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The Assistant
A terrifying and timely new psychological thriller, from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Ice Twins.
Newly divorced Jo is delighted to move into her best friend's spare room almost rent-free. The high-tech luxury Camden flat is managed by a meticulous Home Assistant, called Electra, that takes care of the heating, the lights - and sometimes Jo even turns to her for company.
Until, late one night, Electra says one sentence that rips Jo's fragile world in two: `I know what you did.' And Jo is horrified. Because in her past she did do something terrible. Something unforgivable.
Only two other people in the whole world know Jo's secret. And they would never tell anyone. Would they? As a fierce winter brings London to a standstill, Jo begins to understand that the Assistant on the shelf doesn't just want to control Jo; it wants to destroy her.
Newly divorced Jo is delighted to move into her best friend's spare room almost rent-free. The high-tech luxury Camden flat is managed by a meticulous Home Assistant, called Electra, that takes care of the heating, the lights - and sometimes Jo even turns to her for company.
Until, late one night, Electra says one sentence that rips Jo's fragile world in two: `I know what you did.' And Jo is horrified. Because in her past she did do something terrible. Something unforgivable.
Only two other people in the whole world know Jo's secret. And they would never tell anyone. Would they? As a fierce winter brings London to a standstill, Jo begins to understand that the Assistant on the shelf doesn't just want to control Jo; it wants to destroy her.
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2019
194 people are currently reading
3592 people want to read
About the author
S.K. Tremayne
15 books1,255 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 671 reviews
August 24, 2020
Going into this book I had no idea what I signed up for. You see, I recklessly thought that the assistant in this story is a live, breathing person, when instead it was a smart device, similar to Alexa from Amazon.
Even though the story is set in present, at times it felt like the events took place in the future, but I would ascribe that to my “less technology” style of life.
I was so happy when I got an invitation to read this book because I previously read The Fire Child by S. K. Tremayne and really liked it.
I hoped the same will happen with his newest piece of work, and I am happy to say that it did.
The story follows a woman named Jo who lives in her best friend’s house in London almost rent-free. Her friend is very wealthy and she has set of home devices that work as assistant to maintain the house, and keep company to people who live in the house.
As her friend is often out of the house, travelling and sleeping in her boyfrined’s place, Jo is usually alone and after some time the assistent start to talk to her about personal things no one should know.
The book starts slowly and to be honest, the first 10% was pretty boring and dull. Jo was alone and the only character in those chapters and, as I was reading, I started to yearn for other persons, in hope they’ll pick up the story.
As the story progressed it became more and more intriguing. The close to the end I was, the more thrilled I became.
The writing style was amazing and it is easy to read, with many quotes worth remembering.
The story is written in first person, from Jo’s perspective, but it also has several chapters that follow other characters’ perspectives, and those are written in third person.
In the end I loved how the story unfold and it really made me think about the rise of technology in our world and where it all can lead us as species.
What our life will be and will we use it to make our lives easier as we all long for, or will it turn us against each other, bring the worst of us?
The end was satisfying and, even though the first person I suspected turned out to be the villain, I like the reasons and revelations behind the one’s motive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to thriller lovers, but also to people who like to read books set in future ( even though this one is set in our time, it felt futuristic in some sense).
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
Even though the story is set in present, at times it felt like the events took place in the future, but I would ascribe that to my “less technology” style of life.
I was so happy when I got an invitation to read this book because I previously read The Fire Child by S. K. Tremayne and really liked it.
I hoped the same will happen with his newest piece of work, and I am happy to say that it did.
The story follows a woman named Jo who lives in her best friend’s house in London almost rent-free. Her friend is very wealthy and she has set of home devices that work as assistant to maintain the house, and keep company to people who live in the house.
As her friend is often out of the house, travelling and sleeping in her boyfrined’s place, Jo is usually alone and after some time the assistent start to talk to her about personal things no one should know.
The book starts slowly and to be honest, the first 10% was pretty boring and dull. Jo was alone and the only character in those chapters and, as I was reading, I started to yearn for other persons, in hope they’ll pick up the story.
As the story progressed it became more and more intriguing. The close to the end I was, the more thrilled I became.
The writing style was amazing and it is easy to read, with many quotes worth remembering.
The story is written in first person, from Jo’s perspective, but it also has several chapters that follow other characters’ perspectives, and those are written in third person.
In the end I loved how the story unfold and it really made me think about the rise of technology in our world and where it all can lead us as species.
What our life will be and will we use it to make our lives easier as we all long for, or will it turn us against each other, bring the worst of us?
The end was satisfying and, even though the first person I suspected turned out to be the villain, I like the reasons and revelations behind the one’s motive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to thriller lovers, but also to people who like to read books set in future ( even though this one is set in our time, it felt futuristic in some sense).
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
September 16, 2019
SK Tremayne's latest psychological thriller is terrifically creepy and thought provoking about the nature of our contemporary world, questioning its increasing reliance on technology and the potentially malign ways in which social media can be abused. Jo is a journalist whose life has fallen apart, she has recently divorced, and is in dire financial straits, so she positively welcomes the opportunity of being offered a home at such little cost by a wealthy friend in their luxury Camden flat. It is equipped with all modern conveniences and up to date, state of the art technology that is instrumental in managing the likes of heating and lighting in the home. It is all overseen and managed by the tech tool of the assistant called Electra. In a story primarily delivered from the perspective of Jo, we see how her life slowly descends into a darkness where she finds herself in deadly danger.
Jo is struggling to pick up the pieces of her life again, but it is tough, and she is feeling desperately lonely and isolated in the depths of a dark, cold and wintry London. She finds herself chatting to Electra as a form of company, but her life begins to disintegrate when one night Electra tells her that she knows what she did. Jo does indeed harbour nightmarish secrets in her past, but how on earth can Electra know her personal history? Jo has a traumatic family background of mental health issues and tragedy, is what happening to her real, of sinister human origin, or is she simply succumbing to familial madness? Jo is the classic unreliable narrator as the reader is left to wonder how far she can be trusted. In a creepy and menacing narrative that includes the apt poetry of Sylvia Plath, Jo tries to fight to control that technology that threatens to destroy her. This is a wonderfully twisted, atmospheric and suspenseful novel that will have you distrusting our technological advancements and social media. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Jo is struggling to pick up the pieces of her life again, but it is tough, and she is feeling desperately lonely and isolated in the depths of a dark, cold and wintry London. She finds herself chatting to Electra as a form of company, but her life begins to disintegrate when one night Electra tells her that she knows what she did. Jo does indeed harbour nightmarish secrets in her past, but how on earth can Electra know her personal history? Jo has a traumatic family background of mental health issues and tragedy, is what happening to her real, of sinister human origin, or is she simply succumbing to familial madness? Jo is the classic unreliable narrator as the reader is left to wonder how far she can be trusted. In a creepy and menacing narrative that includes the apt poetry of Sylvia Plath, Jo tries to fight to control that technology that threatens to destroy her. This is a wonderfully twisted, atmospheric and suspenseful novel that will have you distrusting our technological advancements and social media. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
November 17, 2019
This is a clever, dark and creepy thriller depicting what can happen when AI goes rogue! It might make you think twice about installing a home assistant or looking sideways at the one you already have to check if it's watching you.
The narrator, Jo Ferguson is a recently divorced freelance journalist, struggling to make a living in London so when her best friend Tabitha offers her a spare room in her luxury Camden flat she jumps at it. Tabitha's flat is controlled by voice activated home assistants (similar to Alexa) and Jo soon becomes used to asking them for details of the weather or to turn on electrical devices. As Tabitha is away most of the time, she asks Jo never to turn them off so that she can check that all is okay when she's not there. However, when the Assistant starts talking to Jo, telling her terrible things about herself only two other people should know, she wonders whether she is developing the same mental illness that drove her father to commit suicide. As the threats escalate, Jo becomes more and more isolated and distraught as no one believes that the Assistants are talking to her.
The plot has a slow build up but then becomes gripping as Jo becomes frustrated as she struggles to get her friends to listen to her as her persecution is ramped up by the Assistant and her phone and laptop are also hacked. Set during one of the worst winters London has known, the atmosphere is cold and sinister as Jo becomes more and more terrified as her situation spirals out of control.
