Pressure

This book builds up the pressure until you think you will explode with anticipation. Brilliant written and totally engrossing.

Have you ever had that discussion where you talk about what the worst possible way to die would be for you? Well I think I now can add being on a submarine to that little list.

The story flicks between characters when they are on the submarine and how they got to be on there. As there are a few characters it did take me a little while to settle into getting to know who is who but that didn't stop me from being fully emerged into what was going on.

I can only describe this story as being claustrophobic and suffocating. I mean that in the bestest possible way. The author drags you into the story so it feels like you are trapped on the vessel with the characters. At times I could totally empathise with the characters as I could feel the madness setting in.

If it wasn't bad enough to be stranded on the submarine the fact that there is a murderer amongst them makes it way more unbearable. I honestly didn't know which one was worse, a possible death from lack of oxygen or being murdered. It was a total guessing game as to who it could be. As soon as I thought it could be one person, something happened which totally squashed that idea and I was back to square one.

Pressure reminded me very much of Agatha Christie's, And Then There Were None. It is crammed pack full of suspense that intensifies the further into the story you get. This is one thriller that will seriously mess with your head with shocks and surprises a plenty. An absolute must read for fans of a gripping psychological thriller that will leave you gasping for air.

This was devilishly clever and bordered on just the right balance of mystery and impending horror.

Ten people who are shooting a film are trapped on a submarine with little hope of getting back to the surface, when they start to realise that there is a killer on board. As they scramble for survival, the story unfolds as to how they got to be on the submarine and how they are all connected to each other. One thing is for certain; one of them is a murderer.

I enjoyed how fast-paced the tale was and how it was neatly broken up into bite-sized chunks of foreshadowing. It mixed thriller with a good amount of horror and kept you guessing until the very end. The many different changes in perspective were a bit difficult to keep track of sometimes and I found I had to do a bit of back-tracking to find my bearings especially because the story is told by 10 different people, plus the mysterious “Child”. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and this was one of the few books I’ve finished were I’ve instantly wanted to reread, just so that I can find all the clues I had missed!

An interesting look at what lies beneath the surface. Trapped in a disabled submarine with a killer on the loose, the characters must find a way to stop the killer and return to the surface.

It starts off a bit slowly but hang in there it's worth it!

en people are on a submarine to make a film. Some are crew either of the film or the sub and others are cast members, They have all come together because the director wanted to make this unusual film underwater. We are told the story of each of them as well as what is going on at the time. There is also the story of a child who is abused by their mother, fending for themselves in squalor. When the submarine develops a fault and they all become trapped, possibly never to get to the surface, things take an even worse turn. Something none of them could have foreseen. Will they die due to lack of oxygen or at the hands of one of them? This is a short fast paced novel that I wanted to keep turning more and more and more. The who’s and why’s were getting more and the pressure was building. Reminiscent of a well known author’s book (I won’t give anything away by naming it) with a very different spin. Trapped on a submarine is not a pleasant thought in anyone’s book- so to speak- and especially with a killer on board! I wanted to guess at the perpetrator and time and again was wrong. Where does the child fit in? A book you will want to read in as few sittings as possible. A book to remember when you next get on a submarine…..
(rest of links on publication day)

I first started reading books from this author a few years ago when I read Beneath the Watery Moon and have followed her ever since and loved every one.

I can definitely recommend this even though it is somewhat different to Betsy's earlier ones but still a great read that just keeps you wanting to read more to see what happens.

An exciting, easy to read page turner and I look forward to Betsy's next masterpiece.

This novel is about ten people trapped on a submarine with oxygen running out and a killer on the loose. Each chapter tells you a little about each person trapped on board along with chapters about one of the characters who was abused as a child by its mother. This is one of those books that you just don’t want to put down, even though it leaves you holding your breath and having a pounding heart! This is a fast paced novel and I look forward to reading more by Betsy. I would highly recommend this novel.

Having read 'The Optician's Wife' and 'Frailty' I knew Betsy Reavley understands how to tap into her reader's fears to produce good psychological thrillers. In "Pressure' she has excelled herself. When a film crew and cast embark on a voyage on a chartered commercial submarine, which loses power and sinks to the bottom of the sea, leaving them with a limited amount of oxygen, immediately fear of dying, never being found, and not being able to escape sets in. As if this is not bad enough there is a crazed killer on board who is stealthily and brutally executing the survivors one by one. It's a whodunnit as well as a thriller, and Betsy Reavely provides us with chapters from each character's POV to help make our mind up who the killer is. This is interspersed with chapters from 'The Child's' point of view, suggesting that monster's are made in childhood, and this could be the back story of the killer. I read this in a day and could not put it down.

Certainly not for the claustrophobic, being trapped 200 meters under the ocean would be their worst nightmare. Put that together with the fact that most of the people you are trapped with are social misfits, who can you trust? no one apparently. Things go from bad to worse when they realise that being rescued is probably not an option and that they only have enough oxygen for around two weeks. It is a book that certainly sets your nerves a jangling just as a psychological thriller should

I thought this book was excellent, the author definitely knows how to grab readers attention and keep it in a deathhold. The characters were written thoroughly and in a way that allowed the reader to get absorbed and sucked into the books. I've heard about this author many times and I'm glad I took the time to read one, because it is definitely the type I love!

