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Przeżyła wypadek, ale prawdziwy koszmar miał się dopiero zacząć… Kath nie może się nadziwić swojemu szczęściu – z wypadku, którego nie powinna przeżyć, wyszła lekko poobijana i z tymczasową utratą pamięci. Rodzina nie podziela jej entuzjazmu. Mąż jest oziębły, a córka zachowuje się dziwnie. Kath wciąż zadaje sobie jedno pytanie: o czym jej nie mówią?
448 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2018
178 people are currently reading
3663 people want to read
About the author
S.K. Tremayne
15 books1,251 followersHello! I am S K Tremayne, but my true name is Sean Thomas.
I write books where real places become menacing, and where ordinary people experience something extraordinary.
Born in Devon, I now live in London, but I travel a lot in my second job as a journalist, sometimes visiting places which inspire the books. My first S K Tremayne thriller, THE ICE TWINS, was a number one Sunday Times bestseller. The S K Tremayne novels have been translated into thirty languages, and have been bestsellers around the globe. Yay!
I am always happy to hear from readers; you can reach me at:
sktremayne@gmail.com
I also have a website: www.sktremayne.com
My latest book is THE ASSISTANT, published in the UK on December 26, 2019 (but a bit earlier on Kindle). It's all about the way we give our lives to technology, and what happens if that technology turns on us, and haunts us.
When I'm not working on books or articles, I can generally be found staring out of windows, urgently looking for the next good idea.
I write books where real places become menacing, and where ordinary people experience something extraordinary.
Born in Devon, I now live in London, but I travel a lot in my second job as a journalist, sometimes visiting places which inspire the books. My first S K Tremayne thriller, THE ICE TWINS, was a number one Sunday Times bestseller. The S K Tremayne novels have been translated into thirty languages, and have been bestsellers around the globe. Yay!
I am always happy to hear from readers; you can reach me at:
sktremayne@gmail.com
I also have a website: www.sktremayne.com
My latest book is THE ASSISTANT, published in the UK on December 26, 2019 (but a bit earlier on Kindle). It's all about the way we give our lives to technology, and what happens if that technology turns on us, and haunts us.
When I'm not working on books or articles, I can generally be found staring out of windows, urgently looking for the next good idea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
July 28, 2018
Once again SK Tremayne presents us with an eerie, creepy and gothic psychological thriller set amidst the bleak and stunning terrain of Dartmoor in Devon. This churningly unsettling, and claustrophobic slow burning tale drips with dark atmospheric gloom with its richly detailed descriptions and peculiar locals, making me feel as if I was right there amidst the moors. Kath Redway, her good looking ranger husband, Adam and her shy and challenging daughter, Lyla, live in their remote and isolated home within Dartmoor National Park. Kath believes herself to be happy, despite their financial struggles whilst trying to cope with the difficulties of the autistic Lyla. Kath is emerging from a coma, suffering from amnesia with distant memories of an almost deadly car accident.
Kath is delighted to be back in the embrace of her beloved family. However, Adam emanates a barely suppressed anger and fury, whilst Lyla exhibits weird behaviour, muttering about a 'man on the moor'. As frightening and scary pieces of her memory slowly begin to return, it becomes alarmingly transparent that Kath's accident was nothing of the kind. As Kath ponders over the possibilities, she wonders if someone close to her wants her dead. Can we trust Kath? Kath sets out to discover exactly what happened to her. A chilling sense of menace and terror begins to envelop Kath as her paranoia and anxiety grows to unbearable proportions. In a suspense filled narrative with plentiful twists, the truth soon begins to emerge. A compelling novel that is intensely unsettling with a fantastic sense of location. I really loved the character of Lyla. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Kath is delighted to be back in the embrace of her beloved family. However, Adam emanates a barely suppressed anger and fury, whilst Lyla exhibits weird behaviour, muttering about a 'man on the moor'. As frightening and scary pieces of her memory slowly begin to return, it becomes alarmingly transparent that Kath's accident was nothing of the kind. As Kath ponders over the possibilities, she wonders if someone close to her wants her dead. Can we trust Kath? Kath sets out to discover exactly what happened to her. A chilling sense of menace and terror begins to envelop Kath as her paranoia and anxiety grows to unbearable proportions. In a suspense filled narrative with plentiful twists, the truth soon begins to emerge. A compelling novel that is intensely unsettling with a fantastic sense of location. I really loved the character of Lyla. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
August 14, 2018
Just before I died by S K Tremayne is a dark, spooky thriller set on the moors of Dartmore.
This is a slow burning story with a little suspence.
Kate has been in a car accident and has lost some of her memory. Her husband and daughter are both acting strangely towards her and she has no idea why. There is a secret surrounding the accident and Kate has a feeling she is being watched.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a slow burning story with a little suspence.
Kate has been in a car accident and has lost some of her memory. Her husband and daughter are both acting strangely towards her and she has no idea why. There is a secret surrounding the accident and Kate has a feeling she is being watched.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2018
I was really into this for about 75% of it and then it went completely off the rails. It started Dark and creepy and went to complete absurdity that had me rolling my eyes.
February 9, 2019
Very convenient amnesia: heroine forgets exactly enough to create the mystery.
Very convenient aspergers: child remembers exactly enough to solve the mystery piecemeal.
Repeated descriptions of animal cruelty.
No explanation why they should be struggling for money: both have jobs and only one child.
Wishy-washy heroine: "I can't believe I tried to commit suicide. I'm an awful person for wanting to commit suicide. He's right for treating me this way because I'm guilty of trying to commit suicide. I didn't commit suicide; how could I have left my daughter?"