With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for a digital ARC to read
The narrator, Jo Ferguson is a recently divorced freelance journalist, struggling to make a living in London so when her best friend Tabitha offers her a spare room in her luxury Camden flat she jumps at it. Tabitha's flat is controlled by voice activated home assistants (similar to Alexa) and Jo soon becomes used to asking them for details of the weather or to turn on electrical devices. As Tabitha is away most of the time, she asks Jo never to turn them off so that she can check that all is okay when she's not there. However, when the Assistant starts talking to Jo, telling her terrible things about herself only two other people should know, she wonders whether she is developing the same mental illness that drove her father to commit suicide. As the threats escalate, Jo becomes more and more isolated and distraught as no one believes that the Assistants are talking to her.
The plot has a slow build up but then becomes gripping as Jo becomes frustrated as she struggles to get her friends to listen to her as her persecution is ramped up by the Assistant and her phone and laptop are also hacked. Set during one of the worst winters London has known, the atmosphere is cold and sinister as Jo becomes more and more terrified as her situation spirals out of control.
With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for a digital ARC to read
November 29, 2019
The Assistant is the fourth book written under the nom de plume S. K. Tremayne; it is by far his most compulsive and chilling yet and serves as a stark warning about the perils of permitting our devices access to our very essence and precise, in-depth and eminently sensitive data on not only our lives and loves but our families and close ones too. It is a cross between a technothriller and a psychological thriller and is the perfect creepy story for the modern technological era in which we live. It revolves around Electra, a personal assistant, who is present in the home in which Jo Ferguson is currently living and helps with menial tasks such as turning on the lights and adjusting the heating. But soon the electronic assistant starts taunting her repetitively until she is left doubting her sanity. Jo made a pact not to ever talk about what happened to Jamie Trewin so how can Electra know of it? Surely it isn't sentient? How is it sending her ominous messages stating it knows her deepest, darkest secret? Is someone playing a game and trying to frighten her out of her wits? Could it be the result of someone hacking the system to make a point?
This is an absolute cracker of a thriller but not only is it riveting and absolutely compulsive, but it also serves as a warning of what the future could hold. I literally devoured it and didn't want it to end as it was the very definition of an exhilarating page-turner. Sadly, I feel strongly that the cover artwork and the synopsis will lead many others to incorrectly conclude that this is merely just another run-of-the-mill hybrid with no extra pep or pizazz about it. It's a dark, intriguing and thought-provoking read for the digital age and will have you questioning just how much we rely on tech to get by and the possibility of information our devices gather being used for nefarious purposes. An entertaining, well written, pacy and impossible to put down tale which also happened to be timely and relevant. This is almost like a social/technological commentary in the form of an explosive work of fiction. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
This is an absolute cracker of a thriller but not only is it riveting and absolutely compulsive, but it also serves as a warning of what the future could hold. I literally devoured it and didn't want it to end as it was the very definition of an exhilarating page-turner. Sadly, I feel strongly that the cover artwork and the synopsis will lead many others to incorrectly conclude that this is merely just another run-of-the-mill hybrid with no extra pep or pizazz about it. It's a dark, intriguing and thought-provoking read for the digital age and will have you questioning just how much we rely on tech to get by and the possibility of information our devices gather being used for nefarious purposes. An entertaining, well written, pacy and impossible to put down tale which also happened to be timely and relevant. This is almost like a social/technological commentary in the form of an explosive work of fiction. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
November 28, 2019
The Assistant by SK Tremayne is a realistic and creepy story. Whilst reading this I was thinking about how easy it would be these days - everything is run on technology and we rely on it so heavily. Set in the worst winter that London has seen for years this book is sinister and dark and will get under your skin. Who or what can you trust? They are always watching, and listening.
Jo is a recently divorced journalist who is struggling to make ends meet in London. So when her best friend Tabitha offers her spare room to her for next to nothing she jumps at the chance. It is a modern, luxury apartment in the trendy Camden Town. The place is controlled by the home assistant Electra so does everything from answer questions to turning the lights on and off. And all is going well until one night when the assistants tell Jo "I Know What You Did" . Because Jo does have an awful secret that only 2 other people know about. How does the technology know? Things escalate quickly from there and Jo is in the fight for her life to prove that she is not going mad and that her life is in danger. How is this happening?? And can she stop it before it is too late?
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Jo is a recently divorced journalist who is struggling to make ends meet in London. So when her best friend Tabitha offers her spare room to her for next to nothing she jumps at the chance. It is a modern, luxury apartment in the trendy Camden Town. The place is controlled by the home assistant Electra so does everything from answer questions to turning the lights on and off. And all is going well until one night when the assistants tell Jo "I Know What You Did" . Because Jo does have an awful secret that only 2 other people know about. How does the technology know? Things escalate quickly from there and Jo is in the fight for her life to prove that she is not going mad and that her life is in danger. How is this happening?? And can she stop it before it is too late?
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
December 27, 2019
THE ASSISTANT, a creepy psychological/techno thriller is the fourth book written by the No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller author, under the pen name S.K. Tremayne. It warns of the highlights of modern technology taking over our lives, and is both an eye-opener and realistic and plausible in today’s world.
The novel centers around Electra, a personal assistant, that takes care of the heating, the lights in the home in which newly divorced Jo Ferguson is currently living, after moving into her best friend’s spare room.
She watches you constantly– and sometimes Jo even turns to her for company.
What would you do if your home assistant turned evil?
Electra’s in your house. She controls your life. She knows all your secrets. Now she’s going to destroy it.
Then late one night, Electra says one sentence that rips Jo’s fragile world in two: ‘I know what you did.’ And Jo is horrified. Because in her past she did do something terrible. Something unforgivable.
Now she wants to destroy you. Only two other people in the whole world know Jo’s secret. And they would never tell anyone.
Is someone playing a game and trying to scare Jo?
I couldn’t read this novel fast enough, but also didn’t want it to end. It is a dark thought-provoking read in sink for the times. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK, NetGalley and THE Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for my digital copy.
No virtual assistants for me.
The novel centers around Electra, a personal assistant, that takes care of the heating, the lights in the home in which newly divorced Jo Ferguson is currently living, after moving into her best friend’s spare room.
She watches you constantly– and sometimes Jo even turns to her for company.
What would you do if your home assistant turned evil?
Electra’s in your house. She controls your life. She knows all your secrets. Now she’s going to destroy it.
Then late one night, Electra says one sentence that rips Jo’s fragile world in two: ‘I know what you did.’ And Jo is horrified. Because in her past she did do something terrible. Something unforgivable.
Now she wants to destroy you. Only two other people in the whole world know Jo’s secret. And they would never tell anyone.
Is someone playing a game and trying to scare Jo?
I couldn’t read this novel fast enough, but also didn’t want it to end. It is a dark thought-provoking read in sink for the times. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK, NetGalley and THE Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for my digital copy.
No virtual assistants for me.
January 24, 2020
'myself the rose you achieve'
Who loves Sylvia Plath? I certainly hope you do, because her poetry is at the forefront of this story.
This book had so much going for it...a frightening, absolutely plausible plot; a dark, cold, creepy setting; and last but certainly not least, excellent red herrings (I did not figure out the antagonist). Despite it all, The Assistant was lacking some vital component. It just never really jibed for me.
There are a few things, however, which most assuredly decreased my rating.
1. The story dragged and was terribly repetitive.
2. The protagonist's actions were often inexplicable.
3. The constant confused ramblings became tedious.
Nevertheless, I can definitely foresee folks loving this novel. It has immense potential, and I'll definitely be checking out S.K. Tremayne's future works.
Who loves Sylvia Plath? I certainly hope you do, because her poetry is at the forefront of this story.
This book had so much going for it...a frightening, absolutely plausible plot; a dark, cold, creepy setting; and last but certainly not least, excellent red herrings (I did not figure out the antagonist). Despite it all, The Assistant was lacking some vital component. It just never really jibed for me.
