What do you think?
Rate this book
Sinister Coast Collection #1
El secreto de las olas
Natalie, una joven psicóloga, ve cómo su vida comienza a desmoronarse cuando su marido desaparece haciendo surf. Todo parece indicar que no ha sido más que un trágico accidente, pero una misteriosa llamada telefónica le incita a pensar lo contrario. A partir de ese momento, Natalie se embarca en una búsqueda de la verdad.
Jesse, un adolescente de trece años, se traslada al otro lado del mundo tras la trágica muerte de su padre. Conoce a John, un carismático joven con quien entabla una estrecha amistad, hasta que un accidente cambia sus vidas para siempre.
Dos historias aparentemente desconectadas. Cómo se entrelazan te mantendrá leyendo hasta altas horas de la noche. Y su inesperado final te resultará asombroso.
Jesse, un adolescente de trece años, se traslada al otro lado del mundo tras la trágica muerte de su padre. Conoce a John, un carismático joven con quien entabla una estrecha amistad, hasta que un accidente cambia sus vidas para siempre.
Dos historias aparentemente desconectadas. Cómo se entrelazan te mantendrá leyendo hasta altas horas de la noche. Y su inesperado final te resultará asombroso.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2016
3902 people are currently reading
2840 people want to read
About the author
Gregg Dunnett
37 books487 followersGregg Dunnett is a British author writing psychological thrillers and stories about travel and adventure, usually with a connection to the coast or to the oceans. Before turning to novels he worked as a journalist for ten years on a windsurfing magazine, briefly owned a sailing school in Egypt, taught English in Thailand, Portugal, Turkey and Italy, taught sailing in Greece and Spain, and also had several rather duller jobs along the way.
His brother is the adventurer Jono Dunnett who in 2015 windsurfed alone and unsupported around the entire coastline of Great Britain, and who is currently windsurfing around the coastline of Europe.
Gregg lives in Bournemouth on the south coast of England with his partner Maria. They have two young children, Alba and Rafa, for whom the phrase “Daddy's working” has absolutely no effect.
Gregg's debut novel was an Amazon top 100 best seller in the UK and was downloaded over a quarter of a million times.
Gregg on why he writes:
"I’ve always wanted to do two things in life, to write, and to have adventures. When I was a kid I imagined grand affairs. Kayaking across Canada, cycling to Australia. Whole summers in the Arctic. Did it happen? Well, partly.
I’ve been lucky, I spent some years abroad teaching English. I worked in sailing schools in Greece and Spain. I really lucked out with a job testing windsurfing boards for the magazine I grew up reading. I made a questionable decision (ok, a bad decision) to buy a windsurfing centre in Egypt. I’ve also done my fair share of less exciting jobs. Packing and stacking potatoes on a farm, which got me fitter than I’ve ever been in my life. I did a few years in local government which taught me that people really do have meetings that result only in the need for more meetings, and they really do take all afternoon. I spent a pleasant few months in a giant book warehouse, where I would deliberately get lost among the miles of shelves unpacking travel guides and daydreaming. I’ve done a bit of writing too, at least I learned how to write. Boards Magazine isn’t well known (it doesn’t even exist today) but it did have a reputation for being well written and I shoe-horned articles in my own gonzo journalism style on some topics with the most tenuous of links to windsurfing. But the real adventures never came. Nor did the real writing.
Then, in 2015, my brother announced he was going to become the first person to windsurf alone around Great Britain. I don’t know why. Apparently it was something he’d always wanted to do (news to me). It was a proper adventure. It was dangerous, it was exciting. Even before he set off he was interviewed on TV, in the papers etc... Some people thought he was reckless, some thought he was inspirational. Lots of people thought he’d fail.
But he didn’t. He made it around. He even sailed solo from Wales to Ireland, the first to make the crossing without the aid of a safety boat. I was lucky enough to be involved in a planning level, and take part in a few training sails, and the last leg of the trip. But he did ninety nine percent of it on his own. One step at a time, just getting on with it. That was quite inspiring.
In a way it inspired me to pull my finger out. I’d been writing novels - or trying to write novels - then for a few years. But it was touch and go as to whether I was going to be one of those ‘writers’ with a half-finished novel lost on a hard drive somewhere, rather than someone who might actually manage to finish the job.
I’ve now got two lovely, highly demanding children, so real adventures are hard right now. I still try to get away when I can for nights out in the wilds rough camping, surf trips sleeping in the van, windsurfing when the big storms come. I love adventures with the kids too.