Hateful husband, abusing his wife verbally all the time, accusing her instead of trying to understand her. He so doesn't love her.
Brother also is a bad person,
Why do these women stay with these terrible husbands? If my husband would raise his voice in anger all the time at me, I'd run to a divorce lawyer.
A big no-no: the culprit
The two dogs
Unnecessary possible
Storytelling is very slow and boring.
Overuse of the word swailing.
Don't mention used tampons, please.
Audiobook narrator has a nice voice until she starts shouting, which unfortunately happens a lot.
Very convenient aspergers: child remembers exactly enough to solve the mystery piecemeal.
Repeated descriptions of animal cruelty.
No explanation why they should be struggling for money: both have jobs and only one child.
Wishy-washy heroine: "I can't believe I tried to commit suicide. I'm an awful person for wanting to commit suicide. He's right for treating me this way because I'm guilty of trying to commit suicide. I didn't commit suicide; how could I have left my daughter?"
Hateful husband, abusing his wife verbally all the time, accusing her instead of trying to understand her. He so doesn't love her.
Brother also is a bad person,
Why do these women stay with these terrible husbands? If my husband would raise his voice in anger all the time at me, I'd run to a divorce lawyer.
A big no-no: the culprit
The two dogs
Unnecessary possible
Storytelling is very slow and boring.
Overuse of the word swailing.
Don't mention used tampons, please.
Audiobook narrator has a nice voice until she starts shouting, which unfortunately happens a lot.
July 8, 2020
This one is just as good as her previous novels, [The Ice Twins] and [Fire Child]. There are large amounts of suspense and plenty of strange dark and brooding twists. It’s deliciously creepy...so that makes it just my “cuppa tea”. Make sure you have plenty of time before you get to the last few chapters because you will not be able to put it down.
September 9, 2018
I really enjoy S.K. Tremayne’s books and this was a solid 4 stars for me. Just Before I Die is a mystery/thriller that is a highly atmospheric and detailed book. Kath lives is a desolate area within Dartmoor National Park with her husband and daughter. The story centers and Kath and a car accident-Kath was saved from the accident but wakes up with no memory of it and family members telling her that she tried to commit suicide. She knows she would never leave her daughter without a mom- so what happened?! As Kath slowly begins getting her memory back of the accident, she discovers that something more sinister is at play. Highly recommend.
August 29, 2020
This was a really creepy and eerie psychological thriller
I've read an S.K Treymane book before and in both books the author does a fantastic job of creating a really creepy eerie atmosphere.
I also really liked how this book focused on autism. There is a character with aspergers and either though I can't comment on how good the representation was. In my opinion from what I know about the condition, it was accurate.
This book really made me feel things. There was one particular scene that really made me sad. But there were also lots of moments that made me feel creeped out
The writing was really good and it kept me engaged throughout. It was really fast paced too.
The only one thing I didn't love about this book was the ending. It seemed a bit ridiculous and far fetched.
However, apart from that I really recommend this book if you love creepy psychological thrillers that keep you guessing till the end
TW: discussions of rape, suicide, murder and violence
I've read an S.K Treymane book before and in both books the author does a fantastic job of creating a really creepy eerie atmosphere.
I also really liked how this book focused on autism. There is a character with aspergers and either though I can't comment on how good the representation was. In my opinion from what I know about the condition, it was accurate.
This book really made me feel things. There was one particular scene that really made me sad. But there were also lots of moments that made me feel creeped out
The writing was really good and it kept me engaged throughout. It was really fast paced too.
The only one thing I didn't love about this book was the ending. It seemed a bit ridiculous and far fetched.
However, apart from that I really recommend this book if you love creepy psychological thrillers that keep you guessing till the end
TW: discussions of rape, suicide, murder and violence
October 29, 2021
i hate convenient amnesia, i hate the fact that they refuse to get their daughter diagnosed with asperger's because it "puts her in a box" - news flash, asshole, there's nothing wrong with having autism and having a diagnosis makes it easier to understand, it's not a fucking stigma! i hate the fact that ; that's my absolute least favourite trope when it comes to thrillers, except of course from the fact that
also, the fact that the despite
an absolute mess. the writing was okay, i did like the gothic turnes of phrase here and there, but overall, nothing special - and the plot was just horrific.
0/10, would not recommend except as a masterclass in What Not To Do When Writing A Thriller.
and seriously, i can't get over the witch shit. what is this, 17th century Salem? evil seductress witches? fucking really?
also, the fact that the despite
an absolute mess. the writing was okay, i did like the gothic turnes of phrase here and there, but overall, nothing special - and the plot was just horrific.
0/10, would not recommend except as a masterclass in What Not To Do When Writing A Thriller.
and seriously, i can't get over the witch shit. what is this, 17th century Salem? evil seductress witches? fucking really?
November 20, 2021
I have read a few other books by this author and had high hopes for this one but it didn’t quite reach my expectations.
Kath, her husband Adam and daughter Lyla live deep in Dartmoor National Park where Adam works as a park ranger. Although money is tight Kath is happy and enjoys her life in the moors. One day Kath wakes up from a coma, with a vague memory of a near-fatal car accident and she feels the need to hold her loved ones tight. But Adam appears to be angry with her and her daughter Lyla who is very shy is acting even more strangely than usual. She can’t understand why they are acting so differently towards her when she would expect them to be glad she is alive. Then Kath learns that the car crash wasn’t an accident, and her whole life collapses into a world of panic, and danger.
The couple know that Lyla is autistic but her actions are becoming even more hard to understand. Kath tries to remember what happened on the night of the accident as little by little her memory comes back.
I did enjoy this book but just felt with a few tweaks it could have been so much better.
