What do you think?
Rate this book
The Donor
She’s carrying his child. But who is he really?
Anna’s life is almost perfect. She has a great husband, a huge home, wonderful friends and a soaring career. There’s just one thing missing - a child.
Anna has always dreamed of being a mother, it’s what she wants more than anything else in the world.
So when it becomes clear that she and her husband can’t conceive, the way forward is obvious – they will use a sperm donor.
They select the perfect candidate and Anna soon falls pregnant. She’s never been so happy.
But then some disturbing information about their donor comes to light. And Anna begins to wonder about the father of the child she is carrying… Who is he really?
She begins to dig for the truth and uncovers a secret more horrifying than her worst nightmare. Because even though she has what she always wanted, she realises she may have to pay a terrible price…
The Donor – the stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, K L Slater, Miranda Rijks.
Anna’s life is almost perfect. She has a great husband, a huge home, wonderful friends and a soaring career. There’s just one thing missing - a child.
Anna has always dreamed of being a mother, it’s what she wants more than anything else in the world.
So when it becomes clear that she and her husband can’t conceive, the way forward is obvious – they will use a sperm donor.
They select the perfect candidate and Anna soon falls pregnant. She’s never been so happy.
But then some disturbing information about their donor comes to light. And Anna begins to wonder about the father of the child she is carrying… Who is he really?
She begins to dig for the truth and uncovers a secret more horrifying than her worst nightmare. Because even though she has what she always wanted, she realises she may have to pay a terrible price…
The Donor – the stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, K L Slater, Miranda Rijks.
- GenresThriller
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2021
367 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 7, 2021
Awful misogynistic portrayal of women, horrendous mental health rep, ridiculously unrealistic depictions of domestic abuse & policing & an inaccurate & potentially damaging “info” dump regarding abortion. This book gave me the ick.
October 31, 2021
Thank you booksprout for an ARC of The donor by JJ Burgess release date 24th October 2021. In exchange for an honest review.
The donor is a psychological thriller centred around Anna, John and their sperm donor. As many in England do now a days John and Anna take to the Internet to find a private sperm donor to speed up their process. Anna feels like they’ve hit the jackpot when they find Doyle he’s perfect in everyday or so they believe. So when some shocking information is shared Anna and John are felt with a very real dilemma, which leads Anna on a dangerous path to find the truth....
This is an amazing debut novel by JJ Burgess and here’s hoping there’s more to follow! Plus the novel is set in my home town of Bristol which always makes me happy!
I really enjoyed this book, with little information about the plot I was more than pleasantly surprised Anna our protagonist is a likeable character when her past comes back around and the shocking revelation she still doesn’t break she just haunts for the truth. He marriage to John seems like a happy one but it’s clear John has insecurities around being infertile. It’s funny how John takes an instant disliking to their donor and Anna thinks he’s perfect. Question is whose right?
The book is split into 4 section each section is increasingly better than the prior. Burgess manages to pack the prose with description without it being over bearing. The chapters are told in third person but still feel very inviting. I was hooked from start to finish. The writing is very cleverly done.
From the first twist my mind was conjuring up some many what ifs and maybes but honestly I had no clue and I loved it when it was revealed. This is a hard one to review wiwithout giving anything away.
Would I recommen this book? Yes I would I loved it so much. It was a cover to cover read as I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know the truth and element my line of suspects and twists I imagined ha! This is a 5 star rating I truly loved this book.
The donor is a psychological thriller centred around Anna, John and their sperm donor. As many in England do now a days John and Anna take to the Internet to find a private sperm donor to speed up their process. Anna feels like they’ve hit the jackpot when they find Doyle he’s perfect in everyday or so they believe. So when some shocking information is shared Anna and John are felt with a very real dilemma, which leads Anna on a dangerous path to find the truth....
This is an amazing debut novel by JJ Burgess and here’s hoping there’s more to follow! Plus the novel is set in my home town of Bristol which always makes me happy!
