Don't Look Back by Gregg Hurwitz - fast-paced action/survival story

Don't Look Back

by Gregg Hurwitz

The blurb:

"After the breakup of her marriage, Evie takes the holiday of a lifetime. A few weeks of hiking, rafting and jungle adventure at an eco-lodge in Mexico sound ideal. But what should have been the perfect pick-me-up soon turns into a nightmare.

Nothing is quite what it seems. There are secrets hidden that can't be allowed to leave their jungle hiding place. And which their keeper will kill to protect.

If she is ever to see her son again, Evie will be forced to find reserves of strength, courage and ingenuity she never dreamt existed. Or die trying.

With great pace and pitch-perfect characterisation, Gregg Hurwitz rachets up the tension in Don't Look Back, his exceptional new thriller. Fans of Harlan Coben and Simon Kernick will be hooked from the word go."

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I would like to thank www.netgalley.com and the publishers, Penguin Books (UK) for sending me a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Once a brief history is provided about why Eve is alone on a “trip of a lifetime”, it gets down to it in a big way with non-stop action and tension throughout. The scene is set so well, I was transported into the jungles of Mexico; the beauty and the dangers within described to great effect.

The mix of characters was excellent with the main heroine (Eve) one tough cookie - she didn’t start off that way but with the determination to see her son again, she quickly had to become Amazonian-like and someone I would want on my side. When she (and you) thought she couldn’t do or go anymore, she dug deep and kept on.

The villain (Bashir) is everything you would want in a bad guy - ruthless, heartless, cruel, excellent at what he does and right at home in the jungle.

Don't Look Back, is an edge-of-the-seat, fast-paced action/survival story that will keep you on your toes until the very end.

This is the first time reading a Gregg Hurwitz book, but I will definitely be reading more.

Creepy!

The Facts of Life and Death

by Belinda Bauer

'Call your mother.'
'What do I say?'
'Say goodbye.'

This is how it begins.

Lone women terrorised and their helpless families forced to watch - in a sick game where only one player knows the rules. And when those rules change, the new game is Murder.

Living with her parents in the dank beach community of Limeburn, ten-year-old Ruby Trick has her own fears. Bullies on the school bus, the forest crowding her house into the sea, and the threat of divorce.

Helping her Daddy to catch the killer might be the key to keeping him close.

As long as the killer doesn't catch her first...

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I really enjoyed it. The first few chapters are a bit slow but necessary to develop the characters and lull you into a false sense of security. The story is told from a few different perspectives but mainly via a young girl which was interesting at first and took a bit of getting used to but worked very well with the way the book developed. The characters were believable, the way the author was able to describe the people and especially the locations made me feel I was there.

I would also like to commend the design of the book cover - very eye catching and creepy and fits with the book totally.

I have never read anything by this author before but if her other books are anything like this one, I will definitely consider reading more.

Sounded good but disappointing

The Benjamin Atkins Story:

America's Most Prolific Serial Killer

by Alan Bradley

The blurb:

"Benjamin Atkins was the fastest serial killer in American history, murdering eleven women in nine months and leaving their bodies scattered among the ruins of Detroit. Author Alan Bradley grew up in the neighborhood where Atkins plied his deadly trade and brings a unique perspective to the tale of Atkins, his victims, and the broken landscape they prowled."

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I was lucky enough to download this for free from Amazon and, unfortunately, I am quite pleased because I feel I would have been a little disappointed had I paid for it. Having said that, the way the scene was set was well described and definitely enabled me to have a clear vision of what living in that area was like at the time - this may have been it's downfall - too much description about the area and not enough detail about "Tony" himself. I didn't feel the story flowed well and jumped from one thing to another and this made it feel rushed. It would make a better full length book rather than a very short story.