Category Archives: Psychological

BLOG TOUR – I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley!

Here’s the blurb

Annalise saved them from certain death. But she does want something in return…

Bonnie and her husband Steffan are hiking in the beautiful Swiss Alps when they are caught in a freak snowstorm. Fearing they may not survive, the couple are overjoyed when they stumble across an isolated cabin occupied by a lone woman, Annalise.

But their joy soon turns to unease as they realise that Annalise may have a sinister agenda.

And she’s not the only one with something to hide. Trapped together in a nightmarish pressure cooker, the cracks in Bonnie’s marriage start to show as she discovers that Steffan has been leading a secret life.

All the while Annalise becomes more and more menacing. What does she want from them? And what is she willing to do to get it?

Bound ever tighter in a horrifying web, Bonnie is finally forced to confront one terrifying truth – someone is going to die on this mountain.

Review

This is my second foray into the authors works and I already knew I’d love this one.. I just didn’t know how much!

I Will Find You is told form the point of view of two characters, Bonnie and Annalise. What I immediately loved is the authors suspenseful style of storytelling.. the plot is never drawn out too much, rather twisted and engrossing as it plays out… it gives you instant tingles as you know something isn’t right.. but you don’t know what.

The majority of the story focuses around a trip to the Swiss Alps, as Bonnie and her husband Steffan set out on a trek that will push them both to the limits.

Things take a turn when a storm hits forcing them to seek refuge in a remote cabin where they meet Annalise.

The characters compete for the readers attention as the author moves the point of view from now, to explore the past and what brings them to this moment.. the great thing is neither overshadow the other… they both just demand that attention with their own tales.. you are sucked in.. so moving from one to the next while you enjoy the chapter you can’t wait to get back and see where the previous will take you.. but then you are sucked into to that perspective… ahhh you’re honestly just hooked easily making it an easy read too as it just flows effortlessly.

I’ll try to keep this spoiler free but there’s so many creepy vibes that come off multiple characters.. Bonnie has her own trauma but there’s more to her being in the alps than we know.. Steffan.. he’s a dark horse.. you always feel there’s something you don’t quite understand.. hidden just under the surface.. and Annalise.. how did she end up here and why…

The plot is captivating and deliberately full of suspense and I just bloody loved it.. I never felt I quite knew who was good or bad.. each have their own darkness and it was just simply enthralling.

The first 20% of the book is pure build-up which then dials up a notch when they arrive in the cabin..Bonnie feels the creepiness as soon as the door closes but is she going mad? is Annalise just a lonely old woman?

There’s a subtle message through the tale as it develops.. don’t judge a book by it’s cover.. either that or everyone has skeletons in the closet..

The author got the setting prefect to as it added a claustrophobic feel that ramps up the building tension.

There’s so much more to the story than the synopsis suggests.. trust me..it goes way further and those twists are perfectly timed and hit just the right notes.

Jessica Huntley is the queen of the suspenseful thriller for sure!

A heart pounding 5*

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Who is Jessica Huntley?

Jessica Huntley is an author of dark and twisty psychological thrillers, which often focus on mental health topics and delve deep into the minds of her characters.

She has a varied career background, having joined the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, then left to become a Personal Trainer.

She is now living her life-long dream of writing from the comfort of her home, while looking after her young son and her disabled black Labrador. She enjoys keeping fit and drinking wine (not at the same time).

Where can you find them?

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/jessica.reading.writing
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jessica_reading_writing
X (formerly Twitter)https://twitter.com/jess_read_write
Websitehttp://www.jessicahuntleyauthor.com

Book Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236600768-i-will-find-you

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/willfindyou-zbt

Why not follow the tour?

BLOG TOUR – The Uninvited Guest by Ruby Speechley

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Uninvited Guest by Ruby Speechley!

Here’s the blurb.

One hen, one stag, one uninvited guest… who won’t make it to the wedding?

Megan Lewis is ready for her big day, but when an unexpected guest crashes her hen weekend, her perfectly curated world unravels.

Beth, claiming to be Jamie’s cousin, quickly charms the group. But when she gets close to bridesmaid Lauren, things take a dark turn, and a game of truth or dare exposes secrets from Megan’s past, shaking her world.

As the wedding nears, Megan realises Beth isn’t who she says she is — but she may be her only ally.

When you can’t trust anyone, not even your fiancé, who can you turn to?

An unputdownable novel full of suspense and secrets, perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Alice Feeney and Lisa Jewell.

Review.

Megan is preparing to walk down the isle and it’s time for her to relax and have some fun with her friends. Will this be a relaxing hen weekend?? No chance.

