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The Project #1
The Spider in the Corner of the Room
‘Powerful and gripping – an adrenaline-filled thriller you won't forget' – Sunday Times bestseller Kimberley Chambers
What to believe
Who to betray
When to run...
Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder.
DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember…
A strange room. Strange people. Being watched.
As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
As addictive as the Bourne novels, with a protagonist as original as The Bridge’s Saga Norén.
Part one of The Project trilogy
Praise for The Spider in the Corner of the Room
‘A powerful, penetrating and intensely different read that seizes your attention from the very first page.’ – Liz Robinson, LoveReading
‘An intriguing and original novel, with an underlying sense of menace and mystery.’ - Ruth Hunter, Booktime Editor at Bertram
‘A great conspiracy thriller and a mind-bending tale!’ – Booktime
‘Powerful and gripping – an adrenaline-filled thriller you won't forget' – Sunday Times bestseller Kimberley Chambers
What to believe
Who to betray
When to run...
Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder.
DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember…
A strange room. Strange people. Being watched.
As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
As addictive as the Bourne novels, with a protagonist as original as The Bridge’s Saga Norén.
Part one of The Project trilogy
Praise for The Spider in the Corner of the Room
‘A powerful, penetrating and intensely different read that seizes your attention from the very first page.’ – Liz Robinson, LoveReading
‘An intriguing and original novel, with an underlying sense of menace and mystery.’ - Ruth Hunter, Booktime Editor at Bertram
‘A great conspiracy thriller and a mind-bending tale!’ – Booktime
‘Powerful and gripping – an adrenaline-filled thriller you won't forget' – Sunday Times bestseller Kimberley Chambers
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2015
About the author
Nikki Owen
12 books99 followersSelected as an Amazon Rising Star in Debut Fiction, Nikki Owen is a writer and columnist.
For as long as she can remember, Nikki has always written fiction. Aged 5, she re-wrote Thumbelina (with paint & scribbles); at 14, won a competition for a book jacket and blurb design judged by Quentin Blake; at 27, was long-listed for a BBC Talent script for Casualty; and at 34, was short-listed for a Guardian travel writing competition. In February 2013, Nikki was awarded third place in the Wotton-Under-Edge Arts and Literature Festival Short Story Competition.
In between, Nikki gained a BA (Hons) in International Business Studies and Spanish, spending a year in Spain and studying at the acclaimed University of Salamanca – the same city where her protagonist of the acclaimed The Project trilogy, Dr Maria Martinez, hails from.
Nikki writes for the Gloucestershire Gazette, commenting on politics and society issues, and has been a columnist for the Citizen and Echo newspapers and Weekend magazine, commenting on popular culture.
Previously, Nikki has been a Marketing Manager, Head of Copywriting for an advertising agency, plus a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bristol.
Born in Dublin, Nikki now lives in Gloucestershire with her family.
For as long as she can remember, Nikki has always written fiction. Aged 5, she re-wrote Thumbelina (with paint & scribbles); at 14, won a competition for a book jacket and blurb design judged by Quentin Blake; at 27, was long-listed for a BBC Talent script for Casualty; and at 34, was short-listed for a Guardian travel writing competition. In February 2013, Nikki was awarded third place in the Wotton-Under-Edge Arts and Literature Festival Short Story Competition.
In between, Nikki gained a BA (Hons) in International Business Studies and Spanish, spending a year in Spain and studying at the acclaimed University of Salamanca – the same city where her protagonist of the acclaimed The Project trilogy, Dr Maria Martinez, hails from.
Nikki writes for the Gloucestershire Gazette, commenting on politics and society issues, and has been a columnist for the Citizen and Echo newspapers and Weekend magazine, commenting on popular culture.
Previously, Nikki has been a Marketing Manager, Head of Copywriting for an advertising agency, plus a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bristol.
Born in Dublin, Nikki now lives in Gloucestershire with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
June 23, 2021
I finished this in the wee hours of the morning, and had to write my review straight away!
I just HAD to have a copy of this book so I chased and pleaded and got so excited when it landed on my Kindle. I had two clear reasons why I was busting to read this book, the first is that the synopsis had me intrigued, the second was that the main character Maria, has Aspergers the same as me.
I love to read fiction with Aspergers characters in because I like to test how much research the author has done on it, I have read some novels where the Aspergers character was so over the top stereotypical and unlike any real Aspie person I knew that I got angry. The Rosie Project. I have also read books where the author DOES represent the Aspergers traits in the character very well, Rubbernecker.
Nikki Own did not let me down, talented writing, well researched and creatively put together, in short, I loved this book for many reasons.
So, a brief synopsis in case you have not heard of it yet:
What to believe
Who to betray
When to run
Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a Catholic priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder.
DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember…
A strange room. Strange people. Being watched.
As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
We quickly find ourselves inside the fascinating and fast paced mind of Dr Maria Martinez, who has landed in prison which to her is just too far out of her comfort zone that she is quickly not coping. The book starts a touch slowly, but very quickly I was hooked in as more interesting events began to be revealed.
Maria is certainly the star of this book, the other characters all play important roles, some more than others but they all seemed so peripheral to the power of her character, the intensity she gives off. I related totally to every Aspergers thought, feeling, sensory issue, anxiety and confusion.
The plot starts to get VERY interesting as Maria realises she is being treated differently to other inmates and I was just busting to know what was going on. Nikki Owen weaves in that sense of secrecy under the words, creates smoke screens and undercurrents that you are thinking you are figuring it out but then realise you are helpless actually. Did I say conspiracy out loud?
Then the first big reveal - BOOM!
It was SO GOOD, I was jumping and whooping internally (as it was 3am and hubby and the two cats were snoring in the bed), it was better than I could have hoped for, I knew then I was in for a brilliant ride.
I highly recommend readers go into this book with a very open mind, take your time to be "inside" Maria because it's a huge part of why the book works so well, if you feel befuddled and confused it's because you are supposed to. Good luck in figuring out the plot anywhere early on in the book.
Then more reveals! - BOOM! BOOM! Puzzle pieces clicking together.
I was even more excited. Nikki Owen developed a plot that in parts seems so far fetched yet had me thinking "you know what, that could happen, I wonder if it is?" so it's a bit of a thinking person's book but wow, what a whole lot of entertainment.
The pace really picks up and does not let up as we scramble towards the finale, where more and more puzzle pieces are being put together, we begin to understand the memories and flashbacks that Maria has, we begin to know who to trust or not....well actually no, it was still a bit hazy that at the end, but great finish, all set for the next book in the series which I can't wait to get my paws on.
A sophisticated, cleverly written and plotted novel that stands out as one of the best I have read this year. This one gets an easy 5 paw prints from this Booklover Catlady. Purrrfect entertainment on pages.
Promise me you won't give up on this one in early stages if you feel too confused, it's meant to be as you connect with Maria and it's worth hanging in there for. Honestly, a top read. One of my new favourite authors of 2015.
