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The Hike
Four hikers enter the mountains. Only two return. But is it tragedy? Or treachery?
When sisters Cat and Ginny travel with their husbands to the idyllic Swiss Alps for a hiking holiday, it’s not just a chance to take in the stunning scenery. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with each other after years of drifting apart—and patch up marriages that are straining at the seams.
As they head into the mountains, morale is high, but as the terrain turns treacherous, cracks in the relationships start to show. With worrying signs that someone might be following them, the sun begins to set and exhaustion kicks in. Suddenly, lost high on a terrifying ridge, tensions spill over—with disastrous consequences.
When only two of the four hikers make it down from the mountain, the police press them for their story—but soon become suspicious when their accounts just don’t add up.
What really happened up on that ridge? Who are the survivors? And what secrets are they trying to hide?
When sisters Cat and Ginny travel with their husbands to the idyllic Swiss Alps for a hiking holiday, it’s not just a chance to take in the stunning scenery. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with each other after years of drifting apart—and patch up marriages that are straining at the seams.
As they head into the mountains, morale is high, but as the terrain turns treacherous, cracks in the relationships start to show. With worrying signs that someone might be following them, the sun begins to set and exhaustion kicks in. Suddenly, lost high on a terrifying ridge, tensions spill over—with disastrous consequences.
When only two of the four hikers make it down from the mountain, the police press them for their story—but soon become suspicious when their accounts just don’t add up.
What really happened up on that ridge? Who are the survivors? And what secrets are they trying to hide?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2022
6605 people are currently reading
17780 people want to read
About the author
Susi Holliday
15 books330 followersLibrarian Note: Also writes under the name S.J.I. Holliday.
Susi (S.J.I.) Holliday grew up near Edinburgh and spent many years working in her family’s newsagent and pub before studying microbiology and statistics at university. She has worked as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years, but it was on a 6-month round-the-world-trip that she took with her husband several years ago that she rediscovered her passion for writing.
You can find out more at www.sjiholliday.com, or on Twitter and Facebook @SJIHolliday.
Susi (S.J.I.) Holliday grew up near Edinburgh and spent many years working in her family’s newsagent and pub before studying microbiology and statistics at university. She has worked as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years, but it was on a 6-month round-the-world-trip that she took with her husband several years ago that she rediscovered her passion for writing.
You can find out more at www.sjiholliday.com, or on Twitter and Facebook @SJIHolliday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,388 reviews
September 3, 2022
2.5 STARS
Sometimes I read books with unlikable characters and I find myself cheering them on despite their awfulness. Not the case here. I hated all four main characters, and it only took a few chapters for me to start hoping they'd all die in an avalanche. So much hatred and bickering! Why anyone would want to spend time with these energy vampires is beyond me.
It's revealed right away that two of the four make it back from the hike, but not which two, and then what happened on the hike is revealed.
The last chapters in the book get more interesting, but they also get more absurd and harder to believe. I mean, would you tell your spouse about something you did that could get you sent to prison for life? Not to mention your spouse would probably think you're a psychopath!
The ending did surprise me, but I was still disappointed. I wanted that avalanche.
Sometimes I read books with unlikable characters and I find myself cheering them on despite their awfulness. Not the case here. I hated all four main characters, and it only took a few chapters for me to start hoping they'd all die in an avalanche. So much hatred and bickering! Why anyone would want to spend time with these energy vampires is beyond me.
It's revealed right away that two of the four make it back from the hike, but not which two, and then what happened on the hike is revealed.
The last chapters in the book get more interesting, but they also get more absurd and harder to believe. I mean, would you tell your spouse about something you did that could get you sent to prison for life? Not to mention your spouse would probably think you're a psychopath!
The ending did surprise me, but I was still disappointed. I wanted that avalanche.
September 5, 2022
Strangely I got to read my September Amazon first reads book. These usually sit on my kindle for months or longer. I read it as I took my baby iPad to the hospital with me on Friday night. I’d had a bad fall and broken my right shoulder in various places. So, for a while my reviews will be shorter and later. I’m not much of a one finger left handed typist!
Cat and Paul are married and Cat’s sister Ginny is married to Tristan. These four all have secrets and are not very likeable. In fact Cat hates her sister (with good reason) and she’s not real fond of her husband right now either. Yet she talks them into agreeing to a weekend in Switzerland with a lovely easy hike thrown in on the Saturday before the hot tub and champagne. Of course things don’t go according to plan. She has a bombshell to drop but it is saving it for later.
