were fantastic. I loved everyone of them, even the bad guy in which you find out who it is from the very beginning. Definitely a character that you will love to hate. He was super delusional, wicked, disturbing and out and out menacing. I thought every one of the characters were very realistic, relatable, and definitely flawed. I loved seeing so many sides of them, dealing with loss, and recovery.
I look forward to all of the author's books. Well done Mr. Lake!
The plot is what sold me on reading the book in the first place. I mean a girl who is abducted at 15 and left to survive in a basement for 12 years, baring 3 children from the monster who had abducted her. Leaving her entire family and then left to fight for her life and the lives of her kids. Yea it sucked me in rather quickly.
The characters were fantastic. I loved everyone of them, even the bad guy in which you find out who it is from the very beginning. Definitely a character that you will love to hate. He was super delusional, wicked, disturbing and out and out menacing. I thought every one of the characters were very realistic, relatable, and definitely flawed. I loved seeing so many sides of them, dealing with loss, and recovery.
I look forward to all of the author's books. Well done Mr. Lake!
January 23, 2020
I wasn’t sure what star rating to give this book, so I’m going with a 3.5. It kept me hooked, the chapters were short and quick to read but not everything added up for me, a few inconsistencies let it down. Although it gripped me in places, I thought it only really got exciting in the last 50 or so pages!
October 5, 2022
Maggie Cooper heeft nog zeven dagen. Nog zeven dagen om het leven van haar zoon te redden. Over zeven dagen is het zijn derde verjaardag en dan zal haar ontvoerder hem komen halen, waarna ze hem nooit meer terug zal zien. Dat weet ze zeker, want dat is al twee keer eerder gebeurd. Maggie zit namelijk al 12 jaar gevangen in een donkere kelder, ze leeft onder erbarmelijke omstandigheden, ze wordt misbruikt door de man die haar zijn auto in trok toen ze 15 was en ze kreeg in de jaren die volgden drie zoontjes. Kindjes die ze bij zich hield, voor wie ze zorgde, van wie ze ondanks alles houdt. Twee van hen werden van haar weggenomen op hun derde verjaardag en ze is vastbesloten om te voorkomen dat Max hetzelfde lot te wachten staat.
Het perspectief van Maggie is intens, heftig en zeer sterk uitgewerkt. Je voelt haar emoties, je leeft met haar mee en je hoopt maar één ding: dat zij haar ontvoerder uiteindelijk weet te verslaan en een nieuw leven kan opbouwen met haar zoon. Dat is geen gemakkelijke opgave, want zij is sterk verzwakt door het afschuwelijke leven dat ze moet leiden, maar de kracht van haar geest is bewonderenswaardig en de liefde voor haar zoon klinkt in alles door, waardoor je benieuwd blijft of haar plan zal slagen.
Je volgt niet alleen Maggie, maar ook haar gezinsleden en een rechercheur, waardoor je vanuit meerdere standpunten over dit drama leest. De som van deze perspectieven maakt het geheel menselijk en realistisch, want de verdwijning van Maggie heeft logischerwijs op iedereen een bepaalde impact, waardoor hun gevoelens en handelingen worden beïnvloed.
De psychologische kant van dit verhaal vind ik dan ook het beste uitgewerkt, de echte spanning blijft wat achter. De dader is al vrij snel bekend, als lezer weet je meer dan de personages waardoor enkele ontwikkelingen frustrerend zijn en doordat er lange tijd weinig schot in de zaak zit, komt de meeste actie pas op gang tegen het einde, terwijl de ontknoping op sommige punten best gemakkelijk gaat.
Door wisselingen in tijd en perspectief zit er vaart in het verhaal, de personages worden knap neergezet en door de fijne schrijfstijl, de korte hoofdstukken, kleine cliffhangers en de tijdsdruk die Maggie ervaart is dit een echte pageturner. Het is een duister verhaal dat onder je huid kruipt, dat je schokt, je rillingen bezorgt en dat beklijft. Zeker het lezen waard!
3.5-4⭐️
Het perspectief van Maggie is intens, heftig en zeer sterk uitgewerkt. Je voelt haar emoties, je leeft met haar mee en je hoopt maar één ding: dat zij haar ontvoerder uiteindelijk weet te verslaan en een nieuw leven kan opbouwen met haar zoon. Dat is geen gemakkelijke opgave, want zij is sterk verzwakt door het afschuwelijke leven dat ze moet leiden, maar de kracht van haar geest is bewonderenswaardig en de liefde voor haar zoon klinkt in alles door, waardoor je benieuwd blijft of haar plan zal slagen.