Kath, her husband Adam and daughter Lyla live deep in Dartmoor National Park where Adam works as a park ranger. Although money is tight Kath is happy and enjoys her life in the moors. One day Kath wakes up from a coma, with a vague memory of a near-fatal car accident and she feels the need to hold her loved ones tight. But Adam appears to be angry with her and her daughter Lyla who is very shy is acting even more strangely than usual. She can’t understand why they are acting so differently towards her when she would expect them to be glad she is alive. Then Kath learns that the car crash wasn’t an accident, and her whole life collapses into a world of panic, and danger.
The couple know that Lyla is autistic but her actions are becoming even more hard to understand. Kath tries to remember what happened on the night of the accident as little by little her memory comes back.
I did enjoy this book but just felt with a few tweaks it could have been so much better.
November 6, 2018
This was a strange, atmospheric read and a welcome return after the authors previous two novels which showcase their talent within this genre. I invested emotionally quite heavily in the storyline here, to the extent where I found some chapters quite draining. As such, this book took me the best part of a week to read - probably double what most other books do.
The writing pace and story development were good and I enjoyed getting to know the complexities of the lead characters. The setting was unusual - the south west of England - but the author brought life and breath to the wilderness and isolated home within the moors.
I’ve always said that psychological thriller is perhaps one of the hardest genres to truly get right because there are so many pitfalls the author can fall into. I like this author because they do the exact opposite and make the reader feel as if they are watching the scenes unfold through a crack in the curtain. I’ll eagerly await this authors next release.
The writing pace and story development were good and I enjoyed getting to know the complexities of the lead characters. The setting was unusual - the south west of England - but the author brought life and breath to the wilderness and isolated home within the moors.
I’ve always said that psychological thriller is perhaps one of the hardest genres to truly get right because there are so many pitfalls the author can fall into. I like this author because they do the exact opposite and make the reader feel as if they are watching the scenes unfold through a crack in the curtain. I’ll eagerly await this authors next release.
October 15, 2018
Well, that was an epic last 20%!! I was going to give this 3.5 stars, until I got to the last fifth of this book, now its a solid 4 stars! That twist was insane!! I loved it!
You can tell that Tremayne has done his homework here. The Dartmoor beauty shines through the pages. So much detail, that you feel like you are there on those windswept moors, trudging through those bogs and taking in the natural beauty.
I am Devon born and bred, so when I realised this book had so much Devon in it I was definitely going to read it. I love connecting with a book in that way - where you know the place that is being talked about. It makes you feel a bit more involved, like this book was written for me.
The writing style is easy to read, it flows well, and I found myself being swept along with the the story because it was not a hardship to physically read it.
The characters are all well fleshed out. Lyla is a lovely little character to read about. Again there has been a good amount of research into the traits exhibited by Lyla and her undiagnosed aspergers.
So we start our story on Dartmoor. Kath and Adam are married with a daughter, Lyla. Now usually in there, you'd put 'happily married', or something along those lines, and they are happy, according to Kath, in the first part of the book. Then we get into the nitty gritty of what the story actually is. Kath was involved in an accident- she skidded on some ice, and her car went nose first into the reservoir, where she nearly drowned and was in a coma for a little while. While Kath has some brain damage, she is luckier than most and only has, hopefully short term memory loss. Well, that is what Kath believes happened....
Adam is having a hard time dealing with Kath since the accident, and Kath has no idea why. After an episode in the forest, Adam decides it is time to get Kath's sister in law (the psychologist) over, to explain to Kath what actually happened that night....
I enjoyed reading about the beautiful landscape, understanding the roughness of the moors, and as a backdrop to the story, it worked wonderfully. I would read another book by this author just because of his detailed descriptions of the surroundings.
The story has a good pace for most of the book, we slowly uncover bits and pieces about what happened that night up at Burrator. Perhaps it gets a little slow in the middle, but by the end we have definitely picked up pace and I raced through the ending! It was intense, scary, thrilling. I could feel my heart beating faster and in fact looked at my FitBit and as expected my pulse was around 99bpm :)
Anywho, thoroughly recommended, thanks NetGalley for the free copy to honestly review! THAT TWIST! :)
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
You can tell that Tremayne has done his homework here. The Dartmoor beauty shines through the pages. So much detail, that you feel like you are there on those windswept moors, trudging through those bogs and taking in the natural beauty.
I am Devon born and bred, so when I realised this book had so much Devon in it I was definitely going to read it. I love connecting with a book in that way - where you know the place that is being talked about. It makes you feel a bit more involved, like this book was written for me.
The writing style is easy to read, it flows well, and I found myself being swept along with the the story because it was not a hardship to physically read it.
The characters are all well fleshed out. Lyla is a lovely little character to read about. Again there has been a good amount of research into the traits exhibited by Lyla and her undiagnosed aspergers.
So we start our story on Dartmoor. Kath and Adam are married with a daughter, Lyla. Now usually in there, you'd put 'happily married', or something along those lines, and they are happy, according to Kath, in the first part of the book. Then we get into the nitty gritty of what the story actually is. Kath was involved in an accident- she skidded on some ice, and her car went nose first into the reservoir, where she nearly drowned and was in a coma for a little while. While Kath has some brain damage, she is luckier than most and only has, hopefully short term memory loss. Well, that is what Kath believes happened....
Adam is having a hard time dealing with Kath since the accident, and Kath has no idea why. After an episode in the forest, Adam decides it is time to get Kath's sister in law (the psychologist) over, to explain to Kath what actually happened that night....
I enjoyed reading about the beautiful landscape, understanding the roughness of the moors, and as a backdrop to the story, it worked wonderfully. I would read another book by this author just because of his detailed descriptions of the surroundings.