I really enjoyed this book, with little information about the plot I was more than pleasantly surprised Anna our protagonist is a likeable character when her past comes back around and the shocking revelation she still doesn’t break she just haunts for the truth. He marriage to John seems like a happy one but it’s clear John has insecurities around being infertile. It’s funny how John takes an instant disliking to their donor and Anna thinks he’s perfect. Question is whose right?
The book is split into 4 section each section is increasingly better than the prior. Burgess manages to pack the prose with description without it being over bearing. The chapters are told in third person but still feel very inviting. I was hooked from start to finish. The writing is very cleverly done.
From the first twist my mind was conjuring up some many what ifs and maybes but honestly I had no clue and I loved it when it was revealed. This is a hard one to review wiwithout giving anything away.
Would I recommen this book? Yes I would I loved it so much. It was a cover to cover read as I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know the truth and element my line of suspects and twists I imagined ha! This is a 5 star rating I truly loved this book.
October 30, 2021
What twist?
Skimmed through most of it because it was so mundane. I wasn't really interested in what the characters were wearing . And the so called twist was non existent . Don't bother
Skimmed through most of it because it was so mundane. I wasn't really interested in what the characters were wearing . And the so called twist was non existent . Don't bother
December 31, 2021
Load of rubbish
This book is one of the worst I have read. Predictably boring and very disappointing. Waste of money. I skipped most of it
This book is one of the worst I have read. Predictably boring and very disappointing. Waste of money. I skipped most of it
January 15, 2022
Quick but amazing!👏🏽
I honestly loved this book! Drew me in from the very first page, loved the plot, had a good few twists and was very captivating!
Only negative is that I wish it was a little longer 🤣
I honestly loved this book! Drew me in from the very first page, loved the plot, had a good few twists and was very captivating!
Only negative is that I wish it was a little longer 🤣
November 4, 2021
Wow! The twists and turns in this book are crazy! In a good way! Once you think you have it figured out, think again. I totally enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the advanced copy.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the advanced copy.
October 30, 2021
Actual rating: 3.75⭐
Another psychological thriller finished.
This is the story of Anna and John as they try to have a baby by artificial insemination. So after lots of screening they chose the seemingly good guy Doyle as their donor.
The premise was very intriguing and I haven't seen/read a book with such premise before. Not that I have read lots of thrillers before, lol.
The writing was okay for me. The story kinda stagnated at the middle part and instead of maybe fleshing out the characters, some Psychology things were discussed. It was informative but made the story felt a bit disjointed for me.
I didn't like Anna. She did a lot of nonsensical things in the book. It was baffling how her mind works and how she ended up doing things that put her in a lot of difficult situations. A lot of too convenient things made it possible for her to escape some of her predicaments.
I kinda like John. He is quite a believable character. I hope there were more POVs of him on the book instead of Anna.😅
There are some characters mentioned but they were a bit one dimensional, like Anna's best friend Laura (or was it Lara? Can't remember). Doyle's background was too short, he comes off as one dimensional as well. Anna's father was just a jerk.
The great reveal was anticlimactic for me. I came up with lots of theories but in the end, the one thing I thought was too simple to be 'it' was 'the one'. I'm trying not to spoil anything.
Overall, it was an okay read.🖒
TW:
*Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for review via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.*
Another psychological thriller finished.
This is the story of Anna and John as they try to have a baby by artificial insemination. So after lots of screening they chose the seemingly good guy Doyle as their donor.
The premise was very intriguing and I haven't seen/read a book with such premise before. Not that I have read lots of thrillers before, lol.
The writing was okay for me. The story kinda stagnated at the middle part and instead of maybe fleshing out the characters, some Psychology things were discussed. It was informative but made the story felt a bit disjointed for me.
I didn't like Anna. She did a lot of nonsensical things in the book. It was baffling how her mind works and how she ended up doing things that put her in a lot of difficult situations. A lot of too convenient things made it possible for her to escape some of her predicaments.
