Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Fabulous!, 31 Dec 2007
I love Lesley Glaister's books and this is one of the best. A real page-turner, edgy, erotic and unusual. Her insight into the human psyche is startling and, although sometimes uncomfortable, makes for a fabulous read. Very highly recommended.

Interesting thriller, 12 Sep 2007
I picked this up cheap during amazon's book sale at the beginning of summer 2007. The story line is quite simple, a couple move to the Australian outback to become carers of sorts to a apparent mentally ill woman, paid by her husband.

The novel is well written, and the characters very realistic - it's easy to identify with them, and the problems they face - both in the relationship of the couple and the sheer isolation of place they stay in Aus.

I enjoyed the novel, while it is quite slow (often tediously so) in making the twists and turns, it gives a great sense of the situation they are in, and a growing sense of horror as to what is actually going on.

Which is where my sole complaint comes in. The novel, which explains pretty much everything as it goes along ends very suddenly, without explanation of what the reader wants to know. It's a bit of an anti-climax, and leaves the reader feeling cheated.

This book is worth a read, but it's not a rollercoaster or a nailbiter, it's a slow forming thriller that builds up in intensity and horror, and has a plot which is very believable in this day and age.

Claustrophobic, intense thriller, 08 Jul 2007
I absolutely loved this book. The slowly building sense of menace is extraordinarily effective and that, combined with the oppressive dusty heat of the situation this couple find themselves in, make for a very intense and claustrophobic read. And when you think you've got to the climax of the book; you haven't. You know when you read one of those books that is so hypnotic you even forget about your own surroundings? This is one of those. Terrific.

Gripping, 27 Jan 2006
This was my first Lesley Glaister book, which happened to be going cheap in Smiths! I loved it and couldn't put it down. I don't normally go in for thriller type books, but this one had me hooked from the start. As the story unfolded, I was genuinely surprised as I didn't guess what had been going on..... well worth a try.

A brilliant, intense psychological thriller, 30 Jul 2005
A sinister and intense story of voyeurism and manipulation, 'As far as you can go' will keep you awake at night - if not out of fear then out of an unstoppable need to turn the last page.

A young British woman, Cassie, answers an advert asking for a couple to spend a year at a remote farmstead in outback Australia to work as housekeepers and companions to a man and his wife. She persuades artist boyfriend Graham to embark on the adventure in the hope of testing his commitment to her following an infidelity. On arrival, however, their total isolation comes as a shock, they send but never receive any letters, and they find themselves increasingly prone to paranoia and a feeling that they are being 'watched'.

Creepy boss Larry seems to be keeping secrets from them, including the reasons for the departure of their predecessors and the real nature of his wife Mara's alleged mental illness. Meanwhile, Mara is exiled to a converted shed where she lives in virtual darkness - apart from her occasional naked jaunts into the outside world where her tranquillized state becomes obvious.

When Larry quizzes Cassie about her 'test' of Graham's reliability as a boyfriend, and offers her pharmaceuticals to help 'stabilise' his personality, the reader starts to get a sense of quite how disturbing Larry's character is. And Graham is being 'tested' enough as it is - Mara has demanded painting lessons from him, and he has discovered that she doesn't want to paint, she wants to be painted - and not on canvas, on her body.

Things get increasingly strange and tense as the story unfolds and the reader races to find out what's really going on in Larry's head and behind his locked doors.

The languid state of some of the characters at times in the story contrasts sharply with the pace at which the tale unfolds, and the reader's own urge to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

The characters are all equally plausible, and the novel's oppresively hot setting provides the perfect backdrop to this steamy, claustrophobic tale. You feel like you are there with them, and that you'd rather be just about anywhere else.

Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Fabulous!, 31 Dec 2007
I love Lesley Glaister's books and this is one of the best. A real page-turner, edgy, erotic and unusual. Her insight into the human psyche is startling and, although sometimes uncomfortable, makes for a fabulous read. Very highly recommended.

Interesting thriller, 12 Sep 2007
I picked this up cheap during amazon's book sale at the beginning of summer 2007. The story line is quite simple, a couple move to the Australian outback to become carers of sorts to a apparent mentally ill woman, paid by her husband.

The novel is well written, and the characters very realistic - it's easy to identify with them, and the problems they face - both in the relationship of the couple and the sheer isolation of place they stay in Aus.

I enjoyed the novel, while it is quite slow (often tediously so) in making the twists and turns, it gives a great sense of the situation they are in, and a growing sense of horror as to what is actually going on.

Which is where my sole complaint comes in. The novel, which explains pretty much everything as it goes along ends very suddenly, without explanation of what the reader wants to know. It's a bit of an anti-climax, and leaves the reader feeling cheated.

This book is worth a read, but it's not a rollercoaster or a nailbiter, it's a slow forming thriller that builds up in intensity and horror, and has a plot which is very believable in this day and age.

Claustrophobic, intense thriller, 08 Jul 2007
I absolutely loved this book. The slowly building sense of menace is extraordinarily effective and that, combined with the oppressive dusty heat of the situation this couple find themselves in, make for a very intense and claustrophobic read. And when you think you've got to the climax of the book; you haven't. You know when you read one of those books that is so hypnotic you even forget about your own surroundings? This is one of those. Terrific.

Gripping, 27 Jan 2006
This was my first Lesley Glaister book, which happened to be going cheap in Smiths! I loved it and couldn't put it down. I don't normally go in for thriller type books, but this one had me hooked from the start. As the story unfolded, I was genuinely surprised as I didn't guess what had been going on..... well worth a try.

A brilliant, intense psychological thriller, 30 Jul 2005
A sinister and intense story of voyeurism and manipulation, 'As far as you can go' will keep you awake at night - if not out of fear then out of an unstoppable need to turn the last page.

A young British woman, Cassie, answers an advert asking for a couple to spend a year at a remote farmstead in outback Australia to work as housekeepers and companions to a man and his wife. She persuades artist boyfriend Graham to embark on the adventure in the hope of testing his commitment to her following an infidelity. On arrival, however, their total isolation comes as a shock, they send but never receive any letters, and they find themselves increasingly prone to paranoia and a feeling that they are being 'watched'.

Creepy boss Larry seems to be keeping secrets from them, including the reasons for the departure of their predecessors and the real nature of his wife Mara's alleged mental illness. Meanwhile, Mara is exiled to a converted shed where she lives in virtual darkness - apart from her occasional naked jaunts into the outside world where her tranquillized state becomes obvious.

When Larry quizzes Cassie about her 'test' of Graham's reliability as a boyfriend, and offers her pharmaceuticals to help 'stabilise' his personality, the reader starts to get a sense of quite how disturbing Larry's character is. And Graham is being 'tested' enough as it is - Mara has demanded painting lessons from him, and he has discovered that she doesn't want to paint, she wants to be painted - and not on canvas, on her body.

Things get increasingly strange and tense as the story unfolds and the reader races to find out what's really going on in Larry's head and behind his locked doors.

The languid state of some of the characters at times in the story contrasts sharply with the pace at which the tale unfolds, and the reader's own urge to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

The characters are all equally plausible, and the novel's oppresively hot setting provides the perfect backdrop to this steamy, claustrophobic tale. You feel like you are there with them, and that you'd rather be just about anywhere else.

a real find, 10 Nov 2008
I loved this book. I loved the honesty and earthiness. It doesn't seem to conform to any particular genre but that's also good for me. I found it gripping, touching and unputdownable. Definitely a winner.

