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Spilling CID #10
The Next to Die
The New York Times bestselling author of The Monogram Murders and Woman with a Secret returns with a disturbing tale of psychological suspense and obsession that hits at the heart of some of our most precious relationships.
What if having a best friend could put you in the crosshairs of a killer? A psychopath the police have dubbed “Billy Dead Mates� is targeting pairs of best friends, and killing them one by one. Before they die, each victim is given a small white book. For months, detectives have failed to catch Billy, or figure out what the white books symbolize and why the killer leaves them behind. The police are on edge; the public in a panic. Then a woman, scared by what she’s seen on the news, comes forward. What she reveals shocks the investigators and adds another troubling layer to an already complex case. Stand-up comedian Kim Tribbeck has one of Billy’s peculiar little books. A stranger gave it to her at a gig she did last year. Was the stranger Billy, and is he targeting her—or is it something more nefarious? Kim has no friends and trusts no one, so how—and why—could Billy Dead Mates want to target her? If it’s not her, then who will be the next to die? Sophie Hannah raises the stakes with each successive page in this haunting and twisting thriller that reaffirms her place as one of today’s most talented suspense writers.
What if having a best friend could put you in the crosshairs of a killer? A psychopath the police have dubbed “Billy Dead Mates� is targeting pairs of best friends, and killing them one by one. Before they die, each victim is given a small white book. For months, detectives have failed to catch Billy, or figure out what the white books symbolize and why the killer leaves them behind. The police are on edge; the public in a panic. Then a woman, scared by what she’s seen on the news, comes forward. What she reveals shocks the investigators and adds another troubling layer to an already complex case. Stand-up comedian Kim Tribbeck has one of Billy’s peculiar little books. A stranger gave it to her at a gig she did last year. Was the stranger Billy, and is he targeting her—or is it something more nefarious? Kim has no friends and trusts no one, so how—and why—could Billy Dead Mates want to target her? If it’s not her, then who will be the next to die? Sophie Hannah raises the stakes with each successive page in this haunting and twisting thriller that reaffirms her place as one of today’s most talented suspense writers.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2016
482 people are currently reading
8,030 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Hannah
118books4,344followersSophie Hannah is an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in 27 countries. In 2013, her latest novel, The Carrier, won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards. Two of Sophie’s crime novels, The Point of Rescue and The Other Half Lives, have been adapted for television and appeared on ITV1 under the series title Case Sensitive in 2011 and 2012. In 2004, Sophie won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her suspense story The Octopus Nest, which is now published in her first collection of short stories, The Fantastic Book of Everybody’s Secrets.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
Sophie has also published five collections of poetry. Her fifth, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the 2007 T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A-level and degree level across the UK. From 1997 to 1999 she was Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and between 1999 and 2001 she was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. She is forty-one and lives with her husband and children in Cambridge, where she is a Fellow Commoner at Lucy Cavendish College. She is currently working on a new challenge for the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famous detective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
June 28, 2019
I've read a lot of Sophie Hannah's books and have found they get more and more outlandish but this one is just unbelievable,I'm incredulous that anyone can go along with this utterly ludicrous plot and totally neurotic set of characters with ridiculous idiosyncrasies.
June 12, 2016
I'm pretty used to crime novels having implausible endings, and normally it doesn't bother me as I figure if I've enjoyed 95% of a book, I've got my money's worth. This one, however, might be the stupidest motivation for murder I've ever happened upon in fiction.
Aside from that, the story was very over-written, the dialogue dragging on and on with so much unnecessary conversation, and the ongoing saga of Charlie's sister and her secret boyfriend is more excruciating than when Eastenders took a year and a half to reveal Lucy's killer. Does anyone care in the slightest about this plot? And why are the two main cops so annoyingly weird, but for no apparent reason? I started reading the Spilling novels after enjoying A Game For All The Family, but I think I've finally decided to give up and maybe just read the author's standalone novels.
In a word: terrible.
Aside from that, the story was very over-written, the dialogue dragging on and on with so much unnecessary conversation, and the ongoing saga of Charlie's sister and her secret boyfriend is more excruciating than when Eastenders took a year and a half to reveal Lucy's killer. Does anyone care in the slightest about this plot? And why are the two main cops so annoyingly weird, but for no apparent reason? I started reading the Spilling novels after enjoying A Game For All The Family, but I think I've finally decided to give up and maybe just read the author's standalone novels.
In a word: terrible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2015
First of all I really need to just point out how in awe I am of the devilishly devious, twistedly brilliant force of Sophie Hannah’s plotting. Like no other. Agatha Christie would have writers envy�
On the same point I have to say the “Whydunnit� in this is genuis and is quite simply my favourite whydunnit in the history of all whydunnits. I’m not sure Whydunnit is actually a word but if it is not it should be.
With “The Narrow Bed� we also get Simon Waterhouse � one of my favourite literary detectives and a character I adore, although if I had to actually live with him for more than 5 minutes it would probably be me under arrest for murder. He is and has been throughout the Culver Valley crime series a most fascinating character. Again like no other, his quirks and foibles are beyond enthralling, he is in fine form in this instalment and once more I found myself endlessly sympathising with poor Charlie. Although she chose to marry him�..
This time he is tracking a killer � one who targets best friends, killing them separately and leaving no clues. The police are stumped, the motive is as elusive as the killer and there seems no way forward. Then a witness appears who believes she may have been targeted..
And there you have the thing that changes “The Narrow Bed� from the usually sparkly storytelling you get in Ms Hannah’s writing to a full on firework display. Kim Tribbeck is an amazingly well drawn character and quite simply hilarious. A stroke of genius to make her an actual stand up comedian � I spent so much of this novel absolutely crying with laughter, pretty much from the very first page when she is talking fictional detectives..an ironically clever little part of the book which just sets you up perfectly for the rest.
The story has its addictive twists and turns, some more ongoing family and other drama from our usual criminally good main characters -and with the added joy of Kim’s inner monologue and outer often insightful interaction with Simon and Co, The Narrow Bed has now taken over from Hurting Distance as my favourite Sophie Hannah novel.
I just adore these. Really great writing, really great storytelling, totally addictive plots and a cast to die for. What’s not to love?
