Member Reviews

A gripping read which held my attention to the end so I raced through the book to find out what happened. Full of suspense. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

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A fast paced thrilling tale with some interesting characters.

The premise really grabbed my attention: the setting of a Cornish village and action on the sea with an impending storm. Not only is it a pacy page turner, but it's also beautifully written in places with the addition of an interesting and unusual detective.

A nail biting tale that has you completely wrapped up in events as they unfold.

Moving and heartbreaking in places too, The Rising Tide is a great read!

Thanks to NetGalley and to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Bantam Press for this advanced copy..

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A roller coaster of a book which will keep you guessing all the way. Twists and turns galore as snippets of information from the past and present are revealed. Suspense builds to a crescendo which had me racing to get to the end. A great read !

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This was a thriller, full of twists and turns and on the whole a good story.
However, continued repetition of who people were (yes, we got it first time, Ed was Billie’s boyfriend), and the Katharsis mantra was all too much.
With some serious editing this could be a really good book. As it stands it’s not for me, sorry, a real struggle to finish.
Thank you NetGalley.

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Wow. What a complex plot that was full of twist, turns and suspense. It was difficult to try and work out who was telling the truth and who was lying. The character development was brilliant throughout. The descriptions of the settings were so good it was very easy to visualise the setting which really brought the book to life. An excellent read that does not disappoint

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Woo hoo, I am blown away and stunned in equal measures! A sleepy cornish village is the stage for a crime that no one would see coming, least of all Lucy. A definite thriller, a true page turner, with some very red herrings to digest. A stunningly written tale of madness, but I did like Ambrose, he bound it all together. Now I just need to find out what happened to the light fingered business partner the very pervy and nasty Nick.
With thanks to #Random House UK, #Transworld Publishers and #Bantam Press for the ARC.

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A gripping and twisty tale. Every parent's worst nightmare. An exciting conclusion. I wasn't fazed by Abraham's religious ramblings. They were an aspect of his character. I did however feel there was too much sailing jargon which went rather over my head.

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This second thriller by Sam Lloyd is not a sequel to his “The Memory Wood” but it does share one or two features; mainly that of a detective who is struggling with a personal medical crisis even as they try to solve the case and save lives. There is a twist, though, even in that.

There is tension throughout and something of a roller-coaster ride, because the plot unfolds via a series of misperceptions and misconceptions: it becomes obvious that information is missing but it isn’t obvious what this is. While humans plot evil or struggle towards the truth, the sea is an impartial danger, ever ready to kill the good and the wicked. Even so, this is also a portrait of a community where more or less everyone depends on the sea for their living.

It’s also a study of several flawed characters who could be and are perceived in different ways, not just by different observers but even from the same person’s viewpoint at different times. The takeaway for the real world is that assumptions, although sometimes necessary, can be the enemy of investigation. If “the obvious suspects” were reliably guilty, the serious crime clear-up rate might be a multiple of what it actually is. And it’s a dangerous half-truth that “someone close to the victim” commits most serious crimes against the person, because although the statistics might condense to that once an investigation is completed and a successful prosecution mounted, it’s all but impossible for either victims of crime or the police to recall or identify everyone who might count as “close to” the victim in that sense. And because vendettas spring from psychosis as well as events, their triggers are often incomprehensible to anyone but the offender. This novel does not offer a clear insight into the mindset of stalking, but that is not a criticism because the reality does tend to be bewildering.

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This is an excellent book, I finished it this morning and I don't thing my heartbeat has slowed down since.

Beautifully written, you are completly swept away with the characters, the story is akin to a rollercoaster.

The first paragraph prooves my point.

The news doesn't strike cleanly, like a guillotine's blade. Nothing so merciful. This news is a slovenly traveller, dragging its feet, gradually revealing its horrors. And it announces itself first with violence - the urgent hammering of fists on the front door.

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This book truly takes you on a journey. A sad, tense, angering and heartbreaking journey. There’s lots of twists and turns all the way through. A great read!

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I really liked this book and it’s wonderful portrayal of nature. It is both thrilling and full of suspense. Abraham is a very interesting character and his emotions are realistic. It is not a typical thriller so definitely read it if you want something different.

