Member Reviews
If you want to be kept hanging by a thread on the edge of your seat... this is the book for you.
A psychological roller coaster ride with twists and turns around every corner you'll be left feeling dizzy.
Based upon a well off but quite dysfunctional family who suffer any families worse nightmare of s robbery gone wrong. Who is involved? Who instigated it? Why did it happen? How will a torn family knit itself back together?
This novel leaves you with tattered emotions, gasping in shock and completely engrossed from the beginning. A fantastically well paced plot which sets the mood perfectly for this novel full of trepidation and mystique.
Sarah Alderson has an amazing gift of unique writing. The characters are so vivid, every emotion can be seen in your mind. The locations, characters and scenes are so clear you have no trouble placing yourself slap bang in the middle of it all.
This is one of the first books in a long time that actually had me guessing until the very end. I adore a book that actually leaves me questioning myself with the whole 'who done it'.
Fabulously thought out in every way! LOVED IT!
Huge thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson
Thanks @netgalley @sarahaldersonauthor and @hodderbooks for my ARC
Publication date 14th November
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Wow! What a book! Pulled me right in from the beginning and did not let go. When Ava and her family are victims of a home invasion, the family are left scared and terrified and one member fighting for their life. There were so many twists and turns in this book I was left speechless at times. A fantastic psychological thriller. Five stars xx
In Her Eyes is an ok thriller but i wouldn't call it unputdownable.Ava has all that she wants in life a good husband,2 great children and a lovely house.Then one night her life changes forever when 2 intruders break in and threaten the whole family resulting in her daughter being put into a coma and her husband being accused of trying to murder her and setting up the whole thing,and when Nate the local police chief becomes involved in the case Ava finds her feelings rekindled for him as they were once lovers in high school.Ava also has her own secrets to keep as she fights hard to find out just who is responsible for targeting her family in this way.It is a well written thriller with an ending which leaves you wondering who was the main culprit,it does drag a little in the middle but a good 3 star read for me.
I had mixed feelings about this domestic thriller. I liked the beginning, it was very tense and kept me engaged wondering where the story was heading. However the second half of the book I found a bit unrealistic and far fetched and I found myself losing interest in the story despite the many twists and turns. Sadly, this book wasn't for me.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley & Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For me, this book was very much like a blockbuster movie. I enjoyed it hugely, found it fast paced and engaging, and the twists were rapid-fire enough that they kept me guessing. But now, sitting down to look back on it and write this review, I begin to see the intense implausibility of the whole thing, and the number of loose threads that would cause the plot to unravel if I tugged at them hard enough.
All of which is to say, I would recommend this book, but be willing to suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride.
EXCELLENT READ - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson is a real page turner and I read it in a little over a day. There were many twists and turns. It starts with a break in, where Ava, her husband and her daughter June were viciously attached with Ava and June being admitted to hospital. Ava is determined to find out what happened to her family. Her husband is arrested. Nate, the local sheriff and an ex boyfriend of Ava’s from their schooldays investigates the crime. Just when you think you know what is going on you realise you do not. Full of surprises. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this.
Good reads https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/57367301-pauline-dutton?shelf=read
I might call this an average thriller, but to be honest the writing style was quite enjoyable. I wasn't the biggest fan of how the plot unfolded, but the characters did intrigue me enough to read this rather quickly.
This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. It had so many twists and turns. I was so engrossed in this book that I read it in one day.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking for more
I wanted to give this one a go as it had so many positive reviews but it just wasn't for me unfortunately. I was expecting it to be more of a thriller but I felt a bit disappointed about the way the plot unfolded. Lots of other readers seemed to really enjoy it though so it might just be me that it jarred with.
I was lucky to be chosen to review this book as I loved the sound of it. I really enjoyed parts of it; parts didn’t make sense; and so many more questions when it ended. It kept me wondering and questioning everyone and everything which was a good thing however the plot just seemed a bit lame. The way it ended answered only one question but left loads unanswered. It’s a shame as this has clouded my view of the book therefore affecting my 3 stars.