Gripping Psychological Thriller, 17 Oct 2004
Now You See Me is a beautifully written novel which keeps you absolutely captivated from the first page to the last. The plot is exciting and heartbreaking, with an ending that will leave you shocked but not completely crushed, as there is a spark of hope for the future. The characters are not stereotypical `lovable' people but are victims of circumstance and of their own destructive tendencies and this makes for a fascinating and gripping story.

The two main characters, Lamb and Doggo, are both hiding from things in their pasts and when their secrets are finally revealed you cannot help but feel desperately sorry for them. I read a review of this book which says that it is impossible to read it without completely immersing yourself in Lamb's world and seeing everything through her eyes and I totally agree with this. By the end of the novel I felt I knew her inside out.

The writing style of Lesley Glaister can only be admired and applauded. It has a lovely poetic quality to it that effortlessly keeps you turning pages. She can make anything seem possible (even spontaneous combustion!) and has a knack for making characters come alive no matter how bizarre they are.

Overall Now You See Me was a fantastic psychological thriller which was different from anything that I had read before in terms of style, plot and characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes being kept in suspense by a really, really good writer. I am sure that readers who like books by Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine will especially love this book.

JoAnne

Poignant tale of 2 vulnerable people learning to trust again, 08 Mar 2003
Lamb and Doggo, for different reasons, find themselves adrift from their families and from society. The book tells the story of their developing relationship as they explore each other's histories and their own ability to trust another human being. The two characters are very sympathetic and the book makes you both laugh and cry. This is the first book by Lesley Glaister that I have read and I will certainly look for others now.

You want to take them home, 15 May 2002
I loved this. Lamb is such an outsider, so careful and scared - but so brave and funny. And she lies all the time. And Doggo - yes, he has dogs! - is part-scary, part-genuine. Reading this story of their slow redemption and their crimes, you pray it's going to turn out right for them. That's how good this book is - you want them to be happy, and see why they may well not be. Lamb is in my head still - thank you Ms. Glaister!

Good, easy read, 05 Oct 2001
Not sure that this is the 'love story' it's been billed as, but it's a good page-turner and, on the whole, I enjoyed it. Lamb's a great character and the author really makes you sympathise with her. Some of the other characters are less believable and less likeable - especially 'Sarah'. One criticism - at times I felt as though I was reading a novel for teenagers. The author doesn't quite go far enough for me and all the ends are too neatly tied up, all the way through. I won't write anymore as I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet!

Lesley Glaister's writing goes from strength to strength. She has produced eight sharply observed, stylishly crafted books in nine years and her fans know what to expect: mean suburban streets, dingy terraced houses where behind closed doors wacky old women, disturbed children and an assortment of misfits turn the mundane into the macabre.

Sheer Blue Bliss confirms Glaister as one of the most original voices of the 1990s. The central characters, portraitist Constance Benson and Patrick Mount, failed phytologist and inventor of a life-enhancing elixir, have been lovers since Connie was 16. He is now dead and the story weaves from the present, where Connie is holding a retrospective exhibition of her work, including a valued portrait of Patrick, to the past and her childhood when they first met. Leaving her lonely cottage in Norfolk, Connie is exposed in London to hazardous encounters with PR people, journalists and sinister eccentrics such as Tony, an ex-convict obsessed with obtaining Patrick's elixir, which will induce the bliss of the book's title. Of London Connie reflects "It has been a delight and it has all been far too much"--but back in Norfolk life turns out to be even more dangerous...

A carefully conceived and constructed novel, Sheer Blue Bliss is written so effortlessly that the reader is drawn with equal ease into the twists and turns of the plot where tension and suspense mount to a plausible climax. Glaister perceives and records with almost frightening clarity, creating a story of sheer black brilliance. --Pearl Irish

Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Fabulous!, 31 Dec 2007
I love Lesley Glaister's books and this is one of the best. A real page-turner, edgy, erotic and unusual. Her insight into the human psyche is startling and, although sometimes uncomfortable, makes for a fabulous read. Very highly recommended.

Interesting thriller, 12 Sep 2007
I picked this up cheap during amazon's book sale at the beginning of summer 2007. The story line is quite simple, a couple move to the Australian outback to become carers of sorts to a apparent mentally ill woman, paid by her husband.

The novel is well written, and the characters very realistic - it's easy to identify with them, and the problems they face - both in the relationship of the couple and the sheer isolation of place they stay in Aus.

I enjoyed the novel, while it is quite slow (often tediously so) in making the twists and turns, it gives a great sense of the situation they are in, and a growing sense of horror as to what is actually going on.

Which is where my sole complaint comes in. The novel, which explains pretty much everything as it goes along ends very suddenly, without explanation of what the reader wants to know. It's a bit of an anti-climax, and leaves the reader feeling cheated.

This book is worth a read, but it's not a rollercoaster or a nailbiter, it's a slow forming thriller that builds up in intensity and horror, and has a plot which is very believable in this day and age.

Claustrophobic, intense thriller, 08 Jul 2007
I absolutely loved this book. The slowly building sense of menace is extraordinarily effective and that, combined with the oppressive dusty heat of the situation this couple find themselves in, make for a very intense and claustrophobic read. And when you think you've got to the climax of the book; you haven't. You know when you read one of those books that is so hypnotic you even forget about your own surroundings? This is one of those. Terrific.

Gripping, 27 Jan 2006
This was my first Lesley Glaister book, which happened to be going cheap in Smiths! I loved it and couldn't put it down. I don't normally go in for thriller type books, but this one had me hooked from the start. As the story unfolded, I was genuinely surprised as I didn't guess what had been going on..... well worth a try.

A brilliant, intense psychological thriller, 30 Jul 2005
A sinister and intense story of voyeurism and manipulation, 'As far as you can go' will keep you awake at night - if not out of fear then out of an unstoppable need to turn the last page.

A young British woman, Cassie, answers an advert asking for a couple to spend a year at a remote farmstead in outback Australia to work as housekeepers and companions to a man and his wife. She persuades artist boyfriend Graham to embark on the adventure in the hope of testing his commitment to her following an infidelity. On arrival, however, their total isolation comes as a shock, they send but never receive any letters, and they find themselves increasingly prone to paranoia and a feeling that they are being 'watched'.

Creepy boss Larry seems to be keeping secrets from them, including the reasons for the departure of their predecessors and the real nature of his wife Mara's alleged mental illness. Meanwhile, Mara is exiled to a converted shed where she lives in virtual darkness - apart from her occasional naked jaunts into the outside world where her tranquillized state becomes obvious.

When Larry quizzes Cassie about her 'test' of Graham's reliability as a boyfriend, and offers her pharmaceuticals to help 'stabilise' his personality, the reader starts to get a sense of quite how disturbing Larry's character is. And Graham is being 'tested' enough as it is - Mara has demanded painting lessons from him, and he has discovered that she doesn't want to paint, she wants to be painted - and not on canvas, on her body.

Things get increasingly strange and tense as the story unfolds and the reader races to find out what's really going on in Larry's head and behind his locked doors.

The languid state of some of the characters at times in the story contrasts sharply with the pace at which the tale unfolds, and the reader's own urge to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

The characters are all equally plausible, and the novel's oppresively hot setting provides the perfect backdrop to this steamy, claustrophobic tale. You feel like you are there with them, and that you'd rather be just about anywhere else.

a real find, 10 Nov 2008
I loved this book. I loved the honesty and earthiness. It doesn't seem to conform to any particular genre but that's also good for me. I found it gripping, touching and unputdownable. Definitely a winner.

