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The Empty Room
She opened a Pandora's box of betrayal and deceit
Pandora - Dora - Conlon wakes one morning to discover her 17-year old daughter Ellie, has not come home after a party.
The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her husband Eamon has already left for the day in his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news her daughter's handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby.
So begins Dora's ordeal of waiting and not knowing what has become of her girl. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indicative of the state of their marriage, and left on her own, Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life. Increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the police investigation, Dora feels her grip on reality slipping as she takes it upon herself to find her daughter - even if it means tearing apart everything and everybody she had ever loved, and taking justice into her own hands.
Pandora - Dora - Conlon wakes one morning to discover her 17-year old daughter Ellie, has not come home after a party.
The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her husband Eamon has already left for the day in his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news her daughter's handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby.
So begins Dora's ordeal of waiting and not knowing what has become of her girl. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indicative of the state of their marriage, and left on her own, Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life. Increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the police investigation, Dora feels her grip on reality slipping as she takes it upon herself to find her daughter - even if it means tearing apart everything and everybody she had ever loved, and taking justice into her own hands.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2022
15 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Brian McGilloway
43 books371 followersBrian McGilloway is an author hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland. He studied English at Queens University Belfast, where he was very active in student theatre, winning a prestigious national Irish Student Drama Association award for theatrical lighting design in 1996. He is currently Head of English at St. Columb's College, Derry. McGilloway's debut novel was a crime thriller called Borderlands. Borderlands was shortlisted for a Crime Writers' Association Dagger award for a debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 1, 2023
The ominous cover really jumped out at me at the library.
This was my first read from McGilloway, I'm so glad that I went with my instincts of this being a riveting read...
Whilst this has all the hallmarks of a missing child story, it was the manner in which the author captured the mothers voice that really stuck me.
As the story opens with Dora in bed, hearing her husband shuffling around downstairs as he prepares to leave for work as a longhaul lorry driver.
It's once Eamon has gone that Dora discovers her 17 year old daughter Ellie's bed had not been slept in after not arriving home from a party.
The clever plot device of her husband's occupation means his out of the picture really makes a mother's frantic worry for their child the central focus of this psychological thriller.
Initially ringing Ellie's best friend, to posts on Facebook sees Dora try everything to find her daughter.
I liked how the novel was played out over a period of time as more answers are slowly revealed.
Dora's determined drive for the truth really makes this a great page turner with plenty of shocks along the way.
This was my first read from McGilloway, I'm so glad that I went with my instincts of this being a riveting read...
Whilst this has all the hallmarks of a missing child story, it was the manner in which the author captured the mothers voice that really stuck me.
As the story opens with Dora in bed, hearing her husband shuffling around downstairs as he prepares to leave for work as a longhaul lorry driver.
It's once Eamon has gone that Dora discovers her 17 year old daughter Ellie's bed had not been slept in after not arriving home from a party.
The clever plot device of her husband's occupation means his out of the picture really makes a mother's frantic worry for their child the central focus of this psychological thriller.
Initially ringing Ellie's best friend, to posts on Facebook sees Dora try everything to find her daughter.
I liked how the novel was played out over a period of time as more answers are slowly revealed.
Dora's determined drive for the truth really makes this a great page turner with plenty of shocks along the way.
January 30, 2022
Read this in one sitting, I found it impossible to put down mainly due to the main character voice - Dora draws you in and you live every minute of this emotionally charged narrative right along with her.
I found the focus of this novel to be hugely compelling- the point of view of a mother with a missing daughter is addictive and the author really digs deep. It is darkly realistic and the mystery element is secondary in many ways.
Can you really ever get closure in a situation like this? That is the deeply explored theme here and you'll think about it long after turning the final page.
Recommended.
I found the focus of this novel to be hugely compelling- the point of view of a mother with a missing daughter is addictive and the author really digs deep. It is darkly realistic and the mystery element is secondary in many ways.
Can you really ever get closure in a situation like this? That is the deeply explored theme here and you'll think about it long after turning the final page.
Recommended.
March 15, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her Husband Eamon has already left for the day for his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends.... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news that her daughters handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indictive of the state of their marriage. Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life.