From the outset somethings not right. I won’t spoil it but Megan seems to be on edge..thinking the worst.. but why?  Well that’s where the author has been very cunning.. there’s a big backstory and lots of moving parts in this engaging plot.

As the hen weekend kicks off it’s time for old friends to reconnect, but when Beth arrives things go from bad to worse..

The author leads you down the rabbit hole… you think you know who is out to get Megan but not the why.. but then there’s twists that make you doubt your initial thoughts.

As the story progresses we learn of hidden secrets that would rock the foundations of any marriage but who is really behind this? And why? What do they get out of this?

Plot wise it’s gripping and exciting and I loved how Megan developed with depth added along the way, it really helped strengthen the overall tale.

The list of characters isn’t too exhaustive meaning the author was able to focus and let the plot shine which paid off! The characters are well defined and develop nicely to aid the plot but little do you know at first where the plot will take you.. wow.. those last few chapters are immensely captivating!

I didn’t warm to Megan at first but as the plot thickens you understand her more and I can’t help but feel that’s exactly how the author wanted it. Megan has her flaws but ultimately isn’t a bad person.. she’s just made some bad choices.. she’s not the only one though!

This is my second foray into the authors work and I continue to be wowed! Excited to see what’s next.

The Uninvited Guest is a tale of hidden secrets and desire..wow!

My thanks go to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/theuninvitedguest

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio –

Ruby Speechley is a bestselling psychological thriller writer, whose titles include Someone Else’s Baby. Previously published by Hera, she has been a journalist and worked in PR and lives in Cheshire.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063999185095

Twitter: @rubyspeechley

Instagram: @rubyjtspeechley

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RubySpeechleyNews

The Darkness Within Ourselves, Book1 in The Darkness Series by Jessica Huntley – REVIEW

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Today I’m going to be reviewing The Darkness Within Ourselves, Book1 in The Darkness Series by Jessica Huntley.

Here’s the blurb

Running and hiding won’t save you because The Darkness lives within … and it will never stop hunting you.


Amber and her four best friends are about to reach their teenage years when the unthinkable happens; one of her friends, Kieran, is killed in a freak accident.

Twenty years later, Amber no longer speaks to her friends and is still haunted by that day in the form of severe psychological issues, including sleep paralysis, insomnia and hallucinations of a terrifying entity she calls The Creature. But it isn’t just in her head; it is real.

Unbeknown to Amber, her former friends have also been suffering from their own psychological nightmares, each trapped and twisted into people they no longer recognise. Then a piece of evidence is found from that day and Amber and her former friends are forced to relive the events leading up to Kieran’s death, learning truths along the way that they would rather not know about themselves.

Can they work together to rid themselves of their demons and find out what really happened to Kieran all those years ago?

Review

Amber and her friends are out and about doing what kids do.. not looking for trouble but trouble finds them..and one of the group, Kieran doesn’t make it home that fateful day.

Many years later we learn the group was never the same after that day.. they are no longer the close group of friends they used to be. Not only that but each have been struggling with the darkness that’s been within them since that day.

A piece of evidence shows up one day that means the case is going to be reopened and the truth may finally come out. This spurs Amber on to try and reconnect with the group.

Where did the evidence come from? And what does this mean? Should they tell the truth after all this time?

As time passes, and the group reconnects they learn of their individual struggles and the effect Kieran’s death had on them all. What is the darkness really? And why is it different fro each of them? Is there anything they can do to rid themselves of the darkness that has been following them for years? Will the truth set them free?

Oh wow, what a plot. It’s a mixture of psychological and supernatural. I don’t want to spoil the plot but the idea of the darkness was fascinating. It’s a manifestation… its how they are coping with the guilt and pain within themselves and just like the darkness we can all suffer at times it’s not always a battle you can win.

I loved the development of the characters and their individual battles, It allowed me to quickly get invested in the outcome.

The plot moves at a good pace and chapter lengths are spot on meaning it was a quick and fun read but what really gave it the extra umph was the few twists thrown in along the way.. where the evidence came from.. what the darkness is.. those twits added an extra bit of excitement.

I think what really made this book the 5* for me was the battle against the darkness, it’s a battle on two fronts, internal and external, to not let it win.

In my typical fashion I’m late to the party so more than excited to know the series continues.

As we approach the darker nights this is the perfect, scary, phycological/supernatural thriller to get stuck into.

5/5 Stars

To find our more head to Amazon or Goodreads

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden – REVIEW

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Next up on David’s Book Blurg I’m reviewing The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.

Here’s the blurb

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

Review

The Housemaid follows Millie, a down on her luck gal who is just trying to start her life again after some very painful events.