I kinda like John. He is quite a believable character. I hope there were more POVs of him on the book instead of Anna.😅
There are some characters mentioned but they were a bit one dimensional, like Anna's best friend Laura (or was it Lara? Can't remember). Doyle's background was too short, he comes off as one dimensional as well. Anna's father was just a jerk.
The great reveal was anticlimactic for me. I came up with lots of theories but in the end, the one thing I thought was too simple to be 'it' was 'the one'. I'm trying not to spoil anything.
Overall, it was an okay read.🖒
TW:
*Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for review via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.*
February 23, 2022
What was it all about
The blurb said it all. The husband was shooting blanks, so the couple, more the wife, Anna, opted for private sperm donation.
After careful research, they chose the candidate who came to their home twice to provide live sample.
Then the cops came with a glaring truth. More horrifying than their worst nightmare.
How it made me feel
Quite excited I was when I started reading the book. The premise which felt familiar was still quite intriguing.
There was a hint of rawness in the words chosen that brought the scenes alive.
The Good
The writing was extremely fast-paced, super-sonic speed, I could finish the book in less than 2 hours.
A very good debate about nurture vs nature was weaved in. I liked the research the author must have done. Or probably author J.J. Burgess already had a deep knowledge about it.
Anna was quite good in some of the scenes.
The Bad
The subplots were not completely tied well. A character was brought in to create suspense and was forgotten.
The book was divided into sections, that was not needed, as it led to the feeling that they were disconnected. But they were not.
Character development was not nuanced. Sudden shift of perception didn’t feel smooth.
The Conclusion
The publishers, Inkubator Books, were to be saluted to publish books with a different storyline.
If this was a debut, it was good. Would have to read future works to make up my mind.
The blurb said it all. The husband was shooting blanks, so the couple, more the wife, Anna, opted for private sperm donation.
After careful research, they chose the candidate who came to their home twice to provide live sample.
Then the cops came with a glaring truth. More horrifying than their worst nightmare.
How it made me feel
Quite excited I was when I started reading the book. The premise which felt familiar was still quite intriguing.
There was a hint of rawness in the words chosen that brought the scenes alive.
The Good
The writing was extremely fast-paced, super-sonic speed, I could finish the book in less than 2 hours.
A very good debate about nurture vs nature was weaved in. I liked the research the author must have done. Or probably author J.J. Burgess already had a deep knowledge about it.
Anna was quite good in some of the scenes.
The Bad
The subplots were not completely tied well. A character was brought in to create suspense and was forgotten.
The book was divided into sections, that was not needed, as it led to the feeling that they were disconnected. But they were not.
Character development was not nuanced. Sudden shift of perception didn’t feel smooth.
The Conclusion
The publishers, Inkubator Books, were to be saluted to publish books with a different storyline.
If this was a debut, it was good. Would have to read future works to make up my mind.
November 6, 2021
I enjoyed this book and it kept me guessing.
January 1, 2022
OMG!!! This book is so thrilling and suspenseful. I like that instead it is the male that is infertile and not the female, hence needing a sperm donor. Anna and John think they have the perfect candidate and she quickly becomes pregnant thanks to the sperm donation, and her and John can finally have their family. But once Anna's pregnancy progresses red flags start to happen and they question the choices they have made.
This book was twisty and had so many creepy moments. The final showdown... WOW! A great debut from this author and I look forward to reading more in the future. Definitely recommended for the creepiness.
Thanks to Netgalley, JJ Burgess and Inkubator Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Already available: 10/24/21
This book was twisty and had so many creepy moments. The final showdown... WOW! A great debut from this author and I look forward to reading more in the future. Definitely recommended for the creepiness.
Thanks to Netgalley, JJ Burgess and Inkubator Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Already available: 10/24/21
November 5, 2021
This book was ok up until it's revealed why the killer is the way he is. 🤣 wtf? 🤣 Just ridiculous.
January 14, 2023
Wow.
