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Dying for Christmas
Out Christmas shopping one December afternoon, Jessica Gould meets the charming Dominic Lacey and impulsively agrees to go home with him for a drink. What follows is a Twelve Days of Christmas from hell as Lacey holds Jessica captive, forcing her to wear his missing wife’s gowns and eat lavish holiday meals. Each day he gifts her with one item from his twisted past—his dead sister’s favorite toy, disturbing family photos, a box of teeth. As the days pass and the “gifts” become darker and darker, Jessica realizes that Lacey has a plan for her, and he never intends to let her go.
But Jessica has a secret of her own … a secret that may just mean she has a chance to make it out alive.
But Jessica has a secret of her own … a secret that may just mean she has a chance to make it out alive.
393 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Tammy Cohen
26 books443 followersTammy Cohen (who was previously published under her formal name Tamar Cohen) is a freelance journalist. A late starter to fiction - and to other things besides - she has now written four novels. The Mistress's Revenge, The War of the Wives, and Someone Else's Wedding. The Broken was her first pyschological thriller, followed by Dying for Christmas. Her brand new hardback novel, First One Missing is out now.
She lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog.
She lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 731 reviews
November 17, 2016
There was something about the blurb for this book that grabbed my attention. Maybe it was that I had never read a Christmas thriller before or it could be that it sounded so intriguing. Either way, it turns out, it wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for.
The opening was strong. I was captivated. Excited. Curious. What could possibly make a woman go home with a man she just met - especially when she has a boyfriend at home? Granted the man resembled Bradley Cooper and made the requisite declaration - “I’m not some crazed axe-murder, I promise.” - but still. What did she think was going to happen when she agreed to go back to his place for a drink? I guess maybe there was a teeny tiny part of me that could accept this odd duck hunting for a little excitement in her life. Even in the face of stranger danger.
“What I was after was an experience, a memory I could store in tissue paper and take out every now and then in years to come when no one was around.”
What she ended up with was way more than a glass of wine, but wasn’t that kind of obvious? Or was it? What appears to be a captive woman, forced to spend twelve days of Christmas with a crazed stranger, morphs into something else entirely. It’s an unexpected twist; I’ll give the author that, but my attention had kind of waned by that point. I just wasn’t feeling it, if I’m being honest.
Somewhere among the gift giving and the pseudo psycho pillow talk, I got lost. Lost in the monotony and humdrum tone of the story. It was flat and kind of unexciting; my mind was wandering and the page countdown had begun. I struggled to find a connection with any of the characters - Jessica, Dominic or even Kim.
While I won’t say this was horrible or totally unenjoyable, I can’t say that it was spectacular either. It was somewhere smack in the middle for me.
*Thank you to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The opening was strong. I was captivated. Excited. Curious. What could possibly make a woman go home with a man she just met - especially when she has a boyfriend at home? Granted the man resembled Bradley Cooper and made the requisite declaration - “I’m not some crazed axe-murder, I promise.” - but still. What did she think was going to happen when she agreed to go back to his place for a drink? I guess maybe there was a teeny tiny part of me that could accept this odd duck hunting for a little excitement in her life. Even in the face of stranger danger.
“What I was after was an experience, a memory I could store in tissue paper and take out every now and then in years to come when no one was around.”
What she ended up with was way more than a glass of wine, but wasn’t that kind of obvious? Or was it? What appears to be a captive woman, forced to spend twelve days of Christmas with a crazed stranger, morphs into something else entirely. It’s an unexpected twist; I’ll give the author that, but my attention had kind of waned by that point. I just wasn’t feeling it, if I’m being honest.
Somewhere among the gift giving and the pseudo psycho pillow talk, I got lost. Lost in the monotony and humdrum tone of the story. It was flat and kind of unexciting; my mind was wandering and the page countdown had begun. I struggled to find a connection with any of the characters - Jessica, Dominic or even Kim.
While I won’t say this was horrible or totally unenjoyable, I can’t say that it was spectacular either. It was somewhere smack in the middle for me.
*Thank you to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2018
Q:
Three interesting things about me. Well, I’m twenty-nine years old, I’m phobic about buttons. Oh yes, and I’m dying.
...
Oh well, you live and learn.
Except in my case only one of those is true. (c)
Q:
We'd met at university, where he was studying medicine and I was studying social awkwardness and a catastrophic inability to cope with deadlines. (c)Q:
What, turn down the chance to talk about myself for fifty-five minutes a week? I’d have to be nuts. (c)
Q:
I nodded calmly. As though strange men were forever following me into department stores off the street. (c)
Q:
Not that my family is particularly good at presents.
Last Christmas, my parents bought me six sessions with a therapist. (c)
Q:
‘It’s not that we think there’s something wrong with you,’ Mum said, scanning my face anxiously as I examined the voucher. ‘We just want you to be the best you can be.’
‘But what if this is my best me?’
My dad laughed then as if I’d made a joke. ‘Then God help us,’ (c)
Q:
What on earth was I thinking? … And if you have to ask, you’re probably too clear-headed, too normal, not lonely enough, to understand. … What I was after was an experience, a memory I could store in tissue paper and take out every now and then in years to come when no one was around. (с)
Q:
‘Why does she have to be so weird?’ they used to ask my parents as we were growing up, as if weirdness was an eccentric jacket I’d perversely chosen to wear. (c)
Q:
… their efficient, multi-tasking wives and their Renaissance children… (c)
Q:
I suppressed my qualms and shut out my mother’s voice in my head asking what I thought I was doing. (c)
Q:
I’d spent all year trapped inside myself with only me for company. I wanted a break. I wanted to be someone else for a bit, with someone else’s life.
