Such a disappointment.

Yes, the plot line is a little overused - a bunch of people in a remote area and people keep dying off. Still, I would have been up for it if the writing wasn't so slow.

The first chapter was decent and scary, but after that, the pace was so slow that I lost interest.

I really liked the premise of this book, medical sci-fi is usually a good go to for me. However this just didn't quite hit it. The writing style was a bit iffy and the characters weren't well fleshed out in my opinion. I didn't feel like there was much put into making the scenarios realistic and from about half way through it was clear why the subjects had been chosen.

3 stars all round, I just needed more explanations/character development.

This book has a really good concept, a group of people doing a medical trial but quickly things began to go wrong.

I mostly enjoyed the books although in parts I felt like it was being drawn out to much and if it was moving quicker it would be more exciting.
I found the ending really abrupt and not finished.

I just reviewed The Trial by S. R. Masters. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

The Trail is a new book by S.R. Masters, the author of The Killer You Know. For me this is my first introduction with this author, and the mysterious synopsis just caught my attention. What will this story bring?

Twelve volunteers. A drug with unknown side effects. Will you survive?
Taking a pill every day and keep a diary on an all-inclusive luxury trip to the Canary Islands, while getting up to £20,000. Doesn’t that sound great? Elle decides to apply for this medical trail, since she is in need of lots of money soon. This trail seems ideal, however you won’t get any information about the drug or its possible side effects. Then a headache starts, but every day it gets worse until a body is found. What just happened? Does this have anything to do with the trail?

Even though the synopsis promises an exciting and mysterious story, the first part doesn’t really fits into this expectation. The first part of the story is really slow, and to be honest I’ve thought of not finishing this book. However, I wanted to really give it a change and just kept reading. Halfway through the story the mystery comes into the foreground a bit more, which made me like the story more.

This story is one feels non-realistic even though all theme’s could as well have happened for real. In addition, some important details are left out in my opinion. I just feel like this story wasn’t really made for me, so I can only give it 2,5 stars. I do see potential in this story for other readers, who might like this more that I did.

I would like to thank Harper Collins Uk and One More Chapter for the ARC of The Trial.

There are some good characters in this book with each being completely different than the others. This makes for a well rounded group to be trapped together for a month on a questionable trial. I felt they were all rather gullible to be there with no information on what was really going on.

It was rather unbelievable and while there is psychological tension it seemed to all implode quickly with many aspects being implausible. The ending did help to improve the book overall although I can see a lot of people not liking the ending.

I wanted to love The Trial as the premise sounded really interesting but sadly I felt somewhat let down by the book. The plot didn’t really grip me and I didn’t gel with the main character. I wanted to find out the conclusion though so would rate it 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.

Interesting concept, I enjoyed parts and found others fell a bit flat. I feel like it would make a good Netflix show! Thank you for the advanced copy NetGalley.

Would you sign up for a medical trial if you didn't know the possible side effects?

18-40 PAID CRUCIAL TRIAL IN THE CANARY ISLANDS - UP TO £20,000 TAX FREE

It seems the opportunity of a lifetime. An all-inclusive trip abroad, and all you have to do is take a pill every day and keep a diary. Except you don't know anything about the drug or what the side effects might be. The headaches start, a dull ache at first. Everyday worse than the last. Then a body is found....

What a creepy. mysterious and captivating read this was. This is a descriptively written book. We are told the story from Elle's point of view. The storyline has a steady pace until you get to the middle where it takes a dip, But then it steadies it's pace out again. I also felt the ending was a little abrupt. Overall, I did enjoy this book but I had to take off half a star for the dip in the middle, then another half star for the abrupt ending.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #ONeMoreChapter and the author #SRMasters for my ARC of #TheTrial in exchange for an honest review.

The Trial by S.R Masters is a captivating and intriguing read. I have to give this book points for a unique plot with memorable twists and turns. Elle's relationship with her mother is strained. Tired of grasping the strings of broken promises and change, she embarks on an all-inclusive luxury trip abroad. All Elle and the participants need to do is take a pill every day and journal their thoughts. Everything is not what it seems, for the level of secrecy and deception increases with every page. There are moments of mystery, suspense and terror. There are three parts, and the first past has incredible pacing. However, the pacing significantly changes in the last two parts, but I wonder if it is deliberate. I enjoyed how the elements unfolded, and it had all my attention. For me, the ending seemed unsettling but tied in well with the overall feel of this book. A 4-star read!

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this eARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

I was keen to read the The Trial by S.R. Masters. I read the description and loved the concept: Would you sign up to a medical trial if you didn’t know the possible side effects? 18-40? PAID CLINICAL TRIAL IN THE CANARY ISLANDS – UP TO £20,000 TAX FREE

My response to that was a big resounding ‘Yes’!

I really bought into why the protagonist, Elle, took part in the trial. I was very sympathetic to her home situation and how the trial would provide her with the financial security to move on with her life.

The story unfolds from Elle’s perspective - We learn about the resort, the staff and human trial subjects that she befriends. Some of the trial subjects are unknown commodities just because Elle hasn’t befriended them, which felt very real.

Initially, all the trial subjects are in holiday mode and enjoying their luxurious surroundings and some pair off. As the weeks of the clinical trial pass, things take a dramatic turn and it felt like a shift from Love Island to The Squid Games.

I thought it was quite a pacy thriller but rather disturbing in places.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for making this ARC available to me read for a fair and honest review.

Elle desperately needs a holiday, so when she sees an advert for a paid clinical trial in the Canary Islands, she jumps at the chance. But once there, nothing is as it seems and the people around her appear to suffering startling side effects.

