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Sidney Sheldon's The Phoenix
Thrilling and nail-biting, The Phoenix has all the trademark glamour, suspense and unexpected twists of a classic Sidney Sheldon novel.
A deadly enemy will rise again....
Ella Praeger has always felt like an outsider. So when she is called to join the ranks of The Group, a force for good operating in the shadows, her world shifts. She is gifted a purpose - and a dangerous legacy.
Years ago, The Group rid the world of one of its most powerful criminal masterminds. Yet when a child washes up on a beach in Greece, a mysterious symbol tattooed on its heel, it is a clear warning: impossibly, Athena Petridis has returned to reclaim her empire.
Ella's connection to Athena is deeply personal. Thrown into an underworld of treachery and corruption, and haunted by the tragedies of her own past, Ella is reborn as an agent, chasing a villain risen from the ashes. But only one of them can fulfil their destiny....
Read preview >
A deadly enemy will rise again....
Ella Praeger has always felt like an outsider. So when she is called to join the ranks of The Group, a force for good operating in the shadows, her world shifts. She is gifted a purpose - and a dangerous legacy.
Years ago, The Group rid the world of one of its most powerful criminal masterminds. Yet when a child washes up on a beach in Greece, a mysterious symbol tattooed on its heel, it is a clear warning: impossibly, Athena Petridis has returned to reclaim her empire.
Ella's connection to Athena is deeply personal. Thrown into an underworld of treachery and corruption, and haunted by the tragedies of her own past, Ella is reborn as an agent, chasing a villain risen from the ashes. But only one of them can fulfil their destiny....
Read preview >
432 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2019
253 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
About the author
Tilly Bagshawe
50 books912 followersMatilda Emily N. Bagshawe was born on 12 June 1973 in England, UK. She attended local all-girls Catholic schools near her family home in Surrey. She was a single mother at 17, but she won a place at Cambridge University and took Persephone, her ten-month-old baby daughter with her. As a journalist, she went on to enjoy a successful career in London, and contributed regularly to The Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Evening Standard, before turning her hand to novels. Her first book, Adored as Tilly Bagshawe, was a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 2005, and she hasn't looked back since.
Tilly is married Robin Nydes, a US businessman, and the couple have two sons together, Zac and Theo. The family divide their time between their homes in London and Los Angeles. Tilly is also the sister of the writer and politician Louise Bagshawe.
Tilly is married Robin Nydes, a US businessman, and the couple have two sons together, Zac and Theo. The family divide their time between their homes in London and Los Angeles. Tilly is also the sister of the writer and politician Louise Bagshawe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
November 4, 2020
MIND BLOWING!!! This book might be a little bit of a drag but give it a try and trust me, once you start it you won't be able to put it down!!
Also, the ending is so unfair!!! You can't just end it like that without a sequel!!
Also, the ending is so unfair!!! You can't just end it like that without a sequel!!
April 5, 2023
Nadam se da Šeldon nije ostavio nijedan više rukopis i da Tili više nema priliku da ga upropasti.
February 14, 2021
The book starts with a few ineffectively composed story curves which serve as a build-up to the main plot. As you advance, there are more imperfections and complexities that make Sidney Sheldon's The Phoenix a tragedy.
The central character is Ella Praeger who is enlisted by a spy association called The Group. While in association with The Group, she learns that her parents modified her genes at birth so she could have heightened senses, practically like a superhuman.
For reasons unknown, The courageous woman of the story is childish, mischievous and a nymphomaniac and the author has featured that info a few times which was superfluous.
While it is clear that the author has contributed hard work; the story feels hackneyed and there is a conspicuous absence of heading. The jumbled subplots and trivial characters make it difficult to follow along.
The book needs the essential oddity of a Sheldon magnum opus, whereas it has the trademark anticipation and allure, it is combined with the sort of elements that a seasoned reader cannot respect.
The central character is Ella Praeger who is enlisted by a spy association called The Group. While in association with The Group, she learns that her parents modified her genes at birth so she could have heightened senses, practically like a superhuman.
For reasons unknown, The courageous woman of the story is childish, mischievous and a nymphomaniac and the author has featured that info a few times which was superfluous.
While it is clear that the author has contributed hard work; the story feels hackneyed and there is a conspicuous absence of heading. The jumbled subplots and trivial characters make it difficult to follow along.