You’re a long time dead, I told myself.
Funny, that thought isn’t so comforting now. (c)
Q:
Everyone has secrets, don’t they? (c)
Q:
If you are what you eat, the people of Wood Green are giant walking fried chicken wings. (c)
Q:
The thing is, you never really know, when it comes to other people, what secret rooms they keep… (c)
Q:
I don’t actually do sex. … I don’t like losing control. … ‘Don’t worry,’ he said again. ‘I get my pleasure in other ways.’…
‘Gosh,’ I said, using that word for the first time in my life. ‘I can’t imagine. Do you knit? Or make exact-scale models of famous landmarks out of matchsticks?’ … (c)
Q:
I tried to summon her up in my mind, fashioning her into a rope that I could wind around my thoughts. But she was too slippery. Sliding away through the gaps in my mind. (c)
Q:
Sometimes she talks like an American self-help manual. (c)
Q:
How many assumptions do we make each day based on a total travesty of truth? I wonder. (c)
Q:
Life didn’t always take you where you thought it would. (c)
Q:
the cold literally snatched the breath from my lungs, but I also felt an exhilaration I hadn’t felt for a long time. I looked at the sun reflecting gold and silver off the river, and the glittering Shard, soaring up into the sky. I watched the distant cars on the bridge, and noticed how every now and then one of them would explode like a fire cracker when a ray of sunlight bounced off its bonnet. It was all so beautiful. (c)
Q:
If I just find the right combination in my mind, surely I can unlock the door in time and space that’ll lead me back to the life I had before. (c)
Q:
Possibility. Unlikely. I crave certainty. As long as certainty is in my favour. (c)
Q:
Whoever worked life out got the design all wrong, it seems to her. (c)
Three interesting things about me. Well, I’m twenty-nine years old, I’m phobic about buttons. Oh yes, and I’m dying.
...
Oh well, you live and learn.
Except in my case only one of those is true. (c)
Q:
We'd met at university, where he was studying medicine and I was studying social awkwardness and a catastrophic inability to cope with deadlines. (c)Q:
What, turn down the chance to talk about myself for fifty-five minutes a week? I’d have to be nuts. (c)
Q:
I nodded calmly. As though strange men were forever following me into department stores off the street. (c)
Q:
Not that my family is particularly good at presents.
Last Christmas, my parents bought me six sessions with a therapist. (c)
Q:
‘It’s not that we think there’s something wrong with you,’ Mum said, scanning my face anxiously as I examined the voucher. ‘We just want you to be the best you can be.’
‘But what if this is my best me?’
My dad laughed then as if I’d made a joke. ‘Then God help us,’ (c)
Q:
What on earth was I thinking? … And if you have to ask, you’re probably too clear-headed, too normal, not lonely enough, to understand. … What I was after was an experience, a memory I could store in tissue paper and take out every now and then in years to come when no one was around. (с)
Q:
‘Why does she have to be so weird?’ they used to ask my parents as we were growing up, as if weirdness was an eccentric jacket I’d perversely chosen to wear. (c)
Q:
… their efficient, multi-tasking wives and their Renaissance children… (c)
Q:
I suppressed my qualms and shut out my mother’s voice in my head asking what I thought I was doing. (c)
Q:
I’d spent all year trapped inside myself with only me for company. I wanted a break. I wanted to be someone else for a bit, with someone else’s life.
You’re a long time dead, I told myself.
Funny, that thought isn’t so comforting now. (c)
Q:
Everyone has secrets, don’t they? (c)
Q:
If you are what you eat, the people of Wood Green are giant walking fried chicken wings. (c)
Q:
The thing is, you never really know, when it comes to other people, what secret rooms they keep… (c)
Q:
I don’t actually do sex. … I don’t like losing control. … ‘Don’t worry,’ he said again. ‘I get my pleasure in other ways.’…
‘Gosh,’ I said, using that word for the first time in my life. ‘I can’t imagine. Do you knit? Or make exact-scale models of famous landmarks out of matchsticks?’ … (c)
Q:
I tried to summon her up in my mind, fashioning her into a rope that I could wind around my thoughts. But she was too slippery. Sliding away through the gaps in my mind. (c)
Q:
Sometimes she talks like an American self-help manual. (c)
Q:
How many assumptions do we make each day based on a total travesty of truth? I wonder. (c)
Q:
Life didn’t always take you where you thought it would. (c)
Q:
the cold literally snatched the breath from my lungs, but I also felt an exhilaration I hadn’t felt for a long time. I looked at the sun reflecting gold and silver off the river, and the glittering Shard, soaring up into the sky. I watched the distant cars on the bridge, and noticed how every now and then one of them would explode like a fire cracker when a ray of sunlight bounced off its bonnet. It was all so beautiful. (c)
Q:
If I just find the right combination in my mind, surely I can unlock the door in time and space that’ll lead me back to the life I had before. (c)
Q:
Possibility. Unlikely. I crave certainty. As long as certainty is in my favour. (c)
Q:
Whoever worked life out got the design all wrong, it seems to her. (c)
December 16, 2016
Find my reviews on my blog: https://thesuspenseisthrillingme.com
Date Read: 11/14/16
Pub Date(US): 11/22/16
4 STARS
Out Christmas shopping one December afternoon, Jessica Gould meets the charming Dominic Lacey and impulsively agrees to go home with him for a drink. What follows is a Twelve Days of Christmas from hell as Lacey holds Jessica captive, forcing her to wear his missing wife’s gowns and eat lavish holiday meals. Each day he gifts her with one item from his twisted past—his dead sister’s favorite toy, disturbing family photos, a box of teeth. As the days pass and the “gifts” become darker and darker, Jessica realizes that Lacey has a plan for her, and he never intends to let her go.
