My first Sharon Boulton thriller and it won't be my last. The writing style made it easy to get into and the short chapters kept it pacey throughout. 

The tension filled action being set on a remote island off the antarctica made for a chilling read, in more ways than one. Those chapters being combined with past event chapters were a good way of painting the full picture, and allowing the reader to know how the present day scenario had come to be. 

In learning about the protagonist, I also learnt a lot about certain mental health issues I was not too familiar with before, and I found that aspect interesting. There was also some complex subject matter covering things like childhood trauma and homelessness which although difficult were engrossing to read. 

There were some great revelations along the way, some I seen coming and others I didnt. The twists were delivered well and it certainly had that thriller type edge. 

I did struggle with some of the descriptive elements as they seemed to be unnecessarily long at times and it took away some of the momentum. I was also never desperate to pick the book back up inbetween reads, despite being absorbed once I did. There were also some implausible goings on which distracted me a bit. 

Overall though, an eerie thriller in both atmosphere and setting. 

I loved this book. A lot. It was completely gripping, unique in its format and certainly lived up to the hype. 

The entire story is told through emails, texts and letters, and it worked extremely well. At the beginning, I did wonder if I'd be able to keep up with the sheer amount of character correspondence in this way, but I quickly realised just how accessible that literary device can be when delivered so expertly. 

There were an array of contrasting characters, but thankfully it was easy to keep up with who was who and how they fit into the group as a whole. With such a multitude of people, there was a lot to unpick and I very much enjoyed doing so alongside the two law students studying the case throughout the book. 

The mystery itself was multilayered and rasied plenty of interesting questions. The timing of revelations were spot on and the amount of times I changed my mind on theories and suspicions was testament to the enigma of the whole thing. 

For a novel with no set chapters, I absolutely whizzed through it and struggled to put it down inbetween reads. Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to reading more by this author.

Overall, an inventive mystery novel for a modern audience.

This was a brilliant book. Mysterious, clever, quirky and one I enjoyed all the way through. That is, until about the final 50 pages or so. Then it dropped a whole star in my rating. 

The writing style flowed effortlessly and made it invitingly easy to read. I found myself going from chapter to chapter in no time, with plenty of revelations to keep a suitable pace. 

I love the whole closed door, whodunit trope that this book explores. The main action taking place on a cruise ship in 1936 made for a great setting in both time and place. 

The stereotypical character types were fun to delve into and I liked discovering who I was going to love and who I'd love to hate. 

The murder mystery itself remained light hearted and fun which kept in fitting with the genre style. However, there were also some complex themes explored to do with classism and casual racism amongst other things, and these certainly provided an extra depth of content. 

The balance of chapters were well proportioned with both the present day goings on aboard the ship, and the on-land past events that led up to the voyage.

But then... the ending. The final revelations felt weak, unrealistic and underwhelming. The general conclusion was drab at best and it was just a frustratingly disappointing finish to an otherwise excellent novel.

Felt like a chore to read and the content just really wasn't interesting enough for me. 

This was an enjoyable book. A fun, farcical take on a crime/thriller/mystery novel and very easy to get into from the start. 

I loved the premise and it was executed well. The chapters were relatively short and helped keep a good pace throughout. 

The general storyline was clever and despite the ridiculousness of it all, there was still a good amount of mystery that could be engaged with. It had me raising questions and theorising about everyone and everything. 

The relationship between Finlay and Vero was brilliant. Their dialogue was witty, their partnership unlikely and their antics outrageous. They really were a disastrous yet perfectly suited duo. 

Sometimes Finlay got on my nerves. I know the whole book was set on a foundation of foolishness, but even still, there were things about her or things she did that just didn't match up with her character at all. I found these things just a bit too far fetched even for a purposefully parodic plot. 

Overall though, an entertainingly daft novel about 'accidental' murders. 

I'll definitely read the next in the series at some point. 

Where to start with this epic historical fiction novel? At 800 pages long, it certainly requires commitment but it's a powerful book and worth the effort. I definitely recommend reading it with a buddy like I did, as there is a lot to digest. 

