Member Reviews
I was really looking forward to this as I loved the Holiday but unfortunately I just couldn't get into this. I felt the pacing was off and I just wasn't engaged at all with the father figure protecting his daughter, it just seemed so old fashioned. Although he was ultimately proved right I just got very frustrated with everyone in this book. . Hopefully other readers will be more appreciative of this story.
It was nice to revisit nottingham though, where I went to university :)
The premise of this story is so simple, Abbey brings her partner Ryan home but her father Ed feels like something isn’t quite right. How many times has this happened in real life! However what follows is far from normal. It’s dark, twisty, psychological thriller writing at its very best and will have you guessing right until the last few pages.
When Abbey brings home her fiancé Ryan to introduce him to the family, everyone is completely enamoured with him. Ryan is thoughtful, charming, successful and Abbey is besotted with him. What's not to like? But Abbey's father, Ed, doesn't warm to Ryan at all. Ed feels something about Ryan is off but he's very much alone in that line of thinking. With Abbey and Ryan planning to get married in a month's time, Ed has very little time to start digging into Ryan's past if he wants to stop the wedding from happening. Is Ed paranoid? A massively overprotective dad? Or is Ryan really not what he seems to be?
T.M. Logan always manages to come up with the basics of a realistic scenario, that then spins entirely out of control. The Catch is no different. A father who doesn't approve of his daughter's choice of partner isn't that hard to imagine. In Ed's case, it's not just the close bond between Abbey and himself that is causing this overprotectiveness. There is more to it than that, but that's something you'll have to discover for yourself.
The Catch is a hugely suspenseful story and the tension builds up slowly, as Ed travels down an increasingly darker path. How far will a father go? Throughout, the reader is left to wonder about Ryan. But also about Ed himself. It isn't until the end, when the pieces of the puzzle start to come together, that you realise how cleverly T.M. Logan has plotted this story.
That said, I found some of it a little over the top and it required me to suspend disbelief sometimes. Despite that, I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book though and I flew through its pages. There's always something remarkably pleasing about seeing ordinary characters thrown head first into extraordinary circumstances. It's pretty easy to imagine yourself in Ed's shoes, wondering what you would do in that same situation. And while I did figure out how things would end, the journey to get there was extremely exciting.
So, is there a catch to Ryan, The Catch? Why not find out?
Was it a page-turner? At 448 pages, the book is not short. Having established that, I can’t explain how I read each chapter in minutes. I was always surprised when I reached the end so soon after starting.
Did the book meet my expectations? The synopsis was right up my street so I knew I would enjoy it. I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite so much though, which is always a pleasant surprise. I loved the way the author made me doubt and second-guess myself every step of the way. And that ending? Chillingly perfect!
Three words to describe it. Chilling. Gripping. Tense.
Do I like the cover? Weirdly, the cover makes me think of Gatsby so it’s slightly distracting. I like it though.
Have I read any other books by the same author? No, but they’ve been on my wish list for a while and now I’m more motivated than ever to get reading!
The Catch is an excellent thriller which had me turning the pages pretty quickly to find out the ending.Abbie brings home Ryan to meet her parents Ed and Claire,Abbie thinks Ryan is the perfect man and tells them Ryan has proposed and they are getting married in a few weeks time.Claire is immediately happy for her daughter but Ed can't help thinking that Ryan is to good to be true with his story about being in the army and then graduating from uni with first class honours and also his charity work so Ed sets about looking into his past to try to uncover the truth.But he is up against Claire and Abbie who think Ryan is just the perfect man,and when Ed's quest to find out the truth his life starts to unravel with the secrets and lies he starts to tell everyone.T.M Logan has again written a brilliant thriller and although I don't read all his books this is the best book i have read of his.Without hesitation a great 5 star thriller
After reading and enjoying T.M. Logan's last book The Holiday I was really pleased to come across The Catch. I can certainly say that I loved this one more.
Ed and Claire have one daughter Abbie. They lost another child, a son when he was three. Ed is protective and no boyfriend is good enough for his baby girl. Then along comes Ryan......
To the world he is the perfect future son in law. Charismatic, handsome, well off and a good job. However, Ed doesn't see that. he's seen into his eyes and doesn't believe a word. He doesn't believe him and he wants to stop the marriage to his daughter.
However, what we see is a tormented man on a downward spiral, as he risks his marriage and his job and more importantly his relationship with his daughter to out Ryan.
