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Pedigree Crush with a Twisted Gene
1960. Matriarch Violet Woods buries her firstborn. But not lacking in fortitude, she soon produces five replicas. Violet, a woman with barely concealed neurotic psychosis, stifles the Woods brothers under her protective wing.
As the Woods’ hotel empire grows and the decades pass, the boys coerce their way into adulthood, each with their own secrets and flaws.
Through Katherine Black’s signature style of probing into the blackest depths of suspense, Pedigree Crush with a Twisted Gene is a story of power, vengeance, murder and intrigue...
As they rise, the Woods show no mercy, however when she comes, vengeance checks in with hatred in her overnight bag.
...And let’s not forget that firstborn child.
As the Woods’ hotel empire grows and the decades pass, the boys coerce their way into adulthood, each with their own secrets and flaws.
Through Katherine Black’s signature style of probing into the blackest depths of suspense, Pedigree Crush with a Twisted Gene is a story of power, vengeance, murder and intrigue...
As they rise, the Woods show no mercy, however when she comes, vengeance checks in with hatred in her overnight bag.
...And let’s not forget that firstborn child.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2022
Not a family you would want to be born into
Right from the offset I was emotionally invested in this book. Simon, one of the characters has special needs, and my son is autistic, so how he was treated by his mother struck a nerve with me. It’s one of those books that at times actually makes you shake your head in disgust at how some of the characters act. There was actually one scene where one of the characters said she would like to kick someone in the balls for saying something about Simon, the special needs character and out loud I said “To right, I would like to do the same too” The wife who was sitting beside while I was reading thought I was crazy.
The story is about Violet, the scary matriarch of the family who raises her children with no love and each of them grow up to be just as despicable as she is. Over the years they get caught in a variety of scandals including sex, drug addiction, murder and illegal fighting. They are bound to make enemies particularly one who delivers an explosive payback at the end.
As I said I was emotionally invested right at the start so I loved the book. The writing was fantastic. The way she got into everybody’s character and made some of them real enough to personally hate is a testament to the writers writing style. She could also at times write with great sensitivity especially around the Simon character. I do wonder if the author has experience in that matter. This is my first book that I have read, written by Katherine Black and I’m hooked already. I am eager to read more from her.
Right from the offset I was emotionally invested in this book. Simon, one of the characters has special needs, and my son is autistic, so how he was treated by his mother struck a nerve with me. It’s one of those books that at times actually makes you shake your head in disgust at how some of the characters act. There was actually one scene where one of the characters said she would like to kick someone in the balls for saying something about Simon, the special needs character and out loud I said “To right, I would like to do the same too” The wife who was sitting beside while I was reading thought I was crazy.
The story is about Violet, the scary matriarch of the family who raises her children with no love and each of them grow up to be just as despicable as she is. Over the years they get caught in a variety of scandals including sex, drug addiction, murder and illegal fighting. They are bound to make enemies particularly one who delivers an explosive payback at the end.
As I said I was emotionally invested right at the start so I loved the book. The writing was fantastic. The way she got into everybody’s character and made some of them real enough to personally hate is a testament to the writers writing style. She could also at times write with great sensitivity especially around the Simon character. I do wonder if the author has experience in that matter. This is my first book that I have read, written by Katherine Black and I’m hooked already. I am eager to read more from her.
August 17, 2023
Not a family you would want to be born into
Right from the offset I was emotionally invested in this book. Simon, one of the characters has special needs, and my son is autistic, so how he was treated by his mother struck a nerve with me. It’s one of those books that at times actually makes you shake your head in disgust at how some of the characters act. There was actually one scene where one of the characters said she would like to kick someone in the balls for saying something about Simon, the special needs character and out loud I said “To right, I would like to do the same too” The wife who was sitting beside while I was reading thought I was crazy.
The story is about Violet, the scary matriarch of the family who raises her children with no love and each of them grow up to be just as despicable as she is. Over the years they get caught in a variety of scandals including sex, drug addiction, murder and illegal fighting. They are bound to make enemies particularly one who delivers an explosive payback at the end.
As I said I was emotionally invested right at the start so I loved the book. The writing was fantastic. The way she got into everybody’s character and made some of them real enough to personally hate is a testament to the writers writing style. She could also at times write with great sensitivity especially around the Simon character. I do wonder if the author has experience in that matter. This is my first book that I have read, written by Katherine Black and I’m hooked already. I am eager to read more from her.
Right from the offset I was emotionally invested in this book. Simon, one of the characters has special needs, and my son is autistic, so how he was treated by his mother struck a nerve with me. It’s one of those books that at times actually makes you shake your head in disgust at how some of the characters act. There was actually one scene where one of the characters said she would like to kick someone in the balls for saying something about Simon, the special needs character and out loud I said “To right, I would like to do the same too” The wife who was sitting beside while I was reading thought I was crazy.
The story is about Violet, the scary matriarch of the family who raises her children with no love and each of them grow up to be just as despicable as she is. Over the years they get caught in a variety of scandals including sex, drug addiction, murder and illegal fighting. They are bound to make enemies particularly one who delivers an explosive payback at the end.
