Sophie Hannah - the other half lives

[myflabberisgasted]

Now I have read 2 other Sophie Hannah books and loved them.... This one well I just don't know what to think!

I am over 1/2 way through and I just don't seem to be getting anywhere.
The plot is dragging and i can't bring myself to like any of the characters!

Has anyone read this?
Is it worth persevering?

[fromparistoberlin]

THNAKS to whoever recdommended Astas book

its very good, halfway though

Kind of cruel was very good too, I like sophie hannah good holiday reading

[myflabberisgasted]

Well I've eventually finished it!

That was a record for me finishing a book in the longest time ever!

I threw it straight into the bin, made myself feel a lot better.

I don't think I even understood anything in it the whole way through.
Thank god it's over!!

[montage]

It was a complicated plot to say the least!

I like most of her books though and really like following Simon and Charlie.

The plot of her new book, out next month, looks v good. Really looking forward to another one!

[myflabberisgasted]

I'm still no further on with it but will persevere and let you know the ending canyouhear!

[CanYouHearMe]

Yes, I posted on here a while back as I could not get into it at all. Lots of negative comments, and I abandoned it. Would love to know the outcome once you have read it.

[SPBInDisguise]

ooh I will look into Barbara Vine
I thought Kind of Cruel got silly

[myflabberisgasted]

Clawdy I could kiss you!! That sounds fantastic! I have added it to my kindle now. Thank you!

[Clawdy]

Most of the early Barbara Vine novels are incredibly gripping with very good "twists". Try "Asta's Book"!

[myflabberisgasted]

I've just looked on amazon at Erin Kelly and "the poison tree" was on itv the other week. I have watched the 1st episode of this and have just got the 2nd one left on the planner! It is very good though, I think I will enjoy her books. Thanks for the recommendation.

[myflabberisgasted]

Thanks shattered I will look into her books

[Shattereddreams]

Kind of cruel was my fave too.
I highly recommend Erin Kelly. Though her first book is on tv soon, so read it before watching.

[myflabberisgasted]

Yes bottleofbeer that makes sense to me.

I don't think I have helped myself with the Sophie Hannah books either as I didn't realise that they were a series and I have read them out of order!

In one book I read Charlie and Waterhouse were married, then in the next book they weren't... Confused me to say the least!

My favourite so far has to be "kind of cruel" that kept me gripped all then way through.

[bottleofbeer]

I've read them all. I get dead excited when a new SH book comes out.

But they're beginning to feel a bit formulaic now.

Apparently unsolvable mystery that gets solved and I think I'm more interested in how it pans out than actually loving her work if that makes any sense?

The whole Waterhouse/Charlie thing has always been a bit boring for me. I realise they're both quite damaged in their own way but it seems like there's been NO character development along the way. She's still an insecure crank and he's still a....crank who constantly fanstasises about punching various women in his life. I think I'd prefer the books completely without them tbh. Lots of books tell the main story with only peripheral police invovement but these are a whole subplot and they're all just a bit 'meh' - especially in the way Simon always has some lightbulb moment and puts the whole thing together for us in some really contrived way.

I think the endings can feel a bit of a let down simply because she weaves such an improbable tale that you can't even begin to fathom the whys and wherefores so when it's all revealed it's a bit anticlimatic. But that's also the strength of the books for me - the unfathomable mystery - that actually is fathomable at the end.

However, I will always buy a new one as it comes out. I did think A Room Swept White was by far the weakest book though.

[SPBInDisguise]

Yes that rings a bell. Read it a lot less recently than I thought, though

[myflabberisgasted]

I think I'll keep going with it as I'm intrigued by it but its a bit of a chore to read!

[beatofthedrum]

Oooh I liked it. Remember feeling let down at some point but did enjoy it.

[myflabberisgasted]

So far a man (I can't remember his name - that's how much I care about the characters!) has confessed to his girlfriend that he murdered a woman years ago, however his girlfriend knows this woman is still alive.
She tries to convince him she is still alive but he doesn't believe her. There's a lot about art on there to and it's just a bit blah!

.... Jog any memories for you?!

[SPBInDisguise]

That said I can't remember a lot about it, sorry

[SPBInDisguise]

I've read it and yes not as impressed. That's aid I can't remember a lot ant it, can you jog ,y memory with no spoilers?

[Clawdy]

I read it some time ago,and like you,found it hard to like anyone in it. The police characters get more unbelievable with every book (Simon and Charlie's relationship, that police guy with the sleazy comments-yuk- and as for the Snowman!!) Also the endings are usually a let-down. But somehow I keep on reading them. This one is better than "A Room Swept White" I think.