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The Hoax
Meet Frankie Baxter. She's trying to make ends meet and keep the boat afloat for her three kids. She's harassed, sometimes impatient, but she's a fabulous mum. So imagine her distress when Henry, her youngest child, goes missing...Henry returns safely accompanied by a stranger, Cora, a fairy godmother who starts to change the Baxter family's lives in the best of ways. So why do things suddenly start going wrong? Is Cora fulfilling their dreams - or is she the start of a nightmare?Funny, terrifying and a real page-turner, The Hoax puts a whole new slant on psychological thrillers...
364 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2021
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 5, 2021
I enjoyed the thrill of this narrative. Although I guessed early on what the connection was between Cora and Frankie, I liked watching events unfold. Clayton has created a story that demonstrates how the past can never remain hidden, as much as you try to keep it concealed – through both deception and influencing others.
You cannot help but sympathise with Frankie when it is clear how much she struggles with her circumstances. A single parent with three children, Frankie finds it difficult to financially support her family, especially when she loses her car and then in a job in a matter of days. However, new family friend, Cora, seems like a lucky charm who supports Frankie when she needs her the most. On the other hand, Frankie does have a feisty side to her character and I couldn’t help but smile at some of the more energetic, fury-driven scenes that she finds herself in.
The narrative raises questions as it soon becomes clear that people around Frankie are being suddenly silenced. Furthermore, the incident when Henry at the beach demonstrates that there is more to Cora than Frankie and her family realise. In addition, the plot switches to the past, following the story of two orphans who befriend one another. Little Girl and Lottie cling to each other for support in such a lonely time. Unsurprisingly, growing up reveals that this friendship is more one-sided and the paths that the two girls follow soon become rather juxtaposing. It took me a while to gather the link between all these plot strands and I think the revelations at the closing of the story could have come earlier on in the narrative. I think this is because I had already guessed so much of the story that I started to grow impatient to see its conclusion.
There were parts of the story that made me wince and I think Clayton could have moved the plot forwards more convincingly. For example, the incident on the motorway did make me shudder. The development of Shannon’s character juxtaposed her actions here and I don’t think this was a believable element to the story. It were moments like this that did lessen my enjoyment of the story.
This is a good thriller story and one that moves really quickly. The chapters are quite short and I think this makes it an ideal book to dip in and out of. With a relatively limited character cast, it was straight-forward to follow; thought-provoking enough for me to want to finish it as soon as I could. I could really get a grasp of Frankie’s frustration when it looks as if her world is crashing down leaving her in a weaker position than when she was earlier on in the story. However, whilst Frankie struggles, it seems that her children mature in the household and provide her with the support she needs.
Family connections are important in this novel of suspense and mystery. The characters are believable and I really enjoyed reading the intriguing flashbacks. A great read from Clayton.
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You cannot help but sympathise with Frankie when it is clear how much she struggles with her circumstances. A single parent with three children, Frankie finds it difficult to financially support her family, especially when she loses her car and then in a job in a matter of days. However, new family friend, Cora, seems like a lucky charm who supports Frankie when she needs her the most. On the other hand, Frankie does have a feisty side to her character and I couldn’t help but smile at some of the more energetic, fury-driven scenes that she finds herself in.
The narrative raises questions as it soon becomes clear that people around Frankie are being suddenly silenced. Furthermore, the incident when Henry at the beach demonstrates that there is more to Cora than Frankie and her family realise. In addition, the plot switches to the past, following the story of two orphans who befriend one another. Little Girl and Lottie cling to each other for support in such a lonely time. Unsurprisingly, growing up reveals that this friendship is more one-sided and the paths that the two girls follow soon become rather juxtaposing. It took me a while to gather the link between all these plot strands and I think the revelations at the closing of the story could have come earlier on in the narrative. I think this is because I had already guessed so much of the story that I started to grow impatient to see its conclusion.
There were parts of the story that made me wince and I think Clayton could have moved the plot forwards more convincingly. For example, the incident on the motorway did make me shudder. The development of Shannon’s character juxtaposed her actions here and I don’t think this was a believable element to the story. It were moments like this that did lessen my enjoyment of the story.