This story is a bit of a slow burner but the tension mounts with each new chapter. It's well written with some great twists, some I never saw coming. The characters are well developed and believable. I liked Dora, she wasn't letting anything stand in her way of finding Ellie. This is the first book that I've read by the author, but it won't be my last.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #BrianMcGilloway for my ARC of #TheEmptyRoom in exchange for an honest review.
The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her Husband Eamon has already left for the day for his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends.... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news that her daughters handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indictive of the state of their marriage. Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life.
This story is a bit of a slow burner but the tension mounts with each new chapter. It's well written with some great twists, some I never saw coming. The characters are well developed and believable. I liked Dora, she wasn't letting anything stand in her way of finding Ellie. This is the first book that I've read by the author, but it won't be my last.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #BrianMcGilloway for my ARC of #TheEmptyRoom in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2022
I read The Empty Room in one huge gulp during a five hour plane journey and it enriched my journey so much. It's a crime novel with a simple premise, about ordinary people, and is done so very well. The slow burn feel is excellently presented, as our lead character Dora discovers more about herself and her family.
It's a regular day. Dora's husband Eamon has just left on one of his long-distance journeys. he's a lorry driver, delivering goods all over Europe. Dora has one daughter, Ellie. She and Ellie are the best of friends and whilst Eamon is not Ellie's natural father, he's been around a long time. They are a pretty average family.
Ellie is not in the house. It seems that she didn't return home after leaving the previous evening to go to a party with her best friend Amy. Dora is puzzled and a little alarmed, this is not usual behaviour for Ellie. She rings around her friends with no joy. At first, the police don't seem that concerned; it's usual behaviour for teenage girls, in their view. However, it's Eamon's reaction that really unsettles Dora. He doesn't seem to be concerned at all, brushing off her concerns with platitudes.
Frustrated by the lack of action from the police, Dora begins to delve deeper into Ellie's recent activities and what she discovers shocks her. Secrets kept and new friendships hidden from her mother, Ellie's recent behaviours just don't match up to the girl that Dora thought she knew. Eventually Eamon does return home and when the police begin to get their act together and take some action, Dora's world crumbles around her.
The discovery of events that have been kept from her shatter her. She begins to question all that she is and has been and a multitude of emotions flood her head. Guilt, anger, frustration and grief all mingle together, but also spur her on to find answers to the increasing number of questions that she has.
Brian McGilloway lays bear the grief of the parent. Dora's feelings are raw and this author is so talented when relaying those to the reader. The utter anguish felt by Dora as the story progresses increases page by page.
This is a story of pain, grief and revenge and it's utterly compelling. The tiny details are all there, the slow deterioration of Dora's life and her mind are incredibly well handled. It's a page turner that is totally convincing and masterfully written. Highly recommended.
It's a regular day. Dora's husband Eamon has just left on one of his long-distance journeys. he's a lorry driver, delivering goods all over Europe. Dora has one daughter, Ellie. She and Ellie are the best of friends and whilst Eamon is not Ellie's natural father, he's been around a long time. They are a pretty average family.
Ellie is not in the house. It seems that she didn't return home after leaving the previous evening to go to a party with her best friend Amy. Dora is puzzled and a little alarmed, this is not usual behaviour for Ellie. She rings around her friends with no joy. At first, the police don't seem that concerned; it's usual behaviour for teenage girls, in their view. However, it's Eamon's reaction that really unsettles Dora. He doesn't seem to be concerned at all, brushing off her concerns with platitudes.
Frustrated by the lack of action from the police, Dora begins to delve deeper into Ellie's recent activities and what she discovers shocks her. Secrets kept and new friendships hidden from her mother, Ellie's recent behaviours just don't match up to the girl that Dora thought she knew. Eventually Eamon does return home and when the police begin to get their act together and take some action, Dora's world crumbles around her.
The discovery of events that have been kept from her shatter her. She begins to question all that she is and has been and a multitude of emotions flood her head. Guilt, anger, frustration and grief all mingle together, but also spur her on to find answers to the increasing number of questions that she has.
Brian McGilloway lays bear the grief of the parent. Dora's feelings are raw and this author is so talented when relaying those to the reader. The utter anguish felt by Dora as the story progresses increases page by page.
