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Fire And Ice
THERE IS ONLY ONE QUESTION – WHY?
When Ingrid Vangen, the au pair who has reared Jack Cantor, hands in her notice and admits she is now afraid of him, the Cantor family have to face truths they would rather deny.
Is their boy a ‘weirdo’ as his classmates accuse? Is he dangerous as Ingrid Vangen believes? Is he mentally unstable as his father fears, or is he independent and misunderstood as his mother claims? Is he bully or victim? Bad or mad? Read on …
When Ingrid Vangen, the au pair who has reared Jack Cantor, hands in her notice and admits she is now afraid of him, the Cantor family have to face truths they would rather deny.
Is their boy a ‘weirdo’ as his classmates accuse? Is he dangerous as Ingrid Vangen believes? Is he mentally unstable as his father fears, or is he independent and misunderstood as his mother claims? Is he bully or victim? Bad or mad? Read on …
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2011
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 23, 2020
I loved this intensely character driven story with its undercurrent of darkness. Ruth Cantor heads up quality control at Angelia Pharmaceuticals in Carrigaban, Ireland. Her husband Garry, runs a bookshop in town. Their 16 year old son, Jack, is being bullied at school. He is withdrawn, troubled and... a bit creepy. Their housekeeper, Ingrid, raises some disturbing issues with the parents concerning Jack which are shown to be false, no true, no... we just don’t know.
But events conspire against this family. Ruth is totally absorbed in her work but due to the economic recession the Angelia plant is closing and moving its operations to Texas. Jobs will be lost. The bookshop, already struggling will really suffer. Ruth has been offered a promotion if she moves to Texas but this family is like ships that pass in the night, never quite communicating, never on the same wavelength. Garry tends to think the worst of his son but Ruth defends him fiercely. Betrayals, lies and secrets swirl around this family like a toxic fog.
Is Jack simply a lonely, troubled boy looking for validation? Or is he something more dangerous? This is so cleverly written that you just don’t know. The characters are all flawed but they all have some redeeming features. This is a slow burn, no doubt about that and it could maybe have been a little shorter but if you persevere you will be rewarded by a dramatic ending that is both expected and unexpected. I will leave you with that little dilemma. Recommended! Thanks you to Book Sirens and the author for my review copy.
But events conspire against this family. Ruth is totally absorbed in her work but due to the economic recession the Angelia plant is closing and moving its operations to Texas. Jobs will be lost. The bookshop, already struggling will really suffer. Ruth has been offered a promotion if she moves to Texas but this family is like ships that pass in the night, never quite communicating, never on the same wavelength. Garry tends to think the worst of his son but Ruth defends him fiercely. Betrayals, lies and secrets swirl around this family like a toxic fog.
Is Jack simply a lonely, troubled boy looking for validation? Or is he something more dangerous? This is so cleverly written that you just don’t know. The characters are all flawed but they all have some redeeming features. This is a slow burn, no doubt about that and it could maybe have been a little shorter but if you persevere you will be rewarded by a dramatic ending that is both expected and unexpected. I will leave you with that little dilemma. Recommended! Thanks you to Book Sirens and the author for my review copy.
July 20, 2020
2.5 stars
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This psychological thriller focusing on a family living a small community in Ireland has a lot of good things going for it and an incredibly shocking twist that no one will see coming. But for me, it had too many problems that I just couldn't get over to rate it higher.
There are 4 main characters as well as several side characters in this story. Ruth and Garry are a married couple who have a 16 year old son, Jack. Ingrid is their nanny/housekeeper who's been with the family for years, first as Jack's nanny since he was an infant but is now more a housekeeper. This is the "family" of this story but they didn't feel like a family. They barely felt like they knew each other at all, except for Ingrid who was more authentic and "possible" than the others. Told over approximately 7 days, the story begins when Ingrid alerts Ruth that there is something seriously wrong with Jack who is presenting with some extremely disturbing behaviour. Jack literally HATES everyone in his life, including his parents. An exceptionally intelligent child, he's never had a friend and is bullied at school where he is younger than his classmates due to skipping grades. The story unfolds through the examination of the reactions of the characters to Ingrid's alarm and the events that unfold leading to a stunning outcome.
