- Hardcover: 416 pages
- Publisher: Headline (3 Mar 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0755377974
- ISBN-13: 978-0755377978
- Product Dimensions: 16.2 x 3.6 x 23.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 686,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Cuckoo
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Review
'Seriously sinister - it will make you think again about every close friendship you've ever had.' -- Jane Casey, author of The Missing
"From the very first page, this novel had me entranced. With its utterly believable cast of characters and family life to its enviable and idyllic setting, CUCKOO is an amalgam of brilliant writing and heart-stopping tension. With every page, the tension ramps up to an almost unbearable level. I was literally screaming out at one point! Julia Crouch had me so wrapped up in the lives of the two best friends and the trail of tragedy and destruction that Polly brings with her, it was hard to believe this is a debut novel. Very accomplished!" -- Sam Hayes, author of Someone Else's Son
"Crouch's first novel is a gripping read. Fluently written with mounting suspense and foreboding, it takes the notion of the friend who overstays her welcome to extremes and the reader knows there will be tears before long if not blood on the Aga. Very good on the uncertainties and vulnerability of marriage, motherhood and friendship." -- Cath Staincliffe, author of the popular Sal Kilkenny mysteries and the series creator of TV Blue Murder
"Creepy and compelling; Cuckoo gets you in its claws and doesn't let go." --SJ Bolton, CWA Gold Dagger nominee for Blood Harvest
"A brilliant debut novel... a riveting and spooky story that keeps your eyes locked on the page, and leaves you feeling shaken and out of sorts" --Heat Magazine, March 1st, 2011
"A gripping and thrilling debut - you really don't want it to end" --The Sun, March 4th, 2011
"what elevates this compelling novel... is the characters. Flawed and repellent but also endearing and recognisable, they make the shocking climax hauntingly believable" --Stylist, March 1st, 2011
"a Single White Female for the Mumsnet generation, Julia Crouch's debut novel deals with the devastating effects of a dysfunctional friendship" --Bella Magazine, 8th March, 2011
"From the very first page, this novel had me entranced. With its utterly believable cast of characters and family life to its enviable and idyllic setting, CUCKOO is an amalgam of brilliant writing and heart-stopping tension. With every page, the tension ramps up to an almost unbearable level. I was literally screaming out at one point! Julia Crouch had me so wrapped up in the lives of the two best friends and the trail of tragedy and destruction that Polly brings with her, it was hard to believe this is a debut novel. Very accomplished!" -- Sam Hayes, author of Someone Else's Son
"Crouch's first novel is a gripping read. Fluently written with mounting suspense and foreboding, it takes the notion of the friend who overstays her welcome to extremes and the reader knows there will be tears before long if not blood on the Aga. Very good on the uncertainties and vulnerability of marriage, motherhood and friendship." -- Cath Staincliffe, author of the popular Sal Kilkenny mysteries and the series creator of TV Blue Murder
"Creepy and compelling; Cuckoo gets you in its claws and doesn't let go." --SJ Bolton, CWA Gold Dagger nominee for Blood Harvest
"A brilliant debut novel... a riveting and spooky story that keeps your eyes locked on the page, and leaves you feeling shaken and out of sorts" --Heat Magazine, March 1st, 2011
"A gripping and thrilling debut - you really don't want it to end" --The Sun, March 4th, 2011
"what elevates this compelling novel... is the characters. Flawed and repellent but also endearing and recognisable, they make the shocking climax hauntingly believable" --Stylist, March 1st, 2011
"a Single White Female for the Mumsnet generation, Julia Crouch's debut novel deals with the devastating effects of a dysfunctional friendship" --Bella Magazine, 8th March, 2011
Product Description
A dark, juicy, deliciously unsettling, read-it-in-one-sitting psychological drama.
Rose has it all - the gorgeous children, the husband, the beautiful home. But then her best friend Polly comes to stay. Very soon, Rose's cosy world starts to fall apart at the seams - her baby falls dangerously ill, her husband is distracted - is Polly behind it all? It appears that once you invite Polly into your home, it's very difficult to get her out again...
Rose has it all - the gorgeous children, the husband, the beautiful home. But then her best friend Polly comes to stay. Very soon, Rose's cosy world starts to fall apart at the seams - her baby falls dangerously ill, her husband is distracted - is Polly behind it all? It appears that once you invite Polly into your home, it's very difficult to get her out again...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
CUCKOO tells the story of Rose and Polly. When Polly's husband dies in a car accident, Rose invites her friend into her house, telling her she should stay with her family until she has got herself back on track. Then, unsurprisingly, Rose begins to regret her decision.