Many thanks to Harlequin (UK) Limited, Mira for my ARC of this great novel.
You can find all of my reviews, meet my cats and enjoy booky things on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
I just HAD to have a copy of this book so I chased and pleaded and got so excited when it landed on my Kindle. I had two clear reasons why I was busting to read this book, the first is that the synopsis had me intrigued, the second was that the main character Maria, has Aspergers the same as me.
I love to read fiction with Aspergers characters in because I like to test how much research the author has done on it, I have read some novels where the Aspergers character was so over the top stereotypical and unlike any real Aspie person I knew that I got angry. The Rosie Project. I have also read books where the author DOES represent the Aspergers traits in the character very well, Rubbernecker.
Nikki Own did not let me down, talented writing, well researched and creatively put together, in short, I loved this book for many reasons.
So, a brief synopsis in case you have not heard of it yet:
What to believe
Who to betray
When to run
Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a Catholic priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder.
DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember…
A strange room. Strange people. Being watched.
As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
We quickly find ourselves inside the fascinating and fast paced mind of Dr Maria Martinez, who has landed in prison which to her is just too far out of her comfort zone that she is quickly not coping. The book starts a touch slowly, but very quickly I was hooked in as more interesting events began to be revealed.
Maria is certainly the star of this book, the other characters all play important roles, some more than others but they all seemed so peripheral to the power of her character, the intensity she gives off. I related totally to every Aspergers thought, feeling, sensory issue, anxiety and confusion.
The plot starts to get VERY interesting as Maria realises she is being treated differently to other inmates and I was just busting to know what was going on. Nikki Owen weaves in that sense of secrecy under the words, creates smoke screens and undercurrents that you are thinking you are figuring it out but then realise you are helpless actually. Did I say conspiracy out loud?
Then the first big reveal - BOOM!
It was SO GOOD, I was jumping and whooping internally (as it was 3am and hubby and the two cats were snoring in the bed), it was better than I could have hoped for, I knew then I was in for a brilliant ride.
I highly recommend readers go into this book with a very open mind, take your time to be "inside" Maria because it's a huge part of why the book works so well, if you feel befuddled and confused it's because you are supposed to. Good luck in figuring out the plot anywhere early on in the book.
Then more reveals! - BOOM! BOOM! Puzzle pieces clicking together.
I was even more excited. Nikki Owen developed a plot that in parts seems so far fetched yet had me thinking "you know what, that could happen, I wonder if it is?" so it's a bit of a thinking person's book but wow, what a whole lot of entertainment.
The pace really picks up and does not let up as we scramble towards the finale, where more and more puzzle pieces are being put together, we begin to understand the memories and flashbacks that Maria has, we begin to know who to trust or not....well actually no, it was still a bit hazy that at the end, but great finish, all set for the next book in the series which I can't wait to get my paws on.
A sophisticated, cleverly written and plotted novel that stands out as one of the best I have read this year. This one gets an easy 5 paw prints from this Booklover Catlady. Purrrfect entertainment on pages.
Promise me you won't give up on this one in early stages if you feel too confused, it's meant to be as you connect with Maria and it's worth hanging in there for. Honestly, a top read. One of my new favourite authors of 2015.
Many thanks to Harlequin (UK) Limited, Mira for my ARC of this great novel.
You can find all of my reviews, meet my cats and enjoy booky things on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
May 12, 2016
This is the deeply disturbing and horrific story of Asperger's Syndrome affected Dr Maria Martinez, convicted of the murder of priest, Father O'Donnell. She is in prison and is experiencing odd memories of events and people that appear to be unreliable as she teeters towards insanity. With everyone questioning the validity of her memories, Maria herself questions her version of events and the state of her mental health. She finds prison life traumatising and the actions of psychiatrists and therapists strange.
Maria finds solace in assiduously recording her memories, insistent thoughts, algorithms etc. in a notebook she takes everywhere. Maria is seriously assaulted by a prisoner who seems intent on wanting her dead and a new prisoner who tells her she has been sent to protect her as MI5 wants her killed. These and other events lend credence to her memories. There are hints of a shady project Callidus, weird drugs and the possibility of an appeal against her conviction.
Maria goes in search of her identity. Who is she? Can she trust anyone? Can she trust herself? Why is her life under threat from the intelligence agencies? What is she to make of her remarkable and strange abilities? This is a gripping, terrifying and unsettling read on the life of Dr Maria Martinez. Many thanks to Harlequin for a ARC via netgalley.
Maria finds solace in assiduously recording her memories, insistent thoughts, algorithms etc. in a notebook she takes everywhere. Maria is seriously assaulted by a prisoner who seems intent on wanting her dead and a new prisoner who tells her she has been sent to protect her as MI5 wants her killed. These and other events lend credence to her memories. There are hints of a shady project Callidus, weird drugs and the possibility of an appeal against her conviction.
Maria goes in search of her identity. Who is she? Can she trust anyone? Can she trust herself? Why is her life under threat from the intelligence agencies? What is she to make of her remarkable and strange abilities? This is a gripping, terrifying and unsettling read on the life of Dr Maria Martinez. Many thanks to Harlequin for a ARC via netgalley.
October 13, 2016
I finished this in the wee hours of the morning, and had to write my review straight away! Please note this book was previously published with the title The Spider In The Corner Of The Room.
I just HAD to have a copy of this book. I had two clear reasons why I was busting to read this book, the first is that the synopsis had me intrigued, the second was that the main character Maria, has Aspergers the same as me.
I love to read fiction with Aspergers characters in because I like to test how much research the author has done on it, I have read some novels where the Aspergers character was so over the top stereotypical and unlike any real Aspie person I knew that I got angry.
Nikki Own did not let me down, talented writing, well researched and creatively put together, in short, I loved this book for many reasons.
What to believe?
Who to betray?
When to run?
We quickly find ourselves inside the fascinating and fast paced mind of Dr Maria Martinez, who has landed in prison which to her is just too far out of her comfort zone that she is quickly not coping. The book starts a touch slowly, but very quickly I was hooked in as more interesting events began to be revealed.
Maria is certainly the star of this book, the other characters all play important roles, some more than others but they all seemed so peripheral to the power of her character, the intensity she gives off. I related totally to every Aspergers thought, feeling, sensory issue, anxiety and confusion.
The plot starts to get VERY interesting as Maria realises she is being treated differently to other inmates and I was just busting to know what was going on. Nikki Owen weaves in that sense of secrecy under the words, creates smoke screens and undercurrents that you are thinking you are figuring it out but then realise you are helpless actually. Did I say conspiracy out loud?
Then the first big reveal - BOOM!
It was SO GOOD, I was jumping and whooping internally (as it was 3am and hubby and the two cats were snoring in the bed), it was better than I could have hoped for, I knew then I was in for a brilliant ride.
I highly recommend readers go into this book with a very open mind, take your time to be "inside" Maria because it's a huge part of why the book works so well, if you feel befuddled and confused it's because you are supposed to. Good luck in figuring out the plot anywhere early on in the book.