The good things about this book are the plot and the twist. Both were great. I also liked the side-stories that contributed to the events of the story as I thought they added depth to how the plot unfolded. But in a character-driven psychological thriller, the characters and their relationships need to make sense.
The major reason I didn't love this book is how the relationships between the main characters are written. Despite being married for 17+ years, Ruth and Garry don't appear to know each other at all. They make no sense as a couple who could ever got together in the first place let alone be married for so long. The problems in their relationship are written as if they only begin with the events of the week in which this story takes place. The writer seems to expect us to believe they were "happy" before this but NO WAY is that even remotely believable. Ruth's personality is written to be very much like her son, Jack's. She's cold, has no friends, seems to tolerate people more than actually "like" them, work is her top priority but has no idea how to handle her employees in a human way. She has nothing in her life outside of work and is completely unlikable as a character. Her family feels like her "trophy" rather than a priority. She has no idea who Jack is and only seems to notice him when his behaviour starts causing problems to her neat, organized life. Garry, on the other hand is written to be a warm character whom everyone likes. He's a community guy who's well liked. His family seems to be his first priority but if that's the case, why doesn't he KNOW his own wife and son? It's like he just met them! It was one of the oddest "family" dynamics I've ever read. And Jack is a VERY troubled child! Ruth and Garry must be the most self-involved parents on the planet to explain how they found a way to ignore Jack's issues until now. And the author definitely gave him issues going back to his childhood. He's displayed dissociative behaviour since he was a child and they NEVER did anything about it, only seeming to really notice it now, and appear shocked by it. The author fails to make me believe there's any love or concern for one another in their history and yet their family relationship and how it falls apart is the cornerstone of this story. It just doesn't work for me.
Honestly, I think rewriting the histories of these 3 characters so that they actually make sense as a family would improve this book 100%! Right now, they feel like they just met and I couldn't get past this glaring flaw because it made everything else feel unreal.
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This psychological thriller focusing on a family living a small community in Ireland has a lot of good things going for it and an incredibly shocking twist that no one will see coming. But for me, it had too many problems that I just couldn't get over to rate it higher.
There are 4 main characters as well as several side characters in this story. Ruth and Garry are a married couple who have a 16 year old son, Jack. Ingrid is their nanny/housekeeper who's been with the family for years, first as Jack's nanny since he was an infant but is now more a housekeeper. This is the "family" of this story but they didn't feel like a family. They barely felt like they knew each other at all, except for Ingrid who was more authentic and "possible" than the others. Told over approximately 7 days, the story begins when Ingrid alerts Ruth that there is something seriously wrong with Jack who is presenting with some extremely disturbing behaviour. Jack literally HATES everyone in his life, including his parents. An exceptionally intelligent child, he's never had a friend and is bullied at school where he is younger than his classmates due to skipping grades. The story unfolds through the examination of the reactions of the characters to Ingrid's alarm and the events that unfold leading to a stunning outcome.
The good things about this book are the plot and the twist. Both were great. I also liked the side-stories that contributed to the events of the story as I thought they added depth to how the plot unfolded. But in a character-driven psychological thriller, the characters and their relationships need to make sense.
The major reason I didn't love this book is how the relationships between the main characters are written. Despite being married for 17+ years, Ruth and Garry don't appear to know each other at all. They make no sense as a couple who could ever got together in the first place let alone be married for so long. The problems in their relationship are written as if they only begin with the events of the week in which this story takes place. The writer seems to expect us to believe they were "happy" before this but NO WAY is that even remotely believable. Ruth's personality is written to be very much like her son, Jack's. She's cold, has no friends, seems to tolerate people more than actually "like" them, work is her top priority but has no idea how to handle her employees in a human way. She has nothing in her life outside of work and is completely unlikable as a character. Her family feels like her "trophy" rather than a priority. She has no idea who Jack is and only seems to notice him when his behaviour starts causing problems to her neat, organized life. Garry, on the other hand is written to be a warm character whom everyone likes. He's a community guy who's well liked. His family seems to be his first priority but if that's the case, why doesn't he KNOW his own wife and son? It's like he just met them! It was one of the oddest "family" dynamics I've ever read. And Jack is a VERY troubled child! Ruth and Garry must be the most self-involved parents on the planet to explain how they found a way to ignore Jack's issues until now. And the author definitely gave him issues going back to his childhood. He's displayed dissociative behaviour since he was a child and they NEVER did anything about it, only seeming to really notice it now, and appear shocked by it. The author fails to make me believe there's any love or concern for one another in their history and yet their family relationship and how it falls apart is the cornerstone of this story. It just doesn't work for me.