I had mixed feelings about Sarah Alderson’s previous Friends Like These - while I enjoyed it, the first half felt much better than the second. To a lesser extent, the same applies to In Her Eyes - I enjoyed the first half more than the second - but overall it is a more gripping and engaging read. The beginning is almost unbearably tense. Perhaps particularly so for anyone who, like me, is the mother of a twelve year old girl...
A number of reviewers mention the protagonist, Ava’s, apparently “perfect life”, and my heart always sinks when I read this because it’s such a cliche. But Ava’s life really isn’t that perfect. For one thing, twelve year old daughter, June, is recovering from cancer. For another, adult stepson Gene is in apparently permanent residence. Still, compared to what’s about to happen, i.e. a home invasion by violent masked men, I suppose it does look pretty perfect...
As June fights for her life in hospital, Ava seeks answers about what has happened and questions who she can trust, even among those very close to her.
A tense and compelling read.
Yessss!!! This book kept me up all night because I just couldn't put it down!! I love that you felt right there with Ava and saw it all from her perspective. I loves the twists and turns that the book took all the way to the very end. You really didn't know who to trust or whom to believe. I enjoyed it so much! Thank you!
A domestic thriller that follows the life of Ava and her family.
After what appears to be a random break in by masked men in her family home June Ava's 12 year old daughter is left fighting for her life.
Determined to get justice for her daughter and unmask the criminals Ava starts to investigate and try to make sense of this 'Random Attack'.
However Ava starts to realise that her perfect life might not be as perfect as she thought and she
starts to uncover more than she bargained for and question who she can really trust.
This book takes you on a wild ride with lots of twists and turns where you think you've got it all figured out but things aren't always as they seem.
Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me an eARC copy of this book. All opinions and views discussed here are my own.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but for me the "twists" just seemed obvious and the last few pages really ruined the book for me and knocked it down to two stars whereas before I probably would have rated it three stars. I just found the overall plot to be unrealistic and far-fetched, and as things happened I just felt they were unbelievable.
I'd guessed pretty early on that Ava was the one that shot June because it just seemed an obvious twist to me. It was clearly what was causing her psychological issues; the trauma of shooting your own daughter would do that to you. I'd also guessed that Nate was involved with the burglary because the way he was acting was just the wrong side of creepy for me. The whole twist at the end of having Hannah be involved was just absolutely ridiculous for me; so she finds out that Nate is her father and begins building a relationship with him, starts to begin a romantic relationship with the police officer she met when her brother was arrested and then somehow ends up arranging that her family home is going to be burgled... to what? Set her brother up?? And then when these men make two attempts on her sisters life she doesn't do anything... and Ava finds out but doesn't do anything either? She was ready to sell Robert or Gene down the river but not Hannah?? It honestly just didn't seem well thought out to me.
I do have to question the character of Ava; by the sounds of it she doesn't work and is at home all the time but appears to be completely oblivious to everything that goes on around her. Her husband is financially crippled, her step-son is a drug dealer, her daughter stole money, and her other daughter has secretly been seeing her real father behind her parents back. It just baffled me how she had no inklings into anything that was going on with her family but she still found time to begin and end an affair... And then her actions throughout the book were just ridiculous. I don't believe for a second that her little "rant" at the drug dealers would have scared them into telling her the truth, and then her setting up with a Doctor the "sting" to make people think June was awake - again utterly ridiculous. The fact that she then goes onto shoot dead Jonathon and none of the police officers that arrive question or detain her; I appreciate that she was trying to find out who hurt her family but she set this up and then shot a man dead. It just seemed unbelievable to me as a whole plot.
I just felt that the whole plot of this book was so far-fetched that it wasn't enjoyable. There were too many times when I was just thinking... this would never happen that I couldn't enjoy it. Add in the fact that we have the obligatory cheating plot-line into this book it was clear this just wasn't a book I was going to enjoy.