The book needs the essential oddity of a Sheldon magnum opus, whereas it has the trademark anticipation and allure, it is combined with the sort of elements that a seasoned reader cannot respect.
June 25, 2019
Too many characters and descriptions to begin with. Keeps you hooked but wish the end was better and not leaving the reader with a question ❓ mark.
June 29, 2019
A very shallow concept that is being dragged through the book. Leaving the reader rather frustrated with so many open ends that are not even poetic. Too many plots, too many "powerful" characters neither of which makes any impression. Would recommend not to read.
April 28, 2025
Ella is a statistician, cold-blooded, resourceful and strong willed young woman who gets an invite for the mysterious Group to help save the world.
I really liked this book, it is full of various events that in the end explain everything that happened, and along the way leave enough material for another book.
I give this book 5 stars.
I really liked this book, it is full of various events that in the end explain everything that happened, and along the way leave enough material for another book.
I give this book 5 stars.
January 18, 2025
A nice thing about this book was that it did capture my attention, but it was more in the first half of the book. The author would bring in so many characters and relations which ended up being nothing but confusing and unfinished in their relevance. I really liked the perspective and story of “Mood”, it was so sad. A lot of these people were narcissistic and stupid, even though they were said to be very intelligent. I really tried to like the main character, but she just ended up in making me mad. For a person who is said to be brilliant, she’s very naive. Her main personality just seems to be saying blunt things that appear to be from deductive reasoning almost, but at times when it’s needed, she doesn’t even do it most times. I know that didn’t make a lot of sense but it’s so inconsistent. I think her “superpowers” are kind of pointless; yes, she can be a super spy but it is still kind of stupid. And i don’t get her attraction to a human-trafficker and murderer, who overall is a disgusting, evil man (Big Mak). I don’t understand the romanticizing of horrible people. Maybe because it happens in life too…
Redmayne was a piece of work. He was a petty teenager with anger issues who thinks he owns the world. His leadership is just bullying other people into submission, exploiting innocent people, indirectly being the cause of death of his own people, and a lying, insecure man who can’t deal with his subordinates questioning him. He is narcissistic and a psychopath. The first reaction to the child’s death in the beginning is inconsistent with the way he keeps acting throughout the most of the book.
Another thing i noticed was that this book was obsessed with the male gaze, how all women were just made for pleasing and nothing else. Of course it wasn’t the only thing in the female characters but it was pointed out every time. I don’t know what the intention was but it just annoyed me.
THE ENDING… i have no words 😶
Ahhhhh this is such a long review… basically, i deeply regret reading this book.
Redmayne was a piece of work. He was a petty teenager with anger issues who thinks he owns the world. His leadership is just bullying other people into submission, exploiting innocent people, indirectly being the cause of death of his own people, and a lying, insecure man who can’t deal with his subordinates questioning him. He is narcissistic and a psychopath. The first reaction to the child’s death in the beginning is inconsistent with the way he keeps acting throughout the most of the book.
Another thing i noticed was that this book was obsessed with the male gaze, how all women were just made for pleasing and nothing else. Of course it wasn’t the only thing in the female characters but it was pointed out every time. I don’t know what the intention was but it just annoyed me.
THE ENDING… i have no words 😶
Ahhhhh this is such a long review… basically, i deeply regret reading this book.
June 17, 2025
These are literally the only people I can't get my mind off:
Gabriel🤭🍷🍷🥴🥴
Makis🫢
Tf did makis have to die??! i dislike books that don't let me read what I want to read, that makes me expect a very surprising twist, but instead it's such an obvious thing, and it's the fact that she's trying to make it seem like literally the biggest discovery you've ever had, please, stop being like this 🥱🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️. Istg half of the book is talking Abt naked Ladies 👁️👄👁️ (like I'm good I don't rlly need to hear how big 'miriams' breasts were or how 'jenny' a 19 year old Victoria secrets model was was topless on a yacht 🤗🤗🤓I'm good, rlly)
Gabriel🤭🍷🍷🥴🥴
Makis🫢
Tf did makis have to die??! i dislike books that don't let me read what I want to read, that makes me expect a very surprising twist, but instead it's such an obvious thing, and it's the fact that she's trying to make it seem like literally the biggest discovery you've ever had, please, stop being like this 🥱🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️. Istg half of the book is talking Abt naked Ladies 👁️👄👁️ (like I'm good I don't rlly need to hear how big 'miriams' breasts were or how 'jenny' a 19 year old Victoria secrets model was was topless on a yacht 🤗🤗🤓I'm good, rlly)
November 28, 2019
Sidney Sheldon's The Phoenix by Tilly Bragshawe is the latest int he long line of books that have been written by Bragshwae in the vein of Sidney Sheldon's novels. I've always enjoyed reading these novels as Sidney Sheldon is one of my all-time favourite authors but this time sadly it wasn't the case.