I hope in time to get around to a few real adventures. I want to sail across an ocean. I want to bike across a continent. I definitely want to spend more time surfing empty waves.
But fo
His brother is the adventurer Jono Dunnett who in 2015 windsurfed alone and unsupported around the entire coastline of Great Britain, and who is currently windsurfing around the coastline of Europe.
Gregg lives in Bournemouth on the south coast of England with his partner Maria. They have two young children, Alba and Rafa, for whom the phrase “Daddy's working” has absolutely no effect.
Gregg's debut novel was an Amazon top 100 best seller in the UK and was downloaded over a quarter of a million times.
Gregg on why he writes:
"I’ve always wanted to do two things in life, to write, and to have adventures. When I was a kid I imagined grand affairs. Kayaking across Canada, cycling to Australia. Whole summers in the Arctic. Did it happen? Well, partly.
I’ve been lucky, I spent some years abroad teaching English. I worked in sailing schools in Greece and Spain. I really lucked out with a job testing windsurfing boards for the magazine I grew up reading. I made a questionable decision (ok, a bad decision) to buy a windsurfing centre in Egypt. I’ve also done my fair share of less exciting jobs. Packing and stacking potatoes on a farm, which got me fitter than I’ve ever been in my life. I did a few years in local government which taught me that people really do have meetings that result only in the need for more meetings, and they really do take all afternoon. I spent a pleasant few months in a giant book warehouse, where I would deliberately get lost among the miles of shelves unpacking travel guides and daydreaming. I’ve done a bit of writing too, at least I learned how to write. Boards Magazine isn’t well known (it doesn’t even exist today) but it did have a reputation for being well written and I shoe-horned articles in my own gonzo journalism style on some topics with the most tenuous of links to windsurfing. But the real adventures never came. Nor did the real writing.
Then, in 2015, my brother announced he was going to become the first person to windsurf alone around Great Britain. I don’t know why. Apparently it was something he’d always wanted to do (news to me). It was a proper adventure. It was dangerous, it was exciting. Even before he set off he was interviewed on TV, in the papers etc... Some people thought he was reckless, some thought he was inspirational. Lots of people thought he’d fail.
But he didn’t. He made it around. He even sailed solo from Wales to Ireland, the first to make the crossing without the aid of a safety boat. I was lucky enough to be involved in a planning level, and take part in a few training sails, and the last leg of the trip. But he did ninety nine percent of it on his own. One step at a time, just getting on with it. That was quite inspiring.
In a way it inspired me to pull my finger out. I’d been writing novels - or trying to write novels - then for a few years. But it was touch and go as to whether I was going to be one of those ‘writers’ with a half-finished novel lost on a hard drive somewhere, rather than someone who might actually manage to finish the job.
I’ve now got two lovely, highly demanding children, so real adventures are hard right now. I still try to get away when I can for nights out in the wilds rough camping, surf trips sleeping in the van, windsurfing when the big storms come. I love adventures with the kids too.
I hope in time to get around to a few real adventures. I want to sail across an ocean. I want to bike across a continent. I definitely want to spend more time surfing empty waves.
But fo
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 438 reviews
June 9, 2017
For a debut author I was astounded by the quality of the writing and the storyline in this book, matching a much more seasoned writer than I expected! Gregg Dunnett has done a fabulous job with "The Wave at Hanging Rock" and I am so pleased that I won this in the Goodreads Giveaways as it is the type of book I love! I can't believe this book is not getting a lot more publicity - it really can match many of the best selling psychological thrillers currently in the charts.
Living right by the sea myself I often watch the waves crashing on the North East coastline and could totally visualise the scenes in the story. I don't have much knowledge of surfing but the surfing scenes weren't over intrusive and were quite informative and interesting.
I loved everything about this book, the coastal location, the characters, the story, the way the chapters changed from past to present, to first person then to third person. It's an excellent psychological suspense thriller thats hooks you in straight away with two storylines running alongside each other seemingly unrelated that unite in spectacular tension! I was blown away by the twists towards the end of the book.
I give this a brilliant 5 stars and highly recommend it and hope to read more from Gregg Dunnett very soon!
Living right by the sea myself I often watch the waves crashing on the North East coastline and could totally visualise the scenes in the story. I don't have much knowledge of surfing but the surfing scenes weren't over intrusive and were quite informative and interesting.
