I've given this book all I could but at 50% I've decided to move on. Truly the writing itself is wonderful and the descriptions of the area so beautifully done but the story and plot are quite rough.

In the beginning it seemed it was going to just take off running but then the pace stopped and began dawdling along with endless chapters of day to day mundane life in a small village.

The main character, Olivia/Lucy/Marie? Very confusing and the flashbacks lacking anything of real interest and with the constant changing of names it just felt...choppy. It was as though I was trying to read three very separate books.

The husband is a heartless arse. Annoyed that his wife would even have a moment's thought of what has happened to two missing young girls. It would seem that in such a small place he would've been quite concerned seeing how it would likely be done by someone he'd known his whole life. Having a young daughter who was friends with one of the missing girls would make most parents even more concerned. He flippantly makes reference to children going missing all the time and not letting it change your life. It was here that I was basically done but trudged my way through just a little more.

Back to Olivia. She's troubled by a particular bad event from college. While her feelings about it are understandable what isn't understandable is why she would feel "terror" at the moment she's face to face with the person involved. She seems complacent in her husband's behavior. She's entangling herself with an aged rock star and his bad marriage and crushing on a mysterious and strange younger man living in a creepy gothic mansion with some questionable psychics obsessed with ley lines in the area. Both of these men seem oddly placed in the book like a puzzle piece that almost fits but not quite.

Then there's Rolf who's role in the story feels like a space filler.

It's possible that all of these things might mean something in the end but at 50% I typically like to feel as though I have a sense of what's going on even if it turns out my deductions are revealed to be incorrect, which is the point of psychological thrillers, but I have no idea what's going on in any of this story.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me a chance to read this. To the author, your writing is wonderful but the story just isn't working. I feel disappointed that I have to leave it without finishing and maybe sometime I'll pick it up and find out who did what. I very much wanted to like this book but I didnt. Two stars earned for some of the beautiful descriptions.

A real rollercoaster of a read, I was totally drawn into Olivias life.
This is one of those books that you will remember long after you have turned the last page.I
Will certainly be looking out for more Alison Baillie books!
Thank you netgalley.

Ein bisschen unrund hin und wieder, aber ganz gut aufgebaut. Teilweise dürften die Charaktere etwas plastischer sein.

Intriguing title and cover with a story to match! It's fast-paced, suspenseful, and thrilling! Highly recommend.

This book was not for me, I tried reading it on a few different occasions, but it just never captured my attention. I am moody, so if I end up reading later and enjoying will update.
Will use in a challenge and let members of Chapter Chatter Pub know it’s out,

A Fractured Writer is an interesting mystery that has a lot of twists and turns. The descriptions were detailed in the setting was beautiful. Overall a good read that I would recommend for others to read.

A Fractured Winter is an intriguing mystery. Throughout the book there are easily five different characters that you think took the little girl, Sandra. This book has a little different take on the thriller villain which was nice. I did think it a little bit of a sleeper story and not very fast paced. That is not necessarily a bad thing just a change. I would definitely recommend this one to others.

Interesting and unusual cast of characters, great setting. Well detailed descriptions and good use of flashbacks added depth to the story.

Olivia is an odd one. For someone so bright she sure doesn’t act like it most of the time. She makes some odd choices and seems very easily led.

There are twists and surprises. This isn’t your traditional mystery thriller. There are some very different situations which made it fun to read. The conclusion does tie everything up and satisfies. I would read more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bloodhound Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

A Fractured Winter
When someone is out to get you, is there anywhere you can hide?

by Alison Baillie

Bloodhound Books

Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 01 Feb 2019

I am reviewing a copy of A Fractured Winter through Bloodhound Books and Netgalley:

On the outside it appears Olivia is leading an idyllic existence with her husband and children, after she starts receiving notes it becomes apparent that the perfect life she built for herself is under threat.

Olivia had been certain that she had put the past behind her but she may have been mistaken it seems someone is determined to reveal the secret she had been hiding.

