Customer Reviews

The Benefactor

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Keeping you guessing until the very end, this is a well written and tense thriller. I am a big fan of Lee Child and was a little dubious when a friend recommended me this book, however I was not disappointed and Scott Griffin is definitely one to watch in the future. When a family on holiday discover a man following them, a man who seems to know a little too much, things start going very bad very quickly. 'The Benefactor' is a refreshing change to some of the mass market thrillers out there currently.

James Patterson and Lee Child better watch out. Scott Griffin has burst onto the scene with a debut thriller novalla that moves along like an express train, has great characters, and more twists than a country lane. The set-up is convincing, and the plot moves along at a satisfying pace. I didn't see the ending coming and neither will you. As good as anything on the market right now.

This thriller certainly has all the right ingredients to be a hit: an addictive and original storyline, believable central characters, not to mention plenty of plot twists and turns from start to finish. The novella follows a family as their well deserved holiday turns into a nightmare, skilfully drawing on our common experiences of modern life to create a remarkable and suspense filled situation. In a market dominated by the big names who have been accused of growing complacent in recent years, it is always a joy to uncover new writers like Griffin who gives them a run for their money with this book. I look forward to reading more of his work. This fast paced and modern thriller will not disappoint.

This first-rate debut novella from Scott Griffin has you hooked from the opening chapter. It cleverly draws attention to the everyday realities of life, the things you do on automatic, without thinking about them and shines an utterly terrifying light on them. Expertly engineered, fast paced, and the perfect length for someone who loves to read, but doesn't always have the time to tackle a full length novel. Hope this is not just a one-off from the author.

Anyone who enjoys slick well-constructed thrillers is going to like Scott Griffin. This is a brilliantly well-constructed story that will keep you guessing right to the end. It uses modern technology cleverly to move the plot along without getting bogged down in technology. Excellent stuff. I'll be looking out for his next book.

When Sean and Maggie win the trip of a lifetime they decide to use it to repair the fragile relationship they share with their children. Oh, and there's a psycho who knows more about them than they do, and he has some terrifying plans for them...This is the best thriller I've read on my kindle in a while. It's original, suspenseful and utterly terrifying. Highly recommended.

This gripping, well plotted thriller may be short but that doesn't mean there isn't quality writing to be found. The plot had a few nice twists, and the whole idea that some psycho is reading your blog and Facebook pages is just too terrifying to comprehend, which lends the book added credibility. Tense, scary and utterly brilliant.

Sean views the free holiday he has won in Florida as the perfect opportunity for papering over the cracks in his marriage to Maggie, re-establishing bonds with his two children, Sophie and Liam, and a welcome distraction from his brother Griff's murder and recent funeral. However, it soon becomes clear that their good fortune was not a random event and someone is taking a very close interest in Sean and his family - in fact, this mysterious person knows more about each individual member of the family, including their innermost, dark and intimate secrets, than any of them could ever envisage! Their holiday spirals out of control and into a nightmare scenario as events unfold and tensions escalate - in the final confrontation with their benefactor can Sean and Maggie keep their family together or are their heroic efforts too late and in vain?
I found this a riveting read, with credible, well-developed characters and an excellent plot with undercurrents of general unease and mounting tension throughout. I do agree with another reviewer that there were many unanswered questions by the end of the story, e.g. regarding motive and identities of the perpetrators, but I could forgive these omissions as I enjoyed it so much....and the ending was totally unexpected!

I don't normally read short stories and now I remember why. I got this as a free download and read it very quickly but was left with a lot of questions. Why was this family chosen? Who was "the Benefactor"? Who were the other people with him. Who was funding it? What happens next? I think this book could have been a lot longer. Having said all that, I enjoyed what I read; it was advertised as being an edge of the seat thriller for fans of Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben and I agree that it is very similar in style. If Scott Griffin writes a full novel, I will definitely want to read it.

I didn't realise this was a short story until I saw the percentage bar of my kindle advancing rapidly. I don't usually read short stories because I feel there is not enough time to develop the plot and characters, however the author does a good job here. The plot is a very far-fetched but it makes a good read and an unexpected twist at the end is rather well done. I downloaded the book for free so I am grateful for the experience.