The Trial is a gripping thriller with plenty of unexpected moments. I thought it built the tension well, but the ending was disappointing. There were just a few too many unknowns still, and some explanations didn't quite seem to make sense. Overall though, I did enjoy it!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for an early copy of The Trial. This book could have been a whole lot better. It was interesting in parts but the ending is really ridiculous. I’m very confused about how it ended. I really can’t recommend this book to my friends, I’m sorry.

A locked resort mystery with a medical trial. Would you sign up for a medical trial in return for a trip to the Canary Islands and 20k? Don't judge Elle who did it. Everything seems ok at first but then the side effects start, an animal is killed, and ...... It's a good premise but this one might have benefited from another edit and a different ending. That said, it might make a good beach or travel read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

There's a lot of potential and great ideas. The book starts with a bang, is an exciting read till the moment it starts to drag and it lost my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Trial but that has in no way influenced my review.

So the question is, would you? Would you sign up for a clinical trial without knowing what the drug you were going to be ingesting was? Or the possible side effects? No, nor me. But oh my goodness, that blurb had my attention immediately! The blurb combined with the striking cover, the fact that I read and enjoyed the author's debut and once again, THAT BLURB ensured that I couldn't let The Trial pass me by. I had to read this book and I'm so glad I did!

Elle really needs a holiday! Following a frightening experience at work she decides to book a well-deserved break. But her plans fall through when her holiday money is needed elsewhere. So whilst in a bad mood one evening, most of the way down a bottle of wine, Elle sees a Facebook advert for a clinical trial. The ad promises four relaxing weeks at a luxurious resort in the Canary Islands, plus £20,000 tax free on completion of the trial. Elle can't see the harm in signing up. She knows they're bound to be inundated with applications so it's unlikely she'll be chosen. So when a confirmation email arrives, Elle can't believe her luck. As she boards the private plane she begins to wonder what she's let herself in for. What drug are they being given? What are the side effects? And will all twelve subjects make it out alive...?

The Trial is an intriguing thriller with a different yet highly compelling edge to it which kept me turning the pages late into the night. The author has expertly created a cast of mostly unlikeable characters who the reader can't help but doubt the integrity of. This is particularly so after the discovery of a body. Elle is clearly out of her depth and the only member of the group who seems to realise that things in paradise aren't as perfect as they were made out to be. As the situation worsens and things really start to spiral out of control, she and Benji (who is employed by the trial organisers to oversee the health and well-being of the participants 24/7) realise that they very much need to watch their own backs.

The plot is well-written throughout and introduces the reader to the many different personalities on the island. The first two thirds of the book are a slow build setting the scene, allowing the reader to see what makes each trial participant tick, along with finding out a little more about the support staff. The last third of the story is where the author really ramps the tension up and I found myself holding my breath on several occasions. I have to confess that this book was one of my holiday reads - we went to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands (the location of the book although not the same island!) for a week - and at times I perhaps did regret choosing it. I won't say anymore for fear of spoilers but events were maybe a little too close to home.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Trial is a well-written, intriguing story which I enjoyed. I do wish I hadn't read it on holiday but that's my fault, no one else's. I was able to predict what the drug they were testing was for but there were still several twists and turns along the way I didn't see coming. I would happily read another book by this author and look forward to seeing what Masters delivers next. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Trial. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

This review will be published on damppebbles.com on 11th July 2022.

There are some really good bits to this book, the premise for one where we find Ellie applying to be on ‘the trial’ the reason she is doing so is to flee the clutches of her tyrannical Mum, now as characters go her Mum is a loathe to love one, a massive wonderfully awfully great character that the author is inspired to have created, so…the whole process of applying and Ellie joining and meeting the other participants is good…then as things start to go wrong and side effects happen it goes a bit ‘off’ and tbh for me never really regained its thunderous start…there seems a lot of repetition and as things escalate certain situations are hard to fathom, that said I read it to the end as wanted to see how it ended and what the purpose ( the real purpose of the trial ) had been
Overall was worth a read but does have a few glaring inconsistencies in the facts that make the story a bit questionable at times

6/10
3 Stars

A seriously thrilling concept brings you into the world of the participants of The Trial. Kept me engrossed and turning the pages!

First off, I have just finished and have no words..
I enjoyed it there’s no denying that. The concept, very interesting and it was executed well. For the most part I liked all the characters. The writing was good, very easy to follow. The prologue was very intriguing but now that I’ve finished the book it feels unnecessary. Originally I thought the prologue was in relation to Elle. I carried this thought well into the book and I must say I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t about Elle because the prologue was just so inviting. I was expecting it to be a lot like the prologue in the sense of being in Elles mind while she’s going through this crazy stuff from the drug. The drug was a lot less crazy then I was expecting. I loved benji actually, and I did really like him and Elle together. I was surprised when Teds true identify was revealed, nicely done. The drug itself, what an interesting concept on kind of fixing psychopathy! Overall it’s an interesting concept that was well executed!

Special Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC of The Trial.

Thrillers are my jam...so when I read the description of this book I was very excited.
A medical trial - a trip to Canary Islands - $20,000 to keep a diary and take one pill a day. YES!
She needs money and she needs to get away from her mother.
Should she do this - one pill a day - - but what is the pill? what are the side effects?
Can she do this?

Main character ELLE joins others in a complex but soon it’s all getting a bit bizarre and people are not acting normally. This book had a lot of death, still not sure how I felt about it but it left me bored by the end

I like the concept but of this story but for me it fell flat. I did not like the format and I found it boring and tedious to read. DNF at 34%.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.