This is a riveting read. What I didn't realise was that the author lives in my city. The references to places I know in Nottingham. (and the Panthers) made the book even better. I could imagine Ed on his frantic chase across the city. Whilst initially feeling that Ed would 'Get on my nerves' I found I was really drawn to this character. The power of a parents love has no bounds.
So bravo Mr Logan an absolutely brilliant read.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Do you ever just have a gut feeling about something? Or in this case, someone? When his daughter brings home her new boyfriend, Ryan, for the first time, Ed takes an instant disliking to him. And when they announce they’re getting married, and in only a few weeks time, Ed resolves to make sure Abbie is not about to make a terrible mistake.
With Ryan not actually having done anything but be completely charming, some of Ed’s actions seem pretty extreme. Is his instinct correct? Or has his past loss led to him becoming an extraordinarily over-protective parent? Either way he seems hell-bent on proving Ryan to be a danger to Abbie, to the detriment of absolutely everything else in his life. While I was horrified by some of Ed’s actions I also found myself feeling sorry for him, as well as for his wife and daughter.
This book is positively crackling with tension the whole way through. I read the second half in just one sitting as I NEEDED to know who was the crazy one (because, let’s face it, it had to be one of them!) – father-in-law or son-in-law?! The ending was a nail-biting one, with one major development that completely floored me.
It got me thinking about how I let gut instincts affect my actions in relation to my children. Do you, or should you, always trust those instincts? And how far would you go to protect your children? Is it really any of your business who they decide to marry? Would you be able to trust their judgement, even if you didn’t take to their partner straight away?
Mine are only 3 and 1 so it’ll be a long time until I have to face these particular challenges but I do put a lot of faith in my gut feelings, and I have usually been right. I’m not sure I would take the risks that Ed does in this book though…
The Catch was the first of T. M. Logan’s books that I’ve read but I’m definitely going to be searching out his earlier novels. A book that kept me guessing right until the end, The Catch is intense and compelling. Would highly recommend.
The Catch is he new thriller from the best-selling author TimLogan, and one I have been looking forward to since reading his previous, and utterly brilliant, novel, The Holiday.
This time we are treated to a family drama about a man who finds himself over-protective of his daughter, as the fall-out from feeling responsible for the death of her younger brother many years ago. This makes him open to going to what may seem extreme lengths to save her from any perceived danger, especially in terms of the men she chooses to keep company with. and means he has been known to overstep the mark when it comes to her previous boyfriends.
But this time, Ed is sure he is not just acting like the over-protective father his wife and daughter perceive him to be. He is sure there is something very wrong about Ryan and he will not rest until he knows what it is - even if this means letting all other areas of his life slide.
It's hard to say too much about this one without giving away unintentional spoilers, but I can say that this is a fast-paced, page-turner of a novel about obsession, gut instinct and the desire of a parent to do anything to protect their child from danger. I will add that I spent a considerable amount of time while reading this book yelling at Ed to try to get him not to do the things he rushes into - but suffice to say, he did not listen to a word I said!
For me, The Catch lacks much of the complexity and delicious inter-play between the characters that had me spellbound in The Holiday, but this is certainly a book that will have great appeal for the lovers of psychological thrillers and the cat and mouse element is certainly darkly seductive. I am sure T.M. Logan will be notching up another best-seller to his name with this one.
NB. Review reserved for release as part of the blog tour for this title, and will be published on-line on 21/05/2020.
A Matter Of Trust....
A father, a daughter and a questionable but seemingly perfect fiancée. When father Ed begins to scratch beneath the surface curiosity and suspicion become obsession. A tense and engrossing read from T.M. Logan.
Ed Collier knew it in his bones that his daughter's dashing new boyfriend is just not what he says he is. A decorated army veteran, volunteer for elderly care, good job, good looks and too charming.. And too good to be true. But none of his family seem to see what he sees in his future son-in-law. Especially not his daughter. So he begins his own search. Search to discover dirt on this mysterious man. Just to protect his daughter. But had he gone too far? Too close to danger?
T. M. Logan's thrillers are filled with tense and suspense that keeps the reader hooked with absolute entertainment. The chapters are crisp, and the drama just heating up as the premise progresses. This one is no different. I loved it how the narrative shifts between the characters before the big reveal and even though the climax comes out a bit over dramatic, it's still written in a pacy way, full of adrenaline pumping and all that. Just the perfect entertainment for a weekend read and Mr. Logan never disappoints his fans.
Many thanks to the publisher for my early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
When Ed takes a instant dislike to his daughter Abbey's fiancee Ryan his family start to alienate him. So he decides he needs to investigate further to protect Abbey. He starts to stalk Ryan and dig into his past with dangerous consequences for them all. Absolutely amazing, well written and highly recommended.
