Review
Valentine has captured the complex emotional ebb and flow of a troubled marriage with aplomb (SFX )
Book Description
They wanted a honeymoon adventure. They found a place of nightmares.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I found the two central characters, Susie and Martin thoroughly dislikable and for this reason I almost didn't continue the book after the first couple of chapters.
However, I persevered and I am glad that I did because as the story unfolded it became quite a compelling read.
Although it could be loosely classed as a horror story, I would say it is more of a thriller or mystery.
I was really disappointed with the ending, such a good story but a weak ending which I felt a bit let down by but then again was it? Susie was such a wet blanket of a character, maybe the ending suited her?
However, I persevered and I am glad that I did because as the story unfolded it became quite a compelling read.
Although it could be loosely classed as a horror story, I would say it is more of a thriller or mystery.
I was really disappointed with the ending, such a good story but a weak ending which I felt a bit let down by but then again was it? Susie was such a wet blanket of a character, maybe the ending suited her?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By K. Wiseman
Format:Paperback
This book had great promiuse, but it left me rather disappointed. it was a real page turner just in the hope that i finally get whats going on, but it never really happened. its worth a read though.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By I. Shepherd
Format:Paperback
Like most other reviewers, I thought that this book was OK but far from 'chilling'. A page-turner in the sense that you keep reading just to see if anything really happens. When it (eventually) does, its a bit of a let-down to be honest. Was I scared? Not at all!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By L. Rimmer
Format:Paperback
The blurb on the back of the book states: 'The Haunted is utterly compulsive and will chill you to the bone' - or, er, not.
I like the setting, but that's not enough to make the story compulsive. It never really gets going. I kept on waiting to be scared but the writing just doesn't achieve this, even when the plot dictates it should.
The protagonists are a married couple who don't really know each other at all. So far, so ho-hum. They are both unlikeable, the bullying husband only marginally more so. I really wouldn't have cared two hoots whether they lived or died.
Is the bothy haunted? Or is someone playing tricks on them? Or are they both just losing their marbles due to the lack of food and their geographical isolation, a la Lord of the Flies? Do we even care by the end of it?
As novels go, this one is just ok, but it's hardly going to set the world alight. As horror stories go, I've been more scared reading Harry Potter.
I like the setting, but that's not enough to make the story compulsive. It never really gets going. I kept on waiting to be scared but the writing just doesn't achieve this, even when the plot dictates it should.
The protagonists are a married couple who don't really know each other at all. So far, so ho-hum. They are both unlikeable, the bullying husband only marginally more so. I really wouldn't have cared two hoots whether they lived or died.
Is the bothy haunted? Or is someone playing tricks on them? Or are they both just losing their marbles due to the lack of food and their geographical isolation, a la Lord of the Flies? Do we even care by the end of it?
As novels go, this one is just ok, but it's hardly going to set the world alight. As horror stories go, I've been more scared reading Harry Potter.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Crashmatt
Format:Kindle Edition
As newcomer to reading, after not reading regularily for 20 years, I needed something that was easy to pick up and not too "intense".
This proved a good purchase finishing it in 3 days. (Which is a record for me!)
I won't go over the story, as people often do, instead just my own thoughts.
The Haunted isn't a "haunting story" per se. I would agree with others, it's more of a psychological thriller. The story plods along nicely with a good mix of character build up - albeit with only two characters - Martin and Susie. Martin is immediatley dislikeable - which was a shame and Susie became annoying later on, something that with hindsight I could have questioned 'why'. Maybe it added madness to her character and the overall feeling of isolation.
I truly had no idea in what direction the story would take - having what I thought was an answer - only to have it dashed on the same page.
Some reviwers say the story has a twist. Personally I tend to disagree. Whilst I didn't predict what would happen, I wasn't that surprised.
I would recommend this book as it's easy to pick up, harder to put down and has a fairly straightforward story line which I thought was well written. Exactly the type of book I was looking for.
I will definately keep an eye out for this author in the future and consider future purchases if the writing is of the same standard.
This proved a good purchase finishing it in 3 days. (Which is a record for me!)
I won't go over the story, as people often do, instead just my own thoughts.
The Haunted isn't a "haunting story" per se. I would agree with others, it's more of a psychological thriller. The story plods along nicely with a good mix of character build up - albeit with only two characters - Martin and Susie. Martin is immediatley dislikeable - which was a shame and Susie became annoying later on, something that with hindsight I could have questioned 'why'. Maybe it added madness to her character and the overall feeling of isolation.