I loved everything about this book, the coastal location, the characters, the story, the way the chapters changed from past to present, to first person then to third person. It's an excellent psychological suspense thriller thats hooks you in straight away with two storylines running alongside each other seemingly unrelated that unite in spectacular tension! I was blown away by the twists towards the end of the book.
I give this a brilliant 5 stars and highly recommend it and hope to read more from Gregg Dunnett very soon!
March 17, 2017
Spoiler Alert...Don't read my review unless you've already finished the book. I really liked the story...that is until the last 2 chapters. The surfing parts were a bit tedious as I have no surfing background but I could skim through that. I could foresee the event that changed the boys' lives. However by the last chapters I was angry. Maybe I am too logical but I hate when inconsistencies don't make sense. If Jesse is telling the story in the past, then are the events as he tells them? Then he repeats the story to Natalie and Dan. So it's false right from the beginning? Why would he need to make it up at the beginning? I wondered at the time how Jesse, John and Darren could disappear overnight with no one knowing.... and how does one explain a busted arm 24 hours later when it is blue and swollen? Why on earth did Jim stow his stuff in a watertight bag and hide it in a bush but leave the keys to his car with the car? His wallet was in the bag, why not the keys too? Why is Jesse hanging out in the abandoned campground? If it had any value, why would he wait so long to sell it? If John is a psychopath, his story is likely to be as false as what he says Jesse's story is. Why would Darren continue to hang out with Jesse and want to blackmail John if Jesse is the bad one? Why would Jesse kill his girlfriend and Darren's brother? Too much did not make sense by the end...obviously he ends up in Indonesia but not with Darren. Where did the money come from? I really hated the ending.
Read
April 30, 2017can comebody just throw me in this cover? it's so beautiful
January 13, 2019
I actually really liked this story. Told by two narrators - Jesse, mostly in the past as a teenager and Natalie, mostly in the present. Jesse moves to Wales from the Australian Gold Coast with his mum after the death of his father. He is a mad keen surfer and is pleased that the camping ground his mother now runs backs onto a beach that has actual, if somewhat underwhelming, surf. He befriends John and Darren and the three are inseparable. Eventually they lust after better waves and come up with a cunning plan to surf at a place they call Hanging Rock, even though its on private property and strictly out of bounds. Its also tricky to get to with a surf board. It all goes well until...I can't tell you.
Natalie's husband, Jim, disappeared eight years ago. he had gone surfing and his vehicle was found in Cornwall. The circumstances suggested suicide but the body was never recovered. Now eight years later (present time) his backpack is found many miles from where the car was left. Natalie and Jim's business partner, Dave, travel to this other location to see what they can learn.
This novel is full of unreliable narratives and misdirection, quite clever really. A couple of unexpected twists leave you somewhat stunned. I really was not expecting them. I was having enough trouble getting my head around the un-twisty bits by then. A few reviewers didn't like the ending but I didn't mind it at all. We don't always need things tied up in a neat bow with smiles all round. This is the author's first novel and its a damn good effort.
Natalie's husband, Jim, disappeared eight years ago. he had gone surfing and his vehicle was found in Cornwall. The circumstances suggested suicide but the body was never recovered. Now eight years later (present time) his backpack is found many miles from where the car was left. Natalie and Jim's business partner, Dave, travel to this other location to see what they can learn.
This novel is full of unreliable narratives and misdirection, quite clever really. A couple of unexpected twists leave you somewhat stunned. I really was not expecting them. I was having enough trouble getting my head around the un-twisty bits by then. A few reviewers didn't like the ending but I didn't mind it at all. We don't always need things tied up in a neat bow with smiles all round. This is the author's first novel and its a damn good effort.
February 27, 2023
El libro está contado alternando dos historias que solo avanzada la lectura se entrelazan (aunque de forma previsible).
Por un lado, la historia de Jesse, un adolescente australiano recién llegado a un pueblecito de Gales, donde lo único interesante es el sur.
Por otro lado, la historia de Natalie, cuyo marido desaparece durante un viaje en surf.
La lectura me ha resultado lenta, monótona, sin ningún tipo de interés especial. Y ni siquiera el golpe de efecto final lo fue tanto como para compensar esto.
Por un lado, la historia de Jesse, un adolescente australiano recién llegado a un pueblecito de Gales, donde lo único interesante es el sur.
Por otro lado, la historia de Natalie, cuyo marido desaparece durante un viaje en surf.