Loved this newest novel by what is becoming one of my favourite authors
This story was full of tension & had you questioning is he isnt he until the end. Read it you wont be disappointed
Ed finally meets his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. Smart, successful and handsome, Ryan appears to be a real catch. Then Abbie announces their plan to get married. The perfect fiancé. There's just one problem. Ed thinks Ryan is lying to them. Who would you believe? All of Ed's instincts tell him his daughter is in terrible danger - but no-one else can see it. With the wedding date approaching fast, Ed sets out to uncover Ryan's secrets, before it's too late.
Ryan is perfect from the off or so he seems to everyone but Ed who instantly becomes obsessed with trying to out the real Ryan. It reads okay and I did enjoy it but there is no really explanation for why Ed behaves the way he does. You could put it down to gut instinct but there are hints Ed is the way he is because of something and then this is never really explored. There are plenty of possible reasons as to why he is the way he is but it felt like they were not all explained and explored.
As I said I did enjoy this but it felt like it was missing something. There are twists although I do not think there are any shocking twists and unfortunately the latter part of the book felt very rushed, even more disappointing as it was probably the best part. At its heart this is a read about a family and it is relatable and entertaining if not edge of your seat reading.
Logan writes this from different perspectives, I will not detail who as it will ruin the magic of the read but I did enjoy the perspectives and the different explanations and thoughts provided. This style really allows the reader to understand the characters more and begin to question who you should believe. The only thing is sometimes, Ed does some extreme things that just ruin how realistic the read is which was a shame.
'The Catch' is entertaining and I enjoyed the characters but it is lacking twists and thrills to keep it alive.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for an advance copy.
I absolutely loved The Holiday last year by TM Logan and so had very high expectations for this, I was not disappointed! The dynamics of the rather protective father and newly engaged daughter give a sense of the lengths the father may go to in order to protect his family. I loved how little clues were dropped in, that lead us to wonder if we are on the right track to understanding what’s occurring. I very much enjoyed the relationship the characters had with one another; the mother who seemed to be the peace-keeper but was fearless too! The twists and turns I was awaiting from this certainly left me guessing and I raced through this to the end. Highly recommended.
When Abbie Collier, 24, brings home new boyfriend of seven months, Ryan Wilson, 33, to meet her parents, her dad, Edward, takes an instant dislike to Ryan after seeing something dark in his eyes. Abbie’s mum, Claire, and nana, Joyce, are smitten though and think he’s wonderful.
Ryan seems a great catch – tall, handsome, caring, kind (charity fundraiser), athletic (marathon runner), intelligent (with a first-class degree in psychology from the University of Manchester), responsible (he was a former lieutenant in the British Army and did two tours of Afghanistan, receiving the Military Cross) and successful (he currently works as a partner at an international recruiting firm) – but, is he too perfect? Ed seems to think so!
After dinner and a game of badminton, Abbie and Ryan announce their engagement, much to Ed’s dismay and he struggles to hide his true feelings, especially when they reveal that the wedding will be taking place in less than six weeks, to ensure that Joyce, who is suffering from cancer, will be able to attend. Abbie will also be moving out of the family home in Nottingham to Ryan’s house in Beeston,
Ed decides to look into Ryan’s background and he goes completely over the top in his investigations and ends up getting into all kinds of bother, not least from his family who think he’s behaving erratically and are concerned for his mental health and try to persuade him to just accept Ryan. Ed is determined to uncover the truth about Ryan and discover exactly what he’s hiding.
Ed is an overprotective father and Abbie feels rather stifled at times but her dad has a good reason to behave the way he does, as we find out later in the story.
But is Ed right about Ryan or is he having a nervous breakdown? His obsession with Ryan grows and begins to affect all areas of his life. Ryan seems a lovely bloke – he even volunteers at the local hospice, where he chats to residents and plays his guitar, and is a special constable with the police!
This book had some great twists and turns and my heart was in my mouth as Ed did one crazy thing after another and put himself in danger! The main protagonists were all hiding various secrets, and I spent a lot of time wondering if any of them were unreliable narrators or not and trying to work out who was telling the truth.
Overall, this was a fascinating and gripping read and I raced through it, desperate to discover how the whole situation was going to end. With plenty of red herrings and misdirection, I was never really sure if I’d sussed things out or not. The book had a great pace and tension to it and it kept my attention throughout, with never a dull moment. Just when you thought things were calming down, something else dramatic would happen!