The story has a good pace for most of the book, we slowly uncover bits and pieces about what happened that night up at Burrator. Perhaps it gets a little slow in the middle, but by the end we have definitely picked up pace and I raced through the ending! It was intense, scary, thrilling. I could feel my heart beating faster and in fact looked at my FitBit and as expected my pulse was around 99bpm :)
Anywho, thoroughly recommended, thanks NetGalley for the free copy to honestly review! THAT TWIST! :)
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
April 3, 2019
4.5/5
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Voilà un résumé intrigant et j’avoue que j’étais curieuse de découvrir l’histoire !
Kath a eu un accident, sa voiture est tombée dans l’eau et elle a réchappé de justesse à la mort. Pourtant, elle ne se rappelle pas les derniers évènements, et sa blessure à la tête a bien failli lui être fatale. Mais voilà, depuis son retour, les choses ne sont pas normales, elle sent que quelque chose ne va pas. Tout le monde lui cache des choses… Mais pourquoi ? Des choses étranges et morbides se déroulent non loin de chez eux et Kath et son mari doivent aussi gérer Lyla, leur très belle petite fille qu’ils supposent être autiste. Kath est bien décidée à comprendre ce qu’il s’est passé, à comprendre qui la surveille et pourquoi. Est-ce son mari ? Que s’est-il exactement passé ce jour-là ?
J’ai adoré suivre ce roman et j’étais impatiente de découvrir ce qui allait se passer et ce qu’il s’était passé pour notre très chère Kath. Les choses ne sont pas simples et comme elle, on doute de tout le monde, on essaie de comprendre et pourtant on ne s’attend pas à une telle révélation. J’ai aussi beaucoup apprécié cette approche de l’autisme avec Lyla, de voir à quel point ça pouvait être difficile pour cette petite fille de se sentir à part, de voir à quel point parfois ses parents pouvaient être impuissants.
Oui, c’était un thriller très intéressant qui m’a complètement emportée, et je suis ravie d’avoir découvert ce roman !
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Voilà un résumé intrigant et j’avoue que j’étais curieuse de découvrir l’histoire !
Kath a eu un accident, sa voiture est tombée dans l’eau et elle a réchappé de justesse à la mort. Pourtant, elle ne se rappelle pas les derniers évènements, et sa blessure à la tête a bien failli lui être fatale. Mais voilà, depuis son retour, les choses ne sont pas normales, elle sent que quelque chose ne va pas. Tout le monde lui cache des choses… Mais pourquoi ? Des choses étranges et morbides se déroulent non loin de chez eux et Kath et son mari doivent aussi gérer Lyla, leur très belle petite fille qu’ils supposent être autiste. Kath est bien décidée à comprendre ce qu’il s’est passé, à comprendre qui la surveille et pourquoi. Est-ce son mari ? Que s’est-il exactement passé ce jour-là ?
J’ai adoré suivre ce roman et j’étais impatiente de découvrir ce qui allait se passer et ce qu’il s’était passé pour notre très chère Kath. Les choses ne sont pas simples et comme elle, on doute de tout le monde, on essaie de comprendre et pourtant on ne s’attend pas à une telle révélation. J’ai aussi beaucoup apprécié cette approche de l’autisme avec Lyla, de voir à quel point ça pouvait être difficile pour cette petite fille de se sentir à part, de voir à quel point parfois ses parents pouvaient être impuissants.
Oui, c’était un thriller très intéressant qui m’a complètement emportée, et je suis ravie d’avoir découvert ce roman !
November 17, 2018
THE ICE TWINS is one of the best books I have ever read and the second book Tremayne wrote, THE FIRE CHILD was also good. So. of course, I had to buy this book when it was released. I love S.K. Tremayne stories and this was not an exception. The setting, Dartmoor is perfect for a story likes this about a woman that learns that the car accident she was in may have been a suicide attempt. She's just can't remember it since she has amnesia. And why is her husband acting strange? What really happened that day? Great book, can't wait to read more the next book by Tremayne.
May 20, 2025
I've been struggling with my reading mojo for months, due to very low energy levels and brain fog. This is exactly the book I needed! Only a few characters and an easy to follow story. I loved the characters, the mystery, the suspense, and the atmospheric feel of the location. It reminded me of the years I lived in rural Cornwall. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, and loved picking it up every night!
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April 18, 2018Won in the Goodreads Giveaways
September 21, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Nie do końca jestem fanką Tremayne, pewnie głównie dlatego, że nie skaczę z radości, kiedy dużą częścią historii są dzieci. Ale ma w sobie coś takiego, co jednak mnie przyciąga i regularnie wracam, by przyswoić sobie najnowsza powieść. Może to fakt, jak prowadzi historię. Może to, że nigdy nie udało mi się przewidzieć zakończenia. A może też to, jak bardzo rozwala mi mózg, kiedy wszystkie fakty wskakują na swoje miejsca, a może jeszcze to, że jego książki zawsze dzieją się w takich cudownie odosobnionych miejscach. Ale pewnym jest, że jeśli w PL ukaże się kolejny tytuł, ja na pewno go przeczytam (:
Nie do końca jestem fanką Tremayne, pewnie głównie dlatego, że nie skaczę z radości, kiedy dużą częścią historii są dzieci. Ale ma w sobie coś takiego, co jednak mnie przyciąga i regularnie wracam, by przyswoić sobie najnowsza powieść. Może to fakt, jak prowadzi historię. Może to, że nigdy nie udało mi się przewidzieć zakończenia. A może też to, jak bardzo rozwala mi mózg, kiedy wszystkie fakty wskakują na swoje miejsca, a może jeszcze to, że jego książki zawsze dzieją się w takich cudownie odosobnionych miejscach. Ale pewnym jest, że jeśli w PL ukaże się kolejny tytuł, ja na pewno go przeczytam (:
October 17, 2018
Este livro é mesmo uma escrita especial e um triller psicológico espetacular! Agarrou-me logo desde o início e o final para mim foi brutal!