In the meantime girls are starting to disappear from her area and she begins to fear for the safety of her family.

She can’t help but wonder if someone has discovered why she left Scotland all those years ago.

Could Olivia’s secret have something to do with the recent disappearances?

If someone is out to get her will she be able to keep safe?

Find out in A Fractured Winter!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.

I loved the setting of the book and the main character who was interesting. The plot was paced well and had twists and turns I loved.
Thanks for allowing me to read and review this book

A Fractured Winter is a first read for my by Alison Baillie. I love the way she writes though and it is very easy to follow along with this psychological thriller. The characters are well developed and ones you can relate to. With out society being so crazy these days, I can definitely understand Olivia's fear about her daughter/children being taken. It is a very real world issue.

Olivia becomes very protective of her daughter, Lara, after her best friend comes up missing. When other girls turn up missing, Olivia gets even more worried. Olivia has focused her whole days on making sure that her children are ok. Olivia can't even think about going back to teaching because she wants to be available to make sure that her children are safe. Olivia is consumed with their safety.

We get a little family drama with Olivia's son, Julian. His father has come into the picture and there are some mysterious things going on there that leave the reader guessing where things might go with them. I don't want to give the story line away because it is really good reading and you will want to get the mystery and surprise like I did.

I never would have guess the ending to this story and where the missing girls were found. There are lots of twists and turns in this story that will have you wondering where things will go now. I do have to say that I love how Alison Baillie wrote the setting in the Alps so descriptively. I felt that I was in the Alps the whole time I was reading this one. Very well done! You will not regret picking this one up and reading it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book!

# A Fractured Winter#Netgalley
I found this Novel spellbinding, poor Oliver, suddenly getting notes from her spouse, it sure doesn’t take her long to realise the marriage is over. Then when a body is discovered. Suddenly she starts wondering if it’s anything to do with why they suddenly left Scotland, there’s so much I would like to say. Without going into too much detail. And spoilers which is something I don’t do. This is so gripping and I couldn’t put it down. Very good will be looking for more books by this author

I enjoyed this book very much until it came to the point of unbelievable. The main character was not especially likable and I was left unconvinced that any husband would react as hers did given the circumstances. All in all not a bad read.
Thanks Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. This is my honest review.

Annoying main character. Boring story-line that is moving at a snails pace. And now that a psychic has been introduced as a major player in the story, well, I think it's safe for me to bail now.

From the outside, Olivia seems to lead an idyllic existence with her husband and children. But when she starts receiving notes, she knows her perfect life is under threat. She thought she’d managed to put the past behind her, but someone seems determined to reveal her secret. Meanwhile girls are vanishing in the area and Olivia fears for her family’s safety.

Has someone discovered the real reason she left Scotland all those years ago? And does her secret have links to the recent disappearances When someone is out to get you, is there anywhere you can hide?

This was my more of a mystery, whodunnit type of book, but overall was a really good story. It keeps your attention and pulls you in until you find out what these secrets mean.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #AFracturedWinter
Pub Date: 01 Feb 2019

More mystery than a psychological thriller. Olivia is hiding many secrets but has managed to create her perfect life in Switzerland with an adoring husband and beautiful children. Then she starts receiving threatening notes, her daughter's best friend goes missing and there are the mysterious folks just moving into town including Olivia's brother-in-law.. This was a quick read through a woman's mind while she unspools through things happening around her. Some parts are far-fetched and not very believable. 3-1/2 Stars.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for a honest review

More of a classic whodunnit than anything psychological. The twist is revealed early on and isn’t much of a twist. Passes the time.

Olivia thought she had buried her past in Scotland, and seemed to be living the dream with a lovely home, husband and children. Now, girls in the area are disappearing and it would appear that Olivia’s secret has been uncovered. Is her family safe? Are her children going to be the next to disappear? No spoilers here, so I can’t reveal Olivia’s past, but I can promise that readers will have a wild ride uncovering the answer for themselves