Without wanting to give too much away, even when Rose is beginning to have doubts about her friend, there are reasons why she does not just ask her to leave. All of the characters in this book have some kind of back story, making them far more complex than they at first appear. However, this does not make them any more likeable. I think, for me, this was the main problem with the book - although I read on until the end, it wasn't because I really cared about Rose. In fact, as the book progresses, I began to doubt to Rose. Because not much of the action is definite - you are never sure, really, if Rose is right to think that Polly is trying to take her place or whether Rose is paranoid - by the end of the book you are hoping for some kind of resolution to this. However, this does not happen. By the end of the book, you still don't know if Rose was right or just paranoid, plus the ending is an anticlimax, in my opinion.
After reading this book I would not rush to pick up Crouch's next offering. Although there were moments of tension, by the last third of the book or so I was just becoming frustrated with it. The tension was wound up only to be slowed down by Crouch describing in minute detail the layout of the house for the umpteemth time, or talking about what Rose was going to cook for them all, and who was going to help her etc, etc. Although the characters had background stories, Crouch didn't do enough for me to care about them - by the end of the book, if Polly was trying to take Rose's place, I really wasn't that bothered about if she succeeded or not.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend this book and I doubt I shall read her next one.
Without wanting to give too much away, even when Rose is beginning to have doubts about her friend, there are reasons why she does not just ask her to leave. All of the characters in this book have some kind of back story, making them far more complex than they at first appear. However, this does not make them any more likeable. I think, for me, this was the main problem with the book - although I read on until the end, it wasn't because I really cared about Rose. In fact, as the book progresses, I began to doubt to Rose. Because not much of the action is definite - you are never sure, really, if Rose is right to think that Polly is trying to take her place or whether Rose is paranoid - by the end of the book you are hoping for some kind of resolution to this. However, this does not happen. By the end of the book, you still don't know if Rose was right or just paranoid, plus the ending is an anticlimax, in my opinion.
After reading this book I would not rush to pick up Crouch's next offering. Although there were moments of tension, by the last third of the book or so I was just becoming frustrated with it. The tension was wound up only to be slowed down by Crouch describing in minute detail the layout of the house for the umpteemth time, or talking about what Rose was going to cook for them all, and who was going to help her etc, etc. Although the characters had background stories, Crouch didn't do enough for me to care about them - by the end of the book, if Polly was trying to take Rose's place, I really wasn't that bothered about if she succeeded or not.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend this book and I doubt I shall read her next one.
31 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At first glance you can't help but think it's going to be one of those books that you get to the final few chapters and you could predict the end and I don't think the phrase on the cover "their first mistake was inviting her in..." helps it.
But I am happy to say that I made that fatal mistake of thinking I could predict the end and I even said to my partner - 'I so know where this is going' - which would have been a shame but I should have known better because nothing in the book had been a formula, nothing had been predictable. Every scene was set beautifully and I was able to envisage the house, the setting and characters as if I was looking at a film of my feet through the water of a Caribbean beach. Crouch really did her research as the details are amazing!
The book was captivating and always left me wanting more and more and more. I read this book in four sittings (without doubt a record for me) and I finished if off with a bottle of 'good' wine! The use of the word 'good' will become apparent when you read the book.
Crouch's command of English and her imagination works incredibly well together. I had my partner as a 'on-tap' dictionary as I needed his help with the meaning of some of the words as I had not come across them before. This for me was great as one of the reasons I read is to broaden my vocabulary. I found myself discovering things about the main characters in the middle of the book which would have normally been mentioned at the start. I liked this aspect of the way she developed characters and wanted to read more to see what new information I could find out.
The main character grew up in Brighton together with Polly her best friend so it was nice to see some familiar places featured (The Pier, The Honey Club, Queens Park where I used to live) just to name a few. The book has all the making of an excellent read, main characters that you love and can relate to, family life including love, disappointment and even being abandoned, strong friendship, love, sex, guns, drugs, and 'good' wine to name a few.
Crouch has created an amazing debut book! I don't want to give anything away, but all I can say is if you love reading and you love the idea of celebrating excellent work get a copy of this book as I'm sure you'll be talking about for weeks to come and getting it for friends as presents! It's just one of those books!
I woke this morning with the thought of the book still fresh with me and a craving to read the book again in a week's time to ensure I got everything. I look forward to reading more from this author in years to come.
§ham
But I am happy to say that I made that fatal mistake of thinking I could predict the end and I even said to my partner - 'I so know where this is going' - which would have been a shame but I should have known better because nothing in the book had been a formula, nothing had been predictable. Every scene was set beautifully and I was able to envisage the house, the setting and characters as if I was looking at a film of my feet through the water of a Caribbean beach. Crouch really did her research as the details are amazing!
The book was captivating and always left me wanting more and more and more. I read this book in four sittings (without doubt a record for me) and I finished if off with a bottle of 'good' wine! The use of the word 'good' will become apparent when you read the book.
