Member Reviews
The Catch by Shari Low; Ross King was excellent and I just fell in love with the cover! I wanted to go on holiday which makes this latest book a great holiday read and especially as this is the second book in the Hollywood Thriller Series and it can be read as a standalone. - So no worries there!
This book had me gripped from the start and centres around three friends, Mirren McLean. Davie Johnston and Zander Leith who all grew up in Glasgow and have all made it big in Hollywood. Its fast paced, very racy and they are all keeping a big secret hidden for years which is very dangerously close to being revealed.
However, all three are tough and are very loyal to each other especially as they always look out for each other.
Then attacks start to happen to the trio, is it possible someone is out for revenge?
But, who? and why?
I highly recommend this book I loved it!
Big Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
So I had no idea going into this one that there was a previous book. The recap did help but I have to admit, I was a little lost at the start as there were so many characters being introduced and I struggled to keep track of who was who. As the book went on, things became clearer though and I began to get very invested in the story. This fast paced Hollywood thriller had lots of drama and suspense and I was constantly on edge while reading, flipping through the pages as quickly as I could, especially towards the end. Highly entertaining - would recommend this one.
As expected, I loved it! It was the perfect follow up to The Rise with just as much drama, suspense and chaos as its prequel brought to the table. In this instalment, the same three main characters, Davie, Mirren and Zander, along with Sarah, the journalist from the previous book, alternate sharing POVs. At the beginning we find the three celebrities at the 2014 oscars and are left with a cliffhanger which leaves us wondering if they will all survive some kind of explosion. The authors take us back 6 weeks in the lead up to this suspenseful event, and we find Davie producing and acting in several hit TV shows, Mirren negotiating contracts for her Clansmen enterprise and founding a safe house in honour of her late daughter Chloe, and Zander filming a new movie, modeling for a famous italian designer and totally clean! But an alarming number of close calls and weird incidents keep happening to Davie and Zander, with Mirren caught somewhere in the middle. When Mirren thinks she sees someone dangerous from her past, suddenly puzzle pieces start to fall into place.
Much like the first book, this one is also split into more than 60 short chapters each following a different character's point of view. As a result, it is a pretty fast-paced read that you will not want to put down! I do really enjoy the short chapters, many of which left off in a cliff-hanger, leaving you needing to read 2-4 more chapters before you got more info about that last big event. Occasionally it left me having to pause for a second to remember what happened, last time I read a Davie chapter for example, but it definitely left me wanting to read more since the action alternated between storylines.
While it definitely has thriller/suspense elements, it is not one that will keep me awake in the middle of the night hiding from serial killers! There are a few content warnings which include: arson, physical violence, car accidents, drugs and mention of rape and murder. There is also lots of sex, but it is very well done and not overly graphic. I didn't fully understand the title in The Rise and I feel similarly about The Catch. I wonder if it is kind of like Catch-22, like the downside of notoriety. As with The Rise, The Catch is a captivating story that will hold your interest and leave you with just enough closure at the end.
#Booktour #Blogtour
The Catch
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 2/20/23
Author: Shari Low and Ross King
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Pages: 477
GR: 4.47
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Hollywood Thriller Series. However, it can be read as a standalone. I love that the story starts with a bit of a catch up from the last book, to either refresh your memory or put you on even ground. This book has it all, romance, humor, and suspense. The story opens at the Oscars with an explosive beginning, then walks us back through the previous six weeks.
Mirren, Davie, and Zander grew up rough but not live in the Hollywood glamour. They have their fair share of secrets that would be devastating if they came out. The story is narrating in alternating POVs. There are a lot of chapters, but they are short, creating easy stop points. Once the secrets and betrayal start to unravel, The characters were built on from the previous book, The Rise, with depth, were mysterious, and creatively done. The details and characters are written so that you get invested in the storyline. The authors’ writing style was complex, multifaceted, suspenseful, steamy, and just brilliant. The story is written so well that parts could be 100% true, I love this facet.
I absolutely love the author due of Shari Low and Ross King, they compliment each other wonderfully in their novels. This story was brilliantly written and will captivate you from the very beginning. It is a page turner and more than once kept me up to late reading, just one more chapter. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR. There is a third book, The Fall, in this trilogy that will be released later this year, 6/7/23, and I cannot wait to read!
They’ve made it to the top but someone is determined to make them pay...
At a glittering after-party on the night of the Academy Awards, author Mirren McLean celebrates her win with her childhood friends Davie Johnston and Zander Leith by her side.
Three kids from a tough street in Glasgow, the dazzling trio rose from the ashes to become Hollywood stars with global fame and vast fortunes.
This is their moment in the spotlight.
But by morning, there’s only darkness.
A secret from their past has come back to haunt them and the shield of stardom can’t protect them from the horrors of their old lives.
Someone is out to destroy them… and unlike the movies, there’s no guarantee that the good guys will win.
I’ll be honest and say I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It was really handy that the authors had put the characters and explained their links and info about them at the beginning of the book so I didn’t feel that I had missed anything, and as there are so many characters it was a good reference for me if I got confused. This was the second book in the series, and as I hadn’t read the first it was easy for me to pick up the story so I didn’t feel I had missed anything. I felt the book was well written, and a great original story, and I felt I wanted to read on to see what happened next. The characters were original, and came across well as the story went on. A great read!