Honestly, I think rewriting the histories of these 3 characters so that they actually make sense as a family would improve this book 100%! Right now, they feel like they just met and I couldn't get past this glaring flaw because it made everything else feel unreal.
July 24, 2020
Thank you BookSirens and Poolbeg Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a fast paced, gut wrenching family drama. Is Ruth and Garry’s son, Jack, the embodiment of evil or a misunderstood victim of bullying? Both parents struggle with the possibility that their son is hiding a dark side that conceals malice and anger heading towards destruction. This character driven story is unsettling and heartbreaking. Denial, doubt, suspicion and regret dominate the lives of a typical family facing a petrifying situation.
January 16, 2021
The book is set in a (fictional?!) Irish town called Carrigaban and follows the lives of the Cantor family - standoffish Ruth who is a Quality Control manager in Angelia Pharmaceuticals, husband Garry, who owns a struggling bookshop in the town and their son, 16 year old Jack who is a loner. There's also Ingrid, their au pair/housekeeper and gardener Henry.
The books starts with Ruth having to make a tough decision when she hears that Angelia is being pulled from Ireland and if she wants, she has a job lined up for her in Texas. If this wasn't stressful enough, she goes home to face their loyal housekeeper, Ingrid informing Ruth that she is heading back to Norway because she is scared of sixteen year old Jack after finding questionable and frightening material in his bedroom - coupled with the discovery of knives in the garden shed... The rest of the story sees Ruth and Gary dealing (or not dealing to be quite honest) with their son's erratic and troubling behaviour.
Did I like this book? Yeah, it was grand. There was not one redeemable character in the whole thing. I felt nothing towards any of them and found myself speed reading towards the end of the book. All of their behaviour was questionable to be honest, not just Jack's. I'm not a parent but I was thinking how stupid their actions where throughout most of the book...
The ending was rushed and frankly, not worth the pay off of reading the book. It could have absolutely been avoided as well.
Another strange thing was the author's description of women's bodies throughout the story. It was a bit odd and invasive.
Saying that, it was a good read and it was very well paced I just couldn't connect with the characters at all and the ending was, I felt, rushed but I liked the descriptions of the village and the woods etc... The writing was good but I'm not sure I'd recommend this book to others.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The books starts with Ruth having to make a tough decision when she hears that Angelia is being pulled from Ireland and if she wants, she has a job lined up for her in Texas. If this wasn't stressful enough, she goes home to face their loyal housekeeper, Ingrid informing Ruth that she is heading back to Norway because she is scared of sixteen year old Jack after finding questionable and frightening material in his bedroom - coupled with the discovery of knives in the garden shed... The rest of the story sees Ruth and Gary dealing (or not dealing to be quite honest) with their son's erratic and troubling behaviour.
Did I like this book? Yeah, it was grand. There was not one redeemable character in the whole thing. I felt nothing towards any of them and found myself speed reading towards the end of the book. All of their behaviour was questionable to be honest, not just Jack's. I'm not a parent but I was thinking how stupid their actions where throughout most of the book...
The ending was rushed and frankly, not worth the pay off of reading the book. It could have absolutely been avoided as well.
Another strange thing was the author's description of women's bodies throughout the story. It was a bit odd and invasive.