But Jessica has a secret of her own … a secret that may just mean she has a chance to make it out alive.
I feel as though this should be a brief review, as you want to go into this one knowing the least amount possible. Tammy Cohen has won me over with two of her books so far and for good reason; she clearly knows how to write a stunning thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I read this one in two sittings over the course of one morning because I simply couldn't put it down.
The characters are clearly not to be trusted-not a single one. (Also, I'm finding I shouldn't be trusted to write reviews while sick with a cold and on medication. Hehe.) The book is divided into two parts; the first is Jessica's disappearance and the second follows the investigation by Kim. A few bits were done by the book and easily seen from far away, but I think the main "twist" will get most people and cause them to finish the book with gusto.
While this is a fantastic Christmas read, and I do highly recommend reading it around such time, it's not necessary to enjoy the book. Perhaps including it in a "Christmas in July" reading would work just as well. I'm so pleased I was given an early copy (for US publication) as now I was able to catch up with my friends over the pond who have read this awhile back. Tammy, you are one twisted woman and I adore you! Special shout out to my TBC friends who put this one on my radar so that I looked it up. Highly recommended to all thriller fans; what a rare treat to find something so thrilling with a holiday theme!
*Many thanks to Pegasus Books for providing my copy; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
Date Read: 11/14/16
Pub Date(US): 11/22/16
4 STARS
Out Christmas shopping one December afternoon, Jessica Gould meets the charming Dominic Lacey and impulsively agrees to go home with him for a drink. What follows is a Twelve Days of Christmas from hell as Lacey holds Jessica captive, forcing her to wear his missing wife’s gowns and eat lavish holiday meals. Each day he gifts her with one item from his twisted past—his dead sister’s favorite toy, disturbing family photos, a box of teeth. As the days pass and the “gifts” become darker and darker, Jessica realizes that Lacey has a plan for her, and he never intends to let her go.
But Jessica has a secret of her own … a secret that may just mean she has a chance to make it out alive.
I feel as though this should be a brief review, as you want to go into this one knowing the least amount possible. Tammy Cohen has won me over with two of her books so far and for good reason; she clearly knows how to write a stunning thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I read this one in two sittings over the course of one morning because I simply couldn't put it down.
The characters are clearly not to be trusted-not a single one. (Also, I'm finding I shouldn't be trusted to write reviews while sick with a cold and on medication. Hehe.) The book is divided into two parts; the first is Jessica's disappearance and the second follows the investigation by Kim. A few bits were done by the book and easily seen from far away, but I think the main "twist" will get most people and cause them to finish the book with gusto.
While this is a fantastic Christmas read, and I do highly recommend reading it around such time, it's not necessary to enjoy the book. Perhaps including it in a "Christmas in July" reading would work just as well. I'm so pleased I was given an early copy (for US publication) as now I was able to catch up with my friends over the pond who have read this awhile back. Tammy, you are one twisted woman and I adore you! Special shout out to my TBC friends who put this one on my radar so that I looked it up. Highly recommended to all thriller fans; what a rare treat to find something so thrilling with a holiday theme!
*Many thanks to Pegasus Books for providing my copy; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
December 6, 2016
DYING FOR CHRISTMAS by Tammy Cohen is one twisted dark psychological Christmas read.
“I am missing. Held captive by a blue-eyed stranger. To mark the twelve days of Christmas, he gives me a gift every day, each more horrible than the last. The twelfth day is getting closer. After that, there'll be no more Christmas cheer for me. No mince pies, no carols. No way out.
But I have a secret. No-one has guessed it. Will you?”
While Jessica Gold is out doing some Christmas shopping, she meets a stranger…who has been following her and when she stops for a cappuccino, he moves in and talks to her.
“I hope you don’t mind I’m not some crazed axe-murderer, I promise.”
He asks her if she has a boyfriend, but she lied and said, “no one special.” But why would she say that…Jessica has a live-in boyfriend, Travis, even though their relationship is going through difficult times. Jessica accepts an invitation to go back to Dominic’s place for a drink?
“What would possess an educated young woman, well versed in the perils of strange danger-a young woman with a long-term boyfriend-to get in a car with a man she’d only just met?”
“She wanted an experience, a memory, she could store away-a break.”
And then the nightmare starts! Dominic takes her to his flat and holds her hostage, forcing her to sleep in a dog crate, subject to his manipulative and revolting ways. All the rooms were locked. Dominic tells Jessica that she will be his guest over the 12 days of Christmas- from now until Jan6th. (Epiphany)
And there is 12 presents under the tree…one for every day. He had thought of everything…It was all planned!
But as time goes by, Jessica realises that he will never let her go! How can she escape?
This novel is written in two main parts. Part One deals with Jessica's abduction and ordeal. Part Two deals with the police investigation, of Jessica’s disappearance under Detective Kim Harper.
The plot is complex, twisting and turning until you are not sure what end is up. Nothing is what it seems. The last lines of the book blew me away!!! Still thinking about it.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
“I am missing. Held captive by a blue-eyed stranger. To mark the twelve days of Christmas, he gives me a gift every day, each more horrible than the last. The twelfth day is getting closer. After that, there'll be no more Christmas cheer for me. No mince pies, no carols. No way out.
But I have a secret. No-one has guessed it. Will you?”