I tried to really enjoy this book but a lot of elements prevented me from doing so - under-developed characterisation, weak plot-line, bad pacing, the overall predictability of the plot and the bad ending. There was too much going on and the protagonist felt too weak to be able to drive the plot by herself.
Overall, this book was a miss for me and therefore I won't be able to recommend it to anyone. Hopefully, the author's next book would be better than this one.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
I tried to really enjoy this book but a lot of elements prevented me from doing so - under-developed characterisation, weak plot-line, bad pacing, the overall predictability of the plot and the bad ending. There was too much going on and the protagonist felt too weak to be able to drive the plot by herself.
Overall, this book was a miss for me and therefore I won't be able to recommend it to anyone. Hopefully, the author's next book would be better than this one.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
August 9, 2021
I had high hopes from this book. But it just turned out to be a mess. The story line was not perfect.The events description were not right. The characters were pathetic. All in all, the book was not good.
August 17, 2021
Divna Tili Bagso kojoj sam neizmerno zahvalan sto je nastavila Sheldonove romane, ni ovog puta nije omanula. Odusevljen sam iskreno, nisam ocekivao da ce knjiga biti ovakva.
Ela Preger je jedna sasvim obicna devojka, zivela je sa bakom Mimi na rancu, vodila normalan, dosadan zivot dok se nije preselila, mada i tada joj zivot nije bio preterano zanimljiv.
Ali, nakon smrti bake Mimi, Eli se zivot menja iz korena.
Da li su Elini roditelji stvarno mrtvi ?
I da li Ela posle svih tih godina moze da ih pronadje ?
Elu su oduvek mucile glavobolje, mogla je da cuje razne glasove u svojoj glavi. Da li se radi o sizofreniji, samo obicnoj migreni ili je tu nesto drugo u pitanju ?
Da li to Ela ima neku natprirodnu sposobnost ?
Grupa trazi Elu, zele da im se pridruzi, da radi sa njima, za njih.
Ko je Grupa ? Pa to vam je nesto kao policija ili FBI ili isterivaci pravde, ako mogu tako da ih nazovem.
Kazu da pomazu ljudima i bore se protiv zlocina, ali da li je stvarno tako ?
Svi znamo da vecina tako velikih organizacija krije tajne, koje li su njihove ?
Zbog cega je Ela njima potrebna ?
Zasto toliko zele da je se domognu ?
Mozda zbog njene natprirodne sposobnosti ili zbog roditelja ?
Ko su zaista bili Vilijam i Rejcel Preger i kakve veze imaju sa Grupom ?
Tu su nam Atina Petridis, Makis Aleksijadis, Mark Rejdmen, Dimitris Mancaris i Gejbrijel.
Kako njih da zaboravim.
Kako su svi oni povezani ?
Ko je zlocinac, a ko isteruje pravdu ?
Zapamtite, najmocniji ljudi u jednom trenutku mogu postati najsitniji.
Cak i grabljivica moze postati plen.
Ovo je bio jako napet roman.
Toliko likova, toliko mesta, toliko pitanja na koje jos uvek trazim odgovore.
Licno ja sam odusevljen, jos jednom zahvalan Tili sto je na tako sjajan nacin dovrsila jos jedan Sheldonov roman.
Sheldon i Tili su nas vodili od Grcke, Japana, Kalifornije pa sve do Engleske.
Ako ste spremni za ovo ludo, uvrnuto i nezaboravno putovanje ne znam sta cekate, knjiga u sake 😂
Neke scene su se jednostavno prebrzo desile, negde je falilo vise strana, zelim nastavak i ovaj roman to zasluzuje, ali verujete mi, to nije narusilo car ovog odlicnog romana.
Od mene svaka preporuka.
Ela Preger je jedna sasvim obicna devojka, zivela je sa bakom Mimi na rancu, vodila normalan, dosadan zivot dok se nije preselila, mada i tada joj zivot nije bio preterano zanimljiv.
