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While Sleeping
You never know who's living in your house.
I see you. You're casually naming your family members, mentally ticking them off one by one. I want to stop you right there. I want to ask... who's the person living in your house that you don't know?
I hear you scoff. See you shake your head. But think about it. Really think about it. What lies behind the giant grate in your kitchen? When was the last time you were in the attic? And how many of your waking hours are spent at home?
Unbeknownst to Julia Rodriguez, there is an unwelcome guest living in the house that she has recently moved into. Her new position as an assistant curator for a community youth foundation has brought her face-to-face with a group of girls rescued from a New York sex ring. Under a watchful eye, she struggles to face the horrors of her past and chart a new path forward. As she helps these girls move on with their lives, she just might find the courage to help herself.
In Ohio, a dwindling task force tracks a serial killer. John Sagan, a decorated agent with the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, has lost his family and just about his career, trying to make headway on a case that only moves when there is another murder. The killer is obsessed with skin and Polaroid pictures, leaving his victims scarred with intricate carvings with fairy tale themes.
This is a dark tale that cycles between viewpoints and timelines that coalesce into an almost finished puzzle by the time the last page takes shape. How do you think it should end?
I see you. You're casually naming your family members, mentally ticking them off one by one. I want to stop you right there. I want to ask... who's the person living in your house that you don't know?
I hear you scoff. See you shake your head. But think about it. Really think about it. What lies behind the giant grate in your kitchen? When was the last time you were in the attic? And how many of your waking hours are spent at home?
Unbeknownst to Julia Rodriguez, there is an unwelcome guest living in the house that she has recently moved into. Her new position as an assistant curator for a community youth foundation has brought her face-to-face with a group of girls rescued from a New York sex ring. Under a watchful eye, she struggles to face the horrors of her past and chart a new path forward. As she helps these girls move on with their lives, she just might find the courage to help herself.
In Ohio, a dwindling task force tracks a serial killer. John Sagan, a decorated agent with the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, has lost his family and just about his career, trying to make headway on a case that only moves when there is another murder. The killer is obsessed with skin and Polaroid pictures, leaving his victims scarred with intricate carvings with fairy tale themes.
This is a dark tale that cycles between viewpoints and timelines that coalesce into an almost finished puzzle by the time the last page takes shape. How do you think it should end?
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
About the author
Jennifer Claywood
2 books55 followersA Floridian living in Swedish paradise with her husband, kids, and one dog. I moved here for the long dark months of frozen winter...and a warm Swedish man.
I've written on and off since I was a child, my first story, written in 5th grade, was titled, "Two Christmases Under the Sea." It was about Juan Ponce de León and his journey to Florida. On his way there, he falls out of his ship and is rescued by mermaids. Of course. He gets to see how mermaids celebrate Christmas and stays in this mermaid paradise for a year. Please don't ask me any hard questions about that story...this is all I remember!
My next story was some type of fantasy based on shape-shifting. Somebody shifted. Into something. In the desert.
Then there was the story about unicorn vampire Lilith and Jesus on the cross...let's just say...I've come a long way.
So...I'm a science teacher. A mom. A wife. And a writer.
I've written on and off since I was a child, my first story, written in 5th grade, was titled, "Two Christmases Under the Sea." It was about Juan Ponce de León and his journey to Florida. On his way there, he falls out of his ship and is rescued by mermaids. Of course. He gets to see how mermaids celebrate Christmas and stays in this mermaid paradise for a year. Please don't ask me any hard questions about that story...this is all I remember!
My next story was some type of fantasy based on shape-shifting. Somebody shifted. Into something. In the desert.
Then there was the story about unicorn vampire Lilith and Jesus on the cross...let's just say...I've come a long way.
So...I'm a science teacher. A mom. A wife. And a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 26, 2021
What I liked✔️
• A wonderful psychological thriller that is both enthralling and powerful.
• Very thought-provoking, deals with diverse concepts like sexual abuse(TW ⚠️) that is actually so realistic!
• Captivating writing style, that connects the readers with the story both emotionally and psychologically.
• A dark, intense story capable of giving you the "chills".(Just what I love!)
What I didn't like ❌
• The beginning of the story is too slow, which makes it difficult to hold the attention of the readers.