Gripping Psychological Thriller, 17 Oct 2004
Now You See Me is a beautifully written novel which keeps you absolutely captivated from the first page to the last. The plot is exciting and heartbreaking, with an ending that will leave you shocked but not completely crushed, as there is a spark of hope for the future. The characters are not stereotypical `lovable' people but are victims of circumstance and of their own destructive tendencies and this makes for a fascinating and gripping story.

The two main characters, Lamb and Doggo, are both hiding from things in their pasts and when their secrets are finally revealed you cannot help but feel desperately sorry for them. I read a review of this book which says that it is impossible to read it without completely immersing yourself in Lamb's world and seeing everything through her eyes and I totally agree with this. By the end of the novel I felt I knew her inside out.

The writing style of Lesley Glaister can only be admired and applauded. It has a lovely poetic quality to it that effortlessly keeps you turning pages. She can make anything seem possible (even spontaneous combustion!) and has a knack for making characters come alive no matter how bizarre they are.

Overall Now You See Me was a fantastic psychological thriller which was different from anything that I had read before in terms of style, plot and characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes being kept in suspense by a really, really good writer. I am sure that readers who like books by Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine will especially love this book.

JoAnne

Poignant tale of 2 vulnerable people learning to trust again, 08 Mar 2003
Lamb and Doggo, for different reasons, find themselves adrift from their families and from society. The book tells the story of their developing relationship as they explore each other's histories and their own ability to trust another human being. The two characters are very sympathetic and the book makes you both laugh and cry. This is the first book by Lesley Glaister that I have read and I will certainly look for others now.

You want to take them home, 15 May 2002
I loved this. Lamb is such an outsider, so careful and scared - but so brave and funny. And she lies all the time. And Doggo - yes, he has dogs! - is part-scary, part-genuine. Reading this story of their slow redemption and their crimes, you pray it's going to turn out right for them. That's how good this book is - you want them to be happy, and see why they may well not be. Lamb is in my head still - thank you Ms. Glaister!

Good, easy read, 05 Oct 2001
Not sure that this is the 'love story' it's been billed as, but it's a good page-turner and, on the whole, I enjoyed it. Lamb's a great character and the author really makes you sympathise with her. Some of the other characters are less believable and less likeable - especially 'Sarah'. One criticism - at times I felt as though I was reading a novel for teenagers. The author doesn't quite go far enough for me and all the ends are too neatly tied up, all the way through. I won't write anymore as I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet!

Spellbinding to the end, 04 Oct 2003
When I am charmed after only reaching page 4 of a novel then I know I am in the hands of a fine writer, and 'Sheer Blue Bliss' is exemplary. Glaister's evocative style is superb particularly in detailing the more sensuous aspects of the world. By the end of the first chapter I felt like ditching the duvet and rushing out to buy some good old fashioned cotton sheets - so enticingly were they described.

The compulsive, obsessive and damaged personality of Tony is narrated with sharp brilliance. I found that some passages had such a powerful 'stream of consciousness' aliveness about them that I became wholly absorbed in his quest for his own personal grail. The flaws in his character are evident in every step he takes leaving the reader hooked with anticipation but also hopefully some understanding and empathy as well.

This was my first encounter with Glaister's writing: I found the tone and atmosphere somewhat akin to that of Rendell but despite the slightly mystical flavour of the novel, Glaister's characters are more credible and flawed giving the writing a more compelling feel. Strongly recommended.

An excellent thriller - to be read with one eye closed, 06 Jun 2001
Sheer Blue Bliss is a love story and psychological thriller, full of colours and suspense which mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary. It kept my interest from page one until the wholly unexpected ending. Glaister brings the characters vividly alive and blends the past with the present seamlessly. I liked the changing narrative voice which switches between the young and old Constance and Tony, the screwed-up ex-con who is obssessed with the work of her long lost lover. This is the third novel I have read by Glaister. I was hooked by the depiction of children's awful cruelty to each other in Easy Peasy and went on to read The Private Parts of Women which also needs to be read with one eye closed.

Life-giving creepy story!, 10 Jun 2000
I read this book on one long train journey. The tra`in stopped but I didn't. The first voice is Tony, whose creepy, credible, and oddly tpouching. And the old dear Connie is a wonderful non-victim with a lively past indeed! It's stirring and moving and life-giving, which is odd for the gothic chiller it is. And the writing's so good you don't notice what it's doing to you till it's done it.

Young nutter in search of redemption seeks bohemian old lady, 12 Aug 1999
This is a marvellous read. On the first page we meet Tony who is fixated on clean white shirts and the legendary Bliss elixir created by eccentric Patrick Mount. Then off to eccentric and rather gorgeous old lady bohemian Connie Benson who is waiting to be interviewed about her finally showing her last painting of her lover Mount. Tony of course gets to hear about it, and sets out to find her. He is unhinged yet oddly appealing; she is unusual, life-loving, still thinking over her past when as a girl she first fell in love (and in bed) with Mount. This book is funny, moving, tense, strange, and utterly compelling. I read on with my heart quickening and senses sharpening. If you haven't read Lesley Glaister yet, I strongly suggest you do so NOW. And this is one of her best.

Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Fabulous!, 31 Dec 2007
I love Lesley Glaister's books and this is one of the best. A real page-turner, edgy, erotic and unusual. Her insight into the human psyche is startling and, although sometimes uncomfortable, makes for a fabulous read. Very highly recommended.

Interesting thriller, 12 Sep 2007
I picked this up cheap during amazon's book sale at the beginning of summer 2007. The story line is quite simple, a couple move to the Australian outback to become carers of sorts to a apparent mentally ill woman, paid by her husband.

The novel is well written, and the characters very realistic - it's easy to identify with them, and the problems they face - both in the relationship of the couple and the sheer isolation of place they stay in Aus.

I enjoyed the novel, while it is quite slow (often tediously so) in making the twists and turns, it gives a great sense of the situation they are in, and a growing sense of horror as to what is actually going on.

Which is where my sole complaint comes in. The novel, which explains pretty much everything as it goes along ends very suddenly, without explanation of what the reader wants to know. It's a bit of an anti-climax, and leaves the reader feeling cheated.

This book is worth a read, but it's not a rollercoaster or a nailbiter, it's a slow forming thriller that builds up in intensity and horror, and has a plot which is very believable in this day and age.

Claustrophobic, intense thriller, 08 Jul 2007
I absolutely loved this book. The slowly building sense of menace is extraordinarily effective and that, combined with the oppressive dusty heat of the situation this couple find themselves in, make for a very intense and claustrophobic read. And when you think you've got to the climax of the book; you haven't. You know when you read one of those books that is so hypnotic you even forget about your own surroundings? This is one of those. Terrific.

Gripping, 27 Jan 2006
This was my first Lesley Glaister book, which happened to be going cheap in Smiths! I loved it and couldn't put it down. I don't normally go in for thriller type books, but this one had me hooked from the start. As the story unfolded, I was genuinely surprised as I didn't guess what had been going on..... well worth a try.

A brilliant, intense psychological thriller, 30 Jul 2005
A sinister and intense story of voyeurism and manipulation, 'As far as you can go' will keep you awake at night - if not out of fear then out of an unstoppable need to turn the last page.