August 8, 2020
Just Before I Died is a slow burn psychological thriller set in the austere moorland surroundings of Dartmoor in Devon and I found the novel as bleak as the landscape. The story is repetitive, the plot not always coherent, sensitive issues from suicide to autism are poorly portrayed and the entire thing is unnecessarily graphic regarding the mutilation of animals.
Thirty-seven-year-old Kath Redway has just been released from hospital after surviving a near-fatal car accident that saw her vehicle plunge into an icy reservoir and left her in a coma. Having sustained a mild traumatic brain injury and suffering from retrograde amnesia her memories around the incident are either fuzzy or a complete blank. Kath’s problems deepen when she returns to the isolated longhouse that she shares with Adam, her taciturn Park Ranger husband and their nine-year-old daughter Lyla who although undiagnosed appears to have Asperger’s and is clearly on the autism spectrum. Kath’s return home coincides with Adam becoming openly hostile and menacing towards her and Lyla’s strange behaviour becoming more concerning as she seems frightened of her father and claims she has seen him watching the house from the moor.
It takes about twenty percent of the novel to establish that Kath’s accident was no such thing as her sister-in-law breaks the news that she is believed to have made an attempt on her own life and this might be behind some of Adam’s barely concealed fury (and not simply the intimidating caveman like behaviour that every male character in the book exhibits). For Kath the idea that she attempted to take her own life is at odds with her (apparently) happy married life and devotion to her daughter but all it takes is a few eerie occurrences and glimpses of a possible stalker around their isolated farmhouse and her paranoia escalates... but is her husband really behind it all? As Kath sets out to find answers in the hope of stopping her family from being torn apart she tries to recreate the timeline for the day of the incident by questioning witnesses and attempting to retrieve memories surrounding the event. It is only in the final quarter of the novel that the pace picks up and puts some meat on the bones of Kath’s vague concerns as folklore and creepy pagan stories gives way to a equally far-fetched series of events and denouement.
Overall the story was just too much of a slow-burner for me and needed less of scenic Dartmoor and more early momentum to build tension and foster a connection to the lead characters. The novel is saturated with details on specific locations and moorland life in Dartmoor to the point of drowning out the actual story and I felt myself actively skimming over paragraphs of samey description about the local landscape in order to make headway on the story. Lyla’s undiagnosed Asperger’s conveniently but unconvincingly solves all manner of plot issues thanks to her demonstrating every trait ever associated with an individual on the autism spectrum and I found this frustrating. The prose was also a source of irritation with Kath “liking the masculine way he handles all that” when talking about Adam’s prowess with cars and engines and her boss griping about a boring day in the office and commenting “that we really need a massive accident to liven things up”. This is the second book I have read by this author that I have not enjoyed and also found the prose intrusive and I think it may be time to concede that this is an author-reader mismatch!
Thirty-seven-year-old Kath Redway has just been released from hospital after surviving a near-fatal car accident that saw her vehicle plunge into an icy reservoir and left her in a coma. Having sustained a mild traumatic brain injury and suffering from retrograde amnesia her memories around the incident are either fuzzy or a complete blank. Kath’s problems deepen when she returns to the isolated longhouse that she shares with Adam, her taciturn Park Ranger husband and their nine-year-old daughter Lyla who although undiagnosed appears to have Asperger’s and is clearly on the autism spectrum. Kath’s return home coincides with Adam becoming openly hostile and menacing towards her and Lyla’s strange behaviour becoming more concerning as she seems frightened of her father and claims she has seen him watching the house from the moor.
It takes about twenty percent of the novel to establish that Kath’s accident was no such thing as her sister-in-law breaks the news that she is believed to have made an attempt on her own life and this might be behind some of Adam’s barely concealed fury (and not simply the intimidating caveman like behaviour that every male character in the book exhibits). For Kath the idea that she attempted to take her own life is at odds with her (apparently) happy married life and devotion to her daughter but all it takes is a few eerie occurrences and glimpses of a possible stalker around their isolated farmhouse and her paranoia escalates... but is her husband really behind it all? As Kath sets out to find answers in the hope of stopping her family from being torn apart she tries to recreate the timeline for the day of the incident by questioning witnesses and attempting to retrieve memories surrounding the event. It is only in the final quarter of the novel that the pace picks up and puts some meat on the bones of Kath’s vague concerns as folklore and creepy pagan stories gives way to a equally far-fetched series of events and denouement.
Overall the story was just too much of a slow-burner for me and needed less of scenic Dartmoor and more early momentum to build tension and foster a connection to the lead characters. The novel is saturated with details on specific locations and moorland life in Dartmoor to the point of drowning out the actual story and I felt myself actively skimming over paragraphs of samey description about the local landscape in order to make headway on the story. Lyla’s undiagnosed Asperger’s conveniently but unconvincingly solves all manner of plot issues thanks to her demonstrating every trait ever associated with an individual on the autism spectrum and I found this frustrating. The prose was also a source of irritation with Kath “liking the masculine way he handles all that” when talking about Adam’s prowess with cars and engines and her boss griping about a boring day in the office and commenting “that we really need a massive accident to liven things up”. This is the second book I have read by this author that I have not enjoyed and also found the prose intrusive and I think it may be time to concede that this is an author-reader mismatch!