Ali, nakon smrti bake Mimi, Eli se zivot menja iz korena.
Da li su Elini roditelji stvarno mrtvi ?
I da li Ela posle svih tih godina moze da ih pronadje ?
Elu su oduvek mucile glavobolje, mogla je da cuje razne glasove u svojoj glavi. Da li se radi o sizofreniji, samo obicnoj migreni ili je tu nesto drugo u pitanju ?
Da li to Ela ima neku natprirodnu sposobnost ?
Grupa trazi Elu, zele da im se pridruzi, da radi sa njima, za njih.
Ko je Grupa ? Pa to vam je nesto kao policija ili FBI ili isterivaci pravde, ako mogu tako da ih nazovem.
Kazu da pomazu ljudima i bore se protiv zlocina, ali da li je stvarno tako ?
Svi znamo da vecina tako velikih organizacija krije tajne, koje li su njihove ?
Zbog cega je Ela njima potrebna ?
Zasto toliko zele da je se domognu ?
Mozda zbog njene natprirodne sposobnosti ili zbog roditelja ?
Ko su zaista bili Vilijam i Rejcel Preger i kakve veze imaju sa Grupom ?
Tu su nam Atina Petridis, Makis Aleksijadis, Mark Rejdmen, Dimitris Mancaris i Gejbrijel.
Kako njih da zaboravim.
Kako su svi oni povezani ?
Ko je zlocinac, a ko isteruje pravdu ?
Zapamtite, najmocniji ljudi u jednom trenutku mogu postati najsitniji.
Cak i grabljivica moze postati plen.
Ovo je bio jako napet roman.
Toliko likova, toliko mesta, toliko pitanja na koje jos uvek trazim odgovore.
Licno ja sam odusevljen, jos jednom zahvalan Tili sto je na tako sjajan nacin dovrsila jos jedan Sheldonov roman.
Sheldon i Tili su nas vodili od Grcke, Japana, Kalifornije pa sve do Engleske.
Ako ste spremni za ovo ludo, uvrnuto i nezaboravno putovanje ne znam sta cekate, knjiga u sake 😂
Neke scene su se jednostavno prebrzo desile, negde je falilo vise strana, zelim nastavak i ovaj roman to zasluzuje, ali verujete mi, to nije narusilo car ovog odlicnog romana.
Od mene svaka preporuka.
February 3, 2020
Tilly Bagshaw is a big fan of Sidney Sheldon.
And luckily both of them were under same publisher.
Sidney Sheldon's books were still in demand even after his death and the publishers thought they should appoint someone to write under his name and they thought of Tilly.
She was his biggest fan and after getting this opportunity she was very much excited.
All she had to do was absorb his writing style. Earlier she wrote sequels to the Sidney Sheldon books now she started writing new stories which after reading we know are inspired from which of Sidney Sheldon's book.
Although she cant match him that well.
Still she writes better than many other thriller writers.
She has also written few books under her name.
⬇
About the book
Genre: Thriller
⬇
"She is like a Phoenix Rising from her own Ashes."
⬇
This Dialogue itself is taken from "The Other Side of Midnight" well praised book by Sidney Sheldon.
Also I could relate few character of the Phoenix with those of Other side of Midnight. In fact the way book starts is itself similar to the beginning of Other side of midnight. Also many things are similar to "The Memories of Midnight" sequel to "The Other side of Midnight" by Sidney himself.
⬇
The book is gripping from the beginning itself or lets say from Prologue. From the Prologue we are curious about this women who has touched the life of so many ppl in negative as well as positive way. We get so engrossed in knowing whether she is alive or dead or is a good person or a bad person like all those people. Then comes other women who although a bit different then normal people, shows the possibility of being The Phoenix.
This book about two women, one of whom is in search of other and the other is totally unaware of her existence.
Somewhere in between we also feel bored.
I will say she tried hard to make it a Sidney Sheldon book and she achieved 50% ( of course she can't be fully like him).
But the reason that we Sidney Sheldon fans still read her books is that it something in the book reminds us of him and his writing.
And luckily both of them were under same publisher.
Sidney Sheldon's books were still in demand even after his death and the publishers thought they should appoint someone to write under his name and they thought of Tilly.
