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Liner
David Easton believed his life was in complete ruins. He managed to scrape together just enough money for a one-way ticket on the fabulous Oceanis. It was the most luxurious liner afloat and he planned to revel in all its opulent pleasures until in the middle of the Atlantic crossing - he would leap from the fantail, thus ending his pain and misery. The problem was that he never dreamt that while counting down the hours until his death, he would meet Diana.
Despite her traveling with her overly protective parents who hoped to introduce her to a suitable husband while onboard, they managed to find each other. As their affections grew, strange things began happening on the ship. At first, it was just mental images and dreams, but as the days passed their very reality began to bend beyond anything their minds could have imagined.
Together they had to find out what was happening to the Oceanis and how they could find a way to save the great liner and all those aboard her.
Despite her traveling with her overly protective parents who hoped to introduce her to a suitable husband while onboard, they managed to find each other. As their affections grew, strange things began happening on the ship. At first, it was just mental images and dreams, but as the days passed their very reality began to bend beyond anything their minds could have imagined.
Together they had to find out what was happening to the Oceanis and how they could find a way to save the great liner and all those aboard her.
266 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2021
11 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Chris Coppel
14 books53 followersChris Coppel was born in California. His family moved to Europe, living in Spain, France, Switzerland and mainly England. He has written numerous screenplays but Far From Burden Dell is his first novel. He taught advanced screenwriting at U.C.L.A.
Chris is also an accomplished drummer and guitarist. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Clare, and their very own scaredy-cat, Samantha.
Chris is also an accomplished drummer and guitarist. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Clare, and their very own scaredy-cat, Samantha.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 1, 2021
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
LINER by Chris Coppel is a thriller set on an ocean liner in the 1960’s which I could not stop reading. The story has a bit of romance, a bit of horror, a bit of paranormal and a bit of spiritual otherworldliness that sends chills up your spine as well as makes you wonder what the heck is going on?
David Easton has lost everything he cares about, his marriage, his two children and his job as a microbiologist. Depressed, he takes his last bit of cash and buys first class passage on a top-of-the-line ocean liner named the “Oceanis”. His ticket is one-way, and he does not plan on returning to New York.
While on board the luxury liner, David meets and becomes intrigued with Diana, an assistant editor at a New York publishing house on the ocean trip with her parents. As the couple becomes closer, strange things begin to happen on the Oceanis.
This is really all I can tell you without giving away a plot twist. I thought at first, I was reading a horror story, but this story is so much more than that. The author does a great job of creating a chilling and harrowing atmosphere, while still giving David and Diana a believable romance full of hope. This is a page turner and I finished it in one sitting. The ending was not what I expected, and I believe it will be discussed by all who read the book.
I recommend this unique thriller for an interesting and entertaining read.
LINER by Chris Coppel is a thriller set on an ocean liner in the 1960’s which I could not stop reading. The story has a bit of romance, a bit of horror, a bit of paranormal and a bit of spiritual otherworldliness that sends chills up your spine as well as makes you wonder what the heck is going on?
David Easton has lost everything he cares about, his marriage, his two children and his job as a microbiologist. Depressed, he takes his last bit of cash and buys first class passage on a top-of-the-line ocean liner named the “Oceanis”. His ticket is one-way, and he does not plan on returning to New York.
While on board the luxury liner, David meets and becomes intrigued with Diana, an assistant editor at a New York publishing house on the ocean trip with her parents. As the couple becomes closer, strange things begin to happen on the Oceanis.
This is really all I can tell you without giving away a plot twist. I thought at first, I was reading a horror story, but this story is so much more than that. The author does a great job of creating a chilling and harrowing atmosphere, while still giving David and Diana a believable romance full of hope. This is a page turner and I finished it in one sitting. The ending was not what I expected, and I believe it will be discussed by all who read the book.
I recommend this unique thriller for an interesting and entertaining read.
November 4, 2021
This is my third read by the author. I actually really enjoy his writing, more and more the more I read him, but this one, like the first one I read by him, did leave something to be desired. Which is to say…it’s hugely entertaining and creepy and atmospheric and well done on so many accounts as it speeds along, but then you finish and look back and kind go…oh, is that it? that’s the resolution? Well, that’s kinda…bathetic, anticlimactic, underwhelming.
To be fair, while reading the book, I’d no idea who Coppel was going to finish the story, that was a major attractor, in fact. This awesome premise of a luxury cruise ship in 1962 on a trip that goes suddenly and horribly wrong and then proceeds to go wronger still and then…just kind of ends.
On this ship there is a passenger who’d had it with life, his name is David and he has decided to kill himself and do so in style. To that end he takes all the money he has left and buys himself a cruise ship ticket, a portentous choice, since David has had a childhood fear of water for years. And yet, things don’t quite go to plan, he meets a spirited young woman who changes his mind with her wily feminine charms and, conveniently enough, has a father who has the power to change David’s life back to good, back to before a traumatic divorce took it all away from him. All good, right? Wrong, because something terrible has been happening to the ship’s occupants. And no, it didn’t come from the buffet. It came from (best mr. moviephone impression) the sea.
Going green has long had positive connotation in the modern vernacular. Well, Chris Coppel is off to change that. Because people on this ship are going green in the most terrifying ways. So are things, too. It’s like the sea is claiming them for itself, all at once. And just like Kermit says, it ain’t easy being green. In fact, it’s lethal. And so, cut off by an impenetrable fog and face with a terrifying watery unknown, David and his newfound ladylove must make their final stand.
Not quite Titanic, but then again, it isn’t meant to be. It still does its best to discourage one from the luxury cruising in high seas. After all, as the book so cleverly mentions, all that luxury is ever meant to do is to distract one from their terrifying reality of being trapped in a metal container in the middle of nowhere at mercy of the potentially merciless waters around them.
So, yeah, fun all around. And much fun was had reading this book. Coppel did a great job of recreating 1962 mood and mien with his two leads acting out an old movie style romance at high seas, though bygone cinematic romances never quite went that dark…or that green, for that matter. Plenty entertaining, no matter the ending. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
To be fair, while reading the book, I’d no idea who Coppel was going to finish the story, that was a major attractor, in fact. This awesome premise of a luxury cruise ship in 1962 on a trip that goes suddenly and horribly wrong and then proceeds to go wronger still and then…just kind of ends.
On this ship there is a passenger who’d had it with life, his name is David and he has decided to kill himself and do so in style. To that end he takes all the money he has left and buys himself a cruise ship ticket, a portentous choice, since David has had a childhood fear of water for years. And yet, things don’t quite go to plan, he meets a spirited young woman who changes his mind with her wily feminine charms and, conveniently enough, has a father who has the power to change David’s life back to good, back to before a traumatic divorce took it all away from him. All good, right? Wrong, because something terrible has been happening to the ship’s occupants. And no, it didn’t come from the buffet. It came from (best mr. moviephone impression) the sea.
Going green has long had positive connotation in the modern vernacular. Well, Chris Coppel is off to change that. Because people on this ship are going green in the most terrifying ways. So are things, too. It’s like the sea is claiming them for itself, all at once. And just like Kermit says, it ain’t easy being green. In fact, it’s lethal. And so, cut off by an impenetrable fog and face with a terrifying watery unknown, David and his newfound ladylove must make their final stand.
