Loved it

This audiobook really pulled me in from the start.

I loved the main character, Joe. His character is very authentic and the narrator, Richard Armitage, brought him to life perfectly.

The story is great. It is original and unpredictable from start to finish.

I listen to audiobooks everyday while doing my jobs. But this audiobook stopped me from getting my jobs done. I would just stare into space while the story engulfed me. This happens often with this narrator. It always feels like he's in the room, reading the book to me.

This is the first book I've read from this author and I'll definitely be purchasing The Chalk Man next. I hope there are many more to come.

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8 people found this helpful

A great thriller!

Lots of twists I didn't see coming. Gets spookier as you go through. A few unanswered questions still, but can fill in the blanks with my imagination. Excellently read by Armitage once again!

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5 people found this helpful

Excellent read

I couldn't put it away. This was exciting, with lots of elements and twists. I'll look forward to sequel

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3 people found this helpful

Great and Grimy

Loved this book for its bleak setting village life of abandon collieries and the returning protagonist depressing view on life on teaching bullying and coming back to terms with the past

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1 person found this helpful

Better than The Chalk Man

Joe Thorne has moved back to his hometown of Arnhill, a place he vowed he would never return to. Long ago his eight year old sister Annie disappeared, and then after being gone for a couple of days she returned! Joe now has a job as a teacher at the local school, the one he attended as a child, after faking a glowing reference, and rents a notorious local house where a mother murdered her child. He also has big money troubles due to a gambling addiction, and owes a lot of money to the Fat Man. It soon becomes clear that there are people in the town who don’t want him to stay.

I had already read The Chalk Man, and while I enjoyed it I didn’t think it was worthy of all the hype. I thought this was a much better book. Once again it is clear that Ms Tudor is influenced by Stephen King, and quite soon into the book I was thinking of Pet Sematary, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment.

I was hooked right from the start. The book has such a dark, creepy supernatural feel to it and there are several familiar horror themes like the creepy one-eyed doll, Abbie-Eyes, and the scuttling beetles. The horror is mostly implied, rather than actually told, which makes it all the more scary.

I’m not sure I liked any of the characters, but they were interesting. Joe is an anti-hero, a mediocre teacher, a rubbish gambler and not particularly nice. Gloria the hitwoman was brilliant and intriguing and could have had a book of her own!

This is a bit of a slow burner, but I loved it and look forward to Ms Tudor’s next offering.

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1 person found this helpful

Very good

I really enjoyed listening to this and getting to know the characters. It kept me interested until the very end.

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Excellent narration. Compelling story

Really enjoyed this. Armitage is superb. Story is gripping. Recommended if you enjoy a mystery thriller with an edge of horror.

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Outstanding story

This is the sort of book that I'm sure will stay with me. Intriguing and superbly written, this is definitely a "just one more chapter," book. I've never read anything quite like it - there is so much going on, so many characters and several subplots, but the author weaves it all together flawlessly. C.J. Tudor is now on my very short list of authors I want to read more from.

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Another cracker from Tudor

Perfect narration from the ever dependable Armitage and kept me absorbed from beginning to end. Touches of the supernatural when those who have been lost, return ..... or do they? A man on the run seeks revenge and the answers to questions from his childhood that have haunted him. A veritable hornets nest is about to be disturbed and nothing will ever be the same ... or will it? What happened to Annie Thorne in the 48 hours she was missing? Why was he suddenly afraid of her? She was not the only one to disappear and return 'changed'. Our hero is determined to find the answers and prepared to risk all. Stay the course and find out. It's worth it!

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Stephen King meets Girl on the train

this was gripping from start to finish, if you like Stephen king or Harlen Coben you'll love this

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