While Jessica Gold is out doing some Christmas shopping, she meets a stranger…who has been following her and when she stops for a cappuccino, he moves in and talks to her.
“I hope you don’t mind I’m not some crazed axe-murderer, I promise.”
He asks her if she has a boyfriend, but she lied and said, “no one special.” But why would she say that…Jessica has a live-in boyfriend, Travis, even though their relationship is going through difficult times. Jessica accepts an invitation to go back to Dominic’s place for a drink?
“What would possess an educated young woman, well versed in the perils of strange danger-a young woman with a long-term boyfriend-to get in a car with a man she’d only just met?”
“She wanted an experience, a memory, she could store away-a break.”
And then the nightmare starts! Dominic takes her to his flat and holds her hostage, forcing her to sleep in a dog crate, subject to his manipulative and revolting ways. All the rooms were locked. Dominic tells Jessica that she will be his guest over the 12 days of Christmas- from now until Jan6th. (Epiphany)
And there is 12 presents under the tree…one for every day. He had thought of everything…It was all planned!
But as time goes by, Jessica realises that he will never let her go! How can she escape?
This novel is written in two main parts. Part One deals with Jessica's abduction and ordeal. Part Two deals with the police investigation, of Jessica’s disappearance under Detective Kim Harper.
The plot is complex, twisting and turning until you are not sure what end is up. Nothing is what it seems. The last lines of the book blew me away!!! Still thinking about it.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
Read
December 26, 2016The Hook - Fa la la la la, la la la la from some of my GR friends. Yes, they made a list and I checked it twice, I soon found out this book was naughty, not nice.
The Line - ”If only she could pickle this moment and put it in a jar.”
The Sinker - The first clue is the title itself. What can you expect when you put the words dying and Christmas on the cover? This is no ho, ho, ho, Santa Claus is coming to Town story, you can bet your sweet sugar cookies on this. What you will get is one darn good psychological tale of evil.
Imagine you and your live in mate are having a slow time and you’re doubting his undivided love for you. Things are just stale when you meet a charming guy in a café where you’re taking a break from Christmas shopping. One thing leads to another and he invites you to his flat for a drink. ”My car is right here” and ”Anyway, it is Christmas” Circle back to the opening sentence of the book. ”Chances are by the time you finish reading this, I’ll be dead>”. Meet Jessica Gold and Dominic Lacey.
It doesn’t take many smarts to know Jessica is in serious trouble. Dominic has a 12 Days of Gifting Christmas in mind that is twisted and sick. This is one dark Christmas story with great character study and a fast placed plot.
Thank heavens I balanced this with some cozier mysteries of the season before picking this one up. If you need a creepy thriller to deck your halls Dying for Christmas just might be the one.
The Line - ”If only she could pickle this moment and put it in a jar.”
The Sinker - The first clue is the title itself. What can you expect when you put the words dying and Christmas on the cover? This is no ho, ho, ho, Santa Claus is coming to Town story, you can bet your sweet sugar cookies on this. What you will get is one darn good psychological tale of evil.
Imagine you and your live in mate are having a slow time and you’re doubting his undivided love for you. Things are just stale when you meet a charming guy in a café where you’re taking a break from Christmas shopping. One thing leads to another and he invites you to his flat for a drink. ”My car is right here” and ”Anyway, it is Christmas” Circle back to the opening sentence of the book. ”Chances are by the time you finish reading this, I’ll be dead>”. Meet Jessica Gold and Dominic Lacey.
It doesn’t take many smarts to know Jessica is in serious trouble. Dominic has a 12 Days of Gifting Christmas in mind that is twisted and sick. This is one dark Christmas story with great character study and a fast placed plot.
Thank heavens I balanced this with some cozier mysteries of the season before picking this one up. If you need a creepy thriller to deck your halls Dying for Christmas just might be the one.
November 15, 2016
This was my first Tammy Cohen book. I understand she's a highly liked psychological-thriller author. I just think this was probably not her best work.
It started off quite promising and I just had to read it to find out the "truth" until the very end. It had a lot of loops and turns along the way...sort of half way it lost me a bit. Almost like it tried too hard to play with your mind.
I thought it was still a pretty descent enough book but not a great thriller. It leaves you thinking and that's what I like.
Thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Copy.
It started off quite promising and I just had to read it to find out the "truth" until the very end. It had a lot of loops and turns along the way...sort of half way it lost me a bit. Almost like it tried too hard to play with your mind.
I thought it was still a pretty descent enough book but not a great thriller. It leaves you thinking and that's what I like.
Thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Copy.
February 8, 2016
5 Words: Christmas, kidnap, deceit, revenge, torture.
Wow. This book.
Talk about an unreliable narrator!
I loved Jessica. I loved how when I got to the end of part one, I could have happily put the book down. But that second half? It blew my mind.
Now, I love Christmas. And I love crime. But I've never really read a good mix of the two, despite a year-on-year search. That was until I picked up this gem. Honestly? I didn't even read the blurb. If I had though, I would still have picked it up, because this book is right up my street. I only picked it up because of the mix of genres and the stunning cover.
This is a book that makes you stop and think. It messes with your head. As much as Dominic messes with Jessica in the first half of the book, Tammy Cohen messes with yours all through the second half. And it's brilliant.
I'd love to read more about Kim - she might not have been the main character, but I love, love, LOVED her story and really want to know how it all ended for her.
This isn't a book about the warm, fuzzy Christmas feels. But it is still a book about family and relationships and how they are particularly poignant and tense during the festive season.
Wow. This book.
Talk about an unreliable narrator!
