Disturbing page turner
580028
I don't usually read science fiction, but I decided to read this after hearing it reviewed on NPR. I thought the writing was really good, and the characters where developed in such a way that I both liked them and cared about what happened to them. It was a page turner. A very disturbing page turner. I wasn't too far into the book when I began to get a feeling of foreboding, as in "this can't end well."  So, for me, it was mainly about the characters, how they developed and changed and interacted as one decision led to another and another. But I also found the ethical and philosophical discussion fascinating and thought provoking and scary. Although I finished reading The Office of Mercy several days ago, I am still haunted by the story, the characters, and the ending.
742736
Almost from the beginning I didn't want to put this book down.  Warning though, it is disturbing, and you can't unread it
2243255
Sometimes it feels good to venture out of my comfort zone and read such wicked twisted sotries.
Mr. Sugar was everything the description said it will be: it was quite disturbing and full of dysfunctional characters and nothing and nobody was as simple as it seemed for the first sight.
I would really hate my life if my family was anything like the brother Drew had. Albeit feeling despair about the deep depravity and ulterior motives of every character in this story, somehow I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to find out where the story lead.
It was full of twists surprising me on every page.
141089
"The Hangman's Song" by James Oswald had me hooked before I finished the first page. Oswald knows how to write a good thriller and how to add just the right amount of the supernatural to keep it believable and not over the top strange. This book is as disturbing as it is intriguing and a hard one to put down.

A real page turner, that will keep you reading into the night...if you dare. I was so absorbed in this book that any sudden noise, no matter how small, had me jumping. Before I did go to bed, I had to check and recheck that the front door was actually locked and kept the light on when I did go to sleep.
3901318
Having read The Quiet Ones not so long ago by the same author, I knew I would be in for a disturbing but enjoyable read and I wasn't wrong.

Deborah is one of those quiet mousy types of girl that you would probably forget as soon as you met her. When Larry meets her, it isn't long before he takes her under his wing and turns her into his own creation.

I really liked Deborah to start with but have to admit as the story goes on she becomes quite hardened and even though I felt quite sorry for her at times, I didn't really like the person that she was becoming.

Larry right from the start I didn't trust. I didn't like how he was moulding Deborah and cutting her off from the outside world and becoming his own personally skivvy. He obviously has his own ideas to how a wife should act and he expects Deborah to follow that to the letter. He is very protective of her and in his own way I do think he truly loves her, though why she loves him so much beats me.

It is slightly hard to say much more about the storyline without giving key parts of it away which would spoil it for other readers and I certainly wouldnt want to spoil the surprises that are awaiting them.

The Opticians Wife is a dark and disturbing read. The author cleverly reels you in and has you believing what she wants you to believe before grabbing you and twisting you around leaving you dizzy. All I will say is that this is one book that sent a shiver down my spine and had me feeling like someone had walked over my grave!

My thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
1033502
The book is written in two different POV's, the FBI investigating the crimes and one of a surviving victim. It is a dark, disturbing, methodical and well-written story. The author hooked me from the beginning. I usually can't  finish a book that deals with sexual violence because I find the subject distasteful and hard to stomach but I couldn't put down The Butterfly Garden. I finished this book in one day, not because I didn't know how it was going to end, but because I wanted to hear the rest of the victim's story.  So, if you are the least bit squeamish about the treatment of women, you may want to take a pass. However, if you can handle the subject, the writing is worth the journey. This is one book that  will keep you up all night.
717658
This was a disturbing book in many ways.  The first being that Simon Jenner has a sick imagination to come up with gadgets that are ahead of their time, I hope the government doesn't read this book and get any ideas.  The next thing that stuck with me is the villain and the crime.  I like a book where the lines are clearly drawn as to who is on the good/bad side.  We have that in Windal the villain.  He may appear to walk on the up and up to those who don't know him well but he immediately comes off as slimey and psycho to me.  I did not like him at all and could not wait to see how Justice dealt with him.  The most disturbing factor in this book was the "Dark" house where MANY crimes of a sick perverted nature were participated in by officials who tried to keep it covered up.  A couple of reasons this disturbs me, one being that I have a daughter and two, while this was a fictional story, I do not doubt for a moment that this kind of stuff is happening every day under our noses.

Jenner takes the relationship of Ethan and Savannah to the next level showing they can go through good and bad times but still come out on top.  I enjoyed the training that Ethan goes through and would be interested in seeing him go through some more.  Jenner also takes Ethan's decision to work for Earthguard to another level by having Johnson have a heart to heart with him forcing Ethan to decide if he is willing to do anything to get the job done.

This was a very entertaining book.  It does what a second book is supposed to do.  It answers questions that you are left with in the first, it opens the characters up to the reader a little more and it leaves you with a few different questions you hope are answered in the third.  I don't know what Mr. Jenner's plans are with this series but I hope he knew what he was getting into by introducing these characters to us.  He is stuck with them (Ethan, Savannah and Johnson) and us (his readers) for a while to come.  This is a great new series that should be getting a lot more attention than it does.
2030979
Couln't put the book down but i have to say it is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read.  This could really happen and may exist somewhere today. Characters have strength and courage in the most cruel, hopeless and unimaginable enviornment.
1942324
I read this book in two sittings within 12 hours and could not put it down.  The harrowing story of Sophie Hayes is both disturbing and informative at the same time.  While I know that sex trafficking occurs, I was not quite as knowledgeable about how it could happen in the way that it did to Sophie.  The idea that her captor spent four years grooming her and was considered by her to be her best friend is so disturbing, because really, it could happen to any vulnerable young woman.  The notion that there are so many young women in similar circumstances is quite unsettling and upsetting.  The realization that Sophie has taken such a horrific experience and turned it into something positive by creating the Sophie Hayes foundation is both admirable and amazing.  I hope that Sophie can continue to grow stronger and more confidant as she climbs the ladder toward those top rungs of self-acceptance and happiness.  I am so glad that she was brave enough to tell her story.
4224889
Very powerful and disturbing book. I can bear to read only one chapter at a time knowing that some of those evil politicians are still in power today. A main character in the book died recently and I hope he is rotting in hell for what he did to Cathy O'Brien and others. I often wondered why so many very young children, mostly girls, suddenly "disappear".  It would be terrible if they too are being subjected to torture and mind control such as Cathy O'Brien and others endured. God forbid..

The New World Order (NWO) is well on the way to becoming a reality and the only thing standing in their way is our 2nd Amendment right to own arms for protection. Our monetary system is just about finished.

The same day of the recent shooting in Newtown, CT, 11 children at a school in China were assaulted with a knife. They have gun control in China. In other parts of the world they use homemade bombs, yet at this very moment, the current regime in Washington, both Democrat and Republican, is threatening to take away our guns. The reason is obvious.

BTW, a few days ago a habitual criminal who was just released from jail in August, broke into a home in GA.  He found the mother and her 2 young children hiding in an attic crawl space.  Luckily she took her 38 cal revolver with her and shot the home invader 5 times.

Read the book and you'll see the reason for the seemingly senseless mass killings that are happening and the "lone gunman" dies at the scene by suicide or is killed shortly afterward.
988491
Very interesting and disturbing
 Could not stop reading it.
4904641
Wow, what a dark and twisted story is revealed within these pages. The story line is excellent, although I found the main characters story telling simplistic compared to the normal crime thrillers I'm used to reading.

The detail in this story is graphic, I'm sat cringing whilst I'm fervently turning the page to see what other grotesque death the author has delivered.

It's a very refreshing twist on a serial killer book, it had me guessing and mis-guessing throughout. For me to say I didn't see that coming is the sign of a story I thoroughly enjoyed.

I was so tired whilst I was reading this book after a busy week that I kept falling asleep, very begrudgingly as I so wanted to finish it in one sitting. Every time I had to put the book down it was at a good bit, and I couldn't wait to return to it.

As I say it's a deliciously dark and twisted read.
2422730
Part of this novel was disturbing because it really happened.....Lots to think about and discuss in our upcoming book club.  Well developed characters and don't forget to read the author's notes afterwards - it makes the book even more significant.  I loved it, despite the disturbing part - I think we all need to be disturbed every once in awhile, lest we forget.........
2665258
I did not expect this book to intrigue me as well as it did.  The story was disturbing, but kept me interested until the end.
2616113
Wonderfully disturbing.  The first of the series grabs your attention and pulls you in.  The premise is brilliant and unbiased - there is no clear stance where the author resides on the whole pro choice vs. pro life debate.  What is clear is that he has envisioned a future where neither side won the Heartland War that fought over this issue, and a third, more macabre alternative resulted.

I read this book because it is a book that is in the curriculum for one of my children's language arts classes this year and was the only one on the list that I had not read. I immediately was taken in and could not stop.  I just finished Unwholly and will start Unsouled tonight. I think that this dark, morbid book is going to haunt younger readers but not terrify them.  It is not overly graphic, except one scene that will be hard to read. It took my breath away and I had to stop reading for a few moments after that.  I consider this a triumph on the author's part - deeply moving, disturbing, gut wrenching, and left such an impression that I paused and had to take time to regain my composure.  That doesn't happen often with books that I read, let alone books intended for young adults!
1574479
I couldn't put this book down.  It is hard to imagine that anyone has to endure such abuse.  Very well written, but disturbing, book.
2712578
Im still reading this book and its keeping me interested for the next chapter , very disturbing but its real life