I truly had no idea in what direction the story would take - having what I thought was an answer - only to have it dashed on the same page.
Some reviwers say the story has a twist. Personally I tend to disagree. Whilst I didn't predict what would happen, I wasn't that surprised.
I would recommend this book as it's easy to pick up, harder to put down and has a fairly straightforward story line which I thought was well written. Exactly the type of book I was looking for.
I will definately keep an eye out for this author in the future and consider future purchases if the writing is of the same standard.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Callmerick
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Though the writing is at times 'colour-by-numbers' I found this ghost story/psychological thriller an enjoyable and memorable read thanks largely to the astutely drawn characters as they slowly unfolded, and a simple plot that keeps the reader guessing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By newnatbooks
Format:Paperback
If you wonder about the dark peaty side of the Scottish Highlands then this book is for you. If you like happy romances in mountainous settings then stay away. This literary psychological thriller earns its place as a page turner through its intelligent writing and detailed main characters. Niki almost pulls off the laid back husband Martin who suggests a couple of days in a crofter's hut as an adventure. Niki's literery persona takes a bleak view of human nature so trouble inevitably looms. We watch through Susie's eyes as events become increasingly uncanny fuelled by isolation, hunger and lack of sleep. Martin and Susie's deep traumas constantly threaten to be disastrously acted out. Niki achieves a claustrophobic mood reminiscent of films made entirely in a phone box. Blair Witch, Hamlet, and possibly Macbeth and Frankenstein are drawn in as cultural references. A thoroughly well written novel. I withold one star because the setting feels a tiny bit like a film set [is there an element of parody in the lightning strikes?] because Martin's personality shift stretches my credulity and because the male characters don't exactly endear themselves to me.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Neil Mason
Format:Kindle Edition
I'm hardly qualified to write reviews on books, so I'll simply give my own thoughts.. The detail in the book was very good, and being a lover of the Highlands, I could picture everything that was written in this book. I'd like to have seen a little more, what's the word? action, but the story was good, the plot was believable, but the ending was a little weak.
Still, I enjoyed it, and I'd recommend it to others.
Still, I enjoyed it, and I'd recommend it to others.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good read!
I was quite surprised when I read some of the reviews about this book. I didn't find the cover or the reviews in any way misleading and in my opinion the book is exactly what it... Read more
Published 15 days ago by pinky
3.0 out of 5 stars
Average read
Martin and Sue have been married 10 years and decide to take a break in the Highlands. For years Martin has wanted Sue to go hillwalking and stay the night in an old bothy located... Read more
Published 23 days ago by F Keegan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Anti-Climatic
I was let down by this book. The 'reviews' are a false advertisment that are plastered over the book itself.
The characters are boring. Read more
The characters are boring. Read more
Published 1 month ago by KayVonLee
5.0 out of 5 stars
A really good first novel
I really enjoyed this book although I did not receive the actual book and went on to download the book to my kindle. I will be on the look out to see what her next book will be.
Published 2 months ago by pauline black
1.0 out of 5 stars
Truly dreadful novel
I picked this up in a bargain bookshop for £1.50 so that must say something. The synopsis sounded interesting so I though what the hell. Mistake! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bob
3.0 out of 5 stars
An easy read,not too challenging
As other reviewers have pointed out,this is not a true ghost story,although some mention of the paranormal is made. Read more
Published 7 months ago by appley
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to review
Bought this book as the cover made it look like a real scary tale to read in bed. However I have to say that I was rather surprised. Read more
Published 9 months ago by SamWilliams
1.0 out of 5 stars
A book that fails to live up to its cover
Pottering away in the local supermarket like the rest of the mindless zombies doing their weekly shop, Mrs Milton drew my attention to The Haunted by Niki Valentine, a 2011... Read more
Published 12 months ago by John Milton
2.0 out of 5 stars
Empty
it's odd, but that's the word which came to mind when I finished this (one evening and over breakfast - was the book under the word count when it came in? Read more
Published 13 months ago by White Rose
2.0 out of 5 stars
Badly written story
I am not even sure why I got this! I love ghost stories and OK there was a slight frisson of fear in one or 2 places but overall this was so badly written with one dimensional... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ichabod
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