La lectura me ha resultado lenta, monótona, sin ningún tipo de interés especial. Y ni siquiera el golpe de efecto final lo fue tanto como para compensar esto.
February 7, 2017
A terribly slow start, good plot twists, but this book also exemplifies playing with the reader in the final chapter. No explanation will keep me out of the spoiler zone.
March 4, 2017
This is a difficult book to comment on because the author has talent. The writing flows easily and although the pacing slows at times, it never gets completely bogged down. It is difficult to discuss what didn't work without creating spoilers, so I will share as much as I can.
There are characters in the book who are not killers yet they make plans to kill another person. While all of us have, at one time or another, been angry enough to express (or at least) the thought that we could kill someone, these are fantasies that we use to "blow off steam." There are books written on the psychology of killing, dealing with how the everyday person faces and usually evades killing another person, even in war. Humans are just not wired to kill another human, even in war. I am not saying that it is not possible, but I am saying that I found it difficult to believe that the people in the book would be able to carry out any plans they might make to kill someone. Unfortunately, this is a major part of the story.
There are two twists in the story, which the author handles perfectly. If Mr. Dunnett would not have carefully written his book in the manner he used, one of the twists would not have worked at all. The twist in the last chapter was totally unexpected...so unexpected, in fact, that I had to reread that section three times to ensure I had not misread it. Serious thought went into the twists, and the author made it look easy.
To recap, the writing is good, and the surprises are professionally crafted. While the characterizations of the boys are good and Natalie is around enough to make me feel like I know her, Dave and other characters are not as fleshed out as the others. The idea that any normal person could plan to kill another person was difficult to pull off, and as an intricate part of the plot, it weakens the story. If you can suspend disbelief through this aspect, it is an entertaining read. Three-and-a-half stars.
There are characters in the book who are not killers yet they make plans to kill another person. While all of us have, at one time or another, been angry enough to express (or at least) the thought that we could kill someone, these are fantasies that we use to "blow off steam." There are books written on the psychology of killing, dealing with how the everyday person faces and usually evades killing another person, even in war. Humans are just not wired to kill another human, even in war. I am not saying that it is not possible, but I am saying that I found it difficult to believe that the people in the book would be able to carry out any plans they might make to kill someone. Unfortunately, this is a major part of the story.
There are two twists in the story, which the author handles perfectly. If Mr. Dunnett would not have carefully written his book in the manner he used, one of the twists would not have worked at all. The twist in the last chapter was totally unexpected...so unexpected, in fact, that I had to reread that section three times to ensure I had not misread it. Serious thought went into the twists, and the author made it look easy.
To recap, the writing is good, and the surprises are professionally crafted. While the characterizations of the boys are good and Natalie is around enough to make me feel like I know her, Dave and other characters are not as fleshed out as the others. The idea that any normal person could plan to kill another person was difficult to pull off, and as an intricate part of the plot, it weakens the story. If you can suspend disbelief through this aspect, it is an entertaining read. Three-and-a-half stars.
February 9, 2017
Why the bad ending?
I thought I almost liked this book but then I didn't. The character development never quite got there. I still can't picture any of the main characters and the supporting cast is impossible to imagine. But mostly it was the last couple of pages, Wtf?? Now I have zero clue as to what I just spent several hours reading. So in trying to throw a surprise twist in, you leave the reader baffled? Definitely not how this reader likes a story wrapped up, not gonna try the freebie, sigh...
I thought I almost liked this book but then I didn't. The character development never quite got there. I still can't picture any of the main characters and the supporting cast is impossible to imagine. But mostly it was the last couple of pages, Wtf?? Now I have zero clue as to what I just spent several hours reading. So in trying to throw a surprise twist in, you leave the reader baffled? Definitely not how this reader likes a story wrapped up, not gonna try the freebie, sigh...
November 23, 2017
It is clever in how it drags your curiosity along from the start, it turns into intriguing, becomes compelling, and then it just drops the unexpected on you (from a great height, pardon the pun for those who have read it). Stunning stuff and completely enjoyable.
July 5, 2020
Voy a ser sincera, me costo un poco de trabajo "cogerle el gusto"a este libro, no es que se a malo, simplemente me he percatado, que no suelo empatizar cuando el narrador es hombre, no se, creo que too esto ocurre cuando se trata de un thriller, me desenfoco un poco y me cuesta trabajo ponerme en su lugar.