Anyway the hike turns deadly and not everyone makes it back to village alive. There are double and triple crosses and the ending - well, quite a shocker. It was entertaining enough to read but I’d put it firmly in beach read or aeroplane read territory. It required a huge suspension of disbelief. Nobody could be that twisted. Could they?
Cat and Paul are married and Cat’s sister Ginny is married to Tristan. These four all have secrets and are not very likeable. In fact Cat hates her sister (with good reason) and she’s not real fond of her husband right now either. Yet she talks them into agreeing to a weekend in Switzerland with a lovely easy hike thrown in on the Saturday before the hot tub and champagne. Of course things don’t go according to plan. She has a bombshell to drop but it is saving it for later.
Anyway the hike turns deadly and not everyone makes it back to village alive. There are double and triple crosses and the ending - well, quite a shocker. It was entertaining enough to read but I’d put it firmly in beach read or aeroplane read territory. It required a huge suspension of disbelief. Nobody could be that twisted. Could they?
August 10, 2022
I loved the idyllic Swiss Alps setting in this story. Somewhere so beautiful but can also be so dangerous. Cat, Ginny and their husbands aren’t experienced hikers but the route they take should be a fairly easy one.
It doesn’t take long to realise that these four characters are not very likeable as people but they also don’t seem to like each other much either. I have to say the storyline had me racing through the pages as I was intrigued to know about each one of them and as the novel starts off with two characters turning up at a police station to report the other two in the party being missing, I was eager to find out which two didn’t make it back and what happened out there.
There are so many twists and turns within the story, it was just brilliant! The author has you looking the other way only to hit you in the face with a new twist that knocks you sideways. I couldn’t get enough of it and it’s one of those books you will end up binge reading as it is far to good to put down.
The Hike would make a great film as it had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I seriously loved how twisted it was and once the twists start, they came thick and fast and I could feel my excitement growing with each page turned. I’ve always been a fan of this authors books but she has seriously knocked it out of the park with this one. Brilliant!
My thanks to Tracy & Anne for an invite to be part of the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
It doesn’t take long to realise that these four characters are not very likeable as people but they also don’t seem to like each other much either. I have to say the storyline had me racing through the pages as I was intrigued to know about each one of them and as the novel starts off with two characters turning up at a police station to report the other two in the party being missing, I was eager to find out which two didn’t make it back and what happened out there.
There are so many twists and turns within the story, it was just brilliant! The author has you looking the other way only to hit you in the face with a new twist that knocks you sideways. I couldn’t get enough of it and it’s one of those books you will end up binge reading as it is far to good to put down.
The Hike would make a great film as it had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I seriously loved how twisted it was and once the twists start, they came thick and fast and I could feel my excitement growing with each page turned. I’ve always been a fan of this authors books but she has seriously knocked it out of the park with this one. Brilliant!
My thanks to Tracy & Anne for an invite to be part of the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
September 2, 2022
Rating: 2.1/5
This is my second experience of Susi Holliday's work, having previously read and enjoyed "The Last Resort". I was looking forward to being equally impressed by "The Hike" and the premise and the accompanying marketing blurb gave me every reason to hope that I would enjoy it just as much. But, unfortunately, I didn't.
I really didn't mind that none of the protagonists are likeable - there have been plenty of times when I have enjoyed seeing unpalatable characters get their well-deserved comeuppance. As I mentioned, the premise sounded appealing too - not the most original, perhaps, but the kind of foundation that has formed the basis for many successful thrillers I have read over the years. The alpine setting, too, was the ideal backdrop for this kind of mystery thriller. It seemed so promising - so where did it all go awry?
Well, quite simply, it is just too far-fetched - to the point of being ridiculously silly at times, even after making allowance for dramatic licence. There were points when I began to question whether the author was taking deliberately taking a tongue-in-cheek approach - but after consideration, I don't think she was. The more I read, the more ludicrous and far-fetched the plot "twists" became. Some were absolutely bonkers and (for those who can remember back to the days of Dallas) were in the same league as the supposedly long-deceased Bobby Ewing stepping out of the shower to realise that it had all been a dream. Just when I thought that there couldn't possibly be any more contrived developments, another ridiculously convenient mechanism would be used to twist the plot into the desired position.
There are aspects of this story that still manage to be strangely enjoyable in spite of (or perhaps even because of?!) the over-the-top nature of the absence of credibility - but, for the most part I will remember "The Hike" for the wrong sort of reasons.