Not quite Titanic, but then again, it isn’t meant to be. It still does its best to discourage one from the luxury cruising in high seas. After all, as the book so cleverly mentions, all that luxury is ever meant to do is to distract one from their terrifying reality of being trapped in a metal container in the middle of nowhere at mercy of the potentially merciless waters around them.
So, yeah, fun all around. And much fun was had reading this book. Coppel did a great job of recreating 1962 mood and mien with his two leads acting out an old movie style romance at high seas, though bygone cinematic romances never quite went that dark…or that green, for that matter. Plenty entertaining, no matter the ending. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
October 2, 2021
Quick synopsis:
Set in the 1960s on an ocean liner called the Oceanis, this story follows David Easton who boarded this ship and finds himself experiencing strange phenomena in the ship.
My thoughts: This thriller was interesting as I have not read anything set on an ocean liner before. It feels like an episode of X-Files or Twilight Zone when I finished reading it!
I liked how atmospheric and descriptive the writing were and it did transport me to the ship. The story build-up was intense as we follow David's investigation into the strange things. It was eerie and I felt claustrophobic. It was like a locked-room mystery but on an ship and you're in the middle of the ocean. Eeek.
The plot was intriguing and I was really curious about the strange things that were going on in the ship. The author did an excellent job in keeping the suspense throughout the story! The pace was pretty steady but it did slow down a bit midway before things begin to pick up again towards the end.
In a nutshell, this was an interesting thriller that has a good mix of everything - suspense, horror, mystery, romance and supernatural. It was a quick entertaining read and if you're looking for a spooky read, you may want to give this book a read!
***Thank you Blackthorn Book Tours and author Chris Coppel for this gifted copy to read and review and for having me in this tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
My thoughts: This thriller was interesting as I have not read anything set on an ocean liner before. It feels like an episode of X-Files or Twilight Zone when I finished reading it!
I liked how atmospheric and descriptive the writing were and it did transport me to the ship. The story build-up was intense as we follow David's investigation into the strange things. It was eerie and I felt claustrophobic. It was like a locked-room mystery but on an ship and you're in the middle of the ocean. Eeek.
The plot was intriguing and I was really curious about the strange things that were going on in the ship. The author did an excellent job in keeping the suspense throughout the story! The pace was pretty steady but it did slow down a bit midway before things begin to pick up again towards the end.
In a nutshell, this was an interesting thriller that has a good mix of everything - suspense, horror, mystery, romance and supernatural. It was a quick entertaining read and if you're looking for a spooky read, you may want to give this book a read!
***Thank you Blackthorn Book Tours and author Chris Coppel for this gifted copy to read and review and for having me in this tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
October 4, 2021
Liner is a creative look at the mysterious disappearance of a luxury ocean liner during the 1960s. The author tells an unusual gripping tale filled with unexplained events while an unlikely couple finds themselves developing a romance among ghastly events onboard the ship.
Chris Coppel is not an author I have had the privilege of reading before. Liner was an intriguing introduction to this authors work. He tells a usual story in a crafty and unique way with added humour that had me laughing out loud while reading.
The supernatural elements of the story would not normally be my cuppa tea, but combined with a mild romance, loads of maritime knowledge and a touch of scientific details Coppel created a welcome change to my everyday reading.
David Easton has had his life ripped away, he is divorced, he lost his job and his children no longer seem too concerned with spending any time with him. He feels as if he has nothing left and decides to take his own life. After extended research on the best suicide option, he spend the last of his money on a first-class ticker aboard the Oceanis, planning to end his life with a magical dive overboard.
However, plagued by nightmares and hallucinations the right time never seems to present itself. When he meets Diana, they form a quick friendship and David believes he has found a reason to keep living. However, the strange events aboard the ship leave them digging into things that perhaps they should have left alone.
While I do not make a habit of reaching for a book in the horror/supernatural genre, Liner proved to be a refreshing surprise. The author combined various elements with humour and creative storytelling. I loved how this book left me laughing out loud, and my family giving me strange looks across the room as they waited for me to explain.
David Easton is introduced as a man who has lost his will to live. He comes across as weak and desperate, yet as the story develops you see a remarkable change in him. He becomes stronger with every page you turn and ends up almost being a hero. The author did a wonderful job getting the reader to understand the change that happened within David. Adding Diana to the mix with her cheeky, strong persona added a lighter touch to the story.
This book while being a little out of my comfort zone turned out to be an entertaining, light read which is just what I needed. I loved it.
If you are looking for a light-hearted creative story that gives you romance as well as supernatural events with some maritime knowledge mixed in and is guaranteed to make you laugh – then I highly recommend Liner.
Chris Coppel is not an author I have had the privilege of reading before. Liner was an intriguing introduction to this authors work. He tells a usual story in a crafty and unique way with added humour that had me laughing out loud while reading.
The supernatural elements of the story would not normally be my cuppa tea, but combined with a mild romance, loads of maritime knowledge and a touch of scientific details Coppel created a welcome change to my everyday reading.
David Easton has had his life ripped away, he is divorced, he lost his job and his children no longer seem too concerned with spending any time with him. He feels as if he has nothing left and decides to take his own life. After extended research on the best suicide option, he spend the last of his money on a first-class ticker aboard the Oceanis, planning to end his life with a magical dive overboard.
However, plagued by nightmares and hallucinations the right time never seems to present itself. When he meets Diana, they form a quick friendship and David believes he has found a reason to keep living. However, the strange events aboard the ship leave them digging into things that perhaps they should have left alone.
While I do not make a habit of reaching for a book in the horror/supernatural genre, Liner proved to be a refreshing surprise. The author combined various elements with humour and creative storytelling. I loved how this book left me laughing out loud, and my family giving me strange looks across the room as they waited for me to explain.
David Easton is introduced as a man who has lost his will to live. He comes across as weak and desperate, yet as the story develops you see a remarkable change in him. He becomes stronger with every page you turn and ends up almost being a hero. The author did a wonderful job getting the reader to understand the change that happened within David. Adding Diana to the mix with her cheeky, strong persona added a lighter touch to the story.
This book while being a little out of my comfort zone turned out to be an entertaining, light read which is just what I needed. I loved it.
If you are looking for a light-hearted creative story that gives you romance as well as supernatural events with some maritime knowledge mixed in and is guaranteed to make you laugh – then I highly recommend Liner.
October 2, 2021
David is adrift in life and has decided he no longer wants to be apart of it anymore. He has chosen to board the Oceanis as a sort of last hoorah before he fades into oblivion.
While wandering the boat, exploring places he shouldn't go, David finds the infirmary. He accidentally sees his Andrew (his steward) who appears to have a weird growth on his stomach. The next day Andrew isn't seen and all of a sudden no one knows who he is.
David is determined to find out what is going on and starts asking questions and poking his nose where it shouldn't be poked. Soon enough he finds there are worse things happening than Andrew going missing...
OK! What a perfectly creepy, spooky and fun way to kick off October! I actually read this in one day because it was such an easy read to get lost in. I love when the writing flows well and the characters are so likeable. David and Diana have such a fun chemistry, corny jokes included, and I just ate it up.
