John Marrs

POSIBLE TRIGGERS: Home imprisonment/Dysfunctional Family
Nina can never forgive Maggie for what she did. And she can never let her leave. They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past. Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie show more has done things to Nina that can’t ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price.
If you think you had a dysfunctional relationship with your mother...think again. I'm sure no one had anything even close to what or two "stars of the show", Nina and Maggie had. Absolutely nothing!

I wasn’t reading this just to be reading. I was previewing the book for my discussion group with my senior citizens...and I am really going to have to give this one some thought. One of them had already read it and she's still mostly sane:)...but still.

The story is delivered in two very different points of view; we have Maggie's... and we have Maggie's daughter, Nina's. It was really interesting to see how these two opposites saw their world. At the beginning, we are fairly sure that we know who the aggressor was, and who the victim was. Their relationship is beyond toxic. your thoughts and feelings will shift between the two women throughout the entire story, and by the halfway point you will still have no idea who, if anyone you care to trust.

I've got to be careful not to give too much away. It was an interesting study into human nature. A look at a person’s resilience in spite of seemingly overwhelming situations, and of the tenacity and strength that can help people endure even the hardest of circumstances. It certainly will make you question the cause of Nina’s decisions. It gives "nature or nurture" an entire new meaning. I didn’t find either character likeable, but I was fascinated by the dynamic between them and that kept me going back to read more to try and find out exactly what had happened to bring them to this weird, probably unlawful situation where they were. I’m still not sure that I completely understand and I absolutely 150% don't approve of how it was handled. I believe I understood them both a little more, but it didn't enable me to choose one of them to like.

The ending was shocking but fitting. It takes a little while to get to the reasons behind Maggie’s imprisonment. It's a story of obsession, of family and of the danger of keeping secrets. It is also the story of the hatred that can fester when you don’t move on or find closure. The feeling is claustrophobic and there is never a break. I have to give the author credit for an intriguing premise, one that I have never encountered before. I think I'll give my seniors a go at this one for their August read. It will be interesting to see if which of the main characters they side with. show less

Review of Advance Reading Copy

By unanimous vote, the House of Lords grants approval to driverless vehicles on all British roads, giving rise to completely autonomous Level 5 vehicles in which the travelers are truly nothing more than acquiescent passengers who cannot take control of the vehicle.

And now, eight self-driving cars, each carrying a single Passenger, have had their control systems hijacked. They are no longer proceeding toward their original destinations; instead, they are on a show more collision course with each other. Of course, each of their Passengers holds something in confidence, something they’re desperate to keep hidden. But the Hacker who has taken over their cars seems omniscient and proceeds, one by one, to reveal each of those closely-held secrets so that the public can know the “truth” and then vote on social media to decide which one of the Passengers will live . . . and which ones will die.

But nothing is quite what it seems . . . including the Hacker.

As the events of the hijackings and the Vehicle Inquest Jury play out over social media and every television station, readers find themselves riding in cars with a diverse group of Passengers. These characters are well-drawn and complex; their diversity gives realism to the narrative. Plot twists keep moving the narrative in unexpected directions as each Passenger has his or her deepest secrets revealed to the world. As the time ticks away, carrying each of the Passengers closer to their promised deaths, the tension continues to hold the anxious reader captive while the suspense continually feeds the unrelenting panic.

Mob mentality, social media interaction, and the monumental lack of individual accountability all play into the telling of a tale woven around the unanticipated and malevolent manipulation of the up-to-the-minute technology. Readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before reaching the unexpected denouement and turning the final page.

Recommended. show less

POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: FAMILY VIOLENCE, GRUESOME MURDERS, DRUG ADDICTION, MANIPULATION
A young couple’s house hides terrible secrets...and not all of them are confined to the past.
Finn and Mia have recently bought their first home. Their new house is in desperate need of a makeover, so they set to work making renovations. Soon after the work begins, Mia learns that she is pregnant. With their dream house nearly ready, they are surprised when an ominous message is left for them. The message show more speaks of something sinister being connected to the house and Mia and Finn feel that they must investigate. What they uncover is horrendous and beyond all imagination. The house that was once their dream is now a crime scene. Mia is particularly disturbed by the dark history of her home, and she feels the need to find out more about the house's past. Piece by piece the mystery of this "house of horrors" comes to light and Mia realizes that their lives could be in danger.

The story is told from the viewpoints of five different characters including the unknown killer. The author also gives us a number of vital excerpts and key articles that were interesting but became somewhat of a challenge to keep track of all the narrators and time periods. I did very much like the mystery and conjecture that surrounded the story. It helped and allowed for my theories, opinions and impressions to take form. I know I came up with some really wild theories and ideas...most of them...wrong. There is a lot of "darkness" in this story that may really, really bother some readers, and could possibly raise triggers. However, as much as some of this was really awful, you can't help feeling that there was a lot of truth in this story. You can actually imagine these things being reported by a handsome, smiling TV newscaster on your 6:00 news report in all its glaring gore.

I was highly suspicious of all the characters, except for Mia. I was Mia's biggest fan from the start, and I desperately wanted her to learn the truth, and still be alive afterwards. My opinion of her husband and his family...??? Well, I won’t say too much more about them other than John Marrs has given "life" to a bunch of "shady characters". Good job, Mr. Marrs...I didn't figure them out until it was too late. I know that sometimes it's skipped but be sure to read the epilogue. It gives the story and the reader, some much needed grounding, AND a shocking final twist. I don't remember when I have had so much gruesome "fun" with a book:)

What stayed in my mind the most when it came to the book was the old debate that surrounds the "nature versus nurture" theory... inherited family trauma, double lives, murder, secrets and psychological tendencies. These were very interesting topics, and I felt that the author really did these dark issues justice. This was a chilling tale, and I was glued to it from the first to the last sentence on the last page. I am certain that this one, along with John Marrs, its author, deserves every single one of these five stars.... maybe even more. show less

This book was FIRE (excuse the lazy pun, I just had to)!
I read it as a pick from the "Licensed to Thrill" book club on Fables, and I’m so glad I joined in, because it's the best read I've had in a loooong time, a solid 4.75.

This is a perfect thriller: the first pages instantly throws you into the devouring blaze that the whole story becomes: a big, fiery, hatred-fueled fire. I loved how the story unfolds mainly through three POVs from the main characters Margot, Anna and Liv; with secrets show more and a hell of a lot of audacity. They're smart, petty, and ultimately playing with fire, and oh boy I loved it.

Some people mentioned how hard it can be to follow the plot, and that scared me at first. I hate having to take notes to remember who’s who. But each (short) chapter flowed smoothly into the next, moving the story forward quickly, and the constant POV shifts actually felt refreshing. Yes, there is a few chapters (the italic ones) that are confusing, on purpose, give it time, it all makes sense at some point.

I’ve lost count of how many jaw dropping PLOT TWISTS this book contains, it’s insane … until it became just a tad too much for me. Hence the 4.75. Other than that, no complaints. Thanks, Mr. Marrs, from the bottom of my heart. This book reignited my love for thrillers, which I had put aside for a few months. show less