A few of my worst fears are as follows; deep water, enclosed spaces, the sea…and being murdered. I really wouldn’t like to be murdered! So obviously a book about a group of people trapped in a malfunctioning submarine slowly being picked off by a psychotic maniac totally pushed all my buttons! As a total thrill seeker I will actively seek out a book that is going to freak me out and make me think “what would I do?”. Now there is no chance you’ll ever find me on a submarine but to be able to immerse myself into this story was a dark delight. I have a vivid imagination and Pressure played out like a horror movie in my mind – I was there shivering in the freezing darkness, smelling the rank odour of bodies beginning to decompose and praying for a solution.

The story is told from quite a few different POV’s including the cast of the movie to be filmed and crew of the submarine. There is also a narrator identified only as Child giving an account of historical abuse at the hands of their mother. This may seem like a lot to get your head around but each chapter is quite short and I found them easy to follow. It seems like each character has an underlying reason to be involved in the film but who is out for murder??

Pressure is the ultimate locked room mystery and I advise you put a few hours aside and read this in one seating just don’t forget to breath!!

The story was totally different to what I was expecting, I’m saying that in a good way! Has anyone ever curled their toes up and get fidgety when they’re reading books that make them nervous? I got that with this one!!!!! Goosebumps kinda book for sure. Huge 5 stars.

<b>Speechless!</b>

This was the only word I could use to describe how I felt when I finished ‘Pressure’ – it was a wild ride!

I can’t say this book wasn’t what I was expecting, because I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I dove in (pun intended) to this clever, horrifying, tightly-wound tale that’s set inside a disabled submarine.

Ten people are aboard the Pica Explorer, which is the set of a film being shot entirely underwater, onboard the vessel. We are given glimpses into each character’s background, some brief and some more in-depth, as well as the narrative of a child’s (identity unknown) awful upbringing. These background chapters are interspersed amongst the present-day situation: The Pica Explorer is running on backup generators, oxygen and power are running out, and nobody knows where they are – and then someone is murdered.

I made a solid guess as to the murderer’s identity – and I was wrong. Then, as more information came to light via background story and cleverly interspersed tidbits in the present-day story, I realized I was wrong and this time I KNOW who the killer was! Wrong again.

I won’t say any more other than the fact that this is a fast read, because you just <b>have</b> to know what happens at the end – you will sacrifice sleep and it’ll be worth it!

My only minor complaint is that the dialogue was a bit stilted in places – for example, instead of a more casual “it’s” or “they’re” in an everyday conversation, “it is” or “they are” tend to be used instead. It felt a little off, but the overall story was so good that I got used to it as the book picked up pace and it didn’t bother me anymore.

Highly recommend!

This review is also posted on my blog, here: https://wordpress.com/view/numinousgirl663212829.wordpress.com

The premise of this book grabbed my attention immediately. A submarine with 10 people on board sinks! Added to that , there is a killer onboard. This book was so gripping, the panic, ( mine too) , the atmosphere and the fear of the situation in the sunken submarine, I was pleased to come up for air to learn how the passengers came to be onboard. before being plunged back into the depths of the ocean again.. Each individual had their own reason for being on this vessel My suspicions as to who the killer was continually changed. I had absolutely no idea.. Pressure is a perfect title for this book, not only for the passengers on board but also,for the reader.. The scenario of Pressure makes it a different, taut , gripping read. that will have you gasping for air!

I can’t believe this is my first read by this author. All I can say is where have I been hiding lol I’ll definitely be reading her previous books in the future.

Ten people are trapped on a sunken submarine. Among the people in the submarine is a killer which totally adds to the story. There are plenty of points of view in this story which is usually a negative for me. However the author wrote this in such a way that I didn’t notice , the story flowed really well.

I found this to be a well written story that gave me that claustrophobic feeling. I’d love to see this made into a movie as I’d certainly watch it.

Wow, just wow!
I was hooked and did not want to put this book down at any point.
My favourite book of the year so far.

Ten people stuck on a recently sunken submarine and one of them gets murdered! A great start to a fantastic book. Each of the ten characters’ backgrounds and reasons for being on the vessel are described as the book progresses and the reader is suddenly aware that all of them have a very good motive for wanting revenge on, or at least wanting to be rid of, at least one of the others. The tension rises along with the body count in a gripping read right to the end. Thoroughly recommended!!

5/5 stars!

This book is such a creepy thrill ride, I was just blown away from the very beginning. It's like a mixture of the movie Alien and the claustrophobic fear in the back of everyone's mind that realizes that the ocean water is we all love can be deadly. It's perfect.