A young British woman, Cassie, answers an advert asking for a couple to spend a year at a remote farmstead in outback Australia to work as housekeepers and companions to a man and his wife. She persuades artist boyfriend Graham to embark on the adventure in the hope of testing his commitment to her following an infidelity. On arrival, however, their total isolation comes as a shock, they send but never receive any letters, and they find themselves increasingly prone to paranoia and a feeling that they are being 'watched'.

Creepy boss Larry seems to be keeping secrets from them, including the reasons for the departure of their predecessors and the real nature of his wife Mara's alleged mental illness. Meanwhile, Mara is exiled to a converted shed where she lives in virtual darkness - apart from her occasional naked jaunts into the outside world where her tranquillized state becomes obvious.

When Larry quizzes Cassie about her 'test' of Graham's reliability as a boyfriend, and offers her pharmaceuticals to help 'stabilise' his personality, the reader starts to get a sense of quite how disturbing Larry's character is. And Graham is being 'tested' enough as it is - Mara has demanded painting lessons from him, and he has discovered that she doesn't want to paint, she wants to be painted - and not on canvas, on her body.

Things get increasingly strange and tense as the story unfolds and the reader races to find out what's really going on in Larry's head and behind his locked doors.

The languid state of some of the characters at times in the story contrasts sharply with the pace at which the tale unfolds, and the reader's own urge to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

The characters are all equally plausible, and the novel's oppresively hot setting provides the perfect backdrop to this steamy, claustrophobic tale. You feel like you are there with them, and that you'd rather be just about anywhere else.

a real find, 10 Nov 2008
I loved this book. I loved the honesty and earthiness. It doesn't seem to conform to any particular genre but that's also good for me. I found it gripping, touching and unputdownable. Definitely a winner.

Gripping Psychological Thriller, 17 Oct 2004
Now You See Me is a beautifully written novel which keeps you absolutely captivated from the first page to the last. The plot is exciting and heartbreaking, with an ending that will leave you shocked but not completely crushed, as there is a spark of hope for the future. The characters are not stereotypical `lovable' people but are victims of circumstance and of their own destructive tendencies and this makes for a fascinating and gripping story.

The two main characters, Lamb and Doggo, are both hiding from things in their pasts and when their secrets are finally revealed you cannot help but feel desperately sorry for them. I read a review of this book which says that it is impossible to read it without completely immersing yourself in Lamb's world and seeing everything through her eyes and I totally agree with this. By the end of the novel I felt I knew her inside out.

The writing style of Lesley Glaister can only be admired and applauded. It has a lovely poetic quality to it that effortlessly keeps you turning pages. She can make anything seem possible (even spontaneous combustion!) and has a knack for making characters come alive no matter how bizarre they are.

Overall Now You See Me was a fantastic psychological thriller which was different from anything that I had read before in terms of style, plot and characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes being kept in suspense by a really, really good writer. I am sure that readers who like books by Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine will especially love this book.

JoAnne

Poignant tale of 2 vulnerable people learning to trust again, 08 Mar 2003
Lamb and Doggo, for different reasons, find themselves adrift from their families and from society. The book tells the story of their developing relationship as they explore each other's histories and their own ability to trust another human being. The two characters are very sympathetic and the book makes you both laugh and cry. This is the first book by Lesley Glaister that I have read and I will certainly look for others now.

You want to take them home, 15 May 2002
I loved this. Lamb is such an outsider, so careful and scared - but so brave and funny. And she lies all the time. And Doggo - yes, he has dogs! - is part-scary, part-genuine. Reading this story of their slow redemption and their crimes, you pray it's going to turn out right for them. That's how good this book is - you want them to be happy, and see why they may well not be. Lamb is in my head still - thank you Ms. Glaister!

Good, easy read, 05 Oct 2001
Not sure that this is the 'love story' it's been billed as, but it's a good page-turner and, on the whole, I enjoyed it. Lamb's a great character and the author really makes you sympathise with her. Some of the other characters are less believable and less likeable - especially 'Sarah'. One criticism - at times I felt as though I was reading a novel for teenagers. The author doesn't quite go far enough for me and all the ends are too neatly tied up, all the way through. I won't write anymore as I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet!

Spellbinding to the end, 04 Oct 2003
When I am charmed after only reaching page 4 of a novel then I know I am in the hands of a fine writer, and 'Sheer Blue Bliss' is exemplary. Glaister's evocative style is superb particularly in detailing the more sensuous aspects of the world. By the end of the first chapter I felt like ditching the duvet and rushing out to buy some good old fashioned cotton sheets - so enticingly were they described.

The compulsive, obsessive and damaged personality of Tony is narrated with sharp brilliance. I found that some passages had such a powerful 'stream of consciousness' aliveness about them that I became wholly absorbed in his quest for his own personal grail. The flaws in his character are evident in every step he takes leaving the reader hooked with anticipation but also hopefully some understanding and empathy as well.

This was my first encounter with Glaister's writing: I found the tone and atmosphere somewhat akin to that of Rendell but despite the slightly mystical flavour of the novel, Glaister's characters are more credible and flawed giving the writing a more compelling feel. Strongly recommended.

An excellent thriller - to be read with one eye closed, 06 Jun 2001
Sheer Blue Bliss is a love story and psychological thriller, full of colours and suspense which mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary. It kept my interest from page one until the wholly unexpected ending. Glaister brings the characters vividly alive and blends the past with the present seamlessly. I liked the changing narrative voice which switches between the young and old Constance and Tony, the screwed-up ex-con who is obssessed with the work of her long lost lover. This is the third novel I have read by Glaister. I was hooked by the depiction of children's awful cruelty to each other in Easy Peasy and went on to read The Private Parts of Women which also needs to be read with one eye closed.

Life-giving creepy story!, 10 Jun 2000
I read this book on one long train journey. The tra`in stopped but I didn't. The first voice is Tony, whose creepy, credible, and oddly tpouching. And the old dear Connie is a wonderful non-victim with a lively past indeed! It's stirring and moving and life-giving, which is odd for the gothic chiller it is. And the writing's so good you don't notice what it's doing to you till it's done it.

Young nutter in search of redemption seeks bohemian old lady, 12 Aug 1999
This is a marvellous read. On the first page we meet Tony who is fixated on clean white shirts and the legendary Bliss elixir created by eccentric Patrick Mount. Then off to eccentric and rather gorgeous old lady bohemian Connie Benson who is waiting to be interviewed about her finally showing her last painting of her lover Mount. Tony of course gets to hear about it, and sets out to find her. He is unhinged yet oddly appealing; she is unusual, life-loving, still thinking over her past when as a girl she first fell in love (and in bed) with Mount. This book is funny, moving, tense, strange, and utterly compelling. I read on with my heart quickening and senses sharpening. If you haven't read Lesley Glaister yet, I strongly suggest you do so NOW. And this is one of her best.

A disturbing tale of four sisters and the secrets of their past, 07 Feb 2007
This is a book about 4 sisters; Agatha, Milly, Ellen and Esther. They have lived in their crumbling farmhouse all their lives, trapped and terrified by their long deceased father. As the story unfolds we learn of happier times in their youth, and more unhappy times as they grow older.

Glaister has a wonderful knack of creating such intricate, realistic characters and I really think this is what makes her books such a success. As Agatha and Milly grow old and the house starts to crumble along with them, the descriptions of decay relating to both the characters and their surroundings are both utterly fascinating and horrifying.