Millie applies to be a housemaid for the Winchesters, she has zero chance of getting the job if a background check is done…so it’s a surprise when she receives a phone call offering her the job!

The job just seems too good to be true.. a roof over her head, decent pay..and Nina Winchester seems lovely…but…something niggles, is it too good to be true?

When Millie starts there’s a shift to Nina straight away and you’d be forgiven for thinking she was a little crazy..and to top if off Millie sleeps in a attic room that’s more of a closest..Despite this Millie makes the most of things.. it’s still by far better than the alternative.

As the story progresses we learn the marriage between Nina and Andrew is far from perfect, there’s tension and a lot of history simmering..

Millie continues to try to get on with her job and ignore the erratic behaviour of Nina but in doing so she sees something in Andrew..she feels sorry for him, afterall Nina can’t be making him happy.. but she could..but she’s the maid and he’s married.

Things start to take a dark turn. I’m certainly not one for spoilers but it’s safe to say the twists come and while I had some inkling the events that played out were so much better and more terrifying than I could have imagined.

I’m late to the party I know but with all the sunshine we’ve been having I needed a new book to get stuck into. Psychological thrillers aren’t my usual go to genre but I fancied something different.. and I’m glad I pick this one up.

Might I add I bought this at The Works, a favourite haunt of mine for books, so firstly the main reason I picked this one up was the cover, then one simple line in the synopsis had me hooked.. “my bedroom door only locks from the outside”.

Overall I loved this one. The pace of the plot was great and the level of detail and development to the characters matched perfectly. Very easy flow to the tale and gripping is an understatement.

A thoroughly enjoyable and deviously designed story to keep the reader guessing what will happen next.

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena – Review

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Next up on David’s Book Blurg is The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena.

Here’s the blurb

PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF ALMOST ANYTHING.

You never know what’s happening on the other side of the wall.

Your neighbour told you that she didn’t want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn’t stand her crying.

Your husband said it would be fine. After all, you only live next door. You’ll have the baby monitor and you’ll take it in turns to go back every half hour.

Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race up the stairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realized. She’s gone.

You’ve never had to call the police before. But now they’re in your home, and who knows what they’ll find there.

What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit?

Review

The Couple Next Door is a physiological thriller.. a little girl has been kidnapped while her parents were next door.. who did it and why them?

The tale is quite intense as the author delves into the lives of the parents in detail and also the neighbours. Suspicion falls on the parents at first as you’d expect.. something is just not adding up but the author throws in a few twists along the way to throw you off the scent.

I loved the build-up but must admit the ending didn’t give the bang I was expecting.. the author had painted such a vivid series of events that the ending just felt a bit flat.. almost too easy.

The characters themselves were very good, each developed well and has their time to grow. It seems everyone in this book has some skeleton in the closet so it was really fun watching the pieces come together.

The plot was intriguing… from the off I was 99% sure who was involved but had no idea why.. or how they even managed to do it.. this little nugget of info is what makes this book so good.. the author digs her claws into you quickly and you just can’t help but read more…I just had to find out why the kidnap happened in the first place..it certainly had me sucked in.

My wife really enjoyed this one too.. she likes her books but is easily distracted by tv or home improvements (hope she doesn’t read this J ). To know she’s read it was a sure sign to me it was worth reading and I couldn’t agree more.

4 Stars!

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads

The Expired by B. P. Smythe – Review

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Next up on David’s Book Blurg I’m reviewing The Expired by B. P. Smythe.

Here’s the blurb

‘The Expired’ is a psychological thriller masterpiece showing how vulnerable people can be brainwashed to become sleepers (Manchurian Candidates) and used by corrupt politicians to further their own ends. ‘The Expired’ shadows true accounts of government sleeper programmes set up during the Korean War and the East West Cold War.

Commander Gregory Potting is a former head of MI6 Intelligence and the governments most trusted Senior Adviser for Internal Affairs.

His position is put to the test in 1973 when a bizarre psychological plot unfolds that isinextricably linked to a London terrorist attack, a cocaine drug scam, a homosexual called Francis Hodder who suffers from schizophrenia and changes from time to time to Roxanne – a transvestite prostitute who robs and murders his clients.

Francis Hodder is a transsexual who preys on gay men. As a child he is abused by his father who is head of government security. Francis becomes an embarrassment to MI6 because of his gender leaning. He is brainwashed to become a Sleeper assassin triggered by code words to kill personnel who threaten government security. Francis becomes a manipulated pawn, who by mistake during a sexual encounter with a Black September terrorist, uncovers plans for a deadly attack on a densely crowded popular sports event to kill thousands of people to further the cause of EL Fatah and Black September.