She was his biggest fan and after getting this opportunity she was very much excited.
All she had to do was absorb his writing style. Earlier she wrote sequels to the Sidney Sheldon books now she started writing new stories which after reading we know are inspired from which of Sidney Sheldon's book.
Although she cant match him that well.
Still she writes better than many other thriller writers.
She has also written few books under her name.
⬇
About the book
Genre: Thriller
⬇
"She is like a Phoenix Rising from her own Ashes."
⬇
This Dialogue itself is taken from "The Other Side of Midnight" well praised book by Sidney Sheldon.
Also I could relate few character of the Phoenix with those of Other side of Midnight. In fact the way book starts is itself similar to the beginning of Other side of midnight. Also many things are similar to "The Memories of Midnight" sequel to "The Other side of Midnight" by Sidney himself.
⬇
The book is gripping from the beginning itself or lets say from Prologue. From the Prologue we are curious about this women who has touched the life of so many ppl in negative as well as positive way. We get so engrossed in knowing whether she is alive or dead or is a good person or a bad person like all those people. Then comes other women who although a bit different then normal people, shows the possibility of being The Phoenix.
This book about two women, one of whom is in search of other and the other is totally unaware of her existence.
Somewhere in between we also feel bored.
I will say she tried hard to make it a Sidney Sheldon book and she achieved 50% ( of course she can't be fully like him).
But the reason that we Sidney Sheldon fans still read her books is that it something in the book reminds us of him and his writing.
August 21, 2019
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So another Sidney Sheldon/Tilly Bagshawe book crossed off my list. I can't believe that I read this one and ended up not liking it. It was weird and felt strange to my own eyes when I rated this one. I have always loved books by Sidney Sheldon. And the ones by Tilly Bagshawe had never been far behind. Yet, this one seemed to disappoint me a little. I know I rated it a 4 but in reality, I just wanted to give it a 3. I'm settling at a 3.5 instead because it isn't like it really deserves a 3 either.
The thing about this book was that although it was something different, including a lot of science fiction to its thriller aspect, it didn't end up impressing me that much. For the major part of it, Ella felt an underdeveloped character and the plot seemed to drag a lot. For starters, Ella wasn't even sure what she wanted. But that's okay because that is something with the lot of us and Ella...well, Ella was different. Yet, it just didn't make me sympathize with her at all. I have no idea why but instead of feeling sorry for her, I was feeling a little stupid.
Then there were other things that bothered me. Things that seemed to be "thrown" at me in the hope of convincing me. For example, why on earth did she and Gabriel try to kill Athena with no backup? It doesn't matter whether they succeeded or not (because that would be like revealing the plot and I'm pretty much above that) but really, why would they be stupid as to believe that? And let's just say that the entire dynamic between Gabriel and Ella was stupid. The things they did when with each other. The way they reacted. All of that felt foolish. Yes, I get that they didn't like Mark and wanted to do something on their own but half of the things were stupid...
I just really regret reading this book because I feel like Tilly Bagshawe could have done a lot better. And she didn't. It disappointed me a helluva lot.
So another Sidney Sheldon/Tilly Bagshawe book crossed off my list. I can't believe that I read this one and ended up not liking it. It was weird and felt strange to my own eyes when I rated this one. I have always loved books by Sidney Sheldon. And the ones by Tilly Bagshawe had never been far behind. Yet, this one seemed to disappoint me a little. I know I rated it a 4 but in reality, I just wanted to give it a 3. I'm settling at a 3.5 instead because it isn't like it really deserves a 3 either.
The thing about this book was that although it was something different, including a lot of science fiction to its thriller aspect, it didn't end up impressing me that much. For the major part of it, Ella felt an underdeveloped character and the plot seemed to drag a lot. For starters, Ella wasn't even sure what she wanted. But that's okay because that is something with the lot of us and Ella...well, Ella was different. Yet, it just didn't make me sympathize with her at all. I have no idea why but instead of feeling sorry for her, I was feeling a little stupid.
Then there were other things that bothered me. Things that seemed to be "thrown" at me in the hope of convincing me. For example, why on earth did she and Gabriel try to kill Athena with no backup? It doesn't matter whether they succeeded or not (because that would be like revealing the plot and I'm pretty much above that) but really, why would they be stupid as to believe that? And let's just say that the entire dynamic between Gabriel and Ella was stupid. The things they did when with each other. The way they reacted. All of that felt foolish. Yes, I get that they didn't like Mark and wanted to do something on their own but half of the things were stupid...