This is a story of pain, grief and revenge and it's utterly compelling. The tiny details are all there, the slow deterioration of Dora's life and her mind are incredibly well handled. It's a page turner that is totally convincing and masterfully written. Highly recommended.
September 16, 2022
این دومین داستان معمایی جدیدیست که میخوانم و از رابطهی پرنوگرافی و جنایات روزمره میگوید. اینکه یکی از دستهبندیهای محبوب پرنوگرافی تبدیل به واقعیتی جاندار در دل یک جنایت شریرانه شود، هولانگیز است
February 18, 2023
3.5 / 5
This book is one emotional rollercoaster, it just had to be read in one sitting. The story is quite heartbreaking, you follow the journey of a mother receiving continuous bad news and lies, followed with questionable police procedures. Left with no one to go to.
The premise of the book is heavy, and as it unfolds it starts to affect the way you see the book. I enjoyed the plot line and story, but equally I don’t like the heaviness the book left me in. I kinda figured out who was responsible in the end, I think it was obvious - the only thing that the book could have done was shorten the story line, felt like the plot was continuing which was adding to the heaviness.
If you don’t like a book without a happy positive ending, this is definitely not the book for you. You don’t get as much closure as you would normally get, which leaves weird unfulfilled feeling. I was hoping for a happy ending which is why, just with the premise of how heavy the book was. But on the contrary, I felt like this is one of the few books I’ve read that hasn’t had as good of an ending.
This book is one emotional rollercoaster, it just had to be read in one sitting. The story is quite heartbreaking, you follow the journey of a mother receiving continuous bad news and lies, followed with questionable police procedures. Left with no one to go to.
The premise of the book is heavy, and as it unfolds it starts to affect the way you see the book. I enjoyed the plot line and story, but equally I don’t like the heaviness the book left me in. I kinda figured out who was responsible in the end, I think it was obvious - the only thing that the book could have done was shorten the story line, felt like the plot was continuing which was adding to the heaviness.
If you don’t like a book without a happy positive ending, this is definitely not the book for you. You don’t get as much closure as you would normally get, which leaves weird unfulfilled feeling. I was hoping for a happy ending which is why, just with the premise of how heavy the book was. But on the contrary, I felt like this is one of the few books I’ve read that hasn’t had as good of an ending.
January 4, 2023
Another random find at the library but really good !!! Sad story of a mum just trying to find out what really happened to her daughter.
February 24, 2023
3.5/4 stars.
A compelling story highlighting the lengths a parent will go to for their child, in the depths of grief and turmoil.
A compelling story highlighting the lengths a parent will go to for their child, in the depths of grief and turmoil.
September 29, 2024
Wow, not one likeable character here! Very bleak and predictable, I nearly DNFed but kept at it, helped that the writing was good and I did want to find out how it ended, but the main reason for my not chucking it in is *SPOILER* a medium appeared (never read a “normal” thriller with supernatural elements.)! It may have been inappropriate, but I found myself almost laughing at each new bad piece of information and the MC Dora’s downward spiral (just one thing after another), except the birds, never the birds, the birds made me angry enough that I very nearly threw the book in the bin😱!
December 5, 2022
Beautiful and heartbreaking
April 7, 2022
This was a quick read with plenty of twists along the way but many of them didn’t seem as much a surprise as they were meant to be. I felt no connection with Dora and disliked her husband Eamon intensely. It seemed very odd that it took the disappearance of her daughter to make Dora see what a horrible person he was.
March 31, 2022
The Empty Room by Brian McGilloway will publish March 31st with Constable and is described by the Irish Daily Mail as ‘a tense thriller’. A standalone novel, The Empty Room is one that has taken me a few days to process, as I unravelled my thoughts. I was unsure of my feelings about certain sections of the book, but I soon came to realise, as a mother myself, that a parent will do literally ANYTHING in the search for the truth about a disappearing child. How often, when you hear something on the news, have you thought ‘what were they thinking?’ when the reality is that the individual in question probably wasn’t doing much thinking at all in that moment. Anger, frustration and pure love can drive people, rightfully or wrongfully, to take actions that are so far outside their norm, as is the case with Pandora (Dora) Condron.