Then more reveals! - BOOM! BOOM! Puzzle pieces clicking together.
I was even more excited. Nikki Owen developed a plot that in parts seems so far fetched yet had me thinking "you know what, that could happen, I wonder if it is?" so it's a bit of a thinking person's book but wow, what a whole lot of entertainment.
The pace really picks up and does not let up as we scramble towards the finale, where more and more puzzle pieces are being put together, we begin to understand the memories and flashbacks that Maria has, we begin to know who to trust or not....well actually no, it was still a bit hazy that at the end, but great finish, all set for the next book in the series which I can't wait to get my paws on.
A sophisticated, cleverly written and plotted novel that stands out as one of the best I have read this year. This one gets an easy 5 paw prints from this Booklover Catlady. Purrrfect entertainment on pages.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
I just HAD to have a copy of this book. I had two clear reasons why I was busting to read this book, the first is that the synopsis had me intrigued, the second was that the main character Maria, has Aspergers the same as me.
I love to read fiction with Aspergers characters in because I like to test how much research the author has done on it, I have read some novels where the Aspergers character was so over the top stereotypical and unlike any real Aspie person I knew that I got angry.
Nikki Own did not let me down, talented writing, well researched and creatively put together, in short, I loved this book for many reasons.
What to believe?
Who to betray?
When to run?
We quickly find ourselves inside the fascinating and fast paced mind of Dr Maria Martinez, who has landed in prison which to her is just too far out of her comfort zone that she is quickly not coping. The book starts a touch slowly, but very quickly I was hooked in as more interesting events began to be revealed.
Maria is certainly the star of this book, the other characters all play important roles, some more than others but they all seemed so peripheral to the power of her character, the intensity she gives off. I related totally to every Aspergers thought, feeling, sensory issue, anxiety and confusion.
The plot starts to get VERY interesting as Maria realises she is being treated differently to other inmates and I was just busting to know what was going on. Nikki Owen weaves in that sense of secrecy under the words, creates smoke screens and undercurrents that you are thinking you are figuring it out but then realise you are helpless actually. Did I say conspiracy out loud?
Then the first big reveal - BOOM!
It was SO GOOD, I was jumping and whooping internally (as it was 3am and hubby and the two cats were snoring in the bed), it was better than I could have hoped for, I knew then I was in for a brilliant ride.
I highly recommend readers go into this book with a very open mind, take your time to be "inside" Maria because it's a huge part of why the book works so well, if you feel befuddled and confused it's because you are supposed to. Good luck in figuring out the plot anywhere early on in the book.
Then more reveals! - BOOM! BOOM! Puzzle pieces clicking together.
I was even more excited. Nikki Owen developed a plot that in parts seems so far fetched yet had me thinking "you know what, that could happen, I wonder if it is?" so it's a bit of a thinking person's book but wow, what a whole lot of entertainment.
The pace really picks up and does not let up as we scramble towards the finale, where more and more puzzle pieces are being put together, we begin to understand the memories and flashbacks that Maria has, we begin to know who to trust or not....well actually no, it was still a bit hazy that at the end, but great finish, all set for the next book in the series which I can't wait to get my paws on.
A sophisticated, cleverly written and plotted novel that stands out as one of the best I have read this year. This one gets an easy 5 paw prints from this Booklover Catlady. Purrrfect entertainment on pages.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
August 22, 2023
Wow, this book was insane! I felt crazy just being in Maria's thoughts. I was wanting to second guess every minor detail of the story. Most of the time I was reading, I was simply just hoping that Maria wasn't really as crazy as everyone was making her feel.
Subject 375 is a roller-coaster ride of insanity. The book is told from the observations and thoughts and memories inside Dr. Maria Martinez's mind and through conversations she has with others. Maria has trouble communicating with and relating to others as a result of her Asperger's.
She finds herself bewildered and alone inside of a prison, charged with a guilty verdict in the killing of a priest at a convent that she volunteered at. Her mind calculated and learns at an extremely rapid pace and starts compounding and become faster upon her arrival to prison.
Maria discovers that she is even unsure of her own mind, questioning everything that she knows and everything about those around her. She even begins to question herself and her own memories. The book is told from the prison moments, to earlier flashbacks and even a current therapy session to lead up to the final page that leaves you wondering what in the heck just happened!
My only real complaint was that there were a few minor typos and multiple instances with the word "toward" showing double as "towardtoward". Also there were places when the kindle formatting was off a bit, but in a sense, this actually was not overly distracting since I felt so crazed reading it, that it kind of feed into that whole sensation for me.
4.5 stars round up to 5 for me. The writing was amazing. Nikki Owen did a splendid job portraying the confusion and muddled memories inside Maria's head. I can't wait to read more of this series.
**I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing.
Subject 375 is a roller-coaster ride of insanity. The book is told from the observations and thoughts and memories inside Dr. Maria Martinez's mind and through conversations she has with others. Maria has trouble communicating with and relating to others as a result of her Asperger's.
She finds herself bewildered and alone inside of a prison, charged with a guilty verdict in the killing of a priest at a convent that she volunteered at. Her mind calculated and learns at an extremely rapid pace and starts compounding and become faster upon her arrival to prison.
Maria discovers that she is even unsure of her own mind, questioning everything that she knows and everything about those around her. She even begins to question herself and her own memories. The book is told from the prison moments, to earlier flashbacks and even a current therapy session to lead up to the final page that leaves you wondering what in the heck just happened!
My only real complaint was that there were a few minor typos and multiple instances with the word "toward" showing double as "towardtoward". Also there were places when the kindle formatting was off a bit, but in a sense, this actually was not overly distracting since I felt so crazed reading it, that it kind of feed into that whole sensation for me.
4.5 stars round up to 5 for me. The writing was amazing. Nikki Owen did a splendid job portraying the confusion and muddled memories inside Maria's head. I can't wait to read more of this series.
**I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing.
June 3, 2015
The Spider in the Corner of the Room is an intense and superbly addictive thriller with a highly compelling main protagonist and a sharp edge of tension that does not let go..
Maria is in prison – convicted of murder, she has no recollection of the killing – indeed any memory she has is questionable. Through a series of flashbacks and sessions with her prison psychologists, a strange and intriguing story begins to emerge about exactly who Maria is and what has led her here…and not everyone is exactly who they appear to be.
From start to finish this is a taut, gripping piece of character driven storytelling – unpredictable, highly addictive beautifully written to involve the reader utterly, a page turner of the highest order. Maria is a remarkable character to follow along with – she herself is highly unpredictable and very odd in the most fascinating way – the author having managed to capture, in Maria’s thoughts and actions, an authentic and meaningful snapshot of Aspergers’s, ingrained within the narrative of an intelligent and thought provoking thriller.