I also loved the mystery of the "illness" and had an idea where it was going, but really enjoyed it nonetheless. Definitely recommend for a quick and fun nautical paramystery thriller.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Blackthorn Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
While wandering the boat, exploring places he shouldn't go, David finds the infirmary. He accidentally sees his Andrew (his steward) who appears to have a weird growth on his stomach. The next day Andrew isn't seen and all of a sudden no one knows who he is.
David is determined to find out what is going on and starts asking questions and poking his nose where it shouldn't be poked. Soon enough he finds there are worse things happening than Andrew going missing...
OK! What a perfectly creepy, spooky and fun way to kick off October! I actually read this in one day because it was such an easy read to get lost in. I love when the writing flows well and the characters are so likeable. David and Diana have such a fun chemistry, corny jokes included, and I just ate it up.
I also loved the mystery of the "illness" and had an idea where it was going, but really enjoyed it nonetheless. Definitely recommend for a quick and fun nautical paramystery thriller.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Blackthorn Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
July 24, 2023
This book started off so good, until I realized it’s a paranormal thriller (not my cup of tea).
The MC David is talked about in detail, good guy, his story is a bit melancholic but not bad. I don’t like that he is referred to in third person, it confuses me.
The story develops a bit slow, but wanting me with more grip and twists and the ending had me like huh, that was it? Like I needed more to the ending lol
All in all a quick good read if you are into paranormal
stories that don’t have many twists.
The MC David is talked about in detail, good guy, his story is a bit melancholic but not bad. I don’t like that he is referred to in third person, it confuses me.
The story develops a bit slow, but wanting me with more grip and twists and the ending had me like huh, that was it? Like I needed more to the ending lol
All in all a quick good read if you are into paranormal
stories that don’t have many twists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2021
As a self-proclaimed avid reader and lover of thrillers, I must say Liner is just an impeccable book with all the elements good thrillers should have.
The situations, thoughts, circumstances and endeavours the main character, David Easton, endure are along similar lines to those experienced by character Jack from Titanic. Both of their lives are far from being perfect, but they meet someone, fall in love and they start looking at the world with different eyes.
Author Coppel has efficiently created a gripping and compelling atmosphere through well-turned characters and a proper outline of the story and an immaculate climax. Liner’s characters learn lessons, but they also teach morals.
This narrative is not lacking or faulty in any particular way and its ending will certainly throw readers for a loop!
The situations, thoughts, circumstances and endeavours the main character, David Easton, endure are along similar lines to those experienced by character Jack from Titanic. Both of their lives are far from being perfect, but they meet someone, fall in love and they start looking at the world with different eyes.
Author Coppel has efficiently created a gripping and compelling atmosphere through well-turned characters and a proper outline of the story and an immaculate climax. Liner’s characters learn lessons, but they also teach morals.
This narrative is not lacking or faulty in any particular way and its ending will certainly throw readers for a loop!
August 25, 2021
Nautical fiction is something that readers can't ignore because of the adventure and experience they provide. 'Liner' is one of them by Chris Coppel and it is all about David Easton and his life. Tired of his life, David plans to take a voyage on a luxurious ship called Oceanis. But there, he also has to face many ills. Anyway, he meets a woman named Diana. Both of them patch up and start to find love from each other. Again, things become strange when unusual things start to take place in the liner. Things turned worse day by day. The story improves as the couple has to find what's the real problem.
Filled with suspense and twists, the plot takes many interesting aspects. While Titanic was about romance and drama, this was about love, cliff-hanger, horror, and survival. I found David as special because I know people like him who find joy even in hard times.
Filled with suspense and twists, the plot takes many interesting aspects. While Titanic was about romance and drama, this was about love, cliff-hanger, horror, and survival. I found David as special because I know people like him who find joy even in hard times.
August 24, 2021
I love good paranormal thrillers and this one is one I will never forget. Written by Chris Coppel, a wonderful author who writes tales of horror, this novel got my attention from the very first page.
It tells the story of two lovers who meet on the fabulous Oceanis, but all of the sudden this magic trip starts getting really weird. They are determined to do all they can to unravel this mystery.
Diana is a likable character from the beginning, though she seems to stray a bit towards the dramatics.
This book is definitely a page turner and certainly one that could easily be completed in one sitting, due to the pull these characters have on the mind and heart while reading. I highly recommend reading it!
It tells the story of two lovers who meet on the fabulous Oceanis, but all of the sudden this magic trip starts getting really weird. They are determined to do all they can to unravel this mystery.
Diana is a likable character from the beginning, though she seems to stray a bit towards the dramatics.
This book is definitely a page turner and certainly one that could easily be completed in one sitting, due to the pull these characters have on the mind and heart while reading. I highly recommend reading it!
October 4, 2021
Liner by Chris Coppel is a horror thriller set on an luxurious ocean liner. It is set in the 1960s which a bit of the olden days taste and swag to it. The story is mixed with a touch of romance and spiritual touch to it which left me guessing to the end.
I loved the engaging and comic characters. There were secrets in the liner that had me flipping pages to know what was going on. I'm glad the two main characters had a happy ending and the author kept the mystery and suspense up. I love this book. Would recommend it? Absolutely Yes.
I got this book for an honest review from the author. Thank you blackthorn book tours for this.
I loved the engaging and comic characters. There were secrets in the liner that had me flipping pages to know what was going on. I'm glad the two main characters had a happy ending and the author kept the mystery and suspense up. I love this book. Would recommend it? Absolutely Yes.
I got this book for an honest review from the author. Thank you blackthorn book tours for this.
August 24, 2021
This is not the first book by author Chris Coppel that I read, and it certainly will not be the last. I really enjoyed the accurate atmosphere that he creates for each story, and the creative world building for each plot. And, “Liner” was not the exception.
To begin with, the plot perfectly mixed intrigue and suspense. The reveals of information trickle in a steady pace that kept me biting my nails throughout the course of the novel. Also, there are certain twists and turns in the characters' experiences that make the tale even more catching and difficult to put down.
All in all, I enjoyed this book very much and I will definitely recommend it for thriller and suspense lovers.
To begin with, the plot perfectly mixed intrigue and suspense. The reveals of information trickle in a steady pace that kept me biting my nails throughout the course of the novel. Also, there are certain twists and turns in the characters' experiences that make the tale even more catching and difficult to put down.
All in all, I enjoyed this book very much and I will definitely recommend it for thriller and suspense lovers.
June 28, 2023
David Easton’s life has fallen apart. His wife divorced him, turned his kids against him and he has lost his job in the family business. He decides to end his life. He scrapes up money to buy a first class ticket on the SS Oceanis, a luxurious ocean liner. He will enjoy the first four days, then leap to his death from the fantail.
When David meets Diana a romantic connection is formed and his plans change, there is a reason to live. The two start exploring the ship, and discover something strange and horrifying is going on. They need to figure out how to save themselves, fellow passengers and the Oceanis.
There is so much suspense in this book and it has a great mix of horror, romance and paranormal aspects. You could truly feel the atmosphere of the Oceanis with the eerie happenings aboard the liner. A fast, hard to put down read.
Also, the ending…..I absolutely loved it!
Thank you Chris Coppel and Coppel Books for the ebook. This is my honest review.
When David meets Diana a romantic connection is formed and his plans change, there is a reason to live. The two start exploring the ship, and discover something strange and horrifying is going on. They need to figure out how to save themselves, fellow passengers and the Oceanis.