Sin embargo, es una historia un tanto original, bueno, debido al tema del surf,el cual no soy muy conocedora, y el autor abordo un tanto exagerado, que algunas veces me llegó a cansar,no le quiero quitar el merito,pero si fue tedioso en algunas partes.
Ahora bien, El secreto de las Olas, se encuentra narrado a través de Jesse, quien nos brinda sus memorias de cuando era adolescente y como llegó por primera vez Gales,siendo un chico que amaba el surf,encontró refugio en las Olas del pequeño pueblo donde se mudo junto a su reciente madre viuda. Ahí conocerá a sus mejores amigo, Darren y principalmente a John,un chico adinerado , audaz y un tanto "problemático", inseparables desde un principio, guardan celosamente para si un lugar para conseguir las mejore olas.
Con un narrador en tercera persona, se encuentra alternado los capítulos de Natalie,esposa de Jim, quien también es un amante de la aventura y ama el surf solitario,este despareció hace 8 años, misteriosamente nunca fue encontrado su cuerpo, dando por echo su muerte, probablemente suicidio, hasta que Natalie recibe una llamada, en donde todo parece cambiar , así que ella y el socio de su "difunto esposo", Dave, viaja a hacia donde las nuevas pistas apuntan del aparente último lugar donde estuvo Jim.
Las partes de la vida de Natalie fueron las que más me gustaron, al principio no sabía como se enlazarían las vidas de Jess y Jim, y me sentía pérdida, pero a medida que pasaba los capítulos fui entendiendo hacia donde se dirigía la trama.
Los twist ,fueron increíbles ,se que ha muchos no les gusto el final, pero para mi fue perfecto.
February 26, 2017
An exciting plot and interesting characters. I don't know a lot about surfing, but Gregg Dunnett provided enough information about it that I didn't get confused by the lingo. I did subtract one point because the formatting of the Kindle edition was a bit distracting. I also deducted a point because the ending didn't make sense.
November 15, 2022
Un libro que para mí comienza lento, narra la historia desde dos puntos de vista y se me hizo pesado hasta los últimos capítulos donde las historias se unen. A pesar de que los últimos capítulos tiene mucha acción siento que no tiene sentido y el final de uno de los personajes queda inconcluso.
February 21, 2023
Una historia que empieza con una muerte ridícula y acaba con cosas cuya explicación entiendes. La novela empieza de una forma más bien lenta, tres adolescentes ama tés del surf, sus ideas, y luego siguen unos hechos que, aunque es de distintos años, llegan a unirse. La trama es buena aunque, para mi, le sobra un trozo del principio que va bastante lento. Pero tiene un buen giro final.
December 8, 2024
1.5 estrellas, con dos visibles muy generosas por el esfuerzo. Aunque, a decir verdad... ¡menudo timo!
Me dan hasta ganas de ponerme en plan americana chunga, y soltar lo de 'no with my taxes'. Lo digo por eso de que no estoy muy contenta al saber que mi sistema de bibliotecas se ha gastado los cuartos en comprarse una novela autopublicada, de calidad más que discutible.
Desde la primera página me sentí ofendida por la mala calidad de la traducción, plagada de errores gramaticales, sobre todo en cuestión de puntuación y acentuación. Claro que, tras haber leído los agradecimientos, se explican muchas cosas. Y es que no resulta difícil colegir que dicha traducción la realiza la pareja del escritor, que sin duda es bilingüe, pero no una profesional del tema.
Obviamente, mucho no puedo decir personalmente del estilo narrativo original de Dunnett, que de hecho he visto comentar en algunas críticas que no es malo (aunque, claro, siempre surge la duda de hasta que punto dichas críticas son reales), pero el desarrollo de personajes es ciertamente deficiente, y la trama en sí bastante tramposa. Que, por otra parte, es algo que muchos escritores hacen, y al menos la lectura me ha resultado bastante entretenida...
Pero bueno, por si queda alguna duda... allá tú si le quieres echar el ojo, pero no esperes grandes cosas.
Me dan hasta ganas de ponerme en plan americana chunga, y soltar lo de 'no with my taxes'. Lo digo por eso de que no estoy muy contenta al saber que mi sistema de bibliotecas se ha gastado los cuartos en comprarse una novela autopublicada, de calidad más que discutible.
