Book review: Our Kind Of Cruelty + competition

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Punlished by Arrow Publishing

Synopsis: Most of us spend our whole lives searching for the person who’ll make us feel complete. But Mike and Verity know they’re different. They’ve found their soulmate, and nothing can tear them apart. Not even the man Verity is marrying.

Because they play a secret game, one they call 'the Crave', to demonstrate what they both know: that Verity needs Mike, and Mike alone. But Mike knows that Verity's impending marriage will raise the stakes of their game higher than ever before. Because this time, for Mike and Verity to stay together, someone has to die...

How did this book end up in my hands? When I found out that Araminta Hall was soon going to publish her third novel, I requested a review copy and my wish was granted, much to my happiness.

Was it a page-turner? If I hadn’t had to keep functioning as a normal, working human being at the same time, I would have finished this book in one sitting. I guess that means yes!

Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? I had interpreted the synopsis differently from what the book turned out to be. Perhaps I was being naïve or perhaps it was willingly misleading. Either way, I’m glad I started reading with different expectations in mind because that only made appreciate the subtlety of this psychological thriller even more.

Did I like the ending? I think the ending was ingenious. As I kept reading I could see where it was going but I was also thinking that it could not be possible… surely that couldn’t and wouldn’t happen… and then it did. Boom!

Did the book leave me with unanswered questions? Mainly one: do we actually live in a society where this scenario could be true? Although, to be honest, I unfortunately already know the answer.

Three words to describe it. Haunting. Disbelief-inducing. Chilling.

Do I like the cover? Yes, I think it portrays very well the feeling of claustrophobia that I connect with being in Mike’s head for the duration of the narration.

Have I read any other books by the same author? Yes, I’ve read and reviewed Araminta Hall’s debut novel, Everything and Nothing, which I also recommend.

Will I want to read other books by the same author? I seem to have missed the author’s second novel, Dot, and I will make sure I catch up with it at some point soon.

Will I be recommending this book? Yes – unless you don’t feel up to living in the head of an obsessive character for a few days. I loved this book but I felt like I had been run over by an emotional train when I reached the last sentence. Phew…

Anything else? Yes! Courtesy of the publisher, I am happy to be able to offer a copy of this book to one lucky winner. To enter, follow me on Twitter and retweet the competition post before 03/06. Every comment below will count as an extra entry (one per person). UK only. Good luck!

Comments

  1. Cake (Sheila R)2 June 2018 at 07:17

    This sounds like a really take hold of you read! Am now going to check out Aramintas' other books - and your review

    ReplyDelete

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