The story mixes the present events on the sub with the backstories of each of the 10 characters trapped underwater, as well as the story of "the child," an abused child whose past may have made them into a monster (they were certainly raised by one!). I liked (most of) the characters and it was great seeing how they all fit together in the story.

The deaths were creepy, and I liked that they weren't all the same (trying for no spoilers!) it kept things going as a thriller and didn't turn the book into a simple slasher-fest.

I didn't really figure out the ending before it was revealed - there's so many moving parts that I couldn't put all the pieces together until the end. And it's really a great ending.

Overall, if you love scary stories, you'll love this one. It's a great ride from the first page to the last!

Well this book certainly gave me the fear! If you are at all claustrophobic - and I am - this one will make you feel extremely uncomfortable! Set on a submarine which has ran out of power and is rapidly running out of available oxygen, the 10 occupants also have to content with a psychotic killer, and they start getting bumped off one by one!
We find out the back storied to all the people on board the sub and how they came to be there, and one or two of them are truly horrific and deserve their fate! They begin to think rescue is never coming and have to accept they are going to die a horrific death one way or another at the bottom of the sea. Gives me the fear even thinking about it, the ultimate horror scenario!
Really good book, original and cleverly done, I would certainly recommend it.

Terrifying... claustrophobic... original

"There is a killer among us."

Imagine you're locked in somewhere with a small number of people you don't know so well. Imagine the place is very cramped and without windows and there's a limited supply of food and oxygen. Imagine that the place you're in is a submarine stranded deep down on the ocean floor, hundreds of metres below the surface because of a fault. I feel breathless just thinking about it. Now imagine that if that weren't unnerving enough, one by one, the people on board start turning up dead... murdered. One of the occupants is a vicious killer, but who can that be? There's no way of knowing. No one has the word 'killer' or 'psycho' etched on their forehead. You just know that your turn will soon come... You can't escape... There's no way out of that hell... The stuff of nightmares!

This is the ingenious, terrifying scenario presented to us by brilliant author Betsy Reavley in her new thriller 'Pressure'. As soon as I read the blurb, I knew that this book was like nothing I've ever read before and that come hell or high water I would read it. The author takes us to a confined place rife with mistrust, suspicion and wariness, where a number of people turn on each other and with their nerves in tatters and in panic mode start losing touch with reality, turning a critical situation even more alarming and frightening.

It shows that the author has done her research on submarines well as I could imagine myself in such a vessel perfectly clear. The people on board are film makers, actors and the vessel's crew and I really liked the way the author introduces each of the characters with a dedicated chapter in turn. This way the reader is clear about who's who and their backgrounds. We also have chapters from the pov of a 'child'. Who is this child? Where does this story fit in the drama unfolding on the submarine?

With ever increasing tension, but thankfully without a decreasing oxygen supply problem, I was as desperate as the people on board to find out who the killer was. I imagined myself running through the long, cramped and dark corridors of the submarine, looking behind my back, expecting the killer to pounce on me at any moment. As I was reading, I ended up gnawing half of my fingernails and I'm sure my already high blood pressure went up a notch or two with the mounting anxiety and stress. I found myself wondering who the next victim would be, if there was any hope for some of them to get out of there, who would survive, who the killer was. It was really like watching a blockbuster movie, and I wouldn't be surprised if at some stage in the future this book is turned out into a film. The author succeeded in keeping me entertained, frightened and interested in the sub's desperate situation till the very end. Well done!

With huge thanks to Bloodhound Books for approving my request to read and review this book through Netgalley. Highly recommended!!

This really is a fantastic fast paced thriller.

10 people are on a submarine when something goes wrong with the power and they end up sinking to the bottom of the ocean with enough oxygen to last them about 7 days. If that wasn’t bad enough one of the 10 is discovered murdered in their bed. Who is the murderer ? And who can you trust ?

As well as the story unfolding on the submarine there are also snippets of information telling us how each of the people ended up being on board the submarine.

This is a brilliant fast paced thriller, which really takes you on a journey. A tense, claustrophobic thriller which keeps you hooked until the very last page. This is the second book I have read from Betsy Reavley and won’t be the last.

I honestly don't know what to say. This book is unlike anything I've ever read before. It's been a long time since I found a thriller that pulled me in as deeply as this one did. Well, considering the fact that this story takes place in a submarine, I'd say it was pretty deep. Okay okay, bad joke!

Pressure was weird, surreal and goosebumps raising. It pulled me into it so completely that I felt like a part of the story myself.
(Translation: I was so into it I freaked out at the sound of my brother slamming the door shut.)

The characters were so real and almost all of them had something in common with the killer. The killer's point of view only adds to the mystery.

The best thing about this novel was that it kept me wondering all the while I was reading it. I was trying to assemble all the clues, examining the suspects. I felt like the detective that wasn't there.

I especially loved the ending because it was realistic and full of uncertainty.

I'll recommend you to grab this one as soon as possible. Pre-order it now, because I'm telling you. You don't want to miss this one.