This is a good thriller story and one that moves really quickly. The chapters are quite short and I think this makes it an ideal book to dip in and out of. With a relatively limited character cast, it was straight-forward to follow; thought-provoking enough for me to want to finish it as soon as I could. I could really get a grasp of Frankie’s frustration when it looks as if her world is crashing down leaving her in a weaker position than when she was earlier on in the story. However, whilst Frankie struggles, it seems that her children mature in the household and provide her with the support she needs.
Family connections are important in this novel of suspense and mystery. The characters are believable and I really enjoyed reading the intriguing flashbacks. A great read from Clayton.
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2021
The Hoax by Paul Clayton is a psychological thriller and is written really well. It had me guessing until the end. The twists and turns were awesome.
Dual timeline novels are hit or miss, but thankfully, The Hoax is a hit. The first timeline, we follow Frankie and her three children. The second, we follow Lottie and Little Girl. The characters are well-developed.
This is fast-paces, and I loved trying to figure out how the two timelines fit together. The ending definitely surprised me. I didn’t see it coming, but also was a bit unhappy with it. I think that’s okay though. Not every book should end the way I want it to – they should end the way the story needs to. I respect that, immensely.
The Hoax was a good read. I enjoyed how the author weaved the dual timelines together.
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
Dual timeline novels are hit or miss, but thankfully, The Hoax is a hit. The first timeline, we follow Frankie and her three children. The second, we follow Lottie and Little Girl. The characters are well-developed.
This is fast-paces, and I loved trying to figure out how the two timelines fit together. The ending definitely surprised me. I didn’t see it coming, but also was a bit unhappy with it. I think that’s okay though. Not every book should end the way I want it to – they should end the way the story needs to. I respect that, immensely.
The Hoax was a good read. I enjoyed how the author weaved the dual timelines together.
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
April 12, 2021
A family visit to the local park ends in anguish for Frankie Baxter when her youngest son, ten-year-old Henry disappears. For Henry, it's a night of adventure, a chance to take part in the Blue Whale Challenge by staying away from home without telling anyone where you are for forty-eight hours but Frankie is terrified by the thought that he's lying hurt somewhere - until daughter, Shannon less than helpfully points out that it's far more likely he's been abducted.
I fell in love with the Baxter family within the first few pages; Frankie, Henry, Shannon and eldest son, Jonny are such believable characters. Their household is undeniably chaotic at times but they are all so refreshingly normal. This authentic, relatable depiction of the Baxters ensures that the delightfully dark humour which can be found throughout The Hoax is actually really quite warm at times too.
It's a relief, therefore, when a kindly woman, Cora comes across an ill-prepared Henry and though her decision to help him stay out for the night rather than immediately return him home is questionable, she appears to be a rather eccentric character who hasn't forgotten what it's like to be young. Like a colourfully-dressed Nanny McPhee, she seems to be the figure Frankie and her family didn't know they needed, and at first they enjoy the changes she brings to their lives.
However, there are little hints that she might not be quite the benign figure she appears to be and that her influence may not be quite as positive as it seems. Frankie still dares to hope that her life may be changing for the better but perhaps her trust is misplaced; without giving anything away here, I loved that there are some names used which rang alarm bells in my head, even if she was slower to catch on. That said, Frankie's volatile nature means she is more than capable of getting herself into trouble and I loved that there's an element of doubt introduced as to who is responsible for what, especially as the novel takes an increasingly darker turn. There are some shocking and gruesome scenes in the novel which some readers may find distressing but I never found them gratuitous and thought their inclusion was important to explain how the events of the past influence the present.
The main storyline is intertwined with a subplot featuring two young girls with troubled pasts and these chapters are the more disturbing parts of the book. Lottie's experiences are depressingly familiar and she is a character I couldn't help but wish the best for, despite a horrifically upsetting moment in her childhood. The other character here is only ever known as Little Girl and her scenes are even more grim. It is obvious, of course that the two plots are linked in some way and though it's fairly easy to guess at least some of the revelations, this is still a compelling, suspenseful mystery which kept me glued to the pages as the tension builds towards the emotional, nail-biting finale.
I loved Paul Clayton's debut The Punishment when I read it last year and I'm delighted to say The Hoax is another fabulous read with its sharply insightful characterisation and an intriguingly sinister yet darkly funny plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future.