I just really regret reading this book because I feel like Tilly Bagshawe could have done a lot better. And she didn't. It disappointed me a helluva lot.
April 12, 2020
Every time I read a new Sidney Sheldon (Tilly Bagshawe, really) book, I expect to find that the novelty of her writing style has worn off, yet each time I am pleasantly surprised that it has not. Although Sidney Sheldon’s prestige is what marks Bagshawe’s recent works, I’ve always found that she is a writer who speaks more to contemporary affairs and so one who speaks more to me. The weaving of the migrant crisis for example, was something I found to be one of the highlights of The Phoenix. The book was fun, intriguing, and utterly something I could not put down; definitely worth the all-nighter I pulled while rustling through its pages.
December 24, 2019
The book keeps you hooked till the end. But would have preferred a much better ending.
February 22, 2022
Phoenix- The novel opens with an single event invoking fear and dread to several people in different parts of the world, as a body of one small regufee child washed up on a shore, branded with some letter. The people took it as some sort of signature from one of the notorious duo in underworld, Athena petridis, the wife of a drug lord mafia spyro. she was believed to be atleast alive and not dead as reported in helicopter crash 12 years ago after this largely publicised incident. Many people were after this lady for different reasons. But this mysterious women was largely kept in dark in the narrative, as to her revival and whereabouts. Meanwhile, the heroin of the story, a young and socially awkward woman Ella praeger was raised on a lone ranch by her grandmother mimi in San Francisco. After her grand mother died by a natural cause one day, she was suddenly contacted by one lead named Gabriel by so called group operatives for the mysterious mission lead by some Mark redmayne. The group also claimed that her parents, William and Rachel praeger also served for the group as lead scientists in the past till they were mudered. They made Ella aware about her unique and exceptional abilities to catch the electronic transmissions for any communications happening nearby her just by controlling certain voices inside her head. They also claimed that she was specifically born for the purpose and genetically modified by her parents to help certain unique mission. She was then trained and sent her on mission in disguise to catch the information at Mykonos elite beach club from one Makis Akexiadis, a henchmen of Athena petridis and spyro, main operatives of their illegal business empire now. They also sent her to a particularly isolated convent to spy on a nun to find out if she was actually the lady Athena petridis who was claimed to be alive. The chase was described beautifully in typical Sidney Sheldon style by this author but this lady Athena petridis who was projected as a fearsome figure in major parts of this book-almost like voldemort in Harry Potter books (he, who can't be named) turned out to be just the background figure in the story. Because, by the time this lady finally managed to recover from her surgery to plan to strike her empire back, only in the last few chapters of the book ,she was suddenly murdered in the turn of the events. So all the carefully crafted halla-boo around her seems to fizzle out and looked like just in the vain. While, this story heroin Ella Praeger became just the pawn, manipulated for her capabilities in this cat and mouse game, could never find out the actual story behind her parents murder as to who was responsible and what has happened. The story ends with mystery and unsure note. This book is one typical example of the fact that the journey is more important than the destination. The chapters were readable and even enjoyable but There is no definate end to the story. 3 stars to this one.
July 6, 2020
The Phoenix here is referred to Athena Petridis who is antagonist. This book is about stopping Athena from doing bad business. To stop her is what the The Group a covet institution which trains and make them a moving weapon. The Group use Ella Praeger to kill Athena. How she kills Athena is the book about. Ella is recruited in The Group using a false accusation that athena killed her parents so she joins The Group. She completes the mission but still some questions related to her parents are unanswered. I think there will be another book of it. Overall I would say its a ok Goodread
February 5, 2022
Zanimljiva knjiga, ali nedovrsena. Bilo bi odlicno da postoji nastavak, jer je dosta stvari ostalo nerazjasnjeno!
February 22, 2020
Decent suspense building, but poor ending, character development and zero scruples given to tying up loose ends.
Read
December 6, 2021Very interesting book , perfect sidney sheldon style.
January 11, 2020
After much delay, finally I was able to begin and rightfully finish Sidney Sheldon's latest installment, THE PHOENIX written by Tilly Bagshawe, published by Harper Collins publishers (2019). This four hundred or so pages book, traces the journey of Ella Praeger, a socially inept, recluse girl who spent all her childhood with an equally recluse and eccentric grandmother, Mimi. Having lost her parents to a car crash, the only family she was left with was her grandmother. However, on the day of Mimi's funeral, Ella encounters a man, surveing her.