I loved Jessica. I loved how when I got to the end of part one, I could have happily put the book down. But that second half? It blew my mind.
Now, I love Christmas. And I love crime. But I've never really read a good mix of the two, despite a year-on-year search. That was until I picked up this gem. Honestly? I didn't even read the blurb. If I had though, I would still have picked it up, because this book is right up my street. I only picked it up because of the mix of genres and the stunning cover.
This is a book that makes you stop and think. It messes with your head. As much as Dominic messes with Jessica in the first half of the book, Tammy Cohen messes with yours all through the second half. And it's brilliant.
I'd love to read more about Kim - she might not have been the main character, but I love, love, LOVED her story and really want to know how it all ended for her.
This isn't a book about the warm, fuzzy Christmas feels. But it is still a book about family and relationships and how they are particularly poignant and tense during the festive season.
April 6, 2020
As far as domestic thrillers go this one was quite refreshing in many ways, none of which I'm going to tell you about though as thrillers are best going into blind (folded) .... yes you've got me, we have a very dominant character in this book!
By the title I was hoping this was going to be a seasonal read but you could read this any time of the year, theres very little Christmas here.
I can't say I liked any of the characters however this book is entirely plot driven so it wasn't really necessary to like any of them. I felt disappointed in Kim though, with all the female leads being slightly off the wall I felt she let the side down with her final decision to conform.
All in all a good solid thriller with a few twists that had me turning the pages back to be sure I wasn't going insane and that will probably be more memorable than most.
Three stars.
By the title I was hoping this was going to be a seasonal read but you could read this any time of the year, theres very little Christmas here.
I can't say I liked any of the characters however this book is entirely plot driven so it wasn't really necessary to like any of them. I felt disappointed in Kim though, with all the female leads being slightly off the wall I felt she let the side down with her final decision to conform.
All in all a good solid thriller with a few twists that had me turning the pages back to be sure I wasn't going insane and that will probably be more memorable than most.
Three stars.
November 22, 2016
This was an extremely twisty-turny psychological thriller. The first 60% were brilliant, then I felt a bit cheated but can't explain why without giving too much of the plot away. However, once I got over that, I did enjoy the remainder of the story again, although not as much as the first part, and I appreciated the ending which played out differently to what I had anticipated (and probably hoped for) but which was actually quite clever. The entire plot is full of twists and turns that made my head spin. It's certainly a bit on the far-fetched spectrum at times, but it was so entertaining that I managed to overlook that aspect this time. You may not want to read this on a full stomach though, I found some of the scenes rather nauseating. But then there were also bits that were actually truly funny if you like dark humor I guess.
There are two perspectives. Firstly, there is Jessica who decides to go to Dominic's place on Christmas Eve after he pledges he is "not some crazed axe-murderer", yeah right. That may or may not be true but the very charming Dominic has some seriously outlandish ideas of how he is going to spend the Twelve Days of Christmas in the company of Jessica.
Then secondly, there is Kim, an ambitious detective as well as a wife and mother, who is forced to choose between her career and her family due to her unsupportive husband Sean, who really annoyed me. Kim is part of the investigating team called in when Jessica's boyfriend, Travis, with whom Jessica has been in a rather passionless but long-term relationship, and her family, who describe Jessica as "quirky" and "weird", report her missing.
Overall, an exciting and surprising read, my first book by Tammy Cohen, and I look forward to more.
I chose to read this ARC provided by NetGalley and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
There are two perspectives. Firstly, there is Jessica who decides to go to Dominic's place on Christmas Eve after he pledges he is "not some crazed axe-murderer", yeah right. That may or may not be true but the very charming Dominic has some seriously outlandish ideas of how he is going to spend the Twelve Days of Christmas in the company of Jessica.
Then secondly, there is Kim, an ambitious detective as well as a wife and mother, who is forced to choose between her career and her family due to her unsupportive husband Sean, who really annoyed me. Kim is part of the investigating team called in when Jessica's boyfriend, Travis, with whom Jessica has been in a rather passionless but long-term relationship, and her family, who describe Jessica as "quirky" and "weird", report her missing.
Overall, an exciting and surprising read, my first book by Tammy Cohen, and I look forward to more.
I chose to read this ARC provided by NetGalley and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
December 2, 2020
With so few psychological thrillers set around the festive period it seemed that Tammy Cohen had stuck gold with this seasonal piece.
The story focuses on Jessica Gold who's being held prisoner during the 12 days of christmas, he capture Dominic Lacey had charmed her into his flat and with each day precedes to give her a gift.
Each day becoming more and more tortures as her presents get progressively worst, I kept wondering if there was some significance behind them - especially the tattoo.
The book had been marketed as King's Misery but I was getting a strong Saw like vibe.
So it was a shame that the second part changed focus and started dealing more with the police procedural aspect of a missing persons case.
Without giving too much away it just didnt really feel christmassy anymore.
Interestingly the first half could quite easily just be a short novella in it's own right and makes up for the underwhelming conclusion.
The story focuses on Jessica Gold who's being held prisoner during the 12 days of christmas, he capture Dominic Lacey had charmed her into his flat and with each day precedes to give her a gift.
Each day becoming more and more tortures as her presents get progressively worst, I kept wondering if there was some significance behind them - especially the tattoo.
The book had been marketed as King's Misery but I was getting a strong Saw like vibe.
So it was a shame that the second part changed focus and started dealing more with the police procedural aspect of a missing persons case.
Without giving too much away it just didnt really feel christmassy anymore.
Interestingly the first half could quite easily just be a short novella in it's own right and makes up for the underwhelming conclusion.