There are a few things, however, which most assuredly decreased my rating.
1. The story dragged and was terribly repetitive.
2. The protagonist's actions were often inexplicable.
3. The constant confused ramblings became tedious.
Nevertheless, I can definitely foresee folks loving this novel. It has immense potential, and I'll definitely be checking out S.K. Tremayne's future works.
February 12, 2020
I knew it! This is exactly why I don't have any kind of digital home help - I don't even talk to Siri. It feels good to have my reluctance validated, in this story of home assistants gone rogue.
It's just after Christmas, in the coldest winter Britain has experienced since the 60s, and we are in the London borough of Camden. Here, newly divorced and almost homeless, freelance journalist Jo Ferguson has gratefully accepted her best friend's invitation to move into the spare room of her luxury flat on Delancey St. It can get lonely at times because Tabitha's rarely there, but Jo can always chat with Electra, the digital home assistant, when she gets bored. Electra looks after everything - the wi-fi, heating, lights, music, reminders, alarms, weather forecasts and answers to cheeky trivia questions - and with a device in almost every room, all Jo has to do is speak and Electra will take care of it. And then one day, Electra mentions something it (she?) couldn't possibly know about. Jo thinks it's a glitch, or she's overtired or something, but as the days pass Electra's menacing behaviour continues and escalates.
Jo begins to doubt her own sanity. After all, her father took his own life after a late diagnosis of schizophrenia. Her mother assures her it wasn't genetic, but Jo's own recollections of that dark time in her childhood include a beloved father who became a frightening version of himself after the TV began talking to him.
This is a very timely thriller, as we become more and more reliant upon technology to create a smooth path through our busy lives. It delivers a gradual, tense buildup to a heart-racing climax that may have you looking sideways at your Google Nest. It's a highly entertaining read, but I must qualify this review with the admission that, fairly early in the story, I chose to read it as a tongue-in-cheek kind of thriller, rather than a straight one. I thought it was a bit too OTT to be intended for straight thrills.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
It's just after Christmas, in the coldest winter Britain has experienced since the 60s, and we are in the London borough of Camden. Here, newly divorced and almost homeless, freelance journalist Jo Ferguson has gratefully accepted her best friend's invitation to move into the spare room of her luxury flat on Delancey St. It can get lonely at times because Tabitha's rarely there, but Jo can always chat with Electra, the digital home assistant, when she gets bored. Electra looks after everything - the wi-fi, heating, lights, music, reminders, alarms, weather forecasts and answers to cheeky trivia questions - and with a device in almost every room, all Jo has to do is speak and Electra will take care of it. And then one day, Electra mentions something it (she?) couldn't possibly know about. Jo thinks it's a glitch, or she's overtired or something, but as the days pass Electra's menacing behaviour continues and escalates.
Jo begins to doubt her own sanity. After all, her father took his own life after a late diagnosis of schizophrenia. Her mother assures her it wasn't genetic, but Jo's own recollections of that dark time in her childhood include a beloved father who became a frightening version of himself after the TV began talking to him.
This is a very timely thriller, as we become more and more reliant upon technology to create a smooth path through our busy lives. It delivers a gradual, tense buildup to a heart-racing climax that may have you looking sideways at your Google Nest. It's a highly entertaining read, but I must qualify this review with the admission that, fairly early in the story, I chose to read it as a tongue-in-cheek kind of thriller, rather than a straight one. I thought it was a bit too OTT to be intended for straight thrills.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
May 1, 2020
I have previously read and enjoyed 'The Ice Twins' and 'The Fire Child' by S.K. Tremayne so was keen to read this one.
Jo is recently divorced and moves into her best friend's spare room paying very little rent to help her get through this change in her life. The accommodation is an high tech luxury flat complete with a home assistant to control the heating, lighting etc. The assistant is called Electra and is similar to the Amazon Alexa. Everything is going so well until one night when Electra states 'I know what you did'. Jo is dumbstruck because she has a dark secret in her past that she is eager to keep. Only two other people in the whole world know Jo's secret and she is positive they would never tell. Jo is terrified that Electra wants to destroy her.
I found this novel an easy read and a decent read. Quite a slow start but a very good premise and decent characters but didn't quite feel it lived up to the promise. Unfortunately not up to the standard of the other novels I have previously read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Harper Collins for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Jo is recently divorced and moves into her best friend's spare room paying very little rent to help her get through this change in her life. The accommodation is an high tech luxury flat complete with a home assistant to control the heating, lighting etc. The assistant is called Electra and is similar to the Amazon Alexa. Everything is going so well until one night when Electra states 'I know what you did'. Jo is dumbstruck because she has a dark secret in her past that she is eager to keep. Only two other people in the whole world know Jo's secret and she is positive they would never tell. Jo is terrified that Electra wants to destroy her.
I found this novel an easy read and a decent read. Quite a slow start but a very good premise and decent characters but didn't quite feel it lived up to the promise. Unfortunately not up to the standard of the other novels I have previously read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Harper Collins for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2020
The overreliant use of technology and the potential negative side that it could all go wrong makes for such good drama.
In the case of Tremayne's latest The Assistant (a device that is an Amazon Alexa but avoiding copyright) plays havovk with Jo Ferguson.
First the device taunts Jo of a secret from her past then attempts to ruin every aspect of Jo's life.
Whilst the manner of the attacks started incress which made the plot implausible at time, it does highlight how connected everything has become.
From internet banking and e-mails to mobile phones and voice recognition.
The mystery itself was engaging but felt the use of these devices turning bad has worked better elsewhere.
The authors desperate attempt to try a d remind the reader that it's meant to be an Alexa by calling the assistant Electra just hammered home the point.
Even with the slow pacing I'm glad that I stuck with it though.
In the case of Tremayne's latest The Assistant (a device that is an Amazon Alexa but avoiding copyright) plays havovk with Jo Ferguson.
First the device taunts Jo of a secret from her past then attempts to ruin every aspect of Jo's life.
Whilst the manner of the attacks started incress which made the plot implausible at time, it does highlight how connected everything has become.
From internet banking and e-mails to mobile phones and voice recognition.
The mystery itself was engaging but felt the use of these devices turning bad has worked better elsewhere.
The authors desperate attempt to try a d remind the reader that it's meant to be an Alexa by calling the assistant Electra just hammered home the point.
Even with the slow pacing I'm glad that I stuck with it though.
December 2, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Jo is currently living in Tabithas apartment. Its full of electronic devices and gadgets. Electra starts talking to Jo, telling her she knows what she did to the boy. Only two other people knew this secret. Electra keeps revealing more and more about Jo's life. Is Jo going crazy, imagining the device is talking to her? After all, her dad had just before he committed suicide.
I found this to be a it of a slow burner. Thankfully the pace does pick up after you've read about a third of the book. Just when you think things can't get any worse for Jo, they do. Is being alone most of the time playing with her mind? It gets more tense the more you read. The last quarter of the book is by far the best part. This book is the reason why I would never have modern devices in my home. They freak me out, just like parts of this book did.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK HarperFiction and the author S.K. Tremayne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jo is currently living in Tabithas apartment. Its full of electronic devices and gadgets. Electra starts talking to Jo, telling her she knows what she did to the boy. Only two other people knew this secret. Electra keeps revealing more and more about Jo's life. Is Jo going crazy, imagining the device is talking to her? After all, her dad had just before he committed suicide.
I found this to be a it of a slow burner. Thankfully the pace does pick up after you've read about a third of the book. Just when you think things can't get any worse for Jo, they do. Is being alone most of the time playing with her mind? It gets more tense the more you read. The last quarter of the book is by far the best part. This book is the reason why I would never have modern devices in my home. They freak me out, just like parts of this book did.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK HarperFiction and the author S.K. Tremayne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2019
As technology continues to encroach on every aspect of our lives, SK Tremayne's new novel makes us wonder what would happen if that tech went wrong - or was used to nefarious ends...
It's a thoroughly modern take on the thriller genre, and one which we're seeing more and more of. However, while decently chilling in places, there are far better examples on offer than The Assistant.