Desde la primera página me sentí ofendida por la mala calidad de la traducción, plagada de errores gramaticales, sobre todo en cuestión de puntuación y acentuación. Claro que, tras haber leído los agradecimientos, se explican muchas cosas. Y es que no resulta difícil colegir que dicha traducción la realiza la pareja del escritor, que sin duda es bilingüe, pero no una profesional del tema.
Obviamente, mucho no puedo decir personalmente del estilo narrativo original de Dunnett, que de hecho he visto comentar en algunas críticas que no es malo (aunque, claro, siempre surge la duda de hasta que punto dichas críticas son reales), pero el desarrollo de personajes es ciertamente deficiente, y la trama en sí bastante tramposa. Que, por otra parte, es algo que muchos escritores hacen, y al menos la lectura me ha resultado bastante entretenida...
Pero bueno, por si queda alguna duda... allá tú si le quieres echar el ojo, pero no esperes grandes cosas.
October 6, 2020
*Spoiler alert*
Despite the lengthy, self-indulgent descriptions of surfing, this book held much promise for me. At times the writing was pacy, and the tension growing. And then...
...the end came. What a farce! So the entire story lived through one of the main characters was wrong. Well what was the bloody point in reading it then? And don't get me started on the unexplained plot holes! I felt cheated, the ending was completely inconceivable.
A book has never made me so angry as this one. Don't waste your time on it!
Despite the lengthy, self-indulgent descriptions of surfing, this book held much promise for me. At times the writing was pacy, and the tension growing. And then...
...the end came. What a farce! So the entire story lived through one of the main characters was wrong. Well what was the bloody point in reading it then? And don't get me started on the unexplained plot holes! I felt cheated, the ending was completely inconceivable.
A book has never made me so angry as this one. Don't waste your time on it!
June 4, 2017
Despite the surfing parts, which I sometimes found a bit too tedious, I really enjoyed this... until the last couple of chapters that is.
I won't ruin it by including spoilers, but I will say that there were way too many thing that didn't add up in the end, things that could have been avoided if the plot twist right at the end would have been left out. It's a shame, because I had a much higher opinion of it before that occurred.
I won't ruin it by including spoilers, but I will say that there were way too many thing that didn't add up in the end, things that could have been avoided if the plot twist right at the end would have been left out. It's a shame, because I had a much higher opinion of it before that occurred.
March 17, 2017
Blew Me Away! I rarely write reviews, other than the star rating .... but Wow!
....had me guessing and second guessing ....
....had me guessing and second guessing ....
February 28, 2020
Excellent thriller from Dunnett that tells two stories, one about a woman whose husband goes missing after a surfing trip and the other about three boys who hang out and surf and find a special place they name Hanging Rock with tremendous waves. These two stories expand and ultimately converge in surprising ways. The story with the boys drags a bit with a lot of emphasis and details about surfing technique, but we get well past that when all hell breaks loose on a fateful day. The ending, with an epilogue, packs a wallop and you won't see it coming, so much so that Dunnett includes a link at the end which explains the resolution for those that remain confused. Turns out I didn't need the explanation as I understood it perfectly. What a ride. Dunnett is now two for two with the brilliant The Things You Find In Rockpools. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended.
February 12, 2023
Bueno, con las críticas que había leído y el argumento me esperaba algo más. Tenemos dos historias: por una parte, tenemos a Natalie, que busca a su marido desaparecido. Por otra, tenemos la historia de 3 amigos que viven en Gales. A estos 3 amigos les encanta el surf y buscan olas grandes para surfear.
Hasta el 50% del libro, la trama no arranca.
Hasta el 50% del libro, la trama no arranca.
September 6, 2025
4.1*
Thriller psicològic intens i atmosfèric que entrellaça dues narratives aparentment separades, amb un estil narratiu àgil, unes descripcions vívides que et submergeixen en la història i un final que et fa explotar el cap. Ideal si busques una lectura que et captivi i et sorprengui, sense necessitat de donar-te totes les respostes.
Thriller psicològic intens i atmosfèric que entrellaça dues narratives aparentment separades, amb un estil narratiu àgil, unes descripcions vívides que et submergeixen en la història i un final que et fa explotar el cap. Ideal si busques una lectura que et captivi i et sorprengui, sense necessitat de donar-te totes les respostes.
