Member Reviews
If you need more convincing that Tinder ISN’T the place to find your true love...
OR
that it ISN’T always wise to invite your new neighbors over for drinks...
Then this CRAZY book is for you!
3 Narrators, and a frenetic pace, which will work for you IF you ❤️ your psychological thrillers TWISTY and don’t mind if they are IMPLAUSIBLE!
It started out FUN, but It grew a bit tedious towards the end for me.
One reason-the style.
Character POV’s changing while still under the chapter heading of another, and written in the tense where it sounds as if one character is telling the story to another, instead of to the reader.
The other reason- one “twist” too many for me.
But, if there is no such thing as TOO many twists for you...pick this one up on Sept. 3rd, 2020!,
Thanks to Netgalley, and Avon Books, Uk for providing a digital arc in exchange for a candid review!
Thanks to Netgalley, and Avon Books, Uk for providing a digital arc in exchange for a candid review!
Available Sept. 3, 2020!
This book started off a bit strange and i thought i wouldn't enjoy but i was wrong.My Darling is a story of murder and betrayal which is a real page turner,Jade is with Tomas who she doesn't trust so when Emma moves in next door she accuses Tomas of having an affair with Emma straight away,as the book progresses we find out more of all the characters backgrounds especially Emma's through a series of memories.The story is told by Jade,Emma and Alastair who is Emma's boyfriend and it really had me gripped to the last chapter as all three of them accuse each other of crimes to try punish each other.But will the real villain escape justice ? It really is a great read and one which i would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre,a great 4 star read.
Well, that was a super-sized serve of the crazy but it was just what I needed after a series of dark and bleak books. It had all the elements that we love in this sort of story:
. Unreliable narrators - check
. Lies and betrayals - check
. Secrets from the past - check
. Jealousy and paranoia - check
. Murder most foul - check.
Meet Emma and Alistair. Emma is a very well off dentist who also happens to be young and attractive. Alistair is her forensic pathologist boyfriend who spends the weekends with Emma and the weeknights with his mother and son in a modest flat. They have both been previously married and they are sooo much in love. Meet Jade and Tomas who move into the house next door to Emma’s. Jade is an academic, a professor of forensics, and Tomas is a hedge fund manager.
Jade invites Emma and Alistair over for a dinner party soon after the move. It turns out to be...awkward doesn’t begin to describe it. Jade is paranoid and is always thinking that Tomas is having an affair. Emma and Alistair refer to her as “the clusterf***”. Of course right now Jade is convinced that Tomas is having it off with Emma who she refers to as “the stereotype”. And so it begins - the ugly, the crazy and the downright weird and twisted.
Is it plausible or realistic - not a chance. Is it fun to read - hell yes! This book is junk food for the brain, and I pinched that expression from a friend but it is so apt for this story. And what’s more, there were no animals killed in its telling. It was a wonderful change of pace for me and I just loved it. Many thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Amanda Robson for providing a copy of this book for me to review.
It took me just a little time to settle into this book but once I had done so I thoroughly enjoyed it. Complicated but flawless plotting, and characters I just loved to hate, with perhaps one exception.
I am always amazed at the plotting of modern psychological / domestic noir thrillers, but this one was exceptional and I wonder how writers can come up with such story-lines.
My first Amanda Robson and I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Highly recommended.
Jade and Tomas move into an expensive house in Henley-on-Thames. Next door lives dentist Emma who is in a relationship with Alastair. Jade observes her attractive neighbour through narrow eyes and with pursed lips. I don’t want to say anymore as it would ruin this insane, crazy train of a read which is impossible to put down. The story is told by Jade, Emma and Alastair.
It starts combative and becomes full on war with some of the characters engaging in varying forms of deadly combat. The storyline does contain domestic violence which is disturbing and some of what the abusers say makes for a sharp intake of breath and their actions are truly shocking. It explains the motivations of at least one character and so is an important part of the storytelling. So it’s dark, very twisty, then it gets darker and twistier still and you have no idea who will emerge the victor which makes for compulsive, gripping reading from start to finish. I have no idea forensically if sections of the plot-line are possible but even if its implausible I can’t say it bothers me as its breathtaking reading! None of the characters are especially likeable with the exception of Tomas but that’s what makes it more intriguing. I like the short, sharp sentence style as it matches the unfolding events.