And soon before could make any sense, a spiral of incidences occur like a dominos effect, turning her life a full 360 degrees, transforming her into something which she would never have figured in her wildest of dreams.
Weaving the story around the backdrop of the Syrian boy being washed up on beach, the author has tried to keep the story contemporary and socially relevant. However, along the way, the story's focus shifts from the refugees to the tail of cat and mouse chase between Ella Praeger and her nemesis.
Secrecy, intrigue, espionage, deception, this books has everything in it like an extra strong cocktail. However, unlike the strong cocktail, it fails to give a sudden kick. Rather puts the reader on the edge of curiosity every now and then, which after a while gets exhausting.
All those who are Sidney Sheldon's fan would definitely agree that there were far better books before than this one. Nevertheless, those for whom this would be the first book, it's definitely an interesting read.
January 17, 2020
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"Everything in Greece was unraveling faster than ball of yarn tossed from a clifftop, and Gabriel couldn't shake the sinking feeling that worse was yet to come......"(p. 285) .
Sidney Sheldon books are synonymous to paradise for every thrill lover out there.And Tilly Bagshawe has continued his legacy marvellously. And this book didn't disappointed at all.Although I admit I suffered a minor set back when Ella's special powers were mentioned . A little sceptical about what the book has in store for me ,I read on & boy wasn't it an incredible adrenaline pumping rollercoaster ride. .
This book reminded me of another Sidney Sheldon novel ,'The Other Side Of Midnight ' as it too features Greece.
The term 'Phoenix' has been coined literally as the main antagonist comes alive from the ruins of helicopter crash. It could relate to Ella as well as she too sheds her old awkward persona, & becomes a bold & confident woman.
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Ella is out to avenge her parent's murder. But has she killed the right person? Or has the veil of vengeance shrouded her ability to think rationally & hence making her a soft target for getting manipulated?
In a nutshell ,the story just begins when you think its ending. Ella soon realises that her quest for revenge is far from over and it's only the beginning of unriddling of conspiracy & treachery going on for a long time....
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So this book rather than answering , creates a whole new set of questions , which would be hopefully answered in the next installment of the book. Also the extent of Ella's power is vaguely explained.
.
A CAPTIVATING, REFRESHING & EXHILARATING FAST PACED BOOK, THEPHOENIX IS A MUST READ . EAGERLY WAITING TO GET MY HANDS ON ITS NEXT INSTALLMENT .
.
"Everything in Greece was unraveling faster than ball of yarn tossed from a clifftop, and Gabriel couldn't shake the sinking feeling that worse was yet to come......"(p. 285) .
Sidney Sheldon books are synonymous to paradise for every thrill lover out there.And Tilly Bagshawe has continued his legacy marvellously. And this book didn't disappointed at all.Although I admit I suffered a minor set back when Ella's special powers were mentioned . A little sceptical about what the book has in store for me ,I read on & boy wasn't it an incredible adrenaline pumping rollercoaster ride. .
This book reminded me of another Sidney Sheldon novel ,'The Other Side Of Midnight ' as it too features Greece.
The term 'Phoenix' has been coined literally as the main antagonist comes alive from the ruins of helicopter crash. It could relate to Ella as well as she too sheds her old awkward persona, & becomes a bold & confident woman.
.
Ella is out to avenge her parent's murder. But has she killed the right person? Or has the veil of vengeance shrouded her ability to think rationally & hence making her a soft target for getting manipulated?
In a nutshell ,the story just begins when you think its ending. Ella soon realises that her quest for revenge is far from over and it's only the beginning of unriddling of conspiracy & treachery going on for a long time....
.
So this book rather than answering , creates a whole new set of questions , which would be hopefully answered in the next installment of the book. Also the extent of Ella's power is vaguely explained.
.
A CAPTIVATING, REFRESHING & EXHILARATING FAST PACED BOOK, THEPHOENIX IS A MUST READ . EAGERLY WAITING TO GET MY HANDS ON ITS NEXT INSTALLMENT .
.