The plot is decently crafted (it does get a bit preposterous toward the end, as is the wont of the genre and not necessarily a bad thing). But the writing and unnecessarily disturbing-for-shocks content lets it down and renders the whole thing a little tawdry. There's a stomach-churning reference to child abuse and OTT descriptions of self-harm (the latter framed in a completely insensitive and ignorant manner), while elsewhere the author's prejudices shine through - apparently anywhere that's cheap to live is riven with knife crime, and there's references to 'gay boys' and 'single mums turned drug dealers'.
There's lots of incongruous, badly written and creepily misogynistic sex peppered throughout (rather, shoehorned in). At one point a character ponders the propriety of watching porn while eating Waitrose dips, while elsewhere a GP comments on the attractiveness of a patient. And the ignorance surrounding mental health issues is simply stunning. Aside from the self harm for thrills, we see references to 'a schizo, a nutter', 'one of the alcoholic nutters' and those suffering from schizophrenia as being 'mad' - all from a supposedly educated and intelligent character. There's nods to the gay men = promiscuous trope, too, and a smattering of extra homophobia for good measure.
Then there's the downright ridiculous writing. 'Stone flowers on mouldering graves hold scoops of snow, like ghosts of ice cream'; 'Fear grips me, like the talons of an owl, grasping my heart'. It's all a bit sixth form story writing competition.
It's entertaining enough if all of the above isn't an issue for you. I found Tremayne's value judgements and ignorance overshadowed what might have been a passable thriller. While there are some genuinely chilling scenes, and some creepy questions raised on the topic of tech and our dependency on it, the premise promised far more than was delivered and the overall feeling is one of a wasted opportunity. A (slightly grubby) shame.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It's a thoroughly modern take on the thriller genre, and one which we're seeing more and more of. However, while decently chilling in places, there are far better examples on offer than The Assistant.
The plot is decently crafted (it does get a bit preposterous toward the end, as is the wont of the genre and not necessarily a bad thing). But the writing and unnecessarily disturbing-for-shocks content lets it down and renders the whole thing a little tawdry. There's a stomach-churning reference to child abuse and OTT descriptions of self-harm (the latter framed in a completely insensitive and ignorant manner), while elsewhere the author's prejudices shine through - apparently anywhere that's cheap to live is riven with knife crime, and there's references to 'gay boys' and 'single mums turned drug dealers'.
There's lots of incongruous, badly written and creepily misogynistic sex peppered throughout (rather, shoehorned in). At one point a character ponders the propriety of watching porn while eating Waitrose dips, while elsewhere a GP comments on the attractiveness of a patient. And the ignorance surrounding mental health issues is simply stunning. Aside from the self harm for thrills, we see references to 'a schizo, a nutter', 'one of the alcoholic nutters' and those suffering from schizophrenia as being 'mad' - all from a supposedly educated and intelligent character. There's nods to the gay men = promiscuous trope, too, and a smattering of extra homophobia for good measure.
Then there's the downright ridiculous writing. 'Stone flowers on mouldering graves hold scoops of snow, like ghosts of ice cream'; 'Fear grips me, like the talons of an owl, grasping my heart'. It's all a bit sixth form story writing competition.
It's entertaining enough if all of the above isn't an issue for you. I found Tremayne's value judgements and ignorance overshadowed what might have been a passable thriller. While there are some genuinely chilling scenes, and some creepy questions raised on the topic of tech and our dependency on it, the premise promised far more than was delivered and the overall feeling is one of a wasted opportunity. A (slightly grubby) shame.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2020
Wow this book was a chilling thriller that makes you think how technology can take over our life’s. It gave me goosebumps and made me look at Alexa in a new light!!
Jo a struggling freelance writer who is getting over her divorce with Simon, her best friend Tabitha offers her a spare room for minimum rent in her luxury apartment in Camden. Tabitha has Electra, voice activated assistants that control the lights, heating, and will answer questions such as “What is the weather like?” (similar to Alexa).
Jo settles in and feels very lucky to be living in such a luxury apartment, until Electra out of the blue says
“I know what you did.”
Electra seems to know the secret, but only two other people know what it is. Jo worries she is going insane and no one believes that Electra is taunting her.
I loved this book, how clever to use technology that most people have in their homes to assist them and turn it on it’s head to make a chilling read where they control you’re life.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Jo a struggling freelance writer who is getting over her divorce with Simon, her best friend Tabitha offers her a spare room for minimum rent in her luxury apartment in Camden. Tabitha has Electra, voice activated assistants that control the lights, heating, and will answer questions such as “What is the weather like?” (similar to Alexa).
Jo settles in and feels very lucky to be living in such a luxury apartment, until Electra out of the blue says
“I know what you did.”
Electra seems to know the secret, but only two other people know what it is. Jo worries she is going insane and no one believes that Electra is taunting her.
I loved this book, how clever to use technology that most people have in their homes to assist them and turn it on it’s head to make a chilling read where they control you’re life.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
January 13, 2020
Wow this was an excellent read. I haven’t read a book so good in a long time. I was so hooked and desperate to find out what was really going on. There were so many suspects I changed my mind a lot and still didn’t get it right. It was a different kind of thriller than normal especially with the Electra’s. They were really creepy but made the story even better. I really liked Jo and really wanted to know if it was her going mad or if it all was really happening. There was so much going on and so many twists and turns throughout the story. This book was brilliant and I definitely recommend it.
January 1, 2020
After a rather slow and tedious start to “The Assistant” (I mean who takes up to two hours and ponders on three basic profile dating site questions?), I did get into the story and found the second half of the book quite riveting and tense. With technology speeding along the way it is and advancing every day, this story based on hacked household smart speakers (like Amazon’s Alexa but much more capable), does sound far fetched but not totally unrealistic. It’s quite frightening how easy it is to be targeted by hackers via email, social media etc these days and it truly is a worrying issue as to how far this could eventually effect everyone without their realising. There’s a lot of stories currently focusing on smart technology going wrong and having errors in their coding and this must surely be a sign of the coming times with regards to breaches of personal online security.
It’s takes a while to take to the authors writing style, lots of repetitive words and characters to me that were very unlikeable and unreliable narrators. I couldn’t for the life of me picture the main protagonist Jo at all and the constant references to the rich and affluent, who are the only ones who seem to be afford to live and survive in London, irked more than once. The snobbery seemed very over the top and boring for who the characters actually were and maybe unnecessary looking back at the storyline and it’s denouement.
I haven’t read anything by S K Tremayne before but know that his “The Ice Twins” was very successful which I do have on my shelves to read at some point. I would recommend this book and author, slow to start, a tad far fetched but all in all an entertaining enough novel if only average, which focuses on mental health issues, friendships, smart technology, grief and even the long term affects of child abuse.
3 stars
It’s takes a while to take to the authors writing style, lots of repetitive words and characters to me that were very unlikeable and unreliable narrators. I couldn’t for the life of me picture the main protagonist Jo at all and the constant references to the rich and affluent, who are the only ones who seem to be afford to live and survive in London, irked more than once. The snobbery seemed very over the top and boring for who the characters actually were and maybe unnecessary looking back at the storyline and it’s denouement.
I haven’t read anything by S K Tremayne before but know that his “The Ice Twins” was very successful which I do have on my shelves to read at some point. I would recommend this book and author, slow to start, a tad far fetched but all in all an entertaining enough novel if only average, which focuses on mental health issues, friendships, smart technology, grief and even the long term affects of child abuse.
3 stars
June 19, 2020
Antes de iniciar a leitura deste livro, pensei que o mesmo retratava a vida de uma assistente viva, de pele e osso, que respirava,… (de salto alto, saia acima dos joelhos, camisa com cinco botões, dois deles desabotoados, óculos e rabo de cavalo). 😆 Mentira, brincadeira… três botões desabotoados! 😅😅😅.
Definitivamente, esta assistente virtual é um dispositivo inteligente, tal como (já terão ouvido falar) a Alexa.
Uma história passada na atualidade, com pequenos eventos a roçar o futurismo. A roçar o futurismo, para quem é mais desatento, para quem é um pouco desligado da evolução tecnológica, sobretudo ao nível da AI (inteligência artificial). Já a vemos, já a sentimos em quase tudo que nos rodeia.