I nearly didn't finish this book! When it got to the bit where it says Anna was going to investigate Doyle herself, I thought - really?! Do I care enough about these characters? However, I carried on and was so glad I did!
Anna and John can't conceive so they (well Anna) search out a private sperm donor. Anna chooses the handsome, charismatic Irish man Doyle. After two tries Anna falls pregnant. John's in a right muddle with his feelings and is struggling with being infertile and his wife having another man's baby. He feels railroaded into it.
A twist of fate brings Anna's estranged abusive (policeman) father back into her life as he informs her and John, that Doyle has been arrested on suspicion of multiple murders and wants to interview them about him.
As a psychologist, and control freak, Anna takes it upon herself to do some digging into Doyles past.
A brilliant plot, very well executed and refreshingly unpredictable. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story progressed. It was very sneaky! Gripping, horrifying and a real page-turner.
I nearly didn't finish this book! When it got to the bit where it says Anna was going to investigate Doyle herself, I thought - really?! Do I care enough about these characters? However, I carried on and was so glad I did!
Anna and John can't conceive so they (well Anna) search out a private sperm donor. Anna chooses the handsome, charismatic Irish man Doyle. After two tries Anna falls pregnant. John's in a right muddle with his feelings and is struggling with being infertile and his wife having another man's baby. He feels railroaded into it.
A twist of fate brings Anna's estranged abusive (policeman) father back into her life as he informs her and John, that Doyle has been arrested on suspicion of multiple murders and wants to interview them about him.
As a psychologist, and control freak, Anna takes it upon herself to do some digging into Doyles past.
A brilliant plot, very well executed and refreshingly unpredictable. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story progressed. It was very sneaky! Gripping, horrifying and a real page-turner.
December 5, 2021
Anna Wilson & John, her husband have a good life. They have successful careers, a good life & are still in love. When Anna's mother dies she begins to realise her biological clock is ticking & wants a baby. When they find out John is infertile, Anna in her organised way investigates sperm donors; enter Doyle- handsome Irishman! Anna becomes pregnant quickly but when Doyle suspected of murder & is arrested they are knocked for six. Should they carry on with the pregnancy? Anna sets out to find out more about Doyle.
This was a difficult book to review. Although I was totally engaged with it there were a lot places where I found myself thinking, "That wouldn't happen" "Where did that idea come from?" as well as finding Anna pretty dislikeable at times- I did really feel for John! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
This was a difficult book to review. Although I was totally engaged with it there were a lot places where I found myself thinking, "That wouldn't happen" "Where did that idea come from?" as well as finding Anna pretty dislikeable at times- I did really feel for John! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
December 12, 2021
Excellent! A must for those who love great plots with intelligent well researched writing
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which I read in almost one sitting,
It traverses the cruel minefield of infertility- the current lack of both affordable & available options for couples in the U.K. creates a buyer beware culture of despair& desperation.
I’ve been there, and the author has captured those emotions and thought processes extremely well.
I also loved his attention to fact & detail when dealing with the “Nature vs Nurture” conundrum.
Above all, this is a superb thriller in its own right, complex & compelling.
I can’t wait for more from JJ Burgess!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which I read in almost one sitting,
It traverses the cruel minefield of infertility- the current lack of both affordable & available options for couples in the U.K. creates a buyer beware culture of despair& desperation.
I’ve been there, and the author has captured those emotions and thought processes extremely well.
I also loved his attention to fact & detail when dealing with the “Nature vs Nurture” conundrum.
Above all, this is a superb thriller in its own right, complex & compelling.
I can’t wait for more from JJ Burgess!
October 30, 2021
This is an intense psychological thriller that is well written, detailed, and certainly kept me on the edge of my chair as well as reading the whole book within a day!
The suspense grows with each chapter as Anna and her husband,who desperately wish for a child, decide after researching people intensely, to use a donor sperm.
They have picked just the right person.
OR have they?
This journey that this family is on, is like no other. It actually had me thinking: "O-M-G!" so many times!
You will be totally engrossed as you get further and further in to this novel!