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Suspenseful thriller, mostly set at sea, centered around what appears to be a typical loving family.
Its a race against time before an impending storm, when a boat is found drifting with no one on board. Police, helicopter, search and rescue are all involved. A crime has been committed though we don't know what.
We learn more about the family as the drama unfolds. This raises more questions than answers. Its all very intriguing and dramatic.
I read it in a couple of sittings and I will be reading more from Sam Lloyd.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for ARC.

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I love weather in a book when it’s like another character. I love mystery, boats and drama. It’s all in this book. Nearly got a different book instead as there are always so many books out there. Don’t miss out in this one. Superb.

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The Rising Tide by Sam Lloyd is one of those exceptional thrillers that stays with you for a long time. Set in Skentel on the coast of Cornwall, the descriptions are exceptional and will pull in any newcomer to such a rugged location. A cleverly constructed, white-knuckle ride. Highly recommended.

Daniel Locke has a business called Lock-Povey Marine. Lucy Locke has formed a quayside venue displaying artwork at the Drift Net. They are a golden couple living in a cliff-top house overlooking the harbour. But with Daniel’s business failing, I could feel the tension building, knowing there would be consequences as a result. Lucy desperately tries to ‘save’ him one more time, but all her efforts are doused by the oncoming storm. As sensible folk begin to batten down the hatches, Daniel Locke has other ideas. Kudos to the author’s research of weather, wind and tides and sailing vernacular. I felt I was in good hands from the start.

Bad news comes with the drifting Lazy Susan spotted without crew. Where is Daniel and why did he recklessly venture out in such rough seas? This seemed suicidal to me but as I read on, I changed my mind. As rescue efforts try to locate him, Lucy learns that he wasn’t the only person aboard. Her two children had accompanied him. Distraught, she begins her own search. Returning with two broken ribs, she finds Daniel in the hospital, but not quite the same Daniel she anticipated. There are unanswered questions and the children are still missing.

My favourite character was DI Abraham Rose. Suffering from incurable cancer, he knows there is an evil slant to this disaster. His religious nature did not put me off at all. It drew me to him all the more. He is quite comfortable with his transience and, in fact, embraces it. There’s nothing he hasn’t seen and nothing of which he’s afraid. With his higher power, he’s quite a formidable character and certainly not someone I would mess with. His powerful intuition is so cleverly woven into the narrative, it’s hard not to stick by his side and root for him until the end.

The plot moves along at break-neck speed and I was keen to lounge in Lucy’s backstory. There are so many moments that turn the book on its head and the intricate and detailed game of cat and mouse leads you gasping till the end. It’s an atmospheric read which I devoured. Characters will leave their mark and as I said earlier, the book will be very hard to forget.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK - Transworld Publishers for the privilege of reading this beautifully written and evocative ARC.

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A very good read quite exciting at times but a bit disappointed as found some of it fell a bit by the wayside but overall was very good

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Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

I was new to this author but the description of this book really got my attention.

To be honest it took me quite a while to get in to and I actually considered giving up! I’m so glad I didn’t. Once it sped up, I was gripped and it had me guessing all the way to the end. And it’s got to be a good book if you find yourself holding your breath!

I wasn’t too keen on the religious aspects of the lead investigator but I skimmed over those and it didn’t take anything away from the story.

It definitely pulled at my heart a few times, especially at the end.

I would definitely recommend this book and will now look at the authors other work.

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A breathtaking novel from the very outset.
Clever little hints about all not being well come into play very early on in the book with suspicions (and hackles!) raised against many characters in turn. The pace is fast and the action leaves you unable to put the book down as you seek for first safety and then the truth.

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A seriously good read, gripping and moving. At first I was a little bit confused by the main investigator, whose relationship with both life and religion seemed strange. However, the complexity of his personality eventually contributed to the humanity of the story. There were just enough twists to keep me enthralled but not bewildered. Excellent descriptions of the sea and nautical experiences. A touching and ultimately enjoyable book.

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Amazing, captivating and devastating, an immersive story that challenges and rewards your company. Loved it and rolled with the emotions it evokes, will definitely be a bestseller and only the authors second book.

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A very good and different story line. to most thrillers, that kept you eager to reach the conclusion. A real page turner, well written with great and strong characterisation that I would have no hesitation in recommending, a really enjoyable read.

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