As things progress it is often creepy, haunting and sets you a little on edge – the twists and turns in this story are remarkably well placed, pitch perfect to offer revealing insights into the truth of the matter, but still keeping you unsure that you are on solid ground. Even as you head into the final pages you will be questioning every motive, wondering how much of what you are hearing is real and heading back to read little bits again to see if you can get a handle on it. Very intelligent and detailed construction of the story makes it all the more fantastic.
This is set to be a trilogy and I simply cannot wait to find out what happens next – the author has set us up beautifully and whilst this is a completely rounded and satisfying part one, oh boy will you be wishing you had all three in your hands immediately. Quite definitively the most inventive thriller I have read this year, and maybe even for a few years before that, The Spider in the Corner of the Room comes Highly Recommended from me
Maria is in prison – convicted of murder, she has no recollection of the killing – indeed any memory she has is questionable. Through a series of flashbacks and sessions with her prison psychologists, a strange and intriguing story begins to emerge about exactly who Maria is and what has led her here…and not everyone is exactly who they appear to be.
From start to finish this is a taut, gripping piece of character driven storytelling – unpredictable, highly addictive beautifully written to involve the reader utterly, a page turner of the highest order. Maria is a remarkable character to follow along with – she herself is highly unpredictable and very odd in the most fascinating way – the author having managed to capture, in Maria’s thoughts and actions, an authentic and meaningful snapshot of Aspergers’s, ingrained within the narrative of an intelligent and thought provoking thriller.
As things progress it is often creepy, haunting and sets you a little on edge – the twists and turns in this story are remarkably well placed, pitch perfect to offer revealing insights into the truth of the matter, but still keeping you unsure that you are on solid ground. Even as you head into the final pages you will be questioning every motive, wondering how much of what you are hearing is real and heading back to read little bits again to see if you can get a handle on it. Very intelligent and detailed construction of the story makes it all the more fantastic.
This is set to be a trilogy and I simply cannot wait to find out what happens next – the author has set us up beautifully and whilst this is a completely rounded and satisfying part one, oh boy will you be wishing you had all three in your hands immediately. Quite definitively the most inventive thriller I have read this year, and maybe even for a few years before that, The Spider in the Corner of the Room comes Highly Recommended from me
August 6, 2016
This one is about Dr Maria Martinez, a lady with Aspergers syndrome at a high functioning level. She finds herself locked up in prison for a crime that she has no memory of. She keeps getting flashbacks and odd memories which become more and more alarming as she teeters towards the edge of losing her mind. The book constantly moves to different timeframes from her time in prison to her sessions with a therapist. And things become more and more confusing as she struggles to remember and believe what is real and what is not. To try and keep herself calm she finds comfort in writing everything down and doing complex coding. It helps her to try and find some answers and a sense of order of things. What was really refreshing to see was a protagonist so different from what is considered the norm and highlights that the world is full of different people with different attributes, personalities, traits and difficulties. Besides..... who decides what is 'normal' anyway and is there really any such thing? Something that really comes to the fore here.
I absolutely loved Maria and her tenacious spirit to try to make sense of what is going on and her drive to find logical answers. Her lack of social niceties but direct approach was warming and I felt real empathy towards her. It's a cleverly constructed thriller that is a thriller in the fullest sense of the genre. Fast paced and spinning in every direction you really don't know where it's all going to go. I'll take my glory moment here and say I did work out what the spider meant!! I'm no high functioning individual able to solve a rubik's cube in four seconds ...... more like give me a few hours and I might be able to pull off a couple of sides!
The Spider In the Corner Of The Room is a great thriller of the Jason Bourne variety and I loved the female lead. Will definitely be reading book two in what I hope will be a high octane, thrills and spills trilogy.
Team Maria all the way!
I absolutely loved Maria and her tenacious spirit to try to make sense of what is going on and her drive to find logical answers. Her lack of social niceties but direct approach was warming and I felt real empathy towards her. It's a cleverly constructed thriller that is a thriller in the fullest sense of the genre. Fast paced and spinning in every direction you really don't know where it's all going to go. I'll take my glory moment here and say I did work out what the spider meant!! I'm no high functioning individual able to solve a rubik's cube in four seconds ...... more like give me a few hours and I might be able to pull off a couple of sides!
The Spider In the Corner Of The Room is a great thriller of the Jason Bourne variety and I loved the female lead. Will definitely be reading book two in what I hope will be a high octane, thrills and spills trilogy.
Team Maria all the way!
August 19, 2016
Subject 375 was previously published in the UK as The Spider in the Corner of the Room.
It's an intriguing story about Maria who is a plastic surgeon with Asperger's Syndrome who moved from Spain to the UK where she has now been convicted of killing a Catholic priest.
Told from Maria's first person perspective, the story flits back and forth, through "therapy" sessions and recurring memories, as Maria is trying to work out how she ended up in jail. Did she really kill the priest? Maria doesn't know. All the people around her seem to be giving her conflicting messages and she is confused as to whom she can trust.
I think this will appeal to readers who enjoy a good conspiracy thriller. It reminded me of the British TV series Spooks. I thought Maria was an interesting character and the author did a very convincing job of portraying her, but I found it difficult to completely engage with the wider story. It became more interesting towards the end, but as this is part one of a trilogy, it just ended as I was finally starting to become more invested.
I received a copy from Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's an intriguing story about Maria who is a plastic surgeon with Asperger's Syndrome who moved from Spain to the UK where she has now been convicted of killing a Catholic priest.
Told from Maria's first person perspective, the story flits back and forth, through "therapy" sessions and recurring memories, as Maria is trying to work out how she ended up in jail. Did she really kill the priest? Maria doesn't know. All the people around her seem to be giving her conflicting messages and she is confused as to whom she can trust.
I think this will appeal to readers who enjoy a good conspiracy thriller. It reminded me of the British TV series Spooks. I thought Maria was an interesting character and the author did a very convincing job of portraying her, but I found it difficult to completely engage with the wider story. It became more interesting towards the end, but as this is part one of a trilogy, it just ended as I was finally starting to become more invested.
I received a copy from Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2015
What a powerful awesome read, compelling and addictive at its best.
Maria has Aspergers and has been locked up in Prison for a crime, killing a priest. But Maria has no recollection of killing him.
We see how Maria is so confused by events and being in prison has put her under so much stress which has heightened her Asperger symptoms.
We also learn how Maria likes to write things down, to keep account of things. Her brain activity is more complex than the norm, she can recall times and dates, she can unravel the most difficult of equations.
Maria has never had friends, she doesn't find it easy to relate to others, but she does make a friend in Prison, except, she starts to doubt if that person has her best interests at heart.
Things come back bit by bit to Maria and she recalls small things. We go from present to past sometimes in the latter part of the book.
Its a tale of mystery
Its a tale of conspiracy
Who can Maria trust.
There are many who say she can trust them, but who is telling the truth?
This is a story like no other I have read recently and it did pull me completely in.
Full marks from me for this one.