This is a relatively short book which I read in one day - but this is due to the author's skill as I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended, along with Glaister's other work.

Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Fabulous!, 31 Dec 2007
I love Lesley Glaister's books and this is one of the best. A real page-turner, edgy, erotic and unusual. Her insight into the human psyche is startling and, although sometimes uncomfortable, makes for a fabulous read. Very highly recommended.

Interesting thriller, 12 Sep 2007
I picked this up cheap during amazon's book sale at the beginning of summer 2007. The story line is quite simple, a couple move to the Australian outback to become carers of sorts to a apparent mentally ill woman, paid by her husband.

The novel is well written, and the characters very realistic - it's easy to identify with them, and the problems they face - both in the relationship of the couple and the sheer isolation of place they stay in Aus.

I enjoyed the novel, while it is quite slow (often tediously so) in making the twists and turns, it gives a great sense of the situation they are in, and a growing sense of horror as to what is actually going on.

Which is where my sole complaint comes in. The novel, which explains pretty much everything as it goes along ends very suddenly, without explanation of what the reader wants to know. It's a bit of an anti-climax, and leaves the reader feeling cheated.

This book is worth a read, but it's not a rollercoaster or a nailbiter, it's a slow forming thriller that builds up in intensity and horror, and has a plot which is very believable in this day and age.

Claustrophobic, intense thriller, 08 Jul 2007
I absolutely loved this book. The slowly building sense of menace is extraordinarily effective and that, combined with the oppressive dusty heat of the situation this couple find themselves in, make for a very intense and claustrophobic read. And when you think you've got to the climax of the book; you haven't. You know when you read one of those books that is so hypnotic you even forget about your own surroundings? This is one of those. Terrific.

Gripping, 27 Jan 2006
This was my first Lesley Glaister book, which happened to be going cheap in Smiths! I loved it and couldn't put it down. I don't normally go in for thriller type books, but this one had me hooked from the start. As the story unfolded, I was genuinely surprised as I didn't guess what had been going on..... well worth a try.

A brilliant, intense psychological thriller, 30 Jul 2005
A sinister and intense story of voyeurism and manipulation, 'As far as you can go' will keep you awake at night - if not out of fear then out of an unstoppable need to turn the last page.

A young British woman, Cassie, answers an advert asking for a couple to spend a year at a remote farmstead in outback Australia to work as housekeepers and companions to a man and his wife. She persuades artist boyfriend Graham to embark on the adventure in the hope of testing his commitment to her following an infidelity. On arrival, however, their total isolation comes as a shock, they send but never receive any letters, and they find themselves increasingly prone to paranoia and a feeling that they are being 'watched'.

Creepy boss Larry seems to be keeping secrets from them, including the reasons for the departure of their predecessors and the real nature of his wife Mara's alleged mental illness. Meanwhile, Mara is exiled to a converted shed where she lives in virtual darkness - apart from her occasional naked jaunts into the outside world where her tranquillized state becomes obvious.

When Larry quizzes Cassie about her 'test' of Graham's reliability as a boyfriend, and offers her pharmaceuticals to help 'stabilise' his personality, the reader starts to get a sense of quite how disturbing Larry's character is. And Graham is being 'tested' enough as it is - Mara has demanded painting lessons from him, and he has discovered that she doesn't want to paint, she wants to be painted - and not on canvas, on her body.

Things get increasingly strange and tense as the story unfolds and the reader races to find out what's really going on in Larry's head and behind his locked doors.

The languid state of some of the characters at times in the story contrasts sharply with the pace at which the tale unfolds, and the reader's own urge to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

The characters are all equally plausible, and the novel's oppresively hot setting provides the perfect backdrop to this steamy, claustrophobic tale. You feel like you are there with them, and that you'd rather be just about anywhere else.

a real find, 10 Nov 2008
I loved this book. I loved the honesty and earthiness. It doesn't seem to conform to any particular genre but that's also good for me. I found it gripping, touching and unputdownable. Definitely a winner.

Gripping Psychological Thriller, 17 Oct 2004
Now You See Me is a beautifully written novel which keeps you absolutely captivated from the first page to the last. The plot is exciting and heartbreaking, with an ending that will leave you shocked but not completely crushed, as there is a spark of hope for the future. The characters are not stereotypical `lovable' people but are victims of circumstance and of their own destructive tendencies and this makes for a fascinating and gripping story.

The two main characters, Lamb and Doggo, are both hiding from things in their pasts and when their secrets are finally revealed you cannot help but feel desperately sorry for them. I read a review of this book which says that it is impossible to read it without completely immersing yourself in Lamb's world and seeing everything through her eyes and I totally agree with this. By the end of the novel I felt I knew her inside out.

The writing style of Lesley Glaister can only be admired and applauded. It has a lovely poetic quality to it that effortlessly keeps you turning pages. She can make anything seem possible (even spontaneous combustion!) and has a knack for making characters come alive no matter how bizarre they are.

Overall Now You See Me was a fantastic psychological thriller which was different from anything that I had read before in terms of style, plot and characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes being kept in suspense by a really, really good writer. I am sure that readers who like books by Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine will especially love this book.

JoAnne

Poignant tale of 2 vulnerable people learning to trust again, 08 Mar 2003
Lamb and Doggo, for different reasons, find themselves adrift from their families and from society. The book tells the story of their developing relationship as they explore each other's histories and their own ability to trust another human being. The two characters are very sympathetic and the book makes you both laugh and cry. This is the first book by Lesley Glaister that I have read and I will certainly look for others now.

You want to take them home, 15 May 2002
I loved this. Lamb is such an outsider, so careful and scared - but so brave and funny. And she lies all the time. And Doggo - yes, he has dogs! - is part-scary, part-genuine. Reading this story of their slow redemption and their crimes, you pray it's going to turn out right for them. That's how good this book is - you want them to be happy, and see why they may well not be. Lamb is in my head still - thank you Ms. Glaister!

Good, easy read, 05 Oct 2001
Not sure that this is the 'love story' it's been billed as, but it's a good page-turner and, on the whole, I enjoyed it. Lamb's a great character and the author really makes you sympathise with her. Some of the other characters are less believable and less likeable - especially 'Sarah'. One criticism - at times I felt as though I was reading a novel for teenagers. The author doesn't quite go far enough for me and all the ends are too neatly tied up, all the way through. I won't write anymore as I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet!

Spellbinding to the end, 04 Oct 2003
When I am charmed after only reaching page 4 of a novel then I know I am in the hands of a fine writer, and 'Sheer Blue Bliss' is exemplary. Glaister's evocative style is superb particularly in detailing the more sensuous aspects of the world. By the end of the first chapter I felt like ditching the duvet and rushing out to buy some good old fashioned cotton sheets - so enticingly were they described.

The compulsive, obsessive and damaged personality of Tony is narrated with sharp brilliance. I found that some passages had such a powerful 'stream of consciousness' aliveness about them that I became wholly absorbed in his quest for his own personal grail. The flaws in his character are evident in every step he takes leaving the reader hooked with anticipation but also hopefully some understanding and empathy as well.

This was my first encounter with Glaister's writing: I found the tone and atmosphere somewhat akin to that of Rendell but despite the slightly mystical flavour of the novel, Glaister's characters are more credible and flawed giving the writing a more compelling feel. Strongly recommended.