The Pica Explorer, a submerged submarine, has lost power and has sunk to the ocean floor. With ten people on the sub, time is of the essence because oxygen will run out – and soon. As if that alone isn’t terrifying enough, murders are being committed, one by one. I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie’s work, and immediately sensed a parallel to her book And Then There Were None.

Here the story is told in two different ways, from several first-person points of view to a mysterious telling from one of their pasts. This allows the reader to get into the minds of those aboard. However, despite all of the individual stories, I was consistently kept guessing. From beginning to end, the story runs at breakneck speed. You just know someone else will be next, but who, and why? Equally thrilling and horrifying, Pressure was an excellent read.

Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Holy freaking hell Betsy is back with a new psychological thriller and she is on fire! I have read all her book's and loved all of them....yes I am a massive fan. So I couldn't wait get stuck into Pressure. And has always we are taken on a dark and twisted journey telling the story set on a submarine....different or what?!



The story starts off with an OMG prologue then the story alternates between a child telling a story, the pica explorer and different characters on the sub getting us plenty of character build up. I have to say what a bitch the child'd mother is boy did she make me angry. We soon realise that the child is the killer but we have no idea who it is on the sub. LOVE IT!!!!



So ten people on board having no idea it was going to turn into their worst nightmare when they set off to film a movie. They soon become trapped when it starts to sink and they realise there is a murderer among them. With the tension building you will be hooked line and sinker until the every end.



Crikey what a twisted imagination the author has Pressure is jam packed full of OMFG moments which had my heart was racing and had my eyes popping out my head with some rather gruesome descriptions.Not forgetting the moments where I forgot to breath!



The author weaves one well and truly crafted story where you feel the anxiety to the extent that It actually made me feel claustrophobic and tickled stomached. This is totally different to any other story that I have read by the author and I could image this being a film. Pressure is one hell of a fast paced easy read which I highly recommend giving it all the stars.



Massive thank you to Sarah Hardy for inviting me to take part in the epic blitz

This is a gripping book which you just can’t put down.
A group go on the submarine to make a film so there are actors, a cameraman and Frank who organised this whole thing. Alongside them is a small crew.
At the beginning of the book the lights go out and they realise they are stranded at the bottom of the ocean....
Soon a body is discovered and everyone looks at each other wondering who the killer is.
As more people die the tension mounts.
Each chapter is told from a different characters point of view and there are also chapters from a child who is being abused by her mother. It is not clear which of the characters is this child and it keeps you guessing right until the end.
This is a great read and I would like to thank Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

PRESSURE by Betsy Reavley is a unique and utterly compelling thriller that will suck you in from the very beginning and drag you down into its murky depths along with its characters.

Trapped in a submarine at the bottom of the seabed, ten strangers are panicking about if and how they will survive. What was supposed to be a low-budget and dynamic movie soon turns into a horror show of their own when they have technical difficulties with little hope of rescue. But just when they think that things cannot get any worse, one of the group is murdered and that means only one thing ... there is a killer among them and who will be the next victim?

Suffocating, claustrophobic, and intense from start to finish, PRESSURE by Betsy Reavley is everything I never knew I wanted in a thriller and more. The characters are distinct and in some cases extremely unlikeable, and you cannot help but put yourself into their shoes and feel the terror of being trapped below the water rush through you as you read (and then add in a killer to the mix for good measure!). This novel is energetic and perfectly paced so that it never feels slow or drawn out, and I really enjoyed the setting of the submarine as it was so different from other thriller books in this regard. With plenty of twists and turns, PRESSURE by Betsy Reavley has got it all and is perfect for thriller fans everywhere. Definitely a must-read for 2018!!

WOW. WOW WOW. This is a must buy and must read. Pressure is going straight into my top 20 of 2018. Bloody brilliant! Cannot top that story… A well deserved five stars. Wow. Will not forget that story in a hurry.. I am seriously impressed and want to rave about this book. BUY IT! You will not regret it.

I have not read anything similar to this story before and I loved every minute of it! A real who dunnit with a twist. It had suspense all the way through which kept me hooked and wide eyed. A brilliantly written and clever story line… A unbelievable cliff hanger.. Many twists, turns and dark chapters lie ahead! Parts are a little brutal and made my stomach clench including child abuse scenes.

I would highly recommend this story to you all. Outstanding. I loved how there was a little map of the layout of the submarine in the front of the book and how the story was told through each character and how they ended up in their position… Do you think you can solve who the killer is? I didn’t and the outcome had my jaw dropping and shocked! I would love for this story to be turned into a film, I’d watch it. Well done Betsy!

Soo… Did I love this book?

Yes I did, so I will shut up now. Buy it.

Pressure is the latest release from author and entrepreneur, Betsy Reavley.  I absolutely fell in love with the magnificent The Optician's Wife, one of Reavley's earlier releases which, if you haven't read yet then you really should get yourself a copy!  My love for The Optician's Wife always makes Betsy Reavley's books something to look forward to for me.  Pressure is published today so a very happy book birthday to Betsy and the team at Bloodhound Books.