Saying that, it was a good read and it was very well paced I just couldn't connect with the characters at all and the ending was, I felt, rushed but I liked the descriptions of the village and the woods etc... The writing was good but I'm not sure I'd recommend this book to others.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2020
This was a very dark and compelling read about Jack and his family, including the housekeeper, Ingrid who practically raised Jack. The writer did a great job in presenting all the different sides of this story and keeping you on edge with wonder!
Jack starts to display some peculiar behavior noticed by Ingrid but his mom is in total denial and attributes his actions to him the bullying that has been going on by his classmates. Garry, Jack’s dad seems to understand that Jack has many secrets and has in fact caught him in some before but did not confide in his wife. This disconnect between the parents made a great storyline as Ruth can’t fathom that her son is evil , let alone realize that her husband and housekeeper think he is exactly that!
This is also a sad story as to issues that are relatable today. Jack is constantly rejected by his classmates and just can’t find a way to fit in, he is an only child and his parents can’t seem to find the time to make any real connections with him..Is Jack really evil or is it a case of bad coincidences happening ?
I gave this 4 stars only because of one particular instance at the end but I won’t share that due to a spoiler issue.. That being said for this being a first time read by this author for me , this arc really did not disappoint, it kept me turning the pages and curiously wanting more!
Jack starts to display some peculiar behavior noticed by Ingrid but his mom is in total denial and attributes his actions to him the bullying that has been going on by his classmates. Garry, Jack’s dad seems to understand that Jack has many secrets and has in fact caught him in some before but did not confide in his wife. This disconnect between the parents made a great storyline as Ruth can’t fathom that her son is evil , let alone realize that her husband and housekeeper think he is exactly that!
This is also a sad story as to issues that are relatable today. Jack is constantly rejected by his classmates and just can’t find a way to fit in, he is an only child and his parents can’t seem to find the time to make any real connections with him..Is Jack really evil or is it a case of bad coincidences happening ?
I gave this 4 stars only because of one particular instance at the end but I won’t share that due to a spoiler issue.. That being said for this being a first time read by this author for me , this arc really did not disappoint, it kept me turning the pages and curiously wanting more!
August 11, 2020
Fire and Ice is a page-turner! It took a few pages to get used to differences between Irish English and American English, but once I was used to it, I had a hard time putting the book down. Jack sees himself differently than his mother or father does. They each have their opinion of who Jack is deep down, but who is right?
Is a parent required to always think only the best of their children, or is it okay, even natural to question personality traits?
While Garry feels guilty for questioning his son's behavior, Ruth feels guilty for spending so much time working and not connecting with her introverted, quiet, and very smart teenaged son.
Just when you think you know how the direction the story is going, a new idea is introduced and you start questioning all over again. This back and forth is what makes Fire and Ice so hard to put down. I can usually figure out the ending of a book about half-way into it but not with Fire and Ice. The author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing.
If you like reading mild phycological thrillers and mysteries, you will enjoy Fire and Ice. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Is a parent required to always think only the best of their children, or is it okay, even natural to question personality traits?
While Garry feels guilty for questioning his son's behavior, Ruth feels guilty for spending so much time working and not connecting with her introverted, quiet, and very smart teenaged son.
Just when you think you know how the direction the story is going, a new idea is introduced and you start questioning all over again. This back and forth is what makes Fire and Ice so hard to put down. I can usually figure out the ending of a book about half-way into it but not with Fire and Ice. The author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing.
If you like reading mild phycological thrillers and mysteries, you will enjoy Fire and Ice. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2020
Jack Cantor is a solitary child, who has no friends and is a genius. He also has a dark side which scares Ingrid, the Cantors housekeeper. Especially after she finds knives in his room and obscene material on his computer.
This is a story of a family unraveling - Jacks father, Barry, immediately believes there is something wrong with his son, whilst Ruth, his wife can only think of Jack as her baby, despite him being 16. I couldn’t warm to any of the characters, except Barry, but this is a well plotted and atmospheric read, with plenty of twists and turns. Jack is a serial killer in the making but you can also feel sorry for a child who has had such a solitary life.
I received an ARC for free in return for an honest review.