Ava has the life that many envy: beautiful home, great kids and a loving husband with a successful tech company. After coming home early one evening and setting the alarm Ava hears shouting coming from the kitchen. She see alarmed men in black masks with a gun on her husband and daughter. This plays out as a home invasion for money but ends with Ava badly beaten and her 12 year old daughter fighting for her life. In the aftermath of the attack, Ava is left with a limited memory of what happened. In her effort to recall the events of that night she is left with more questions: What happened when they took her husband from the kitchen? Why was her daughter taken upstairs? When the sheriff, an old high school boyfriend, tells her that her husband is bankrupt and they found her missing jewelry at the local pawn shop sold by her husband, Ava is left with more questions than answers.
This is not just a straightforward robbery gone wrong. There are many twists and turns that will hook you from the beginning and keep you guessing who is involved and who is innocent. This is a great psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.
* Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my kindle copy in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. *
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.
Wow! what a read! Un-put-down-able! I thoroughly enjoyed this author's "The Silent Patient" and, if possible, I enjoyed this even more. This is a complex psychological thriller, extremely well-written with great dialogue keeping the story moving forward flawlessly. So - what's it about............
Ava and Robert are wealthy - Robert is an App. Developer and has made millions in sales. Ava is a talented artist but most of her work is displayed at home. They have 2 daughters - Hannah is at college in New York, June is 12 and survived cancer when she was 6. Ava's stepson Gene is 26 and lives over the family garage - he's a mostly unemployed prolific Weed-user sponging off his father. June hates the way his lifestyle is constantly excused and supported by her father.
One night Ava returns home with June who should have been on a sleep-over, the same night Ava should have been sharing an anniversary dinner with Robert but cancelled in favour of attending to her best friend Laurie who is experiencing a domestic crisis. From her bedroom window Ava sees Gene get into a car half-way down their drive and wonders where he's going.
Suddenly the family find themselves in the middle of a home invasion: Robert is badly beaten in his office; June is taken upstairs by one of the masked men - fearful for her daughter Ava follows. A gun goes off.
Ava is in hospital not able to remember much about that night. June is in hospital on a ventilator fighting for her life. Robert is arrested as a suspect and refuses to talk.
Ava's life is disintegrating around her as she accepts the assurances of the Sheriff Nate Carmichael - an old school friend - that he would follow-up on all leads to try and get Robert released.
However, battling to regain memories of that night Ava feels that something is not quite right, especially when someone appears to be intent on killing her daughter in her hospital bed.
Who is targeting her family, and why?
Ava has her own secrets, but so has everyone in her family and gradually they morph into astounding revelations and shocking truths.
What an ending - never saw that coming!!
Brilliant read.
Amazing! I cannot get over how hooked this had me! I finished within a few hours, leaving everything I had to do just so I could finish this! Had me hooked and reading quicker and quicker! Fast paced and brilliantly written
What a wonderful story!!! There have been many great books I have read this year, yet this is definitely at the top. I found this story to be one of the most well thought out depiction of characters with a thought-provoking plot. This is not just your novel about liars. Here we encompass deceit, narcissism, betrayal, and attempted murder.
The protagonist, Ava, develops from a weak, passive. wife to a strong woman who finally comes to grips with her circumstances. She ultimately takes the reins when necessary. Supported by friends Laurie and Dave, (and somewhat by her children) Ava is able to weather the unbelievable road ahead of her. She stands up to her husband when she is at a total impasse.
This story was absolutely brilliant! One of the best thought-out reads of the year. I want to thank Sarah Alderson for her intricate storyline and character development that made this story a joy to read!
7 Stars!
Many Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for an amazing read!!!!!
Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great read! 5*****
Sarah Alderson has hit her stride with In Her Eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed Friends Like These so was anxious to read her latest. It did not disappoint. In Her Eyes is a solid, original thrill-ride domestic thriller. It begins with a nice family who seem to have it all. Then they experience the nightmare of a home invasion gone horribly wrong. This one grabs you early on and increases in pace until the very end!