An excellent thriller - to be read with one eye closed, 06 Jun 2001
Sheer Blue Bliss is a love story and psychological thriller, full of colours and suspense which mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary. It kept my interest from page one until the wholly unexpected ending. Glaister brings the characters vividly alive and blends the past with the present seamlessly. I liked the changing narrative voice which switches between the young and old Constance and Tony, the screwed-up ex-con who is obssessed with the work of her long lost lover. This is the third novel I have read by Glaister. I was hooked by the depiction of children's awful cruelty to each other in Easy Peasy and went on to read The Private Parts of Women which also needs to be read with one eye closed.

Life-giving creepy story!, 10 Jun 2000
I read this book on one long train journey. The tra`in stopped but I didn't. The first voice is Tony, whose creepy, credible, and oddly tpouching. And the old dear Connie is a wonderful non-victim with a lively past indeed! It's stirring and moving and life-giving, which is odd for the gothic chiller it is. And the writing's so good you don't notice what it's doing to you till it's done it.

Young nutter in search of redemption seeks bohemian old lady, 12 Aug 1999
This is a marvellous read. On the first page we meet Tony who is fixated on clean white shirts and the legendary Bliss elixir created by eccentric Patrick Mount. Then off to eccentric and rather gorgeous old lady bohemian Connie Benson who is waiting to be interviewed about her finally showing her last painting of her lover Mount. Tony of course gets to hear about it, and sets out to find her. He is unhinged yet oddly appealing; she is unusual, life-loving, still thinking over her past when as a girl she first fell in love (and in bed) with Mount. This book is funny, moving, tense, strange, and utterly compelling. I read on with my heart quickening and senses sharpening. If you haven't read Lesley Glaister yet, I strongly suggest you do so NOW. And this is one of her best.

A disturbing tale of four sisters and the secrets of their past, 07 Feb 2007
This is a book about 4 sisters; Agatha, Milly, Ellen and Esther. They have lived in their crumbling farmhouse all their lives, trapped and terrified by their long deceased father. As the story unfolds we learn of happier times in their youth, and more unhappy times as they grow older.

Glaister has a wonderful knack of creating such intricate, realistic characters and I really think this is what makes her books such a success. As Agatha and Milly grow old and the house starts to crumble along with them, the descriptions of decay relating to both the characters and their surroundings are both utterly fascinating and horrifying.

This is a relatively short book which I read in one day - but this is due to the author's skill as I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended, along with Glaister's other work.

Glaister - a writer's writer!!, 19 May 2006
You don't have to be any specific age to appreciate this and all of Glaister's work. Whether you're 20 or 120, if you want books written with intelligence, honesty, passion and depth, Glaister is always a best bet. I've read all of her books. The great thing about Glaister is that she doesn't use a "cookie cutter" to write. All of her books contain love, passion, humor, the dark side of life and people...and lots of mood - and all of of her plots, characters and stories are unique and "one-of-a-kind." Her characters are nothing short of genious - and she has a brilliant ability to weave her characters and story plots to a more than satisfying finish. I am a writer/editor and a voracious reader. I've read some great authors, but she remains my all time favorite. No writer, dead or alive, can begin to live up to her unique, masterful style. If you like GREAT writing, GREAT multi-dimensional characters, and captivating plot(s), I highly recommend reading ALL of her books, starting with Digging to Australia, Honour Thy Father, Trick or Treat, etc. Definitely the perfect author for those readers who like to sink their brains, heart and soul into books by an amazing talent.

Glaister at her best, 11 Jun 2003
If you're a woman in your 30s (like me!), you like something a little out of the ordinary and you haven't tried Lesley Glaister, I highly recommend you give her a read.

This book is dark and eerie, a satisfying mixture of the everyday and the bizarre, a study of the subtle and not so subtle madnesses hidden behind the apparently "normal" facades of seemingly "ordinary" women. The plot unfolds slowly, but relentlessly, keeping the reader entranced as it moves along, offering glimpses of what's to come - it's both disturbing and compulsive.

If you enjoy this, I would also recommend Glaister's Honour Thy Father (although if you enjoy this, you'll most likely enjoy all her books).

Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Fabulous!, 31 Dec 2007
I love Lesley Glaister's books and this is one of the best. A real page-turner, edgy, erotic and unusual. Her insight into the human psyche is startling and, although sometimes uncomfortable, makes for a fabulous read. Very highly recommended.

Interesting thriller, 12 Sep 2007
I picked this up cheap during amazon's book sale at the beginning of summer 2007. The story line is quite simple, a couple move to the Australian outback to become carers of sorts to a apparent mentally ill woman, paid by her husband.

The novel is well written, and the characters very realistic - it's easy to identify with them, and the problems they face - both in the relationship of the couple and the sheer isolation of place they stay in Aus.

I enjoyed the novel, while it is quite slow (often tediously so) in making the twists and turns, it gives a great sense of the situation they are in, and a growing sense of horror as to what is actually going on.

Which is where my sole complaint comes in. The novel, which explains pretty much everything as it goes along ends very suddenly, without explanation of what the reader wants to know. It's a bit of an anti-climax, and leaves the reader feeling cheated.

This book is worth a read, but it's not a rollercoaster or a nailbiter, it's a slow forming thriller that builds up in intensity and horror, and has a plot which is very believable in this day and age.

Claustrophobic, intense thriller, 08 Jul 2007
I absolutely loved this book. The slowly building sense of menace is extraordinarily effective and that, combined with the oppressive dusty heat of the situation this couple find themselves in, make for a very intense and claustrophobic read. And when you think you've got to the climax of the book; you haven't. You know when you read one of those books that is so hypnotic you even forget about your own surroundings? This is one of those. Terrific.

Gripping, 27 Jan 2006
This was my first Lesley Glaister book, which happened to be going cheap in Smiths! I loved it and couldn't put it down. I don't normally go in for thriller type books, but this one had me hooked from the start. As the story unfolded, I was genuinely surprised as I didn't guess what had been going on..... well worth a try.

A brilliant, intense psychological thriller, 30 Jul 2005
A sinister and intense story of voyeurism and manipulation, 'As far as you can go' will keep you awake at night - if not out of fear then out of an unstoppable need to turn the last page.

A young British woman, Cassie, answers an advert asking for a couple to spend a year at a remote farmstead in outback Australia to work as housekeepers and companions to a man and his wife. She persuades artist boyfriend Graham to embark on the adventure in the hope of testing his commitment to her following an infidelity. On arrival, however, their total isolation comes as a shock, they send but never receive any letters, and they find themselves increasingly prone to paranoia and a feeling that they are being 'watched'.

Creepy boss Larry seems to be keeping secrets from them, including the reasons for the departure of their predecessors and the real nature of his wife Mara's alleged mental illness. Meanwhile, Mara is exiled to a converted shed where she lives in virtual darkness - apart from her occasional naked jaunts into the outside world where her tranquillized state becomes obvious.

When Larry quizzes Cassie about her 'test' of Graham's reliability as a boyfriend, and offers her pharmaceuticals to help 'stabilise' his personality, the reader starts to get a sense of quite how disturbing Larry's character is. And Graham is being 'tested' enough as it is - Mara has demanded painting lessons from him, and he has discovered that she doesn't want to paint, she wants to be painted - and not on canvas, on her body.

Things get increasingly strange and tense as the story unfolds and the reader races to find out what's really going on in Larry's head and behind his locked doors.