• Too many characters to focus on( also many side characters), thus initially it's really difficult to understand what is happening and to whom.
• Some parts were really unnecessary, which made the story more complex and elaborate.
The ending was quite okay and I was satisfied with how things tied up eventually.
Also, there is a SEQUEL coming out so that's great news! 🥳
Overall I would say a great debut because crafting a strong psychological thriller like this is not easy, and Jennifer Claywood has done it brilliantly!
• A wonderful psychological thriller that is both enthralling and powerful.
• Very thought-provoking, deals with diverse concepts like sexual abuse(TW ⚠️) that is actually so realistic!
• Captivating writing style, that connects the readers with the story both emotionally and psychologically.
• A dark, intense story capable of giving you the "chills".(Just what I love!)
What I didn't like ❌
• The beginning of the story is too slow, which makes it difficult to hold the attention of the readers.
• Too many characters to focus on( also many side characters), thus initially it's really difficult to understand what is happening and to whom.
• Some parts were really unnecessary, which made the story more complex and elaborate.
The ending was quite okay and I was satisfied with how things tied up eventually.
Also, there is a SEQUEL coming out so that's great news! 🥳
Overall I would say a great debut because crafting a strong psychological thriller like this is not easy, and Jennifer Claywood has done it brilliantly!
May 24, 2021
While Sleeping
By Jennifer Claywood
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Firstly a huge thank you to @cranthorpemillner and @jenniferclaywood for my #gifted copy of this book.
WOW, WOW, WOW! What a fantastic psychological thriller. I was hooked from just the sentence "you never know who's living in your house." This story keeps you guessing all the way through, until breadcrumbs appear and you start putting 2+2 together. I felt like I was the investigating officer, on the hunt to catch the killer!
*Synopsis*
Unbeknownst to Julia Rodriguez, there is an unwelcome guest living in the house that she has recently moved into. Her new position as an assistant curator for a community youth foundation has brought her face-to-face with a group of girls rescued from a New York sex ring. Under a watchful eye, she struggles to face the horrors of her past and chart a new path forward. As she helps these girls move on with their lives, she just might find the courage to help herself.
In Ohio, a dwindling task force tracks a serial killer. John Sagan, a decorated agent with the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, has lost his family and just about his career, trying to make headway on a case that only moves when there is another murder. The killer is obsessed with skin and Polaroid pictures, leaving his victims scarred with intricate carvings of fairytale themes.
This story is in three parts, different timelines and different characters. You may think that with that, it'll be confusing. It is not at all confusing, it works so well and it's done so cleverly.
We follow many a characters, but the main ones are Julia (who is present day), Kathryn (past), the person in the house (past and present) and Sagan (present). We also have side characters, Jakob, Cindy, Charlie or CJ and Cayden, plus the seriel killers victims. I absolutely loved Julia, she has a hidden past (which you eventually find out through reading the book), she is strong, smart and I really liked what she was doing for her work. Helping young girls who were involved in a sex ring. I just liked how she wanted to help everyone and her determination really shown through her hard work. I also really liked the person hiding in Julia's house. At first I thought maybe he was the seriel killer, but he seemed to kind and caring towards Julia. He was very protective and kept an eye on her. Though when it was revealed on who he is, and that he has a big part of both Kathryn and Julia's life, I definitely wanted more. Kathryn is probably one of the most important characters in this book, she was the chain reaction of everything that happened in this story, a shame it wasn't a good thing. Sagan is a hardworking, obsessed cop who really needed a break. I felt his frustration through his parts in this story. You can tell that finding this seriel killer, that's been going on for years has messed with his head and life. I honestly don't know how he kept on going at times. My favourite character in this book was Jakob. He was more a side character, but he had a big part. I enjoyed reading about Jakob and who he is. From his story as child and being a black kid, to the reason why he became a cop. Jakob talks a lot about white privilege, about racism and the prejudice he constantly gets for being a black cop. The conversations Jakob has with Sagan and Cindy about his past and the things he's been through, are topics that are being discussed now. From what happened in 2020 with Black Lives Matter to now with everything else that's going on. It was so important and I appreciated how Jennifer made sure to include that in her book. There is an amazing section from page 249 to 253 that his me so hard, I will always remember what it says and I will always go back to it whenever I need a reminder. It is so hardhitting. There is also another section about gun crime and white coppers and there abuse of power, page 287- 290 that honestly broke me.