HIGHLY recommended
Happy Reading Folks!
On the same point I have to say the “Whydunnit� in this is genuis and is quite simply my favourite whydunnit in the history of all whydunnits. I’m not sure Whydunnit is actually a word but if it is not it should be.
With “The Narrow Bed� we also get Simon Waterhouse � one of my favourite literary detectives and a character I adore, although if I had to actually live with him for more than 5 minutes it would probably be me under arrest for murder. He is and has been throughout the Culver Valley crime series a most fascinating character. Again like no other, his quirks and foibles are beyond enthralling, he is in fine form in this instalment and once more I found myself endlessly sympathising with poor Charlie. Although she chose to marry him�..
This time he is tracking a killer � one who targets best friends, killing them separately and leaving no clues. The police are stumped, the motive is as elusive as the killer and there seems no way forward. Then a witness appears who believes she may have been targeted..
And there you have the thing that changes “The Narrow Bed� from the usually sparkly storytelling you get in Ms Hannah’s writing to a full on firework display. Kim Tribbeck is an amazingly well drawn character and quite simply hilarious. A stroke of genius to make her an actual stand up comedian � I spent so much of this novel absolutely crying with laughter, pretty much from the very first page when she is talking fictional detectives..an ironically clever little part of the book which just sets you up perfectly for the rest.
The story has its addictive twists and turns, some more ongoing family and other drama from our usual criminally good main characters -and with the added joy of Kim’s inner monologue and outer often insightful interaction with Simon and Co, The Narrow Bed has now taken over from Hurting Distance as my favourite Sophie Hannah novel.
I just adore these. Really great writing, really great storytelling, totally addictive plots and a cast to die for. What’s not to love?
HIGHLY recommended
Happy Reading Folks!
September 4, 2018
Interesting with an original storyline, but a little too drawn out. Chapter one held so much promise. I was sucked right in and thought this was going to be one of those books I just couldn’t put down. Then we heard from the detectives and the story started to drag on.
The book starts off in a hospital ward, where the grandma of stand-up comedian Kim Tribbeck is dying of Cancer.
A psychopath is killing pairs of best friends—BFFL—Best Friends For Life. Before they die, each victim is given a small white book. When hearing of this on the news, Kim recalls being given a small white book at one of her gigs the previous year. Kim has no BFFL—no friends at all for that matter—and wasn’t killed after receiving the book. The investigators aren’t sure why the killer—Billy Dead Mates—would target her.
Unable to figure out what the white books symbolize and why the killer leaves them behind, the investigators turn to Kim for help.
Kim Tribbeck was quirky, funny and the chapters told from her POV were quite entertaining! But I found most chapters told by the detective’s POV somewhat dull. I’d have to say Kim was the reason I didn’t give up on the story. And Sondra Halliday was a little over-the-top, with her radical feminism! I found myself begging Billy Dead Mates to choose her as his next victim!
The entire portion dedicated to Charlie investigating her sister’s secretive behavior was pointless—or I missed something. And the ending—the reason for the killings—was pretty bland. A lot of the useless info could have been left out and it would have been a much easier read.
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The book starts off in a hospital ward, where the grandma of stand-up comedian Kim Tribbeck is dying of Cancer.
A psychopath is killing pairs of best friends—BFFL—Best Friends For Life. Before they die, each victim is given a small white book. When hearing of this on the news, Kim recalls being given a small white book at one of her gigs the previous year. Kim has no BFFL—no friends at all for that matter—and wasn’t killed after receiving the book. The investigators aren’t sure why the killer—Billy Dead Mates—would target her.
Unable to figure out what the white books symbolize and why the killer leaves them behind, the investigators turn to Kim for help.
Kim Tribbeck was quirky, funny and the chapters told from her POV were quite entertaining! But I found most chapters told by the detective’s POV somewhat dull. I’d have to say Kim was the reason I didn’t give up on the story. And Sondra Halliday was a little over-the-top, with her radical feminism! I found myself begging Billy Dead Mates to choose her as his next victim!
The entire portion dedicated to Charlie investigating her sister’s secretive behavior was pointless—or I missed something. And the ending—the reason for the killings—was pretty bland. A lot of the useless info could have been left out and it would have been a much easier read.
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
February 19, 2019
Billy Dead Mates is a new serial killer in town. He targets pairs of best friends. Each is given a small white book sometimes weeks before they die. He kills one, then he kills their best friend.
So far, the tally is up to four. The cops have no clues, no leads, no motive.
Comedienne Kim Tribbeck is watching the television when news come on, with a special report on Billy Dead Mates. Kim sits up and remembers that she, too, received a white book one day a few weeks ago. She was performing in a comedy club and she later found the book. There was one line of printing. However, she threw the book away.
Was it the serial killer? Is she being stalked for a future victim? She really doesn't have any close friends and she has trust issues, so why would she be targeted? If it’s not her, then who will be the next to die?
It starts with a bang and then seems to fizzle. The beginning is promising, but when it takes multiple pages of conversation among 6 cops debating why his name was chosen and what can it mean. A little page turning on my part and the suspense picked up. There were other moments where the story seemed to lag a bit, but its well worth hanging in there for the other parts.
The character of Kim is a bit unique. She does have a sense of humor ... she makes this book infinitely more enjoyable. She is finely drawn and credible. It's an interesting look at friendships and relationships amid the seemingly senseless murders. The cops themselves were a little bland,,,, not what I was expecting.
Many thanks to the author / William Morrow / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this psychological suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 9, 2016
Ive read a few Sophie Hannah books some have been ok but safe to say this book was the one that made me vow to never read this drivel again. I'm trying to thing of some good points here but I am struggling! I actually do not know how an author can make a murder mystery plot so dull. characters were irritating and dull. This did not pass the commute well for me.
June 28, 2017
Today on Ridiculous Motives to Kill Five People.
March 9, 2019
Stand-up comedian Kim Tribbeck finds the interaction strange when she receives a little white book at a gig while on tour. But it only becomes truly significant when she realizes, much later, that the little white book is key to a murder investigation. Someone--dubbed Billy Dead Mates by the police--is killing pairs of best friends. Each has received a little white book right before they died. But Kim is still alive. For now. And, as she easily admits, she has no friends. Certainly not a best friend. Why is Billy targeting her? And is someone else going to wind up dead?