I would like to thank Harlequin (UK) Limited for my copy to read and review, its been a thrilling ride
March 5, 2018
Maybe 2.75 for this one. I am stumped though. I have no idea how to review this book. It was pretty heavy going and hard work to read because of the constant introspection (a pet hate) and anxiety and nerves expressed by the protagonist Dr Maria Martinez. All that is not my cup of tea but I ploughed on.
Maria is a 33 year old plastic surgeon with Aspergers. She is Spanish but on a year long secondment to London where she is convicted of brutally murdering a priest. She finds herself in a women's prison for the mentally disturbed which is where the story starts. Maria's head is full of conspiracy and paranoia. She doesn't know who to trust and she thinks she's in danger. Therapists come and go but she doesn't trust them. Everyone acts a bit 'off' around her and won't tell her the truth, but then she's quite strange herself.
Is she going insane or the victim of a massive government sanctioned conspiracy? You'll have to read the book to find out There are at least two more in the series but I'm not sure if I will read them. Certainly not yet.
Maria is a 33 year old plastic surgeon with Aspergers. She is Spanish but on a year long secondment to London where she is convicted of brutally murdering a priest. She finds herself in a women's prison for the mentally disturbed which is where the story starts. Maria's head is full of conspiracy and paranoia. She doesn't know who to trust and she thinks she's in danger. Therapists come and go but she doesn't trust them. Everyone acts a bit 'off' around her and won't tell her the truth, but then she's quite strange herself.
Is she going insane or the victim of a massive government sanctioned conspiracy? You'll have to read the book to find out There are at least two more in the series but I'm not sure if I will read them. Certainly not yet.
Read
October 21, 2016I only made it to page 160.
March 20, 2015
To my mind a story needs, essentially, three things: a beginning, a middle and an end.
This book is just over 350 pages long, and it starts ... and then meanders pointlessly and ad infinitum, for over 200 pages, before anything of note (other than endless smoke and mirrors) happens. By the time the action gets going properly, it's well over halfway through - and it then stops. Abruptly. Just at the point when I was teetering on the edge of interest in what happened next.
Had I not been sent this book for a review, I'm afraid to say, it would have lost me way before anything actually started happening - I generally think it's fair to give a book 100 pages before admitting defeat.
In its defence, once it finally gets going, it does get better. Sadly, however, by this point I didn't much care.
I understand it is the first part of a trilogy and I think it could be much improved by having the action compacted into a standalone novel, as I think there is probably a decent storyline lurking somewhere in there.
I read on the back of the pre-publication copy I have that the TV rights have already been optioned, and I can imagine it being more successful as a TV series than a book, to be honest.
This book is just over 350 pages long, and it starts ... and then meanders pointlessly and ad infinitum, for over 200 pages, before anything of note (other than endless smoke and mirrors) happens. By the time the action gets going properly, it's well over halfway through - and it then stops. Abruptly. Just at the point when I was teetering on the edge of interest in what happened next.
Had I not been sent this book for a review, I'm afraid to say, it would have lost me way before anything actually started happening - I generally think it's fair to give a book 100 pages before admitting defeat.
In its defence, once it finally gets going, it does get better. Sadly, however, by this point I didn't much care.
I understand it is the first part of a trilogy and I think it could be much improved by having the action compacted into a standalone novel, as I think there is probably a decent storyline lurking somewhere in there.
I read on the back of the pre-publication copy I have that the TV rights have already been optioned, and I can imagine it being more successful as a TV series than a book, to be honest.
October 2, 2015
Not for me I'm afraid. While there was a fantastic start, it just wasn't for me in the long run. Hard to review without spoilers, but too much wretching/gagging from main character combined with choppy paragraphs and frequency of 'why' or 'who' etc just starting to annoy me a little. I know it's part of a trilogy, just not my cuppa tea :(
August 23, 2017
This is a fantastic thriller. A page turner that proceeds with relentless pace.
It's the story of Dr Maria Martinez, a Spanish plastic surgeon who suffers from Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of Autism. She has trouble socially interacting and displaying her emotions. She keeps a journal and writes everything down that comes into her head, numbers, algorithms, that keep her feeling "normal" or help relieve her anxiety, using it as a coping mechanism.
She finds herself in a prison in London for the murder of a priest, a murder that she has no clear recollection of but, because of her state of mind she is unsure whether she committed the act or not. You see, Maria suffers from flashbacks. They may come unannounced or she can try and induce them. But all these flashbacks, memories tell conflicting stories and she(and we the reader) are unsure what are real memories and what may be here imagination.
The story is told in different timelines and jumps back and forth between them. We have her time in prison and her time with therapists and also her flashbacks. Her mistrust of what is happening and her memories and the people around her grow as she struggles to come to terms with what is and isn't real. Is she paranoid and imaging whole realities? Could she be schizophrenic? Is there something more sinister going on?
Maria is a fantastic central character. You have total empathy with her throughout, despite not knowing for the most part her true story and reality. The book hits the ground running and doesn't relent until the final page.
I had great fun reading this story. The story may be a bit of a stretch at times, even for a conspiracy type thriller but the author had me so taken in with the style and pace of the writing and the characterisation of Maria that I didn't really care when I thought it was all getting a little too whacky. I was already hooked and to be honest the times where I thought it was getting a bit too bonkers were few and far between.
A book is all about enjoyment and I enjoyed this from the first to the last. It zips along at great pace and tells an intriguing story.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin(UK) Limited in exchange for an honest review.
It's the story of Dr Maria Martinez, a Spanish plastic surgeon who suffers from Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of Autism. She has trouble socially interacting and displaying her emotions. She keeps a journal and writes everything down that comes into her head, numbers, algorithms, that keep her feeling "normal" or help relieve her anxiety, using it as a coping mechanism.
She finds herself in a prison in London for the murder of a priest, a murder that she has no clear recollection of but, because of her state of mind she is unsure whether she committed the act or not. You see, Maria suffers from flashbacks. They may come unannounced or she can try and induce them. But all these flashbacks, memories tell conflicting stories and she(and we the reader) are unsure what are real memories and what may be here imagination.
The story is told in different timelines and jumps back and forth between them. We have her time in prison and her time with therapists and also her flashbacks. Her mistrust of what is happening and her memories and the people around her grow as she struggles to come to terms with what is and isn't real. Is she paranoid and imaging whole realities? Could she be schizophrenic? Is there something more sinister going on?
Maria is a fantastic central character. You have total empathy with her throughout, despite not knowing for the most part her true story and reality. The book hits the ground running and doesn't relent until the final page.
I had great fun reading this story. The story may be a bit of a stretch at times, even for a conspiracy type thriller but the author had me so taken in with the style and pace of the writing and the characterisation of Maria that I didn't really care when I thought it was all getting a little too whacky. I was already hooked and to be honest the times where I thought it was getting a bit too bonkers were few and far between.
