Helpful Score: 5
Originally, I was drawn to this book because of its setting in the Shetlands; Scotland's islands are among the most beautiful places on the planet. As the story unfolded, I couldn't decide whether this was more a mystery or a story about folklore almost bordering on the occult. Fortunately, the author never made me choose, but she did keep me guessing. I can usually figure out "whodunnit" long before the author reveals the solution, but this was one of those rare, and wonderful, exceptions. I can't wait for Ms. Bolton's next book. Highly recommended!!
Helpful Score: 4
I don't want to get too deep into the book itself because the books description already tells all the main plotlines minus a few very exciting ones.
For the reader who likes to not only read mysteries settled in the U. S. Sacrifice is an exciting and suspenseful must read with a lot of myths beautifully bound into the plot.
With its twist and turns the reader never quite figures who's the villain and how much people are really involved in the one dead body Tora discovers. It might be a whole hospital or just a few, the whole island or just a particular group of men and knowing women.
The plot is complex and can only be recommended.
S. j. Bolton will publish her second book available in the U. S. in May 2009 and. Its title is Awakening.
For the reader who likes to not only read mysteries settled in the U. S. Sacrifice is an exciting and suspenseful must read with a lot of myths beautifully bound into the plot.
With its twist and turns the reader never quite figures who's the villain and how much people are really involved in the one dead body Tora discovers. It might be a whole hospital or just a few, the whole island or just a particular group of men and knowing women.
The plot is complex and can only be recommended.
S. j. Bolton will publish her second book available in the U. S. in May 2009 and. Its title is Awakening.
Helpful Score: 3
This is a gripping and stupendous book! The main character, obstetrician Tora Hamilton, is very sympathetic and smart. She touches the tip of an iceberg of a mystery when she unearths a woman's body in Scottish peat. The location - Shetland Islands of Scotland - the weather - late summer - and the characters are all top-notch. The writing is rich and eloquent - S.J. Bolton can capture sultry romantic feelings in a few sentences, and the conclusion is as vivid as anything at the movies. This is a wild ride of a one-women sleuthing mystery and certainly sets the stage for brilliant mysteries to come.
Helpful Score: 2
A well-told story, with lots of twists and turns. Before starting it, I read a bit about the author and her writing of this book. So as the story unfolded, I thought I knew things the "average" reader didn't know. But I was still fooled, and fooled again, and misled on a merry chase of the truth.
Some readers have suggested a sequel. As the tension and eerie dynamic among the three main characters was resolved nicely at the end of this book, I'm not sure they have the strength to sustain more plot. And as far as I can tell, Bolton's subsequent books are also stand-alones.
Some readers have suggested a sequel. As the tension and eerie dynamic among the three main characters was resolved nicely at the end of this book, I'm not sure they have the strength to sustain more plot. And as far as I can tell, Bolton's subsequent books are also stand-alones.
This is an intricately woven story that really keeps you turning the pages. You will find it hard to put this book down till you have reached the end!
The story took so long to get going that I almost gave up on it, but finally about 1/3 in, things started happening. Written in the first person, Tora is a doctor in the Shetland Islands. She finds a bog body while digging a grave for her horse. It takes off from there, sometimes in odd directions. Also odd, I found, were some of the relationships between characters. Toward the end of the book too many things were happening in such a short time span that the story, already teetering, became more and more unbelievable. In the end, too many things did not make sense to me, despite the explanations. I did enjoy the writing though. I would read more by this author.
Met all of my expectations from author hadnt read before. its alittle bit of everything that is satisfactory in its conclusion. Lots of twists and turns!
First Line: The corpse I could cope with. It was the context that threw me.
Obstetrician Tora Hamilton is a newcomer to the Shetland Islands, although for her husband it's merely a matter of returning to the place where he grew up. While digging a large hole in the peat on their property, Tora unearths a human body.
At first thought to be centuries-old, the body is actually much newer. The female victim's heart was cut out, and she'd given birth a few days before she was killed. Tora becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the dead woman, no matter how many people tell her not to get involved. What she uncovers almost defies belief.
Used to the islands of Ann Cleeves' Shetland Island Quartet, I expected puffins on the windowsills and the incredible natural beauty:
"My favourite place to ride on Shetland was a half-moon beach, where dusky-pink, grass-tufted cliffs rose like the sides of a pudding basin around a bay of deepest turquoise. As I thundered along, spray blurred my vision and all I could see was colour: emerald grass, turquoise sea, pink sand and the soft, robin's-egg blue of the distant ocean. There are times on the islands when flowers seem superfluous."