July 25, 2018
I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
"It was just a patch of ice. Just a bit of bad luck. But it was nearly enough to kill Kath Redway, spinning her car into Burrator Reservoir in the beautiful Dartmoor National Park. Miraculously, Kath escapes her accident with a few bruises and amnesia. She is shocked but delighted to be back in her remote moorland farmhouse with her handsome husband, Adam, and her shy, gifted daughter Lyla. She's alive! But her family is not so delighted. Her husband is cold, even angry. Her daydreaming daughter talks ever more strangely, about a 'man on the moor'. Then, as chilling fragments of memory return, Kath realizes her 'accident' was nothing of the kind. And now her life collapses into a new world of darkness, menace, and terror".
S.K. Tremayne never fails to completely engross me in her books. Her first two books were amazing and this one was somehow just even better!! I was hooked from the get-go and read it in almost one seating! The whole plotline is dark, shocking, heart-stopping and it honestly just completely terrified me! I doubt I'll be sleeping tonight....
My heart was racing as I was reading the pages, as I felt the pure terror and even paranoia of what was happening. The main charcater's situation was daunting and her daughter's actions honestly creeped me out!
I honestly can't fault this book at all. The descriptions of the moorlands were so beautifully-written and descriptive that I felt I was actually there; the plotline was clever and just brilliant; the characters were extremely well written and an ending that I REALLY DIDN'T SEE COMING! 😱😱
A very shocking and terrifying read that is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine! A MUST READ!
"It was just a patch of ice. Just a bit of bad luck. But it was nearly enough to kill Kath Redway, spinning her car into Burrator Reservoir in the beautiful Dartmoor National Park. Miraculously, Kath escapes her accident with a few bruises and amnesia. She is shocked but delighted to be back in her remote moorland farmhouse with her handsome husband, Adam, and her shy, gifted daughter Lyla. She's alive! But her family is not so delighted. Her husband is cold, even angry. Her daydreaming daughter talks ever more strangely, about a 'man on the moor'. Then, as chilling fragments of memory return, Kath realizes her 'accident' was nothing of the kind. And now her life collapses into a new world of darkness, menace, and terror".
S.K. Tremayne never fails to completely engross me in her books. Her first two books were amazing and this one was somehow just even better!! I was hooked from the get-go and read it in almost one seating! The whole plotline is dark, shocking, heart-stopping and it honestly just completely terrified me! I doubt I'll be sleeping tonight....
My heart was racing as I was reading the pages, as I felt the pure terror and even paranoia of what was happening. The main charcater's situation was daunting and her daughter's actions honestly creeped me out!
I honestly can't fault this book at all. The descriptions of the moorlands were so beautifully-written and descriptive that I felt I was actually there; the plotline was clever and just brilliant; the characters were extremely well written and an ending that I REALLY DIDN'T SEE COMING! 😱😱
A very shocking and terrifying read that is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine! A MUST READ!
September 10, 2018
Rating 3.4*. Kath has almost died in a car accident. She is happy to be alive. However, her husband is moody and her autistic spectrum daughter Lyla is acting up. Something is definitely off kilter.
The author does a great job of setting an eerie atmosphere with mists, witches, strange sightings and stranger habits of the daughter. The book drew me in immediately - it's one of the books that reminds of why I love to read. It's the perfect escape.
The plotting is also great, for most part. The sense of unease increases throughout the book. I had no hope of guessing the ending, which is unusual for this type of book. I tend to have an inkling, at the very least. Not so in this case.
The ending brought this down a notch from a full four stars. I won't reveal any spoilers, but the author managed a plot development which is among my pet peeves. Also, the big reveal was rather far-fetched, although I suppose it wasn't entirely implausible. All in all this book was a great escape from reality. I wish I had another like it.
The author does a great job of setting an eerie atmosphere with mists, witches, strange sightings and stranger habits of the daughter. The book drew me in immediately - it's one of the books that reminds of why I love to read. It's the perfect escape.
The plotting is also great, for most part. The sense of unease increases throughout the book. I had no hope of guessing the ending, which is unusual for this type of book. I tend to have an inkling, at the very least. Not so in this case.
The ending brought this down a notch from a full four stars. I won't reveal any spoilers, but the author managed a plot development which is among my pet peeves. Also, the big reveal was rather far-fetched, although I suppose it wasn't entirely implausible. All in all this book was a great escape from reality. I wish I had another like it.
October 5, 2018
Full of suspense and suspicions, this book is even more tense due to the atmospheric setting of the moors. The isolation adds to the feeling that nothing is as it seems and boy is that true when you reach the inevitable shocking twist at the end!
I really liked Kath, her amnesia made her memories of what happened interesting as you never knew if she was actually remembering the truth, and that combined with Lyla’s version of events all the more intriguing!
I also loved Tessa.
In fact, I’d say the female characters are all wonderful and the male characters were all pretty crappy at times! Ha. #girlpower
I’ve read both the other books by this author and will definitely be reading the next one too.
I really liked Kath, her amnesia made her memories of what happened interesting as you never knew if she was actually remembering the truth, and that combined with Lyla’s version of events all the more intriguing!
I also loved Tessa.
In fact, I’d say the female characters are all wonderful and the male characters were all pretty crappy at times! Ha. #girlpower
I’ve read both the other books by this author and will definitely be reading the next one too.
July 4, 2018
Heerlijk boek, in één adem uitgelezen.
Nog beter dan Ijstweeling en Vuurkind.
Ik hou wel van zijn schrijfstijl.
Nog beter dan Ijstweeling en Vuurkind.
Ik hou wel van zijn schrijfstijl.