December 30, 2016
All reviews originally posted on the blog: http://www.knockinbooks.com/reviews
Telling a story from the viewpoint of a child or teenager can be tricky. No matter how old we may be, those memories of the joys, sorrows and drama of our teenage years—when we were simultaneously our best and worst selves—still linger in each of us. Capturing that turmoil and angst with honesty and integrity is a huge challenge. On the other hand, if an author can pull it off, the results can be deeply moving and emotionally gripping. Gregg Dunnett not only pulled it off, he wrapped it all in a slowly building wave of tension with just enough complexity to keep readers guessing for the entire ride.
While the story moves along at a fairly slow pace—which isn’t normally to my liking—my attention rarely wavered thanks to regular shifts to wholly separate storylines. There was also a fair amount of time jumping early on to provide a bit of backstory. In hindsight, some of it feels unnecessary but certainly not enough to sour my overall enjoyment.
Probably my favorite aspect of the book was its ability to keep me guessing. I’m usually pretty good at figuring out the general outlines of a plot but this story veered down a few unexpected paths I didn’t see coming. I also enjoyed the depth and insight into Jesse’s thoughts as the primary narrator telling the story after the fact and leaving small hints about events yet to come.
My only real issue with this book is the handling of the twist at the end. No worries, I’m not going to give anything away. I just feel it would have been more satisfying if it’d been handled differently. I even had an email conversation with the author who admitted that he’d gone back and forth on the best way to handle the final twist before finally settling on the one he chose. It’s entirely possible other people may be fine with it. Unfortunately for me, it caused me to end an otherwise enjoyable read on a down note.
Telling a story from the viewpoint of a child or teenager can be tricky. No matter how old we may be, those memories of the joys, sorrows and drama of our teenage years—when we were simultaneously our best and worst selves—still linger in each of us. Capturing that turmoil and angst with honesty and integrity is a huge challenge. On the other hand, if an author can pull it off, the results can be deeply moving and emotionally gripping. Gregg Dunnett not only pulled it off, he wrapped it all in a slowly building wave of tension with just enough complexity to keep readers guessing for the entire ride.
While the story moves along at a fairly slow pace—which isn’t normally to my liking—my attention rarely wavered thanks to regular shifts to wholly separate storylines. There was also a fair amount of time jumping early on to provide a bit of backstory. In hindsight, some of it feels unnecessary but certainly not enough to sour my overall enjoyment.
Probably my favorite aspect of the book was its ability to keep me guessing. I’m usually pretty good at figuring out the general outlines of a plot but this story veered down a few unexpected paths I didn’t see coming. I also enjoyed the depth and insight into Jesse’s thoughts as the primary narrator telling the story after the fact and leaving small hints about events yet to come.
My only real issue with this book is the handling of the twist at the end. No worries, I’m not going to give anything away. I just feel it would have been more satisfying if it’d been handled differently. I even had an email conversation with the author who admitted that he’d gone back and forth on the best way to handle the final twist before finally settling on the one he chose. It’s entirely possible other people may be fine with it. Unfortunately for me, it caused me to end an otherwise enjoyable read on a down note.
March 25, 2019
Very nearly a 5*. A definite page turner.
December 11, 2016
This book started out kind of slow; I wasn't sure what direction it was going in. We follow two seemingly unrelated stories: Jesse and his friends surfing in Wales, and Natalie - a psychologist whose husband mysteriously disappears.
I liked the Natalie parts. The mystery surrounding her husband, Jim, was intriguing and unpredictable. Jesse kind of annoyed me. John, the leader of their friendship trio, had some psychopathic tendencies which Jesse and the other friend, Darren, never fought against. I understand peer pressure, but they never really tried to oppose him even when they knew he was wrong. I just didn't enjoy reading about those three. BUT once the story properly got going it was really good.
I liked the writing style. Transitions between characters and time frames were handled well. It was all very easy to follow, and totally unpredictable. The two stories eventually came together and made total sense, and although it started out slow, the pacing did change quite dramatically around half way through.
The Wave at Hanging Rock is a good, dark, psychological thriller. As the story unfurls, the plot becomes clearer and more dramatic, full of intrigue and misdirection, and loose ends all nicely tied up at the end.
I received a copy of this book from the author is exchange for an honest review.
I liked the Natalie parts. The mystery surrounding her husband, Jim, was intriguing and unpredictable. Jesse kind of annoyed me. John, the leader of their friendship trio, had some psychopathic tendencies which Jesse and the other friend, Darren, never fought against. I understand peer pressure, but they never really tried to oppose him even when they knew he was wrong. I just didn't enjoy reading about those three. BUT once the story properly got going it was really good.
