Helpful Score: 1
An adult daughter of one of our family friends was diagnosed with manic-depression, as it was known then, many years ago, when just out of her teens. Because she refused to take her medication, she ruined her marriage, lost custody of her small son, lost her job and was in huge amounts of debt.... the whole nine yards. Even though society's understanding of this disease has increased over the years, and with this shining example of it right under my nose, I never fully understood it or realized how the severity of it could really ruin one's life.
Well, this book finally gave me that understanding. The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part is written in first person from the heroine's, Holly Klauss' point of view. Before long, the reader realizes she is suffering from an extreme case of bi-polar disease. The reader can literally see inside Holly's twisted, spinning brain with all the thoughts swirling through her head until she literally goes mad. It is like sharing the disease with her and it is altogether fascinating! Her husband and best friend finally come to the realization at the end of part one that Holly needs treatment.
The second part of the book is written in the first person from the point of view of Meg, Holly's saint-like best friend and business partner. As Holly goes through treatment and begins to recover, a dark mystery unfolds that is totally unexpected. Now, instead of being inside Holly's speeding, spiraling, spinning brain, one is caught up in Meg's frenetic rush to catch the killer before it's too late.
I could not put this book down and read it in 3 days. When I finished, I felt like I had spent those 3 days in the fast lane of the freeway being tail-gated at 100mph by a semi. What a great ride!!
I rated this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to fully understand the depths to which bi-polar disease can destroy the sufferer and their entire circle of family and friends. I also highly recommend it for anyone just searching for a very, very good read. Two thumbs up!
I had never heard of Nicci French, but you can bet that I'll be reading more of her books after this one!!
Cat Lover
Well, this book finally gave me that understanding. The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part is written in first person from the heroine's, Holly Klauss' point of view. Before long, the reader realizes she is suffering from an extreme case of bi-polar disease. The reader can literally see inside Holly's twisted, spinning brain with all the thoughts swirling through her head until she literally goes mad. It is like sharing the disease with her and it is altogether fascinating! Her husband and best friend finally come to the realization at the end of part one that Holly needs treatment.
The second part of the book is written in the first person from the point of view of Meg, Holly's saint-like best friend and business partner. As Holly goes through treatment and begins to recover, a dark mystery unfolds that is totally unexpected. Now, instead of being inside Holly's speeding, spiraling, spinning brain, one is caught up in Meg's frenetic rush to catch the killer before it's too late.
I could not put this book down and read it in 3 days. When I finished, I felt like I had spent those 3 days in the fast lane of the freeway being tail-gated at 100mph by a semi. What a great ride!!
I rated this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to fully understand the depths to which bi-polar disease can destroy the sufferer and their entire circle of family and friends. I also highly recommend it for anyone just searching for a very, very good read. Two thumbs up!
I had never heard of Nicci French, but you can bet that I'll be reading more of her books after this one!!
Cat Lover
Helpful Score: 1
This book really caught me from the beginning. Although a little racy, the story was intriguing.
I've read almost all of Nicci French's books and this one is NOT my favorite. The main character has to be the most unsympathetic character I have ever read! She is so annoying that I think she deserves what she gets!
UNbeleivable- What an AWESOME novel-- It makes you feel like the girl is you or could be if you let her...
Not like French's other novels. This one's main character is so messed-up (the "explanation" is bipolar disorder). Very hard to feel sympathy for her. Very unlikeable. The book gets a little better toward the end with a change in narration. I read the whole book but would not do so again if I had known it would be such a bore.
Another strange yet enthralling tale by Nicci French. A woman with a double life.
Reading the description was better than listening to this on audio...
Time filler is the best thing I can say.
Time filler is the best thing I can say.
It's okay, kind of a strange storyline but it's a quick easy read to pass a gloomy day.
One of the very few books I did not finish...hated it.
So . . . it was okay. I mean, I guess I'm not sure what I was expecting but I was feeling pretty annoyed with Holly, even though I picked up really early on what her mental health issue was. I just wasn't seeing where the story was going. Perhaps because of my field (behavioral health), that is why it didn't really strike a chord in me.
I was a bit surprised by the ending, but not enough to really end up with giving it more than 3 stars.
I was a bit surprised by the ending, but not enough to really end up with giving it more than 3 stars.
It was ok-ish.