This story obviously is about a serial killer, and all characters that are mentioned are all a chain reaction to this story. Every character is all involved. At the beginning you don't see that at first but as you get further into the story, you realise it's all tied together. But as much as this book is about finding this serial killer, it is far more than that. We have some haed topics that are not just mentioned but dived in deeply. We have about rape and how common it is, yet there is never often a conviction. Rape is a focus in this story both past and present but it's mentioned rather than graphically described. Which I appreciate. The conversations about rape is more focused on the victims, how they are after the worst time of their life. How disappointed they are of the justice system. Which is why people like Julia and Kathryn are important. Transphobia and lgbtqi+ is also mentioned and there's some brilliant informative parts in this story that is just so apporiate for our times. When we meet Cayden and all about him and his transition, I honestly just appreciated the sensitivity of his story. The same with Sadie another trans women, though not a happy story for her.
I just loved that Claywood made her book full of representation. From racism, transphobia, lgbtqi+, birthmarks, mental health. This is quite a informative book even if it's fiction.
I was hooked from start to finish, the breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout the story helped you realise the killer, the same time as the police. The ending surprised me and it's left in a cliffhanger, that I'm desperate to read the sequel. (I'm so glad there's a sequel being done and I definitely want it!) I hope that the next book focuses a bit more about the person in the house, as even though his character wasn't fully involved, he certainly plays a huge part in everything and I need to know more.
Read this debut is what I'm overall saying. You will be hooked, line and sinker. Honestly you won't be disappointed. Claywood is now up there on my fave thriller authors!
By Jennifer Claywood
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Firstly a huge thank you to @cranthorpemillner and @jenniferclaywood for my #gifted copy of this book.
WOW, WOW, WOW! What a fantastic psychological thriller. I was hooked from just the sentence "you never know who's living in your house." This story keeps you guessing all the way through, until breadcrumbs appear and you start putting 2+2 together. I felt like I was the investigating officer, on the hunt to catch the killer!
*Synopsis*
Unbeknownst to Julia Rodriguez, there is an unwelcome guest living in the house that she has recently moved into. Her new position as an assistant curator for a community youth foundation has brought her face-to-face with a group of girls rescued from a New York sex ring. Under a watchful eye, she struggles to face the horrors of her past and chart a new path forward. As she helps these girls move on with their lives, she just might find the courage to help herself.
In Ohio, a dwindling task force tracks a serial killer. John Sagan, a decorated agent with the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, has lost his family and just about his career, trying to make headway on a case that only moves when there is another murder. The killer is obsessed with skin and Polaroid pictures, leaving his victims scarred with intricate carvings of fairytale themes.
This story is in three parts, different timelines and different characters. You may think that with that, it'll be confusing. It is not at all confusing, it works so well and it's done so cleverly.
We follow many a characters, but the main ones are Julia (who is present day), Kathryn (past), the person in the house (past and present) and Sagan (present). We also have side characters, Jakob, Cindy, Charlie or CJ and Cayden, plus the seriel killers victims. I absolutely loved Julia, she has a hidden past (which you eventually find out through reading the book), she is strong, smart and I really liked what she was doing for her work. Helping young girls who were involved in a sex ring. I just liked how she wanted to help everyone and her determination really shown through her hard work. I also really liked the person hiding in Julia's house. At first I thought maybe he was the seriel killer, but he seemed to kind and caring towards Julia. He was very protective and kept an eye on her. Though when it was revealed on who he is, and that he has a big part of both Kathryn and Julia's life, I definitely wanted more. Kathryn is probably one of the most important characters in this book, she was the chain reaction of everything that happened in this story, a shame it wasn't a good thing. Sagan is a hardworking, obsessed cop who really needed a break. I felt his frustration through his parts in this story. You can tell that finding this seriel killer, that's been going on for years has messed with his head and life. I honestly don't know how he kept on going at times. My favourite character in this book was Jakob. He was more a side character, but he had a big part. I enjoyed reading about Jakob and who he is. From his story as child and being a black kid, to the reason why he became a cop. Jakob talks a lot about white privilege, about racism and the prejudice he constantly gets for being a black cop. The conversations Jakob has with Sagan and Cindy about his past and the things he's been through, are topics that are being discussed now. From what happened in 2020 with Black Lives Matter to now with everything else that's going on. It was so important and I appreciated how Jennifer made sure to include that in her book. There is an amazing section from page 249 to 253 that his me so hard, I will always remember what it says and I will always go back to it whenever I need a reminder. It is so hardhitting. There is also another section about gun crime and white coppers and there abuse of power, page 287- 290 that honestly broke me.