This is my second experience of Susi Holliday's work, having previously read and enjoyed "The Last Resort". I was looking forward to being equally impressed by "The Hike" and the premise and the accompanying marketing blurb gave me every reason to hope that I would enjoy it just as much. But, unfortunately, I didn't.
I really didn't mind that none of the protagonists are likeable - there have been plenty of times when I have enjoyed seeing unpalatable characters get their well-deserved comeuppance. As I mentioned, the premise sounded appealing too - not the most original, perhaps, but the kind of foundation that has formed the basis for many successful thrillers I have read over the years. The alpine setting, too, was the ideal backdrop for this kind of mystery thriller. It seemed so promising - so where did it all go awry?
Well, quite simply, it is just too far-fetched - to the point of being ridiculously silly at times, even after making allowance for dramatic licence. There were points when I began to question whether the author was taking deliberately taking a tongue-in-cheek approach - but after consideration, I don't think she was. The more I read, the more ludicrous and far-fetched the plot "twists" became. Some were absolutely bonkers and (for those who can remember back to the days of Dallas) were in the same league as the supposedly long-deceased Bobby Ewing stepping out of the shower to realise that it had all been a dream. Just when I thought that there couldn't possibly be any more contrived developments, another ridiculously convenient mechanism would be used to twist the plot into the desired position.
There are aspects of this story that still manage to be strangely enjoyable in spite of (or perhaps even because of?!) the over-the-top nature of the absence of credibility - but, for the most part I will remember "The Hike" for the wrong sort of reasons.
September 4, 2022
I think this trope has worn itself out. Each "shocking" plot twist just made me sigh in resignation. And lets face it--it's a story of horrible people doing horrible things to each other. There was no 'you go girl' in the ending, at least not for me.
Two stars because I finished it. Would not recommend.
Two stars because I finished it. Would not recommend.
October 12, 2022
I think I need to step away from the Amazon First reads books or the Kindle freebie books for the month. They seem to be getting progressively worse.
I had to start skimming this one, because I just needed to find out what was going to happen.
Basically, two couples go out on a hike and only two people out of the two couples return. There are several twists and most of them are so ridiculously ridiculous that I still can’t get over it. And to the top all this off, the book takes place in the Alps and I don’t think one of the characters knew a thing about hiking and this is coming from someone who is a hiker.
I had to start skimming this one, because I just needed to find out what was going to happen.
Basically, two couples go out on a hike and only two people out of the two couples return. There are several twists and most of them are so ridiculously ridiculous that I still can’t get over it. And to the top all this off, the book takes place in the Alps and I don’t think one of the characters knew a thing about hiking and this is coming from someone who is a hiker.
September 2, 2022
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I really enjoyed this story. I could not put it down. I did start to think it was getting far-fetched, but Holliday makes up for this with the number of twists and turns, creating a very captivating read.
I really enjoyed this story. I could not put it down. I did start to think it was getting far-fetched, but Holliday makes up for this with the number of twists and turns, creating a very captivating read.
April 27, 2023
I found my digital and audiobook copies of THE HIKE by Susi Holliday on KU.
I find this book too convoluted to describe as I was unable to gain a foothold in the story. I was interested enough in the characters, who were by turns rotten and relatable, and their conflicts, both internal and with each other, to follow it all through to the end. But I never really got how the scenes all related to the ones behind and in front of them. It's all just kind of a big shrug for me.
Rating: 🏞🏞 / 5 beautiful days in nature
Recommend? Not for this one
Finished: April 26 2023
I find this book too convoluted to describe as I was unable to gain a foothold in the story. I was interested enough in the characters, who were by turns rotten and relatable, and their conflicts, both internal and with each other, to follow it all through to the end. But I never really got how the scenes all related to the ones behind and in front of them. It's all just kind of a big shrug for me.
Rating: 🏞🏞 / 5 beautiful days in nature
Recommend? Not for this one
Finished: April 26 2023
January 23, 2024
I hated the characters...all of them...therefore, I could have cared less if one of them or all of them fell off a mountain. I think the author was hoping that most readers would be sad or be sorry to see someone killed off, but still want to stick around to see how it ends, and who gets their "just rewards". At the beginning of the book, she kind of gave it away with the teaser that implied that only two of the four would survive. It served its purpose to pique our curiosity, and for the majority of the book, we don’t know which characters it will be...and I frankly didn't care. There were also many twists, which always helps to propel the "thriller plot", no matter what the characters likeability was. There is one person who is clearly meant to be the "best’ of the worst", but they all do so many despicable things to each other that I wasn’t particularly disappointed to read the last page, but I was eager to solve the complicated puzzle that the author cleverly presented. We received a lot of the happenings in the story from out of the character's heads. They were always making, (thinking), vague threats in their head about the others, such as "as long as I follow my plan today, she’ll realize what a mistake she’s made." The entire atmosphere of the book is threatening, with ominous signs facing the group at every turn... a vulture that follows them up the mountain, a reliance on a paper map that no one is quite sure how to read. The reader sees from the beginning that this trip is going to turn into a major disaster that has found a place to happen. The author did a great job of using the characters lack of anything resembling common sense to keep the readers interest with twists we didn’t see coming. I don't know if this was an accident or if it was done on purpose.... but it worked. I just hung on to see what these idiots were going to do next and when finally, at least one of them, would take a header off the mountain. I guess it was too much to hope that they would take the others with them. The story can best be described as totally meaningless entertainment...and a pure waste of good reading time.
February 7, 2023
This book is an entertaining psychological thriller. The characters are bitter and intensely unlikable. The plot and twists are compelling. The Swiss Alps description is stunning. A good quick read - 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
September 8, 2022
Two couples (sisters and their husbands) plan a vacation in the Swiss Alps after being cooped up for a year and a half of not going anywhere during the pandemic. But the hike takes a tragic turn and only two of them survive. Something sinister is afoot, but who is behind it all? Because every single character is abominably detestable.
I nearly stopped reading after the first 15% because they were all so annoying. But it's written surprisingly well, for the most part, and there was just enough mystery to keep me hanging on.
What's not good is that the bickering amongst them NEVER stops. In real life situations like this there is an ebb and flow. At some point, usually someone has an empathetic thought for their fellow human beings. Not so here. It's painful. Even on the tv series "Succession," about truly awful people, there is some empathy (albeit false) at times. This is pure vitriol. There is also a bit of repetition which, for me, is always a sign of a writer not sure themselves what their book is about.
I read til the end. Was it worth it? On some level I have to say yes, because the book was free and I easily could have stopped without feeling guilty or cheated. But I think it was because I wanted to see everyone get their just punishment.
I nearly stopped reading after the first 15% because they were all so annoying. But it's written surprisingly well, for the most part, and there was just enough mystery to keep me hanging on.
What's not good is that the bickering amongst them NEVER stops. In real life situations like this there is an ebb and flow. At some point, usually someone has an empathetic thought for their fellow human beings. Not so here. It's painful. Even on the tv series "Succession," about truly awful people, there is some empathy (albeit false) at times. This is pure vitriol. There is also a bit of repetition which, for me, is always a sign of a writer not sure themselves what their book is about.
I read til the end. Was it worth it? On some level I have to say yes, because the book was free and I easily could have stopped without feeling guilty or cheated. But I think it was because I wanted to see everyone get their just punishment.
October 17, 2022
Pretty sure this is the first book I have read where I have hated every single character. Honestly, I could not find one character to root for which made me unable to get fully invested in what was happening. While the story had some great suspense and was a fast, action-packed read, there was no real satisfaction in anything that was happening. No one had any good intentions or reasons for anything they were doing. This had some interesting twists which is the main reason this was still an interesting read.
Maybe the whole point was that you weren't supposed to like any of the 4 main characters, but it just wasn't for me.
Maybe the whole point was that you weren't supposed to like any of the 4 main characters, but it just wasn't for me.
November 19, 2022
Plot 1/10
Drawn out. Ridiculous writing ruins the semblance of a barely interesting idea.
Some Spoilers BELOW but seriously don't read this book.
Characters 1/10
Horrible characters can be cool. See Anti-Heroes. These characters are stupid, terrible, and straight up ridiculous. If you identify with any of the 4 main characters you should take a long deep long at yourself. Horrible characters can be interesting. These are just HORRIBLE characters. Caricatures of characters real authors have created.
Setting 1/10
The only reason I read this was because I love hiking. This book makes absolutely no sense if you have any experience on hikes rated "difficult" or general experience on elevated hikes. Characters rolling off the edge of mountains/cliffs and presumed dead...yet not. Its really not even that bit of weird writing. Its mostly a complete lack of description beyond "trees, rocks, hills, edge". Barely serviceable writing.
Enjoyment 1/10
Honestly I only finished the book because I had absolutely nothing else to read. What a STUPID book. None of the characters make sense. The plot is ridiculous and may remind you of those daytime dramas back in the 90s. The reader gets a glimpse of each character through inner monologues and random plot dumps. The issue is that no one is telling the truth, even to themselves, if that makes sense? It's like each character slowly admits horrible character flaws to themselves as the book advances. Unreliable narrators are fine. 4 terribly written characters who throughout the book make stupid decisions andlie to themselves/reader to confuse the reader( but clumsy written so not as cool as it sounds) just sucks. Avoid.
I suck at commas.
Drawn out. Ridiculous writing ruins the semblance of a barely interesting idea.
Some Spoilers BELOW but seriously don't read this book.
Characters 1/10
Horrible characters can be cool. See Anti-Heroes. These characters are stupid, terrible, and straight up ridiculous. If you identify with any of the 4 main characters you should take a long deep long at yourself. Horrible characters can be interesting. These are just HORRIBLE characters. Caricatures of characters real authors have created.
Setting 1/10
The only reason I read this was because I love hiking. This book makes absolutely no sense if you have any experience on hikes rated "difficult" or general experience on elevated hikes. Characters rolling off the edge of mountains/cliffs and presumed dead...yet not. Its really not even that bit of weird writing. Its mostly a complete lack of description beyond "trees, rocks, hills, edge". Barely serviceable writing.
Enjoyment 1/10
Honestly I only finished the book because I had absolutely nothing else to read. What a STUPID book. None of the characters make sense. The plot is ridiculous and may remind you of those daytime dramas back in the 90s. The reader gets a glimpse of each character through inner monologues and random plot dumps. The issue is that no one is telling the truth, even to themselves, if that makes sense? It's like each character slowly admits horrible character flaws to themselves as the book advances. Unreliable narrators are fine. 4 terribly written characters who throughout the book make stupid decisions andlie to themselves/reader to confuse the reader( but clumsy written so not as cool as it sounds) just sucks. Avoid.
I suck at commas.
September 12, 2022
This not only requires a suspension of disbelief...it requires you to bury it 6 feet deep. Or, push it off a cliff. Regardless of that, and the fact that there were zero redeeming qualities about every character, it was a quick and entertaining read.
Perfect for a beach trip or flight. Or, in my case, when the power goes out and you're wide awake because it's Texas and you know the heat is coming to smother you in your sleep.
Picked this up free as an Amazon First Reads and read on kindle.
Perfect for a beach trip or flight. Or, in my case, when the power goes out and you're wide awake because it's Texas and you know the heat is coming to smother you in your sleep.
Picked this up free as an Amazon First Reads and read on kindle.
October 10, 2022
1.5 stars…. First read by this author & I was disappointed… basic writing , unlikeable characters & an ending that was just silly
September 6, 2022
3.5 stars
This is a quick read about two couples who go on a hike in the Swiss Alps, but only two people come back down the mountain. All of the characters are unlikable, but the premise is intriguing. It is suspenseful so even when I was irritated by the characters, I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I was surprised by the twists at the end and was entertained by this dark mystery.
This is a quick read about two couples who go on a hike in the Swiss Alps, but only two people come back down the mountain. All of the characters are unlikable, but the premise is intriguing. It is suspenseful so even when I was irritated by the characters, I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I was surprised by the twists at the end and was entertained by this dark mystery.
September 14, 2022
When I saw that this was a psychological thriller, I jumped on it to get it and what was better than it being a psychological thriller, it was that it was free through my membership from Amazon.
This was my September 2022 selection for the Amazon First Read.
As I'm reading I can't wait for the psychological twist, when I go "ahhh there it is, this is so great" moment. Sadly to say I didn't get it. However the story was a good, although a little unbelievable, I mean who leaves their phone behind when going on a hiking trip?! Seriously that is beyond stupid and they all deserved to die, ok die is a little extreme, but they should definitely never procreate.
This is a story where you don't really have a character you like, they are all selfish or vengeful to the exptreem. So as the story goes along and things start to happen, I'm not at all sadden but think it's getting to be a better world. I know, I'm depraved.
There are some "Oh WTH" meoments and the ending is CARRRAZY, never thought the story would go in that direction for a minute. In all it was a good story, just not a psychological read like I was expecting.
Please forgive me for the errors, but never claimed to be a great writer or a writer at all. Just a person who writes down whatever comes to my head at the time, not always correct and always a jumbled mess.
This was my September 2022 selection for the Amazon First Read.
As I'm reading I can't wait for the psychological twist, when I go "ahhh there it is, this is so great" moment. Sadly to say I didn't get it. However the story was a good, although a little unbelievable, I mean who leaves their phone behind when going on a hiking trip?! Seriously that is beyond stupid and they all deserved to die, ok die is a little extreme, but they should definitely never procreate.
This is a story where you don't really have a character you like, they are all selfish or vengeful to the exptreem. So as the story goes along and things start to happen, I'm not at all sadden but think it's getting to be a better world. I know, I'm depraved.
There are some "Oh WTH" meoments and the ending is CARRRAZY, never thought the story would go in that direction for a minute. In all it was a good story, just not a psychological read like I was expecting.
Please forgive me for the errors, but never claimed to be a great writer or a writer at all. Just a person who writes down whatever comes to my head at the time, not always correct and always a jumbled mess.
September 5, 2022
Maybe 2.5 stars as I was compelled to finish it.
Completely unrealistic that any one could have convinced this group of 4 who hate each other that going on an arduous hike in the SWISS ALPS is a bonding experience. Nasty little group of four go on a hike. None of them are even remotely decent human beings. Things go as planned with a bit of a twist, some dead some in jail. Cat, the queen of planners and organizers, walks away from it all leaving people in her wake, just as she planned.
I kept hoping she would be met at the station by a large police officer. Conniving women, regardless of how much THEY think they have been mistreated, do NOT deserve to get away with it! Merde! Se la vie.
Completely unrealistic that any one could have convinced this group of 4 who hate each other that going on an arduous hike in the SWISS ALPS is a bonding experience. Nasty little group of four go on a hike. None of them are even remotely decent human beings. Things go as planned with a bit of a twist, some dead some in jail. Cat, the queen of planners and organizers, walks away from it all leaving people in her wake, just as she planned.
I kept hoping she would be met at the station by a large police officer. Conniving women, regardless of how much THEY think they have been mistreated, do NOT deserve to get away with it! Merde! Se la vie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2022
I hate giving books this low of a rating, but I can't in good conscience rate it any higher.
Honestly, i thought about dnf-ing several times, but i kept reading because it was such a short book. Honestly, the characters and plot were really shallow. Like, there just wasn't any substance. I didn't care about anyone, and the dialogue was awful.
On the postive side, the atmosphere was decent, and I didn't predict the end.
Honestly, i thought about dnf-ing several times, but i kept reading because it was such a short book. Honestly, the characters and plot were really shallow. Like, there just wasn't any substance. I didn't care about anyone, and the dialogue was awful.
On the postive side, the atmosphere was decent, and I didn't predict the end.
October 2, 2022
Absolutely brilliant from start to finish! Full review to follow.
March 28, 2023
this dragged on for ages, but i will say the ending paid out.
some amy dunne type vibes. was scared there wasn’t going to be a plot twist, but was pleasantly surprised.
some amy dunne type vibes. was scared there wasn’t going to be a plot twist, but was pleasantly surprised.
October 19, 2022
Yuck first I gave three stars then on writing my review downgraded to two.
every character had their own personal agenda and it was not good, and they are all not nice people. They have done things in their life they try to justify as ok when it’s not. Affairs, financial abuse, etc. All the arguing or little snarky comments from the get go just wore on me. Oh c’mon! Can’t we just all try to get along??? No
As the two survivors try to get their story straight to the police it’s destined to be seen through by their actions, body language, etc. clearly, these two are amateurs.
The story is amateur, the writing is amateur, the squabbles are amateur, even the “accidents” are amateur.
I finished being totally unfulfilled from reading this.
every character had their own personal agenda and it was not good, and they are all not nice people. They have done things in their life they try to justify as ok when it’s not. Affairs, financial abuse, etc. All the arguing or little snarky comments from the get go just wore on me. Oh c’mon! Can’t we just all try to get along??? No
As the two survivors try to get their story straight to the police it’s destined to be seen through by their actions, body language, etc. clearly, these two are amateurs.
The story is amateur, the writing is amateur, the squabbles are amateur, even the “accidents” are amateur.
I finished being totally unfulfilled from reading this.
October 5, 2022
I tried to finish the book but I couldn’t. I read for pleasure and this book was agonizing. The author seems to be going for quantity not quality. So much whining and babbling among the characters. Too many other books to read to waste anymore time on this one.
December 21, 2023
I hate when a novel relies on keeping the character's motivations a secret to create some mystery, especially if we're in that character's POV. Several times the characters would think "I will reveal my little secret later har har har" like why? Just tell me now! These are your own thoughts, you're safe.
I also disliked that this book relied on one of the female characters giving people the impression she was being abused by a couple different men throughout the novel in order to get away with her crimes. There are real victims in this world and writing like this is why people choose not to believe them. There must be a more clever way to get our protagonist out of trouble.
One of the book's twists was very shocking to me, and the other one was still shocking but I thought pretty unbelievable and lame. I wish we learned more about Tristan's motivations and thoughts because I still am not sure where his head was at. Also, Ginny needed some redeeming quality to her. She was just cruel constantly, and to an unreasonable amount.
I did enjoy the premise and some of the darker scenes were written so well and genuinely disturbed me, but with no likeable characters and weird secrets being kept from the audience without a good reason for it... it's a meh from me.
I also disliked that this book relied on one of the female characters giving people the impression she was being abused by a couple different men throughout the novel in order to get away with her crimes. There are real victims in this world and writing like this is why people choose not to believe them. There must be a more clever way to get our protagonist out of trouble.
One of the book's twists was very shocking to me, and the other one was still shocking but I thought pretty unbelievable and lame. I wish we learned more about Tristan's motivations and thoughts because I still am not sure where his head was at. Also, Ginny needed some redeeming quality to her. She was just cruel constantly, and to an unreasonable amount.
I did enjoy the premise and some of the darker scenes were written so well and genuinely disturbed me, but with no likeable characters and weird secrets being kept from the audience without a good reason for it... it's a meh from me.
September 9, 2022
My Kindle First choice of the month. However, I was aggravated to realise I had read a book by her before but using another name. I do wish publishers would pack this sort of thing in, same as when they amend covers and even titles at times and you get caught out. I don't think they should be allowed to do it; reeks of sharp practice for me.
I didn't find the ending too satisfying (which I had also noted on the other book of hers I read) but there are plenty of twists 'n' turns throughout which kept me gripped. Things I thought had happened or were going to occur I managed to get wrong every time !! I think both sisters featured were pretty spiteful, awful people, who were happy to tell lies all their lives, so neither endeared themselves to me. There was also something left hanging for me I wondered at which was never addressed again.
I did really struggle for at least the first third as to who was married to who and who was having it off with who. Most confusing. I don't really know how she could have made it easier to remember, however. She mentioned someone taking a pill at one point and then they were sick, THEN mentioned the effect of the pill, but surely they'd have lost that since they were sick immediately after taking it ?
She wrote this odd way a couple of times I spotted that is just not how anybody speaks, as in, ".....they're reserved for the participants to tell, are they not ?" and, "That's what you really wanted, was it not ?"I spotted some apostrophe errors, she missed a few question marks and she wrote straight and not strait-laced. 'Cat been stunned' lost the word had but that was way better error-wise than the first book I read by her, which was good to see.
Not sure I'd rush to read more by her, however, unless I get caught out as I did this time, which is pretty much what I said in my other review !!
I didn't find the ending too satisfying (which I had also noted on the other book of hers I read) but there are plenty of twists 'n' turns throughout which kept me gripped. Things I thought had happened or were going to occur I managed to get wrong every time !! I think both sisters featured were pretty spiteful, awful people, who were happy to tell lies all their lives, so neither endeared themselves to me. There was also something left hanging for me I wondered at which was never addressed again.
I did really struggle for at least the first third as to who was married to who and who was having it off with who. Most confusing. I don't really know how she could have made it easier to remember, however. She mentioned someone taking a pill at one point and then they were sick, THEN mentioned the effect of the pill, but surely they'd have lost that since they were sick immediately after taking it ?
She wrote this odd way a couple of times I spotted that is just not how anybody speaks, as in, ".....they're reserved for the participants to tell, are they not ?" and, "That's what you really wanted, was it not ?"I spotted some apostrophe errors, she missed a few question marks and she wrote straight and not strait-laced. 'Cat been stunned' lost the word had but that was way better error-wise than the first book I read by her, which was good to see.
Not sure I'd rush to read more by her, however, unless I get caught out as I did this time, which is pretty much what I said in my other review !!
October 5, 2022
I can get onboard with horrible characters if they're given the depth and roundedness to make them engaging. These character were simply horrible with absolutely no texture given to them at all. How they made it this far in each other's lives when they were driven to increasing levels of bitterness, pettiness and violence against one another that could only suggest years of serious resentment and bitterness is pretty beyond belief. From about the halfway point when the circumstances around the second disappearance occurred, every piece of the jigsaw slotted into place in terms of scheming behind the hike and you were left having to work your way through half of the book with characters who were utterly unbearable and a mystery that had no suspense at all. There was something of a twist, but it was such a suspension of reality and I was so emotionally checked out by that point that I felt very little beyond a roll of the eyes.
Thankfully this was a First Reads freebie or I'd be seriously lamenting the 99p I'd forked out for it!
Thankfully this was a First Reads freebie or I'd be seriously lamenting the 99p I'd forked out for it!
September 25, 2022
Bravo!! Bravo!!! BRAVO!!!! WOW! What a fantastic twisty read this was!!! I could not put this book down and when I did, I was constantly thinking of this story! This is my first book by this Author and I absolutely adored the way she wrote. All of the characters had amazing personalities and I can't believe the thoughts that went through their heads and reading how she came to write this story; so interesting! I'm going right into another of her books, The Substitute. Highly recommend this book if you're a lover of thriller/mysteries.
November 27, 2022
what a twist!!
This was a great book! I really enjoyed the settling, story line, and characters. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The best part is when I thought I had it figured out, nope I was wrong! I love books that keep ijs guessing!
This was a great book! I really enjoyed the settling, story line, and characters. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The best part is when I thought I had it figured out, nope I was wrong! I love books that keep ijs guessing!
October 3, 2022
Hard to put down!!
October 14, 2022
Thriller set in the SWISS ALPS
A weekend in the Swiss Alps, promising a good hike in the Argentine area above Villars and a mismatched set of people: Cat and her husband Paul are joined by her sister Ginny and her husband Tristan. Right from the off, there are spats and unease that pre-empt a tricky time spent on the mountains. However this is all about bonding and getting to know each other better and a smoothing of the hostilities that have recently arisen between the two sisters, after the untimely death of their parents.
First mistake is that they all agree to leave their phones in the car, so that they have no distractions and can prioritise their bonding as they admire the glorious scenery. A rookie error, of course but initiated by Cat, who, we soon discover, has a master plan to punish her sister, with a willing accomplice to carry it out. We learn that Ginny is a seemingly vacuous and ditsy stay-at-home wife, who curates a Social Media following, yet demonstrates an astute barbed tongue. As Cat emphasises, everything her sister does is about herself, Ginny, with little care for anyone else. There is also the question of their parents' legacy which has added to Cat’s ire.
The novel opens with two very injured people, a man and a woman, who have returned from their mountain hike on the Sunday morning. There is no clear indication who they are, so what did actually happen at high altitudes? There are plenty of twists and turns and switchbacks to keep the reader entertained. And just when you think all the pieces are in place, there is a final denouement that is well thought out – and you probably won’t see it coming. A good, quick read that is well laid out and has pace.
A weekend in the Swiss Alps, promising a good hike in the Argentine area above Villars and a mismatched set of people: Cat and her husband Paul are joined by her sister Ginny and her husband Tristan. Right from the off, there are spats and unease that pre-empt a tricky time spent on the mountains. However this is all about bonding and getting to know each other better and a smoothing of the hostilities that have recently arisen between the two sisters, after the untimely death of their parents.
First mistake is that they all agree to leave their phones in the car, so that they have no distractions and can prioritise their bonding as they admire the glorious scenery. A rookie error, of course but initiated by Cat, who, we soon discover, has a master plan to punish her sister, with a willing accomplice to carry it out. We learn that Ginny is a seemingly vacuous and ditsy stay-at-home wife, who curates a Social Media following, yet demonstrates an astute barbed tongue. As Cat emphasises, everything her sister does is about herself, Ginny, with little care for anyone else. There is also the question of their parents' legacy which has added to Cat’s ire.
The novel opens with two very injured people, a man and a woman, who have returned from their mountain hike on the Sunday morning. There is no clear indication who they are, so what did actually happen at high altitudes? There are plenty of twists and turns and switchbacks to keep the reader entertained. And just when you think all the pieces are in place, there is a final denouement that is well thought out – and you probably won’t see it coming. A good, quick read that is well laid out and has pace.
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