November 16, 2014
“I am missing. Held captive by a blue-eyed stranger. To mark the twelve days of Christmas, he gives me a gift every day, each more horrible than the last.”
My favourite kind of literary evil is full of charm, smooth talking, quietly voiced, sharp dressed and smiling. That is exactly what Tammy Cohen has delivered here in the form of Dominic Lacey, with a dimple to boot! This is a man who just oozes menace with a smile.
Our first narrator, Jessica, is fascinating to read about. In the words of her brothers she is “weird” and there are certainly hidden depths to her that are revealed as the story progresses. If you can get past the dumb action that puts her in the position she finds herself in at the start of the book, then she is fascinating to read about.
Investigating the case of Jessica’s disappearance, policewoman Kim has her own problems to deal with. She is ambitious, yearning for promotion and hopes that solving this case will catapult her up the career ladder. If that happens though, she is almost certain to lose what is left of her family life. Career or family? That is her choice throughout the book.
The plot is complex, very detailed and intricate, twisting and turning and twisting and turning again until your head is spinning trying to keep up with it all. I love a good psychological drama, especially one where the author keeps pulling the rug out from under my feet time and time again throughout the read.
I was drawn into this read from the very first line and then hooked completely until I got to the very end, which I would call more “inferred” than anything else, although extremely satisfying and one which had me nodding my head in approval as all the loose ends came together. I loved it!
If you want a really good, dark, chilling, creepy psychological thriller/drama which keeps you on your toes, then I would highly recommend this read. Many, many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
My favourite kind of literary evil is full of charm, smooth talking, quietly voiced, sharp dressed and smiling. That is exactly what Tammy Cohen has delivered here in the form of Dominic Lacey, with a dimple to boot! This is a man who just oozes menace with a smile.
Our first narrator, Jessica, is fascinating to read about. In the words of her brothers she is “weird” and there are certainly hidden depths to her that are revealed as the story progresses. If you can get past the dumb action that puts her in the position she finds herself in at the start of the book, then she is fascinating to read about.
Investigating the case of Jessica’s disappearance, policewoman Kim has her own problems to deal with. She is ambitious, yearning for promotion and hopes that solving this case will catapult her up the career ladder. If that happens though, she is almost certain to lose what is left of her family life. Career or family? That is her choice throughout the book.
The plot is complex, very detailed and intricate, twisting and turning and twisting and turning again until your head is spinning trying to keep up with it all. I love a good psychological drama, especially one where the author keeps pulling the rug out from under my feet time and time again throughout the read.
I was drawn into this read from the very first line and then hooked completely until I got to the very end, which I would call more “inferred” than anything else, although extremely satisfying and one which had me nodding my head in approval as all the loose ends came together. I loved it!
If you want a really good, dark, chilling, creepy psychological thriller/drama which keeps you on your toes, then I would highly recommend this read. Many, many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
October 15, 2016
While out Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve Jessica Gould meets an intriguing man, Dominic Lacey, and ends up agreeing to go home with him for a drink. As soon as Jessica is alone with Dominic she immediately regrets her decision and begins to fear for what she has gotten herself into.
Jessica finds herself locked in Dominic's apartment with no means of escape as she slowly comes to realize that he has no plans of letting her go. Over the course of the next twelve days Jessica learns just what a sick and twisted game Dominic has planned. But Jessica has plans of her own that just may help her make it out alive.
What can I say about Dying for Christmas? This was one sick and twisted psychological thriller from start to finish that I just didn't want to put down. The book will surprise readers and keep them on their toes throughout because as soon as you think you know what is going to happen in this one it never fails to surprise.
Without giving away any spoilers I hope I will say there are two parts to this story. Just as one ends it's like beginning a whole new book with a different plot and grabs your attention right back into the read with even more twists to keep the pages turning.
Overall, dark and disturbing situations with a twisted plot but one heck of a ride from start to finish.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Jessica finds herself locked in Dominic's apartment with no means of escape as she slowly comes to realize that he has no plans of letting her go. Over the course of the next twelve days Jessica learns just what a sick and twisted game Dominic has planned. But Jessica has plans of her own that just may help her make it out alive.
What can I say about Dying for Christmas? This was one sick and twisted psychological thriller from start to finish that I just didn't want to put down. The book will surprise readers and keep them on their toes throughout because as soon as you think you know what is going to happen in this one it never fails to surprise.
Without giving away any spoilers I hope I will say there are two parts to this story. Just as one ends it's like beginning a whole new book with a different plot and grabs your attention right back into the read with even more twists to keep the pages turning.
Overall, dark and disturbing situations with a twisted plot but one heck of a ride from start to finish.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
March 11, 2018
I have a feeling that 2015 will be a good year for the psychological thriller category. I have already read some real winners so far. Let's toss this one into that box of goodies. This is the Christmas you don't want to have (unless you are really messed up or lunch with your Mother-In-Law is a worse option).
I am missing. Held captive by a blue-eyed stranger. To mark the twelve days of Christmas, he gives me a gift every day, each more horrible than the last. The twelfth day is getting closer. After that, there'll be no more Christmas cheer for me. No mince pies, no carols. No way out .
But I have a secret. No-one has guessed it. Will you?
Indeed, will you?
Meet Jessica Gold. Out Christmas shopping alone one day. Festive atmosphere all around. Decides to stop to warm up with a coffee in a coffee shop. Talks to a handsome man called Dominic. Accepts an invite to go back to his place. Big, big mistake.