O enredo: Jo, jornalista, mora no casa da sua melhor amiga em Londres. A sua amiga, bem abastada financeiramente, dotou a casa com uma série de dispositivos domésticos, que, para além de serem uma companhia, funcionam como assistentes (regula a temperatura!, abre a porta!, liga ao Simon!, fecha a persiana!, como estará amanhã o tempo em Londres!, reduz o volume do rádio!, liga a televisão!,…)
Como a proprietária do apartamento, raramente está por casa, pelo que Jo geralmente está sozinha. Subitamente uma das assistentes, inicia uma conversa com a Jo sobre um tema que (quase) ninguém sabe, sobre o seu passado e que a compromete.
O livro “começa devagar” e sinceramente os primeiros 10% chegaram a ser chatos e aborrecidos. À medida que a história avança, a intriga e o mistério adensa-se, retomando então a vontade de devorar os capítulos que se vão avizinhando.
É a (por mim) chamada leitura pastilha elástica invertida. Ou seja, inicialmente insípida, desenxabida, com pouco “sumo”, mas depois há uma evolução positiva e começo a retirar gozo da leitura. (Não gosto de pastilhas elásticas)!
Maioritariamente escrito na primeira pessoa, da perspetiva da Jo, mas também alguns capítulos que seguem as perspetivas de outras personagens, são escritos na terceira pessoa.
Um final galopante, interessante, embora já perspetivasse parte do seu desfecho.
Uma reflexão básica sobre a evolução irrefletida, a ascensão da tecnologia no mundo e o possível impacto sobre a nossa espécie. Uma reflexão sobre a tecnologia que exponencia o melhor de nós e por vezes o pior.
Um bom livro para os amantes de suspense.
Definitivamente, esta assistente virtual é um dispositivo inteligente, tal como (já terão ouvido falar) a Alexa.
Uma história passada na atualidade, com pequenos eventos a roçar o futurismo. A roçar o futurismo, para quem é mais desatento, para quem é um pouco desligado da evolução tecnológica, sobretudo ao nível da AI (inteligência artificial). Já a vemos, já a sentimos em quase tudo que nos rodeia.
O enredo: Jo, jornalista, mora no casa da sua melhor amiga em Londres. A sua amiga, bem abastada financeiramente, dotou a casa com uma série de dispositivos domésticos, que, para além de serem uma companhia, funcionam como assistentes (regula a temperatura!, abre a porta!, liga ao Simon!, fecha a persiana!, como estará amanhã o tempo em Londres!, reduz o volume do rádio!, liga a televisão!,…)
Como a proprietária do apartamento, raramente está por casa, pelo que Jo geralmente está sozinha. Subitamente uma das assistentes, inicia uma conversa com a Jo sobre um tema que (quase) ninguém sabe, sobre o seu passado e que a compromete.
O livro “começa devagar” e sinceramente os primeiros 10% chegaram a ser chatos e aborrecidos. À medida que a história avança, a intriga e o mistério adensa-se, retomando então a vontade de devorar os capítulos que se vão avizinhando.
É a (por mim) chamada leitura pastilha elástica invertida. Ou seja, inicialmente insípida, desenxabida, com pouco “sumo”, mas depois há uma evolução positiva e começo a retirar gozo da leitura. (Não gosto de pastilhas elásticas)!
Maioritariamente escrito na primeira pessoa, da perspetiva da Jo, mas também alguns capítulos que seguem as perspetivas de outras personagens, são escritos na terceira pessoa.
Um final galopante, interessante, embora já perspetivasse parte do seu desfecho.
Uma reflexão básica sobre a evolução irrefletida, a ascensão da tecnologia no mundo e o possível impacto sobre a nossa espécie. Uma reflexão sobre a tecnologia que exponencia o melhor de nós e por vezes o pior.
Um bom livro para os amantes de suspense.
December 20, 2019
4.5 STARS
Jo is newly divorced and happy to move in with her best friend. Jo is a freelance journalist and wouldn't be able to afford living anywhere as nice as this.
The modern apartment is managed by a Home Assistant, Electra. (think Alexa) who manages everything in the house and can even carry on a conversation.
The Home Assistant is wonderful new technology that everyone wants... but one night Electra tells Jo it knows Jo's secret. Jo is scared ... because there is something in her past that no one knows.
Only two other people in the whole world know Jo's secret. And they would never tell anyone. Would they? As a fierce winter brings London to a standstill, Jo begins to understand that the Assistant on the shelf doesn't just want to control Jo; it wants to destroy her.
At first, I thought I was reading science fiction ... then it occurred to me that science fiction has caught up with real life. How many have gadgets in their house to answer questions, do research, ... and do you know who is behind the voice?
This is well written with an increasing creep factor that doesn't let up until the very last surprising ending. The characters are deftly drawn ... and Jo's fear is palpable throughout.
Many thanks to the author / Harper Collins / Netgalley / THE Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Jo is newly divorced and happy to move in with her best friend. Jo is a freelance journalist and wouldn't be able to afford living anywhere as nice as this.
The modern apartment is managed by a Home Assistant, Electra. (think Alexa) who manages everything in the house and can even carry on a conversation.
The Home Assistant is wonderful new technology that everyone wants... but one night Electra tells Jo it knows Jo's secret. Jo is scared ... because there is something in her past that no one knows.
Only two other people in the whole world know Jo's secret. And they would never tell anyone. Would they? As a fierce winter brings London to a standstill, Jo begins to understand that the Assistant on the shelf doesn't just want to control Jo; it wants to destroy her.
At first, I thought I was reading science fiction ... then it occurred to me that science fiction has caught up with real life. How many have gadgets in their house to answer questions, do research, ... and do you know who is behind the voice?
This is well written with an increasing creep factor that doesn't let up until the very last surprising ending. The characters are deftly drawn ... and Jo's fear is palpable throughout.
Many thanks to the author / Harper Collins / Netgalley / THE Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 10, 2020
This is the third S. K. Tremayne thriller I have read and it was my least favorite. It managed to give me the creeps several times but then had my eyes rolling other times. What creeped me out were the little Alexa-like devices that controlled the luxury apartment where Jo, our protagonist, lived with her friend Tabitha. In no time the devices, here known as Electra home assistants, were controlling Jo as well, not to mention her smart phone, laptop, emails, television, and the lights and heat -- and not in a good way. The playing of videos and speaking to her in other voices, even her own, were all pretty clever ploys to build a story around. Unfortunately, what didn't work for me was Jo's reaction to all that was thrown at her. We are told how smart Jo is, yet repeatedly she acts irresponsibly and just plain stupid at times. She did not come off as smart.
Either Jo is losing her mind as her father did before her, or someone is doing an excellent job of convincing her of it through the home devices. I raced through the chapters to see what was going on.
If you are a fan of Tremayne's and able to accept naive protagonists, you will enjoy this one. I was given a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Either Jo is losing her mind as her father did before her, or someone is doing an excellent job of convincing her of it through the home devices. I raced through the chapters to see what was going on.
If you are a fan of Tremayne's and able to accept naive protagonists, you will enjoy this one. I was given a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2020
Psychological Thrillers / Contemporary
She’s in your house. She controls your life. Now she’s going to destroy it.
Newly divorced Jo (33) is happy to move into her friend’s spare room almost rent-free. The high-tech flat is managed by a Home Assistant, called Electra, who helps to keep her company when she feels lonely. Till Electra start to say things about Jo's past and weird things start to happen. What secret Jo is hiding? How Electra knows things it shouldn't know? Or is Jo going crazy like her father?
I like this story's premise - what if your home where you should feel safe, suddenly become menacing and controlled by the techology? So I was really looking forward to this story. Sadly the protagonist is another messed up woman who's haunted by something from her past (naturally this "terrible secret" won't be revealed until much later in the book. Huh, so tired of this plot device where author keep reader in the dark!) and after few first chapters I got really frustrated.