Je volgt niet alleen Maggie, maar ook haar gezinsleden en een rechercheur, waardoor je vanuit meerdere standpunten over dit drama leest. De som van deze perspectieven maakt het geheel menselijk en realistisch, want de verdwijning van Maggie heeft logischerwijs op iedereen een bepaalde impact, waardoor hun gevoelens en handelingen worden beïnvloed.
De psychologische kant van dit verhaal vind ik dan ook het beste uitgewerkt, de echte spanning blijft wat achter. De dader is al vrij snel bekend, als lezer weet je meer dan de personages waardoor enkele ontwikkelingen frustrerend zijn en doordat er lange tijd weinig schot in de zaak zit, komt de meeste actie pas op gang tegen het einde, terwijl de ontknoping op sommige punten best gemakkelijk gaat.
Door wisselingen in tijd en perspectief zit er vaart in het verhaal, de personages worden knap neergezet en door de fijne schrijfstijl, de korte hoofdstukken, kleine cliffhangers en de tijdsdruk die Maggie ervaart is dit een echte pageturner. Het is een duister verhaal dat onder je huid kruipt, dat je schokt, je rillingen bezorgt en dat beklijft. Zeker het lezen waard!
3.5-4⭐️
May 3, 2022
Seven Days is a standalone psychological thriller by Alex Lake with some disturbing themes running through it including sexual abuse, child abduction and child abuse and if you get triggered by any of these topics, you may find this book too difficult to read.
Having read the blurb above, you can see this is about a young girl who has been held against her will as a prisoner in a basement for the past twelve years. Maggie was a bubbly teenager when she was abducted and held captive and now she lives in a tiny room in a basement with her son Max. The book starts with a week left until Max’s third birthday and Maggie knows from experience that this could be his last birthday with her, because Max is her third son, conceived through rape that her abductor will take and she will never see again.
Having read the above, you can’t begin to imagine what is going through Maggie’s mind, as a mother and a victim, but her strength and determination to protect her son is a shining beacon in this dark cellar.
The book is also told from the view points of Maggie’s family, grieving for her loss and coping with the uncertainty of where she is. In particular her father is unable to move on, consumed by guilt for not being able to protect his daughter. The other main narrator is Maggie’s baby brother James, only 11 when she was abducted and now struggling with addiction and with no direction since his big sister disappeared his life is spiralling out of control.
This is a very tense and shocking story, told from Maggie’s point of view and I was gripped from the opening page to the final words. Not an easy read obviously and with some similarities to ROOM by Emma Donoghue, Seven Days is a very powerful and dark story.
Having read the blurb above, you can see this is about a young girl who has been held against her will as a prisoner in a basement for the past twelve years. Maggie was a bubbly teenager when she was abducted and held captive and now she lives in a tiny room in a basement with her son Max. The book starts with a week left until Max’s third birthday and Maggie knows from experience that this could be his last birthday with her, because Max is her third son, conceived through rape that her abductor will take and she will never see again.
Having read the above, you can’t begin to imagine what is going through Maggie’s mind, as a mother and a victim, but her strength and determination to protect her son is a shining beacon in this dark cellar.
The book is also told from the view points of Maggie’s family, grieving for her loss and coping with the uncertainty of where she is. In particular her father is unable to move on, consumed by guilt for not being able to protect his daughter. The other main narrator is Maggie’s baby brother James, only 11 when she was abducted and now struggling with addiction and with no direction since his big sister disappeared his life is spiralling out of control.
This is a very tense and shocking story, told from Maggie’s point of view and I was gripped from the opening page to the final words. Not an easy read obviously and with some similarities to ROOM by Emma Donoghue, Seven Days is a very powerful and dark story.
October 28, 2019
4.5 ⭐️ Seven Days by Alex Lake was a book I devoured in a matter of hours, it had all the ingredients I expect from a Psychological thriller, an imaginative plot, interesting characters and a book driven by tension. A young girl getting abducted and held prisoner isn’t an original plot, it’s one that’s been done numerous times before. So I was delighted when I realised the author had created a plot that was imaginative in its writing, sinister, and made for a tense read.
Abducted at fifteen Maggie has spent twelve years living in a basement, abused, ridiculed and terrified. She has given birth to three sons, two have been taken by her abductor on their third birthdays never to be seen again, and now Max’s third birthday is approaching Maggie is determined this won’t be his last. As Max approaches his third birthday, and Maggie marks each day on the calendar I found myself nervously biting my nails with anticipation, at what would happen to Max?