This story obviously is about a serial killer, and all characters that are mentioned are all a chain reaction to this story. Every character is all involved. At the beginning you don't see that at first but as you get further into the story, you realise it's all tied together. But as much as this book is about finding this serial killer, it is far more than that. We have some haed topics that are not just mentioned but dived in deeply. We have about rape and how common it is, yet there is never often a conviction. Rape is a focus in this story both past and present but it's mentioned rather than graphically described. Which I appreciate. The conversations about rape is more focused on the victims, how they are after the worst time of their life. How disappointed they are of the justice system. Which is why people like Julia and Kathryn are important. Transphobia and lgbtqi+ is also mentioned and there's some brilliant informative parts in this story that is just so apporiate for our times. When we meet Cayden and all about him and his transition, I honestly just appreciated the sensitivity of his story. The same with Sadie another trans women, though not a happy story for her.
I just loved that Claywood made her book full of representation. From racism, transphobia, lgbtqi+, birthmarks, mental health. This is quite a informative book even if it's fiction.
I was hooked from start to finish, the breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout the story helped you realise the killer, the same time as the police. The ending surprised me and it's left in a cliffhanger, that I'm desperate to read the sequel. (I'm so glad there's a sequel being done and I definitely want it!) I hope that the next book focuses a bit more about the person in the house, as even though his character wasn't fully involved, he certainly plays a huge part in everything and I need to know more.
Read this debut is what I'm overall saying. You will be hooked, line and sinker. Honestly you won't be disappointed. Claywood is now up there on my fave thriller authors!
July 14, 2021
jumping right into this one, this one still has my mind wandering back to the story, even though I finished this one over the last weekend. I am into another book and still find that here and there my mind is going back to this story. Something about it just keeps pulling at me, and it could very well be because I know that a sequel is in the works, so I am naturally very curious about how she is going to keep this story going, though I have a guess or two.
When I first started reading this book, it started off in just such a different and unique way that I literally kept reading because I wanted to know where this was going, and therefore I was instantly drawn into this story, right from the get go.
I enjoyed all of the characters that came along within the story and found myself feeling a lot of sorrow for certain characters. In some ways for me the bad guy was a little predictable, and its nothing to do with the story, I felt it was really well written. I just happen to water a lot of criminal minds before it ended and I tend to recognize certain patterns and behaviors that make it rather easy for me to figure out who the bad guy really is.
I felt that the transitions between people within the story was not as smooth as it could have been, but that is literally the only negative thing I could say about this one. The story was written so very well, I found the world building to be fantastic and I really enjoyed the diversity within the story, that seemed to draw from recent events of our history, surrounding the ugliness going on between the different racial groups, more so within the USA.
I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next in the sequel that is to follow this one, Id like to know more about the hero at the end of this story, and I hope it just picks up where it left off, is a nice smooth transition.
I think what comes back to me over and over though, is I felt the most sorrow for the murderer or bad guy within this story because he is unfortunely the product of ugly circumstances and the events surrounding his young start to his life. I found my heart broke for him, when that part of the story was touched upon, I really had found myself rooting for him, maybe he would be able to grow up and over come the events he was witness to but alas he did not, and its what created the murderer he turned out to be. But even with that, I find my heart still breaks and cries for that little boy, old enough to understand, but young enough to have sucked his thumb, while wishing it was all a bad dream.
Special thanks goes out to Jennifer Claywood, who was kind enough to send me a copy of this book to review it, I enjoyed it and look forward to see what happens next!!
When I first started reading this book, it started off in just such a different and unique way that I literally kept reading because I wanted to know where this was going, and therefore I was instantly drawn into this story, right from the get go.