I am really looking forward to reading anything that will be written by this author.
It is so good!
The suspense grows with each chapter as Anna and her husband,who desperately wish for a child, decide after researching people intensely, to use a donor sperm.
They have picked just the right person.
OR have they?
This journey that this family is on, is like no other. It actually had me thinking: "O-M-G!" so many times!
You will be totally engrossed as you get further and further in to this novel!
I am really looking forward to reading anything that will be written by this author.
It is so good!
November 8, 2021
Never having read this author before I was pleased to discover that enjoyed this book. Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator books for a chance to read it. There was a theme of infertility and the difficulties that families often go through in their quest to conceive a child, .and how the different partners may actually feel about dealing with a
child that is not biologically theirs. It also talks about what may be inherited, or what may be caused by experiences and nature. In this case, is it possible that the problems the donor had could be inherited by the baby? Would they always be watching and wondering about each little thing the child did that just didn't seem right? A lot to think about after reading this book.
child that is not biologically theirs. It also talks about what may be inherited, or what may be caused by experiences and nature. In this case, is it possible that the problems the donor had could be inherited by the baby? Would they always be watching and wondering about each little thing the child did that just didn't seem right? A lot to think about after reading this book.
November 12, 2021
Amazing!
Wow I couldn't put it down! It was such a good storyline and kept u wondering what would happen next? Great book loved it! 😊
Wow I couldn't put it down! It was such a good storyline and kept u wondering what would happen next? Great book loved it! 😊
February 27, 2022
This book was great, very fast paced and very hard to put down!
Read
November 2, 2021A good read
This is a great book which I could not stop reading. The story is realistic and the plot believable. I would advise reading the book when you have someone staying to keep you do.many. I had nightmares whilst reading it.
This is a great book which I could not stop reading. The story is realistic and the plot believable. I would advise reading the book when you have someone staying to keep you do.many. I had nightmares whilst reading it.
October 26, 2021
A storyline that captivates your attention and keeps you glued to the pages. The characters are well developed and intriguing. Moments of tension and suspense will keep you glued to the pages waiting to find out what happens,
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 24, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
October 25, 2021
“The Donor” by JJ Burgess is a creepy and thrilling read. As a reader I was drawn in straight away, from the cover to the blurb and the contents.
Tension is constantly building until the final showdown, my nerves were on edge reading this.
A superb book and I look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommended.
Tension is constantly building until the final showdown, my nerves were on edge reading this.
A superb book and I look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommended.
December 30, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I have to say that I really started off enjoying this book. It started off with a bang, and keep me intrigued throughout, until about the 65% mark. We follow Anna and her husband, John, who have been unable to get pregnant, and Anna has sought out a sperm donor through the internet. Enter Doyle, the donor. He is good looking, educated, etc., everything Anna had on her check list for the donor's personality/physical traits. Anna is Right off the bat, John does not like Doyle, something is just off. What happens from there just kind of went down a spiral of events. There have been murders taking place in the community, and Doyle has been arrested as the prime suspect. Anna and John then begin to fear that their baby will have murderous traits when it grows up, just like Doyle. Anna, being a psychology professor/teacher at the local college, goes on the hunt to find evidence to clear Doyle, because she does not believe he is capable of the crimes. The most ridiculous part of this was Anna flies to another country without telling her husband to locate a person from Doyle's past. I found that part a little far fetched. The plot picked up towards the end, and ended up being suspenseful, but predictable. This was a not a bad debut novel, and I would definitely read more by this author in the future.