The book is split into modern day and  past chapters (spanning centuries). The past sections are known as the song chapters and these are the ones that delve way back into the deep ancestry of the modern main characters. The extensive reseach is evident and it's fascinating to see how the family are traced all the way back to their indigenous roots. 

The modern day chapters were easier to read in terms of narrative style however they were often just as difficult in subject matter. I really enjoyed getting to know Ailey and her immediate family, seeing where they had come from and how they navigated through both joys and hardships. 

I do believe, had I been in a better headspace at the time of reading this, I would probably have rated it even higher. I can see why it has so many 5 star reviews. At times, I did find it difficult to keep a track of everything and everyone. I also found the sorority content quite tiresome. 

Overall, a moving multi-generational novel about race throughout America's complex history.

This was a slow burn, slow paced book. It took a while to get into and although I certainly felt absorbed in many parts, other parts made it difficult to live up to the full hype/page count.

I loved the concept, and the way in which the book covers so much in terms of location, time and history. I didn't mind the frantic jumping around of timeline either, once I got used to it. 

The writing style was captivating. This is where the author shines. How she uses language is beautiful and it allowed for a real depth of insight.

Character wise, I loved the protagonist. Her history, her ambition and her flaws made her quite the woman to read about. Her story was a compelling one and even when she made some extremely questionable decisions, I found I was always routing for her. 

The complexities of love and the desire to be a free/flying spirit were a constant battle for Marian and the exploration of this was a driving force for the entire book. 

I'm not sure that the modern day chapters were actually all that necessary. The story could have done just fine without them and things could then have been more focused and condensed. 

Overall, an adventurous historical fiction novel about answering your life's calling, no matter the consequences.

It's unlikely that any other thriller/suspense novel will be able to top Wrong Place Wrong Time for me this year. I've read and enjoyed some of this authors pervious works, but this is definitely on another level. 

As soon as I found out it was set in Crosby/Liverpool, I knew I had to pre-order it and I'm so glad to have finally read it. 

The concept was uniquely complex. You are thrown straight into the action from the start and there is no let up in terms of intrigue and inventive plot lines. 

I loved the split narrative and the way in which it gave the reader an insight that the protagonist herself wasn't always privy to. 

Both the character and plot development was well executed and I loved that the focus was on the 'whydunit' rather than the more common 'whodunit' of the thriller genre. It made for a thought provoking read and ensured a deeper understanding of the history of those involved. 

Time travel is always a bit of a risky trope for me. Alternate timelines I'm always up for, but experimenting with the actual dimention of time can often be a fine line between fascinating and nonsensical, but skillfully, this one just worked. 

That's not to say it was always easy to get my head around, far from it. However it was an enjoyable mind bend and one that felt suitably challenging. 

Flawed characters, smart revelations and unexpected twists all helped to make this novel the page turner that it was, and I highly recommend to all thriller fans. 

The ending was clever and had that impossibly rare notion of raising more questions but everything feeling tied up at the same time. Genius. 

Overall, an intelligent mystery novel about a time loop existence and the need for uncovering the truth. 

Firstly, only now after finishing the book did I actually discover it was a memoir. I feel like it changes my view on it somewhat and I wish I'd known this whilst listening to the audiobook. 

The dogs were obviously the stars of the show here. I loved getting to meet all the weird and wonderful canines along the way and they certainly put a smile on my face, many a time. It was fun getting to know each of their unique personalities and seeing how their characters developed the more they bonded with their walkers. 

I enjoyed the way in which the chapters were split into dog names and number of dogs walked. It was a clever way to show the passage of time as well as to inform us of which dog we were about to spend time with next. 

The dog owners, dog walkers and Kate and her family life were all explored too. These helped to show the human side of the whole operation. Although at times, I did just want to get back to the doggy content instead. 

I think I probably would have rated this higher if I'd both read it instead of listened and if there hadn't been some triggering content for me. These are obviously personal preferences and I can totally see why other people have rated this higher. I'd still definitely recommend it. 

Overall, a sweet memoir about defying the norm and finding joy in the company of dogs.