A book is all about enjoyment and I enjoyed this from the first to the last. It zips along at great pace and tells an intriguing story.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin(UK) Limited in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2015
I loved this thriller and it's unusual protagonist, Dr Maria Martinez, who has Asperger's and sees things a little differently than others. Convicted of killing a priest, she is sent to a jail in London but maintains her innocence. Heightened stress levels start to worsen her Asperger's symptoms, and she begins recalling events involving a secret project and MI5, but is unsure if they are real or a projection of her current state of mind. She starts sessions with a therapist, but soon doesn't know who she can and can not trust, and the mystery surrounding her deepens.
Full of intrigue and an involving plot, I was completely pulled into the story and am looking forward to the continuation of 'The Project' series.
*Thank you to the publishers for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Full of intrigue and an involving plot, I was completely pulled into the story and am looking forward to the continuation of 'The Project' series.
*Thank you to the publishers for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
July 22, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
This book actually took me much longer to read than usual because of the poor formatting in the ARC and I found it confusing going back and forth. Having said that I thought Maria's character was intriguing and I really felt for her throughout the book. Whilst it was rather unrealistic in parts I look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
This book actually took me much longer to read than usual because of the poor formatting in the ARC and I found it confusing going back and forth. Having said that I thought Maria's character was intriguing and I really felt for her throughout the book. Whilst it was rather unrealistic in parts I look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
June 9, 2019
Autorei izdevās ievilkt mani savos tīklos un noturēt intrigu līdz beigām. Par to viņai pluss. Vai jutos apmierināta ar Ouenas darbu? Drīzāk nē nekā jā.
Veiksmīga sižeta konstrukcija. Taču slepenā projekta daļai ārkārtīgi liela neticamības momenta un lētuma piegarša.
Dotu visas piecas zvaigznes, ja autore būtu atstājusi atvērtas beigas, kad tu nevari saprast – bija vai nebija tas slepenais projekts.
Nedaudz vairāk šeit: https://lililasa.wordpress.com/2019/0...
Veiksmīga sižeta konstrukcija. Taču slepenā projekta daļai ārkārtīgi liela neticamības momenta un lētuma piegarša.
Dotu visas piecas zvaigznes, ja autore būtu atstājusi atvērtas beigas, kad tu nevari saprast – bija vai nebija tas slepenais projekts.
Nedaudz vairāk šeit: https://lililasa.wordpress.com/2019/0...
July 31, 2015
As someone with Asperger's, I am very disappointed in this book. I was attracted to it as the main protagonist was also diagnosed as being on the spectrum, and as I went through it I became more and more frustrated with this book.
Firstly, Owen does not acknowledge any people with her research, and when it comes to any neurodevelopmental condition, I think it is incredible important to talk to diagnosed people. It makes me wonder if she ever spoke to anyone, or just read up on the Internet and flung together as many symptoms as possible.
Symptoms: flapping hands, meltdowns, anxiety, social cues missed, pragmatic language, hypersensitivity.. The list goes on. And each one seems to be at an extreme. It is possible, yes, that someone has all of these, but it seems built upon a stereotype: people with Asperger's understand no sayings, can't bear to be touched, have to write things down, are so good with mathematics and facts, meltdown a lot.
Then came the build-up to schizophrenia. Was she making everything up? Was she delusional? Imagining everything? It made me feel.. odd. Now, I'm not good at recognising emotions, and I didn't recognise how I felt about this, but I can tell you that it's a mixture of frustration and disgust. The fact that others are misled with Dr Andersson claiming she has schizophrenia, and having it be drawn out so long, while again the symptoms seemed so completely extreme. Suddenly she feels like she's hearing voices! A voice, telling her things. Which would be great, and I'm sure others enjoyed it, and from a literary sense I agree with it, but emotionally and personally I hate it.
Oh, and a note to Owen: Maria was diagnosed the year she was born? People in Europe back then barely believed girls could have Asperger's, and most had to wait until their adulthood to be assessed. Great research there.
I do not recommend this book if you/the person you want to get it for has Asperger's. If you don't have Asperger's, do not take what this book says and pin it to real people on the spectrum. We are all different, and this is just an exaggerated stereotype.
Firstly, Owen does not acknowledge any people with her research, and when it comes to any neurodevelopmental condition, I think it is incredible important to talk to diagnosed people. It makes me wonder if she ever spoke to anyone, or just read up on the Internet and flung together as many symptoms as possible.
Symptoms: flapping hands, meltdowns, anxiety, social cues missed, pragmatic language, hypersensitivity.. The list goes on. And each one seems to be at an extreme. It is possible, yes, that someone has all of these, but it seems built upon a stereotype: people with Asperger's understand no sayings, can't bear to be touched, have to write things down, are so good with mathematics and facts, meltdown a lot.
Then came the build-up to schizophrenia. Was she making everything up? Was she delusional? Imagining everything? It made me feel.. odd. Now, I'm not good at recognising emotions, and I didn't recognise how I felt about this, but I can tell you that it's a mixture of frustration and disgust. The fact that others are misled with Dr Andersson claiming she has schizophrenia, and having it be drawn out so long, while again the symptoms seemed so completely extreme. Suddenly she feels like she's hearing voices! A voice, telling her things. Which would be great, and I'm sure others enjoyed it, and from a literary sense I agree with it, but emotionally and personally I hate it.
Oh, and a note to Owen: Maria was diagnosed the year she was born? People in Europe back then barely believed girls could have Asperger's, and most had to wait until their adulthood to be assessed. Great research there.
I do not recommend this book if you/the person you want to get it for has Asperger's. If you don't have Asperger's, do not take what this book says and pin it to real people on the spectrum. We are all different, and this is just an exaggerated stereotype.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2015
Review: The Spider in the Corner of the Room by Nikki Owen Published by: MIRA (4th June 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1848453739
Synopsis:
Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder.
DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember…
A strange room. Strange people. Being watched.
As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
Review:
I received a 5 chapter sample of this book via Netgalley and became utterly engrossed in the story. I decided to buy the book so I could get to know Maria better.
I flew through the rest of the book and read it in less than 24 hours. It's a fast paced thriller with an exciting yet touching story. You cannot fail to be moved by Maria's vulnerability - she doesn't know whether she is guilty of the crime she has been incarcerated for and is convinced that everyone is conspiring against her. As the book progressed, I began to think that maybe Maria was right!
Nikki Owen's writing is so brilliantly descriptive that I got completely caught up with all the emotions. The imagery is so vivid, you can almost see, hear and smell what is happening. I'm already looking forward to her next book.
ISBN-13: 978-1848453739
Synopsis:
Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder.
DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember…
A strange room. Strange people. Being watched.
As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
Review:
I received a 5 chapter sample of this book via Netgalley and became utterly engrossed in the story. I decided to buy the book so I could get to know Maria better.
I flew through the rest of the book and read it in less than 24 hours. It's a fast paced thriller with an exciting yet touching story. You cannot fail to be moved by Maria's vulnerability - she doesn't know whether she is guilty of the crime she has been incarcerated for and is convinced that everyone is conspiring against her. As the book progressed, I began to think that maybe Maria was right!