I found Pressure to be lots of fun; lots of blood-soaked, terrifying, 'impending sense of doom' fun.  My absolute favourite type!  Regular visitors to the blog will know that I am a sucker for crime/horror crossover books (I flipping LOVE them!).  And although this isn't really a horror novel I had that feeling while reading, that fear in the pit of my stomach, that uncertainty and that glorious unease a good horror book can give to its reader.  What you may not know about me is that I am a terrible claustrophobic; I can't even play 'pin the tail on the donkey' at my children's birthday parties as having my eyes covered makes me panic.  If like me you tend to suffer from an intense fear of confined spaces then Pressure should probably come with a health warning.  It's about a submarine.  Not only is it about a submarine, it's about a submarine which fails and sinks to the ocean floor with ten people onboard.  And one of them is a murderer, slowly killing the others off, one by one.

I loved the setup of this book.  I'm a huge fan of stories where the characters are trapped, with little to no chance of escape and one sadistic soul is offing them in disturbing and unique ways.  Parts of Pressure reminded me of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None with a cast of devilish characters hiding their dastardly secrets from the rest of the world.  I spent my time reading Pressure and ATTWN not being sure who the murder was.  Reavley has done a masterful job of throwing in some very convincing red herrings along the way and boy, did I fall for them!

Each chapter is either told from a child's perspective, told in real-time as the bodies mount on the submarine or, is one of the characters giving a brief snapshot into their background, a fleeting glimpse into their past and often the wrongs they have committed.  The chapters narrated by the child are hard-hitting and difficult to read at times.  The unknown narrator tells a tale of extreme abuse, of a mother's hatred for their child and of a life lived very much alone.  As the child grows into a young adult the reader gets to see how this horrific abuse has contributed towards and helped cause unending damage to this young mind (nature or nurture, I'm not sure).

Would I recommend this book?  I would.  It was a compelling read and just the sort of book I love to lose myself in.  Being really rather grisly in places just added to the enjoyment for me.  As I progressed towards the end I was starting to feel a sense of disappointment, I believed I had guessed what was going to happen next and it wasn't what I would have chosen.  But I was wrong, and the ending couldn't have been better.

Four stars out of five.

I chose to read an eARC of Pressure.  The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

4/5 stars

Wow!

This is only the second book I've read by this author. It was pretty great.

This book is written in numerous perspectives as it explains the past of each character and how they came to end up on the submarine.

I had a few ideas who the killer was and even though I guessed correctly, this book still kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for a review.

I loved this book. It reminded me at first of Ten little Indians but so much better. I read this book in one sitting, it grappled from the first page and never let go. I had no idea who the killer was until the very end. I love a book that keeps you guessing. This is a new author for me and I will definitely be adding her to my favourites list.
I would like to thank the author BetsyReavley, Bloodhound books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this new release.

A tense thriller with lots of twists and turns in the story. I liked the added suspense of being trapped underwater with no escape from the murderer in their midst!

Pressure is certainly the right title for this fantasic, suspensful book! What a rollercoaster, it grabbed my attention from the start and didn't let go. Wonderful plot and characters. I kept changing my suspicions as to who the killer was, but in the end I had absolutely no idea. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bloodhound and NetGalley for the ARC of this hugely entertaining, chilling tale.

Well, well, well!! I don't think the author could have picked a better title for her latest novel! One hundred percent apt, 'Pressure' is full to the brim of exactly that; pressure. 

Told from multiple viewpoints, some more clear than others, 'Pressure' tells the story of a group of people who have been led to a submarine on a mission to produce a film. Simple enough? Far from it. Each passenger on board the submarine has their own story to tell, but they all have one thing in common; they know next to nothing about the film they have been asked to work on. All they know is the rumours about the man producing it, with some characters knowing him better than others. 

As the story progresses, we get to find out about each of the characters in turn, whilst also reading a viewpoint from a character who remains nameless with no clues as to who they truly are. Are they on board the submarine? For me it was like a process of elimination, which was helped along by the fact that there was a killer on board. Is the secret character now alive, or dead? Who is the killer, and why are they going around killing everybody?

I had my own opinion about who I thought the killer was. I also tried to work out the identity of the secret character but, just when I thought I had cracked it, another piece of information came to light and threw me a massive curveball. I was half tempted to choose by 'eeny meeny miny mo', but even my indecisive nature would have had a problem with that!

What I loved most about this book was the fact that we were drip fed shocks in between calm moments, making the twists even more powerful when they landed. I knew that they were going to come eventually, but I just didn't know when, why or how. The pressure was certainly building from the reader point of view, that's for sure!

 Despite finding myself frowning during multiple scenes, my eyes were glued to every inch of the storyline yet I still couldn't work out who the culprit was - Betsy Reavley certainly made sure of that and what a cracking job she has done!

This really was one of the most disturbing and chilling thrillers I think I have ever read, yet it was also one of the best. Intense, toe curling, action packed, spine tingling, and absolutely brilliant. The 'Pressure' is about to come down on you like a ton of bricks! Even if you think that you're prepared, you'll never be prepared for what your eyes are about to see - I cannot recommend this book enough. Devious, dark, but DAMN it's fab!