As I said I was emotionally invested right at the start so I loved the book. The writing was fantastic. The way she got into everybody’s character and made some of them real enough to personally hate is a testament to the writers writing style. She could also at times write with great sensitivity especially around the Simon character. I do wonder if the author has experience in that matter. This is my first book that I have read, written by Katherine Black and I’m hooked already. I am eager to read more from her.
November 8, 2022
Pedigree Crush with a Twisted Gene is the third of Katherine Black’s books that I have read, and does not disappoint.
The pace and narration is quite different to my previous two reads, to the point where I could believe it by a different author. The read undulates - in places slow and deliberate, painting mental images of the numerous and intense characters, and quickens through sections of suspense and high drama!
Our main character, Violet, is an obnoxious person who could sit comfortably at the table of a soirée held by the third reich - with her contempt for the disabled, ‘negroes’, and pretty much everyone outside her twisted, small town life.
You have to feel some sympathy for her downtrodden husband and traumatised brood - although you still wouldn’t want your daughter to bring any of them home!
But, there is one hero (in my eyes), and both karma and revenge make uncomfortable appearances.
A must read! Enjoy Pedigree Crush with a Twisted Gene - and then take a look at Nowhere Boulevard, also by Ms Black. Enjoy
The pace and narration is quite different to my previous two reads, to the point where I could believe it by a different author. The read undulates - in places slow and deliberate, painting mental images of the numerous and intense characters, and quickens through sections of suspense and high drama!
Our main character, Violet, is an obnoxious person who could sit comfortably at the table of a soirée held by the third reich - with her contempt for the disabled, ‘negroes’, and pretty much everyone outside her twisted, small town life.
You have to feel some sympathy for her downtrodden husband and traumatised brood - although you still wouldn’t want your daughter to bring any of them home!
But, there is one hero (in my eyes), and both karma and revenge make uncomfortable appearances.
A must read! Enjoy Pedigree Crush with a Twisted Gene - and then take a look at Nowhere Boulevard, also by Ms Black. Enjoy
February 14, 2021
Excellent.
Katherine Black tells the wonderful story of a corrupt and cruel family. Her work is a delight to read, flows easily and has many twists and turns. I spent the whole book trying (and failing) to guess the outcome. Binged it in two days. I'd recommend this to fans of James Patterson and Dean Koontz. It's fast paced and terrific read. Loved it.
Katherine Black tells the wonderful story of a corrupt and cruel family. Her work is a delight to read, flows easily and has many twists and turns. I spent the whole book trying (and failing) to guess the outcome. Binged it in two days. I'd recommend this to fans of James Patterson and Dean Koontz. It's fast paced and terrific read. Loved it.
November 10, 2022
A great read!
This is the second book i've read from this author. A great read the takes you through a mix of emotions. I did enjoy the book, however, it did take me a little while to get into it and seemed to slow down around the middle. Once it got into part two it was like a steamroller of action and suspense that had me wanting more. Great work. Well done.
This is the second book i've read from this author. A great read the takes you through a mix of emotions. I did enjoy the book, however, it did take me a little while to get into it and seemed to slow down around the middle. Once it got into part two it was like a steamroller of action and suspense that had me wanting more. Great work. Well done.
August 3, 2021
I would’ve gave this book 5 stars however the first hundred pages or so it left me with no idea which way the book was going I felt it was a very slow start the final hundred pages was very good though
January 16, 2022
Violet...!!
Vengeance and Intriguing...!
And the 5 boys...
The twists and turns will keep you hooked..omg..what a family..
Binge worthy reading for sure
Can't wait to read more by Katherine Black..!!
Vengeance and Intriguing...!
And the 5 boys...
The twists and turns will keep you hooked..omg..what a family..
Binge worthy reading for sure
Can't wait to read more by Katherine Black..!!
February 23, 2022
Time to meet the Woods. Violet, a hard unloving bigot capable of murder and Donald, her colourless husband who lives and dies in the garden and takes on his wife’s prejudiced view of life on the way. How they manage to produce no less than six sons is anybody’s ghastly guess, and author Katherine Black is wise enough not to take us there. The funeral of the first-born son is held early on in the book, but five more sons are born and survive thereafter to become blackmailers, brawlers, bullies, control-freaks and counterfeiters; a thoroughly unpleasant bunch and so toxic that they make the Borgias look like the cosy family next door.
The Woods sail through life bent on getting their own way and make a ton of money besides, and if some people get badly hurt in the process that’s just their own fault for being in the wrong place at the wrong time; including the one son who doesn’t fit, in the family or in society. But then the Woods upset one person too many, and it’s downhill all the way.
This is a slow-burner of a book, making the reader witness to the in-depth evil of the Woods before the fuse speeds up in its journey towards ignition of the time-bomb sitting underneath the Halcyon Woods Hotel and all who inhabit her. Get ready for Armageddon as vengeance is enacted.
The Woods sail through life bent on getting their own way and make a ton of money besides, and if some people get badly hurt in the process that’s just their own fault for being in the wrong place at the wrong time; including the one son who doesn’t fit, in the family or in society. But then the Woods upset one person too many, and it’s downhill all the way.
This is a slow-burner of a book, making the reader witness to the in-depth evil of the Woods before the fuse speeds up in its journey towards ignition of the time-bomb sitting underneath the Halcyon Woods Hotel and all who inhabit her. Get ready for Armageddon as vengeance is enacted.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews