Book Review - Sleep by C. L. Taylor - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Amazon UK

Title: Sleep

Author: C. L. Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 5th September 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

All Anna wants is to be able to sleep. But crushing insomnia, terrifying night terrors and memories of that terrible night are making it impossible. If only she didn’t feel so guilty…

To escape her past, Anna takes a job at a hotel on the remote Scottish island of Rum, but when seven guests join her, what started as a retreat from the world turns into a deadly nightmare.

Each of the guests have a secret, but one of them is lying – about who they are and why they're on the island. There's a murderer staying in the Bay View hotel. And they've set their sights on Anna.

Seven strangers. Seven secrets. One deadly lie.

Someone’s going to sleep and never wake up…

The million-copy bestseller is back in her darkest, twistiest book to date. Read it if you dare!

Wow what an utterly compulsive read.  Yet again the amazing C. L. Taylor has written something both unputdownable and simply brilliant. 

I always tend to find I read this author's books in one sitting so had been bidding my time to start it when i could give it my full attention.  What better than on a 12 hours flight to Thailand. 

I think it took perhaps 2 and a half hours tops to devour Sleep. No whether I'll get any sleep myself after reading this is to be seen as it was slightly unsettling.

Most of the book is from Anna's viewpoint but what had baffled me initially was how some of the other threads would combine properly. 

Any book that starts with a letter to be read in case of death,  naming the most likely suspects was always going to attract my attention.

There is something rather claustrophobic about the majority of this story set in a cut off Scottish Isle.

Everybody named on that first page of the book could potentially be out to get Anna or have reason to be up to no good.  There are many secrets that will surprise over the course of the book. 

I thoroughly enjoyed and was hooked for the entirety of this story and can only commend the author on writing another superb book. 

If you love suspense,  intrigue, guessing,  or generally enjoy psychological dramas then this is completely worth reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Fear by C. L. Taylor

Amazon UK

Title: The Fear

Author: C. L  Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 22nd March 2018

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sometimes your first love won’t let you go…

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

There is a lot of fear in this book, and the majority of it all stems from the fear of one person, some is decades old, and some is fresh, but what it all has in common is that it is entirely justified.  Oddly enough though I didn't feel any fear myself while reading this! 

The Fear is a gripping look which deals with an uncomfortable subject matter, dealt with in a sensitive manner.  The story is told from the view points of three ladies all which have the same man in common. 

For Lou, they ran away together to France when she was just 14,  Chloe appears to be seeing him currently and she is only 13, and then there is Wendy who I never really took to, and stuck me as a bit odd, up until I realised how she fitted into the story at which point she becomes far more interesting. 

There are some twists and turns that although I wasn't gasping at, I didn't see coming, and they came at just the right pace to keep you on the edge of your seat as you were reading this. 

The Fear had a different feel to it the authors previous books, it didn't quite get under my skin in the same way but the writing was still fabulous, and the story was certainly different to other books in the genre. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fear and found myself completely absorbed by the story. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Treatment by C.L. Taylor

Amazon UK

Title:  The Treatment

Author: C.L. Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Young Adult

Publication Date: 19th October 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

“You have to help me. We’re not being reformed. We’re being brainwashed.”

All sixteen year old Drew Finch wants is to be left alone. She's not interested in spending time with her mum and stepdad and when her disruptive fifteen year old brother Mason is expelled from school for the third time and sent to a residential reform academy she's almost relieved.

Everything changes when she's followed home from school by the mysterious Dr Cobey, who claims to have a message from Mason. There is something sinister about the ‘treatment’ he is undergoing. The school is changing people.

Determined to help her brother, Drew must infiltrate the Academy and unearth its deepest, darkest secrets.

Before it’s too late.

I feel a bit dazed, I'm not completely sure what happened in real life for the past couple of hours, as I was completely absorbed in The Treatment. I suspect there is a chance I may have nightmares tonight, as a result of what Drew and Mason had to go through in this book. 

I'll admit I was a bit worried whether an author I absolutely love was able to write a Young Adult book that I would also enjoy, being quite a bit older than the YA audience, however other than the characters being a bit younger, the situations were gripping, the writing draws you in and hopefully my breathing my return to normal. 

I was hooked on The Treatment, absolutely none of it played out how I expected and I absolutely could not put this book down once I started reading it. You are warned - clear time in your busy day to sit and just read this book. 

It is so different to almost everything I have ever read, the only thing I can think of is I felt some similarities to The Demon Headmaster series, but given its been perhaps over 20 years since I read those I don't recall the specifics other than the same general feeling I had reading those.  The book is terrifying but not in a horror sort of way, just that its chilling what can happen to the human mind. 

I really can't say much about the plot, as it moves as a quick enough pace that I may accidentally give away spoilers. Suffice to say Drew is one special young woman, and I really liked her, whereas most of the other characters I wasn't sure on. It is the sort of book where you really aren't sure who you can trust. 

The Treatment is C.L. Taylor at her best, its been ages since I was this hooked on a book to the extent that I didn't even think about doing the many other things I should have been doing! i was only interested in the story and didn't even notice the time going past which is a good indication of how absorbed I was. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Young Adult for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Escape by C.L. Taylor

Amazon UK

Title:  The Escape

Author: C.L.  Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon 

Publication Date: 23rd March 2017 

Rating: 5 Stars

"Look after your daughter's things. And your daughter…"

When a stranger asks Jo Blackmore for a lift she says yes, then swiftly wishes she hadn't.

The stranger knows Jo's name, she knows her husband Max and she's got a glove belonging to Jo's two year old daughter Elise.

What begins with a subtle threat swiftly turns into a nightmare as the police, social services and even Jo's own husband turn against her.

No one believes that Elise is in danger. But Jo knows there's only one way to keep her child safe – RUN.

Wonderfully immersive piece of writing that has had me continually pondering exactly what may be the truth, all the while absorbed in this fabulous book. 

There is a great deal of tension from the first page, which is just what I want from this sort of book, and the sense of danger, or there being something not quite right with all the presented information doesn't leave me at all. 

Jo Blackmore appears as though she could be a rather unreliable narrator, given she admits to a few mental health problems including panic attacks and a form of agoraphobia. She often seems rather paranoid, right from the start, so it is really hard to know whether you should be believing everything she says. However as she is the main point of view, I found I was taking everything at face value, while the depths of my brain was working on if there were any holes. 

Whatever you feel about Jo, there is one thing for certain, she believes her daughter, Elise is in danger, and that she is too, and she isn't really sure what to do, as it seems that no one else believes her, and very slowly her life is turning into a living nightmare, and she decides that life on the run is for the best...

Having learnt from previous books by C.L. Taylor, I made sure that I set aside a day to read this where I would be ideally uninterrupted so that I could relish every second I spent reading The Escape, and I finished it far quicker than I was expecting. I completely lost track of the time, and read it in one sitting and found the writing to be compulsive reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next at all times. 

I feel as though I had been alongside Jo on this journey, and that her ups and downs were mine. I feel exhausted for having gone through what she has, even if I was only reading about it.  This is possibly the best book C.L. Taylor has written, probably eclipsing even The Lie in my affections. 

This is everything that the author does well, writes a compelling story that draws you in, until it becomes a part of you. I am so impressed by The Escape and can't believe that I have finished it already, and will have to wait ages for another book by the author. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review & Giveaway - The Missing by C.L. Taylor - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: The Missing

Author: C. L. Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 7th April 

Rating: 5 Stars

You love your family. They make you feel safe. You trust them.

But should you…?

When fifteen-year-old Billy Wilkinson goes missing in the middle of the night, his mother, Claire, blames herself. She's not the only one. There isn't a single member of Billy's family that doesn't feel guilty. But the Wilkinson’s are so used to keeping secrets from one another that it isn't until six months later, after an appeal for information goes horribly wrong, that the truth begins to surface.

Claire is sure of two things – that Billy is still alive and that her friends and family had nothing to do with his disappearance.

A mother's instinct is never wrong. Or is it?

Sometimes those closest to us are the ones with the most to hide…

C.L. Taylor has done it again, with another compelling masterpiece, a great example of a book that starts of well but gradually draws you in even more, and leaves you unable to put the book down, or catch your breath as it realises its finale. 

There are a multitude of twists in this fantastic novel, and even the ones I thought I had guessed were so far off the mark, that I was being surprised time and time again. I have no idea how C.L. Taylor comes up with her plots, but this was absolutely brilliant. 

And of course as a gripping psychological thriller, I dare not say too much about the plot, as I feel going into this book with no pre-conceptions, or ideas of how it could turn out is the best way, so you can experience the story in its purest form. 

What I will say is the story focuses's around Billy Wilkinson, a 15 year old boy who disappeared 6 months ago, to the anguish of his family. The story is told predominately from mother, Claire's point of view, and some of what she is experiencing is terrifying and heartbreaking at the same time. Added to that her family seems to all be hiding things of their own. 