I have to say that I really started off enjoying this book. It started off with a bang, and keep me intrigued throughout, until about the 65% mark. We follow Anna and her husband, John, who have been unable to get pregnant, and Anna has sought out a sperm donor through the internet. Enter Doyle, the donor. He is good looking, educated, etc., everything Anna had on her check list for the donor's personality/physical traits. Anna is Right off the bat, John does not like Doyle, something is just off. What happens from there just kind of went down a spiral of events. There have been murders taking place in the community, and Doyle has been arrested as the prime suspect. Anna and John then begin to fear that their baby will have murderous traits when it grows up, just like Doyle. Anna, being a psychology professor/teacher at the local college, goes on the hunt to find evidence to clear Doyle, because she does not believe he is capable of the crimes. The most ridiculous part of this was Anna flies to another country without telling her husband to locate a person from Doyle's past. I found that part a little far fetched. The plot picked up towards the end, and ended up being suspenseful, but predictable. This was a not a bad debut novel, and I would definitely read more by this author in the future.
November 11, 2021
Spoiler Alert....Maybe?
The Donor is a well written novel of a couple who is ready to start a family. However, there is one problem....they can't get pregnant.
Anna and John have it all, great careers, a beautiful home and each other, however, there is a missing link...a child. Just when they feel all hope is gone...they find the answer to their prayers, a donor.
Anna is excited that she has found the ONE. Doyle, is a hunk and looks great on paper and in person. After a few deposits, Anna is pregnant!
They are over the moon, well Anna is at least. John is having some insecurities of not being able to give his wife, the ultimate gift of a child. As if things couldn't get any worse, they do. The couple find out that Doyle, may be a serial killer. This news totally shatters this couple. How can this be happening? Bringing a child into this world should be joyous time not a nightmare.
J.J. Burgess takes you on a journey with Anna and John that is full of twists and turns and an ending you won't see coming!
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy.
The Donor is a well written novel of a couple who is ready to start a family. However, there is one problem....they can't get pregnant.
Anna and John have it all, great careers, a beautiful home and each other, however, there is a missing link...a child. Just when they feel all hope is gone...they find the answer to their prayers, a donor.
Anna is excited that she has found the ONE. Doyle, is a hunk and looks great on paper and in person. After a few deposits, Anna is pregnant!
They are over the moon, well Anna is at least. John is having some insecurities of not being able to give his wife, the ultimate gift of a child. As if things couldn't get any worse, they do. The couple find out that Doyle, may be a serial killer. This news totally shatters this couple. How can this be happening? Bringing a child into this world should be joyous time not a nightmare.
J.J. Burgess takes you on a journey with Anna and John that is full of twists and turns and an ending you won't see coming!
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy.
November 22, 2021
Anna and John have been married for a long time and have finally decided to start a family. After trying for many years and having no success to comes to light that John is unable to have kids of his own. Determined not to let this stop them from having a family of their own Anna and John are put on a waiting list for a sperm donor; however the wait is long so Anna decides to look for a private donor.
After doing plenty of research and background checks Anna is convinced she has found the perfect donor an Irish man named Doyle. John is less sure on Doyle than his wife is however they decide to go ahead and use Doyle and after a couple of attempts Anna is delighted to find she has successfully conceived.
Having recently conceived and one night enjoying a meal with friends Anna and John are shocked when they have the police knock on their door telling them that Doyle is a prime suspect in an ongoing murder case they have. Anna who happens to have a degree and teaches psychology at Bristol university is worried for what this could mean for her unborn child and launches her own investigation into Doyle determined to find out of Doyle is who he says he is or if indeed he is guilty and could have passed on these genes to Anna and Johns unborn baby.
I really enjoyed the suspense in this book and it was a thriller unlike anything I’ve ever read before there were however one thing that didn’t sit quite right with me and that was the fact Anna’s father was a senior detective leading the case against Doyle and the minuet Anna became involved in the case there was a massive conflict of interest however the detective wasn’t pulled from the case especially as him and Anna have a very deep and difficult history.
Other than that though I really did love this book it was really easy to read and when I picked it up I didn’t want to put it down. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After doing plenty of research and background checks Anna is convinced she has found the perfect donor an Irish man named Doyle. John is less sure on Doyle than his wife is however they decide to go ahead and use Doyle and after a couple of attempts Anna is delighted to find she has successfully conceived.