Dora’s husband Eamon leaves early for work one morning, heading off on a long-haul trip as an overseas lorry driver. Dora met Eamon in the years after the birth of her daughter Ellie but for the first few years of Ellie’s life, it was just mother and daughter. They had a tight relationship and there were times that Eamon felt an outsider but Dora reassured him that she loved him and was delighted when they all became a proper family. In recent times though Dora has felt a shift in their marriage, a strained atmosphere has developed between herself and Eamon and she can feel herself distancing from his touch. When Eamon leaves that morning Dora feels a sense of relief and gradually adjusts to her morning.
Ellie had been out with friends the previous night but Dora had gone to bed early to avoid Eamon so had not heard Ellie come home. But when Dora opened Ellie’s bedroom door, her world stopped moving. Ellie had not returned home last night. Dora rang Ellie’s friends, but to no avail. Nobody knew where Ellie had actually been the night before. On contacting Eamon, his response was banal. He didn’t seem overly concerned and attributed her missing to being asleep on someone’s couch, oblivious to her mother’s worry. Dora believed differently. Something was off. She knew her daughter. She knew this was not normal.
Dora rang the police who were initially sceptical but stated that they would make a few opening inquiries. Dora rang the hospital and went to the art college where Ellie was a student. Perhaps some new friends Ellie had made there might know something. But every which way Dora turned, she was met with a brick wall, until she got the dreaded visit from the police. They had found Ellie’s handbag abandoned, seemingly dumped, in a layby. What was it doing there? And where was Ellie?
Dora Condron is not a woman to be messed with. She begins her own search for her daughter, ignoring the attempts by the police to shut down her vigilante type actions. A woman possessed, Dora knows something horrific has happened to Ellie and she will not stop until she discovers the truth.
A mother bear, whose cub is hurt or killed, is a vicious creature and Dora Condron proves to be made of similar mettle. As the days and weeks pass, Dora starts to examine her relationship with Eamon and begins to see her marriage for what it truly is. The cards of her carefully constructed house are collapsing and Dora begins to lose herself and lose track of time. Her sometimes erratic actions lead Dora on some very dark journeys with some terrible consequences, but each time she falls she gets back on the horse again, determined to never give up the search for Ellie.
Brian McGilloway slowly drip-feeds the reader snippets as the plot twists and turns down some very malevolent and insidious paths. Very important questions of morality are raised throughout The Empty Room with the reader left asking how far would they be prepared to go if someone they loved dearly suddenly disappeared? The Empty Room unleashes a Pandora’s Box but is there any hope left over for Dora? Revenge, grief, atonement and murder all play a role in this moving thriller that builds slowly to quite a few shocking and calamitous reveals. Tense and heart-breaking The Empty Room is a disquieting read with a very different take on the whole theme of the missing child. What would you do?
My Rating ~ 3.5* (rounded up)
Dora’s husband Eamon leaves early for work one morning, heading off on a long-haul trip as an overseas lorry driver. Dora met Eamon in the years after the birth of her daughter Ellie but for the first few years of Ellie’s life, it was just mother and daughter. They had a tight relationship and there were times that Eamon felt an outsider but Dora reassured him that she loved him and was delighted when they all became a proper family. In recent times though Dora has felt a shift in their marriage, a strained atmosphere has developed between herself and Eamon and she can feel herself distancing from his touch. When Eamon leaves that morning Dora feels a sense of relief and gradually adjusts to her morning.
Ellie had been out with friends the previous night but Dora had gone to bed early to avoid Eamon so had not heard Ellie come home. But when Dora opened Ellie’s bedroom door, her world stopped moving. Ellie had not returned home last night. Dora rang Ellie’s friends, but to no avail. Nobody knew where Ellie had actually been the night before. On contacting Eamon, his response was banal. He didn’t seem overly concerned and attributed her missing to being asleep on someone’s couch, oblivious to her mother’s worry. Dora believed differently. Something was off. She knew her daughter. She knew this was not normal.
Dora rang the police who were initially sceptical but stated that they would make a few opening inquiries. Dora rang the hospital and went to the art college where Ellie was a student. Perhaps some new friends Ellie had made there might know something. But every which way Dora turned, she was met with a brick wall, until she got the dreaded visit from the police. They had found Ellie’s handbag abandoned, seemingly dumped, in a layby. What was it doing there? And where was Ellie?
