Compulsive Listening

For me, Colleen Prendergast's strong vocal performance captures the sometimes disturbing nature of the strange relationships portrayed in this highly entertaining and though-provoking novel. I found it really hard to turn off after the first twenty minutes and I thoroughly enjoyed "working out the ending", which was not too difficult to do. I think that the beauty of this book lies in the characterisation and in the clear, simple evocation of life for a damaged family in the aftermath of a nightmare every parent dreads.

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13 people found this helpful

Dark but warming

Such a horrific topic, one we all have some knowledge of through news reports over the years. But yet the story is touching, one of slow, painful healing, of love and hope. Very well written, and I'll seek out more by this author.

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Absolutely beautiful and terrifying book

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is so well written. The language and descriptions of the innocence of childhood juxtaposed against the horrors of the mind of a child serial killer. It’s not graphic it is subtle and sensitive. I cannot wait to read more books by this author and I know that this story will stay with me for a very long time.

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Well narrated disturbing story

A disturbing story on several levels, but well written and narrated. Bauer always does a great job with such tales without being overly sensationalist or graphic. The description of the moors is excellent,

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Dark, terrifying and moving

Beautifully written and performed (Wolverhampton accent slightly dodgy) tale of a family broken apart by tragedy and the small lonely boy who tries to put things back together with frightening results.

Thoroughly recommended!

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3 people found this helpful

lovely book

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure about this book, I dislike true crime and the obvious comparisons between this book and the moors murders made me feel a little unsure. This book kind of imagines a story given the basic idea of Keith Bennett and his poor mother. I like most people who know about the moors murders have tried to picture how such a terrible thing would effect the people involved. This book imagines that scenario and weaves a really quite sweet story around it. It in no way trivializes and is not disrespectful. As I said a lovely book

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2 people found this helpful

Extraordinary

At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue. I mean, who wants to deliberately enter the mind of a child murderer. But the child protagonist, Stephen, was a wonderful counter balance. I ached for overlooked Stephen. Both characterisations were excellent. The story moves along at a steady pace as the reader is pulled further in. An excellent, well-paced story. Quite amazing, in its own way.

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2 people found this helpful

Quite disturbing

Ms Bauers insight and ability to describe in detail are very impressive. The depths she gives to her characters, making them multi dimensional, are done skilfully. I thought this was a brilliant read.

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Let down by lacklustre ending

I don't normally buy books either written by women or read by women. Frankly, they generally focus on things which I find disinteresting and the vocals get on my nerves. (I am female.) However, the story seemed like an interesting premise and the preview sounded good.

The premise is excellent. The writing is overall very good. The narration is well rounded and Colleen Prendergast has done an excellent job with the reading of the story.

My one criticism is that while the tension is built superbly, the denoument is disappointing.

Belinda Bauer seems to have rushed the last two chapters and (in my view) this has resulted in an ending which is unsatisfying. I'm not talking about gory/sensational details, but just what happened and how. Yes, you can argue "leaving it to the imagination" but I could have done that by not listening to the last two chapters. It's a real shame and spoils what is otherwise a very good book and an excellent reading.

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4 people found this helpful

Wow!

My first Belinda Bauer book but not my last.
The story was amazing - if I’m being churlish, perhaps the ending felt slightly rushed and “Hollywood” but I’m not.
Because in terms of taking a traditionally difficult subject and writing about it intelligently, this book was as good as any I’ve read.
Every element of it, from the offender thoughts to the family torn, to the aspiring hero to the descriptors and the building of tension and suspense was handled perfectly.

Absolutely brilliant.

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