OK, I won't lie, this was a really strange book. But, I also found it oddly captivating. I didn't realize until I started it--my mistake--that this was book #10 in a series. I am not a fan of picking up mid-series, though ŷ tells me I read books #1 and #3 a while back. And I do somewhat remember Simon Waterhouse. Still, I felt like an outsider looking in somewhat, and I bet I would have enjoyed this one more if I knew more of the backstory of Simon, his wife, Charlie, and their investigative team.
However, the mystery here stands alone, and while it's bizarre (I can guarantee the motive in this one will be one of the most strange and enjoyable you'll have seen in quite some time), it's compelling and even funny. The story unfolds from the point of view of Kim, who is telling things via a self-written true crime book that details her involvement in the Billy Dead Mates murder investigation. Then we get Simon and Charlie's view of the Billy investigation. And, finally, the writings of a rather crazed feminist reporter named Sondra Halliday who claims Billy is killing women due to misogynist reasons.
It all culminates in a detailed yet surprisingly suspenseful story--Kim is center stage, but also a suspect in some ways. She's a bitter, funny comedian, and I really liked her character. Hannah captures interactions well, and I enjoyed both Kim and grumpy yet brilliant Simon. The whole book was very different for a thriller, but oddly enjoyable too. There were definitely times when I wished things would hurry along; there's a side plot where Charlie obsesses about her sister, which just seems annoying, and some of Sondra's rants are just a bit too much. Still, it's easy to get caught up in the story, especially Kim's book and Charlie and Simon's investigation. The format is different but engaging.
Overall, while this one was a little strange and slow, I did enjoy it. Hannah is a great writer, and her characters are vivid, flawed, and humorous. The plot is definitely different, but it will draw you in. 3.5+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OK, I won't lie, this was a really strange book. But, I also found it oddly captivating. I didn't realize until I started it--my mistake--that this was book #10 in a series. I am not a fan of picking up mid-series, though ŷ tells me I read books #1 and #3 a while back. And I do somewhat remember Simon Waterhouse. Still, I felt like an outsider looking in somewhat, and I bet I would have enjoyed this one more if I knew more of the backstory of Simon, his wife, Charlie, and their investigative team.
However, the mystery here stands alone, and while it's bizarre (I can guarantee the motive in this one will be one of the most strange and enjoyable you'll have seen in quite some time), it's compelling and even funny. The story unfolds from the point of view of Kim, who is telling things via a self-written true crime book that details her involvement in the Billy Dead Mates murder investigation. Then we get Simon and Charlie's view of the Billy investigation. And, finally, the writings of a rather crazed feminist reporter named Sondra Halliday who claims Billy is killing women due to misogynist reasons.
It all culminates in a detailed yet surprisingly suspenseful story--Kim is center stage, but also a suspect in some ways. She's a bitter, funny comedian, and I really liked her character. Hannah captures interactions well, and I enjoyed both Kim and grumpy yet brilliant Simon. The whole book was very different for a thriller, but oddly enjoyable too. There were definitely times when I wished things would hurry along; there's a side plot where Charlie obsesses about her sister, which just seems annoying, and some of Sondra's rants are just a bit too much. Still, it's easy to get caught up in the story, especially Kim's book and Charlie and Simon's investigation. The format is different but engaging.
Overall, while this one was a little strange and slow, I did enjoy it. Hannah is a great writer, and her characters are vivid, flawed, and humorous. The plot is definitely different, but it will draw you in. 3.5+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
February 18, 2016
Sadly, nowhere near as good as the previous books in the series. Not enough Simon, far too much Gibbs and Sellers, ridiculous antics from Gibbs and Liv, terrible portrayal of feminism, and a rambly nonsensical plot with a ludicrous motive. Sophie Hannah can do much better than this.
October 28, 2017
Kim Tribbeck is a comedian who some time ago received a mysterious white book with a line of poetry inside it. She is shocked when she later learns that other people who have received similar books are now all dead - and that they appeared to be best friends! But Kim doesn't have a best friend. Plus, she received her book ages ago, and is still alive! So what is going on?
The set-up is good. Somewhere inside this 400 page book is a decent 200 page mystery. But we get a stupid, pointless subplot involving Charlie Zailer stalking her sister to find out what secret she is hiding from her. It has nothing to do with the main story. I skipped all the chapters involving this stupid subplot. It can removed entirely from the narrative and not effect ANYTHING. Why on Earth didn't an editor excise all of that rubbish?
Rest of review contains spoilers!
Good characterisations (although most of them were annoying), a plot that kept me guessing, but a stupid, pointless, unnecessary subplot, along with cutesy, unnecessary author tricks really whittled down the rating!
The set-up is good. Somewhere inside this 400 page book is a decent 200 page mystery. But we get a stupid, pointless subplot involving Charlie Zailer stalking her sister to find out what secret she is hiding from her. It has nothing to do with the main story. I skipped all the chapters involving this stupid subplot. It can removed entirely from the narrative and not effect ANYTHING. Why on Earth didn't an editor excise all of that rubbish?
Rest of review contains spoilers!
Good characterisations (although most of them were annoying), a plot that kept me guessing, but a stupid, pointless, unnecessary subplot, along with cutesy, unnecessary author tricks really whittled down the rating!
February 19, 2019
3.5 Stars
Billy Dead Mates is a new serial killer in town. He targets pairs of best friends. Each is given a small white book sometimes weeks before they die. He kills one, then he kills their best friend.
So far, the tally is up to four. The cops have no clues, no leads, no motive.
Comedienne Kim Tribbeck is watching the television when news come on, with a special report on Billy Dead Mates. Kim sits up and remembers that she, too, received a white book one day a few weeks ago. She was performing in a comedy club and she later found the book. There was one line of printing. However, she threw the book away.
Was it the serial killer? Is she being stalked for a future victim? She really doesn't have any close friends and she has trust issues, so why would she be targeted? If it’s not her, then who will be the next to die?
