Published by Corvus on September 5, 2019
Pages: 304
Amazon UK
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Also by this author: The Liar's Girl
From the bestselling, multiple prize-shortlisted novelist Catherine Ryan Howard comes an explosive story about a twisted voyeur and a terrible crime... PLAYAndrew, the manager of Shanamore Holiday Cottages, watches his only guest via a hidden camera in her room. One night the unthinkable happens: a shadowy figure emerges onscreen, kills her and destroys the camera. But who is the murderer? How did they know about the camera? And how will Andrew live with himself?
PAUSENatalie wishes she'd stayed at home as soon as she arrives in the wintry isolation of Shanamore. There's something creepy about the manager. She wants to leave, but she can't - not until she's found what she's looking for...
REWINDThis is an explosive story about a murder caught on camera. You've already missed the start. To get the full picture you must rewind the tape and play it through to the end, no matter how shocking...
'Catherine Ryan Howard is a gift to crime writing. Her characters are credible, her stories are original and her plotting is ingenious. Every book is a treat to look forward to.' Liz Nugent
✮ My Review ✮
I loved the premise of this book, instead of chapter headings the book was split into sections, PLAY, REWIND, FAST FORWARD and PAUSE!
Do you dare do any of them? Do you dare to PLAY and watch the brutal killing of an unknown person? Do you dare to PAUSE and learn uncomfortable secrets? Do you dare FAST FORWARD to the present day and follow Audrey and investigate the missing person? Or do you dare to REWIND and try to uncover the truth to why Natalie travels up to Shanamore Holiday Cottages? My answer is Yes I do dare!
Each segment of the film is a different voice and it just worked so bloody well. You are thrown through the wringer, never quite knowing what is going on. Is Natalie going crazy? Is her husband having an affair? Who has been killed? Who is the murderer?
I was so absorbed in the book, I was hooked and the chapters were snappy at times that they made your head spin, can you truly believe what is going on? By having the chapter headers laid out in this way just changes the game and your reading enjoyment in my opinion, it added to the horrifying events and teases you because nothing is quite what it seems. Some elements of this book I was outraged and it made for uncomfortable reading with a character, something not quite wired right in their head but Howard tackled this perfectly. She created just enough angst and, dare I say it, disgust for this particular character that my skin crawled every time they were in the book!
You do have to be prepared to wipe the slate clean for the weekend and not do anything else one you pick this up, because before I knew it I was on page 200 in one sitting, but alas I had to go to bed as I was off to the Reading festival the next day.
From the intense start you do not want to stop the movie, all your sense are heightened and you know straight away that everything is just off with everything and everyone, LOVE IT! The main reason for all heightened senses is knowing that you can not change the events in this book, you start with the end and it is somewhat heartbreaking. A bit like Moulin Rouge, you know the ending at the beginning and it makes everything else just so bittersweet as you know nothing that happens will change the outcome. (Completely different plots but you get my drift)
I was floored by the ending, I mean I knew something was not quite right, but this! This I did not expect and it was so chilling and so fricking good!! All the characters felt fleshed out and came alive (although would prefer they didn’t!) through the pages. As always Howard has delivered! She knocked the wind out of me in The Liar’s Girl and here I could not breathe. I am excited to see what she does next!
Check out a snippet here
Have you read this? What did you think?
Until next time xxx
Thank you to Corvus and Catherine Ryan Howard for sending me a copy of the book in return for my honest and unbiased review.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Shalini says
Wow this sounds so good. I need to check this one out. It is right up my alley especially when the enfing blew you off. Fantastic review
bertyboy123 says
This was a brilliant read!
Blair Leftly says
Such a good review! I’m half way through this ✨
Tasha Louise says
Great review! I need to read this book now!
Zoé says
Thank you!! It really is a good book!
nickimags @ The Secret Library Book Blog says
Wow fantastic review definitely want to read this one!
Zoé says
Hope you get a chance to pick it up xx