This is the third of T.M. Logan’s books that I’ve read and I’ve really enjoyed them all. I must read his debut, Lies, soon!
From the very title, your curiousity is piqued-Abbie's grandmother refers to her suitor, Ryan, as 'a catch' and ...he seems too good to be true, what's the catch? It's as if he has been ordered from the perfect boyfriend catalogue. He says the right things, shows respect and love towards Abbie and yet...he is pinging the danger warnings in Ed's mind.
At the start of the book, when first an engagement and then a wedding is announced in quick succession, the plot developments come thick and fast as , like Ed and wife Claire, we get whiplash from how quickly Ryan is moving. Ostensibly this is because Claire's mother, Joyce, is facing a life limiting cancer diagnosis which makes a logical sense to marry sooner, rather than later and risk Joyce not being able to attend, and yet.... it still seems a little off.
Ed could be seen as just an over protective father, and yes, he has form in this area, but which of the men really has Abbie's best interests at heart?
Is it decorated Army vet and first class psychology major Ryan, who dotes on her , or Ed, whose only child's happiness is more important to him than oxygen?
T.M Logan cleverly plays into the thriller element of his bound-to-be-a-summer-sensation by keeping the reader on edge as to what is seen and what is perceived. You doubt yourself as narrators switch places, third and first person intermingle and the past and present collide. How far would you go as a parent to protect and defend your child-even when they are a grownup?
The sinister atmosphere mounts towards a spine tingling denouement in the Peak District, and it definitely is the type of book you pick up and race through to the final pages. The slight gripe I personally had with it, was the side lining of a major character and the very ending. It didn't seem to tonally fit with what had come before and it was a bit unsatisfying, but even saying that, this is just my opinion. Otherwise, I really enjoyed being taken on this journey through loss, grief, paranoia and family loyalties being tested to the limit.
Last year I devoured The Holiday, enjoying the deliciously dark plot and unpredictable ending. It was one of those books I couldn’t stop recommending to people if they wanted a brilliant thriller.
I was very excited upon hearing about The Catch and the cover is maybe my favourite cover in this genre so far this year. It’s so eye-catching and visually pleasing to me!
The Catch centres around Abbie and her parents, Ed and Claire. Abbie has met a new man called Ryan who is showing all signs of being ‘the one’. She loves him, thinks he’s wonderful and brings him home to meet her parents. Upon first meeting Ed is unconvinced about Ryan and is sure there is something not quite right. Claire, on the other hand, seems to think Ryan is the perfect man for Abbie. When they announce they’re engaged, Ed makes it his mission to find out everything he can about Ryan before the wedding day…surely he can save his daughter from marrying the wrong man…
But is Ed going a little mad? Is he having a mid-life crisis? Why does no one else think there’s something wrong with Ryan?
Who should you trust? Ed or Ryan?
I am so glad I read this book! I enjoyed it so much. From the beginning to the end I was sucked into the novel and spent so many chapters divided between the two characters, who was telling the truth?! Which one should I believe?! The plot felt perfectly paced, expertly executed and was full of tense and unpredictable moments.
The chapters are sometimes told through different character’s viewpoints too which really added to the feel of the book. It was really interesting to see the situation through alternate eyes and hear the character’s thoughts about what was happening.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Catch and am now going to go and buy T.M. Logan’s first two novels which somehow passed me by!
If you want a murky domestic thriller that will keep you up all night, this is the one for you!
Wow, The Catch does not hold back! Another fantastic read from TM Logan, I read this quickly, needling Tom see what was going to happen next. It is far from being predictable and has so many twists and turns you will feel like you are on a never ending roller coaster. You always know when you pick up a book from this author that you are in for a treat.
Abbie’s new boyfriend is a catch. Everybody thinks so.. except for her father Ed. Ryan is smart, has a great job, popular and good looking. But Ed thinks he is too good to be true. When they announce that they are getting married he become a obsessed in finding out the truth about his son in law to be. Some of the lengths that he goes to are insane and crazy.
You never quite know who to believe. Is Ed being over protective and paranoid? Is Ryan hiding something? You need to read this to believe it
Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
I devoured this book in less than 24 hours, I just couldn’t put it down! From the get go you are desperate to find out just what is wrong with this boyfriend, and by the final part of the book you will not be able to tear your eyes from the book to get all the answers you desire.
TM Logan is a very accomplished writer. This is a superb novel, super writing and great characters that just pull you in. I devoured this in less than two days, you should definitely put it on your list for summer!