Too predictable

This book was not up to the standard I would expect of Candlish. A totally predictable plot and fairly shallow characters. it didn't have the richness of her later books such as the Swimming Pool. Her skill has clearly improved over time.

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What a shame ....

Not anything like previous books I've listened to by this author. I found the narration is too high pitched and irritating and the storyline is weak .... well as far as I got anyway. Not going to waste time finishing.

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Annoying narrator!

I have enjoyed all Louise Candlish’s books, listening to the audio version of each but I just can’t bear the narrator’s over the top style on this one. I will be buying the paperback instead as I just can’t listen to any more!

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Predictable story

Reasonably engaging as an accompaniment to doing something else. Predictable scenario from early on. Recording spoiled by the narrator. Most female characters given silly squeaky voices but worse was the amount of dialogue delivered in a too loud and screeching voice. Awful and very annoying.

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1 person found this helpful

Predictable.

This was well enough written but rather predictable. One twist, about half way through, prevented the book from being totally mundane, but in spite of a dash overseas and some rather irritating conversation, the ending just resolved itself, with no help from the characters. It didn't help that the narrator of my audiobook version had a rather patronising, super-sweet voice.

Kate Easton has been divorced from her first husband, Alistair, for ten years, when he announces that his child support will have to be reduced and suggests that she split the flat and take in a lodger. Reluctantly she agrees and Davis Calder takes the room. He is peripatetic teacher, coaching teenagers through their exams, and offers to help Kate's daughter Roxy in her application for Cambridge University.
In spite of Kate's resolution to steer clear of men and concentrate on Roxy and her nine-year old brother, Kate is undeniably drawn to him.

Because I listened to the audio version, I fortunately missed the tag line spoiler, that was apparently on the book. But in spite of this, it wasn't too much of a surprise as there were plenty of suggestive hints in the narrative. The resolution of the resulting problem was totally ineffective as the issue, predictably, resolved itself, much as I had expected.

Not a bad listen to keep me awake on a couple of five-hour drives, but not something that makes me want to dash out and buy another book by the same author.

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4 people found this helpful

Spoilt by narration

Unfortunately the narration completely ruins this book, it’s unbearable when the narrator is raising her voice or talking in angry tones

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Good start, disappointing end

I always like the way this author writes - engaging and pacey and making me eager to know what next. Unfortunately the latter part of the story has no twists or turns, intrigue or surprises. Definitely a book of two halves for me.

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disappointing from an author I love

I didn't like the narrator at all. Very shouty at times. Also, for Louise Candlish, a very weak story. I lost interest and struggled to keep going

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Awful, awful narration

I’m a fan of Louise Candlish but this book is ruined by the awful narration. She is like an over-exited children’s TV presenter.

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Nothing really for me

I didn’t get to finish the book which was a shame as I do like this author but I felt it kept changing from different people and I couldn’t keep up

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