Jo's inner monologue about her miserable life, unsatisfactory career and sex life, was so boring. Jo sounded pathetic, unlikeable, constatly whining how broke she was, yet, used Uber, went to dinners. Its like she's the only person to get divorced or be lonely. Someone in her 30s should be more mature and put together! Another thing that dissapointed me was the way protagonist's backround was delivered . I enjoy stories where the heroine have to start over but I prefer them to be more quirky, sassy and have courage! If you fall down, pick yourself up like a lady!
And finally: Show, don't tell!
Sadly I couldn't click with this story, nor the characters. Next, please!
She’s in your house. She controls your life. Now she’s going to destroy it.
Newly divorced Jo (33) is happy to move into her friend’s spare room almost rent-free. The high-tech flat is managed by a Home Assistant, called Electra, who helps to keep her company when she feels lonely. Till Electra start to say things about Jo's past and weird things start to happen. What secret Jo is hiding? How Electra knows things it shouldn't know? Or is Jo going crazy like her father?
I like this story's premise - what if your home where you should feel safe, suddenly become menacing and controlled by the techology? So I was really looking forward to this story. Sadly the protagonist is another messed up woman who's haunted by something from her past (naturally this "terrible secret" won't be revealed until much later in the book. Huh, so tired of this plot device where author keep reader in the dark!) and after few first chapters I got really frustrated.
Jo's inner monologue about her miserable life, unsatisfactory career and sex life, was so boring. Jo sounded pathetic, unlikeable, constatly whining how broke she was, yet, used Uber, went to dinners. Its like she's the only person to get divorced or be lonely. Someone in her 30s should be more mature and put together! Another thing that dissapointed me was the way protagonist's backround was delivered . I enjoy stories where the heroine have to start over but I prefer them to be more quirky, sassy and have courage! If you fall down, pick yourself up like a lady!
And finally: Show, don't tell!
Sadly I couldn't click with this story, nor the characters. Next, please!
December 18, 2020
Opowieść ku przestrodze, o urządzeniach, które obserwują nasze życie, podsłuchują nasze życie i wreszcie... zmieniają nasze życie niekoniecznie na lepsze.
Jest w "Asystentce" pewna lekcja na przyszłość dla całej ludzkości. Lepiej nie pogrążać się w półśnie i nie pozwolić, by sztuczna inteligencja jakiegokolwiek typu powoli przejmowała naszą rzeczywistość. Trudno powiedzieć na jakim etapie jesteśmy dzisiaj, w końcu elektroniczni asystencji stali się nieodzowną częścią wielu domów już teraz za oceanem. Natomiast scenariuszy zachowań urządzeń podobnych do Electry być może nie sposób do końca przewidzieć – jedno pozostaje pewne. Ten temat zdaje się być niewyczerpanym źródłem inspiracji dla twórców współczesnej popkultury.
S.K. Tremayne doskonale buduje atmosferę rosnącego napięcia, osaczenia, wreszcie – poczucia całkowitej utraty kontroli. Piękne mieszkanie, obietnica nowego życia, błogie poczucie spokoju, które okazuje się jedynie pozorne. Electra jest niby tylko urządzeniem, wykreowanym przez człowieka systemem, a jednak... Jest czymś więcej – czymś, czego nikt nie chciałby napotkać na swojej drodze.
Jeśli lubicie opowieści w duchu "Czarnego lustra", które niby nam współczesne wciąż wydają się być dopiero obrazem dystopijnej przyszłości, to w "Asystentce" znajdziecie coś dla siebie. Ja znalazłam w niej odpowiedź na jeden z moich lęków, bez dwóch zdań.
Jest w "Asystentce" pewna lekcja na przyszłość dla całej ludzkości. Lepiej nie pogrążać się w półśnie i nie pozwolić, by sztuczna inteligencja jakiegokolwiek typu powoli przejmowała naszą rzeczywistość. Trudno powiedzieć na jakim etapie jesteśmy dzisiaj, w końcu elektroniczni asystencji stali się nieodzowną częścią wielu domów już teraz za oceanem. Natomiast scenariuszy zachowań urządzeń podobnych do Electry być może nie sposób do końca przewidzieć – jedno pozostaje pewne. Ten temat zdaje się być niewyczerpanym źródłem inspiracji dla twórców współczesnej popkultury.
S.K. Tremayne doskonale buduje atmosferę rosnącego napięcia, osaczenia, wreszcie – poczucia całkowitej utraty kontroli. Piękne mieszkanie, obietnica nowego życia, błogie poczucie spokoju, które okazuje się jedynie pozorne. Electra jest niby tylko urządzeniem, wykreowanym przez człowieka systemem, a jednak... Jest czymś więcej – czymś, czego nikt nie chciałby napotkać na swojej drodze.
Jeśli lubicie opowieści w duchu "Czarnego lustra", które niby nam współczesne wciąż wydają się być dopiero obrazem dystopijnej przyszłości, to w "Asystentce" znajdziecie coś dla siebie. Ja znalazłam w niej odpowiedź na jeden z moich lęków, bez dwóch zdań.
September 24, 2020
Wow! How did I miss this one last year? This book was incredible!
Electric, riveting, and deliciously disturbing, The Assistant is a scarily believable story about the nature of modern technology and our reliance on virtual assistants, like Alexa or Siri. What happens when a virtual assistant goes rogue? Could it drive you insane? The Assistant burrows into the fear many of us have: that technology might not just control us, but could ultimately destroy us.
Newly divorced, Jo is happy to move into her friend’s luxury London flat. It’s the perfect place for a new start. But one night the virtual assistant, Electra, begins talking to her. She tells Jo she knows what she did. And Jo did do something bad. Something unforgiveable. But how would Electra know? Is it all in her head, or does Electra really want to destroy her?
Unique and compelling, you won’t want to miss this dark and atmospheric thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Electric, riveting, and deliciously disturbing, The Assistant is a scarily believable story about the nature of modern technology and our reliance on virtual assistants, like Alexa or Siri. What happens when a virtual assistant goes rogue? Could it drive you insane? The Assistant burrows into the fear many of us have: that technology might not just control us, but could ultimately destroy us.
Newly divorced, Jo is happy to move into her friend’s luxury London flat. It’s the perfect place for a new start. But one night the virtual assistant, Electra, begins talking to her. She tells Jo she knows what she did. And Jo did do something bad. Something unforgiveable. But how would Electra know? Is it all in her head, or does Electra really want to destroy her?
Unique and compelling, you won’t want to miss this dark and atmospheric thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2020
wow! this was such a great story. Creepy, atmospheric and full of tension.
Penniless Jo, is invited to stay in her best friend Tabitha's gorgeous state of the art flat in Camden. It has everything, in particular the most up to date Home Help assistant system (a hint towards Alexa) which was installed by Tabitha's fiancé Arlo so he can keep a check on her.
But soon after Jo moves in, she senses something is wrong. The assistants appear to be talking to her. In fact, they are saying terrible things, things about her past, things she didn't know anyone else knew, horrible things. In particular about an earlier event in her life when she and Tabitha went to Glastonbury that ended in tragedy. How could they know this? And what is their purpose for frightening her? Is someone she knows doing this? Or is she going mad and hallucinating?
Such brilliant tension, and a fantastic twist at the end. What makes it such a scary story is how reliant everyone is nowadays on social media, and being tuned into everything as soon as it happens. And this as we discover, can be very dangerous indeed.
Penniless Jo, is invited to stay in her best friend Tabitha's gorgeous state of the art flat in Camden. It has everything, in particular the most up to date Home Help assistant system (a hint towards Alexa) which was installed by Tabitha's fiancé Arlo so he can keep a check on her.
But soon after Jo moves in, she senses something is wrong. The assistants appear to be talking to her. In fact, they are saying terrible things, things about her past, things she didn't know anyone else knew, horrible things. In particular about an earlier event in her life when she and Tabitha went to Glastonbury that ended in tragedy. How could they know this? And what is their purpose for frightening her? Is someone she knows doing this? Or is she going mad and hallucinating?
Such brilliant tension, and a fantastic twist at the end. What makes it such a scary story is how reliant everyone is nowadays on social media, and being tuned into everything as soon as it happens. And this as we discover, can be very dangerous indeed.
