Sophie Hannah - unsettling but get a bit samey

[SolidGoldBrass]

That's what I think. I mean, I love the plotting because I really do want to know what's really going on but there's something a bit off about them if you read too many.

[greenhill]

There seems to be too much female hysteria and well hidden craziness for me. I get about half way through and feel irritated with them.

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

I read most of them but found they got quite predictable. They carefully follow the same formula of confusion and hysteria and disbelief and the twists become quite easy to foresee.

I gave up half way through the latest one.

[SolidGoldBrass]

I suppose what bugs me the most is that they all seemed to be based on the destruction of an independent, clever woman. Though I suppose it could be that SH is writing like this out of rage at what the world does to unconventional women rather than implying that they need/deserve to be destroyed for being different.

[addle]

I've only read one but got the impression she really really didn't like women, but can't remember why, sorry. She seemed to be doing a fine job of portraying them as hideous and mad.

[Clawdy]

I hate her portrayal of the police team,the unrealistic banter and the swearing,and the Charlie-Simon thing which is now thoroughly boring.

[AViewFromTheFridge]

She's written some really funny poetry though, which I find quite surprising.

[pollywollydoodle]

aview
1 was great, 2 was ok 3 , too much. Very similar structure.
the long running characters don't ring true

[Moxiegirl]

I always read them but they are instantly forgettable.

[celticclan]

I really liked little face thought that was very good. I wish she would drop the Simon/Charlie business because I can never remember what's going on and I'm not really bothered either.

[waycat]

I have to say that her latest novel was, for me, a big disappointment. I just did not find it atall believable, and remember saying to my DH that I couldn't wait to finally get it finished!

The first Sophie Hannah I read was Little Face - since then I think I've read all of her others, or thereabouts, and Little Face is still my favourite.

[bottleofbeer]

It's the way Simon always suddenly 'gets it' at the end, and it's explained to us through his narrative. Always the same - another character (usually Charlie) pleading with him frustratedly to reveal all and just as he's about to he rushes off somewhere so we have to wait.

Simon is actually a pretty horrible character, he's regularly fantasising about knocking various women's lights out and has the emotional maturity of a brick yet I think we're actually supposed to fancy him a bit.

I really, really loved The Point of Rescue, her ability to turn the impossible into plausible (if unlikely) blew me away but it started to get silly and I thought the whole mystery behind Kind of Cruel was just utterly stupid. The Orphan Choir written as a stand alone ghost story was also stupid. You can't write a book (again about a woman going apparently mad) with no mention or even nod towards the paranormal, then tie it all up with an explanation that it was a ghost all along and call it a legit ghost story.

She had one really good idea then took the piss with it.

[SarahAndFuck]

I don't like her now.

First couple I read, I liked. Now it's all the same.

Lasting Damage is my personal worst. We have the ending as most of the characters see it, but Hannah isn't finished so we have a second ending that only one or two of the characters know about, and then just because why have two endings when we can have three, she sticks a third ending in that only we know about. I think she did that just to piss me off, because there's no other reason for it.

And it had the most pointless plot motive ever.

Kind of Cruel was really weird and unbelievable, but Jo's personality reminded me of someone I know and do not like in real life (and weirdly, Hannah looks like this person too) so I wondered if I was a bit biased against the book because it put me in mind of someone I cannot stand.

[ThursdayLast]

I agree...has anyone else read Cordial and Corrosive by her? It was written a long time before the current series of thrillers, and is a smart and funny mystery with a strong female lead. It doesn't feature on her 'also written by' lists and I can't understand why not?!
I also gave up on jodi picoult too for becoming so bloody predictable.

[greenhill]

Has anyone read 'The Fantastic Book of Everybody's Secrets' by SH?

It's been piled up on a bookcase in my bedroom since 2008 and I spent £7.99 on it...

[FrancesDeLaTourCoughngIntoABin]

I thought the first few were good bht then the plot twists got silly iirc. Also the charlie and simon thing, dont really understand what the big secret is (obv hes impotent?) and am getting a bit past caring

[FrancesDeLaTourCoughngIntoABin]

Kind of cruel that was it. Soo soo twistey

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

I've only read The Hurting Distance, which I enjoyed - how about Little Face - is that worth a go? Need to get some holiday reads

[FrancesDeLaTourCoughngIntoABin]

I liked Little Face