I liked the writing style. Transitions between characters and time frames were handled well. It was all very easy to follow, and totally unpredictable. The two stories eventually came together and made total sense, and although it started out slow, the pacing did change quite dramatically around half way through.
The Wave at Hanging Rock is a good, dark, psychological thriller. As the story unfurls, the plot becomes clearer and more dramatic, full of intrigue and misdirection, and loose ends all nicely tied up at the end.
I received a copy of this book from the author is exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2017
Readers are able to enjoy this book without any prior knowledge, understanding, or particular interest in surfing which is fantastic from my (non surfing) perspective. The story starts out with Jesse telling his own story of his teenage life and his strange relationship with John, a charming and charismatic character who pushes the boundaries of those around him. The book flips between the boys and another plot; that of Natalie whose husband has gone missing. I found the sudden changes to the other plot line to be difficult to keep up with at times, though it did a good job of keeping me interested throughout. These two seemingly separate stories merge together (eventually) and from there it is difficult to put down. The pace definitely speeds up as the book progresses, until at the final chapter I personally was left slightly confused and realised I had interpreted the ending differently to how it was intended. This could be an interesting point of discussion if you are reading with several others. I enjoyed reading the book and don't think the abrupt ending took anything away from that, and in fact like that it can interpreted in several ways. However, something I would have appreciated is more detail and clarity at the end, particularly surrounding Darren's place in the situation.
July 15, 2017
Like many readers, I struggled with how to rate and review this book. There's no doubt Gregg Dunnett has writing talent, despite some of the flaws others have mentioned in their reviews. I didn't think the surfing scenes were overdone because it helps show the "why" of how surfers who live for surfing seem a bit crazy to most of us. In a way, it develops the characters, especially Jesse and John, and helps explain Jim's sudden absences from home with no warning to Natalie.
Dunnett's strength is storytelling, weaving the plot among all the characters with ease and a natural style. However, my big reservation, like many others, is the ending. I was stumped by it too and read his explanation of why he wrote it the way he did and the logic behind it. That said, I rated the book one less star than normal because if an author needs to explain himself to the reader, he didn't do a good enough job of setting up the ending or writing well enough so the majority of readers understand why and don't get annoyed or irate by what they feel was a trick ending.
Still, I rate this as an above average read despite the weaknesses I perceived.
Dunnett's strength is storytelling, weaving the plot among all the characters with ease and a natural style. However, my big reservation, like many others, is the ending. I was stumped by it too and read his explanation of why he wrote it the way he did and the logic behind it. That said, I rated the book one less star than normal because if an author needs to explain himself to the reader, he didn't do a good enough job of setting up the ending or writing well enough so the majority of readers understand why and don't get annoyed or irate by what they feel was a trick ending.
Still, I rate this as an above average read despite the weaknesses I perceived.
March 21, 2017
I am surprised that I gave this book 3 stars. I may have to go back and change it after I think about it more. The beginning was somewhat slow and I could have done without a lot of the details about surfing. The story wasn't believable to me and the decision for ordinary people to plot to kill someone felt rushed. I agree with the other reviewers, the ending didn't make any sense. Would not recommend.
September 10, 2017
This surfer novel starts out with two seemingly unrelated stories and takes its time to develop its pace. Surfers will particularly enjoy the many surfing scenes and the descriptions of different waves. I instead enjoyed Jesse's "voice". Some readers found the ending too strange or too unclear. I loved just this twist and had no doubts about the intention.
Psychopaths are misleading and deceptive - just as the killer and his author.
Psychopaths are misleading and deceptive - just as the killer and his author.
July 25, 2018
Wow
The reason I like a psychological thriller is that you think you know what's happening.......then BAM! Out of nowhere, the plot twists and everything changes. If the author has written it right, it plays with your head, and this one.....This one definitely did. Especially that last paragraph.......now I wish there was a second book.
The reason I like a psychological thriller is that you think you know what's happening.......then BAM! Out of nowhere, the plot twists and everything changes. If the author has written it right, it plays with your head, and this one.....This one definitely did. Especially that last paragraph.......now I wish there was a second book.
February 5, 2017
A little slow to start but a very good read. Hard to put down and I really didn't see the ending coming!!
February 1, 2017
Finished in one sitting!
I loved this book. Fast paced, believable characters, great story. I had to stop myself sneaking a peak at the next page.
I loved this book. Fast paced, believable characters, great story. I had to stop myself sneaking a peak at the next page.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 438 reviews