There is so much suspense in this book and it has a great mix of horror, romance and paranormal aspects. You could truly feel the atmosphere of the Oceanis with the eerie happenings aboard the liner. A fast, hard to put down read.
Also, the ending…..I absolutely loved it!
Thank you Chris Coppel and Coppel Books for the ebook. This is my honest review.
October 3, 2021
Nothing is as it seems in Chris Coppel’s latest horror novel with a twist, Liner. In the prologue, it’s the present day and Morgan McCarthy is working his one Sunday a month at his job at the National Oceanis Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Communications Center. He’s not happy about this, but hey, what’s a guy to do, right? His focus is on the North Atlantic Ocean seabed tectonic sensor arrays: basically looking for anomalies along the seabed like earthquakes and other movement. A previous false alarm that damaged his reputation has him thinking twice when he spots an anomaly in one of the sectors he oversees. But he makes the call and reports it.
Immediately Coppel and Liner bring us back in the past to the early 1960s. David Easton is taking his first and only transatlantic crossing on the luxurious ocean liner, the SS Oceanis. His life has taken a turn for the worst. Recently divorced, David’s ex-wife and her family have left him close to destitute with his reputation as a microbiologist in tatters. His only solution, as he sees it, is to use the last of his money on a first class ticket on board the Oceanis and then at some point in the crossing throw himself overboard, ending his misery. But before all that, he and the rest of the passengers have to deal with some strange events onboard and weird atmospheric conditions on their journey.
David strikes up a friendship and possible romantic interest with Diana Olson, a young debutante whose mother Myra is eager to match up with an appropriate suitor. David is not what she has in mind, so she goes as far as banning her daughter from being near David. Her father Arthur is less pragmatic and indeed takes a liking to David, going so far as to offer help once they’ve reached port. So it looks like David could be on the up-and-up after all. But Liner has other ideas. There is a pandemic on board, one that’s christened “the green plague”. Cruise staff and customers alike are vanishing, and David thinks that the ship’s doctor, Aiken, knows more than he’s letting on.
It doesn’t take long for the malaise to inflict more people on the Oceanis, and soon the ship’s captain, Havelin, enlists David and Diana’s help. From here on, the story gets more weird and paranormal. What struck me at the beginning was how stoic most of the victims of the plague were. They accepted their impending demise with dignity and little fear. The necrosis eats their entire body until nothing but their clothes are left. And the fog that surrounds them has blocked all communication with the outside world. The SS Oceanis is lost and alone, with no help in sight.
Throughout this fast-moving and involving narrative, author Chris Coppel compels us to read on because he has given us an ideal couple to follow around. David and Diana are delightful, but you get the feeling from the start that their relationship is doomed. You want them to survive and flourish once the voyage is over, but Coppel foreshadows his twists and eventual climax with enough expertise that even though the passengers may get a happy ending, it’s not the one we may have hoped for when we began reading.
Who or what is behind these incredible and unbelievable events surrounding the Oceanis? Well, I’m not going to tell you. You will have to read Liner to find out. For a novel with some pretty decent horror overtones, you will also find a sincere amount of pathos, hope, and longing. I loved how it ended, and my heart went out to David and Diana. Their mutual love stayed with me long after the book ended.
Immediately Coppel and Liner bring us back in the past to the early 1960s. David Easton is taking his first and only transatlantic crossing on the luxurious ocean liner, the SS Oceanis. His life has taken a turn for the worst. Recently divorced, David’s ex-wife and her family have left him close to destitute with his reputation as a microbiologist in tatters. His only solution, as he sees it, is to use the last of his money on a first class ticket on board the Oceanis and then at some point in the crossing throw himself overboard, ending his misery. But before all that, he and the rest of the passengers have to deal with some strange events onboard and weird atmospheric conditions on their journey.
David strikes up a friendship and possible romantic interest with Diana Olson, a young debutante whose mother Myra is eager to match up with an appropriate suitor. David is not what she has in mind, so she goes as far as banning her daughter from being near David. Her father Arthur is less pragmatic and indeed takes a liking to David, going so far as to offer help once they’ve reached port. So it looks like David could be on the up-and-up after all. But Liner has other ideas. There is a pandemic on board, one that’s christened “the green plague”. Cruise staff and customers alike are vanishing, and David thinks that the ship’s doctor, Aiken, knows more than he’s letting on.
It doesn’t take long for the malaise to inflict more people on the Oceanis, and soon the ship’s captain, Havelin, enlists David and Diana’s help. From here on, the story gets more weird and paranormal. What struck me at the beginning was how stoic most of the victims of the plague were. They accepted their impending demise with dignity and little fear. The necrosis eats their entire body until nothing but their clothes are left. And the fog that surrounds them has blocked all communication with the outside world. The SS Oceanis is lost and alone, with no help in sight.
Throughout this fast-moving and involving narrative, author Chris Coppel compels us to read on because he has given us an ideal couple to follow around. David and Diana are delightful, but you get the feeling from the start that their relationship is doomed. You want them to survive and flourish once the voyage is over, but Coppel foreshadows his twists and eventual climax with enough expertise that even though the passengers may get a happy ending, it’s not the one we may have hoped for when we began reading.
Who or what is behind these incredible and unbelievable events surrounding the Oceanis? Well, I’m not going to tell you. You will have to read Liner to find out. For a novel with some pretty decent horror overtones, you will also find a sincere amount of pathos, hope, and longing. I loved how it ended, and my heart went out to David and Diana. Their mutual love stayed with me long after the book ended.
October 4, 2021
The entire time I was reading LINER, it gave me a LOST meets TITANIC vibe. There were so many strange things happening aboard the Oceanis—so many unbelievable things. I’m deathly afraid of the ocean so this horror book will probably give me nightmares!
There was a little bit of head-hopping here and there, but the plot kept me moving forward. It got better and better the more I read. The suspense and tension built right up until the end. This story has a very “locked-room” horror feel to it by way of characters experiencing terrifying incidents while trapped, but with the added layer of OMG since it’s aboard a ship in the middle of the Atlantic!
Descriptions were very detailed and specific. The way Coppel describes what’s happening and what things look like enabled me to envision them, despite occurrences being impossibly crazy.
David Easton, the main character, is smart but self-conscious. He’s made mistakes in his life and has some regrets, and thinks he knows how to solve it all but his decision to board the Oceanis changes all his plans. And the Oceanis has plans of its own. Things keep happening on board that baffle David, and then he meets Diana. They become almost like a Jack and Rose, with Diana’s mother trying (unsuccessfully) to prevent their involvement. But with more and more horrifying things happening on the ship, David and Diana find comfort in each other in what’s becoming the scariest time either of them has ever encountered..
I really enjoyed Diana’s character. She’s in control, direct, confident, strong-willed, and determined—I don’t think that was typical for women in the 60s, at least not as much as women are nowadays, which is why I like her all the more.
There is talk of suicide in the first 1/3 of the book, so I think that should be a trigger warning.
There was a little bit of head-hopping here and there, but the plot kept me moving forward. It got better and better the more I read. The suspense and tension built right up until the end. This story has a very “locked-room” horror feel to it by way of characters experiencing terrifying incidents while trapped, but with the added layer of OMG since it’s aboard a ship in the middle of the Atlantic!