Dora Condron is not a woman to be messed with. She begins her own search for her daughter, ignoring the attempts by the police to shut down her vigilante type actions. A woman possessed, Dora knows something horrific has happened to Ellie and she will not stop until she discovers the truth.
A mother bear, whose cub is hurt or killed, is a vicious creature and Dora Condron proves to be made of similar mettle. As the days and weeks pass, Dora starts to examine her relationship with Eamon and begins to see her marriage for what it truly is. The cards of her carefully constructed house are collapsing and Dora begins to lose herself and lose track of time. Her sometimes erratic actions lead Dora on some very dark journeys with some terrible consequences, but each time she falls she gets back on the horse again, determined to never give up the search for Ellie.
Brian McGilloway slowly drip-feeds the reader snippets as the plot twists and turns down some very malevolent and insidious paths. Very important questions of morality are raised throughout The Empty Room with the reader left asking how far would they be prepared to go if someone they loved dearly suddenly disappeared? The Empty Room unleashes a Pandora’s Box but is there any hope left over for Dora? Revenge, grief, atonement and murder all play a role in this moving thriller that builds slowly to quite a few shocking and calamitous reveals. Tense and heart-breaking The Empty Room is a disquieting read with a very different take on the whole theme of the missing child. What would you do?
My Rating ~ 3.5* (rounded up)
March 19, 2022
Dora Condron wakes up one morning to discover that her 17 year old daughter, Ellie, didn't return home the night before. Initially no-one is overly concerned, it's simply what teenagers do, but Dora knows her daughter well. Ellie wouldn't stay out all night, she isn't that type of girl. As hours turn into days Dora has to question what she truly knows about her daughter and some of her other relationships.
I cannot begin to imagine how a mother must feel if a child goes missing. Brian McGilloway has done an amazing job of empathising with someone in this situation, the whole gamut of emotions are explored.
When Ellie goes missing you are caught up in Dora's sense of helplessness. She doesn't know what to do or who to ask for help. When she finally contacts the police you feel the frustration as no-one seems to take the situation seriously.
When the police finally investigate Ellie's disappearance a number of secrets come to light. Dora feels betrayed by the people around her and wracked with guilt that she may be responsible for her daughters disappearance. Public appeals by the police via TV and social media make Dora feel that "the wreckage of my life is displayed for public consumption". We've all done it, looked on (and thanked the heavens that it's not happening to us or our families) but I'll certainly have a different perspective on these types of things in the future thanks to this novel.
As the investigation continues you are filled with shock and sadness. Frustrated with the lack of progress the police are making Dora decides to take matters into her own hands and you can feel the adrenaline flowing as she turns from "Dora the dormouse" into a warrior. Your heart is racing, willing her on but terrified that she may be tangling with extremely dangerous people or be about to cross a moral line.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
I cannot begin to imagine how a mother must feel if a child goes missing. Brian McGilloway has done an amazing job of empathising with someone in this situation, the whole gamut of emotions are explored.
When Ellie goes missing you are caught up in Dora's sense of helplessness. She doesn't know what to do or who to ask for help. When she finally contacts the police you feel the frustration as no-one seems to take the situation seriously.
When the police finally investigate Ellie's disappearance a number of secrets come to light. Dora feels betrayed by the people around her and wracked with guilt that she may be responsible for her daughters disappearance. Public appeals by the police via TV and social media make Dora feel that "the wreckage of my life is displayed for public consumption". We've all done it, looked on (and thanked the heavens that it's not happening to us or our families) but I'll certainly have a different perspective on these types of things in the future thanks to this novel.
As the investigation continues you are filled with shock and sadness. Frustrated with the lack of progress the police are making Dora decides to take matters into her own hands and you can feel the adrenaline flowing as she turns from "Dora the dormouse" into a warrior. Your heart is racing, willing her on but terrified that she may be tangling with extremely dangerous people or be about to cross a moral line.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
March 19, 2022
Dora Condron wakes up one morning to discover that her 17 year old daughter, Ellie, didn't return home the night before. Initially no-one is overly concerned, it's simply what teenagers do, but Dora knows her daughter well. Ellie wouldn't stay out all night, she isn't that type of girl. As hours turn into days Dora has to question what she truly knows about her daughter and some of her other relationships.