Overall, if you like gritty, dark and twisty psychological thrillers then this is a must read. I’m definitely wanting to read more by Ananda Robson.
My Darling is my first Amanda Robson book, but it certainly won't be my last. If her other books are anything like this domestic thriller, I will definitely check them out.
Basically this entire book is a head-spinning, wild ride that left me asking what in the world just happened. Fast paced, with something unbelievable always happening, I could hardly read it fast enough to satisfy my need to know what would happen next. The main characters are all incredibly unstable, each one ready to snap at any moment.
The narrative switches between characters; sometimes I lost track of who was narrating and I had to back up and remind myself which character was talking.
Reader beware: this book contains domestic violence in the form of both physical and mental abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Firstly, a huge thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Secondly, I don't ever want to be left alone with anyone who has the kind of brain that can come up with stories like this.
Such a brilliant book and I love the format of alternating between the four different viewpoints. Certainly sucks you in and keeps you hooked.
5 stars
The plot has 3 main narrators Jade, Emma and Alastair. There is also one interesting narration by way of Memories. We are told at around the 20% mark who they belong to and that to me was the first twist in the plot.
At first the setup seems very odd, the narration seems choppy but as you read along you realize that the writing style helps you subconsciously form a picture of each character in your head. It’s a tad convenient that Alastair happens to be the forensics expert on this case of Tomas’ murder.
Overall the characters are all not likeable. Each of them is problematic on many levels. There are many instances in the book when things seem a little hard to digest- too many for me to be ok with suspending disbelief. It is the tale of dark twisted somewhat crazy people. It left me wondering if justice was truly served or not and on some level it was satisfying to see most people pay their dues. The plot was twisty and full of mind games, making for an interesting read.
Because this was an ARC it wasn’t formatted well and while it doesn’t typically bother me, somehow with this one it did! There were times when the narrator suddenly changed without any title. Or instances when in the middle on narration, suddenly the narration flipped to another character. All this made it a little hard to follow certain parts of the book. I do hope these issues are identified and fixed before release!
My goodness! What a book! Two women, Emma and Jade – neighbours, but one of them gets it into her head that the other is having an affair with her husband.
Jade and Thomas have just moved into their new home and they invite their neighbours, Emma and Alistair over. During the course of the evening Emma mentions to Jade that Alistair has a roving eye. And so it begins; watch out for Emma – everyone.
I cannot praise this enough. It was exciting, one twist after another, crazy but scary and it leaves you no time to ponder on whether it is realistic – it doesn’t matter. Go for it. You will not regret it.
Absolutely great. Many thanks Ms Robson.
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
I found this interesting to start but also very unbelievable writing and so didn't enjoy where the book went and I'm sorry to say just not for me. The writing almost felt like You. But some people might like the fast pace of this one and writing.
This book could have been better - the bones were good but there’s some serious editing that needs to be done. It switched character viewpoints and would randomly go from 1st person narrative to 2nd person. It was a good story with many twists and turns. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.
3.5/5
Jade and her husband Tomas move into their new home and meet their new neighbours Emma and Alaistair. One night Jade confides in Emma that Tomas regularly cheats on her with other women and its not long before jade believes that Emma and Tomas are having an affair. With a history of paranoia Jade sets about hatching a plan to make her cheating husband very, very sorry.
As with all of Amanda Robsons books, this was very fast, very punchy and just kept your brain twisting and turning trying to keep up. Told from multiple points of view the voices of the characters were very clear, in that you knew who was narrating with ease. This book was dark, cold, disturbing and fabulous. It’s full of revenge regret and retribution, and throughout it all you’re never quite sure who is guilty of what. Highly, highly recommend this book.
A must read book - I can’t stop talking about it to anyone I meet.