It starts with a bang and then seems to fizzle. The beginning is promising, but when it takes multiple pages of conversation among 6 cops debating why his name was chosen and what can it mean. A little page turning on my part and the suspense picked up. There were other moments where the story seemed to lag a bit, but its well worth hanging in there for the other parts.
The character of Kim is a bit unique. She does have a sense of humor ... she makes this book infinitely more enjoyable. She is finely drawn and credible. It's an interesting look at friendships and relationships amid the seemingly senseless murders. The cops themselves were a little bland,,,, not what I was expecting.
Many thanks to the author / William Morrow / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this psychological suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Billy Dead Mates is a new serial killer in town. He targets pairs of best friends. Each is given a small white book sometimes weeks before they die. He kills one, then he kills their best friend.
So far, the tally is up to four. The cops have no clues, no leads, no motive.
Comedienne Kim Tribbeck is watching the television when news come on, with a special report on Billy Dead Mates. Kim sits up and remembers that she, too, received a white book one day a few weeks ago. She was performing in a comedy club and she later found the book. There was one line of printing. However, she threw the book away.
Was it the serial killer? Is she being stalked for a future victim? She really doesn't have any close friends and she has trust issues, so why would she be targeted? If it’s not her, then who will be the next to die?
It starts with a bang and then seems to fizzle. The beginning is promising, but when it takes multiple pages of conversation among 6 cops debating why his name was chosen and what can it mean. A little page turning on my part and the suspense picked up. There were other moments where the story seemed to lag a bit, but its well worth hanging in there for the other parts.
The character of Kim is a bit unique. She does have a sense of humor ... she makes this book infinitely more enjoyable. She is finely drawn and credible. It's an interesting look at friendships and relationships amid the seemingly senseless murders. The cops themselves were a little bland,,,, not what I was expecting.
Many thanks to the author / William Morrow / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this psychological suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 8, 2016
One of the most ridiculous books I've read.
I came to it after having read "A Game For All The Family" which I enjoyed for its twists and turns. I sometimes alternate between reading a thriller and then reading something more literary. But I so enjoyed the suspense and mystery of A Game For All The Family that I was keen to read Hannah's latest novel.
There are so many police characters that I struggled remembering (or caring) who was who. There was a ridiculous subplot that was so pointless and stupid.
And the ending - oh my God, that has to be the most stupid and nonsensical "reason" for committing murder that I have ever read. I actually started laughing. I felt so let down. I skimmed the last few chapters once the big reveal about who the author was. There are limits to how much belief I can suspend.
I came to it after having read "A Game For All The Family" which I enjoyed for its twists and turns. I sometimes alternate between reading a thriller and then reading something more literary. But I so enjoyed the suspense and mystery of A Game For All The Family that I was keen to read Hannah's latest novel.
There are so many police characters that I struggled remembering (or caring) who was who. There was a ridiculous subplot that was so pointless and stupid.
And the ending - oh my God, that has to be the most stupid and nonsensical "reason" for committing murder that I have ever read. I actually started laughing. I felt so let down. I skimmed the last few chapters once the big reveal about who the author was. There are limits to how much belief I can suspend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2016
It took me ages to get into this book. I started to like it about half way through. Then I find out the killer is on a murdering spree because she doesn't like e-readers! what a load of rubbish. Sorry to be so rude to the author but I truly wish I hadn't wasted a week of my life reading it. On a positive note I have read some of her books before and they were pretty good, this one wasn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2016
Reviewed on
I couldn't wait to read The Narrow Bed, the 10th in the Spilling CID series - and (unlike a lot of other things that have taken place over the last week) I sure as hell wasn't disappointed!
The characters of this series are halfway to what makes it so amazing; even the Detectives you know are absolute arses (Sellers, for one) are somehow likeable. The main man, of course, is Detective Simon Waterhouse. His character just gets better and better as the series goes on, and in The Narrow Bed we see the full force of his character and how he's so stuck in his ways - how does Charlie put up with him, a question which no doubt confuses many, with an answer that I'd guess is ultimately: he is brilliant. He's a brilliant detective and character, and I love following him as he solves another case.
The narrative in this novel is really interesting as for a large portion of it we see into the mind of comedian Kim Trebbeck, quite a tricky woman and not someone I'd choose to be friends with in many ways - though she is very funny (no surprise there though, given her occupation!) and would no doubt be quite a good laugh to go out with. She's evidently written a book of sorts about the 'Billy Kill Mates' case that she becomes embroiled in, and we see snippets of this which offers an alternative perspective to the case. This isn't necessarily unusual for Sophie Hannah's books, particularly in this series - we often find out more about some of the victims and associated characters than we would in other crime series, and I love that. This was definitely a slight shift in its storytelling, though... and I loved it!
The story is as complex and twisty as ever, and I managed to get a bit lost towards the end but couldn't care less that my tired brain couldn't work it out - when can I ever? - because getting to the conclusion is so much fun. I could read these novels all day; long live this series... I hope there's many more to come!
* Many thanks to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and Sophie Hannah for sending me a copy of this novel in return for an honest and unbiased review *
I couldn't wait to read The Narrow Bed, the 10th in the Spilling CID series - and (unlike a lot of other things that have taken place over the last week) I sure as hell wasn't disappointed!
The characters of this series are halfway to what makes it so amazing; even the Detectives you know are absolute arses (Sellers, for one) are somehow likeable. The main man, of course, is Detective Simon Waterhouse. His character just gets better and better as the series goes on, and in The Narrow Bed we see the full force of his character and how he's so stuck in his ways - how does Charlie put up with him, a question which no doubt confuses many, with an answer that I'd guess is ultimately: he is brilliant. He's a brilliant detective and character, and I love following him as he solves another case.
The narrative in this novel is really interesting as for a large portion of it we see into the mind of comedian Kim Trebbeck, quite a tricky woman and not someone I'd choose to be friends with in many ways - though she is very funny (no surprise there though, given her occupation!) and would no doubt be quite a good laugh to go out with. She's evidently written a book of sorts about the 'Billy Kill Mates' case that she becomes embroiled in, and we see snippets of this which offers an alternative perspective to the case. This isn't necessarily unusual for Sophie Hannah's books, particularly in this series - we often find out more about some of the victims and associated characters than we would in other crime series, and I love that. This was definitely a slight shift in its storytelling, though... and I loved it!