 

Review

After reading the blurb about the book I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.. There’s so much going on… I couldn’t quite see how it would work..Well Mr. Smythe sure showed me, I was sucked in from the first page.

The story mainly focuses on Francis Hodder, a transsexual who abused as a child has grown up to have a long list of issues.. first and foremost he’s got a split personality going on. We have Francis but also Roxanne..

A powerful player in the government sees a way to make use of Francis and he’s brainwashed to kill on command.

What happens next is a rather expertly woven series of events where we learn of other individuals that have been brainwashed.. it’s seems this powerful player is setting up a chessboard of pieces so to speak, ready to do whatever they are told to.

As the game goes on players are eliminated while others emerge and a terrorist plot becomes clear..

I’ve not read anything from the author before but from this I felt he must have one hell of an imagination to put this together. We have Francis and his double life but also a terrorist plot which felt like it could have been a separate tale.

It works enough for me to enjoy the tale but the plot line explored towards the end of the book with Francis’s past and present colliding was the best bit and the terrorist plot was overshadowed by Francis.

The author manages to wrap the tale up nicely..It didn’t feel like any loose ends were there and to be honest I quite enjoyed the book even though it’s quite an unusual read for me.

Overall the pace of the tale is good and the chapter length is easy to swallow, add in a strangely unique plot and you’ve earned a 3* on this one.

My thanks go to the author for the chance to read and review the book in exchange for an honest review.

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads

Blog Tour – Out of the Silence by Owen Mullen

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Next up on David’s Book Blurg I’m reviewing Out of the Silence by Owen Mullen.

Even better it’s part of a blog tour.. I do love taking part..a shared chat about books…what’s not to like.

Join in with the tour!

Out of the Silence Blog Blitz.jpg

Here’s the blurb

Genre – Psychological Thriller

My Rating 5/5 Stars!!!!!

Star investigative reporter Ralph Buchanan’s glory days are behind him. His newspaper has banished him to Pakistan, not knowing the greatest moment of his long career is waiting for him there.

When Simone Jasnin asks him to help expose a grave injustice, he finds himself embroiled in a harrowng tale that began in a dusty settlement in rural Punjab, setting in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of everyone involved.

Seven years later in the city of Lahore, members of a prominent family are being brutally murdered, one by one. The only clue is a hand-carved wooden bangle left at the scene of each crime.

As the list of suspects grows and the tension mounts, Ralph realises the answers might be closer to home than he ever thought possible.

Solving the mystery will put him back on top but at what cost?

Only when the smoke clears will the killing stop and honour be satisfied…

Review

Owen Mullen fast became a favourite author of mine over the last couple of years..his crime thrillers always have me hooked so of course I’d want to read his latest work.. so much so I didn’t even read the blurb.. I knew I’d love it.. I just didn’t know how much ..or that it would move me as much as it did.

Under an amazingly written story we truly get a heart wrenching tale of abuse and injustice..so much so I really felt for all of those involved..it was impossible not to get invested in this story and I promise it will stay with you.

Doctor Simone Jasnin finds a woman in need.. she has a story to tell.. her tale isn’t for the fate hearted but needs to be shared. This is where Ralph Buchanan comes in..he’s flawed like all the best characters, but slowly he earns his chance at redemption.

The tale Simone recounts is a tale of young blossoming love, Afra and Jameel, would be lovers but kept apart simply due to perception of worth. Jameel has nothing to offer therefore is no good.. They end up going along very different paths… and Afra’s is one of immense pain.

While Afra’s tale is retold we also learn what becomes of Jameel..a man who proves he’s worth tenfold..

Jameel and Ralph’s journeys collide as we delve deeper into the life of Afra..no matter her pain she never gives ups.

Out of the Silence is a gut churning tale of abuse and revenge.. a tale that needs to be told.. and Afra’s tale will be heard.

I can’t say I’ve ever been moved by written words before..yes I enjoy lots of books.. I love quite a few..but to be moved by the written word.. that to me is saved for notes from those nearest and dearest to you.. not just any old written word…but..I felt Afra’s pain..it hurt and it made me feel like no book ever has.

This is a tough tale.. not for the faint hearted.. a well written tale that deserves to be shared. A thought-provoking tale that really gets you thinking.. just because we don’t see abuse doesn’t mean it’s not going on.. it’s out there and we need to do what we can to stop it.. hopefully Afra’s tale will help.

Owen is no one trick pony.. he’s pure talent..I dare you to read this and try and tell me you didnt feel something.. it would be impossible.