Thank you to Netgalley for copy in exchange for a review.
This was my first Amanda Robson but it won't be my last. I was completely engrossed in this book from the first chapter on.
Writing a psychological thriller with just four main characters, set in the same location for most of the time, and still manage to grab the reader, is extremely difficult. Amanda Robson did it. It is difficult to tell more because the less said about this book the better, because it's hard to write about without spoilers.
You should read it for yourself!
Just as you think you know which way this story will go, it goes another way. The characters are extremely well developed and I just couldn't find a thing that I didn't like about this book.
Many thanks to Netgally for this digital reading copy.
First I have to say that this is the fastest that I have ever read a book. I couldn’t put it down and I was so caught up in the storyline, before I knew it I had finished it!!
Jade and Tomas have just moved into their new home, when they invite the neighbours Emma and Alistair over for drinks .Jade confides with Emma that her husband has a roving eye. Before long she is is adamant that Tomas and Emma are having an affair.
Without giving anything away, this book becomes a run away train with so many twists that it made me dizzy. I read this on the edge of my sofa not knowing where this twisty, tension building story was going!!
What is there not to like? It has secrets galore and murder. My advise is to not read the blurb and just enjoy the crazy ride.
A must read book - I can’t stop talking about it to anyone I meet.
Thank you to Netgalley for copy in exchange for a review.
Devoured this book .. written in my favourite format of each chapter concentrating on a different main character .... Emma - Alastair - Jade - Tomas .... neighbours .... beautiful rich dentist Emma in a relationship with Alastair when new neighbours Jade and husband Tomas move in. Unfolds a gripping thriller of love jealousy and twists you will not see coming.
Am awesome read
My Darling by Amanda Robson Reviewed on July 2, 2020 4+ stars!!!
Two couples: Jade & Tomas and Emma and Alastair.
When Jade meets Emma, she states in a social conversation that her husband Tomas has a wondering eye.
Hmmm……Tomas turn up dead and Emma is accused of murdering him. Her DNA is found in his bed!!!!! What????
Story is told from multiple POVs. (I know some readers hate POV but I honestly like it).
In this case the POVs are Jade, Emma, Alastair, and Memories. ..Memories start out a bit confusing and then become OMGosh!!!!!
My first [author: Amanda Robinson] but I have found a new dark, twisted story telling that I love!!!
There is no doubt that one of these unlikeable characters is a psychopath. Hmm which one?
This was a sit on the edge of chair page turner. I could not put down
Want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 20, 2020
I watched you move in next door and thought we might be friends.
I saw you watching from the window – and knew I’d have to keep you well away from my husband.
I started to trust you. Confide in you.
I started to mistrust you. Suspect you.
I was confused when I blacked out after an evening at your place. Was I really that drunk?
I came up with a plan. A plan to make you both pay . . .
Woah...… this was a dark, twisted, thrilling, unputdownable book!
Amanda Robson really knows how to catch a girls attention right of rip!
I have never read such a unique, brilliant read as I have just read with this!
Thank You NetGalley & Publisher this amazing ARC!
So worth every minuet of it......
A Great twisty thriller! The chapters are short and are told from the perspectives of different characters, which keeps the story moving quickly. This book was a wild ride!
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.
They have new neighbors, Jade and Tomas. One of her first meetings with Jade and she is informed that Thomas is a philanderer who will probably hit on her. Emma and her boyfriend Alistair are surprised to hear this when they have just met.
Alistair and Jade do have something in common they both work in the forensics field. Jade used to teach it, Alistair is actually hands on. Emma is a dentist with her own practice. Yes, the neighbors are strange but we all have at least one eccentric neighbor. That Jade takes it a step further she is accusing Emma of sleeping with Tomas. What really happened is one weekend Thmas had a severe toothache. All Emma did was give him an antibiotic and pain medication until he could have a crown put on his tooth. Then the story gets really convoluted when there's deaths and forensics and first this person is arrested that that person is arrested and this one is let go. All in all a very twisted story with an astounding ending!