This is the second book in this series and I hadn't read the first so I was unsure how I would get on.
I really enjoyed it. It was gripping from the start.
It can be easily read as a standalone however I enjoyed it so am looking forward to reading the first one.
I would recommend this story to all thriller lovers. This book took me by surprise. It kept me interested throughout the story and I needed to see what was going to happen. I truly enjoyed the pacing of the story and the well-written characters.
This a book two in the Hollywood Thriller Trilogy but its easily read as a standalone novel as there’s a useful catch up at the beginning and cast list which is good as there are a lot of characters.
The story centres around three friends who grew up in Glasgow and have all made it big in Hollywood. Although it is only recently they have been reunited. Mirren is a Hollywood author, director, screenwriter and mother but is grieving for her only daughter Chloe who died at just eighteen. She has a son Logan who is in the music industry.
Zander is the wild child, action hero and has Hollie as a loyal assistant but is having an affair with the influential Adrianna Guilloti.
Davie a presenter/producer is in a relationship with Sarah, a journalist from Glasgow and who knows their dark secret but after falling for Davie has kept it to herself. A call from her old boss in Scotland raises a question about Mirren’s mother who she has told everyone is dead. She has spoken to Mirren previously about the past but Davie and Mirren had been close once so she goes to Mirren to tell her that a story may come out.
It is fast paced, racy and the secret that the three have kept for years is dangerously close to being revealed. The three are tough due to their upbringing but they are loyal and look out for each other. Then attacks start to happen to the trio,is it possible someone is out for revenge?
It reminded me of Jackie Collins books which show the dark and real side of the glamorous lives of the rich and famous. It shows how it is not always how we see it from the outside.
Plenty of drama, intrigue and thrills. I will definitely be reading book 3 !
4 stars ****
The Catch is the next book from Shari Low and Ross King. Picking up the story from where they left off in The Rise. This book finishes the store of three kids from Glasgow that made it to fame in Hollywood.
* I received ad advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for my honest review
Sometimes you read a book and you know you just need more….
That was how I feel about the previous book in this series and I can safely say that this book hasn’t disappointed. I love how pulled in I am by these authors and this has been no different. I love the characters and the plot of this book. We are given a reminder of the characters and plot at the beginning of this one.
This is a book that has allowed me to escape to a glamorous setting with a group of questionable characters. This is perfectly paced and completely brilliant.
I have loved everything about this book. This is one that I devoured. It is brilliant from beginning to end. I can’t wait for more.
This was such a gripping read, it can be fully read as a standalone but I will be reading the first book
This had some characters that confused me in the sense I didn’t know to love them or hate them 😂
It was interesting to see how they all reacted following the death of Chloe, I will definitely be reading the next in the series.
The Catch is the second in the Hollywood Thriller Trilogy series, it can read as a standalone, but why miss out? There's also a handy who's who at the front of the book if you're in need of a recap.
I was a huge Jackie Collins lover back in the day and I find this series reminiscent of her Lucky Santangelo series with all the glamour, glitz and a lifestyle I can only ever dream of.
The story follows on seamlessly from The Rise as we catch up with Mirren, Davie and Zander who take us on a roller-coaster ride through LA that's dripping with scandal, stardom and secrets.
I'm a huge lover of Low's writing and along with Mr Hollywood, Ross King they've created the perfect writing partnership and I can't wait to see where they take us for the series finale.
Engaging, compelling and my favourite book addiction.
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5 stars.
I read and enjoyed The Rise last year which is the first book in this series. So I was excited to read this one and I really loved it.
This book can easily be read as a standalone, also there is a catch up part at the start of the book which was really helpful for me to refresh everything.
It was great to be back with Davie, Mirren and Zander once again. I loved the short chapters, each told from a different POV. I found myself completely immersed in the story and I couldn’t put it down.
I’ve read quite a few books by Shari Low now and she never disappoints. I’m certainly looking forward to the third book in this series later in the year.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and the publisher for having me on the tour and for my gifted ebook.
Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this arc and a tour place. I had no idea this was a series and it would be nice to read it from the start. It was all explained well at the begginig. I was maybe bored at the begining with to many Holywood glamour but was getting better and better towards the end. It was really nice done the twists at the end were the best part and it is hard to surprise me.
⭐️Rating: 4/5
✍🏼Author: Shari Low Ross King
📖Genre: Suspense Thriller
My Thoughts:
This is the second book from the Hollywood Thriller Trilogy, but it can be read as a standalone. Mirren, Davie, and Zander all grew up in a tough neighborhood in Glasgow. Through hard work and endurance, they are all now Hollywood superstars. To escape their dire lives in Glasgow, they did a very bad thing but covered it up and hope it stays covered. At one time, something happened that drove the friends apart, but they have now reconciled. I really enjoyed how suspenseful this story was and how it was centered around Hollywood's glitz and glam. and the drama that comes with being in the spotlight.