August 13, 2019
This is my first book of Sidney Sheldon so I have no idea how it goes, I took almost 6 days to read but this turned out my favorite genre thriller and suspense so I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. this book really amazed me sometimes story is so gripping and fast paced which keep me hooked till the end.
Story is about a girl Ella Praeger and Athena Petridis a criminal mastermind.Athena also declared dead in a helicopter crash but one day when a child washes up on a beach with a mysterious tattoo on his heel it clearly shows that she's alive.
Ella also have some special hearing power inbuilt by his parents.her parents are dead in a secret mission by group.Ella also joined this group to take revenge of his parents death and know more about them.
Ella goes on a mission in Greece to find Athena Petridis and truth behind this mystery.
Overall I love crisp writing of Tilly Bagshawe.characters are well developed other than one or two. Name of the some characters are difficult to remember otherwise Book is an awesome read. Language is simple and lucid too.
I recommend this book to who love reading crime and thriller.
Story is about a girl Ella Praeger and Athena Petridis a criminal mastermind.Athena also declared dead in a helicopter crash but one day when a child washes up on a beach with a mysterious tattoo on his heel it clearly shows that she's alive.
Ella also have some special hearing power inbuilt by his parents.her parents are dead in a secret mission by group.Ella also joined this group to take revenge of his parents death and know more about them.
Ella goes on a mission in Greece to find Athena Petridis and truth behind this mystery.
Overall I love crisp writing of Tilly Bagshawe.characters are well developed other than one or two. Name of the some characters are difficult to remember otherwise Book is an awesome read. Language is simple and lucid too.
I recommend this book to who love reading crime and thriller.
August 3, 2020
This is my second book by Tilly Bagshawe. And I didn't feel it's much like Sidney Sheldon's book, but it's great in its way. We can categorize this book as a sci-fi book. The heroine in this book has special abilities, it's referred to as special gifts in the book. For the whole story, she has fought for something she shouldn't, killed someone who had nothing to with her or her parent's live. Yet, "The Group" has deliberately manipulated her doing the things that shouldn't be done by her. This whole thing sounds stupid in the end. But, there is a takeaway even though she killed who she had nothing to do with.
The woman who she killed, was a very dangerous woman in the world, but unknown to the real world. She had her alliances all over the world but controlled from Greece.
The whole story works around three cities New York, Athens, Mykonos. My overall experience with the book is great and I am looking forward to reading more books by Tilly Bagshawe.
The woman who she killed, was a very dangerous woman in the world, but unknown to the real world. She had her alliances all over the world but controlled from Greece.
The whole story works around three cities New York, Athens, Mykonos. My overall experience with the book is great and I am looking forward to reading more books by Tilly Bagshawe.
March 8, 2020
This novel is so bad that I shouldn’t bother writing a review about it. I must have known it from other’s reviews, so why I would start reading it, you would ask. Well I saw this one at an airport and the cover was intriguing. And I learnt hard way to not judge a book by its cover. It has so many characters and most of them not developed through the storyline. The protagonist is supposed to be confused about her abilities, and even that has not been developed to make the reader sympathize with her. The antagonist is supposed to be ruthless. Her deeds are described, but not enough that a reader can hate her. On the contrary, I ended sympathetic towards the antagonist rather than the protagonist. To top it all, the ending is abrupt, I felt like huh, did it really end. Not worth the time, folks.
May 26, 2021
After reading a few chapters, you find yourself catching up with the thrill, adventure, excitement which the book wishes to take you through. Soon, it gets gripping and hard to put down.
Though the end seems to be a bit loose as one is expecting to get answers of few more questions as to what else in store ahead.
Though the end seems to be a bit loose as one is expecting to get answers of few more questions as to what else in store ahead.
October 17, 2019
Story is very gripping and good but end leaves you with no content its abrupt. Atleast some closure would be good to read.
January 25, 2024
This is the first book which I read, written by Tilly Bagshaw. Gripping. Pace of the book never slows down. Keeps you engulfed till you reach the end of it.
March 22, 2020
Unfinished book
Enjoyed reading and liked the story and details. I would have loved though a different end, a new start, or a breakup or conspiracy going on.
Enjoyed reading and liked the story and details. I would have loved though a different end, a new start, or a breakup or conspiracy going on.
April 2, 2020
The book is extremely gripping. It keeps you hooked . Wish the end could have been a little better..
Or is this book gonna have a sequel ?
Or is this book gonna have a sequel ?
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