Title: Eeny Meeny
Author: M.J. Arlidge
Series: Book One in the Helen Grace Series
Published By: Berkley & NAL (June 2, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Book Description:
The international bestseller that “grabs the reader by the throat" (Crime Time).
First in the new series featuring Detective Inspector Helen Grace.
Two people are abducted, imprisoned, and left with a gun. As hunger and thirst set in, only one walks away alive.
It’s a game more twisted than any Detective Inspector Helen Grace has ever seen. If she hadn’t spoken with the shattered survivors herself, she almost wouldn’t believe them.
Helen is familiar with the dark sides of human nature, including her own, but this case—with its seemingly random victims—has her baffled. But as more people go missing, nothing will be more terrifying than when it all starts making sense....
About the Author:
M.J. Arlidge has worked in television for the last 15 years, specialising in high end drama production. Arlidge has produced a number of prime-time crime serials for ITV In the last five years, and is currently working on a major adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans for the BBC.
Eeny Meeny is a book that will quickly wrap you up in the story with both fascination and horror.
A heart pounding, heart stopping thriller that does not have a happy ending. A story that quickly reminds you of the horrors in the world and the very fact that not all endings, are a happy one.
The book was quite the read and even now, I'm not quite sure how I felt about it. It was very fast paced but so much so that at times I felt lost. Like I had missed part of the storyline and was constantly stumbling to catch up and other times the story seemed to drag on and I wasn't sure what the purpose was for it.
With disturbing content, language, and horrors around every bend, this definitely is not for the faint of heart. I wasn't sure half the time if this would be the story for me and several times had to stop and put it aside for awhile.
Overall I don't think this was necessarily the read for me although I think many fans of the genre will love it. In fact, I think they will be swept away with a hero that has a disturbing and dark past almost as much so as the villain and where happily ever afters are not part of the story, those that like to be on the edge of their seat never knowing what will come next and constantly looking over their shoulders hoping someone isn't watching and waiting for them too, Arlidge truly did create something unlike anything I have read before.
Gosh, this really doesn't sound like my bag at all. It does sound quite disturbing in places and I don't think I could really let myself imagine hat was going on, I think that would freak me out. Great review though! :)
ReplyDeleteIt really was in some places for sure. But I know there are tons that really like this type of read so it will be perfect for them. ;)
DeleteI knew instantly this wasn't the book for me Ali - I'm way too much of a wuss to handle it so I passed it on to my sister in law who absolutely loved it and will be doing a review for the blog. Just reading the premise is enough to make me want to curl into a fetal ball and start rocking ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis probably wouldn't be for you Jenny, I was pretty freaked out at parts too and you know how much for a chicken I am as well. ;)
DeleteThank you for this very balanced review Kindlemom, even though you admit that this wasn't for you, you still gave readers who enjoy this kind of books, like me, a lot of great feedback. I think I will definitely try this book out. Psychological thrillers fascinate me. Lovely review! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Amir for your kind words, they mean a lot! <3 I hope you do try this and love it!
DeleteOh wow, no I can't read this but thanks for the great review Kindlemom
ReplyDeleteLOL, I understand, thanks Debbie for stopping by!
DeleteWow, this sounds like the author did his job well as far as increasing the intensity and danger levels - which I think some who are fans will love. I'm a sucker for HEA, so this would be hard for me, but I'm curious about the hero. He sounds like he walks the grey line himself.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Ali :)
Very much so Kim! It is part of a series so it would be interesting to see how Helen evolves as well.
DeleteI'm thinking this is probably a bit too disturbing for me. I have to give you kudos for sticking with it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Candace!
DeleteSorry you didn't love this one. I have a copy I need to read soon. It definitely sounds like something I'd enjoy. I'm fascinated by these psychological type thrillers.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do end up liking it!
DeleteIt sounds intense, and you're brave to have read it, Ali. That said, I just know I'm not going to like it any more than you did. Sadly not for me... A lovely review <3
ReplyDeleteThanks Ramona. ;)
DeleteYeah it really was.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how I'd feel about the ending, but the cover and the title are so deliciously creepy that I might actually be fine with such a reality check. I love a good thriller to shake things up a bit.
ReplyDeleteThey really are, which is totally what drew me to the book.
DeleteMe wants>> a hero that has a disturbing and dark past almost as much so as the villain and where happily ever afters are not part of the story
ReplyDeleteFab review, it's great that you still managed to be objective even if this wasn't necessarily your style
Thanks so much Braine!!
DeleteI struggled with this and ended up setting it aside. It could have been me.
ReplyDeleteIt probably wasn't just you, I don't think this is a read for everyone at all.
DeleteI'm not sure if the not for the faint of heart parts would work for me! It does sound like a unique story though, I'm still curious to check it out! Great review!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not for the faint of heart. ;)
DeleteSorry to see it was tricky for you but I can understand, it's not an easy one there...
ReplyDeleteYeah it wasn't but it was well written. ;)
DeleteI don't think I could do a sad ending. :(
ReplyDeleteThey are hard for sure.
DeleteTo bad you didn't like it to much, I loved this one! Then again I love British Crime novels and anything dark and full of mystery. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it!
DeleteOh that sounds like it would be a hard one. I'm all for fast paced but the feeling lost and like you have to catch up or are missing things isn't my favorite thing :/ Hope the next read goes a little better.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Anna!
DeleteToo bad that this didn't turn out to be for you. I am not sure that it is something that would be for me either, but I do like books without happy endings...Love them, in fact.
ReplyDeleteYou never know, you might like this then. ;)
DeleteThis book must be inspired by Criminal Minds. ;) Except in the show, three teenaged girls are kidnapped and starved until two of them make up there mind on who is going to be killed (they also have to do the killing, though it's with a hammer). Doubt I'll read this, knowing how the episode of CM ended. Thanks for sharing :D
ReplyDeleteI saw that episode and yes, it is sort of like that. ;)
DeleteI'm not a huge fan of thrillers, so I probably wouldn't really love this one either. And Sarah's description of that CM episode just sounds downright disturbing!!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
It was! In fact I love the show but quite a few of them creep me out!
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