I wanted to love this book but I didn't :(

The first half is gripping and I loved how the story began to twist and turn. Then, frankly, it loses substance. What begins as a corker ends up being a rambling mess. Such a shame.

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1 person found this helpful

Great stuff

I loved it. Five stars from the Tunbridge Wells branch of the Alice Fan Club.

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Beautifully written - this thriller has got it all

Glamorous, luxurious tropical resort, with white sandy beaches, cocktails galore, interesting, well developed characters, mystery, murder and mayhem - this excellent thriller is choc a bloc with all my favourite things plus it is just so well written it is like plunging into the welcoming turquoise waters of the titular Cove.

This is my first Alice Clark-Platts book I have read but it certainly won't be the last as I simply adored the flawless writing, the great story structure and especially the length of the chapters which were all so well rounded and made the plot very easy to follow. The descriptions were so vivid and evocative that I really did feel I was on that island, I could see all the scenes so clearly and almost felt that sugary white sand in between my toes.

I am not usually one for thrillers with children and babies in them as I find going into all the day to day minutiae of making packed lunches, school pick ups and mithering the mundanities of nappies and bottles just seems so much like hard work it gets depressing - but this was not the case with The Cove. Yes there were 8 year olds and a baby but it never got boring and the details and events concerning the children were all relevant to the plot or to give us deeper understanding of the parent's mind set or relationship dynamic rather than just the every day grind of child care.

I really enjoyed the way the couples were described and the insight into their relationships - funny, bittersweet and so true to life and just so beautifully written it was a joy to listen to and so very moreish, even though I savoured it and tried to make it last I finished in two days.

I thought the narration was spot on and seamless so the story really was allowed to shine rather than being overacted or having mispronunciations which can just jolt you out of concentration = so that's another 5 stars right there.

Plot wise I did guess one of the twists but none of the rest and there was just so much meat on the bones of this tightly wound compelling thriller, which was all very well paced, saving reveals right up until the last minute when it all ended in a way which I certainly did not see coming.

Wow!

I really enjoyed this first class thriller and recommend it especially to those sun-starved listeners like me who are craving all the pleasure of a fabulous holiday whodunnit which will keep you guessing right up until the last minute.

Thanks so much Alice Clark-Platts - please, please, please can we have another soon and this time I might even get to read it on a beach with a large cocktail!

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7 people found this helpful

Oh my goodness Alice

What a messed up group of entitled brits abroad.
I can only hope that your life down there didn’t inspire this disturbing yet gripping tale?
I’m hooked, Thankyou

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Thrilling

Lots of twists and turns, fast paced, thoroughly enjoyed it, and would highly recommend., a great read

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A bit different

Took a little while to pick up but then had my attention. Not keen on the American accent but it doesn’t appear much thankfully!

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Depressing

Nothing likeable about any of the characters, and reader very dreary. Plot not overly inspiring either but if the characters were more distinct and more interesting and more likeable the plot may have led me to read to the end. Unfortunately I gave up

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Starts fine but quickly loses the plot entirely….

Begins as a fairly typical narrative, setting up a crisis requiring some kind is dramatic resolution. The problem is that the story then disintegrates, with everything including the kitchen sink thrown into an an increasingly unlikely/uninteresting series of calamities. The author clearly subscribes to the more is better school. In reality it’s as interesting as listening to someone else’s nightmare. I think this is one to return unfinished. Better still, don’t buy it.

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