This was compelling but kind of inconsistent. I didn’t buy her whole memory loss. It seemed to focused, too specific. For example; she couldn’t remember the days that led up to her storming out of work. Wouldn’t something like that have been building up for a while? How could a person suddenly snap like that? I don’t buy it. She had no memory of the actual incident of storming out, but she should have remembered resentments or examples of things that made her angry with her employers in the first place. Same with her leaving her boyfriend, Terry. She can’t remember why in particular she left, but she can remember that she had fights with him in the past and that he hit her. At the same time, she’s convinced that he didn’t murder his new girlfriend Sally. How can she remember one thing but not another? It didn’t hang together for me.

I didn’t like Abbie very much either. She seemed too spastic and too easy at the same time. One minute she can’t stand Ben Brody and the next minute she’s in bed with the guy. Then, because of a cryptic inscription inside a book of poetry, she flips out and runs away from him. Maybe the blow to the head was more severe than just memory loss.
And how she followed the trail of the never to have been cat of her roommate (who she also didn’t remember but got really chummy with over a period of 4 days – as if). She goes from one weirdo to another who either collects cats or has saved a few from time to time. Why on earth would anyone get a cat in this way?? It was too unbelievable. Then when she finds the guy actually in the process of dealing with another captive and she puts his eyes out with her thumbs?? I didn’t buy that either. Too bad it wasn’t more like Beneath the Skin – that one was good. ( )

outstanding suspense ( )

This book was fantastic - most of the way through. However, I'm afraid that the ending totally ruined it for me. Without giving too much away, I felt that it was a total anti-climax and that such a great story was deserving of a far better finale.

Abbie has been kidnapped, but she doesn't know who by. All she knows is that she has to get away because otherwise she will probably die. She does indeed manage to escape, but is nowhere nearer to finding out who her captor was.

Abbie begins her own investigation into matters, all the time having to deal with sceptical Police Officers, who aren't even convinced that she was kidnapped in the first place.

Read this if you like psychological thrillers, but be warned that you may come away feeling unsatisfied. ( )

The story starts with Abbie in the dark. Kidnapped at the hands of a man who promises to kill her. He has her hooded and bound and she's clinging to her sanity by a thin line. When she gets free she finds herself doubted and finds that there's an important week missing in her mind. Add to that that that police doubt her story and you have a very messed up situation.

The first part of the book where she's kidnapped is very interesting but the second part where she's looking down the gaping pit of memory is the best part of the story. This isn't an amazing book but is a very good read. ( )

I love Nicci French anyway, so i may be biased but this was particularly gripping. You can actually feel the frustration of the lead character, Abbie, as she fights to find someone who'll believe her tale of abduction. It's a complex plot, following Abbie following herself after a bout of amnesia. My only disappointment was the ending, as is quite often the case. Without ruining it for anyone, let's just say she made a life choice that i found inexplicable. Definately worth the read if you aren't a romantic sap though! ( )