My review: The Passengers, by John Marrs

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About the book:

Eight self-drive cars set on a collision course. Who lives, who dies? You decide.

When someone hacks into the systems of eight self-drive cars, their passengers are set on a fatal collision course.

The passengers are: a TV star, a pregnant young woman, a disabled war hero, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an illegal immigrant, a husband and wife – and parents of two – who are travelling in separate vehicles and a suicidal man. Now the public have to judge who should survive but are the passengers all that they first seem?

My review:

Another hit from one of my favourite authors. John Marrs never disappoints. I literally couldn’t put this book down. It just took me hostage and held me tight to the end. The number of twists and turns was purely mind-blowing. John Marrs takes us on an entertaining, chilling, fast-track and driver-less ride where technology betrays humans.

The plot and idea are super fresh and relevant. Driverless cars are not a new concept but the potential consequences of this were never explored in such way. After I finished the book, I came across driverless bus that was going through trial in one of the areas of the city. To be honest, I felt unease and it reminded me John’s book. I am sure it will take years or possibly decades for this to happen on a road and in suburbia, but the potential risks should be taken into account.

This book isn’t just about risks of new technologies; it’s about opportunities and potential actions that need to be considered to avoid any malice.

The characters are so different which makes the book a very exciting read. You start asking yourself a question from the book, “Who lives, who dies?”.

Without any spoilers, this book is fantastic and can’t recommend it enough. Loved it!

My review: The Date, by Louise Jensen

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About the book:

Something bad has happened to Alison Taylor.

Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.

By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognisable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.

Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognise the face staring back at her. She can’t recognise her friends and family. And she can’t recognise the person who is trying to destroy her…

My review:

Another great thriller from Louise Jensen. The storyline is captivating, but sometimes I was questioning things, like why Ali didn’t go to the police. Naivety is a major trait for many Louise’s characters. I can see how it cannot work for some readers. I always enjoy the author’s writing style and language, the plot usually is quite entertaining and twists are good. Louise does a great job creating a very frightening and creepy life situation for her main character which is hard to unravel even with a stable and confident mind.

The pace of the book is excellent (finished it in 3 days with full-time work each day) and I truly enjoyed how the things were going and how more new twists and turns were coming into picture.

I would recommend this book to any thriller fan who enjoys some good quality suspense with a little splash of imagination.

My score is 5* out of 5*.

My review: The Surrogate, by Louise Jensen

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About the book:

‘You know that feeling? When you want something so badly, you almost feel you’d kill for it?’

Be careful what you wish for…

Kat and her husband Nick have tried everything to become parents, and are on the point of giving up. Then a chance encounter with Kat’s childhood friend Lisa gives Kat and Nick one last chance to achieve their dream.

But Kat and Lisa’s history hides dark secrets.

And there is more to Lisa than meets the eye.

As dangerous cracks start to appear in Kat’s perfect picture of happily-ever-after, she realises that she must face her fear of the past to save her family…

My review:

This was the first book by Louise Jensen that I read and I absolutely enjoyed it! I loved everything about it – the twisty plot, amazing representation of emotions of a woman who so desperately wants to be a mother, the ending – everything.

The interesting thing about this book is that you don’t necessarily like or relate to the main characters but you just would love to know what will happen with them. Can’t put the book down even for a night or work, it’s totally captivating.

I really enjoyed the suspense and connection to the past tragedy that was unwrapping slowly.

The author’s writing style is beautiful, very smooth and compelling. There is nothing to change.

I’d recommend this book to all fans of psychological thrillers.

My score is 5* out of 5*.

My review: The old you, by Louise Voss

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About the book:

Nail-bitingly modern domestic noir
A tense, Hitchcockian psychological thriller
Louise Voss returns with her darkest, most chilling, novel yet…

Lynn Naismith gave up the job she loved when she married Ed, the love of her life, but it was worth it for the happy years they enjoyed together. Now, ten years on, Ed has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and things start to happen; things more sinister than missing keys and lost words. As some memories are forgotten, others, long buried, begin to surface… and Lynn’s perfect world begins to crumble.

But is it Ed s mind playing tricks, or hers…?

My review:

I have finished this book a while ago, but only now got time to write about it.

Everything about this book is excellent! Beautiful language, captivating thrilling plot, interesting characters, plenty of twists and turns.

I absolutely loved it! For a while I haven’t read a plot that even slightly doesn’t remind me anything I’ve read and seen before.

Lynn’s character is likeable, even despite lack of self-respect and little naivety but it makes it even more real. I absolutely enjoyed all the twists in the book and couldn’t put it down until I finished.

It’s one of those books that kept me reading at nights, because I coudn’t stop.

It is the first solo book by Louise Voss which I have read and she has jumped onto my list of must-read authors straight away. I quite enjoyed their collaboration with another favourite Mark Edwards, so I was keen to give Louise’s books my full attention. I am so glad I started with ‘The old you’!

Without giving away anything, this book is a massive page-turner and great a psychological thriller that you will truly enjoy.

My score is 5* out of 5*.