The story is as complex and twisty as ever, and I managed to get a bit lost towards the end but couldn't care less that my tired brain couldn't work it out - when can I ever? - because getting to the conclusion is so much fun. I could read these novels all day; long live this series... I hope there's many more to come!
* Many thanks to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and Sophie Hannah for sending me a copy of this novel in return for an honest and unbiased review *
September 8, 2016
I've always loved this series, but was so disappointed by this one. After a promising start, it got progressively more implausible and ended with the murderer apparently having a motive better suited to Scooby Doo. Do yourself a favour and stick to the earlier books.
December 28, 2018
I love books that feature unusual protagonists, so this one fitted right into that category. Kim Tribbeck is a stand-up comedian who, like most comedians, has a dark side, and some unusual quirks. I loved seeing the world through her POV, and she really drove the story for me.
The premise itself is intriguing � a serial killer is on the loose, targeting pairs of best friends. Who knew that friendship could be so deadly! Shortly before their deaths, each victim is given a small white book with a cryptic message that has police totally baffled. Watching the news, Kim remembers an incident a few months ago when an audience member of one of her shows had handed her a similar little book. Mystified, Kim had thrown it in the bin without understanding its implications. But how does Kim fit into this, when she doesn’t even have a best friend? In fact, Kim is a loner, having recently split from her husband, and she is estranged from her family. So what would Billy-Dead-Mates (which is what police have dubbed the killer � don’t you love it?) want with her? Could her life be in danger?
I really enjoyed Sophie Hannah’s latest book, especially the chapters narrated by Kim, who was such a quirky, fun character to get to know. Being a comedian, she comes out with the most hilarious cynical quips, and her observations are spot-on. Hannah tries to liven the book up by using different formats to tell her tale: there are excerpts from a manuscript Kim Tribbeck is writing about her life, emails, letters, “inspirational stories�, a newspaper column all interspersed with the more traditional first and third person narratives. There are also quite a number of different characters to keep track of! I initially found some of these threads a bit confusing, but was happy with the way it all came together in the end. I liken my reading experience to putting together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle � initially all you see is a jumble of shapes, but when it all comes together there is a big collective sigh of “Ahhhh! Yes, I see it now!� � which was quite good fun! If anything, some parts of the investigation dragged slightly and could have done with some careful editing, but I was so intrigued that it never lost my interest. I didn’t realise that this book was part of the Spilling CID series, which I had not read before. Seeing how I really liked DC Simon Waterhouse and his wife Charlie, I may have to pick up earlier books in the series as well!
All in all, The Next To Die was a slightly unusual but fun reading experience for me. I loved Kim’s character and would love to see her back in another book, realising that this is unlikely. If you are a reader who enjoys different narration styles and don’t mind getting taken along several plot-lines during the course of the story, then you will enjoy this one. The clever mystery at the core of it all was definitely worth the journey!
Thank you to Edelweiss and William Morrow for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
The premise itself is intriguing � a serial killer is on the loose, targeting pairs of best friends. Who knew that friendship could be so deadly! Shortly before their deaths, each victim is given a small white book with a cryptic message that has police totally baffled. Watching the news, Kim remembers an incident a few months ago when an audience member of one of her shows had handed her a similar little book. Mystified, Kim had thrown it in the bin without understanding its implications. But how does Kim fit into this, when she doesn’t even have a best friend? In fact, Kim is a loner, having recently split from her husband, and she is estranged from her family. So what would Billy-Dead-Mates (which is what police have dubbed the killer � don’t you love it?) want with her? Could her life be in danger?
I really enjoyed Sophie Hannah’s latest book, especially the chapters narrated by Kim, who was such a quirky, fun character to get to know. Being a comedian, she comes out with the most hilarious cynical quips, and her observations are spot-on. Hannah tries to liven the book up by using different formats to tell her tale: there are excerpts from a manuscript Kim Tribbeck is writing about her life, emails, letters, “inspirational stories�, a newspaper column all interspersed with the more traditional first and third person narratives. There are also quite a number of different characters to keep track of! I initially found some of these threads a bit confusing, but was happy with the way it all came together in the end. I liken my reading experience to putting together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle � initially all you see is a jumble of shapes, but when it all comes together there is a big collective sigh of “Ahhhh! Yes, I see it now!� � which was quite good fun! If anything, some parts of the investigation dragged slightly and could have done with some careful editing, but I was so intrigued that it never lost my interest. I didn’t realise that this book was part of the Spilling CID series, which I had not read before. Seeing how I really liked DC Simon Waterhouse and his wife Charlie, I may have to pick up earlier books in the series as well!
All in all, The Next To Die was a slightly unusual but fun reading experience for me. I loved Kim’s character and would love to see her back in another book, realising that this is unlikely. If you are a reader who enjoys different narration styles and don’t mind getting taken along several plot-lines during the course of the story, then you will enjoy this one. The clever mystery at the core of it all was definitely worth the journey!
Thank you to Edelweiss and William Morrow for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
September 10, 2019
This is a DNF. It was painstakingly awful from the get go. A female comedian that I found especially not funny, primarily during her grandmothers stay in the hospital, basically on her deathbed. Snarky, sarcastic, crass. Certainly not amusing, though she certainly thought she was.
“Billy Dead Mates� is the name bestowed upon the latest serial killer in the book. Billy Dead Mates? Are you kidding me??
And the police with their discussions and arguments over the given name and does he (or she) kill female friends or there actually was one male. Have mercy, this was a discussion that could have been held in a kindergarten class with their remedial and stupid comments! I just could not take it.
The other thing that had me chuck this book to the floor was it’s immense size. It’s a large type/font book and it’s 595 pages long! I don’t know how many pages the “normal� type would have, but I guarantee you, it’s still probably too many! (I just looked it up and it’s 368 “normal� pages).
I shudder to think I might have initially been willing and attempted to read all these pages of nonsense!
Oh no, no, no, hell no - just get out fast while you can! 🏃🏼♀�
“Billy Dead Mates� is the name bestowed upon the latest serial killer in the book. Billy Dead Mates? Are you kidding me??