I enjoyed all of the characters that came along within the story and found myself feeling a lot of sorrow for certain characters. In some ways for me the bad guy was a little predictable, and its nothing to do with the story, I felt it was really well written. I just happen to water a lot of criminal minds before it ended and I tend to recognize certain patterns and behaviors that make it rather easy for me to figure out who the bad guy really is.
I felt that the transitions between people within the story was not as smooth as it could have been, but that is literally the only negative thing I could say about this one. The story was written so very well, I found the world building to be fantastic and I really enjoyed the diversity within the story, that seemed to draw from recent events of our history, surrounding the ugliness going on between the different racial groups, more so within the USA.
I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next in the sequel that is to follow this one, Id like to know more about the hero at the end of this story, and I hope it just picks up where it left off, is a nice smooth transition.
I think what comes back to me over and over though, is I felt the most sorrow for the murderer or bad guy within this story because he is unfortunely the product of ugly circumstances and the events surrounding his young start to his life. I found my heart broke for him, when that part of the story was touched upon, I really had found myself rooting for him, maybe he would be able to grow up and over come the events he was witness to but alas he did not, and its what created the murderer he turned out to be. But even with that, I find my heart still breaks and cries for that little boy, old enough to understand, but young enough to have sucked his thumb, while wishing it was all a bad dream.
Special thanks goes out to Jennifer Claywood, who was kind enough to send me a copy of this book to review it, I enjoyed it and look forward to see what happens next!!
May 24, 2021
What a fantastic debut into the Thriller world! The world that Jennifer creates is so diverse and full that you are completely immersed from the start.
In the beginning you have a few chapters that show different viewpoints, different characters, and different circumstances- but it all comes together very very quickly. At first I was wondering what was happening, but then it made so much sense the deeper you go into the story. It really does show that actions have consequences - certainly for other people who are exposed to those actions.
I love Julia, and Kathryn as characters and how the whole turn of events begin with Kathryn, but ends with Julia (you must read to find out why!) and that their friendship is even more important than you thought.
At times it was scary and unsettling, but what’s a thriller without some kind of fear!
I really enjoyed While Sleeping, and I can’t wait to read more of Jennifer’s books!
I rate this book a total of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ four stars.
Thank you to the publisher and to the author for giving me a gifted copy of the book to read and review.
In the beginning you have a few chapters that show different viewpoints, different characters, and different circumstances- but it all comes together very very quickly. At first I was wondering what was happening, but then it made so much sense the deeper you go into the story. It really does show that actions have consequences - certainly for other people who are exposed to those actions.
I love Julia, and Kathryn as characters and how the whole turn of events begin with Kathryn, but ends with Julia (you must read to find out why!) and that their friendship is even more important than you thought.
At times it was scary and unsettling, but what’s a thriller without some kind of fear!
I really enjoyed While Sleeping, and I can’t wait to read more of Jennifer’s books!
I rate this book a total of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ four stars.
Thank you to the publisher and to the author for giving me a gifted copy of the book to read and review.
May 26, 2021
At first I really didn't understand the set up for this book. We were flitting between characters, places and time lines which was confusing to me, however by the time you get to part 2, it starts to make sense. I loved the idea behind a killer being in your house without you knowing for years and the idea that by the end, he isn't who you thought he was! I was shocked at the twists and turns that came about, that developed the storyline. I was also shocked by the graphic detail of the murders! Honestly it needed it though to get into the mind of the serial killer. I loved the ending and honestly couldn't put the book down wanting to know what would happen to the main characters.
**I was sent this from the publisher for my honest review**
**I was sent this from the publisher for my honest review**
December 16, 2021
A jaded cop searching for a serial killer who has eluded him for years, costing him his marriage and relationship with his daughter. A woman with a tragic past trying to forge a better life for at-risk children. A stranger living in the secret passageways of a house, watching the inhabitant's every move...
This story is told in sections across a wide cast of characters, alternating between current day and flashbacks. It starts out slow but picks up speed about a third of the way in, tackling tough subjects like sexual assault and racism with poise and respect.
The through-line of the story was good and well thought out, but it was difficult to follow at times with so many characters to keep track of. The rapid change in timeline initially added to my confusion, but once I figured out the pacing I was fine. It being about a serial killer, there were scenes of brutal violence scattered throughout, along with humor, suspense, and a dash of romance. The characters were well constructed, and the complexity built into them was probably my favorite part of this book.
