| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Product Description
BIG ISSUE
'A compelling thriller from acclaimed writer Patrick Redmond'
Joanne Harris Praise for Patrick's previous novel, Apple of My Eye
'A dark and bloody tale which keeps the tension going right until the last page ... A superb, intelligent read'
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the first chapter I was hooked. The pace roared along making it a real page-turner. A thoroughly enjoyable and intelligent read - a rare combination. Being at times dark, without being overly so, made it utterly absorbing. Great characters with amusing banter and didn't see the end coming. A definite five star.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Tina is a bright and imaginative child. She is a daddy's girl. But one day, her father walks out of her life. Tina is relentlessly bullied at school and doesn't fare much better at home with her sullen mother. One thing Tina does have going for her is her intelligence. After one attack too many, the rage that Tina has bottled up over the years suddenly erupts in a verbal assault on her tormentor.
The old adage, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is well and truly exposed for the nonsense that it is. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of the bullies' onslaught will surely empathise with Tina. Patrick Redmond's prose is bitingly accurate as he describes the girl's misery. However, after she manages to outsmart one bully, she is infused with self-confidence and takes on all-comers with her witty put-downs.
At first, I thought this would turn into a story of revenge similar to Martyn Bedford's excellent `Acts of Revision' where the main character takes revenge on the teachers who made his schooldays so hellish. However, `All She Ever Wanted' takes a different route towards its devastating conclusion.
In adulthood, Tina, now reinvented as Chrissie, has grown into a beautiful young woman. Now, she despise weakness, perceived or otherwise. Relationships are kept at arm's length; love equals weakness. Control must always be maintained, and a tongue-lashing to anyone who might break through her tough persona. Some of her bile-soaked insults, you feel sure, will end in violence, but those on the receiving end are remarkably forgiving. If the novel's lead character had been male, this would have been a much greater flaw than it is here.
This is an engrossing psychological thriller that could perhaps have benefitted from a little more editing. There are times when the story seems to read more like a soap-opera than a thriller as we follow Chrissie from one social encounter to another: bars, restaurants and parties feature a lot. However, the author really succeeds in keeping the tension simmering. In all the social whirl, you know it's only a matter of time before something horrible is going to happen.
This is the first time I've read a Patrick Redmond novel, so I can't give an opinion as to whether or not this novel is any better or worse than his other work. I can say that he's an excellent writer. He has a particular talent with dialogue and is not afraid to allow the characters to develop through conversation rather than descriptive narrative. I'll certainly be reading more of his work. I'd also recommend the aforementioned Martyn Bedford's `Acts of Revsion' and Jonathan Baine's `Unwound' which are also excellent character-driven thrillers.
The old adage, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is well and truly exposed for the nonsense that it is. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of the bullies' onslaught will surely empathise with Tina. Patrick Redmond's prose is bitingly accurate as he describes the girl's misery. However, after she manages to outsmart one bully, she is infused with self-confidence and takes on all-comers with her witty put-downs.
At first, I thought this would turn into a story of revenge similar to Martyn Bedford's excellent `Acts of Revision' where the main character takes revenge on the teachers who made his schooldays so hellish. However, `All She Ever Wanted' takes a different route towards its devastating conclusion.
In adulthood, Tina, now reinvented as Chrissie, has grown into a beautiful young woman. Now, she despise weakness, perceived or otherwise. Relationships are kept at arm's length; love equals weakness. Control must always be maintained, and a tongue-lashing to anyone who might break through her tough persona. Some of her bile-soaked insults, you feel sure, will end in violence, but those on the receiving end are remarkably forgiving. If the novel's lead character had been male, this would have been a much greater flaw than it is here.
This is an engrossing psychological thriller that could perhaps have benefitted from a little more editing. There are times when the story seems to read more like a soap-opera than a thriller as we follow Chrissie from one social encounter to another: bars, restaurants and parties feature a lot. However, the author really succeeds in keeping the tension simmering. In all the social whirl, you know it's only a matter of time before something horrible is going to happen.
This is the first time I've read a Patrick Redmond novel, so I can't give an opinion as to whether or not this novel is any better or worse than his other work. I can say that he's an excellent writer. He has a particular talent with dialogue and is not afraid to allow the characters to develop through conversation rather than descriptive narrative. I'll certainly be reading more of his work. I'd also recommend the aforementioned Martyn Bedford's `Acts of Revsion' and Jonathan Baine's `Unwound' which are also excellent character-driven thrillers.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was addictive. It has given me bags under the eyes because I found myself reading it so late into the night. Tina, the main character, was very well constructed. I found myself disliking her, and I am not sure if that was what the author intended. The writing flows so well, and the story is so well crafted that it is a real joy to read.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
All I Ever Wanted Was this Book to End
This book is terrible. The characters are paper thin, none of the plot or characterization is left to the imagination, and the writing is pathetic. Read more
Published 10 months ago by molotovkin
still on top form!
After being blown away so completely terrified by "the wishing" game that i couldnt sleep for three days aftre rading it i was filled with trepidation before starting "all she ever... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2009 by FUTURESTARdelux
Excellent
I found this book to be a real page turner from the very beginning. Patrick Redmond writes with an easy to follow simplistic prose that makes it a joy to read. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2008 by crime reader
The Amazing Patrick Redmond
Patrick Redmond is one of the most amazing writers of our era. His plots and schemes are like a maze, and his characters are believeably true. Read more
Published on 14 July 2008 by Cheshire Cat
More please, Mr. Redmond!
Once in a while (ok, a blue moon) you stumble across a book that makes you want to rush out and buy all of the authors other books. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2008 by Faz
a dip in form
His poorest book so far. I thought that his first two were great! This is just a series of basically boring events strung together. Disappointing.
Published on 12 Dec 2007 by S. R. Short
AWFUL
After reading 'The Wishing Game' I have stuck by Patrick Redmond but I now give up as his books have got progressively worse. Read more
Published on 14 July 2007 by Charlie
A highly intelligent writer
A very dark and disturbing tale, but also highly believable. I found Redmond's style to be very pure and uncluttered which is quite refreshing. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2007 by Kindle Queen
Fantastic fast-paced psychological thriller
Patrick Redmond has done it again! What a book. I think this may be his best to date - I started reading at 11pm on the day I bought it, couldn't bring myself to stop until 5am... Read more
Published on 2 April 2007 by Ms. L. J. Mountford
Enthralling read.
This is the first book I have read from Patrick Redmond and I'm sorry I didn't discover him before. Great story line with true to life characters. Read more
Published on 6 April 2006
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