I cannot begin to imagine how a mother must feel if a child goes missing. Brian McGilloway has done an amazing job of empathising with someone in this situation, the whole gamut of emotions are explored.
When Ellie goes missing you are caught up in Dora's sense of helplessness. She doesn't know what to do or who to ask for help. When she finally contacts the police you feel the frustration as no-one seems to take the situation seriously.
When the police finally investigate Ellie's disappearance a number of secrets come to light. Dora feels betrayed by the people around her and wracked with guilt that she may be responsible for her daughters disappearance. Public appeals by the police via TV and social media make Dora feel that "the wreckage of my life is displayed for public consumption". We've all done it, looked on (and thanked the heavens that it's not happening to us or our families) but I'll certainly have a different perspective on these types of things in the future thanks to this novel.
As the investigation continues you are filled with shock and sadness. Frustrated with the lack of progress the police are making Dora decides to take matters into her own hands and you can feel the adrenaline flowing as she turns from "Dora the dormouse" into a warrior. Your heart is racing, willing her on but terrified that she may be tangling with extremely dangerous people or be about to cross a moral line.
I cannot begin to imagine how a mother must feel if a child goes missing. Brian McGilloway has done an amazing job of empathising with someone in this situation, the whole gamut of emotions are explored.
When Ellie goes missing you are caught up in Dora's sense of helplessness. She doesn't know what to do or who to ask for help. When she finally contacts the police you feel the frustration as no-one seems to take the situation seriously.
When the police finally investigate Ellie's disappearance a number of secrets come to light. Dora feels betrayed by the people around her and wracked with guilt that she may be responsible for her daughters disappearance. Public appeals by the police via TV and social media make Dora feel that "the wreckage of my life is displayed for public consumption". We've all done it, looked on (and thanked the heavens that it's not happening to us or our families) but I'll certainly have a different perspective on these types of things in the future thanks to this novel.
As the investigation continues you are filled with shock and sadness. Frustrated with the lack of progress the police are making Dora decides to take matters into her own hands and you can feel the adrenaline flowing as she turns from "Dora the dormouse" into a warrior. Your heart is racing, willing her on but terrified that she may be tangling with extremely dangerous people or be about to cross a moral line.
April 4, 2022
The empty room by Brian McGilloway.
Pandora - Dora - Condron wakes one morning to discover her 17-year old daughter Ellie, has not come home after a party.The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her husband Eamon has already left for the day in his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news her daughter's handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby.So begins Dora's ordeal of waiting and not knowing what has become of her girl. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indicative of the state of their marriage, and left on her own, Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life. Increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the police investigation, Dora feels her grip on reality slipping as she takes it upon herself to find her daughter - even if it means tearing apart everything and everybody she had ever loved, and taking justice into her own hands.
Very good read. Couldn't put it down. 4*.
Pandora - Dora - Condron wakes one morning to discover her 17-year old daughter Ellie, has not come home after a party.The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her husband Eamon has already left for the day in his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news her daughter's handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby.So begins Dora's ordeal of waiting and not knowing what has become of her girl. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indicative of the state of their marriage, and left on her own, Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life. Increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the police investigation, Dora feels her grip on reality slipping as she takes it upon herself to find her daughter - even if it means tearing apart everything and everybody she had ever loved, and taking justice into her own hands.
Very good read. Couldn't put it down. 4*.
March 1, 2022
When Pandora goes the wake up her 17-year-old daughter Ellie she finds her bed empty. Ellie went to a party the night before with her friend Amy, but she never came home. She rings around her friends to see if they stayed there but they haven’t seen her. She even rings her husband Eamon who has already gone to work as along distance lorry driver. But he hasn’t seen her and didn’t seem to worry only he said she probable stayed with a friend and she will be home. But when she calls the Police, a young guy comes forward that they found her bag on the A5 near a wood. But where is Ellie?
The Empty room by Brian Mc Gilloway is the first book from the author I have read. But I thought this was a little gem of a book. I am surprised how good it was. I couldn’t put this book down. At first it was a bit slow to pick up but only to show the tension build-up of Pandora. Her feelings of despair and how far she will go to find out what happened to her child. I also find the storyline to be unique. Not the usual lost child scenario that we usually get. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend. I will now look at the other books Mr Mc Gilloway has written 5 stars from me.