All in all this was a good book, but I wanted more from certain parts of it.
This story is told in sections across a wide cast of characters, alternating between current day and flashbacks. It starts out slow but picks up speed about a third of the way in, tackling tough subjects like sexual assault and racism with poise and respect.
The through-line of the story was good and well thought out, but it was difficult to follow at times with so many characters to keep track of. The rapid change in timeline initially added to my confusion, but once I figured out the pacing I was fine. It being about a serial killer, there were scenes of brutal violence scattered throughout, along with humor, suspense, and a dash of romance. The characters were well constructed, and the complexity built into them was probably my favorite part of this book.
All in all this was a good book, but I wanted more from certain parts of it.
January 20, 2022
It’s wonderful to be so completely immersed and invested in a book that you cannot put it down. This was certainly the case with ‘While Sleeping’.
Jennifer writes with such attention to detail it was a pleasure to read, even in some of the darker moments.
I wait in anticipation for the next book!
Jennifer writes with such attention to detail it was a pleasure to read, even in some of the darker moments.
I wait in anticipation for the next book!
June 7, 2023
Being a stablemate of Jennifer's (we're both published by Cranthorpe Millner) I thought I'd check out this dark thriller. I really enjoyed it. The characters are really rich and diverse, and I really enjoyed following Chapman's story as well as Julia's. The story twists and turns with different time lines coming at you thick and fast, but it's never too confusing or jarring - you just want to know what happens next. It's a really original plot with an interesting but satisfying conclusion. Jennifer's inferred that a sequel might be next, so look out for that.
May 27, 2021
TW⚠️: Suicide, murder, rape, racism. I’m sorry if there’s anything I haven’t included. ( A lot of strong themes and tragedy in this book)
First of all thank you too jennifer claywood and cranthropemiller for sending me this to read and review, the little extras were really good 😊
“Unbeknownst to Julia Rodriguez, there is an unwelcome guest living in the house that she has recently moved into”
As soon as you dive into this boon straight away you are introduced to a lot of characters! And it flicks between different times. At first this was hard to wrap my head around but by chapter 5 I had gotten the hang of it. I really liked the character Julia, and how she was helping young girls who had been rescued from a sex ring. She’s an easy character to like, and to watch her character grow was amazing especially as you learn about her past (book 2 please I need to find out more!!!)
There’s so much to this book! Someone living in your walls 😱 (I may or may not have had a nightmare🤣) and then there’s the serial killer who is using the original fairy tale of “sleeping beauty” (I had never heard of the original story before but wow was I shocked)
Then there’s John Sagan, Jakob and Cindy working at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation to try and catch the “Polaroid killer” I really liked hearing about these characters and loved the bond between Sagon and Jakob. I wish they could have their own spin off detective books as I would love to learn more each about them.
Overall a great debut into thriller, I love how Jennifer tried to make this book as diverse as she could really showing what Racism is like in USA and the white supremacy. The plot twists had me soooo shocked I didn’t see it coming, and definitely a page turner I couldn’t put down, Loved how all the different plots all tied up together. Can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us, and thank you again for allowing me to be apart of this.
First of all thank you too jennifer claywood and cranthropemiller for sending me this to read and review, the little extras were really good 😊
“Unbeknownst to Julia Rodriguez, there is an unwelcome guest living in the house that she has recently moved into”
As soon as you dive into this boon straight away you are introduced to a lot of characters! And it flicks between different times. At first this was hard to wrap my head around but by chapter 5 I had gotten the hang of it. I really liked the character Julia, and how she was helping young girls who had been rescued from a sex ring. She’s an easy character to like, and to watch her character grow was amazing especially as you learn about her past (book 2 please I need to find out more!!!)
There’s so much to this book! Someone living in your walls 😱 (I may or may not have had a nightmare🤣) and then there’s the serial killer who is using the original fairy tale of “sleeping beauty” (I had never heard of the original story before but wow was I shocked)
Then there’s John Sagan, Jakob and Cindy working at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation to try and catch the “Polaroid killer” I really liked hearing about these characters and loved the bond between Sagon and Jakob. I wish they could have their own spin off detective books as I would love to learn more each about them.