December 19, 2019
Woah!! What a book!! The first thing I did after reading it is packed up my Alexa. No more virtual assistants for me ever. The book played on my fears brilliantly.
Jo shared Tabitha's flat which was wired and in control by the Virtual Asistants called Electra. And they knew Jo's dark secret. In Tabitha's absence, the assistants spoke to her, revealed secrets and videos, sent nasty mails to friends. Basically they isolated Jo completely and drive her nearly to suicide.
My third book by author S. K. Tremayne, and I was blown away by the suspense in the words. I knew where the story was going, but I didn't know the mastermind behind it. I loved seeing how every page took Jo to a downward spiral. That played on my fears too.
The stakes were raised with every chapter. The desperation in Jo could be seen when she found one support given by the words of a homeless man. I shivered at the thought of how lonely she had become. The virtual assistants had even ordered pills for her death.... Eeeekkksss....
The author's writing made me screech at Jo, telling her to leave that place. Bur where was she to go? All her friends and family hated her. The book reached the zenith in helplessness when a ray of light was shown and Jo took it and fought back. Whew!! A fabulous read which completely horrified me.
Jo shared Tabitha's flat which was wired and in control by the Virtual Asistants called Electra. And they knew Jo's dark secret. In Tabitha's absence, the assistants spoke to her, revealed secrets and videos, sent nasty mails to friends. Basically they isolated Jo completely and drive her nearly to suicide.
My third book by author S. K. Tremayne, and I was blown away by the suspense in the words. I knew where the story was going, but I didn't know the mastermind behind it. I loved seeing how every page took Jo to a downward spiral. That played on my fears too.
The stakes were raised with every chapter. The desperation in Jo could be seen when she found one support given by the words of a homeless man. I shivered at the thought of how lonely she had become. The virtual assistants had even ordered pills for her death.... Eeeekkksss....
The author's writing made me screech at Jo, telling her to leave that place. Bur where was she to go? All her friends and family hated her. The book reached the zenith in helplessness when a ray of light was shown and Jo took it and fought back. Whew!! A fabulous read which completely horrified me.
February 11, 2021
Contrived plot, thoroughly unlikeable characters, repetitive, this skimmable book did nothing for me. Unpleasant reading experience.
August 2, 2020
Hmm. I enjoyed the first half of this but it gradually lost its way.
The story of Jo, a divorced woman in her early 30s, not much money and living with her wealthy friend in London in her flat as a lodger.
The flat is kitted out with personal assistants in the realm of Amazon’s Echo, Google Home etc.
Her friend is away a lot with her job so Jo spends a lot of time alone in the flat as she also works from home. She uses the tech a lot and finds the voice a comfort when she is alone.
However when the assistants start talking to her without prompting, start bringing dark secrets up from her past, she starts to wonder is she losing her mind.
Her father committed suicide when she was young due to schizophrenia. He started hearing the tv talking to him. Late onset schizophrenia was the diagnosis. Is she showing symptoms of the same or are the assistants actually taking to her? Or worse is someone using them to stalk her?
This started off pretty interesting. A narrative on modern tech put into an interesting premise. Between that and the schizophrenia angle we have a pretty interesting story with an unreliable narrator.
It loses its way about half way through as the narrator just becomes annoying. The old “taking pills so can’t remember exactly what happened/unsure of what is reality” trick is used to the extreme and I tired of it quickly.
I found the book overly long, getting more ridiculous as it went on, with a hugely disappointing(and a bit of a cop out) ending.
It had some really interesting questions and threads in it but most are just red herrings. The problem is the red herrings were more interesting than the actual real story as it turned out.
The makings of a very good story, a book of two halves, I really enjoyed the first half and slowly lost interest as the second half went on, culminating in the poor ending.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins and S.K. Tremayne for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story of Jo, a divorced woman in her early 30s, not much money and living with her wealthy friend in London in her flat as a lodger.
The flat is kitted out with personal assistants in the realm of Amazon’s Echo, Google Home etc.
Her friend is away a lot with her job so Jo spends a lot of time alone in the flat as she also works from home. She uses the tech a lot and finds the voice a comfort when she is alone.
However when the assistants start talking to her without prompting, start bringing dark secrets up from her past, she starts to wonder is she losing her mind.
Her father committed suicide when she was young due to schizophrenia. He started hearing the tv talking to him. Late onset schizophrenia was the diagnosis. Is she showing symptoms of the same or are the assistants actually taking to her? Or worse is someone using them to stalk her?
This started off pretty interesting. A narrative on modern tech put into an interesting premise. Between that and the schizophrenia angle we have a pretty interesting story with an unreliable narrator.
It loses its way about half way through as the narrator just becomes annoying. The old “taking pills so can’t remember exactly what happened/unsure of what is reality” trick is used to the extreme and I tired of it quickly.
I found the book overly long, getting more ridiculous as it went on, with a hugely disappointing(and a bit of a cop out) ending.
It had some really interesting questions and threads in it but most are just red herrings. The problem is the red herrings were more interesting than the actual real story as it turned out.
The makings of a very good story, a book of two halves, I really enjoyed the first half and slowly lost interest as the second half went on, culminating in the poor ending.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins and S.K. Tremayne for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2020
Lê-se bem e até a meio é bastante interessante😎
November 23, 2019
Finished reading: November 19th 2019
"I do not understand the extent of the hatred and the violence of the damage done to me. Why and how do I deserve this? What is the point?"
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 17, 2021
S.K. Tremayne hat hier eine äußerst geschickt gewobene Story erzählt, die mit viel Undurchsichtigkeit, Irrungen und Wirrungen und Überraschungen aufwartet. Zwar kann die recht missgünstige Protagonistin Jo auf der Sympathie-Ebene nicht wirklich glänzen, überzeugt aber durch andere interessante Charakterzüge, realistischen Gedanken und Handlungen und authentischem Auftreten. So passte sie perfekt in diesen Thriller und brachte einiges an Zündstoff und Raum für Spekulationen ins Spiel. Mir gefiel in diesem Werk besonders, wie komplex die Thematik war, ohne dass es unverständlich hätte werden können. Der Leser wird bewusst immer wieder in die Irre geführt und egal wie oft ich es auch drehte und wendete; auf dieses Ende wäre ich niemals gekommen. Ein stimmiger, actionreicher und turbulenter Schluss, der das Buch für mich schließlich abrundete. Auf meinem Blog hab ich euch nochmal genau erzählt, was ich mochte, und was nicht so sehr. Falls ihr also neugierig seid und mehr wissen möchtet, schaut einfach mal » hier « vorbei. Viel Spaß beim Stöbern.
January 17, 2020
I read and loved S.K. Tremayne's first thriller
"The Ice Twins"
so I was excited to read THE ASSISTANT. But while the premise promised a disturbing tale at the hands of a Home Assistant, I found it slow and drawn out and relatively unexciting. I was disappointed because the concept of such a thing happening was unique to this type of book despite the very real danger of it occurring through cyber attacks.
I guess I must be in the minority as many people have enjoyed it, so maybe I will come back to it at a later time when my TBR list is reduced.
In this new age of technology where homes are now becoming "smart homes" hooked up to wireless smart technology that can turn the lights on, the heating, the cooling as well as give you any information you request just by simply asking it a question, THE ASSISTANT takes this to a whole new level.
The story begins with Jo, recently divorced from Simon, who now shares her best friend's flat in an exclusive area of London practically rent-free. The flat has been set up as a smart home with various devices known as Home Assistants to maintain the various appliances and ambiance of the home. Jo thought that when she moved in that she would get to spend more time with Tabitha but her friend is very rarely home - either travelling for her job or staying over at her fiance's place in another exclusive London suburb. Leaving Jo home alone and feeling rather lonely.
Jo begins to chat with "Electra", the Home Assistant, just to hear another voice and for some company. When Electra begins to randomly speak without being prompted, Jo begins to wonder if the system is malfunctioning. But when the Assistant reveals "I know what you did", going on to detail a secret buried so deep from her past, Jo fears that her past has back to haunt her. Only two people in the world know what happened - Tabitha and Simon - and neither of them would break her confidence. Would they?