September 25, 2024
Dawno tak mnie książka nie rozeźliła. Świetny, bardzo trzymający w napięciu i bardzo klimatyczny thriller. Wciągający do tego stopnia, że wczoraj postanowiłam zarwać dla niego nockę, bo skręcało mnie z ciekawości, kto za tym wszystkim stoi. I wiecie co? Autorka na koniec wprowadza nową postać, która jest wytłumaczeniem na wszystkie wydarzenia. No witki mi opadły. Czyli cały plot i budowanie napięcia psu na budę, bo na koniec filip z konopii załatwił sprawę. Jak można było tak zepsuć książkę 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2022
2.5 stars.
This is a difficult one to rate because I was really enjoying it all the way through and then the ending was just way too much for me.
Kath wakes up in hospital after a car accident, happy to be alive. But then she realises that her husband is angry with her and her daughter is scared of something. She can't remember what led her to the accident, but it's clear that there is something sinister afoot.
This novel is very atmospheric, set in the moors of Dartmoor, a land of witches and fairies and ancient magic. I was really encapsulated by all of the imagery that this brought with it. I had thoughts that this would actually make a great movie. That ending just didn't work for me on a few levels, which I can't discuss without spoilers. Very unfortunate at the end.
This is a difficult one to rate because I was really enjoying it all the way through and then the ending was just way too much for me.
Kath wakes up in hospital after a car accident, happy to be alive. But then she realises that her husband is angry with her and her daughter is scared of something. She can't remember what led her to the accident, but it's clear that there is something sinister afoot.
This novel is very atmospheric, set in the moors of Dartmoor, a land of witches and fairies and ancient magic. I was really encapsulated by all of the imagery that this brought with it. I had thoughts that this would actually make a great movie. That ending just didn't work for me on a few levels, which I can't discuss without spoilers. Very unfortunate at the end.
October 10, 2020
A MENINA DO BOSQUE é um thriller perturbador em todos os aspetos, começando pelo cenário, passando pelos acontecimentos e terminando com a resolução de tudo. Não foi um livro que me tenha atraído; desde o início a leitura não fluía como eu esperava. A descrição da vida dura e rude em Dartmoor fez-me impressão, é um cenário desolador e negro apesar de também ter o seu lado belo, como só a Natureza consegue fazer e ser.
Quando tudo é revelado, surpreendeu-me e que história mais maluca!
Este é o 2° livro que leio de S.K. Tremayne e esperava mais. De qualquer modo, vou continuar com os seus livros debaixo de olho e tenho A Criança de Fogo para ler entretanto.
Quando tudo é revelado, surpreendeu-me e que história mais maluca!
Este é o 2° livro que leio de S.K. Tremayne e esperava mais. De qualquer modo, vou continuar com os seus livros debaixo de olho e tenho A Criança de Fogo para ler entretanto.
September 26, 2018
4.5 stars. Wow, that was haunting and hauntingly beautiful.
Kath Medway slid on a patch of ice on the road into a lake on 30 December. Somehow she escaped the vehicle and swam through the icy waters and struggled out of the lake. A few weeks later her husband seems distant and angry and her daughter, who has Aspergers seems more agitated than usual. This is not happy families since mum was rescued from her accident.
Her daughter keeps insisting that she sees a man lurking and its daddy, no not daddy, yes daddy, so you don't know what to think and things start to feel a bit uncomfortable. Then Kath learns that she apparently tried to kill herself and drive into the lake deliberately. Kath can't imagine she would do that but has no actual memory of the week before the accident and the day after it.
Something a bit creepy is going on and as you peer voyeuristically onto this domestic drama you get a real sense of creeping menace (I love that expression). There are many twists in this story but the tension rises throughout. It was beautifully written and one of the starring characters was Dartmoor itself. The story captured the dark moodiness of the bleak moors in the dead of winter. The other characters, and there weren't too many to keep track of, were richly developed throughout the book. This was an excellent psychological thriller that I just couldn't put down.
Kath Medway slid on a patch of ice on the road into a lake on 30 December. Somehow she escaped the vehicle and swam through the icy waters and struggled out of the lake. A few weeks later her husband seems distant and angry and her daughter, who has Aspergers seems more agitated than usual. This is not happy families since mum was rescued from her accident.
Her daughter keeps insisting that she sees a man lurking and its daddy, no not daddy, yes daddy, so you don't know what to think and things start to feel a bit uncomfortable. Then Kath learns that she apparently tried to kill herself and drive into the lake deliberately. Kath can't imagine she would do that but has no actual memory of the week before the accident and the day after it.
Something a bit creepy is going on and as you peer voyeuristically onto this domestic drama you get a real sense of creeping menace (I love that expression). There are many twists in this story but the tension rises throughout. It was beautifully written and one of the starring characters was Dartmoor itself. The story captured the dark moodiness of the bleak moors in the dead of winter. The other characters, and there weren't too many to keep track of, were richly developed throughout the book. This was an excellent psychological thriller that I just couldn't put down.
March 23, 2023
Foi um livro estranho, que me custou a entrar na história e nas personagens e não consegui criar empatia com a Lyla.
Apenas mais para o final é que a narrativa me envolveu mais e a forma como decorreu o desfecho é que acabou por "salvar " este trihler, do qual esperava mais.
Fico pelas 3,5* e unicamente pelo fim, que me surpreendeu
Apenas mais para o final é que a narrativa me envolveu mais e a forma como decorreu o desfecho é que acabou por "salvar " este trihler, do qual esperava mais.