Overall a great debut into thriller, I love how Jennifer tried to make this book as diverse as she could really showing what Racism is like in USA and the white supremacy. The plot twists had me soooo shocked I didn’t see it coming, and definitely a page turner I couldn’t put down, Loved how all the different plots all tied up together. Can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us, and thank you again for allowing me to be apart of this.
May 27, 2021
I cannot believe this is Jennifer Claywood’s debut novel. It is complex and dark and creepy AF.
What I Loved:
* The Polaroid Killer was *extremely* alarming in all the best ways.
* The slow spooling out of Julia’s backstory.
* The focus on victims — not only of the Polaroid Killer, but also Black men killed by police, trans people, and survivors of sex trafficking. She was able to seamlessly weave social commentary into the story, which isn’t easy and added a lot of depth.
* I figured out what was going on pretty early on, but WHATEVER. It did not detract from my overall enjoyment — I still wanted to see HOW it was all going to play out.
What I Didn’t Love:
* The beginning was a bit confusing with the POV jumps coupled with time jumps. HOWEVER, as the story progressed and I became more familiar with the characters, it was much easier to get into the rhythm of who was running that section and when/where it was happening. That said, I would have loved character names to be included in the chapter headings.
Final Thoughts:
I’m super excited that there is going to be a sequel! I want more from these characters!
I received a copy of this book from @cranthorpemillner and @jenniferclaywood — THANK YOU! (And all opinions are my own, of course, duh.)
What I Loved:
* The Polaroid Killer was *extremely* alarming in all the best ways.
* The slow spooling out of Julia’s backstory.
* The focus on victims — not only of the Polaroid Killer, but also Black men killed by police, trans people, and survivors of sex trafficking. She was able to seamlessly weave social commentary into the story, which isn’t easy and added a lot of depth.
* I figured out what was going on pretty early on, but WHATEVER. It did not detract from my overall enjoyment — I still wanted to see HOW it was all going to play out.
What I Didn’t Love:
* The beginning was a bit confusing with the POV jumps coupled with time jumps. HOWEVER, as the story progressed and I became more familiar with the characters, it was much easier to get into the rhythm of who was running that section and when/where it was happening. That said, I would have loved character names to be included in the chapter headings.
Final Thoughts:
I’m super excited that there is going to be a sequel! I want more from these characters!
I received a copy of this book from @cranthorpemillner and @jenniferclaywood — THANK YOU! (And all opinions are my own, of course, duh.)
April 10, 2023
This debut thriller is a stunning achievement! The author's world-building is both immersive and diverse, drawing the reader in from the very first page.
The narrative starts with multiple character perspectives and situations, which initially may confuse the reader, but as the story progresses it all makes sense. This novel masterfully demonstrates how actions have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only the person who initiated them but also those around them.
The characters of Julia and Kathryn are beautifully crafted and their roles in the story are vital. Kathryn's actions are the catalyst for the events that unfold, but it is Julia's character development that brings the story full circle in an unexpected way. Their friendship is central to the story and proves to be more important than first thought.
This thriller does not shy away from the unsettling and the scary, but that's what makes it all the more gripping. Fear is a crucial component of any great thriller, and this novel delivers it in spades.
The narrative starts with multiple character perspectives and situations, which initially may confuse the reader, but as the story progresses it all makes sense. This novel masterfully demonstrates how actions have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only the person who initiated them but also those around them.
The characters of Julia and Kathryn are beautifully crafted and their roles in the story are vital. Kathryn's actions are the catalyst for the events that unfold, but it is Julia's character development that brings the story full circle in an unexpected way. Their friendship is central to the story and proves to be more important than first thought.
This thriller does not shy away from the unsettling and the scary, but that's what makes it all the more gripping. Fear is a crucial component of any great thriller, and this novel delivers it in spades.
May 27, 2021
📖 new review.
Thank you to @cranthorpeandmilner for my copy and having me on this tour.
This book is out now in paperback and kindle.
This was definitely an original thriller, it has a lot going on and it’s very dark at times. So if you’re after something a bit different then this might be up your street!
Here the focus is a few different story lines woven in together resulting in ties between them. As you can see from the synopsis on the back cover, there’s a lot going on here, it’s a dark thriller and always has that atmosphere to it because of that.