Nikki Owen's writing is so brilliantly descriptive that I got completely caught up with all the emotions. The imagery is so vivid, you can almost see, hear and smell what is happening. I'm already looking forward to her next book.
August 10, 2016
Dr Maria Martinez has Aspergers disease. She is convicted of killing a catholic priest. She has no memory of the murder and claims she is innocent but there is DNA evidence at the scene. Then she starts to remember.
Part 1 of 3 of which are now on my reading list.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Harlequin (UK) Limited for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Part 1 of 3 of which are now on my reading list.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Harlequin (UK) Limited for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2016
I love, love, loved this book! What originally drew me to this book was the fact that the main character has Asperger's Syndrome, just like me. But this book has so many twists and turns, something new always happening. I was hooked from start to finish!
I highly recommend this book to everyone! You won't be disappointed!
I highly recommend this book to everyone! You won't be disappointed!
May 31, 2021
Das Cover gefällt mir persönlich sehr gut, es ist Überwiegend in Blau - Weiß gehalten und stellt ein Spinnennetz dar. Damit hat das Cover einen Bezug zum Buch bzw. Inhalt.
Das Buch ist in Kapitel aufgeteilt. Dabei gibt es innerhalt der Kapitel immer Perspektivwechsel. Und es herrscht ein Ich- Erzähler vor.
Der Thriller ist abwechslungsreich und auch sehr rasant geschrieben. Eine Szene jagt die nächste was das Buch natürlich super spannend sein lässt. Der Schriftstil ist einfach gehalten und sehr leicht verständlich.
Die Story ist sehr gut durchdacht und es bleibt bis zum Schluss ein Rätsel was nun wirklich geschehen ist. Dadurch steigt auch die Spannung ins Unermessliche steigen lässt. Zeitweise hatte ich etwas Probleme dem Roten Faden zu folgen, da die Geschichte doch sehr komplex ist, was aber nicht davon abhält das Buch fertig zu lesen.
Der Leser wird gezwungen etwas mit zudenken, was ich persönlich sehr schön finde, da es das ganze Buch etwas anspruchsvoll macht. Denn sonst verliert man schnell den Überblick.
Die Charaktere sind sehr gut gestaltet und jede einzelne Person in diesem Thriller ist auf seine Art und Weise interessant. Besonders komplex ist die Figur von Maria, da sie ein sehr komplexes Krankheitsbild hat, was erstmal irgendwie verarbeitet werden muss. Das ist der Autorin sehr gut gelungen und auf eine Art und Weise macht es die Protagonistin sympathisch. Auch wenn sie einen Mord begangen haben sollte.
Suspekt hingegen war ihr Therapeut namens Kurt, dieser Mann war nicht zu durchschauen, was meiner Meinung nach für einen Therapeut sehr ungewöhnlich ist.
Kurzum dieses Buch ist sehr gut gelungen, und man darf gespannt sein wie es weitergeht, da dieses Buch der Auftakt einer Trilogie ist.
Fazit
Das Buch bekommt 5 von 5 Sterne von mir. Ich habe schon lange nicht mehr ein solch komplexes ineinander verschlungenes Buch gelesen. Und es hat mir Spaß gemacht. Also eine klare Kauf - und Leseempfehlung.
Das Buch ist in Kapitel aufgeteilt. Dabei gibt es innerhalt der Kapitel immer Perspektivwechsel. Und es herrscht ein Ich- Erzähler vor.
Der Thriller ist abwechslungsreich und auch sehr rasant geschrieben. Eine Szene jagt die nächste was das Buch natürlich super spannend sein lässt. Der Schriftstil ist einfach gehalten und sehr leicht verständlich.
Die Story ist sehr gut durchdacht und es bleibt bis zum Schluss ein Rätsel was nun wirklich geschehen ist. Dadurch steigt auch die Spannung ins Unermessliche steigen lässt. Zeitweise hatte ich etwas Probleme dem Roten Faden zu folgen, da die Geschichte doch sehr komplex ist, was aber nicht davon abhält das Buch fertig zu lesen.
Der Leser wird gezwungen etwas mit zudenken, was ich persönlich sehr schön finde, da es das ganze Buch etwas anspruchsvoll macht. Denn sonst verliert man schnell den Überblick.
Die Charaktere sind sehr gut gestaltet und jede einzelne Person in diesem Thriller ist auf seine Art und Weise interessant. Besonders komplex ist die Figur von Maria, da sie ein sehr komplexes Krankheitsbild hat, was erstmal irgendwie verarbeitet werden muss. Das ist der Autorin sehr gut gelungen und auf eine Art und Weise macht es die Protagonistin sympathisch. Auch wenn sie einen Mord begangen haben sollte.
Suspekt hingegen war ihr Therapeut namens Kurt, dieser Mann war nicht zu durchschauen, was meiner Meinung nach für einen Therapeut sehr ungewöhnlich ist.
Kurzum dieses Buch ist sehr gut gelungen, und man darf gespannt sein wie es weitergeht, da dieses Buch der Auftakt einer Trilogie ist.
Fazit
Das Buch bekommt 5 von 5 Sterne von mir. Ich habe schon lange nicht mehr ein solch komplexes ineinander verschlungenes Buch gelesen. Und es hat mir Spaß gemacht. Also eine klare Kauf - und Leseempfehlung.
January 7, 2019
A MUST BUY MUST READ
Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez from Salamanca Spain has Asperger's. She is convicted of killing a priest that she no memory of doing. While she is in Goldmouth prison Maria has to go through therapy. One of the most crucial tasks that Kurt tells Dr Maria is that the therapy is supposed to help you understand yourself, to feel better. Kurt wants to find out what Maria really remembers.
What kept me reading was the curiosity of the story did Dr Maria Martinez really kill a the priest Father O'Donnell? And if she did how and why?
While Maria Martinez is in prison she has therapy where she tells Kurt some dangerous secrets. But if Dr Maria Martinez was not telling the truth to Kurt about her family and about Father Reznik a family priest then her problems would seem to be high-class ones.
The big question I asked myself through out this gripping story is who do I really believe?
At times this story was overwhelming with what Maria has gone through in life. There were times I couldn't help myself feel so sorry for her.
Just as you think you may know how the story may end it becomes more and more twisted. The Spider in the Corner of the Room is a novel that is fresh clever and dark thriller that grips you from page one and doesn't let go. This is a must buy must read.
June 9, 2015
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
What to believe, Who to betray, When to run... I first got an insight in to this book when I was granted the opportunity to read and review the first few chapters and they really gripped me. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the full book and I wasn't disappointed.