Descriptions were very detailed and specific. The way Coppel describes what’s happening and what things look like enabled me to envision them, despite occurrences being impossibly crazy.
David Easton, the main character, is smart but self-conscious. He’s made mistakes in his life and has some regrets, and thinks he knows how to solve it all but his decision to board the Oceanis changes all his plans. And the Oceanis has plans of its own. Things keep happening on board that baffle David, and then he meets Diana. They become almost like a Jack and Rose, with Diana’s mother trying (unsuccessfully) to prevent their involvement. But with more and more horrifying things happening on the ship, David and Diana find comfort in each other in what’s becoming the scariest time either of them has ever encountered..
I really enjoyed Diana’s character. She’s in control, direct, confident, strong-willed, and determined—I don’t think that was typical for women in the 60s, at least not as much as women are nowadays, which is why I like her all the more.
There is talk of suicide in the first 1/3 of the book, so I think that should be a trigger warning.
October 1, 2021
I have never really read any historical nautical books before, they have never really intrigued me as much as this one did when I first saw it. I have to say that this book did not let me down. I was so impressed by the writing and the plot of the book. From the description I had an idea of the storyline of the book but things take a massive twist.
I thought David was such an intelligent man and hearing about what happened to him was so heartbreaking. It was sad to know why he went on the cruise in the first place, but surprisingly there he learns the truth about his past by a stranger. This was the first shock for David in this book, I feel this shock shows how small the world is. You never know who you are going to bump into. I also like Diana’s character, she saved David from his dark place and helped him with his new adventure. I enjoyed hearing about her strange family and their weird journey.
I thought the author done such an amazing job at setting the scene and keeping the reader gripped. I firstly thought it was going to be a contemporary/romance novel, I suppose it was still that as well, but it had elements of sci-fi, horror and thriller. I did go into this book blindly, it made the shock and thrill very enjoyable. I loved the turn of direction of the book, it still kept the romance side but it became so fast pasted. I enjoyed the atmosphere the author created with the hint of horror, suspense and survival.
This book was easy to follow and understand. I could always imagine the situation the characters were in. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers, it was such an entertaining read.
I thought David was such an intelligent man and hearing about what happened to him was so heartbreaking. It was sad to know why he went on the cruise in the first place, but surprisingly there he learns the truth about his past by a stranger. This was the first shock for David in this book, I feel this shock shows how small the world is. You never know who you are going to bump into. I also like Diana’s character, she saved David from his dark place and helped him with his new adventure. I enjoyed hearing about her strange family and their weird journey.
I thought the author done such an amazing job at setting the scene and keeping the reader gripped. I firstly thought it was going to be a contemporary/romance novel, I suppose it was still that as well, but it had elements of sci-fi, horror and thriller. I did go into this book blindly, it made the shock and thrill very enjoyable. I loved the turn of direction of the book, it still kept the romance side but it became so fast pasted. I enjoyed the atmosphere the author created with the hint of horror, suspense and survival.
This book was easy to follow and understand. I could always imagine the situation the characters were in. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers, it was such an entertaining read.
October 3, 2021
Lost.
Sometimes in life we find ourselves at the very precipice of being unfathomably lost in life.
The walls close in, our breath slows and we feel we are at the end of our existence. Until from the shadows something or someone acts like our lighthouse and brings us back to existence.
The Liner by Chris Coppel is one such tale.
A tale of being lost and then finding the love of your life.
A tale so wonderfully captivating that we fall in love with David (our lost soul) and Diana (the saviour) at once. Just like the liner Oceanis chugs along to its destination, we keep hoping that this match is made.
Kaboom!!!
Something wicked this way comes. It is a horror story after all.
Strange disappearances and appearances.
Dreams that are reality and reality that might be a dream.
And lots of icky green, green globs.
Fair Warning: These of course might keep you from ever using the bathroom again.
Chris’s mastery lies in the way that he weaves us into this very sinister ship in an eerily suspenseful yet fast action thriller way. At one minute we are rooting for David and Diana’s love story, the next we are trapped in a dream and then we are running with them to save a ship from...
Oops, can’t tell you more, you have to read it to believe it.
Be prepared though...
“Nothing has ever happened until the first time it happens.”
Liner is an amalgamation of many genres and it is just full of ‘ahs’ and ‘ohs’ at every turn. A book that reads like a movie! Hope it gets made into one too.
So glad that I got this RC, it was such an intense roller coaster of fun and horror. Hope you liked my fair and honest review. I know its a short review but I didn’t want to give any spoilers away.
Happy Reading:)
Sometimes in life we find ourselves at the very precipice of being unfathomably lost in life.
The walls close in, our breath slows and we feel we are at the end of our existence. Until from the shadows something or someone acts like our lighthouse and brings us back to existence.
The Liner by Chris Coppel is one such tale.
A tale of being lost and then finding the love of your life.
A tale so wonderfully captivating that we fall in love with David (our lost soul) and Diana (the saviour) at once. Just like the liner Oceanis chugs along to its destination, we keep hoping that this match is made.
Kaboom!!!
Something wicked this way comes. It is a horror story after all.
Strange disappearances and appearances.
Dreams that are reality and reality that might be a dream.
And lots of icky green, green globs.
Fair Warning: These of course might keep you from ever using the bathroom again.
Chris’s mastery lies in the way that he weaves us into this very sinister ship in an eerily suspenseful yet fast action thriller way. At one minute we are rooting for David and Diana’s love story, the next we are trapped in a dream and then we are running with them to save a ship from...
Oops, can’t tell you more, you have to read it to believe it.
Be prepared though...
“Nothing has ever happened until the first time it happens.”
Liner is an amalgamation of many genres and it is just full of ‘ahs’ and ‘ohs’ at every turn. A book that reads like a movie! Hope it gets made into one too.
So glad that I got this RC, it was such an intense roller coaster of fun and horror. Hope you liked my fair and honest review. I know its a short review but I didn’t want to give any spoilers away.
Happy Reading:)
October 4, 2021
With a large focus on character building, Liner by Chris Coppel proved to be a much deeper, more emotional read than I anticipated. I found that pleasantly surprising. I did expect more hardcore horror (for some reason, I pictured a cruise version of Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining when I read the blurb), but I appreciated that the novel wasn’t driven by gore or violence. Though there were a few intense horror scenes and other surreal, muted ones, this story came off more like a mystery drama with some light romance elements. Nothing in it particularly frightened me, yet it was unsettling in a low-key way that resonates with me even now—weeks after I finished reading it.
I predicted much of what occurred in Liner, but the novel was no less impactful or thought-provoking. I loved the undertones of cosmic horror that rang at various points throughout the work. I very much enjoyed the characters’ development and relationships. The bittersweet ending was my favorite part of the story. It packed the biggest emotional punch and raised the most profound questions. The more I read the book, the more I enjoyed it as new developments came to light. If I had less patience, however, I might have given up. Ultimately, I’m glad I finished it. I recommend Liner by Chris Coppel to those interested in a slower, character-driven, light horror story with a touch of romance.
(Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from Blackthorn Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)
Trigger Warning: This work contains themes of suicide.