Dominic and Jessica play a game, a dark game. Dominic gives Jessica a gift for each of the twelve days of Christmas, but these are not nice presents and the whole first half of the book messes with your head.
The pace is super, the plot is tight and really very interesting. Dominic is manipulative and evil, he has no remorse and Jessica is trapped in his apartment caught in his web. But why?
The second half of the book has a whole different focus and I am not going to share what it is at it will honestly spoil the fun for you. I have to admit the twists and turns were so many and so sharp in the latter half of the book that my brain started to need breaks, to process what had just happened. It's very clever twisting and turning. I wanted to love the last half of the book but have to say personally I preferred the focus of the first.
By the end you realise you have been caught up in one hell of a journey and Tammy Cohen has taken you on a roller coaster ride filled with magic mirrors, false walls and a maze or two until you are spat out the other end. Read it whilst fully alert. 4 stars.
I received an ARC of this book thanks to the publisher in exchange for an honest review, many thanks.
I am missing. Held captive by a blue-eyed stranger. To mark the twelve days of Christmas, he gives me a gift every day, each more horrible than the last. The twelfth day is getting closer. After that, there'll be no more Christmas cheer for me. No mince pies, no carols. No way out .
But I have a secret. No-one has guessed it. Will you?
Indeed, will you?
Meet Jessica Gold. Out Christmas shopping alone one day. Festive atmosphere all around. Decides to stop to warm up with a coffee in a coffee shop. Talks to a handsome man called Dominic. Accepts an invite to go back to his place. Big, big mistake.
Dominic and Jessica play a game, a dark game. Dominic gives Jessica a gift for each of the twelve days of Christmas, but these are not nice presents and the whole first half of the book messes with your head.
The pace is super, the plot is tight and really very interesting. Dominic is manipulative and evil, he has no remorse and Jessica is trapped in his apartment caught in his web. But why?
The second half of the book has a whole different focus and I am not going to share what it is at it will honestly spoil the fun for you. I have to admit the twists and turns were so many and so sharp in the latter half of the book that my brain started to need breaks, to process what had just happened. It's very clever twisting and turning. I wanted to love the last half of the book but have to say personally I preferred the focus of the first.
By the end you realise you have been caught up in one hell of a journey and Tammy Cohen has taken you on a roller coaster ride filled with magic mirrors, false walls and a maze or two until you are spat out the other end. Read it whilst fully alert. 4 stars.
I received an ARC of this book thanks to the publisher in exchange for an honest review, many thanks.
December 8, 2016
I did enjoy this book even though the premise of the story in the beginning was rather unbelievable. The book is split into what happened and then the investigation into this. Moves fast, keep me turning the pages and will read more of this author.
February 6, 2017
"I am missing. Held captive by a blue-eyed stranger. To mark the twelve days of Christmas, he gives me a gift every day, each more horrible than the last. The twelfth day is getting closer. After that, there'll be no more Christmas cheer for me. No mince pies, no carols. No way out."
If you like the idea of reading a creepy psychological thriller at Christmas then this one is for you. Told in two quite different halves, the first describes the abduction of a young woman called Jessica Gold while Christmas shopping by a tall, dark, handsome stranger who turns out to be an evil sociopath. Narrated by Jessica herself she describes her twelve days of incarceration and strange torture at the hands of her abductor, Dominic Lacey. Jessica is an unusual woman herself; so much so that the detective investigating the case has difficulty getting a picture of her and her family and boyfriend are not much help.
The second half of the book is entirely different as the police try to piece together what actually happened over the twelve days of Christmas that Jessica was held captive. There are a lot of secrets amongst all the members of the cast and many twists and turns before the true picture comes into view. This one really hooked me in and didn't let go until the end.
[PS. The cover has nothing to do with the book whatsoever. There is no girl in a red coat running towards trees in heavy snow. The novel is set in London at Christmas when more than a light sprinkling of snow would be unusual.]
If you like the idea of reading a creepy psychological thriller at Christmas then this one is for you. Told in two quite different halves, the first describes the abduction of a young woman called Jessica Gold while Christmas shopping by a tall, dark, handsome stranger who turns out to be an evil sociopath. Narrated by Jessica herself she describes her twelve days of incarceration and strange torture at the hands of her abductor, Dominic Lacey. Jessica is an unusual woman herself; so much so that the detective investigating the case has difficulty getting a picture of her and her family and boyfriend are not much help.
The second half of the book is entirely different as the police try to piece together what actually happened over the twelve days of Christmas that Jessica was held captive. There are a lot of secrets amongst all the members of the cast and many twists and turns before the true picture comes into view. This one really hooked me in and didn't let go until the end.
[PS. The cover has nothing to do with the book whatsoever. There is no girl in a red coat running towards trees in heavy snow. The novel is set in London at Christmas when more than a light sprinkling of snow would be unusual.]
December 16, 2014
Jessica Gold sits down for a rest from her shopping one Christmas Eve in a busy café, when a very attractive man sits opposite her. His name is Dominic Lacey and, when she realises he is flirting, Jessica is tempted. Her boyfriend Travis seems to be going through the motions in their relationship and to her parents and older, married, brothers, Jessica is always seen as the outsider – slightly strange, even weird. At first, it seems like an adventure when Dominic invites her home. She is soon about to discover why you should never accept a lift from a stranger…
This is an exciting thriller, about a woman kept prisoner by an obviously deranged and sadistic killer. Everything is ready for Jessica; from food stacked in the freezer to twelve boxed presents under the tree. As events unfold, we hear of how Jessica’s family and boyfriend view her disappearance and follow the search for her. It is Christmas, but for some – like those on the police force – there are no holidays. Kim, as always, struggles between the demands of her job and her unsupportive husband, Sean. If she follows her career ambitions she could end up losing her husband and family and, meanwhile, time is running out for Jessica.
