{Review} The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

Posted by Donna
Release Date: October 3rd, 2013
Finished Date: July 8th, 2014

Publishers: Chicken House 
Genre: YA Thriller
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback

Pages: 369

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Emily’s dad is accused of murdering a teenage girl. Emily is sure he is innocent, but what happened that night in the woods behind their house where she used to play as a child? Determined to find out, she seeks out Damon Hillary, the enigmatic boyfriend of the murdered girl. He also knows these woods. Maybe they could help each other. But he’s got secrets of his own about games that are played in the dark.

A new psychological thriller from the award-winning and bestselling author of STOLEN and FLYAWAY.

The Review: A chilling and compelling read, The Killing Woods is a haunting tale full of mystery and secrets! 

A girl has been found dead in the woods behind Emily’s house and now her Father is being accused of murdering her. Emily’s life is suddenly turned upside down and with her Father suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and flashbacks, he can’t remember what really happened that night. Determined to find out what really happened, Emily seeks out the one person who might have some answers, the dead girls boyfriend; Damon. But Damon is hiding his own secrets, secrets that he shares with his friends. Is there something more deadly happening in woods? And what did really happen that night? 

The Killing Woods has been a book that I was torn about reading and the reason for that was I guess you could say I felt the synopsis made the story sound very predictable. For that reason, I put off reading it. But, I just couldn’t get this book out of my head. I kept going back and forth about whether I should take the plunge and read it, and in the end, I just decided too – even though I was hesitant. But after reading, I know that I definitely judged this book before reading it. Was it predictable? No not at all! The unpredictability in this book is actually why I enjoyed it so much because you just couldn’t guess the ending – at all! 

Other than being unpredictable, the plot of the story is  intense and quite highly strung. The story is quite sad and has so many twists and secrets, but it was a very enjoyable read, one that kept me on my toes. 

I really enjoyed both Emily and Damon. With the dual narrative from both Emily and Damon, you can feel the tension from both characters. They’re struggling with the events that have happened but both are desperate for answers, it’s was a little difficult to read how much they struggled to come to terms with it and how it affected their lives. And I was hoping for some romance in the story but honestly, I wasn’t sure how it would fit into this story, but what Lucy Christopher did was just the right touch and more importantly, it felt right and it fit well. 

Overall, this was my first try at reading a book by Lucy Christopher and it was definitely worth a read. One I would recommend to a reader who is looking for something that little bit different but very enjoyable! 

Thank you to Chicken House for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

A review for Stolen: A Letter to my Captor by Lucy Christopher

Posted by: Jess
Release Date: 4th May 2009
Finish Date: 10th July, 2011
Source: Chicken House Publishing
Format: Paperback
Pages: 300
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Blurb from Goodreads: It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him. This is my story. A letter from nowhere.
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The Review: I only heard good things about Stolen. So naturally I was anxious to read it. So when we contacted Chicken House Publishing and they allowed me to review it, I was ecstatic. Not only did I get a free book, but I got a GOOD book. I was amazed at how much I loved this book. The story was so captivating. I was moved. 

Stolen was written in second person, which was a new narrative to me but one I enjoyed all the same. Lucy Christopher has written this as a letter that Gemma our 16 year old narrator writes to her kidnapper Ty. Being able to read it in this form gave me more of an understanding as to what Gemma was going through, from the time she was 'Stolen' from Bangkok Airport, right through her ordeal with Ty, the relationship that was slowly emerging between them. Both of them are two very different characters, Gemma is surprisingly strong and mature for a 16 year old. Ty, is ultimately not evil but a troubled person who's only love is the vast land of the Australian outback. Gemma has love, she has a family, she has friends. Ty does not. He's a lonely sort, and has been in love with Gemma  for almost 3 years but has been following her for 6. He wants to share his love of the land with Gemma. Not only are Gemma and Ty two major characters (in fact for most of the book, they're the only characters), but the Australian outback is so ripe with description in this book that it almost becomes a character itself. 

My heart and my head were so torn when I read this book. I wanted to hate Ty, for what he did. For everything, but my heart kept saying no, he's not all bad; he's just starved of love and lonely. He's sometimes portrayed as a vulnerable sort of guy, but then scary as well in some scenes at the start of the book. I'm not condoning kidnapping, but when you read this book, you can see why Ty did what he did. I only wish this had a happier ending.  Eventually my heart was won over by Ty, and it was because of a particular scene towards the end of the book in his painting shed. During that scene and after it, was the moment I realised I was in love with Ty. Anyone who has read this book will know the scene I am talking about. If you haven't, well I'll leave it to you to find out. You won't be disappointed. That's the moment you fall in love with Ty, and the moment Gemma realises she does in fact 'need' him, and the land.  

Anyway, I hope this review is sufficient. And I urge everyone to pick up Stolen: A Letter to my captor and read it. Find out for yourself. In the end, I'd just like to say that I'm definitely in love with this book, and I am definitely NOT suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Read it. It's fabulous.

I'd just like to thank Chicken House Publishing for allowing me to review this book. It was wonderful.