In that I was not disappointed. I also wasn't disappointed in the character of Tora Hamilton. Although she admits that she relies too much upon the reassurance of others, when faced with a victim whose death doesn't seem right, Tora is quite prepared to throw all caution to the wind in an attempt to discover what really happened. She's also a person who is not transportationly challenged. She drives a car, is willing to walk, is an excellent equestrian, and a very good sailor. All she needs is a pilot's license so she can fly away from (or into) danger.
The plot moves at a very deliberate pace, setting itself up for the denouement, and although it is a bit over the top, it is gripping all the same and creates a wonderfully creepy atmosphere. A strong and unusual female protagonist, a beautiful setting filled with history, good use of forensics, and a spine-chilling gothic plot-- Sacrifice grabbed this reader by the throat and wouldn't let go.
Obstetrician Tora Hamilton is a newcomer to the Shetland Islands, although for her husband it's merely a matter of returning to the place where he grew up. While digging a large hole in the peat on their property, Tora unearths a human body.
At first thought to be centuries-old, the body is actually much newer. The female victim's heart was cut out, and she'd given birth a few days before she was killed. Tora becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the dead woman, no matter how many people tell her not to get involved. What she uncovers almost defies belief.
Used to the islands of Ann Cleeves' Shetland Island Quartet, I expected puffins on the windowsills and the incredible natural beauty:
"My favourite place to ride on Shetland was a half-moon beach, where dusky-pink, grass-tufted cliffs rose like the sides of a pudding basin around a bay of deepest turquoise. As I thundered along, spray blurred my vision and all I could see was colour: emerald grass, turquoise sea, pink sand and the soft, robin's-egg blue of the distant ocean. There are times on the islands when flowers seem superfluous."
In that I was not disappointed. I also wasn't disappointed in the character of Tora Hamilton. Although she admits that she relies too much upon the reassurance of others, when faced with a victim whose death doesn't seem right, Tora is quite prepared to throw all caution to the wind in an attempt to discover what really happened. She's also a person who is not transportationly challenged. She drives a car, is willing to walk, is an excellent equestrian, and a very good sailor. All she needs is a pilot's license so she can fly away from (or into) danger.
The plot moves at a very deliberate pace, setting itself up for the denouement, and although it is a bit over the top, it is gripping all the same and creates a wonderfully creepy atmosphere. A strong and unusual female protagonist, a beautiful setting filled with history, good use of forensics, and a spine-chilling gothic plot-- Sacrifice grabbed this reader by the throat and wouldn't let go.
I won't be trying any more from this author--after getting into 150 pages and it just was a chore to stay with that long, dragging on all pages--it started out with finding a corpse then it just went on and on and on about NOTHING, describing everything and it's birth--skipping through pages then skipping through more pages it just didn't get any better for me--good luck
Really great debut! It kept me guessing what was coming next. I'll definitely look for more from Ms. Bolton.
My first by Bolton, and if she continues to provide page-turners like this, not my last. And I'm pretty hard to please. Beyond the standard of the writing, a deal-breaker for me can be when I know "whodunit" by page 2 (unless the book has other, very substantial charms), and/or if the protagonist is too stupid for words. (As in, "No one knows I'm in the murderer's house. What's that sound in the attic?)
Here, I felt that the mystery was clever and well-developed, and kept me guessing until the very end. (And there was one "reveal" that blind-sided me -- I like that!) And the 1st person point of view character, Tora, seems very human: plucky and frightened by turns, making a few risky decisions, but only when she really seems to have no other choice. Her personality, and her reaction to the mystery she inadvertently uncovers, is what keeps those pages turning.
The setting, the islands of Shetland at the northernmost point of Scotland and the British Isles, is interesting, provides great background atmosphere, and rings true.
One "trigger warning:" I would approach this book with caution if you happen to be pregnant. Or ever have been pregnant, or if you know someone who's pregnant. Or if your Mom was ever pregnant. No spoilers, of course, but from a very early point, the reader knows that the all is not right for expecting moms on the islands of Shetland!
Here, I felt that the mystery was clever and well-developed, and kept me guessing until the very end. (And there was one "reveal" that blind-sided me -- I like that!) And the 1st person point of view character, Tora, seems very human: plucky and frightened by turns, making a few risky decisions, but only when she really seems to have no other choice. Her personality, and her reaction to the mystery she inadvertently uncovers, is what keeps those pages turning.
The setting, the islands of Shetland at the northernmost point of Scotland and the British Isles, is interesting, provides great background atmosphere, and rings true.
One "trigger warning:" I would approach this book with caution if you happen to be pregnant. Or ever have been pregnant, or if you know someone who's pregnant. Or if your Mom was ever pregnant. No spoilers, of course, but from a very early point, the reader knows that the all is not right for expecting moms on the islands of Shetland!