I fell in love with the Baxter family within the first few pages; Frankie, Henry, Shannon and eldest son, Jonny are such believable characters. Their household is undeniably chaotic at times but they are all so refreshingly normal. This authentic, relatable depiction of the Baxters ensures that the delightfully dark humour which can be found throughout The Hoax is actually really quite warm at times too.
It's a relief, therefore, when a kindly woman, Cora comes across an ill-prepared Henry and though her decision to help him stay out for the night rather than immediately return him home is questionable, she appears to be a rather eccentric character who hasn't forgotten what it's like to be young. Like a colourfully-dressed Nanny McPhee, she seems to be the figure Frankie and her family didn't know they needed, and at first they enjoy the changes she brings to their lives.
However, there are little hints that she might not be quite the benign figure she appears to be and that her influence may not be quite as positive as it seems. Frankie still dares to hope that her life may be changing for the better but perhaps her trust is misplaced; without giving anything away here, I loved that there are some names used which rang alarm bells in my head, even if she was slower to catch on. That said, Frankie's volatile nature means she is more than capable of getting herself into trouble and I loved that there's an element of doubt introduced as to who is responsible for what, especially as the novel takes an increasingly darker turn. There are some shocking and gruesome scenes in the novel which some readers may find distressing but I never found them gratuitous and thought their inclusion was important to explain how the events of the past influence the present.
The main storyline is intertwined with a subplot featuring two young girls with troubled pasts and these chapters are the more disturbing parts of the book. Lottie's experiences are depressingly familiar and she is a character I couldn't help but wish the best for, despite a horrifically upsetting moment in her childhood. The other character here is only ever known as Little Girl and her scenes are even more grim. It is obvious, of course that the two plots are linked in some way and though it's fairly easy to guess at least some of the revelations, this is still a compelling, suspenseful mystery which kept me glued to the pages as the tension builds towards the emotional, nail-biting finale.
I loved Paul Clayton's debut The Punishment when I read it last year and I'm delighted to say The Hoax is another fabulous read with its sharply insightful characterisation and an intriguingly sinister yet darkly funny plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future.
April 3, 2021
I read the synopsis for ‘The Hoax’ and it certainly sounded a bit different to the usual books I read. They do say that ‘a change is as good as a rest’ and so I eagerly opened the book and dived straight in. Overall I did enjoy reading ‘The Hoax’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into ‘The Hoax’. I was tired and finding it hard to concentrate when I started to read the book. After a little while, I got used to the characters and the author’s writing style and I found it much easier to follow the story. I wasn’t able to finish the book in a day but I still managed to finish the story within 48 hours. I found that I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in a bit of time but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would lose track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story.
‘The Hoax’ is well written. The author certainly knows how to create a series of interesting characters and how to create a story that stands out from the norm. I would say that the author has a quirky writing style. The story is written using two different timelines. One timeline describes things as they happened in the past and the other timeline describes things as they happen in the present day. For me, ‘The Hoax’ hits the ground running and maintains a fairly fast pace throughout. ‘The Hoax’ was an enjoyable read, which certainly kept me guessing.
In short, I enjoyed reading ‘The Hoax’ and I would recommend the book to other readers. I will definitely read more of Paul’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I have to be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into ‘The Hoax’. I was tired and finding it hard to concentrate when I started to read the book. After a little while, I got used to the characters and the author’s writing style and I found it much easier to follow the story. I wasn’t able to finish the book in a day but I still managed to finish the story within 48 hours. I found that I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in a bit of time but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would lose track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story.
‘The Hoax’ is well written. The author certainly knows how to create a series of interesting characters and how to create a story that stands out from the norm. I would say that the author has a quirky writing style. The story is written using two different timelines. One timeline describes things as they happened in the past and the other timeline describes things as they happen in the present day. For me, ‘The Hoax’ hits the ground running and maintains a fairly fast pace throughout. ‘The Hoax’ was an enjoyable read, which certainly kept me guessing.
In short, I enjoyed reading ‘The Hoax’ and I would recommend the book to other readers. I will definitely read more of Paul’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
April 2, 2021
The Hoax is a Psychological Thriller that had me guessing the whole time as to who people are in this story.