The blurb - Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder. DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember… A strange room. Strange people. Being watched. As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
The book is really detailled and goes at a good pace. The main character of Maria is great, the author has really done their research on Asperger's and it shows. The story has a lot of twists and turns and I didn't see most of them coming. This is the first book in a trilogy series 'The Project' - I can't wait for the next installment as this one left on a cliffhanger.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to believe, Who to betray, When to run... I first got an insight in to this book when I was granted the opportunity to read and review the first few chapters and they really gripped me. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the full book and I wasn't disappointed.
The blurb - Plastic surgeon Dr Maria Martinez has Asperger’s. Convicted of killing a priest, she is alone, in prison and has no memory of the murder. DNA evidence places Maria at the scene of the crime, yet she claims she’s innocent. Then she starts to remember… A strange room. Strange people. Being watched. As Maria gets closer to the truth she is drawn into a web of international intrigue and must fight not only to clear her name but to remain alive.
The book is really detailled and goes at a good pace. The main character of Maria is great, the author has really done their research on Asperger's and it shows. The story has a lot of twists and turns and I didn't see most of them coming. This is the first book in a trilogy series 'The Project' - I can't wait for the next installment as this one left on a cliffhanger.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2015
This is a story about a highly inteligent female doctor called Maria Martinez who is charged with the murder of a priest . Maria has no memory of this event but she has severe doubts about how credible her own memory is as she has lost chunks of time in her memory and has hazy memories of other events that she knows nothing about. In prison now , her Asperger's symtoms are heightened making her imprisionment and awareness of what's going on even worse. It's difficult to know who to trust when you have no idea what is real and who is telling you the truth . If you love conspiracy theories then you will really enjoy this first book in this trilogy.
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk.
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk.
March 9, 2018
Well, I don't really know what this was. It started off really strongly and then it took a complete 180, introducing and I was so confused. I admire the inclusion of a main character living with Asperger's, however; I think it could be handled differently. I didn't like how she was treated as the 'other' because of her disability. This just wasn't my jam unfortunately. I won't be picking up the sequel.
May 3, 2015
I received the first six chapters of this book via Netgalley,
The Spider in the Corner of the Room has all the makings of a really good thriller, but I’m afraid that I just couldn’t connect to the story. Perhaps my view would change if I were to read the whole book, but am not certain. Great dialogue, but the pace was too slow for my liking.
The Spider in the Corner of the Room has all the makings of a really good thriller, but I’m afraid that I just couldn’t connect to the story. Perhaps my view would change if I were to read the whole book, but am not certain. Great dialogue, but the pace was too slow for my liking.
July 28, 2015
I would like to thank Net Galley and Harlequin UK for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. It is not very often that I don't get into a book but unfortunately that was the case with this one. Maybe it's just me as plenty of people have written very positive reviews.
December 9, 2022
Horrible! L’écriture est assez pénible (peut-être dû à la traduction) et complètement vide, sans substance (aucune excuse ici). L’intrigue est forcée à la limite du possible et le tout est totalement invraisemblable. De plus, les personnages ne sont pas vraiment mieux construits. Je n’ai pas apprécié.
December 10, 2016
Audiobook - Narrated by Yolanda Kettle.
It took me a little while to get used to the narrator’s voice and narrating style, this story is told from Maria’s point of view and I thought it was odd that when the narrator (as Maria) was speaking to someone else she used an accent but when narrating Maria’s thoughts, there was no accent – do we think and speak in different voices? This is probably another reason I don’t listen to audiobooks often, I tend to think the weirdest thoughts, like should there be one person narrating the whole thing or should each character be narrated by a different person?
To the book itself, I really enjoyed the first part of the story, I found Maria to be an intriguing character, with an above average IQ due to having Asperger’s, she struggled to cope with life in prison, especially as being in the prison environment heightened her thoughts, feeling and abilities. Maria claims she’s innocent, when unknown data enters her brain (memories she’s struggling to recall) and the guards and inmates start claiming they’re there to help her/protect her, she becomes all the more determined to figure out what really happened the night the priest died and prove her innocent.
One feature I really enjoyed was Maria’s knowledge of the meaning of names, when she meets someone new, she is able to instantly tell them the origins of their name, a nice touch added in by the author.
Around the middle of the story, my interest was waning and then there was a twist that brought my full attention back to the book. I predicted the twist, as from very early on it was obvious to me where this story was going, but that didn’t bother me as I was waiting for it [the twist] to arrive as I was interested to know where the story would go after the reveal. Unfortunately, it didn’t go anywhere fast enough, the latter half of the book just didn’t grip me, I felt the pace was too slow. Towards the very end, when it came to deciding Maria’s guilt or innocence, my full attention was right back, interested and eager to know the outcome.
I appreciate the authors consistency of the character of Maria, in terms of her personality reflecting her actions, but that alone was not enough to carry the story, and at times I felt the story really dragged, with very little happening. I was in two minds whether to review this one but I decided to as I loved the concept of this story, and the first half was gripping, as was the ending. But the middle, really let this book down for me, I do wonder if I had read the book, would I have liked it more, as the parts of the story I felt were slow, I could have sped-read, whereas the narrator talked at the same pace through-out.
It took me a little while to get used to the narrator’s voice and narrating style, this story is told from Maria’s point of view and I thought it was odd that when the narrator (as Maria) was speaking to someone else she used an accent but when narrating Maria’s thoughts, there was no accent – do we think and speak in different voices? This is probably another reason I don’t listen to audiobooks often, I tend to think the weirdest thoughts, like should there be one person narrating the whole thing or should each character be narrated by a different person?
To the book itself, I really enjoyed the first part of the story, I found Maria to be an intriguing character, with an above average IQ due to having Asperger’s, she struggled to cope with life in prison, especially as being in the prison environment heightened her thoughts, feeling and abilities. Maria claims she’s innocent, when unknown data enters her brain (memories she’s struggling to recall) and the guards and inmates start claiming they’re there to help her/protect her, she becomes all the more determined to figure out what really happened the night the priest died and prove her innocent.
One feature I really enjoyed was Maria’s knowledge of the meaning of names, when she meets someone new, she is able to instantly tell them the origins of their name, a nice touch added in by the author.
Around the middle of the story, my interest was waning and then there was a twist that brought my full attention back to the book. I predicted the twist, as from very early on it was obvious to me where this story was going, but that didn’t bother me as I was waiting for it [the twist] to arrive as I was interested to know where the story would go after the reveal. Unfortunately, it didn’t go anywhere fast enough, the latter half of the book just didn’t grip me, I felt the pace was too slow. Towards the very end, when it came to deciding Maria’s guilt or innocence, my full attention was right back, interested and eager to know the outcome.
I appreciate the authors consistency of the character of Maria, in terms of her personality reflecting her actions, but that alone was not enough to carry the story, and at times I felt the story really dragged, with very little happening. I was in two minds whether to review this one but I decided to as I loved the concept of this story, and the first half was gripping, as was the ending. But the middle, really let this book down for me, I do wonder if I had read the book, would I have liked it more, as the parts of the story I felt were slow, I could have sped-read, whereas the narrator talked at the same pace through-out.
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