This is a story of a family unraveling - Jacks father, Barry, immediately believes there is something wrong with his son, whilst Ruth, his wife can only think of Jack as her baby, despite him being 16. I couldn’t warm to any of the characters, except Barry, but this is a well plotted and atmospheric read, with plenty of twists and turns. Jack is a serial killer in the making but you can also feel sorry for a child who has had such a solitary life.
I received an ARC for free in return for an honest review.
June 11, 2020
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review of this book. This is one of those books that you don't want to stop reading. When it's finished, there's a sadness that comes with knowing this story is ended. But you will keep thinking about the story because it's a powerful one. There are so many troubled kids out there and everyone thinks that they were born bad. They weren't. They just aren't the "norm". This is an excellent story about the effects of bullying. This book was a treat to read and I'm going to get a copy to share with my daughter and my Co workers. Everyone should read this book!
July 15, 2020
Wow! I did not see the ending coming while reading this book! I enjoyed how the author portrayed the characters, and you felt you really knew them all. They weren't all likable , but were definitely authentic and relatable. The book begins with the nanny becoming fearful of the boy she helped raise since an infant, which added an element of suspense. Jack's parents had 2 different views of their son and his actions/personality which further added to the tension. Throw in some school bullying and other issues, and you have the making for a great psychological thriller. I absolutely recommend this book if you are a fan of them.
October 17, 2020
Fire and Ice is a story of lack of communication, bulling in many different ways, lack of treatment of mental health issues, difficulties of teenage years, deceit and love. It has a well developed plot and an unexpected ending (for me....). You can relate to this story easily as we have seen it many times - in different ways and places - on the news. A difficult theme well put together that keeps the reader attention till the end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 5, 2020
This book hit everything I love about thriller books. When you think you have it figured out, then you start double guessing yourself, and thinking "maybe I'm wrong". Then the author hits you with something you didnt see coming. I would definitely recommend this book. I would love to read more from this author. Thanks to booksirens for an ARC, in return for my honest opinion.
#booksirens #MaryO'Sullivan
#booksirens #MaryO'Sullivan
July 10, 2020
Oh wow, I really liked reading this book. Full of twists and turns, it kept me hooked until the end. The suspense built up very nicely as I progressed.
Only downside was the characterisation. Felt the characters were very one-dimensional. The writing felt a bit sub-par at times, (also noticed few errors) but didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Only downside was the characterisation. Felt the characters were very one-dimensional. The writing felt a bit sub-par at times, (also noticed few errors) but didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
November 13, 2024
Fire and Ice
Once I started could not stop reading.
Terrific story, brilliant writing
Love Irish stories but this was best I read in a while!
Once I started could not stop reading.
Terrific story, brilliant writing
Love Irish stories but this was best I read in a while!
July 23, 2020
Great to read a psychological thriller that doesn't start with a dead body whose murderer needs to be found! Instead, we have a "normal" family who has had an au pair living with them and who has raised the son from birth and who now wants to resign because she is afraid of him. This story emphasises character development -- especially of the son -- as his personality develops in disturbing ways and his parents struggle to deal with others' reactions to their unusual child while trying to manage a whole lot of other issues that seem to plague the family and their relationships. This was a great read with a great ending. It's nicely paced with some great surprises along the way. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I received a free review copy from Book Sirens in return for an honest review, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received a free review copy from Book Sirens in return for an honest review, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 13, 2020
This book is an intense,character driven story, Every character is flawed and bubbling with so many emotions,i think that is why i was unable to connect with the characters fully.
There were many side stories which i felt was unnecessary and didn't actually add any input ot the main one, but once you power through the book is enjoyable. The ending was kind of expected at same time unexpected?
Overall it is an enjoyable thriller read.
Thank you Booksirens and the author for my free review copy.
There were many side stories which i felt was unnecessary and didn't actually add any input ot the main one, but once you power through the book is enjoyable. The ending was kind of expected at same time unexpected?
Overall it is an enjoyable thriller read.
Thank you Booksirens and the author for my free review copy.
