The Cottage by Lisa Stone

 

Description from Goodreads:

"An isolated cottage…

After losing her job and boyfriend, Jan Hamlin is in desperate need of a fresh start. So she jumps at the chance to rent a secluded cottage on the edge of Coleshaw Woods.

 

A tap at the window…

Very quickly though, things take a dark turn. At night, Jan hears strange noises, and faint taps at the window. Something, or someone, is out there.

 

A forest that hides many secrets…

Jan refuses to be scared off. But whoever is outside isn’t going away, and it soon becomes clear that the nightmare is only just beginning…"

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Having read and enjoyed a few of Lisa Stone's previous books, I was only too happy to read her latest and I was not disappointed.

There are two strands to this book; the first is an intriguing story set in an isolated cottage at the edge of a wood.  The main character, Jan, is not in a good place and needs a break away from a life that has spiralled down ... well she gets it but not in the way she would have hoped.  The second, is the devastating story of Ian and Emma's loss of their baby and the repercussions of Ian's investigations as to why it has happened to them for a second time.

How are these two strands connected ... if at all?

Written at a steady pace with interesting characters, this is a book that will keep you reading to find out what happens.  I admit that I worked out the twist quite early on but needed to keep reading to see how it all played out and, on the whole, it was very satisfying.

My thanks go to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Lisa Stone I have read and reviewed:

Taken

Stalker

The Darkness Within

Taken by Lisa Stone

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Have you seen Leila?

8-year-old Leila Smith has seen and heard things that no child should ever have to. On the Hawthorn Estate, where she lives, she often stays out after dark to avoid going home.

But what Leila doesn’t know is that someone has been watching her in the playground. One day, she disappears without a trace…

The police start a nationwide search but it’s as if Leila has vanished into thin air. Who kidnapped her? What do they want? Will she return home safely or is she lost forever?

A thriller with a difference!"

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Having previously read and enjoyed "Stalker" by Lisa Stone, I certainly wasn't going to pass the opportunity to read this one and I wasn't disappointed.

What we have in "Taken" is a complex and gripping story of the abduction of 8 year Leila whose life is far from perfect being the daughter of a mother (Kelsey) prostituting herself and fighting addiction who has already had her older children taken from her.

Told from multiple points of view, we get a real insight into all the main characters which is not as confusing as it sounds believe me ... it works really well and, I believe, it makes the characters more believable and memorable.

The pace is perfect, the plot is absorbing, despite it being a little unrealistic in parts, and I did get the twist fairly early on but it was such that I continued to question myself until it was revealed.

Overall, a thought-provoking and enjoyable read which deals with some difficult subjects that, sadly, are prevalent within today's society but without the usual gratuitous violence which made a refreshing change.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.

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Connect with the author:

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Facebook

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