And the police with their discussions and arguments over the given name and does he (or she) kill female friends or there actually was one male. Have mercy, this was a discussion that could have been held in a kindergarten class with their remedial and stupid comments! I just could not take it.
The other thing that had me chuck this book to the floor was it’s immense size. It’s a large type/font book and it’s 595 pages long! I don’t know how many pages the “normal� type would have, but I guarantee you, it’s still probably too many! (I just looked it up and it’s 368 “normal� pages).
I shudder to think I might have initially been willing and attempted to read all these pages of nonsense!
Oh no, no, no, hell no - just get out fast while you can! 🏃🏼♀�
January 4, 2016
The book reaffirms why the wonderful Ms Hannah is one of my favourite authors. Devilishly clever plot, keeping you guessing all the way. The return of the wonderful Simon and Charlie was enough to make it a must read. Involving a comedienne in the story gave the opportunity for a lot of very funny lines, and a couple of witty parts within the first couple of pages gave me no doubt (not that I really had any) that this was going to be a fun ride. As the owner of a small bookshop, the lines "Books don't commit murders. Even the very worst of them. That's why books are so much better than people" resonated totally!
Saw that another review called this a "Whydunnit", and the "Why" the murders were committed was refreshingly different and gave the book an extra enjoyable edge to this reader.
As you read more of the Simon Waterhouse character, you can see why the author was chosen to continue the life of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot - both have the intellectual genius to see the "obvious" that the rest of the world don't see before eventually revealing the truth for us all.
Saw that another review called this a "Whydunnit", and the "Why" the murders were committed was refreshingly different and gave the book an extra enjoyable edge to this reader.
As you read more of the Simon Waterhouse character, you can see why the author was chosen to continue the life of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot - both have the intellectual genius to see the "obvious" that the rest of the world don't see before eventually revealing the truth for us all.
February 23, 2019
Terrible, terrible, terrible book! What a waste of time.
January 27, 2016
Beware of strangers bearing books!!
Sophie Hannah rarely disappoints and this novel is no exception. The beginning gives no hint of where it is going, being an email from an agent to a publisher regarding a book written by Kim Tribbeck, a famous stand-up comedian.
We are then taken inside Kim’s book, Origami, which tells the true story of a series of murders in which Kim becomes embroiled.
Kim is a loner, she readily admits that she doesn’t have and indeed doesn’t need friends, although she has been married to the dope addict, Gabe and has also had an affair with the intensely irritating Liam, a man with no personality at all. She herself is not any easy person, not getting on with her half-brother Drew or with her dying Grandmother, Marion.
The catalyst to Kim’s involvement with the police comes when she sees a news report which tells of how the victims have each been given a small white book with a single line of poetry inside shortly before they were killed. She realises that in fact she has also received one of these books and so she goes to the police to see if it is relevant.
The story then moves between Kim’s book, the conversations and actions of the police, and the ravings of Sondra Halliday, a writer who is convinced that the murders are the work of a misogynist, because three of the four victims are women and that’s what men do!
The book is chock full of eccentric characters, from the explosive DI Proust (the Snowman), the brainy DC Simon Waterhouse who appears to have Aspergers, Sergeant Charlie Zailer, Simon’s harassed partner, to DC Colin Sellers, who believes he is God’s gift to women! All are fleshed out and real although one could feel that if the police really had to rely on this lot they would be in trouble; but this is fiction and we like our police to be as colourful as possible.
The murderer has been given the soubriquet of Billy-dead-mates, as he appears to be killing pairs of best friends, but as to motive the police have no clue.
I really enjoyed this romp through murder and eccentricity mixed with flashes of humour. Whilst you will probably guess the identity of the murderer before the end, I very much doubt that you will guess the motive!
Definitely worth five enthusiastic stars!!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Sophie Hannah rarely disappoints and this novel is no exception. The beginning gives no hint of where it is going, being an email from an agent to a publisher regarding a book written by Kim Tribbeck, a famous stand-up comedian.
We are then taken inside Kim’s book, Origami, which tells the true story of a series of murders in which Kim becomes embroiled.
Kim is a loner, she readily admits that she doesn’t have and indeed doesn’t need friends, although she has been married to the dope addict, Gabe and has also had an affair with the intensely irritating Liam, a man with no personality at all. She herself is not any easy person, not getting on with her half-brother Drew or with her dying Grandmother, Marion.
The catalyst to Kim’s involvement with the police comes when she sees a news report which tells of how the victims have each been given a small white book with a single line of poetry inside shortly before they were killed. She realises that in fact she has also received one of these books and so she goes to the police to see if it is relevant.
The story then moves between Kim’s book, the conversations and actions of the police, and the ravings of Sondra Halliday, a writer who is convinced that the murders are the work of a misogynist, because three of the four victims are women and that’s what men do!
The book is chock full of eccentric characters, from the explosive DI Proust (the Snowman), the brainy DC Simon Waterhouse who appears to have Aspergers, Sergeant Charlie Zailer, Simon’s harassed partner, to DC Colin Sellers, who believes he is God’s gift to women! All are fleshed out and real although one could feel that if the police really had to rely on this lot they would be in trouble; but this is fiction and we like our police to be as colourful as possible.
The murderer has been given the soubriquet of Billy-dead-mates, as he appears to be killing pairs of best friends, but as to motive the police have no clue.
I really enjoyed this romp through murder and eccentricity mixed with flashes of humour. Whilst you will probably guess the identity of the murderer before the end, I very much doubt that you will guess the motive!
Definitely worth five enthusiastic stars!!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
January 4, 2020
Ha, no-one writes and plots like Sophie Hannah and she remains refreshingly original as well as devious and downright bizarre in this one! *That* motive - oh my! And yet I had an inkling of what it was before the big reveal.
As ever, she makes the multiple narratives work for her and gives genuine voices to her protagonists, something pretty rare in genre fiction - and this one is funny, laugh out loud funny, from the verbal sparring of journalist and cop to the ironic commentary of one of the narrators.
I can see the influence of Hannah's Poirot books here and there's almost a meta-narrative feel to the whole thing, not least in the importance of books and storytelling, all the way to the tongue-in-cheek reveal.