Fico pelas 3,5* e unicamente pelo fim, que me surpreendeu
January 22, 2020
4 étoiles pour l'atmosphère / 3 étoiles pour l'histoire
Victime d'un grave accident de voiture, Kath s'en sort avec quelques égratignures et une mémoire en vrac. Impossible de se souvenir des derniers événements. Par contre, elle a bien conscience de la colère froide de son mari Adam et des troubles du comportement de leur fille Lyla. Cette dernière devient également très protectrice envers sa mère et lui répète tout le temps qu'un homme les surveille sur la lande. Cet homme serait Adam.
Commencent ainsi à germer une pointe de doute et une flopée d'interrogations... sur l'attitude de son époux, sur les circonstances de son accident, sur sa famille et sur l'héritage laissé par sa mère (qui a tout donné au frère en prétendant agir pour le bien de sa fille). Kath cherche à éclaircir la situation mais se heurte à des révélations qui vont déstabiliser ses acquis.
Vivant dans une ferme isolée au beau milieu de la campagne du Devon, Kath se sent plus vulnérable que jamais... encerclée par du flou et pressentant un danger imminent !
On retrouve l'empreinte de Tremayne dans ce troisième roman sur fond de tension psychologique et de drame familial. On ne moufte pas de toute la lecture jusqu'au dénouement : un final confus et chaotique, avec un dernier lapin sorti du chapeau, youhou, pas vu venir ce truc. C'est un peu moyen, mais ça n'enlève en rien le stress éprouvé depuis les premiers chapitres ni le tricotage minutieux de l'intrigue pour en venir là.
En fait, ce que j'apprécie par-dessus tout dans les romans de Tremayne, c'est l'atmosphère si particulière qui s'en détache. C'est suffocant et néanmoins captivant. Cette fois, la région du Dartmoor est mise à l'honneur : cadre sauvage, climat rude, colonie de moutons et de poneys. En un mot, superbe ! Les décors sont une vraie valeur ajoutée à la lecture (les Cornouailles dans La menace ou Eilean Torran, petite île écossaise dans Le Doute)... on fantasme à mort. En somme, c'est mon rendez-vous incontournable au-delà de l'appréhension à n'avoir pas toujours une intrigue qui tient la route. Après tout, ça se lit vite et bien aussi.
Bon point pour moi !
Victime d'un grave accident de voiture, Kath s'en sort avec quelques égratignures et une mémoire en vrac. Impossible de se souvenir des derniers événements. Par contre, elle a bien conscience de la colère froide de son mari Adam et des troubles du comportement de leur fille Lyla. Cette dernière devient également très protectrice envers sa mère et lui répète tout le temps qu'un homme les surveille sur la lande. Cet homme serait Adam.
Commencent ainsi à germer une pointe de doute et une flopée d'interrogations... sur l'attitude de son époux, sur les circonstances de son accident, sur sa famille et sur l'héritage laissé par sa mère (qui a tout donné au frère en prétendant agir pour le bien de sa fille). Kath cherche à éclaircir la situation mais se heurte à des révélations qui vont déstabiliser ses acquis.
Vivant dans une ferme isolée au beau milieu de la campagne du Devon, Kath se sent plus vulnérable que jamais... encerclée par du flou et pressentant un danger imminent !
On retrouve l'empreinte de Tremayne dans ce troisième roman sur fond de tension psychologique et de drame familial. On ne moufte pas de toute la lecture jusqu'au dénouement : un final confus et chaotique, avec un dernier lapin sorti du chapeau, youhou, pas vu venir ce truc. C'est un peu moyen, mais ça n'enlève en rien le stress éprouvé depuis les premiers chapitres ni le tricotage minutieux de l'intrigue pour en venir là.
En fait, ce que j'apprécie par-dessus tout dans les romans de Tremayne, c'est l'atmosphère si particulière qui s'en détache. C'est suffocant et néanmoins captivant. Cette fois, la région du Dartmoor est mise à l'honneur : cadre sauvage, climat rude, colonie de moutons et de poneys. En un mot, superbe ! Les décors sont une vraie valeur ajoutée à la lecture (les Cornouailles dans La menace ou Eilean Torran, petite île écossaise dans Le Doute)... on fantasme à mort. En somme, c'est mon rendez-vous incontournable au-delà de l'appréhension à n'avoir pas toujours une intrigue qui tient la route. Après tout, ça se lit vite et bien aussi.
Bon point pour moi !
December 13, 2020
Did Kath try to kill herself - or was someone trying to kill her? Why did she leave the suicide note, even though apart from the week before the accident (which she can't remember) she was happy and content with her family? Why can she not remember what happened that day she decided to drive into the water? Why is her husband angry at her? Why is her daughter scared?
This book is good. I mean REALLY good. It had quite a spooky atmosphere that made reading it feel quite tense with the anticipation of what would happen next. I saw NONE of the twists coming. Especially the BIG twist. It has a lot of old ghost stories within the story, with spooky tails from the past that really added to the thrill.
I loved how the memories slowly came back, piece by piece, slowly fitting together what actually happened. It was such an interesting story too with information that fitted perfectly with the story but made me learn something too. This story just kept giving.
This book is good. I mean REALLY good. It had quite a spooky atmosphere that made reading it feel quite tense with the anticipation of what would happen next. I saw NONE of the twists coming. Especially the BIG twist. It has a lot of old ghost stories within the story, with spooky tails from the past that really added to the thrill.
I loved how the memories slowly came back, piece by piece, slowly fitting together what actually happened. It was such an interesting story too with information that fitted perfectly with the story but made me learn something too. This story just kept giving.
September 15, 2018
Huipun Jääkaksosten ja hieman heikomman Tulilapsen jälkeen mietin, että mitähän odottaa tältä kirjalta, mutta se yllätti positiivisesti ja olin ihan, että wau! Kuinka joku voikaan keksiä kaikkea sitä mitä kirjasta luin. Suosittelen
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