My review is written with thanks to Sarah Hardy at Bloodhound Books for inviting me on the tour and for my copy of the book via Netgalley.
​When Frank Holden decides to produce a movie set on a submarine, everyone jumps at the chance to be involved. But when the submarine sinks, the ten people on board find themselves fighting to survive with limited supplies of oxygen and food. Later, one of the passengers is discovered dead, and they realise one of their colleagues must be killing others. As the body count rises, will they discover who is the murderer among them?
Trapped on a submarine with no means of escape, it is clear from the beginning of Pressure that those involved in the film are finding it difficult to live in such close quarters with their fellow passengers. I loved the way that Reavley describes the surroundings and the situation, as the feelings of discomfort and claustrophobia I had as I was reading mirrored those of the characters and helped me to understand their desperation. The tension was unbearable at times, and this kept me glued to the pages until the killer's identity was revealed.
Pressure is told from several different perspectives, and I enjoyed reading each character's back story which explained how they became involved in the film. None of the characters had a particularly privileged upbringing, and they all have various motives for killing their fellow passengers. This increased the tension for me as it made it difficult to work out who the murderer was. There are also sections of Pressure narrated by an unnamed child. I found these sections especially disturbing, and for some readers they may be triggering, as they explore child abuse. It is not clear until the end whose story these sections tell, and the Reavley's use of the technique created even more intrigue as I tried to work out how these chapters were linked to the present day.

From the outset Pressure feels overwhelming claustrophobic with a sense of impending doom lurking in the shadows of the submarine. Betsy Reavley has yet again written a psychological thriller that’s both dark and deceptively twisted. As someone who is terrified of being trapped in a small space the author then compounded my fears by adding in the deep unknown, for someone who is also terrified of drowning I immediately found myself becoming anxious as the author’s descriptive writing made me feel I was very much trapped in the submarine along side the crew, causing me to have a few sleepless nights!

Crikey! I didn't think claustrophobia could be written so effectively into a book but my goodness, Betsy Reavley managed it in Pressure. A super-fast paced thriller that I felt I had to read just as fast, as if my own reading-oxygen was in short supply.

I think it was a very novel idea to not just set the book on a submarine, but for the characters to be actors and film crew rather than sailors. It added to the tension when things went wrong and the sub became trapped at the bottom of the sea because nobody knows how to fix it. Add to the already tense mix that there's a killer on board and I could barely breathe with an equal mix of excitement and terror. As characters begin to be killed off, I was both looking for the killer and wondering who would be next.

With so many characters, books tend to get confusing and although I couldn't remember exactly who everybody was at times, some of the characters stuck in my mind due to the amazing back-stories that Betsy Reavley has created. Everyone is on the submarine for a different reason, some to make a name for themselves and some to get revenge. With so many reasons for a person to become unhinged, it makes Pressure totally unpredictable as even down to the last few chapters, I didn't know who to suspect.

Unusual and thrilling, Pressure kept me guessing right to the very end. It certainly showed how appearances can be deceptive and the danger lurking beneath the masks that so many people wear. Beneath the surface certainly has a double meaning in Pressure; beware what lies beneath...

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

It’s always exciting when Betsy Reavely has a new book out and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in to Pressure, although having read this authors dark and sometimes distressing work before, I knew it was possibly going to be a tough read in places! And it was! But I have to say, before I go into any more detail about why it was rather disturbing at times, that if ever one of Betsys books cried out to be made into a movie then it’s Pressure. Honestly, it’s one that would freak the hell out of most people and it would translate perfectly to the big screen!

Now me and water aren’t really friends and the thought of being stuck at the bottom of the ocean fills me with more dread than I would even like to think about! Especially if I was stuck with people that I really didn’t (or even want!!) to know! But that’s what happens when a group of people who wouldn’t normally be all together, end up stuck on a submarine at the bottom of the sea with a dwindling oxygen supply and a murderer amongst them. The narrative is broken down into three parts with one telling the story of what is happening on the submarine, one narrated by “the child” and the other is the introduction (one by one) of the occupants stuck onboard. Now comparisons to And Then There Were None are spot on, I thought, as one by one everyone gets bumped off. I’ve seen some reviews saying that there were too many characters but with a plot such as this one, especially due to where it is set, I think it needed a vast array of different personalities involved. What I will say is that although we are introduced to each of them one by one, I would have like a longer introduction to them all and observed their interactions for more time on the submarine before everything started to fall apart. I made the mistake of putting the book down overnight and the next morning had to flick back to everyone’s chapter one at a time to remind myself quickly of who they were.

Pressure is a fast paced thriller which is genuinely terrifying. It plays on our own fears of being unable to escape from a nightmarish situation, one that we know isn’t as impossible as it sounds. Betsy always takes her inspiration from real life events and creates her own personal and stylish take on that incident so that we too can experience the emotional distress behind it. If you like dark and disturbingly realistic scenarios then this is the thriller for you.