July 7, 2020
This was an Irish psychological thriller which is my genre but I did not participate like this novel. The ending was preordained with virtually no twists and turns. Jack a troubled teenager from a dysfunctional family is bullied in school. This story tells what the bullying consists of and his reactions.
June 26, 2020
This is certainly the most intense book I've read in a while. The characters are strong and authentically presented and evoked strong emotions in me which ranged from extreme distaste and fear to sympathy for the place in which they found themselves. I was never indifferent to them.
The denouement totally blindsided me and took my breath away.
Definitely not a book for the faint hearted but if you're in it for the thrills and chills this book is going to deliver the goods.
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The denouement totally blindsided me and took my breath away.
Definitely not a book for the faint hearted but if you're in it for the thrills and chills this book is going to deliver the goods.
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2020
From the outside, Ruth, her husband Garry and son Jack have the perfect life. They have a beautiful home, a loyal house keeper and gardener. Ruth is passionate about her career in the local pharmaceutical company and Garry owns the towns bookshop. Jack, sixteen, is so intelligent he has been moved up a year in school. Jack is also a loner, cold towards his family and reclusive, even the family dog keeps out of his way. He’s also lonely and bullied at school and just wants to fit in.
Jacks parents and housekeeper Ingrid have always made excuses for his behaviour, it’s just his way. But there’s always a niggling thought that something is just not right with him.
This book was gripping, dark, emotional and dealt with the difficult subjects so considerately and skilfully. It shows how family relationships can slide and how their problems can fester when life is busy and how they can turn into a very dark spiral when they are not dealt with head on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Mary O’Sullivan should be praised for breaking away from her usual genre and I’m hoping she writes more books in this style in the future.
Thanks to BookSirens for the free digital ARC.
Jacks parents and housekeeper Ingrid have always made excuses for his behaviour, it’s just his way. But there’s always a niggling thought that something is just not right with him.
This book was gripping, dark, emotional and dealt with the difficult subjects so considerately and skilfully. It shows how family relationships can slide and how their problems can fester when life is busy and how they can turn into a very dark spiral when they are not dealt with head on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Mary O’Sullivan should be praised for breaking away from her usual genre and I’m hoping she writes more books in this style in the future.
Thanks to BookSirens for the free digital ARC.
June 23, 2020
Wow..... This was a great thriller to read.
Love the well fleshed out characters that I enjoyed following on this tale.
The plot and story line were extremely suspenseful and kept me glued to the end.
Full of twists that you won't see coming.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of the book and this is my honest voluntary review.
Love the well fleshed out characters that I enjoyed following on this tale.
The plot and story line were extremely suspenseful and kept me glued to the end.
Full of twists that you won't see coming.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of the book and this is my honest voluntary review.
December 30, 2011
Fire and Ice is an intriguing and intense story about sixteen year old Jack Cantor. Jack is an extremely bright boy, he is doing really well at school, so much more that he has been moved up above his year group. Jack could be headed for a really bright future. But something is going on with Jack, something is not quite right. Ingrid the housekeeper knows she feels uncomfortable around Jack. She found some horrible literature in Jack’s room, really violent reading material showing cruelty to humans and animals. It would seem that Jack is more interested in death than life.
Jack’s mum Ruth is a busy career woman. Ruth knows that her son Jack is lacking in social skills and is not a good mixer and that he is unwilling to interact. She brushes Jack problems off as shyness and to Jack being too bright and a high achiever. Sometimes thoughts drift into Ruth’s mind that something was not quite right about Jack, but she sends these thoughts far away to the back of her mind. Besides she has other things on her mind when she finds out that her job is relocating to America and her husband Garry is content to stay in Ireland set in his ways running his book shop. Garry knows that Jack’s behaviour has gone beyond a phase and that he was becoming more and more arrogant and aggressive. But he has failed to discuss his fears with his wife Ruth.
Is it too late for them to find out what the problem is with Jack?
Does Jack just want to make a stand for his independence?
Just how far has Jack’s behaviour got out of control?