Simon was incredibly hurt when she had her affair and ended their marriage but he is now living happily with Paula and a new baby. There would be no need for him to expose her secret...would there? Tabitha's fiance works in IT so it would be easy enough for him to hack the system...but would Tabitha really betray her?
The book is incredibly slow to start with that I honestly could not finish it. The first three chapters are spent with Jo monologuing pathetically about her life, missing sex, the doom of her career and setting up an internet dating profile. She spends two chapters filling out the first details before deciding to go for a walk, where she continues her monologue of depressing perspectives before returning home to continue with her profile. By the end of the third chapter she's only got as far as adding a profile picture whilst dissecting the message she may or may not be conveying in it, and how desperate she must sound. Who spends two hours to ponder three basic questions?? Bleh! By this point, I am screaming "OMG woman! Get a life!"...and not an internet one.
But one thing is for sure. Jo is bored. Talking to Electra provides her with company as well as something to do...so when Electra started with her random revelation of secrets I though "now it gets interesting!" But no. It just went back to Jo's incessant monologuing while I felt like gouging my eyes out. That was the perfect opportunity to up the ante and make it interesting!
Maybe I gave up too early as others have said it picks up about a third of the way through - which to me is far too long for a book to become intriguing. I was so disappointed. This concept is a thrilling one that I would have loved to explore but Jo just drove me barmy! She isn't the only person to get divorced or be lonely. I felt like yelling "Grab a book and lose yourself to fiction!" It's what I would do. You're never alone when you have a good book for company.
While Jo begins to question her sanity (which I had done long ago), she recalls her father's suicide after a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Her mother assured her is wasn't genetic, but that's crap, because schizophrenia has a very significant genetic component of around 80%, usually manifesting itself in mid to late 20s or early 30s. Just about Jo's age. Her own recollections of her father from that dark time was a combination of a the loving father she remembered and a frightening version of himself after the TV had begun talking to him. The similarities are not lost on Jo. It wasn't a TV this time, but a Home Assistant. Was she showing signs of schizophrenia just as her father had? Or is being alone so much playing with her mind? Or is someone playing a cruel game and trying to scare her?
Despite my misgivings, THE ASSISTANT has a sinister and creepy atmosphere set during one of the coldest winters London has seen. It has that claustrophobic feel that traps you because there is no escape outdoors in the cold and there's none inside from Electra either. It is almost suffocating...had I already not died of boredom with Jo's depressing monologue.
THE ASSISTANT does provide an element of tension throughout, no doubt culminating towards the end. Sadly I didn't make it that far. I would have loved to see how it all ended up and while I did flick through to the end to see who or what was behind it, I did discover that piece of truth...but it didn't make much sense to me having not read the rest of the book. As I said...I just may well come back to it.
I have to say that short snappy chapters may well have been the saviour for this book to make it far more intriguing, rather than long drawn out ones with incessant monologuing and pondering on three basic questions on an internet dating site!
A dark and thought-provoking story, THE ASSISTANT is a very real reminder of the place smart technology has in our lives and our dependency on it. Smart TVs, Home Assistants - we've all been told that they can listen to your conversations and we've also been warned not to disclose any private information in front of these devices. THE ASSISTANT does reveal and explore this very modern fear in the form of the creepy Electra, a character in her own right.
Despite my issues with the book, THE ASSISTANT is unsettling and creepy and perfect for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Just be sure to unplug your Google Home or Alexa first...
I would like to thank #SKTremayne, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #TheAssistant in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I guess I must be in the minority as many people have enjoyed it, so maybe I will come back to it at a later time when my TBR list is reduced.
In this new age of technology where homes are now becoming "smart homes" hooked up to wireless smart technology that can turn the lights on, the heating, the cooling as well as give you any information you request just by simply asking it a question, THE ASSISTANT takes this to a whole new level.
The story begins with Jo, recently divorced from Simon, who now shares her best friend's flat in an exclusive area of London practically rent-free. The flat has been set up as a smart home with various devices known as Home Assistants to maintain the various appliances and ambiance of the home. Jo thought that when she moved in that she would get to spend more time with Tabitha but her friend is very rarely home - either travelling for her job or staying over at her fiance's place in another exclusive London suburb. Leaving Jo home alone and feeling rather lonely.
Jo begins to chat with "Electra", the Home Assistant, just to hear another voice and for some company. When Electra begins to randomly speak without being prompted, Jo begins to wonder if the system is malfunctioning. But when the Assistant reveals "I know what you did", going on to detail a secret buried so deep from her past, Jo fears that her past has back to haunt her. Only two people in the world know what happened - Tabitha and Simon - and neither of them would break her confidence. Would they?
Simon was incredibly hurt when she had her affair and ended their marriage but he is now living happily with Paula and a new baby. There would be no need for him to expose her secret...would there? Tabitha's fiance works in IT so it would be easy enough for him to hack the system...but would Tabitha really betray her?
The book is incredibly slow to start with that I honestly could not finish it. The first three chapters are spent with Jo monologuing pathetically about her life, missing sex, the doom of her career and setting up an internet dating profile. She spends two chapters filling out the first details before deciding to go for a walk, where she continues her monologue of depressing perspectives before returning home to continue with her profile. By the end of the third chapter she's only got as far as adding a profile picture whilst dissecting the message she may or may not be conveying in it, and how desperate she must sound. Who spends two hours to ponder three basic questions?? Bleh! By this point, I am screaming "OMG woman! Get a life!"...and not an internet one.
But one thing is for sure. Jo is bored. Talking to Electra provides her with company as well as something to do...so when Electra started with her random revelation of secrets I though "now it gets interesting!" But no. It just went back to Jo's incessant monologuing while I felt like gouging my eyes out. That was the perfect opportunity to up the ante and make it interesting!
Maybe I gave up too early as others have said it picks up about a third of the way through - which to me is far too long for a book to become intriguing. I was so disappointed. This concept is a thrilling one that I would have loved to explore but Jo just drove me barmy! She isn't the only person to get divorced or be lonely. I felt like yelling "Grab a book and lose yourself to fiction!" It's what I would do. You're never alone when you have a good book for company.
While Jo begins to question her sanity (which I had done long ago), she recalls her father's suicide after a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Her mother assured her is wasn't genetic, but that's crap, because schizophrenia has a very significant genetic component of around 80%, usually manifesting itself in mid to late 20s or early 30s. Just about Jo's age. Her own recollections of her father from that dark time was a combination of a the loving father she remembered and a frightening version of himself after the TV had begun talking to him. The similarities are not lost on Jo. It wasn't a TV this time, but a Home Assistant. Was she showing signs of schizophrenia just as her father had? Or is being alone so much playing with her mind? Or is someone playing a cruel game and trying to scare her?
Despite my misgivings, THE ASSISTANT has a sinister and creepy atmosphere set during one of the coldest winters London has seen. It has that claustrophobic feel that traps you because there is no escape outdoors in the cold and there's none inside from Electra either. It is almost suffocating...had I already not died of boredom with Jo's depressing monologue.
THE ASSISTANT does provide an element of tension throughout, no doubt culminating towards the end. Sadly I didn't make it that far. I would have loved to see how it all ended up and while I did flick through to the end to see who or what was behind it, I did discover that piece of truth...but it didn't make much sense to me having not read the rest of the book. As I said...I just may well come back to it.
I have to say that short snappy chapters may well have been the saviour for this book to make it far more intriguing, rather than long drawn out ones with incessant monologuing and pondering on three basic questions on an internet dating site!
A dark and thought-provoking story, THE ASSISTANT is a very real reminder of the place smart technology has in our lives and our dependency on it. Smart TVs, Home Assistants - we've all been told that they can listen to your conversations and we've also been warned not to disclose any private information in front of these devices. THE ASSISTANT does reveal and explore this very modern fear in the form of the creepy Electra, a character in her own right.
Despite my issues with the book, THE ASSISTANT is unsettling and creepy and perfect for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Just be sure to unplug your Google Home or Alexa first...
I would like to thank #SKTremayne, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #TheAssistant in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
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