The languid state of some of the characters at times in the story contrasts sharply with the pace at which the tale unfolds, and the reader's own urge to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

The characters are all equally plausible, and the novel's oppresively hot setting provides the perfect backdrop to this steamy, claustrophobic tale. You feel like you are there with them, and that you'd rather be just about anywhere else.

a real find, 10 Nov 2008
I loved this book. I loved the honesty and earthiness. It doesn't seem to conform to any particular genre but that's also good for me. I found it gripping, touching and unputdownable. Definitely a winner.

Gripping Psychological Thriller, 17 Oct 2004
Now You See Me is a beautifully written novel which keeps you absolutely captivated from the first page to the last. The plot is exciting and heartbreaking, with an ending that will leave you shocked but not completely crushed, as there is a spark of hope for the future. The characters are not stereotypical `lovable' people but are victims of circumstance and of their own destructive tendencies and this makes for a fascinating and gripping story.

The two main characters, Lamb and Doggo, are both hiding from things in their pasts and when their secrets are finally revealed you cannot help but feel desperately sorry for them. I read a review of this book which says that it is impossible to read it without completely immersing yourself in Lamb's world and seeing everything through her eyes and I totally agree with this. By the end of the novel I felt I knew her inside out.

The writing style of Lesley Glaister can only be admired and applauded. It has a lovely poetic quality to it that effortlessly keeps you turning pages. She can make anything seem possible (even spontaneous combustion!) and has a knack for making characters come alive no matter how bizarre they are.

Overall Now You See Me was a fantastic psychological thriller which was different from anything that I had read before in terms of style, plot and characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes being kept in suspense by a really, really good writer. I am sure that readers who like books by Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine will especially love this book.

JoAnne

Poignant tale of 2 vulnerable people learning to trust again, 08 Mar 2003
Lamb and Doggo, for different reasons, find themselves adrift from their families and from society. The book tells the story of their developing relationship as they explore each other's histories and their own ability to trust another human being. The two characters are very sympathetic and the book makes you both laugh and cry. This is the first book by Lesley Glaister that I have read and I will certainly look for others now.

You want to take them home, 15 May 2002
I loved this. Lamb is such an outsider, so careful and scared - but so brave and funny. And she lies all the time. And Doggo - yes, he has dogs! - is part-scary, part-genuine. Reading this story of their slow redemption and their crimes, you pray it's going to turn out right for them. That's how good this book is - you want them to be happy, and see why they may well not be. Lamb is in my head still - thank you Ms. Glaister!

Good, easy read, 05 Oct 2001
Not sure that this is the 'love story' it's been billed as, but it's a good page-turner and, on the whole, I enjoyed it. Lamb's a great character and the author really makes you sympathise with her. Some of the other characters are less believable and less likeable - especially 'Sarah'. One criticism - at times I felt as though I was reading a novel for teenagers. The author doesn't quite go far enough for me and all the ends are too neatly tied up, all the way through. I won't write anymore as I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet!

Spellbinding to the end, 04 Oct 2003
When I am charmed after only reaching page 4 of a novel then I know I am in the hands of a fine writer, and 'Sheer Blue Bliss' is exemplary. Glaister's evocative style is superb particularly in detailing the more sensuous aspects of the world. By the end of the first chapter I felt like ditching the duvet and rushing out to buy some good old fashioned cotton sheets - so enticingly were they described.

The compulsive, obsessive and damaged personality of Tony is narrated with sharp brilliance. I found that some passages had such a powerful 'stream of consciousness' aliveness about them that I became wholly absorbed in his quest for his own personal grail. The flaws in his character are evident in every step he takes leaving the reader hooked with anticipation but also hopefully some understanding and empathy as well.

This was my first encounter with Glaister's writing: I found the tone and atmosphere somewhat akin to that of Rendell but despite the slightly mystical flavour of the novel, Glaister's characters are more credible and flawed giving the writing a more compelling feel. Strongly recommended.

An excellent thriller - to be read with one eye closed, 06 Jun 2001
Sheer Blue Bliss is a love story and psychological thriller, full of colours and suspense which mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary. It kept my interest from page one until the wholly unexpected ending. Glaister brings the characters vividly alive and blends the past with the present seamlessly. I liked the changing narrative voice which switches between the young and old Constance and Tony, the screwed-up ex-con who is obssessed with the work of her long lost lover. This is the third novel I have read by Glaister. I was hooked by the depiction of children's awful cruelty to each other in Easy Peasy and went on to read The Private Parts of Women which also needs to be read with one eye closed.

Life-giving creepy story!, 10 Jun 2000
I read this book on one long train journey. The tra`in stopped but I didn't. The first voice is Tony, whose creepy, credible, and oddly tpouching. And the old dear Connie is a wonderful non-victim with a lively past indeed! It's stirring and moving and life-giving, which is odd for the gothic chiller it is. And the writing's so good you don't notice what it's doing to you till it's done it.

Young nutter in search of redemption seeks bohemian old lady, 12 Aug 1999
This is a marvellous read. On the first page we meet Tony who is fixated on clean white shirts and the legendary Bliss elixir created by eccentric Patrick Mount. Then off to eccentric and rather gorgeous old lady bohemian Connie Benson who is waiting to be interviewed about her finally showing her last painting of her lover Mount. Tony of course gets to hear about it, and sets out to find her. He is unhinged yet oddly appealing; she is unusual, life-loving, still thinking over her past when as a girl she first fell in love (and in bed) with Mount. This book is funny, moving, tense, strange, and utterly compelling. I read on with my heart quickening and senses sharpening. If you haven't read Lesley Glaister yet, I strongly suggest you do so NOW. And this is one of her best.

A disturbing tale of four sisters and the secrets of their past, 07 Feb 2007
This is a book about 4 sisters; Agatha, Milly, Ellen and Esther. They have lived in their crumbling farmhouse all their lives, trapped and terrified by their long deceased father. As the story unfolds we learn of happier times in their youth, and more unhappy times as they grow older.

Glaister has a wonderful knack of creating such intricate, realistic characters and I really think this is what makes her books such a success. As Agatha and Milly grow old and the house starts to crumble along with them, the descriptions of decay relating to both the characters and their surroundings are both utterly fascinating and horrifying.

This is a relatively short book which I read in one day - but this is due to the author's skill as I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended, along with Glaister's other work.

Glaister - a writer's writer!!, 19 May 2006
You don't have to be any specific age to appreciate this and all of Glaister's work. Whether you're 20 or 120, if you want books written with intelligence, honesty, passion and depth, Glaister is always a best bet. I've read all of her books. The great thing about Glaister is that she doesn't use a "cookie cutter" to write. All of her books contain love, passion, humor, the dark side of life and people...and lots of mood - and all of of her plots, characters and stories are unique and "one-of-a-kind." Her characters are nothing short of genious - and she has a brilliant ability to weave her characters and story plots to a more than satisfying finish. I am a writer/editor and a voracious reader. I've read some great authors, but she remains my all time favorite. No writer, dead or alive, can begin to live up to her unique, masterful style. If you like GREAT writing, GREAT multi-dimensional characters, and captivating plot(s), I highly recommend reading ALL of her books, starting with Digging to Australia, Honour Thy Father, Trick or Treat, etc. Definitely the perfect author for those readers who like to sink their brains, heart and soul into books by an amazing talent.

Glaister at her best, 11 Jun 2003
If you're a woman in your 30s (like me!), you like something a little out of the ordinary and you haven't tried Lesley Glaister, I highly recommend you give her a read.