Having recently conceived and one night enjoying a meal with friends Anna and John are shocked when they have the police knock on their door telling them that Doyle is a prime suspect in an ongoing murder case they have. Anna who happens to have a degree and teaches psychology at Bristol university is worried for what this could mean for her unborn child and launches her own investigation into Doyle determined to find out of Doyle is who he says he is or if indeed he is guilty and could have passed on these genes to Anna and Johns unborn baby.
I really enjoyed the suspense in this book and it was a thriller unlike anything I’ve ever read before there were however one thing that didn’t sit quite right with me and that was the fact Anna’s father was a senior detective leading the case against Doyle and the minuet Anna became involved in the case there was a massive conflict of interest however the detective wasn’t pulled from the case especially as him and Anna have a very deep and difficult history.
Other than that though I really did love this book it was really easy to read and when I picked it up I didn’t want to put it down. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2023
Never having read anything by this author, I found myself excited to give this one a go. Overall, I found this book very hard to review. A lot of the components would never happen in real life and made me disconnect from the story. It was just such an odd concept that I couldn’t see any couple playing out that way. The book discussed psychology and the mind quite a bit which I found interesting. Nature vs. nurture was the overall theme and whether the genes of a murderer could be passed down to their offspring. It was good for a quick thriller, but nothing overtly exciting.
October 23, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Author JJ Burgess for this ARC.
What would you do if you had wanted to start a family, have a baby all your life and find out you couldn't. Well, you'd find away around whatever kept you from doing so such as IVF, or in this case, a sperm donor. That is exactly what this couple does--they painstakingly search out the perfect donor and luckily conceive. Before they can really celebrate though, they find out that their donor has just been accused of murder! They can't help fearing what that might been for their unborn child . . .
This was quite a thrilling read with high-suspense and a unique storyline. I enjoyed it and would like to see more from Burgess. There were, however, a few plot holes that bothered me, but nothing that took away from the tension or need to know how it all ended.
What would you do if you had wanted to start a family, have a baby all your life and find out you couldn't. Well, you'd find away around whatever kept you from doing so such as IVF, or in this case, a sperm donor. That is exactly what this couple does--they painstakingly search out the perfect donor and luckily conceive. Before they can really celebrate though, they find out that their donor has just been accused of murder! They can't help fearing what that might been for their unborn child . . .
This was quite a thrilling read with high-suspense and a unique storyline. I enjoyed it and would like to see more from Burgess. There were, however, a few plot holes that bothered me, but nothing that took away from the tension or need to know how it all ended.
October 14, 2021
I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Anna and John are happily married for years and Anna wants to start a family. When the couple find out that John cannot get her pregnant, she finds a sperm donor after alot of searching. Doyle is really strange and masturbates in the bathroom at their house and gives her the sperm. When they find out that Doyle is arrested for the murder of several women, Anna and John consider an abortion. After evidence comes through, Doyle is cleared of the murders. I really enjoyed the first half but was disappointed with the rest of the book. Without giving away the final part of the book, I just felt like it was too far fetched.
October 27, 2022
1 star for me because I finished this book.
This was bad. Like, really bad. There was not any plot twists, we know from the start, who's a bad guy - lack of suspense, minus 1 star.
Some daddy issues which are not really relevant for the story.
I can't say anything more, because i'll probably spoil the whole book, but on the other hand, maybe just skip this one.
Spoiler/not spoiler alert: read the book description and congratulate yourself because you just finished reading.
Ugh.
This was bad. Like, really bad. There was not any plot twists, we know from the start, who's a bad guy - lack of suspense, minus 1 star.
Some daddy issues which are not really relevant for the story.
I can't say anything more, because i'll probably spoil the whole book, but on the other hand, maybe just skip this one.
Spoiler/not spoiler alert: read the book description and congratulate yourself because you just finished reading.
Ugh.
November 4, 2021
This story makes you think. Keeps you on the edge of your seat with your heart racing! First time I have read this author, will definitely read more!! I recommend this book … get prepared for it to rock your world!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews