Suspenseful and terrifying, but occasionally lost its suspense
924011
Overall, an interesting story. A woman finds herself on a street corner with pockets full of cash, a dress covered in blood, and no memory. And you spend the entire book wondering if she's descending into insanity or if her husband is up to something evil...and wondering why.

But while I did like the book, it was also a little longer than it needed to be. Sometimes it felt really repetitive...I mean, I understand why--the woman is trying to figure out what happened to her and she's constantly mulling it over--but I wish the editors had trimmed a bit more.
2597180
Vincent Zandri is no stranger to thrillers and dramas.  In "The Remains," Zandri tells the tale of Rebecca Underhill, the only surviving member of her family from Albany, New York.  We meet Rebecca as she is grieving the loss of her sister.  Molly died of cancer nine years ago, but being twins, Rebecca still feels their twin connection.  The loss is more palpable still as the 30 year anniversary of a terrifying event that Molly and Rebecca survived approaches.  Rebecca was never as strong or courageous as Molly, and she needs her strength now more than ever.  The anniversary is all the more ominous since Rebecca is receiving cryptic texts and feels a constant presence, either her sister's spirit, or a stalker she thought was dead.  Is Rebecca slowly losing it, or is she really in danger?  To give anymore would be a crime in itself.

"The Remains" is a haunting tale of terror, but with an emotional core.  Rebecca is believable and fragile.  The suspense feels real, albeit quick.  If I have a gripe, it would be the book reads too quickly, therefore resolving the suspense quicker (and the book uses some repetitious and dull descriptions).  The characters are few, but create an interesting community.  The danger is maintained throughout by Zandri's layering of past and present.  He also masterfully adds emotional and uplifting elements to keep this book from being too depressing.  And interesting details are introduced organically throughout the novel.

This is the perfect book to take with you to the beach, or the patio.  And if you read it late at night, it will give you a fright.  Zandri does the suspense genre well with this inspired and well executed tale of terror and survival.
383349
Brief summary and review, no spoilers.

This is an interesting psychological suspense story involving the coming together of three people, each with their own troubled pasts and uncertain futures. The chapters are alternated from the point of view of each character, and in this way we get to see their observations and take on what is happening in their lives and in the story.

We are first introduced to Ron, a 50 year old man who has recently been released from prison. He had been the driver of a bus and had fallen asleep and driven off the road - killing six children and a pregnant teacher. Because of this, his wife left him and he was ostracized by friends and family. He eventually takes off on his own, driving around the countryside finding temporary work and respite.

We also meet a 42 year old woman who has just months earlier married a man she met in a chat room for caretakers. She had taken care of her father until he recently died, and is really just starting her new life. She is uncertain about her relationship with her new seemingly distant  and uncaring husband, and when she tells him she is pregnant and he tells her he doesn't want the baby she is clearly distressed.

Lastly, we meet Silva, who is in Scotland illegally with her husband Stefan and 2 year old daughter Anna. They are an adoring family, but Stefan is frustrated with his inability to support them because of his immigration status and he wants to buy a car so he can be a cabdriver. Silva is concerned that they will be discovered and deported - or worse.

These three main characters do not know each other, but when a bridge collapses their lives become entwined in ways that will become intimate and unpredictable. And ominous.

I have read two of this author's previous books,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Half-Broken-Things/dp/0440242444/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Half Broken Things</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Night-Following/dp/0385341199/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Night Following</a>&nbsp;I was a big fan of Half Broken Things, and can happily say that this book is reminiscent of that one. In both books we have a situation where different people get together for what has to be a limited time, and we know with a certain dread that their present tenuous situation cannot continue for long.

In this book secrets are kept, tragic pasts are revealed, and as we read on and on we feel a sense of foreboding and unease about what is going to happen.

 I do recommend this book. Half Broken Things is still my favorite of the three, but this one has a good sense of pace and suspense and heartbreak. We care about all three characters and wish them well, although we read on with a sense of concern over what will eventually happen to them all.
1651686
Around the world, in different time periods, people are going missing. Jake Stevenson, who has just lost his wife and child, becomes involved in an investigation concerning several of the missing people - most notably a man named Guzman whose fingerprints have been found at the scene of a violent murder. The only problem is, Guzman would be over 80 years old now. As Jake delves more into the mystery, he is transported to another world with creatures he never knew existed.

There is a lot that goes on in this book, especially in the beginning. It is a little confusing and hard to piece together until you get a few chapters in. At that point, it becomes clear that there are many seemingly unrelated things that tie together. There are lots of characters and lots of points of view, but the character development is still great. The supernatural elements are well thought out, and there is plenty of intrigue, suspense, and horror.

Despite the fact that my time is so limited, I found myself thinking about this book a lot and wanting to sit down and read it. I actually read it semi-simultaneously with the second book, The Turning, and it ended up being ok! (Some spoilers but not anything too bad).

Great job, Mr. Price!
3713895
Unreliable manages to offer the reader a lot of suspense, and had me on the hook to figure out what the mother's confession was all about.
As other reviewers mentioned, the character development is really good, especially the use of numerology to imbue a personality to each house she revisits. The author's choice to tell the story in non-chronological order also adds to the suspense without getting confusing to follow. I wish the author would have explored making Edwina stronger/darker and less apologetic. There are a few unanswered questions at the end that I felt should have been cleared up.
4899454
Dorrie is embroiled in an affair with her boss, Joe, which ends abruptly one cold and snowy night when Joe picks her up. He tells her the affair is over, that "it isn't safe," and then moments after, their car skids on the ice and crashes into a tree. Joe dies at the scene, but Dorrie's airbag deploys and she makes a split moment decision to walk away from the crash (undetected). But she's haunted by that evening and Joe's death. Further, what did Joe mean that it wasn't safe? Why didn't Joe's airbag deploy like Dorrie's? Did Dorrie really see someone near the car moments after the crash?

Meanwhile, Joe's wife Karen is left reeling from his death as well. Also wrapped up in Joe's passing is insurance investigator Maggie Devlin. A former cop, Maggie is suspicious about the circumstances of Joe's death--and the women involved in his life. But can she put together the pieces of what really happened? And are Karen and Dorrie truly in danger?

This novel was interesting and suspenseful, though it didn't fully grab me. Still, I read it in about two days, so it was certainly a fast read with a captivating plot. For me, I liked Dorrie and Karen well enough, but I wasn't deeply pulled into either of their lives. Neither character was fully drawn enough for me to fully relate to them. In fact, I really liked Maggie the best, but we learn the least about her. I could almost see Maggie getting a sequel--she was a very intriguing and likable character.

Crawford's novel is well-written, but seems to suffer a little bit from "who am I" syndrome... in some ways it's a thriller, but in other ways, it's purely psychological women's fiction. As such, the mystery seems to take a backseat to the women's lives, at times, and becomes convoluted and confusing by the end. There's a backstory with Joe's business that I almost couldn't fully tell you what happened, because it's not given complete attention, even though it's supposed to propel so much of the action. That duality was tough, because the book never really focused on either the thriller aspect, or the women, and you felt like you were left hanging on both plot points by the end.

Overall, this was a quick read, with an original plot, but seemed confusing and pulled in a few directions: 3 stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from Edelweiss (thank you!); more @ [...]
3550645
I found this book gripping and frustrating in about equal parts. While the author is very effective in building up a creepy, suspenseful atmosphere, the humorous bits seem rather sporadic and forced. It gets worse when combined with the romantic aspects. At times you're not sure if you're reading a suspense/crime thriller or a romantic comedy.

On the other hand, the plot, while quite far-fetched, was pretty well handled and it's reasonably easy for the reader to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. Bolton also keeps up a satisfyingly brisk pace and there are plenty of twists and turns. Unfortunately some of the main characters do behave in utterly implausible ways, and this again detracts from the story.

On the whole, an enjoyable, fast read that falls slightly short of its potential.
2143223
I really enjoy the tension and suspense the book creates especially in the last few chapters (from Ch 13 onward when the few people left were so frightened and alert). That I think is the strongest point of the book.
The confession of the murderer(s) in the epilogue is ok, though I did expect something more surprising and ... convincing. There are a few points in the murderer(s)'s plan and in the story development itself that are not very believable. [The butler still prepared breakfast after the second murder, as if there's nothing particularly unusual happen???] That is, the book is a bit too contrived.
But over all, if you have 5, 6 hours to spare and like detective stories, why not?
4250582
Very unusual and interesting and suspenseful, a bit gruesome .
3694050
I enjoyed this latest Novel By Mr. Rosenberg very much, up until the end. The writing was taut, the suspense palpable, and the premise frighteningly realistic. It was very entertaining and so I felt it was worthwhile reviewing. This novel is possibly best described as the literary equivalent of a Christian rock anthem with a sharp rebuke for non believers.  As in his other novels, although less obtrusive in this one, it is as much about prosthelstising as it is about suspense. The author takes a firm religio-political stand and sprinkles it throughout the novel. In some cases, I think he is correct. For instance, eliminating terrorists by drone strikes may make for good headlines (with the caveat that what is reported is almost entirely government-speak and likely to be tainted by propaganda), but capturing them and interrogating them may in fact lead to more intelligence and be a better strategy in the long run. One of the most compelling insights, for me, is when Mr. Rosenberg correctly pointed out that unlike any other nation, Israel has the advantage of having immigrants flooding in from all corners of the world, all cultures, and all languages. Consequently, they have an enormous supply of credible HUMINT resources. That struck me as credible and insightful. What bothered me about the novel was its religious overtones. (WARNING: possible spoiler ahead). J.B. Collins converts to Christianity during this novel. He believes he will be reunited with his deceased mother and nephew in heaven. In fact, he says upon multiple occasions that he will "see" them in heaven. My question to the author is what exactly does J.B. expect to see? His mother and nephew were burned to a crisp. Will they appear to him in heaven as burned forms of their former selves? Will they appear to him as the same age as when they perished, or do they grow older with each passing year? Turning to a another hypothetical scenario, if someone is obliterated in a car bomb, what form do they take in heaven? If someone's legs are blown off, but they survive and die later, are their legs restored in heaven? There must be quite a few people in heaven by now; how are new inductees reunited with their friends and family members? My younger sister perished in an accident when she was 9 years old. I am now 57. When I see her in heaven, will she still be 9 while I will be whatever age I am when I die? Is there some kind of Medicare in heaven? What happens if I suffer an injury in heaven? Can God fix it? How much does that cost? I have so many questions...
3837310
Fantastic thriller-suspense, but too much for those of us who do not like super scary.
1088347
lost boy lost girl does fall apart a little in the end and, for once, I think the author, Peter Straub, could have expanded the story a little, as well as giving it a creepier ending that would tie the story together a little more tightly.  There are a number of threads in this tight weave, though, and the reader will enjoy the build-up and the mystery as it unfolds.  Tim Underhill is a wonderful character and his family makes sense in this book.  The creeping horror quotient is high (and with a serial killer and a haunted house how could it be otherwise) and will carry the reader breathlessly through until the end when a little feeling of letdown may mar the experience.  The author is still one of the masters and this is, for the most part, a fine example of his work.
4802877
Two women attacked six years apart. One lives a half-life, crippled by anxiety. One dies but clings to the afterlife, unsure about why she stays. The only thing that can allow either of them to move forward is to find the person responsible by uncovering the secrets, lies, and shame that let a murderer roam free. It took a while for me to get invested in this book, but when I did, it was impossible for me to put down. The narratives are shared by the living victim, the dead victim, and the female investigator. It was set of perspectives I've not seen before, but it worked fairly well -- I could have done without the investigator. When the two victims' lives and narratives collided, it was pretty amazing. The suspense and tension were sustained until the end, and I foolishly followed a red herring for an embarrassingly long time! The ending was good enough that I didn't even mind. There was a nice pace once you pass the first twenty- five percent, and the surprises and revelations just kept coming. I did have a little trouble keeping characters clear, especially minor ones like parents or exes and I would occasionally attribute them to the wrong girl, but it wasn't a huge problem. I was rather disappointed when it was over because I was enjoying myself so much. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3555854
This is a moody, compelling, and suspenseful piece, but it struck me as a bit different from what the descriptions and blurbs might suggest.

Yes, there are two parallel, (if time separated), stories. POSSIBLE MILD PREMISE SPOILERS. We have 1982 Mary, an orphan inmate at Thornhill, and we have 2016 Ella, who has moved in to a house next to the now deserted and broken down Thornhill. Ella occasionally glimpses a girl in an upper window of the empty Thornhill building and undertakes to explore the grounds of Thornhill to unravel the mystery. Because the story moves back and forth between Mary's diary and Ella's investigations, we know much more about Mary, and much earlier, than does Ella. So, for most of the book we switch from the gripping continuing tale of Mary to drawings of Ella just walking around empty grounds. Ella doesn't really factor into the story until the very end.

That's all fine, because Mary's story is gripping, suspenseful and dark. Ella is a bit of a tack-on. Since Ella's story is told through drawings, and since those drawings are of Thornhill, (albeit a derelict Thornhill), the drawings could just as well be accompanying Mary's story, which makes Ella even less important. BIGGER SPOILER. That's fine too, because Mary's story makes sense, while Ella's story's end, to me, comes out of nowhere, isn't a logical consequence of her development, and feels abrupt and unexplained.