I enjoyed how the author has integrated numerous POV into the story, for me it made the story feel far more credible. Not only do you learn more about Maggie’s imprisonment in a basement, but the story also explores the after-mass that Maggie’s grieving family face as they struggle to come to terms with her disappearance. To compliment these POV we also follow DI Wynne the lead detective in Maggie’s abduction, you may think so many POV could hinder a read, but the three fit perfectly together creating a tense and all to authentic read.
It’s clear Maggie has suffered trauma, physical and mental abuse throughout her captive years, but the author doesn’t compound the fact by including graphic scenes, there’s just enough detail for the reader to understand the severity of Maggie’s situation. I really felt for Maggie and all that she had lost through her abduction, her family, her teenage years, and the everyday things that we often take for granted, eating, drinking, bathing. Her relationship with Max is her only light in the darkness of her situation, her sense of fear was palatable as Max’s third birthday loomed.
Seven Days managed to hold my attention throughout, rather like Maggie you feel time is running out for Max, which adds a sense of urgency to the overall read. If I had one small niggle the conclusion ended a little too neatly for me. I can’t say much more without heading into spoiler territory, although I can’t say it impaired my enjoyment of this read. I found Seven Days to be an addictive, tense and chilling read, and a worthy addition to any psychological or crime thrillers lovers bookshelf.
All my reviews can found at www.bookreviewcafe.com
Abducted at fifteen Maggie has spent twelve years living in a basement, abused, ridiculed and terrified. She has given birth to three sons, two have been taken by her abductor on their third birthdays never to be seen again, and now Max’s third birthday is approaching Maggie is determined this won’t be his last. As Max approaches his third birthday, and Maggie marks each day on the calendar I found myself nervously biting my nails with anticipation, at what would happen to Max?
I enjoyed how the author has integrated numerous POV into the story, for me it made the story feel far more credible. Not only do you learn more about Maggie’s imprisonment in a basement, but the story also explores the after-mass that Maggie’s grieving family face as they struggle to come to terms with her disappearance. To compliment these POV we also follow DI Wynne the lead detective in Maggie’s abduction, you may think so many POV could hinder a read, but the three fit perfectly together creating a tense and all to authentic read.
It’s clear Maggie has suffered trauma, physical and mental abuse throughout her captive years, but the author doesn’t compound the fact by including graphic scenes, there’s just enough detail for the reader to understand the severity of Maggie’s situation. I really felt for Maggie and all that she had lost through her abduction, her family, her teenage years, and the everyday things that we often take for granted, eating, drinking, bathing. Her relationship with Max is her only light in the darkness of her situation, her sense of fear was palatable as Max’s third birthday loomed.
Seven Days managed to hold my attention throughout, rather like Maggie you feel time is running out for Max, which adds a sense of urgency to the overall read. If I had one small niggle the conclusion ended a little too neatly for me. I can’t say much more without heading into spoiler territory, although I can’t say it impaired my enjoyment of this read. I found Seven Days to be an addictive, tense and chilling read, and a worthy addition to any psychological or crime thrillers lovers bookshelf.
All my reviews can found at www.bookreviewcafe.com
January 6, 2020
This book left me shook to the core. I think this book would be up there with the most disturbing books I have ever read. This book was thrilling from beginning to end and kept me on the edge of my seat. Whilst it may not work for some people, I loved the time jumps and multiple POVS - it made the book even more special. I will read whatever Alex Lake puts out as I have loved all their books. However, this is my favourite (so far) or their published works to date.
Highly recommend...kind of reminiscent of Room x The Lovely Bones - just 1,000 times more disturbing!
Highly recommend...kind of reminiscent of Room x The Lovely Bones - just 1,000 times more disturbing!
October 9, 2019
This is quite a dark psychological thriller and one where you’re desperate for things to work out ok.
Maggie was abducted twelve years ago and has been kept in a basement all this time.
She’s had two children taken away from her by her captor when they reached three years old and now she has Max, she’s desperate that he’s not taken as well.
We learn a bit about Maggie’s past and how her family deal with the abduction, but I was just desperate to know if she was going to outsmart her captor or not.
We find out why he abducted her and I still can’t quite get my head round this.
This is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Maggie was abducted twelve years ago and has been kept in a basement all this time.
She’s had two children taken away from her by her captor when they reached three years old and now she has Max, she’s desperate that he’s not taken as well.
We learn a bit about Maggie’s past and how her family deal with the abduction, but I was just desperate to know if she was going to outsmart her captor or not.
We find out why he abducted her and I still can’t quite get my head round this.
This is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,369 reviews