Crouch's command of English and her imagination works incredibly well together. I had my partner as a 'on-tap' dictionary as I needed his help with the meaning of some of the words as I had not come across them before. This for me was great as one of the reasons I read is to broaden my vocabulary. I found myself discovering things about the main characters in the middle of the book which would have normally been mentioned at the start. I liked this aspect of the way she developed characters and wanted to read more to see what new information I could find out.
The main character grew up in Brighton together with Polly her best friend so it was nice to see some familiar places featured (The Pier, The Honey Club, Queens Park where I used to live) just to name a few. The book has all the making of an excellent read, main characters that you love and can relate to, family life including love, disappointment and even being abandoned, strong friendship, love, sex, guns, drugs, and 'good' wine to name a few.
Crouch has created an amazing debut book! I don't want to give anything away, but all I can say is if you love reading and you love the idea of celebrating excellent work get a copy of this book as I'm sure you'll be talking about for weeks to come and getting it for friends as presents! It's just one of those books!
I woke this morning with the thought of the book still fresh with me and a craving to read the book again in a week's time to ensure I got everything. I look forward to reading more from this author in years to come.
§ham
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I bought this book to feed my addiction to them, and because I was intrigued by the title, tag line and the few pages I read in the shop.
I was absolutely glued; looked forward to finishing work or any other task so I could curl up and be furious at the twisted beauty that is Polly, equally sympathetic and dying to slap Rosie around the head.
You know that feeling when the pages ahead are less then the ones you've read...what is again?...oh that's right...dread. I really didn't want it to end. And by God, you should have just stopped, because the ending was pretty crap. I'm sorry Ms. Crouch, I hate to "poop" all over your work but that ending was more disappointing then finding out that Father Christmas and the Easter Bunny weren't real. I mean WTF?? You just left us all hanging there. I actually threw the book across the room and was fuming all day!
I have never done an Amazon review I just had to let you know that, Cuckoo could have been great! I totally understood Rosie, haven't we all at some point in our lives had a "friend" that we know is so very bad for us, but they are a reminder of good times so, we hang on until we eventually learn. But that last couple chapters made me want to slap someone.
I hope your next books ending will be better.
I was absolutely glued; looked forward to finishing work or any other task so I could curl up and be furious at the twisted beauty that is Polly, equally sympathetic and dying to slap Rosie around the head.
You know that feeling when the pages ahead are less then the ones you've read...what is again?...oh that's right...dread. I really didn't want it to end. And by God, you should have just stopped, because the ending was pretty crap. I'm sorry Ms. Crouch, I hate to "poop" all over your work but that ending was more disappointing then finding out that Father Christmas and the Easter Bunny weren't real. I mean WTF?? You just left us all hanging there. I actually threw the book across the room and was fuming all day!
I have never done an Amazon review I just had to let you know that, Cuckoo could have been great! I totally understood Rosie, haven't we all at some point in our lives had a "friend" that we know is so very bad for us, but they are a reminder of good times so, we hang on until we eventually learn. But that last couple chapters made me want to slap someone.
I hope your next books ending will be better.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disapointing ending
I had high hopes for this book, the premis is a good one, but the executions is weak. I found it difficult to warm to any of the characters in the book, the protagonist, Rose,... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Pixilicious
addictive!
I dont usually like 'thrillers' but this one had me absolutely gripped....I couldn't put it down and read it in 3 days! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rachael_moon
Had me glued!
Definately a 'read-in-one-sitting' book! They don't come much darker, more disturbing or more ambiguous than this! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lisa-Scarlet
slow
I finished this book after making myself get to the end. The story is slow going with a silly ending most of the story reads like an advert for middle class life,every thing in her... Read more
Published 1 month ago by jackie
I think this one will go far
An excellent debut thriller. Some quirky, some weak and some spiteful characters, a fair bit of backstory. Read more
Published 2 months ago by karen bennett
Joanna Trollope on acid!
I liked this book a great deal. Lets get the bad stuff out of the way first - and there were things that didn't work. It was very clunky in parts. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Soulie61
complicated
I GAVE MY DAUGHTER THIS BOOK TO READ AND WE BOTH HAD THE SAME QUESTION---WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT BOOK ALL ABOUT. Read more
Published 2 months ago by mamma
Couldn't stop reading
This was very good book. The descriptions of the house and the children were beautifully written and the plot was intriguing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by WeimOwner
Loved it, just not all of it!
I'll not say too much as to spoil anything for anyone else but........... I loved this book and was totally captivated by the story only to feel very let down at the end! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Emma Ashton
Cuckoo....a bit disappointing really
When I first saw this book I thought it sounded just my kind of thing, I love this sort of book, where someone comes into another's life and gradually we see that they are not all... Read more
Published 2 months ago by crime reader
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