Written in a dual timeline style, the first timeline focuses on the main character Frankie, and her three children. A harried mother, Frankie seldom has time to herself and doesn’t really have many friends. After her youngest child gets himself into a challenging situation, Cora, a nice but eccentric woman, helps the child and befriends Frankie. With Cora around, Frankie’s life becomes easier for her and the kids. Or does it?
The second timeline focuses on Lottie and Little Girl. 2 children that have found friendship in their orphanage. Lottie and Little Girl are different than the other children in that they both had a hand in becoming orphans and all is not as it seems with these two.
The story moves along at a fast pace and the reader is challenged with trying to determine how these two timelines will fit together when all is said and done. The ending, while certainly shocking, is highly unbelievable for several reasons. I won’t include any spoilers but I was shaking my head while reading it. To be honest it was a bit of a let down for me and I wasn’t very happy with it. I think to truly enjoy this book you must be willing to suspend disbelief with this one, especially towards the end.
Overall, the book was an enjoyable mystery to solve. The author did a great job unveiling pieces of information throughout to help the reader feel as if they were guessing what was happening without actually providing the answers to take you to the correct guess.
I would recommend for thriller lovers who are constantly looking for another thrill-ride.
Written in a dual timeline style, the first timeline focuses on the main character Frankie, and her three children. A harried mother, Frankie seldom has time to herself and doesn’t really have many friends. After her youngest child gets himself into a challenging situation, Cora, a nice but eccentric woman, helps the child and befriends Frankie. With Cora around, Frankie’s life becomes easier for her and the kids. Or does it?
The second timeline focuses on Lottie and Little Girl. 2 children that have found friendship in their orphanage. Lottie and Little Girl are different than the other children in that they both had a hand in becoming orphans and all is not as it seems with these two.
The story moves along at a fast pace and the reader is challenged with trying to determine how these two timelines will fit together when all is said and done. The ending, while certainly shocking, is highly unbelievable for several reasons. I won’t include any spoilers but I was shaking my head while reading it. To be honest it was a bit of a let down for me and I wasn’t very happy with it. I think to truly enjoy this book you must be willing to suspend disbelief with this one, especially towards the end.
Overall, the book was an enjoyable mystery to solve. The author did a great job unveiling pieces of information throughout to help the reader feel as if they were guessing what was happening without actually providing the answers to take you to the correct guess.
I would recommend for thriller lovers who are constantly looking for another thrill-ride.
April 8, 2021
Played out in dual timelines, this tale of psychological suspense revolves around a friendship borne from trauma and tragedy.
Frankie Baxter is always running from her past of bad decisions and abuse. Her one saving grace is her determination to be a good mother to her three children. Though she goes to extreme lengths to care for her family, Frankie never thinks things through, which keeps her in low-paying jobs, barely scraping by. It’s also the reason she was ripe for the hoax.
Little Girl isn’t running, but she is hiding, trying to forget her past of a different kind of abuse and betrayal.
When a kind stranger brings Frankie’s missing son home, she believes she’s made a new friend and for the first time in her adult life, Frankie has someone to trust and depend on. But her trust is misplaced and will result in upending her life, and murder.
Told in two POVs—Frankie’s and Little Girl’s—the timelines are well-paced and balanced. It’s not difficult to see how the lives of two young girls were shaped or that they never outgrew those girls who solved problems with anger and violence.
Though predictable in places, the ending of this read had me looking around, wondering what happened. Didn’t see that coming. This is one of those stories where I’d love to sit down and chat with the characters!
Enjoy!
Frankie Baxter is always running from her past of bad decisions and abuse. Her one saving grace is her determination to be a good mother to her three children. Though she goes to extreme lengths to care for her family, Frankie never thinks things through, which keeps her in low-paying jobs, barely scraping by. It’s also the reason she was ripe for the hoax.
Little Girl isn’t running, but she is hiding, trying to forget her past of a different kind of abuse and betrayal.
When a kind stranger brings Frankie’s missing son home, she believes she’s made a new friend and for the first time in her adult life, Frankie has someone to trust and depend on. But her trust is misplaced and will result in upending her life, and murder.