I predicted much of what occurred in Liner, but the novel was no less impactful or thought-provoking. I loved the undertones of cosmic horror that rang at various points throughout the work. I very much enjoyed the characters’ development and relationships. The bittersweet ending was my favorite part of the story. It packed the biggest emotional punch and raised the most profound questions. The more I read the book, the more I enjoyed it as new developments came to light. If I had less patience, however, I might have given up. Ultimately, I’m glad I finished it. I recommend Liner by Chris Coppel to those interested in a slower, character-driven, light horror story with a touch of romance.
(Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from Blackthorn Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)
Trigger Warning: This work contains themes of suicide.
October 5, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Strange things are happening on the Oceanis. Not only are people dying, but the ship is also slowly deteriorating.
David Easton has lost his wife, children, and his job. Unable to find work he decides to book a first-class ticket on a luxury cruise, and somewhere out at sea, jump from the stern and drown himself in the sea.
Diana Olson is on a cruise with her parents. Even though she is an editor at a women's magazine, and completely independent, her mother still tries to find her a suitable husband - but still rejecting many possible suitors.
David Easton and Diana Olson met for the first time onboard the luxury cruiser. When one of the ship stewards disappear, they decide to investigate but are faced with a series of increasingly strange events. Can it have anything to do with the strange fog they have been caught in for days?
The author uses David's dreams and hallucinations to convey the ship's deterioration, so he is often not sure if it is all only happening in a dream. Descriptive language helps to convey the surreal setting of the narrative and the playful relationship between David and Diane provide some light moments.
After reading Liner, you might rethink the idea of booking a luxury cruise for your next holiday.
Trigger Warnings: Death | Profanity
Read the full review on my blog: https://readorrot.com/liner-by-chris-...
Strange things are happening on the Oceanis. Not only are people dying, but the ship is also slowly deteriorating.
David Easton has lost his wife, children, and his job. Unable to find work he decides to book a first-class ticket on a luxury cruise, and somewhere out at sea, jump from the stern and drown himself in the sea.
Diana Olson is on a cruise with her parents. Even though she is an editor at a women's magazine, and completely independent, her mother still tries to find her a suitable husband - but still rejecting many possible suitors.
David Easton and Diana Olson met for the first time onboard the luxury cruiser. When one of the ship stewards disappear, they decide to investigate but are faced with a series of increasingly strange events. Can it have anything to do with the strange fog they have been caught in for days?
The author uses David's dreams and hallucinations to convey the ship's deterioration, so he is often not sure if it is all only happening in a dream. Descriptive language helps to convey the surreal setting of the narrative and the playful relationship between David and Diane provide some light moments.
After reading Liner, you might rethink the idea of booking a luxury cruise for your next holiday.
Trigger Warnings: Death | Profanity
Read the full review on my blog: https://readorrot.com/liner-by-chris-...
September 17, 2023
I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Liner by Chris Coppel is an unputdownable story about a ship called Oceanis. The meat of the story surrounds a man named David who has decided that his life is no longer worth living; he therefore decides to splash-out on a lavish cruise before committing suicide. Enter Diana. A rebellious young woman from a well-to-do family whose mother wants David to steer clear of her family so that Diana may meet a worthy marriage match.
As we all know, the more a force tries to keep things apart, the more one tries to make a bond succeed. David starts to notice small anomalies aboard the liner and shares them with Diana and a small core of trusted passengers. Together, they rush to figure out the cause of these disturbing occurrences before they too may fall victim to whatever is plaguing the magnificent Oceanis.
The story is as sensational as it is hauntingly sad, and it is absolutely a must-read.
Liner by Chris Coppel is an unputdownable story about a ship called Oceanis. The meat of the story surrounds a man named David who has decided that his life is no longer worth living; he therefore decides to splash-out on a lavish cruise before committing suicide. Enter Diana. A rebellious young woman from a well-to-do family whose mother wants David to steer clear of her family so that Diana may meet a worthy marriage match.
As we all know, the more a force tries to keep things apart, the more one tries to make a bond succeed. David starts to notice small anomalies aboard the liner and shares them with Diana and a small core of trusted passengers. Together, they rush to figure out the cause of these disturbing occurrences before they too may fall victim to whatever is plaguing the magnificent Oceanis.
The story is as sensational as it is hauntingly sad, and it is absolutely a must-read.
June 26, 2023
This is a brilliant book with a supernatural / thriller twist which truly kept me hooked from start to finish. David has booked a one way trip on the Oceanis and plans to end his life but when mysterious events begin to happen onboard and he gets closer to Diana they decide to stick together to try and figure it out. This book will constantly have you asking WTF? with every new problem that happens but it is so creepy and dark that you will need to keep on reading! The plot twist at the end was incredible and I loved everything about this book.
October 1, 2021
What a great way to kick off spooky season. This horror/mystery has left my mind reeling... still trying to figure out the ending. I loved David and Diana's relationship; their dialogue is amazing. The story as a whole is really compelling and hard to put down. Part because the characters are great and I love their interactions, and part because I need to figure out what is going on on this ship. Highly recommend.
September 6, 2021
Just when you believe you planned everything to end your pain and misery, you meet someone that makes you think twice. This is what happened to David Easton onboard the Oceanis. Also, strange things started happening on the ship and David together with Diana would have to figure out how to save the whole crew.
Well, I have to say that I just loved this book! The characters are very interesting and completely developed; I could empathise with them and with the situations they lived. Also, the plot is very good and the descriptions are great. I could make a mental picture all the time while reading.
I recommend this book to those who are fans of mystery and naval tales.
Well, I have to say that I just loved this book! The characters are very interesting and completely developed; I could empathise with them and with the situations they lived. Also, the plot is very good and the descriptions are great. I could make a mental picture all the time while reading.
I recommend this book to those who are fans of mystery and naval tales.
September 6, 2021
Liner was a book that gladly surprised me. The plot, the characters and even the pace with which it was written make this a perfect read because I couldn’t put it down.
The characters were greatly created; they are believable and their dialogues are life-like, which help readers make a mental picture of what happens. Also, their problems and thoughts are realistic.
The narrative is very good; once I started reading, I felt captivated and I really wanted to know how everything in the Liner would end. It is a must read! I would recommend reading this novel to all fans of the genre.
The characters were greatly created; they are believable and their dialogues are life-like, which help readers make a mental picture of what happens. Also, their problems and thoughts are realistic.
The narrative is very good; once I started reading, I felt captivated and I really wanted to know how everything in the Liner would end. It is a must read! I would recommend reading this novel to all fans of the genre.
August 25, 2021
Fantastic thriller.
For those who like thriller and suspense, Liner is a must. The author of this book is Chris Coppel, who is an incredible writer of horror tales. When the book begins with a main character who wants to commit suicide, we must think that the story will be, at least, strange and mysterious.
It always caught my attention that in the middle of terror there is a love story, and this case was not the exception. But the main story develops around unusual events in the Oceanis, a luxury liner. The story is fast-paced and it is full of interesting turns and twists that made my heart beat very fast. I highly recommend it.
For those who like thriller and suspense, Liner is a must. The author of this book is Chris Coppel, who is an incredible writer of horror tales. When the book begins with a main character who wants to commit suicide, we must think that the story will be, at least, strange and mysterious.