This may lack some the page-turning urgency and emotive storylines of the earlier books in the series, but replaces them with a personable kind of cleverness and wit that is smart, sharp and hugely entertaining.
As ever, she makes the multiple narratives work for her and gives genuine voices to her protagonists, something pretty rare in genre fiction - and this one is funny, laugh out loud funny, from the verbal sparring of journalist and cop to the ironic commentary of one of the narrators.
I can see the influence of Hannah's Poirot books here and there's almost a meta-narrative feel to the whole thing, not least in the importance of books and storytelling, all the way to the tongue-in-cheek reveal.
This may lack some the page-turning urgency and emotive storylines of the earlier books in the series, but replaces them with a personable kind of cleverness and wit that is smart, sharp and hugely entertaining.
February 11, 2016
Over the course of nine books and books and nine fiendishly complicated cases investigated by the Spilling police force I have had some ups and downs. I have read some fabulous stories, with the kind of wonderfully twisty plot that no-one else I can think of could produce; and even when I have found failings they have been balanced by good things that have stopped the lows being too low.
I could tell you where each of those first nine books comes on that scale but not this one.
It’s a strange one.
It follows has many of the same features as the books that came before, but thing are a little different this time around.
The scenario is a little less inventive than usual; it could have come from one of those contemporary crime novels that I like the look of but don’t really feel the need to read..
The story opens with the Spilling detectives working with two other police forces, trying to catch a killer they are calling ‘Billy Dead Mates�. He has killed two pairs of best friends; not together, one at a time. Each of them has been killed in their own home, shot dead with no sign of a struggle or of forced entry.
There is nothing to link the two pairs of friends.
Except that each of them had been given a small white book in which a single line of poetry has been written.
That was the touch that told me that this was Sophie Hannah.
The story needed something to elevate it, and it had something.
It had the draft manuscript of a book by Kim Tribbeck, a stand-up comedian who had been caught up in the case.
She had been given one of the small white books, but she hadn’t died, and she didn’t have a best friend. She had an ex husband, she had an ex lover, but she wasn’t close to anyone at all.
Her narrative voice was wonderful, and though she wasn’t likeable she was a fascinating character.
I was sorry that she spent so much time entangled in a sub plot with one of the Spilling detectives. They’re interesting at work, but when the story looks into their personal lives it just don’t work. Enough!
There was a radical feminist writer caught up in the case too. She was convinced that the killings were femicide, ignoring the fact that one of the four friends was male, and she was receiving letters arguing with her position on just about everything from somebody who might or might not of been the killer.
There were stories too; some of them from a rare book that had been given to Kim by her former lover.
And so you have it:
Crime + Comedy + Literature + Satire + Radical Feminism
None of the elements were great on their own, but they came together to make a fabulous, page-turning story.
I had an idea of who the killer was, but I didn’t know how or why. When the answer came, I realised that the clues had been there.
That’s not what I expect from Sophie Hannah. I’m used to her tying a plot into complex knots that appear impossible to undo, then throwing the whole thing up into the air with a flourish and having it land as a clear picture, that I never would have foreseen but I had to acknowledge made sense.
The answer was both inspired and ludicrous. The logic worked but it was so improbable.
I had to love it. But I can understand why others don’t.
I accept that the world of this book isn’t quite like the real world, and it isn’t quite like the world you find in other crime novels either.
It allows Sophie Hannah to create intriguing puzzles, to say things about the state of the world, and to do things that no other crime writer can.
I hope she’ll go on doing it for a very long time, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what she’ll do next
I could tell you where each of those first nine books comes on that scale but not this one.
It’s a strange one.
It follows has many of the same features as the books that came before, but thing are a little different this time around.
The scenario is a little less inventive than usual; it could have come from one of those contemporary crime novels that I like the look of but don’t really feel the need to read..
The story opens with the Spilling detectives working with two other police forces, trying to catch a killer they are calling ‘Billy Dead Mates�. He has killed two pairs of best friends; not together, one at a time. Each of them has been killed in their own home, shot dead with no sign of a struggle or of forced entry.
There is nothing to link the two pairs of friends.
Except that each of them had been given a small white book in which a single line of poetry has been written.
That was the touch that told me that this was Sophie Hannah.
The story needed something to elevate it, and it had something.
It had the draft manuscript of a book by Kim Tribbeck, a stand-up comedian who had been caught up in the case.
She had been given one of the small white books, but she hadn’t died, and she didn’t have a best friend. She had an ex husband, she had an ex lover, but she wasn’t close to anyone at all.
Her narrative voice was wonderful, and though she wasn’t likeable she was a fascinating character.
I was sorry that she spent so much time entangled in a sub plot with one of the Spilling detectives. They’re interesting at work, but when the story looks into their personal lives it just don’t work. Enough!
There was a radical feminist writer caught up in the case too. She was convinced that the killings were femicide, ignoring the fact that one of the four friends was male, and she was receiving letters arguing with her position on just about everything from somebody who might or might not of been the killer.
There were stories too; some of them from a rare book that had been given to Kim by her former lover.
And so you have it:
Crime + Comedy + Literature + Satire + Radical Feminism
None of the elements were great on their own, but they came together to make a fabulous, page-turning story.
I had an idea of who the killer was, but I didn’t know how or why. When the answer came, I realised that the clues had been there.
That’s not what I expect from Sophie Hannah. I’m used to her tying a plot into complex knots that appear impossible to undo, then throwing the whole thing up into the air with a flourish and having it land as a clear picture, that I never would have foreseen but I had to acknowledge made sense.
The answer was both inspired and ludicrous. The logic worked but it was so improbable.
I had to love it. But I can understand why others don’t.
I accept that the world of this book isn’t quite like the real world, and it isn’t quite like the world you find in other crime novels either.
It allows Sophie Hannah to create intriguing puzzles, to say things about the state of the world, and to do things that no other crime writer can.
I hope she’ll go on doing it for a very long time, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what she’ll do next
November 28, 2016
I decided to read this one based on an interview the author had on BBC. The premise sounded intriguing enough, but the murder motive turned out to be absolutely bonkers! Not to mention the tedious investigators and the unnecessary subplots that went on and on.
