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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the way the author developed the plot so that you felt real empathy for Jamie and Kirsty and, like them, were kept guessing as to whether some of what was happening to them was just misfortune or over sensitivity on their part rather than genuinely malicious acts against them. He built the tension and growing despair very well. The story isn't too original (It reminded me of the film called Pacific Heights) but it was done very well. I think he did perhaps rely too much on police apathy and inconsistency and an initial failure by the couple to confide in the other tenants of the flats. However I understand this as it obviously helped to add to the sense of frustration.
There are some plot spoilers now so please don't read on if you haven't already read the book.
The author really got me to like Jamie and Kirsty and to believe in the love and strength of their relationship. This was a good thing but then I found Jamie's total emotional disconnection from Kirsty after she left hard to believe as well as disappointing. I know he was consumed with the desire to get back at Chris and Lucy but it meant that I no longer had the same empathy with him as a character. I never really understood what Paul's role after his accident was in the plot except to be unsupportive of Jamie and Kirsty's suspicions. I did find his change of personality realistic though as I believe that this can actually happen when someone has suffered a head injury.
There were some other parts of the plot I found hard to swallow e.g. Chris's company taking over Jamie's (and this was very predictable)and Jamie paying £10000 to get Chris and Lucy sorted out - surely he would have kept some back until the job was completed? This wasn't used effectively either as a plot device because Jamie never had a confrontation with Kirsty over it and, as nothing happened, he did not incriminate himself (either of these outcomes would have added to the sense of anxiety and distress and would have been even better if Lucy and Chris were behind this offer of retribution - I felt that this was suggested but never followed through)
Having said all this, I would recommend this book and it was very engrossing. It felt almost like you were living it with the characters and only lacked potency towards the end.
There are some plot spoilers now so please don't read on if you haven't already read the book.
The author really got me to like Jamie and Kirsty and to believe in the love and strength of their relationship. This was a good thing but then I found Jamie's total emotional disconnection from Kirsty after she left hard to believe as well as disappointing. I know he was consumed with the desire to get back at Chris and Lucy but it meant that I no longer had the same empathy with him as a character. I never really understood what Paul's role after his accident was in the plot except to be unsupportive of Jamie and Kirsty's suspicions. I did find his change of personality realistic though as I believe that this can actually happen when someone has suffered a head injury.
There were some other parts of the plot I found hard to swallow e.g. Chris's company taking over Jamie's (and this was very predictable)and Jamie paying £10000 to get Chris and Lucy sorted out - surely he would have kept some back until the job was completed? This wasn't used effectively either as a plot device because Jamie never had a confrontation with Kirsty over it and, as nothing happened, he did not incriminate himself (either of these outcomes would have added to the sense of anxiety and distress and would have been even better if Lucy and Chris were behind this offer of retribution - I felt that this was suggested but never followed through)
Having said all this, I would recommend this book and it was very engrossing. It felt almost like you were living it with the characters and only lacked potency towards the end.