What could be more claustrophobic than being trapped somewhere where the oxygen is literally running out? No wonder this book is called “Pressure” as I could feel pressure pushing on my chest almost the whole story. In an homage to Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” Betsy Reavley has created the perfect locked-room setting as the occupants come to realise they are trapped in more ways than one.

Ten people are on a submarine filming a movie when they suddenly lose power and sink to the bottom. What was supposed to be a low-budget movie has turned into a nightmare scenario of its own, as stuck on the seabed quickly running out of power and oxygen, these ten strangers are confronted with the fact that one of them is a murderer.

Told from multiple points of view (there are quite a lot so be ready for that), the narration alternates from past to present giving a little back story on everyone and how each character came to be on the submarine and how they are all actually connected to each other. None of these characters are particularly likeable and being stuck together certainly brings out the worst in them. Also the reader hears from the point of view of someone known only as The Child and the upsetting story of the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of their mother.

As the oxygen levels decrease, the tension levels of the story increase until the atmosphere is almost suffocating. The author has clearly researched life on a submarine and oxygen deprivation and I had to keep reminding myself to breathe so I didn’t begin to suffer the same ills as the occupants on board The Pica Explorer.

The further into the book you go the more the multiple threads from the beginning of the book seem to weave themselves together. I kept changing my mind over who to trust and who not to as the author led me along numerous wrong turns! Cleverly plotted and written well, the words just seemed to flow from page to page and I found myself immersed in the fate of the occupants of The Pica Explorer.

Bursting with suspense and intrigue, Pressure is an atmospheric thriller that’ll keep you glued to the pages and guessing right to the end.

(Rounded up from 4.5)

The adventure started when Frank Holden, a bigwig film producer decides to make a low budget movie under the sea. He gathers together a rather ragtag group of actors, production crew and submariners but disaster strikes when there is a malfunction. Now ten people are trapped inside a Pica Explorer submarine at the bottom of the ocean. entrapped within its walls with no escape, a murderer begins picking off the passengers one by one. Who will survive?

This is an utterly addictive read! The feeling of claustrophobia and the tension of being trapped somewhere without knowing exactly where you are sent shivers down my spine throughout. I think it would make an amazingly good horror movie.

There are quite a lot of different points of view, each character gets their own chapter, essentially tell you how each one ends up on the submarine. There is also a child which at first threw me a little, like who is this child and what’s it got to do with the people trapped on the sub? It took me a few chapters to figure it out but I’m not going to spoil it, you’ll just have to read it yourself and see.

I did feel there might have been one too many characters but of course that’s just my opinion.

Overall a tense, addictive read that will have you gripped throughout.

As soon as I read the description for Pressure I couldn't wait to read it, this type of book where the characters are effectively trapped will always make for a tense and unpredictable story. So what did I think... I thought the build up in this story worked well as the characters back stories are revealed along with hearing an unknown voice sharing their terrible past. These parts could be difficult to stomach at times making Pressure even more dark and unsettling. Even though there are a few characters to follow they are all have different personalities.


There is a great deal of tension and also a certain amount of fear within the pages of this book which easily had me gripped. The pacing of the story is really good especially if you prefer a character driven story with twists strategically placed to really catch you out. It really is a nightmare situation that left me feeling uneasy and on edge but also completely engrossed in this dark story.

Pressure has plenty of secrets and surprises that are just waiting to be revealed. Then add in such a confined environment to the mix and it makes for an atmospheric and claustrophobic read!

With thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for my copy.

Betsy Reavley has gone and smashed it with her newest book Pressure, pure unadulterated tension which will intensify the fire within your imagination.

Pressure is centred around a low budget film set on a submarine, after a malfunction on the sub it sinks to the bottom of the ocean, oxygen is depleting, unable to escape, one of them is discovered murdered. Secrets, lies and the past all entangled within a claustrophobic atmosphere that could be death the of them all.

So many questions to be answered, Who’s next?, Why is it happening?, What secrets are surfacing from the past? Will anyone make it out alive? More to the point will we find out who the killer is?

Betsy had produced a narrative that I’m in awe of, how well the characters are portrayed, the short sharp chapters, the actual feeling of being in that sub, gasping for air while reading, I honestly thought holy shit am I next, a top notch psychological thriller.

It took me a while to read not because it was slow but it was my inability to hold my nerve and turn those pages, I was actually scared to turn them, fearing the worst with every page. The twists and turns, the flawless way Betsy sparked my imagination in the book giving me that 360° view which spiralled uncontrollably, dizzying my points of view of who was the culprit. Betsy you even made me have one of those maddening giggle moments when you realise no matter how hard you try your end game is not what you expected.

I know I haven’t given any spoilers or any in-depth information for Pressure as this book speaks volumes for itself, I just think it wouldn’t be fair as it’s got to be read to be believed.

Adrenaline surged through my body time and time again, Pressure is the ultimate psychological thriller. Put what your doing down Now…….Go Buy A Copy, you won’t be disappointed I can guarantee it.