The Empty room by Brian Mc Gilloway is the first book from the author I have read. But I thought this was a little gem of a book. I am surprised how good it was. I couldn’t put this book down. At first it was a bit slow to pick up but only to show the tension build-up of Pandora. Her feelings of despair and how far she will go to find out what happened to her child. I also find the storyline to be unique. Not the usual lost child scenario that we usually get. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend. I will now look at the other books Mr Mc Gilloway has written 5 stars from me.
September 13, 2022
I could not put this down, I had to read in one sitting.
Maybe it's because I'm a mother to a daughter myself but I found the main plot of this storyline hugely compelling. A mother with a missing daughter.. I could actually put myself in that place which was a really scary place.
The character of Dora is brilliantly written. I love the fact she doesn't let anything stand in the way of her search for her daughter Ellie.
I couldnt stand her husband Eamon, his total lack of empathy and concern just made me so angry, which I know is obviously what the author wanted to provoke in the reader and it worked perfectly.
Whilst it is a bit of a slow burner the tension soon builds up.
There are plenty of twists, some I didnt actually see coming,
This is a tale of raw emotion, grief, pain and revenge that is masterly written and one I'd recommend on over and over.
Huge thanks to netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.
Maybe it's because I'm a mother to a daughter myself but I found the main plot of this storyline hugely compelling. A mother with a missing daughter.. I could actually put myself in that place which was a really scary place.
The character of Dora is brilliantly written. I love the fact she doesn't let anything stand in the way of her search for her daughter Ellie.
I couldnt stand her husband Eamon, his total lack of empathy and concern just made me so angry, which I know is obviously what the author wanted to provoke in the reader and it worked perfectly.
Whilst it is a bit of a slow burner the tension soon builds up.
There are plenty of twists, some I didnt actually see coming,
This is a tale of raw emotion, grief, pain and revenge that is masterly written and one I'd recommend on over and over.
Huge thanks to netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.
April 14, 2022
The Empty Room by Brian McGilloway is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will stretch your emotions to breaking point!
The disappearance of a child is surely the most feared event that a parent can imagine yet somehow McGilloway takes this to another level of despair.
Immediately following Dora discovers that her beloved teenaged daughter Ellie cannot be found, her friends rally round to support her in her hour of need. As time goes by and a suspect is arrested, Dora doesn't feel as much support. She takes matters into her own hands with devastating consequences.
I really enjoyed this interpretation of extreme emotions; loss, grief, despair, hope and resignation. As a character, Dora is determined and admirable but occasionally deluded whilst Philip is gentle and caring. There are others who are deeply odious, which all makes for an enthralling and entertaining read!
The disappearance of a child is surely the most feared event that a parent can imagine yet somehow McGilloway takes this to another level of despair.
Immediately following Dora discovers that her beloved teenaged daughter Ellie cannot be found, her friends rally round to support her in her hour of need. As time goes by and a suspect is arrested, Dora doesn't feel as much support. She takes matters into her own hands with devastating consequences.
I really enjoyed this interpretation of extreme emotions; loss, grief, despair, hope and resignation. As a character, Dora is determined and admirable but occasionally deluded whilst Philip is gentle and caring. There are others who are deeply odious, which all makes for an enthralling and entertaining read!
April 1, 2022
Dora Condron's husband, Eamon is a long-distance lorry driver. One morning, she wakes to find that her daughter, Ellie, aged 17 hasn't slept in her bed and she still isn't home.
I found The Empty Room immensely difficult to put down; the main character, Dora completely draws the reader into the story right from the first few words. Each chapter brings mounting tension and I was caught up in Dora's sense of helplessness. Hugely addictive and compelling, the author really digs deep in his portrayal of Dora, her angst, frustration and her powerlessness. A dark, unpredictable and thought-provoking tale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group UK, Constable via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I found The Empty Room immensely difficult to put down; the main character, Dora completely draws the reader into the story right from the first few words. Each chapter brings mounting tension and I was caught up in Dora's sense of helplessness. Hugely addictive and compelling, the author really digs deep in his portrayal of Dora, her angst, frustration and her powerlessness. A dark, unpredictable and thought-provoking tale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group UK, Constable via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 10, 2022
The Empty Room - Brian McGilloway
My first time reading this author who trusted book friends rate as one of the best Crime writers so I high expectations.