🌼
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for the ARC copy in exchange for my review.
The Catch by Shari Low and Ross King
(The Hollywood Thriller Trilogy Book 2)
They've reached the top, but someone is determined to make them pay.
At a glittering after-party on the night of the Academy Awards, author Mirren McLean celebrates her win with her childhood friends Davie Johnston and Zander Leith by her side.
Three kids from a tough street in Glasgow, the dazzling trio rose from the ashes to become Hollywood stars with global fame and vast fortunes.
This is their moment in the spotlight.
But by morning, there's only darkness.
A secret from their past has returned to haunt them, and the shield of stardom can't protect them from the horrors of their old lives.
Someone is out to destroy them, and unlike the movies, there's no guarantee that the good guys will win.
After reading The Rise, I was keen to read The Catch, the second book in this glamourous thriller trilogy, to see what happens next to Mirren, Davie and Zander.
It was really great to return many years later to the wealthy, fashionable, glamorous lifestyles of the rich and famous and to follow all they have risked getting to the top of their game.
The name-dropping of well-known celebrities added an element of realism to the story. However, it makes you wonder how much is fiction and how much is possibly true.
Shari Low and Ross King again bring a rounded insight into the secrets, lies, determination and endurance of the elite.
At the beginning of The Catch is a summary that catches you up with each character from book one, The Rise, and reminds you of how the previous story concluded.
An indulgent, entertaining, pure escapism story. I long for June 7th to read the third and final story in The Fall, which I have on pre-order.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I want to thank publishers Boldwood Books, authors Shari Low and Ross King and Rachels Random Resources for an invite on the tour.
Unfortunately I just couldn’t finish this book! I couldn’t get into it. I made it to 17% before I just put it down. It was really boring for me. The book wasn’t for me
After reading The Rise, which is the first book in The Hollywood Thriller Trilogy, I was eager to read this book, The Catch. I didn't even wonder if it would be as good as the first. There was no doubt!
It may be the second book in the trilogy, but it is so easily read as a standalone. To make it even easier, these two clever authors have dedicated some time to writing a 'catch up' chapter right at the beginning of the book. There is also a list of characters, who they are, and what their roles are in the story. I thought this was a great touch myself.
The Catch immediately hooked me again. I was back with Mirren, Davie, Zander and Sarah, who has given her job up and moved to the U.S. since the end of The Rise. It was so good to return to them with their glamorous and jet-set lifestyles (particularly Zander off course!). I was invested in all of these characters from the last book and this book just hammered home just home much I was invested in them all.
Everything that Shari Low and Ross King brought to The Rise, glamour, mystery, grit and humour too, is present in this book in spades. Then there's the absolute escapism that comes with this trilogy. Everything that makes L.A what it is is here and I was so immersed in everything again. The ups and downs of the rich and famous is such an addictive read.
Again, another fabulously well written book but I expect no less from this writing duo. I was picturing everything in my mind as the story unfolded. A story that I couldn't get enough of. Once I picked my kindle up to start the book, I just read until I was forced to put my Kindle down, three year olds force your hand like that!
If I wasn't reading I was thinking about wanting to read it. It was almost like an obsession! Talk about an addictive set of books! I flew through it so fast! It's no less entertaining than The Rise and I finished it way too soon for my liking. Before I knew it I had to leave them all again. I simply want to read the third book!! NOW! But even that will be bittersweet as I don't want this series to end.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources,Boldwood Books and NetGalley.
This was good. It was part of a series this is book 2. I haven't read book 1 yet but you don't have to worry as it starts the book by telling you all about the characters and what they are up to and how they are all related to each other.
Favorite Quotes:
That was showbiz. A year ago, Jizzo was washed up, almost a joke, a has-been with a bad weave who was desperately holding on to a fanbase that had long ago swapped their leather trousers for pension plans and brochures for assisted-living facilities. Throw in a supermodel girlfriend, a hit reality show and behaviour that would get him arrested anywhere else in the world, and the result was the kind of homage that used to be reserved for state leaders and royalty.
She prided herself on being the last person in Los Angeles who still consumed carbs on anything other than birthdays, Christmas or the discovery that your partner was cheating on you with a twenty-two-year-old waitress.
Mellie unfurled her legs from under her and stood, her spiked heels and black leather trousers giving her a look that sat somewhere between Robocop and an occupation that demanded the use of a safe word.
Others saw a career that epitomized the very pinnacle of success. She wondered when he was going to get a real job and actually build something because ‘All you do is talk for a living. It’s not proper work, is it?’
My Review:
Another bitingly witty, cleverly plotted, complex, and multi-layered thriller full of twists, sensuality, scandals, and subterfuge. I lapped up every perfectly chosen and evocative word, snarky misdirection, and vibrant detail like a starving dieter on a binge. The characters were so fabulously flawed they were teetering on the edge of ruin yet I was fascinated by their work ethic and continued successes despite their jagged histories and poor choices. Shari Low is a skilled scribe and master storyteller while the synergy in pairing with Ross King has yielded a dynamic and explosive combination. I hope there is more to come as I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.