This book is dark and eerie, a satisfying mixture of the everyday and the bizarre, a study of the subtle and not so subtle madnesses hidden behind the apparently "normal" facades of seemingly "ordinary" women. The plot unfolds slowly, but relentlessly, keeping the reader entranced as it moves along, offering glimpses of what's to come - it's both disturbing and compulsive.

If you enjoy this, I would also recommend Glaister's Honour Thy Father (although if you enjoy this, you'll most likely enjoy all her books).

Beautiful, dismal and compelling, 11 Jun 2003
I have become quite a fan of Lesley Glaister since picking up Honour Thy Father a few months ago, and Partial Eclipse doesn't disappoint.

It's the story of two women from one family, separated by time, but brought together by circumstances. During a week of solitary confinement, Jenny tells not only her own story, the events leading up to her incarceration, but also the story of Peggy, an ancestor transported to Australia for stealing a peacock.

Glaister, as always is immensely readable, the stories of these two women seem to tumble forward with a momentum of their own and the characters are all vividly drawn.

I would suggest if you're thinking of reading Partial Eclipse that you first read Digging To Australia - it's not necessary, but it is a prequel, and the events of Digging To Australia are recalled in Partial Eclipse.

Great idea for a plot but disappointing execution, 01 Oct 2008
I eagerly seized up this book thinking, 'Great idea for a plot': a young woman is released from prison under a new identity after serving a sentence for a murder committed when she was a teenager; the brother of her victim tracks her down to seek vengeance.

I was very disappointed by the way the story unfolded. Nina/Karen and Rupert/Mark narrate alternate chapters and Rupert/Mark is clearly a good deal crazier than Nina/Karen. I was expecting more interesting twists and revelations and the ending is a definite anti-climax.

Occasional flashbacks to Nina/Karen's disturbing childhood add nothing to the story and interrupt the flow.

A big let-down. Give it a miss.


'Lesley Glaister Has Gone'... and triumphed again. A delightfully exciting book., 24 Jun 2007
As an fan of Glaister's writing I was very pleased not to be disappointed with this, her latest read. It's an easy enough book to read, but what it explores is deep and complex: who are we? What is identity? None of the characters are quite what they seem at first and the more you read the more the layers unravel.

It's actually quite terrifying at times especially towards the end, but also rather funny too. There's a great scene with a drunken budgie, and some of the minor characters are hilarious and well-observed.

Nina Todd herself is such a great creation. I found myself cringing and wincing at many of her social faux-pas, but then rooting for her, then being furious with her, then laughing at her, then crying for her.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough.

Defines the term 'page turner', 21 May 2007
With three young children and a busy job, I shamefully still found the time to read this book in only 3 days. My first Lesley Glaister book but certainly not my last, I found this book just incredible. The story is utterly compelling from the first to the last page but what really makes this book so special is the way that the action unfolds through the thoughts of the different characters - brilliantly done. A highly recommended read.

Fabulous!, 31 Dec 2007
I love Lesley Glaister's books and this is one of the best. A real page-turner, edgy, erotic and unusual. Her insight into the human psyche is startling and, although sometimes uncomfortable, makes for a fabulous read. Very highly recommended.

Interesting thriller, 12 Sep 2007
I picked this up cheap during amazon's book sale at the beginning of summer 2007. The story line is quite simple, a couple move to the Australian outback to become carers of sorts to a apparent mentally ill woman, paid by her husband.

The novel is well written, and the characters very realistic - it's easy to identify with them, and the problems they face - both in the relationship of the couple and the sheer isolation of place they stay in Aus.

I enjoyed the novel, while it is quite slow (often tediously so) in making the twists and turns, it gives a great sense of the situation they are in, and a growing sense of horror as to what is actually going on.

Which is where my sole complaint comes in. The novel, which explains pretty much everything as it goes along ends very suddenly, without explanation of what the reader wants to know. It's a bit of an anti-climax, and leaves the reader feeling cheated.

This book is worth a read, but it's not a rollercoaster or a nailbiter, it's a slow forming thriller that builds up in intensity and horror, and has a plot which is very believable in this day and age.

Claustrophobic, intense thriller, 08 Jul 2007
I absolutely loved this book. The slowly building sense of menace is extraordinarily effective and that, combined with the oppressive dusty heat of the situation this couple find themselves in, make for a very intense and claustrophobic read. And when you think you've got to the climax of the book; you haven't. You know when you read one of those books that is so hypnotic you even forget about your own surroundings? This is one of those. Terrific.

Gripping, 27 Jan 2006
This was my first Lesley Glaister book, which happened to be going cheap in Smiths! I loved it and couldn't put it down. I don't normally go in for thriller type books, but this one had me hooked from the start. As the story unfolded, I was genuinely surprised as I didn't guess what had been going on..... well worth a try.

A brilliant, intense psychological thriller, 30 Jul 2005
A sinister and intense story of voyeurism and manipulation, 'As far as you can go' will keep you awake at night - if not out of fear then out of an unstoppable need to turn the last page.

A young British woman, Cassie, answers an advert asking for a couple to spend a year at a remote farmstead in outback Australia to work as housekeepers and companions to a man and his wife. She persuades artist boyfriend Graham to embark on the adventure in the hope of testing his commitment to her following an infidelity. On arrival, however, their total isolation comes as a shock, they send but never receive any letters, and they find themselves increasingly prone to paranoia and a feeling that they are being 'watched'.

Creepy boss Larry seems to be keeping secrets from them, including the reasons for the departure of their predecessors and the real nature of his wife Mara's alleged mental illness. Meanwhile, Mara is exiled to a converted shed where she lives in virtual darkness - apart from her occasional naked jaunts into the outside world where her tranquillized state becomes obvious.

When Larry quizzes Cassie about her 'test' of Graham's reliability as a boyfriend, and offers her pharmaceuticals to help 'stabilise' his personality, the reader starts to get a sense of quite how disturbing Larry's character is. And Graham is being 'tested' enough as it is - Mara has demanded painting lessons from him, and he has discovered that she doesn't want to paint, she wants to be painted - and not on canvas, on her body.

Things get increasingly strange and tense as the story unfolds and the reader races to find out what's really going on in Larry's head and behind his locked doors.

The languid state of some of the characters at times in the story contrasts sharply with the pace at which the tale unfolds, and the reader's own urge to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

The characters are all equally plausible, and the novel's oppresively hot setting provides the perfect backdrop to this steamy, claustrophobic tale. You feel like you are there with them, and that you'd rather be just about anywhere else.

a real find, 10 Nov 2008
I loved this book. I loved the honesty and earthiness. It doesn't seem to conform to any particular genre but that's also good for me. I found it gripping, touching and unputdownable. Definitely a winner.

Gripping Psychological Thriller, 17 Oct 2004
Now You See Me is a beautifully written novel which keeps you absolutely captivated from the first page to the last. The plot is exciting and heartbreaking, with an ending that will leave you shocked but not completely crushed, as there is a spark of hope for the future. The characters are not stereotypical `lovable' people but are victims of circumstance and of their own destructive tendencies and this makes for a fascinating and gripping story.

The two main characters, Lamb and Doggo, are both hiding from things in their pasts and when their secrets are finally revealed you cannot help but feel desperately sorry for them. I read a review of this book which says that it is impossible to read it without completely immersing yourself in Lamb's world and seeing everything through her eyes and I totally agree with this. By the end of the novel I felt I knew her inside out.

The writing style of Lesle