What most engaged me as a reader was Mary's descent into a certain form of vengeful madness. While a sympathetic character at the outset, Mary is not without flaws and weaknesses. The story is taken from Mary's diary, so she completely controls the narrative. A reader can read this book first from a sympathetic point of view, and then again from an untrusting and skeptical point of view, and end up with two very different Mary's and two very different reactions to the book's conclusion, (and that's both the 1982 conclusion and the 2016 conclusion involving Ella). The result is that you get that classic "Turn of the Screw" effect, where you can argue forever about who's the real ghost and who's the real evil force. God bless unreliable narrators.

I'm not a big fan of psychological thrillers that coyly play hide and seek, or ghost stories that are just a few cries and whispers. Rather, here, this book had some meat on its bones, a ghastly mood that was sustained through both the narrative and the illustrations, and lots of tidy little bits that kept the reader guessing. To me, that adds up to a nice read, and this was a nice find.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
3475192
In this cleverly constructed thriller, Jodie Foster plays Meg Altman, a recent divorc&eacute;e who purchases a New York brownstone to house her and her diabetic daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart).  When three men break into the house, Meg and Sarah take refuge in the house's unusual "panic room", an indoor fortress meant to serve as a hidden and impenetrable haven for its residents.  The problem is, the burglars not only know about the panic room, but they will do anything to get what is hidden inside it.  Closed off from help, the women must rely on their resourcefulness to repel the equally determined intruders. Just when you think things can't get any worse, they do.  This is "Home Alone" with a deadly seriousness.  (The screenplay acknowledges this when one of the burglars calls another "Joe Pesce.")

The trailers for this highly suspenseful film made it seem more terrifying than it actually is.  "Panic Room" relies more on tension and desperation than it does on sheer fear - and it is a much better film for it.  Jodie Foster turns in a skilled, believable performance, as does Kristen Stewart, who not only looks like she could be Foster's biological child but acts that way, too.  Forest Whitaker, as the brains of the burglary, provides complexity to a character that might otherwise have been a type; you can't help wishing that he was not a part of the operation.  The camera work (not dissimilar to that of television's "CSI") works to increase the tension, although often it comes across as an effect for effect's sake.

"Panic Room" held my attention from beginning to end.  I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a suspenseful film with good, solid acting.
2694507
Incredibly suspenseful and it  kept me afraid of what bad thing would happen next.  The characters were depicted well, especially the teen son.  I was always suspicious of  a certain person, but could not figure out the motivation.
4090739
Set in a world of fear, technology and violence, a book like Awaken has incredible relevance -so much that it's almost scary. The world of Awaken strikes a frighten vibe with readers, as the creepy, technology-laden, isolated future painted in this novel feels like an incredibly plausible future in the real world. Without bothering to sugar-coat things, Awaken tackles very real issues that tend to get swept under the rug -or virtually ignored -in our world today.

In Awaken, Maddie's world is one of computers, digital school, constant electronic distraction and, most importantly, the lack of real human connection and fear of other people. Maddie has spent much of her life attending digital school, chatting with friends she's never met in person, and, most importantly, hiding behind her false online profiles. Then, one day in digital school, she begins speaking to a strange boy named Justin. As Maddie gets to know Justin online, he convinces her to meet him in person, and Maddie is forced out into the real world. But Justin isn't like most people in this world. Rather than spending his life behind a computer screen, Justin prefers to experience life for real and introduces these experiences to Maddie, who begins to awaken to real life.

The messages of Awaken truly resonated with me. The whole theme about people preferring to hide behind computer schools and online profiles, rather than conversing in real life, has becoming a highly common occurrence, especially with the prevalence of Facebook and Twitter. Then there's the inevitable related element where people are constantly in front of electronic devices (kind of Fahrenheit 451-like) and pay more attention to them than to the other people in their lives...even family. But for me, when Awaken explained the reasoning behind the creation of digital school -school shootings, out of control violence, the fear that people can never be safe -hits home in a bone-chilling way.

The rest of Awaken was pretty good. It's a well-constructed dystopia with enjoyable characters that keep me enthralled until the very end. However, there were a few small things that bothered me. The plot was a little predictable, and I thought the ending sputtered out a little bit, but overall, an enjoyable read with some fascinating, yet frightening speculation about the future.