Dora's teenage daughter disappears, this is the story of Dora's search, her determination to find her daughter and the truth. It is generally rather bleak and dark.
It's an anxious slow burner, which builds in time, into a compelling plot.
I didn't love it, but it kept me reading. Dora's character, and the lengths she'll go to were my favourite aspects by far.
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK
My first time reading this author who trusted book friends rate as one of the best Crime writers so I high expectations.
Dora's teenage daughter disappears, this is the story of Dora's search, her determination to find her daughter and the truth. It is generally rather bleak and dark.
It's an anxious slow burner, which builds in time, into a compelling plot.
I didn't love it, but it kept me reading. Dora's character, and the lengths she'll go to were my favourite aspects by far.
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK
April 24, 2022
A room that can never be filled…
I thought at first this was going to be just another ‘lost child’ story - but it turned into so much more.
As it unfolds, it soon became evident that many relationships we think we can rely on are, in fact, like sand in our hand. They quickly slip through our fingers and leave us yearning for something we have lost.
The author examines, in some depth, the whole idea of loss, guilt, regret and, finally, hope that there is something left to make our lives worth living for.
I thought at first this was going to be just another ‘lost child’ story - but it turned into so much more.
As it unfolds, it soon became evident that many relationships we think we can rely on are, in fact, like sand in our hand. They quickly slip through our fingers and leave us yearning for something we have lost.
The author examines, in some depth, the whole idea of loss, guilt, regret and, finally, hope that there is something left to make our lives worth living for.
December 26, 2022
I read THE EMPTY ROOM in a couple of sittings. Nothing new here in terms of the mystery, and the title is awful--not reflective of the action of the novel itself. But in spite of the unoriginal concept, McGilloway is an excellent writer, so much so that, while the action is certainly nothing new, we care deeply for the protagonist and her situation. I have never read McGilloway, but, considering how strongly he writes--good characters, well plotted, fast paced--I certainly will again. FUN fast read.
April 14, 2022
A slightly different offering from Brian McGilloway. Not so much a police procedural but an exploration of the break down of a less than happy family after the only child, a teenage daughter, goes missing after an evening out. This a gripping read with all the truth of that night gradually coming to light as the mother's life unravels in the aftermath.
This is an excellent read and may well the very best book I have read for years. I would have given it many more stars if I could.
This is an excellent read and may well the very best book I have read for years. I would have given it many more stars if I could.
June 27, 2022
Ellie doesn’t come home one night and her mother Dora is distraught. Ellie has a close relationship with her mother but does she know everything? As we begin to find out a bit more about Ellie the ordinariness of her situation strikes a fear in how we can protect young women from devastating consequences while enjoying themselves. The fallout for three families stems back to violence against women, abuse of power and drug addiction. A compelling read.
August 31, 2024
I found this to be a gripping read! When Dora’s teenage daughter goes missing, she is overwhelmed with grief and uncertainty. Determined to uncover the truth, Dora is willing to go to any lengths to find out what happened. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers several shocking secrets. The story takes some unexpected twists, especially in the second half, where the tension really builds up. It was an amazing read, though it left me feeling quite heavy by the end.
February 2, 2022
This is such a good read, I didnt expect it to be as emotive as it was, I was gripped all the way through. It was well written with good characters and a good storyline. It was suspenseful and unopredictable and I couldnt see any of the twists coming which I loved. A really enjoyable book that left me feeling so clautrophobic I was breathless.
February 28, 2022
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This book was a slow burn but with enough twists to keep you wanting to read more, having not read anything by this author previously I didn't know what to expect, but I will be reading more of his in the future.
April 17, 2022
4.75 Such a good book- big page turner. Interesting because I was initially irritated that we didn’t find out why the killer did what they did to Ellie- then I realised that this book is more than “thriller”, and more an exploration of grief - and that really it didn’t matter why. What mattered was Dora’s journey. So good- want to read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2022
What a roller coaster ride. After I finished the first section, I wondered how the climax could top what I’d already read. Well, it did. I couldn’t put it down. Its a unique take on the traditional crime story that focuses on what grief, the unknown, and desire for revenge can do to a person. Stunning.
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