Told in two POVs—Frankie’s and Little Girl’s—the timelines are well-paced and balanced. It’s not difficult to see how the lives of two young girls were shaped or that they never outgrew those girls who solved problems with anger and violence.
Though predictable in places, the ending of this read had me looking around, wondering what happened. Didn’t see that coming. This is one of those stories where I’d love to sit down and chat with the characters!
Enjoy!
April 9, 2021
Frankie loves her kids, being a mom is about the only right choice she has ade in her life, even if they are always struggling. When her son goes missing and is brought home by a stranger, Cora, who eventually works her way into their life she thinks she finally has something good happening. But when things go from bad to worse, is this new friendship a blessing or nightmare?
This is told in two timelines, present with Frankie, her kids and Cora, and past with Little Girl and Lottie who are in a children’s home. It’s a pretty fast paced book with a few difficult scenes, although they aren’t described in graphic detail. I was guessing at home the storylines connected, I was somewhat off base but not entirely. The only thing I would have liked to see different was the ending felt very rushed and abrupt to me. I do still recommend this book and give it 3 of 5 stars. Thank you to Rachels Random Resources and Paul Clayton for the review copy of this book, My thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is told in two timelines, present with Frankie, her kids and Cora, and past with Little Girl and Lottie who are in a children’s home. It’s a pretty fast paced book with a few difficult scenes, although they aren’t described in graphic detail. I was guessing at home the storylines connected, I was somewhat off base but not entirely. The only thing I would have liked to see different was the ending felt very rushed and abrupt to me. I do still recommend this book and give it 3 of 5 stars. Thank you to Rachels Random Resources and Paul Clayton for the review copy of this book, My thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 6, 2021
The Hoax by Paul Clayton is a thrilling tale about friendships and broken promises.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book, in which we are introduced to Frankie describing the inside of a police cell. How did a mother of three, who would do anything for her kids, end up here? Great writing, which hooked me in from page one.
I really enjoyed the authors style of writing. The Hoax is written with a dual timeline, with two stories cleverly interwoven to lead the reader on a twisty tale. At times the book is quite dark and a little disturbing, but very engaging and I couldn’t put it down.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. With strong, interesting characters and plenty of intrigue and plot twists that kept me hooked right to the end. I’ve now added The Punishment, the author’s 5 star rated previous book, to my MUST read list.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book, in which we are introduced to Frankie describing the inside of a police cell. How did a mother of three, who would do anything for her kids, end up here? Great writing, which hooked me in from page one.
I really enjoyed the authors style of writing. The Hoax is written with a dual timeline, with two stories cleverly interwoven to lead the reader on a twisty tale. At times the book is quite dark and a little disturbing, but very engaging and I couldn’t put it down.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. With strong, interesting characters and plenty of intrigue and plot twists that kept me hooked right to the end. I’ve now added The Punishment, the author’s 5 star rated previous book, to my MUST read list.
April 7, 2021
I liked the read-up for The Hoax and jumped at the chance to read and review and I wasn’t disappointed, I found The Hoax to be a fast-paced story with a plot that left the storyline to be an intense read.
I would definitely recommend reading The Hoax especially if you love thrillers with a psychological to lovers of Thrillers with a psychological twist, as it is a captivating read that is filled with suspense and leaves you on the edge of your seat with an interesting ending!
I would definitely recommend reading The Hoax especially if you love thrillers with a psychological to lovers of Thrillers with a psychological twist, as it is a captivating read that is filled with suspense and leaves you on the edge of your seat with an interesting ending!
April 6, 2022
I liked the read-up for The Hoax and jumped at the chance to read and review and I wasn't disappointed, I found The Hoax to be a fast-paced story with a plot that left the storyline to be an intense read.
I would definitely recommend reading The Hoax especially if you love thrillers with a psychological to lovers of Thrillers with a psychological twist, as it is a captivating read that is filled with suspense and leaves you on the edge of your seat with an interesting ending!
I would definitely recommend reading The Hoax especially if you love thrillers with a psychological to lovers of Thrillers with a psychological twist, as it is a captivating read that is filled with suspense and leaves you on the edge of your seat with an interesting ending!
April 2, 2021
My review of The Hoax is on my blog.
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