I’ve seen a few reviews commenting the same, it’s a bit confusing at the start, with the different characters and settings, but once you get your head round what’s going on and with who, this was an enjoyable and engaging thriller, that like I said before is very different from anything I’ve read. I liked the writing, there were so many moments that were genuinely creepy and had me on edge, and the whole general tone of the book is very dark and unsettling. I thought this was a thrilling and interesting debut, and I would recommend to anyone who likes them dark, unsettling and with many different viewpoints and storylines stitched together.
But I thought this was a very enjoyable debut and fans of dark unsettling thrillers will really like this one I bet!
Goes without saying really there are plenty of content warnings but from the synopsis alone I think you’d know if this was for you or not!.
Thank you to @cranthorpeandmilner for my copy and having me on this tour.
This book is out now in paperback and kindle.
This was definitely an original thriller, it has a lot going on and it’s very dark at times. So if you’re after something a bit different then this might be up your street!
Here the focus is a few different story lines woven in together resulting in ties between them. As you can see from the synopsis on the back cover, there’s a lot going on here, it’s a dark thriller and always has that atmosphere to it because of that.
I’ve seen a few reviews commenting the same, it’s a bit confusing at the start, with the different characters and settings, but once you get your head round what’s going on and with who, this was an enjoyable and engaging thriller, that like I said before is very different from anything I’ve read. I liked the writing, there were so many moments that were genuinely creepy and had me on edge, and the whole general tone of the book is very dark and unsettling. I thought this was a thrilling and interesting debut, and I would recommend to anyone who likes them dark, unsettling and with many different viewpoints and storylines stitched together.
But I thought this was a very enjoyable debut and fans of dark unsettling thrillers will really like this one I bet!
Goes without saying really there are plenty of content warnings but from the synopsis alone I think you’d know if this was for you or not!.
May 23, 2021
*I was sent a free copy from the publisher in exchange for promotion*
This was such a thrilling read! The blurb drew me in straight away and I just could not put this book down.
The story follows two storylines, that of Julia Rodriguez who unbeknownst to her has a stranger living inside her house and that of John Sagan, an agent with Ohio Bureau of Investigations who is trying to catch a serial killer. I think the author did a great job of weaving both of these storylines together.
I loved the idea of someone living inside your house without you knowing and Jennifer made it sound so plausible which really added to the creepiness of this book. I loved reading from the perspective of the individual living inside her house and trying to figure out who he was.
While there are some very graphic scenes in this - making it not for the squeamish- I think they are necessary to create the menacing and sinister atmosphere.
What I loved most about this book was the gradual build up that let you piece together the puzzle to see the bigger picture. However, the book jumps between storylines, places and between the past and present which often made it difficult to follow. It wasn't until I was half way through the book that I realised how some of the earlier scenes were relevant. Once you reach part two however, everything does start to begin to make sense.
While this book is a thriller, it also does an incredible job of exploring sensitive topics such as the way black and trans individuals are treated.
Overall, I thought this was a good thriller and I would highly recommend it if you love crime novels or books about serial killers.
This was such a thrilling read! The blurb drew me in straight away and I just could not put this book down.
The story follows two storylines, that of Julia Rodriguez who unbeknownst to her has a stranger living inside her house and that of John Sagan, an agent with Ohio Bureau of Investigations who is trying to catch a serial killer. I think the author did a great job of weaving both of these storylines together.
I loved the idea of someone living inside your house without you knowing and Jennifer made it sound so plausible which really added to the creepiness of this book. I loved reading from the perspective of the individual living inside her house and trying to figure out who he was.
While there are some very graphic scenes in this - making it not for the squeamish- I think they are necessary to create the menacing and sinister atmosphere.
What I loved most about this book was the gradual build up that let you piece together the puzzle to see the bigger picture. However, the book jumps between storylines, places and between the past and present which often made it difficult to follow. It wasn't until I was half way through the book that I realised how some of the earlier scenes were relevant. Once you reach part two however, everything does start to begin to make sense.
While this book is a thriller, it also does an incredible job of exploring sensitive topics such as the way black and trans individuals are treated.
Overall, I thought this was a good thriller and I would highly recommend it if you love crime novels or books about serial killers.
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