It always caught my attention that in the middle of terror there is a love story, and this case was not the exception. But the main story develops around unusual events in the Oceanis, a luxury liner. The story is fast-paced and it is full of interesting turns and twists that made my heart beat very fast. I highly recommend it.
August 24, 2021
David Easton gathered all his belongings and got on board the Oceanis, a luxurious ocean liner, which he thought would change his destiny. And so it was, just that it was a little different than what he expected. When he met Diana, who was traveling with her parents on the ocean liner, strange things began to happen.
I really enjoyed this reading written by Chris Coppel. This is not the first book I read by this author but in my opinion this one is the best. I loved this suspense story and how he managed to create a very entertaining story. I certainly recommend it.
I really enjoyed this reading written by Chris Coppel. This is not the first book I read by this author but in my opinion this one is the best. I loved this suspense story and how he managed to create a very entertaining story. I certainly recommend it.
July 26, 2021
“Liner” is a wonderful novel with a plot that is very different from everything that I have read until now. It combines love, romance and drama with suspense and action. The lives of two very different young people mingle when they meet in a big ship which is about to embark on an unexpected journey.
The story develops on the ship and as the protagonists meet and fall in love, they discover problems and conflicts that may affect the ship and also may be very dangerous.
This novel invites the reader to be part of the clever and brave solutions the couple think to try to save the transatlantic ship and the great amount of people that travel on it.
The story develops on the ship and as the protagonists meet and fall in love, they discover problems and conflicts that may affect the ship and also may be very dangerous.
This novel invites the reader to be part of the clever and brave solutions the couple think to try to save the transatlantic ship and the great amount of people that travel on it.
July 28, 2021
This middle length book called Liner was written by Chris Coppel and it describes the miserable life of David until one day he meets Diana. At that moment, his plans of self destruction would start trembling. Together, they will end up on a mission they did not ask for: try to save the liner and the passenger.
I really liked this story and how it was written; the author used plenty of descriptive vocabulary and the dialogues were quite real, although there were just a few. It is a book that I certainly recommend reading. I liked it very much!
I really liked this story and how it was written; the author used plenty of descriptive vocabulary and the dialogues were quite real, although there were just a few. It is a book that I certainly recommend reading. I liked it very much!
October 6, 2021
This was yet another fascinating novel I had the opportunity to sign up to review with the good folks at Blackthorn Book Tours. I wasn’t exactly sure how this was going to go and whether or not I was going to like the story, but as it turned out I enjoyed it very much and actually got through it quite quickly.
In this tale we are traveling alongside a young man named David Easton. David is a very sad and lonely guy. He feels like nothing in his life is, can or will ever go right. Everything finally overwhelms him and he decides to take his life and his fate in that life into his very own hands.
David pulls as much money together as he can and books himself a one-way ticket on the most luxurious ocean liner afloat in the world, the Oceanis. He plans to spoil himself, making use of every opportunity, event and amenity available on the ship and to fully enjoy himself. But at some point during the trip, David plans on a very dramatic suicide fit for the movie screen.
Taking a cue from Leonardo DiCaprio, David is going to hoist himself up on the railing at the back of the ship and, to add his own special flair, planned to take a swan dive off the ship’s fantail and smash into the cold Atlantic where he would most certainly die.
But things don’t go as he had planned. They never do. Then strange things start to happen aboard this luxury ocean liner. Things that not only strike fear and confusion into those that face them but also things that cause intrigue and wonderment and a weird kind of peace, in a way. And because of things like meeting new people, seeing and experiencing new things and a massive amount of curiosity David will have to choose between getting answers to his very serious questions about the ship or staying his course and following through with his suicide.
I really enjoyed this novel. I was extremely intrigued and interested to see where the author would go with the story each time something new happened. It also felt like I was almost right there in the story, feeling the same sense of danger or relief, feeling the same intense nervousness when a character is investigating around dark corners and the like. The book was well written, easy to read, easy to follow and for me it was a very fresh story line because I haven’t ever read anything like this before. I thought the characters were fascinating people. The author really puts in time to get the reader invested for the full haul of the book, which is 256 pages. I know for some that may sound like a lot, even for me it’s a little daunting to think about however, once you start reading, you get so engrossed in what’s going on that you have easily zipped through fifty or sixty pages without even realizing it.
I think those who like the mysterious, psychological thrillers and content like that will really get a lot of enjoyment out of this book. It’s certainly got the potential for anyone to like it. I’d say at least give it a try. I think you’ll find that it is worth the time to read it.
RATINGS
5/5 Stars
In this tale we are traveling alongside a young man named David Easton. David is a very sad and lonely guy. He feels like nothing in his life is, can or will ever go right. Everything finally overwhelms him and he decides to take his life and his fate in that life into his very own hands.
David pulls as much money together as he can and books himself a one-way ticket on the most luxurious ocean liner afloat in the world, the Oceanis. He plans to spoil himself, making use of every opportunity, event and amenity available on the ship and to fully enjoy himself. But at some point during the trip, David plans on a very dramatic suicide fit for the movie screen.
Taking a cue from Leonardo DiCaprio, David is going to hoist himself up on the railing at the back of the ship and, to add his own special flair, planned to take a swan dive off the ship’s fantail and smash into the cold Atlantic where he would most certainly die.
But things don’t go as he had planned. They never do. Then strange things start to happen aboard this luxury ocean liner. Things that not only strike fear and confusion into those that face them but also things that cause intrigue and wonderment and a weird kind of peace, in a way. And because of things like meeting new people, seeing and experiencing new things and a massive amount of curiosity David will have to choose between getting answers to his very serious questions about the ship or staying his course and following through with his suicide.
I really enjoyed this novel. I was extremely intrigued and interested to see where the author would go with the story each time something new happened. It also felt like I was almost right there in the story, feeling the same sense of danger or relief, feeling the same intense nervousness when a character is investigating around dark corners and the like. The book was well written, easy to read, easy to follow and for me it was a very fresh story line because I haven’t ever read anything like this before. I thought the characters were fascinating people. The author really puts in time to get the reader invested for the full haul of the book, which is 256 pages. I know for some that may sound like a lot, even for me it’s a little daunting to think about however, once you start reading, you get so engrossed in what’s going on that you have easily zipped through fifty or sixty pages without even realizing it.
I think those who like the mysterious, psychological thrillers and content like that will really get a lot of enjoyment out of this book. It’s certainly got the potential for anyone to like it. I’d say at least give it a try. I think you’ll find that it is worth the time to read it.
RATINGS
5/5 Stars
May 25, 2023
I was given a copy to review for abook tour. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #Liner #ChrisCoppel
#BlackPhoenixBookTours #BookTourReview #Horror #HenryRoiPR #BookReview #gifted #ad
Liner is the second novel I have read by Chris Coppel and I have to say I believe he is quickly becoming a favourite. Set in the 1960s on an ocean liner, the Oceanis, we are introduced to David Easton who believed that his life was over. In fact his plan was to use his one way ticket on the fabulous cruiser but his plan was not to make it across the ocean. Instead on the last few days of the trip he planned to plummet off the Oceanis’ fantail into the waiting ocean, ending it all by one of his greatest fears of drowning. But he never planned to meet Diana.