As secrets are uncovered, expect to see fireworks, and your guesswork shattered, as you are drawn into Claire's story. In between chapters you see a dialogue between two screen names, which is key to everything, but you aren't told the real names behind the screen names, so can only guess as to the exact nature of the conversations, which are cleverly crafted to give away hints, but not necessarily the whole truth. 

The Missing is a well paced story that will get under your skin. I devoured it over the course of a day, mainly on my commute and was amazed I didn't miss my stops at any point. 

The Missing shows just how strong a mother's love is, and how shattering the not knowing the whereabouts of a loved on can be. Despite everything though, The Missing is not my favourite book by C.L. Taylor, that still is definitely The Lie, which a year later, I'm still amazed at, however the quality is definitely still there and its a close call in my opinion. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

Giveaway to win a a paperback copy of The Missing (UK Only)

I was sent a wonderful paperback copy, and it arrived on the day I was reading the book, so thought I would give you a chance to win it instead. 

Giveaway open to UK only, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 19/4/2016. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Recap - 23rd April 2015

Just in-case you missed out on seeing all of yesterday's simply amazing new releases, I have listed them all for you in one easy place. I am just amazed at the quality of yesterday's release schedule, and think you will be too, once you pick and choose what you want to read.

Love Shack by Jane Costello
One Small Act of Kindness by Lucy Dillon
Girls on Tour by Nicola Doherty
The Doris Day Vintage Film Club by Fiona Harper
Wild and Free by Wendy Holden
The Cake Shop in the Garden by Carole Matthews
When We Were Friends by Tina Seskis
The Lie by C.L. Taylor


Reviews of most of these have been posted in the last week. If you take up any of my suggestions, please let me know, as I would love to know what you think of these books. 

Book Review - The Lie by C.L. Taylor

Amazon UK

Title: The Lie

Author: C. L. Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 23rd April 2015 

Rating: 5 Stars

This was no accident…

Haunting, compelling, this psychological thriller will have you hooked. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl and Daughter.

I know your name’s not really Jane Hughes . . .

Jane Hughes has a loving partner, a job in an animal sanctuary and a tiny cottage in rural Wales. She’s happier than she’s ever been but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes does not really exist.

Five years earlier Jane and her then best friends went on holiday but what should have been the trip of a lifetime rapidly descended into a nightmare that claimed the lives of two of the women.

Jane has tried to put the past behind her but someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won’t stop until they’ve destroyed Jane and everything she loves . . .

If you have ever had the misfortune of  your holiday turning into a "holiday from hell", then when you read this book you will be delighted that is wasn't as bad as Jane's.  When Jane and her friends went to Nepal, to a retreat, it was meant to be a "holiday of a lifetime", but it turned into a living nightmare.

The Lie is told, in both the present day, and also we get the details of the holiday to Nepal, imparted to us slowly throughout the book. Everything is from Jane's perspective, and in the case of the trip, and the details of want went on at the retreat, a lot of it makes incredibly harrowing and terrifying reading.  

The Lie starts when, during her normal working day at the animal rescue centre, she receives a note saying "I know your name's not really Jane Hughes". This terrifies Jane, as in fact her name was not originally Jane Hughes, but she had taken on a new identity for reasons that become very clear.  Jane has forged a new life for herself, including a boyfriend Will, and his daughter Chloe (who is an adorable child). 

Trust is a key concept in this story. Who exactly can Jane trust, and who could she trust 5 years ago.  Friendships are torn apart, and terrible things occur. However someone else knows the truth, and they are determined to destroy Jane's new life. 

The writing is just the right mix between descriptive narrative, and action, and I found it to be fast paced. No sooner have you absorbed one shocking piece of information, another comes along. I had no clue at all, that it would end the way it did, and I must say its nice not to read a completely predictable book. 

I feel I need to give you a few warnings about this book:- Only read The Lie when you have enough time to sit and read large chunks of it in one go, you really won't want to put it down. In addition, if you have a slightly nervy disposition, don't read it while on public transport. A door slammed while I was on my way home, completely absorbed in The Lie, and I jumped out of my skin, and was worried the old man walking past that had caused met  jump, would attack me. I was so engrossed in The Lie, I for a few mins couldn't tell the difference between real life and the immensely immersive story.  I felt like I was there in Nepal with the four friends, and what they were feeling, I was feeling. I honestly don't think a book has ever had me hooked that deeply before this one. 

If you only read one psychological thriller this quarter, than make sure it is The Lie. You won't be disappointed.

The Lie is out on Thursday.