Member Reviews
I really enjoyed this thriller (although the description says it's a locked room thriller and it absolutely isn't) which has some mystery elements to it, but is mostly a chase/escape story that relies heavily on action to keep the pace up and drive the story forwards. I think Sarah Goodwin writes this sort of peril storyline very well - I really enjoyed her novel Stranded too - but the more psychological thriller elements didn't really work so well for me. Without giving too much away, I couldn't really see how the first incident in the book had happened, or why - I never felt that it was properly explained and it didn't make much sense to me. But I really liked the cat-and-mouse chase elements of the story where Meg was attempting to outwit and escape the people who came for her.
A year ago something happened on a night out for Meg and Cat.
Now Meg is living in a crumbling house on a sea cliff. Living hand to mouth working jobs that are cash in hand. She leaves no digital trail. One night she barricades herself inside as a storm rages out. The house is then in darkness due to a blackout. Now Meg has a fight on her hands to survive the night.
This book kept you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC
This started out strong and really gripped me and had my attention wholeheartedly for the first 1/4. It has a dual storyline which I do like in a read but it jumped around a lot and without warning. Then the middle section slowed it down and was engaging enough but it was only ok. But when it came to the last 1/4 of the listen it just got silly and extremely unbelievable and it lost my interest completely. It really lost the fast pace and became long winded and repetitive. Character wise you have a good mix of likeable and unlikeable but none that I could say I really connected with. Unfortunately it just was to far fetched for me and then the ending is very abrupt and your left hanging 🤷♀️.
2.5/5 🌟🌟/🌟
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review #TheBlackout
This is the first book I have read by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a brilliant opening – the plot drew me in, and I flew through the next few chapters – visualising the terror Meg and Cat were experiencing. Unfortunately, a little further along the storyline gets a bit woolly – there is a fair amount of repetition, and numerous ‘cat and mouse’ scenes, which I felt were there simply to pad the story out a bit.
The main character is utterly unlikeable and apathetic, and as for the others – not much to like there either! I do always think that it must be hard to write unlikable characters and, in this book, the author nails it. The main events take place both during the night of the blackout and in the past - I really enjoyed the way in which the author created such atmosphere during the blackout scenes. The epilogue really made me think and I found it be a satisfying end to the tale.
Meg and Cat were on a fun night out when things went terribly wrong, Now, she's been in hiding but someone knows where and who she is- and takes advantage when there's a black out. This moves back and forth over three time lines -it's a little confusing at first but hang on. it's a twisty, atmospheric thriller about revenge and remaking your life. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.No spoilers from me.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Stranded, I was very interested to read the authors next book. The Blackout is extremely atmospheric, especially with its primary setting of a crumbling old cottage on a cliff in adverse weather conditions. While the cat and mouse nature of the plot was exciting at times as Meg fights for survival and Sarah did a great job of building tension, I personally found the book dragged a bit too much for my liking and felt quite repetitive with no twists to hook the reader. I also didn't really think the reason for Meg being hunted really justified the villains going to such great lengths but that may just be me. I also felt the ending was really disappointing and really let the book down.
Meg and Cat end up walking home after a night out they notice they are being followed by 2 men forced to run for their lives they hide in an abandoned house until the police show up to rescue them. They think that's it the night is over, but things are about to get much worse !
I enjoyed this story and wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I love an isolated setting and dual timeline, and this is delivered on the creepy factor. This would have been a 5 star for me, but the ending left me a bit confused. Maybe that's me being dumb. Definitely recommend for a fast thriller read.
Would also definitely recommend the audio. I listened to this on audio more than reading physical book as I found it engaging and easy to listen to.
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK Audio, Avon Books, and Sarah Goodwin for an advance copy of this book and audio in exchange for an honest review.
This book takes place in both the night of the blackout and also in the past which explain the events leading up to that fateful night.
It tells the story of a girl who is trying to escape her past.
I don't want to give any spoilers but I devoured this book in a matter of days. A real page turner.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy.
The book started out well, I was definitely drawn in by the tension at the start.
The pacing however dropped off a bit in the middle with not a lot happening.
I expected everything to tie up neatly but some things happened that just weren’t connected.
I like to understand how all those things come together at the end of a thriller but instead just a lot of random bad things happened.
There was a big link of course but some of the smaller things weren’t and that was a bit disappointing.
The ending was also just too unbelievable and convenient.
It was a decent quick read.
An edge of your seat thriller. When Meg and Cat are forced to take a dangerous shortcut home one night, they notice two men silently following them. Suddenly running for their lives, they scramble into an abandoned building to hide and wait for help. What follows is an explosive story. I couldn’t put this one down.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book and give a honest review.
It was hard to find interest in any of the characters and it felt like certain ones needed more fleshing out to truly understand how and why they did what they did.
Also the epilogue seemed a bit pointless and didn't really add anything to the story.
This was a bit disappointing of a read. I felt as if it dragged on through the middle and needed a little more to the overall story. Multiple timelines are great but I felt we needed more significant time in each timeline before skipping to the next to establish a better understanding.
This is an intense read full of action. It starts with a night out for Meg and her friend cat. Things go drastically wrong and the story then starts to unfold as it moves forward to future times. Although some of the story I found a bit unrealistic I opened my mind to some artistic licence as I still enjoyed. Its very much a tale of past events catching up with you and revenge. I would be interested to read more by Sarah Goodwin.
I enjoyed this book ,plenty of atmosphere ,a proper cat and mouse story .A good thriller ,perhaps a little far fetched ,told across multiple timelines ,a very good read but I wasn't keen on the ending as it seemed left up in the air and who were the Police coming for ? Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.
High octane stuff with lots of twists, very violent and a bit like a horror story. I can see the appeal, just isn’t for me, too far-fetched and too many dodgy characters.
Meg is in hiding in a cottage that is crumbling toward the sea at the same rate meg is crumbling under the pressure of her actions.
Her and her friend are followed and attacked one night- with a devastating outcome and from that point Meg struggles with her mental health, with her personal safety and with keeping her secrets.
hard to review without giving away some of the many twists all I can say is read it!
Wow!!! Just finished this book and am having to remind myself how to breathe. Been on edge, gripped by the tension and drama and unable to stop reading until the end.
Following Megan, a young woman who has suffered a recent tragedy, as she embarks on her first major night out. Things quickly take an unfortunate turn and we are thrust into her fight for survival, taking in both cities and the coast.
A definite must read for thriller lovers, the Blackout is full of twists and turns as well as moments of quiet reflection and sorrow. So pleased to have been given an opportunity to read this...I think I need a lie down!!!
I really enjoyed this book! The characters were well developed and the story was engaging. I recommend that others try this book as well. Well done!
An ok read. I kept waiting for a surprise twist, but was duo. I know it’s fiction, but it’s very far fetched, especially as the protagonist would have to be Superman to survive throughout the events during the storm. It won’t be for everyone, but I quite liked the ending where you decide what happened.
This is my first novel by author Sarah Goodwin and I enjoyed it.
I will be looking out for more novels from this author.
We meet characters Meg and Cat who are on an evening out, they run out of money and have to walk home. Two men are following them and they make a run for it only to stumble upon an abandoned cottage where they hide.
We then follow Meg after the incident and she is traumatised by what happened.
I did not really resonate with the characters and found the novel to be confusing at times but I stuck with it and finished the novel and I am glad that I did.
Good writing by Sarah Goodwin and such a good plot, but I personally feel that a lot more could have been done with this and made that one star better.
Thanks to Netgalley, Sarah Goodwin and the publishers for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.