Fire and Ice is the outstanding brand new novel from Mary O’Sullivan. The reader gets a good insight into a family’s life and the suffering, damage and devastation that can be caused when issues are not addressed or go unnoticed. The storyline is very cleverly played out and keeps the reader engrossed throughout. This book is a lot different from the other Mary O’Sullivan books that I have read and is just as good and well written. I really recommend this book it is a compelling read.
Jack’s mum Ruth is a busy career woman. Ruth knows that her son Jack is lacking in social skills and is not a good mixer and that he is unwilling to interact. She brushes Jack problems off as shyness and to Jack being too bright and a high achiever. Sometimes thoughts drift into Ruth’s mind that something was not quite right about Jack, but she sends these thoughts far away to the back of her mind. Besides she has other things on her mind when she finds out that her job is relocating to America and her husband Garry is content to stay in Ireland set in his ways running his book shop. Garry knows that Jack’s behaviour has gone beyond a phase and that he was becoming more and more arrogant and aggressive. But he has failed to discuss his fears with his wife Ruth.
Is it too late for them to find out what the problem is with Jack?
Does Jack just want to make a stand for his independence?
Just how far has Jack’s behaviour got out of control?
Fire and Ice is the outstanding brand new novel from Mary O’Sullivan. The reader gets a good insight into a family’s life and the suffering, damage and devastation that can be caused when issues are not addressed or go unnoticed. The storyline is very cleverly played out and keeps the reader engrossed throughout. This book is a lot different from the other Mary O’Sullivan books that I have read and is just as good and well written. I really recommend this book it is a compelling read.
December 30, 2012
This book it is a dark, compelling read and once I started reading about Jack and his family I could not stop. The author cleverly get US (the reader) to see that Jack has problems which his family are brushing under the carpet, excusing them as 'shyness' manifestations of his intelligence and teenage angst. But we and Ingrid the housekeeper (who's seen the disturbing literature in Jack's bedroom) can see through this and know that this family is a car crash waiting to happen. We want to shake Mum and Dad out of their preoccupation/introspection and make them see where Jack - and they - are headed. I found this novel deeply engrossing and I'm sure you will, too.
June 2, 2020
This is an excellent and heart-wrenching story!! Bully or bullied? Should Jack's parents have faith in him? Should they trust him? Do they really see him, know him? A magnificent book about how Jack's loving parents react to their child's worrying behaviour, each according to their own expectations, own life story. This is so well rendered that up to the end, I vacillated myself between trust and faith in Jack, but always feeling tremendously sad for him.
Thank you Mary and BookSirens for letting me read this book for free.
Thank you Mary and BookSirens for letting me read this book for free.
May 26, 2020
Thanks to Mary and Book Sirens for the copy of this book. I do not like to leave any book unfinished, but it was a struggle for me to really connect with the characters. At about the halfway to 60% point in this book, it really picked up speed and I needed to know how it turned out. I’m glad I finished this book, and the end really shocked me. I’d give 3.5 stars for the fail to grab me from the start.
May 29, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC.
I couldn't put this book down as I wanted to find out what happened at the ending.
As a parent you always what is good for your child. Sometimes though as a parent you are blinded to signs that others readily recognize as troubling.
The ending saddened me but is reality.
Very well written. I loved all the characters and wanted so badly a happy ending.
Definitely will find more books by this author.
I couldn't put this book down as I wanted to find out what happened at the ending.
As a parent you always what is good for your child. Sometimes though as a parent you are blinded to signs that others readily recognize as troubling.
The ending saddened me but is reality.
Very well written. I loved all the characters and wanted so badly a happy ending.
Definitely will find more books by this author.
May 30, 2020
Fire and Ice by Mary O'Sullivan was a painful read for me. I was struggling to make it through the book. Plainly put, it was a boring read up until the 90% point. The characters were flat and I could not connect with them. Thanks to the ending, the book gained another star.
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
February 5, 2013
One of my favourite books of 2012 by one of my very favourite authors. Fire and Ice sucks you in from the first page and keeps you guessing until the very end.
August 16, 2016
4.5 stars as can't decide
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