Thanks to Bloodhound Books, Betsy Reavley and Sarah Hardy for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Thank you again to Sarah for allowing me the opportunity to be part of the Blog Blitz for Betsy Reavley it was an absolute honour.

Pressure is a bold, clever and claustrophobic psychological thriller and I really enjoyed it.

First of all: a closed-circle whodunit AND people being bumped off one by one by an unseen killer – two of my favourite tropes! Second of all: floor plan! I loved this and it did really help me to visualise the story as it played out.

“Who are you, Hercule fucking Poirot?”

Pressure has the feel and set-up of a classic murder mystery but with some extremely modern themes running through it. I’m not going to say anything more about the plot than is in the blurb because I thoroughly enjoyed finding out for myself who and what everyone was and how they came to be there.

I very much liked the book’s structure: scenes from the present day – the current panicked situation on the submarine – interspersed with flashbacks to get to know each one of the characters. The short chapters and the increasing tension make this a very fast paced read and perfectly suited to finishing in one nail-biting sitting.

The story is pretty gruesome throughout and the ending is both twisted and shocking. I highly recommend Pressure. I have had Betsy Reavley’s The Optician’s Wife on my Kindle for a while now and will definitely be bumping it up the TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC of Pressure.

Thanks netgalley for the chance to read this book . Very exciting drom the beginning, first the submarine is sinking and everyone is on edge because they cannot fix it, then as if thats not enough people start dropping like flies! The question is whos doing it? Best thriller ive read in quite awhile. I have never read anything by betsy reavly before but im definately going to look for more of her work now . Loved this book .

Wow, another humdinger of a book by this author!

I have to admit that the thought of being stuck on a submarine with no way out, scares the bejesus out of me. When those Russian submariners were unable to be rescued some years back, I found myself shivering with the thought of it. Ms Reavley puts those fears into words a little TOO well, for my liking! Added to that scenario, an unknown killer who is picking off the passengers, one by one, and the tension goes up exponentially.

I had no clue how this book was going to end, nor did I guess the killer - job done, I'd say!

4.5 stars from me :)

A disturbing, deeply compelling thriller which will have you holding your breath from start to finish. A true belter of a book. I felt claustrophobic just reading it.

Thankyou to Netgalley, the publisher and Betsy Reavley for the opportunity to read this book.
What a book!!! I was enthralled from the very beginning. It was a fast paced and easy to follow storyline. I had to sit up and read this book in one sitting as I couldn't go to bed without knowing how it ended.
Definitely well worth a read.

I have read a few of this author's books and they have all been tense, psychological thrillers that play on your worst nightmares - well this one is no different - who would want to be trapped on a Submarine for a start - not me!

I loved the suspense that the book built up and whilst I did guess at about the half way point who was responsible for the killings it didn't detract from the story for me as there was plenty of tense points still to come. This book has some fascinating characters and a brilliant writing style.

Betsy is one of those authors that writes books I know I will enjoy. 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon!

Totally gripping book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It switched between alternating timelines and character viewpoints which I found easy to follow and it totally added to this story. Very good book from this author which I would highly recommend although be warned it is quite disturbing and I found some parts hard to read!

When the submarine departed, none of the ten people on board knew it would turn into a nightmare.

Trapped on the sunken vessel and unable to escape, one of them is discovered dead. The tension escalates as the survivors realise there is a murderer among them, who is preparing to strike again and again…

With mounting desperation, people begin to turn on each other. While they struggle to identify who is responsible, each must contend with their own past and the secrets they are hiding.

But who is who? And which of them will be next to die?

This book is really creepy. But I found it fascinating trying to guess who was the killer. I guessed 3 or 4 different people, but was completely wrong. 4*

Pressure is unlike any thriller I've read before. For one, it's set on a submarine that is stranded at the bottom of the ocean and slowly running out of oxygen. So not only are the characters facing the mystery of a serial killer, but they are also racing against time and their limited supply of oxygen. The chapters are continually rotating points of view and time frames, but not in a way that is confusing. The chapters told from the villain's point of view had me continually scouring the rest of the book for clues that hinted at who could possibly be the killer.

This book was fast paced, gripping, and an all around amazing ride. I don't want to give away spoilers, because I truly hope you will give this one a chance, but that ending WOAH!

I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that had me interested through the entire thing. I will be honest it wasn't as gripping as my favourite by this author but it definitely had a lot of potential.

This author seems to have s lot of great ideas and can put together things easily.

Wow what a book

Betsy Reavley fans are in for a real treat with this stunning new novel it is really unlike anything she has ever written before

A group of people making a movie on a submarine sink to the bottom of the ocean when the power fails

One by one each member of the crew dies in horrendous circumstances

Who is the serial killer and can the crew manage to get back to the top of the ocean before it’s too late??

Fantastic stuff Betsy

A gripping read. Whodunnit? A murderer is on the loose. Well written and real edge of your seat stuff. 4.5*. Would recommend to others. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.