July 20, 2018
I received this book as an advanced reader's copy due to the curiosity of our patrons and how they were intrigued by the summary. I enjoyed this book because of the unique style and presentation of the characters, plot, climax, and theme. Sophie Hannah tends to be one of the more popular authors at our library and her books circulate very well at our library so we thought we give this one a try and we are very glad to report that she did not disappoint and we were very happy with the end result. This was such a thriller that it kept you on the edge of your seat and expect the unexpected. We loved this book a lot which is why we are giving it 5 stars!
August 12, 2018
A special thanks to the publishers for gifting me this eARC
DNF 😭
Womp, womp..
The premise of the story was great, and there were parts that actually weren't bad..like Kim's character. I liked her morbid sense of humor in the beginning, but I just couldn't push through this one. It was mostly underwhelming. The argument and explanation of Billy Dead Mate's nickname went on and on for majority of the chapter, that I just couldn't take it anymore! Seriously?! That part only needed to be one quick summary (1 page) and was pretty self-explanatory the first time it was mentioned. There really wasn't a need for the two detectives to argue about for a whole chapter! 🙄
DNF 😭
Womp, womp..
The premise of the story was great, and there were parts that actually weren't bad..like Kim's character. I liked her morbid sense of humor in the beginning, but I just couldn't push through this one. It was mostly underwhelming. The argument and explanation of Billy Dead Mate's nickname went on and on for majority of the chapter, that I just couldn't take it anymore! Seriously?! That part only needed to be one quick summary (1 page) and was pretty self-explanatory the first time it was mentioned. There really wasn't a need for the two detectives to argue about for a whole chapter! 🙄
March 4, 2016
There was a lot I enjoyed about this novel. Indeed, I probably enjoyed the first two-thirds. A lot.
The plot unfolds in first person via Kim � at the time of the investigation; also via other characters (in third person); and also via a book Kim’s writing about the events (some time in the future). It sounds a tad complicated but in reality it’s pretty easy to follow what’s happening.
My biggest gripe with this book is actually about the crimes and their motivation. Hannah keeps us guessing for most of the novel and does a great job of that. Pairs of friends have been killed and there’s undoubtedly some dastardly reason. However selecting Kim and her mostly-estranged grandmother really doesn’t fit that pattern.
And Kim (and Simon to an extent) both tell us they sympathise with the perpetrator and understand why they did what they did. Which made no sense at all.
As I said, I enjoyed the first part of the book � which is as much about Kim and her life � as the crimes and police investigation. Hannah does a great job with Kim � a comedian who puts on a prickly and ballsy front she believes people expect, but is actually a sensitive likeable character.
Read the full review on my blog:
The plot unfolds in first person via Kim � at the time of the investigation; also via other characters (in third person); and also via a book Kim’s writing about the events (some time in the future). It sounds a tad complicated but in reality it’s pretty easy to follow what’s happening.
My biggest gripe with this book is actually about the crimes and their motivation. Hannah keeps us guessing for most of the novel and does a great job of that. Pairs of friends have been killed and there’s undoubtedly some dastardly reason. However selecting Kim and her mostly-estranged grandmother really doesn’t fit that pattern.
And Kim (and Simon to an extent) both tell us they sympathise with the perpetrator and understand why they did what they did. Which made no sense at all.
As I said, I enjoyed the first part of the book � which is as much about Kim and her life � as the crimes and police investigation. Hannah does a great job with Kim � a comedian who puts on a prickly and ballsy front she believes people expect, but is actually a sensitive likeable character.
Read the full review on my blog:
October 9, 2019
So this is one of the worst books I've ever read...
I literally don't even know where to start with this book. It was all so bad.
I really hated all the characters in this book. One of the main characters, Kim is supposed to be funny because shes a stand up comedian. She wasn't funny.
The book was told in different formats. There was email correspondence, articles, a book inside a book (which I hate) and just normal dialogue. It was such a mess and really hard to follow.
A large theme of this book was feminism but it was done all wrong. It was offensive and inaccurate. Completely not what feminism is and definitely fell into feminist stereotypes, not good at all!
The ending. The ending though. Omg it was the most ridiculous, silly, most stupid ending I have ever read and also can be considered to be in bad taste.
I didn't like the writing at all. I thought it was really odd and hard to connect to.
The book dragged and went off in random tangents which weren't needed. It was way too long also.
I normally love crime thrillers. It's rare for a crime thriller to get it so wrong in my opinion but this was an absolute mess and not a book I would even recommend to my worst enemy
I literally don't even know where to start with this book. It was all so bad.
I really hated all the characters in this book. One of the main characters, Kim is supposed to be funny because shes a stand up comedian. She wasn't funny.
The book was told in different formats. There was email correspondence, articles, a book inside a book (which I hate) and just normal dialogue. It was such a mess and really hard to follow.
A large theme of this book was feminism but it was done all wrong. It was offensive and inaccurate. Completely not what feminism is and definitely fell into feminist stereotypes, not good at all!
The ending. The ending though. Omg it was the most ridiculous, silly, most stupid ending I have ever read and also can be considered to be in bad taste.
I didn't like the writing at all. I thought it was really odd and hard to connect to.
The book dragged and went off in random tangents which weren't needed. It was way too long also.
I normally love crime thrillers. It's rare for a crime thriller to get it so wrong in my opinion but this was an absolute mess and not a book I would even recommend to my worst enemy
February 19, 2016
To be honest three stars is being generous. The three stars is because I liked most of what I was read until the most ridiculous motive for murder ever written about was disclosed.
I'm not sure if this plot was some kind of private joke that got out of hand, but really?
I truly feel there should be a 'bazinga', or 'April Fool' or perhaps an apology at the end of this book. Just left me shaking my head...
I'm not sure if this plot was some kind of private joke that got out of hand, but really?
I truly feel there should be a 'bazinga', or 'April Fool' or perhaps an apology at the end of this book. Just left me shaking my head...
August 30, 2017
The first two-thirds of the book are gripping and twisting. a real who-dunnit and why. But the actual plot twist is just preposterous, totally unbelievable and made the book feel like a total waste of my time.
September 11, 2019
Review to follow.
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