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads

Daddy Dearest by Paul Southern – Review

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Title – Daddy Dearest
Author – Paul Southern
Genre – Thriller/Suspense
Length –   245 Pages
My Rating – 4/5 Stars

Synopsis

An estranged father’s weekend with his beloved five-year-old daughter turns into a nightmare when she gets into the lift of a city centre tower block and goes down without him. She vanishes without a trace. It sets off a race against time, and a nationwide manhunt, to find her. As the police investigation closes in, suspicion falls on those closest to her – with devastating consequences. Daddy Dearest is a terrifying story of love, obsession and psychological meltdown.

‘My daughter has always had a thing about lifts. There’s something about the thrill of pressing a button and seeing the lift doors close which excites her imagination. It terrifies me. Every time she walks in, I imagine it’s the last time I’ll see her. What if she hits the button before I get there? What if the lift doors close and I can’t get her out? It drives me nuts. There are eight floors in the Sears building, nine if you count the basement, and the lift is fast: more like a fairground ride, really. It does top to bottom in twelve seconds. I’ve timed it. Taking the stairs, I’ve done it in forty-two. That leaves a gap of thirty seconds. You’d be surprised what can happen in that time. I was.’ 

Review

This is a very psychological tale told from the viewpoint of the dad when his daughter goes missing after getting in a lift

I never give away spoilers but I can say for certain this is has a very clever plotline with some very interesting developments that happen throughout the course of the book

There is a underlying tone of love to the tale and I think the author did a great job in making the reader understand the motives behind certain actions.

Emotion played a big part in the tale and the emotion made the tale real for me

For me the best thing about the book had to be the storyline itself. After reading one chapter Paul Southern hooked me in enough that I had to keep reading to see how the story would finish

Overall I felt this was a very well planned and written, raw and real. The storyline is so smart I could easily envisage this one being made into a TV programme.

I very much enjoyed the book and I’ll be looking out for the author’s next release

I really do wish I could give you more to go on but if I say anything else it would give the whole plot away.

My advice is that if you enjoy psychological thrillers or mysteries then you’ll enjoy this one

My thanks go to the author for the chance to read/review his work

To find out more head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Symbiosis by Guy Portman – Review

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Title – Symbiosis
Author – Guy Portman
Genre – Psychological
Length – 245 Pages
Publication – Jan 2016
My Rating – 3/5 Stars

Synopsis

Identical twins Talulah and Taliah have never been apart. Viewed as curiosities by children and adults alike, they coexist in an insular world with their own secret language. But being identical doesn’t necessarily mean being equal…

Soon a series of momentous events will send Talulah and Taliah spiralling out of control, setting them on a collision course with a society that views them as two parts of a whole. Will their symbiotic relationship survive?

Perceptive and poignant, Symbiosis explores our enduring fascination with twins and the complexities of twinship.

A valuable addition to the monozygotic canon…

Symbiosis demonstrates Portman’s ability to populate his worlds with peculiar yet plausible characters.

Moving and laconic, with impressive attention to psychological detail…

Review

This story follows the life of identical twins Talulah and Taliah. I must admit I was interested straight away since I myself have twins and always wonder if they will have a “special” connection. After reading the book I certainly still hope they do.. just not to the degree these twins do.

I’ve never read a story like this before and it was very interesting to read about the kind of symbiotic dependency the girls had with each other… at first you just felt the girls were misunderstood but as the story developed I found myself wondering about the mental health of Talulah in particular who seems to have a more parasitic effect on her sister.

The story flows well but I did find myself skim reading when the girls talked in their own language since I had absolutely no idea what they were saying.

I also found as I read the book I just didn’t like the twins but I think this was mainly due to the symbiotic relationship that developed throughout the story..I just wanted to separate the girls myself since as a reader we know what the girls are thinking..i just found Talulah’s dependency frustrating but this does make you think.. these connections people have.. their needs..it would be nice to have this type of connection with someone but as the book draws on you realise it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

One thing the book did really well from my point of view was bringing up the subject of individuality.I know from experience that a lot of people refer to my two girls as “The Girls” or “The Twins”.. buy them the same clothes etc even though they are individuals. Don’t get me wrong.. at times it’s nice but at other times you really do like to see them as separate people. People don’t always get this and add in the fact Taliah & Talulah have major communication issues it’s easy to see how this strong of a connection could be made between them.

The whole tale is very psychological for me..in-depth and it does make you think what would happen if you were in this type of relationship where you didn’t feel you had your free will…

Very interesting indeed, and thank you to the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d very much like to hear your views if you’ve read this yourself

To find out more information head to Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.