Despite Diana’s overprotective parents trying to find her a suitable husband the two manage to find each other. Only as their attraction grows strange things begin to happen on the Oceanis. It starts as mental images and dreams but as the days pass reality begins to bend and mirror those dreams. Together they try to find out what is happening onboard the ship and if there is a way to save the liner and all those aboard her.
Firstly this review will be partly difficult since I want to avoid any spoilers about the story, it certainly has a few twists. What I can say is that this book grips you rather quickly and drags you on a wild, fantastical thrill ride that is really brought to life with Coppel’s writing. Despite originally not caring much for David, admittedly I felt a bit bad since he had lost everything and Coppel really captured that in the way David is presented at the start of the novel. When his friendship began to bloom with Diana though I became fully invested in both characters. A testament to Coppel’s ability to capture human emotions and personalities and bring his characters to life.
On top of this the writing is brilliantly detailed. It’s equally thriller meets paranormal and horror. Some of the descriptions of the visions and dreams will make your skin crawl, especially if you find the depths a little unnerving to begin with. And the best, or perhaps worse part, is that Coppel is fantastic at making the horror seem real. Yes it is paranormal and unexplained but the way Coppel writes you can really picture what the characters are seeing but also feeling at the moments and it makes for one hell of a creepy read.
Again I can’t go too far without spoiling it but the ending was what threw me. At first I was left wanting more, wanting answers, but then it made me think about the story and events and start to make my own theories. I felt like one of those paranormal or unexplained ‘experts’ on those documentaries trying to piece it all together. Which, while originally I was left wanting more from the ending, actually made me love the ending even more.
If you are looking for a wonderfully weird paranormal horror with sprinklings of thriller in there this one is going to be a hit. Get ready to have your skin crawl.
#BlackPhoenixBookTours #BookTourReview #Horror #HenryRoiPR #BookReview #gifted #ad
Liner is the second novel I have read by Chris Coppel and I have to say I believe he is quickly becoming a favourite. Set in the 1960s on an ocean liner, the Oceanis, we are introduced to David Easton who believed that his life was over. In fact his plan was to use his one way ticket on the fabulous cruiser but his plan was not to make it across the ocean. Instead on the last few days of the trip he planned to plummet off the Oceanis’ fantail into the waiting ocean, ending it all by one of his greatest fears of drowning. But he never planned to meet Diana.
Despite Diana’s overprotective parents trying to find her a suitable husband the two manage to find each other. Only as their attraction grows strange things begin to happen on the Oceanis. It starts as mental images and dreams but as the days pass reality begins to bend and mirror those dreams. Together they try to find out what is happening onboard the ship and if there is a way to save the liner and all those aboard her.
Firstly this review will be partly difficult since I want to avoid any spoilers about the story, it certainly has a few twists. What I can say is that this book grips you rather quickly and drags you on a wild, fantastical thrill ride that is really brought to life with Coppel’s writing. Despite originally not caring much for David, admittedly I felt a bit bad since he had lost everything and Coppel really captured that in the way David is presented at the start of the novel. When his friendship began to bloom with Diana though I became fully invested in both characters. A testament to Coppel’s ability to capture human emotions and personalities and bring his characters to life.
On top of this the writing is brilliantly detailed. It’s equally thriller meets paranormal and horror. Some of the descriptions of the visions and dreams will make your skin crawl, especially if you find the depths a little unnerving to begin with. And the best, or perhaps worse part, is that Coppel is fantastic at making the horror seem real. Yes it is paranormal and unexplained but the way Coppel writes you can really picture what the characters are seeing but also feeling at the moments and it makes for one hell of a creepy read.
Again I can’t go too far without spoiling it but the ending was what threw me. At first I was left wanting more, wanting answers, but then it made me think about the story and events and start to make my own theories. I felt like one of those paranormal or unexplained ‘experts’ on those documentaries trying to piece it all together. Which, while originally I was left wanting more from the ending, actually made me love the ending even more.
If you are looking for a wonderfully weird paranormal horror with sprinklings of thriller in there this one is going to be a hit. Get ready to have your skin crawl.
October 4, 2021
Where do I start to describe this book?
Humor and romance on one side and revolting horror on the other side, the author’s writing was utterly absorbing that the pages flew thru my hands.
David Easton is having one last hurrah before he ends his life and thus his transatlantic journey on the luxury liner SS OCEANIS as a first-class passenger. His meticulous research has led him to believe that drowning is the way to go but what do they say about all best-laid plans? Diana Olson walks into his life and then, of course, the reasons for his suicide don’t seem to exist anymore.
It was a once in lifetime phenomenon watching a gigantic wave but the fog that enshrouds OCEANIS was unearthly and for the people in the ship the horror show, just beginning. As David and Diana with a whole host of fantastic secondary characters try to grasp the reality of their predicament, little do they know that the real horror is not even tangible.
The harrowing and chilling atmosphere created by the author evokes claustrophobia, and I had to rush along with David and Diana to know how it is all gonna end. As the suspense keeps building, the author springs up an unexpected twisty surprise at the end that was stunning.
Honestly, I can manage all sorts of horror with ghosts, demons, or even creatures but God help me, LINER raised goosebumps with a feeling of something crawling under my skin.
This is one of those books that would be perfect for the big screen as the lead characters scamper from one problem after another, Chris Coppel brings alive the drama excellently so much that the reader’s imagination runs amok! Interspersed with laugh-out-loud humor, David and Diana make this journey one of the best even when engulfed with a green algae type thingy, and of course with the dead literally vanishing in front of their eyes or should I say devoured, what can one expect?
There’s much happening aboard OCEANIS, but are you ready for the thrill ride?
Climb aboard this ship at your own peril!
Many thanks to BlackThorn Book Tours and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Humor and romance on one side and revolting horror on the other side, the author’s writing was utterly absorbing that the pages flew thru my hands.
David Easton is having one last hurrah before he ends his life and thus his transatlantic journey on the luxury liner SS OCEANIS as a first-class passenger. His meticulous research has led him to believe that drowning is the way to go but what do they say about all best-laid plans? Diana Olson walks into his life and then, of course, the reasons for his suicide don’t seem to exist anymore.
It was a once in lifetime phenomenon watching a gigantic wave but the fog that enshrouds OCEANIS was unearthly and for the people in the ship the horror show, just beginning. As David and Diana with a whole host of fantastic secondary characters try to grasp the reality of their predicament, little do they know that the real horror is not even tangible.
The harrowing and chilling atmosphere created by the author evokes claustrophobia, and I had to rush along with David and Diana to know how it is all gonna end. As the suspense keeps building, the author springs up an unexpected twisty surprise at the end that was stunning.
Honestly, I can manage all sorts of horror with ghosts, demons, or even creatures but God help me, LINER raised goosebumps with a feeling of something crawling under my skin.
This is one of those books that would be perfect for the big screen as the lead characters scamper from one problem after another, Chris Coppel brings alive the drama excellently so much that the reader’s imagination runs amok! Interspersed with laugh-out-loud humor, David and Diana make this journey one of the best even when engulfed with a green algae type thingy, and of course with the dead literally vanishing in front of their eyes or should I say devoured, what can one expect?
There’s much happening aboard OCEANIS, but are you ready for the thrill ride?
Climb aboard this ship at your own peril!
Many thanks to BlackThorn Book Tours and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
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