Dying for Christmas will appeal to anyone who enjoys and tense and exciting thriller. It has endless plot twists and turns, a wonderfully evil and handsome criminal and a funny and feisty lead character in Jessica. Nothing is what it seems, but there are some great scenes in this book which will make you cringe and one liners which will make you laugh out loud. A very entertaining read and an excellent crime novel.
This is an exciting thriller, about a woman kept prisoner by an obviously deranged and sadistic killer. Everything is ready for Jessica; from food stacked in the freezer to twelve boxed presents under the tree. As events unfold, we hear of how Jessica’s family and boyfriend view her disappearance and follow the search for her. It is Christmas, but for some – like those on the police force – there are no holidays. Kim, as always, struggles between the demands of her job and her unsupportive husband, Sean. If she follows her career ambitions she could end up losing her husband and family and, meanwhile, time is running out for Jessica.
Dying for Christmas will appeal to anyone who enjoys and tense and exciting thriller. It has endless plot twists and turns, a wonderfully evil and handsome criminal and a funny and feisty lead character in Jessica. Nothing is what it seems, but there are some great scenes in this book which will make you cringe and one liners which will make you laugh out loud. A very entertaining read and an excellent crime novel.
May 11, 2016
This book sounded great by the blurb had me in the beginning but the plot was just too unbelievable i could not connect with Jessica & Dominic at all it didn't get to any great heights for me unfortunately as i had this on my TBR list for a while was totally bored & disappointed.
December 13, 2017
3.5 I was hooked for the first half and then it lost me. I didn't connect with any of the characters and just found myself trying to get the second half finished. 4 for 1st half, 3 for 2nd half.
November 28, 2014
**4.5 stars**
Loved this clever and addictive little twisty turny tale of kidnap and torture during the season of goodwill. WAY too much fun and glitter in Christmas for my taste, I like a little bit of the dark side and Tammy Cohen has given us a perfect way to offset all the bright lights and Coca Cola adverts.
When Jessica Gould meets the charming Dominic Lacey whilst out Christmas shopping she impulsively agrees to go home with him for a drink. Once there however, it becomes clear that he intends for her to stay and she ends up stuck in a nightmare from which she fears she will not escape..
This is fairly fast paced, often horrific, but with such great characters (Dominic is scarily brilliant) that you can cope with the trauma, it is a tale of two halves. The first half deals with Jessica’s ordeal which is at turns grimly ironic and at others painfully descriptive, often causing a shiver – for the whole of that portion of the journey I was transfixed. The second half reveals a deeper insight into Jessica, and thats when you REALLY start turning those pages desperate to know what the final outcome will be.
Two extremely fascinating and well drawn characters here, a kind of clash of the psychological titans, neither of them honestly likeable (well if you LIKE Dominic I’m worried for you but he is compelling all the same) where neither one is clear cut and both have separate yet very damaging issues. It makes it a tour de force of a read in that you really do not know what is coming next and Ms Cohen manages to get you looking one way when really you should have been paying attention elsewhere – intelligent plotting and brilliantly sparkling prose. Perfect for Christmas.
Overall a great read especially if you’ve had enough of rainbows and kittens, this one will draw you in and spit you out later thanking everyone that all you have to worry about this Christmas is timing cooking of the Christmas dinner right – something incidentally I’ve never yet managed to achieve!
Terrific. Highly Recommended.
**Interview with the author here:**
http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbook...
Loved this clever and addictive little twisty turny tale of kidnap and torture during the season of goodwill. WAY too much fun and glitter in Christmas for my taste, I like a little bit of the dark side and Tammy Cohen has given us a perfect way to offset all the bright lights and Coca Cola adverts.
When Jessica Gould meets the charming Dominic Lacey whilst out Christmas shopping she impulsively agrees to go home with him for a drink. Once there however, it becomes clear that he intends for her to stay and she ends up stuck in a nightmare from which she fears she will not escape..
This is fairly fast paced, often horrific, but with such great characters (Dominic is scarily brilliant) that you can cope with the trauma, it is a tale of two halves. The first half deals with Jessica’s ordeal which is at turns grimly ironic and at others painfully descriptive, often causing a shiver – for the whole of that portion of the journey I was transfixed. The second half reveals a deeper insight into Jessica, and thats when you REALLY start turning those pages desperate to know what the final outcome will be.
Two extremely fascinating and well drawn characters here, a kind of clash of the psychological titans, neither of them honestly likeable (well if you LIKE Dominic I’m worried for you but he is compelling all the same) where neither one is clear cut and both have separate yet very damaging issues. It makes it a tour de force of a read in that you really do not know what is coming next and Ms Cohen manages to get you looking one way when really you should have been paying attention elsewhere – intelligent plotting and brilliantly sparkling prose. Perfect for Christmas.
Overall a great read especially if you’ve had enough of rainbows and kittens, this one will draw you in and spit you out later thanking everyone that all you have to worry about this Christmas is timing cooking of the Christmas dinner right – something incidentally I’ve never yet managed to achieve!
Terrific. Highly Recommended.
**Interview with the author here:**
http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbook...
November 24, 2015
This is a dark psychological thriller.
It is written in two main parts. The first covers Jessica's traumatic ordeal at the hands of a very creepy and disturbed Dominic. This part feels very claustrophobic, but is also very interesting as you learn about Dominic’s awful past through the daily gifts he gives to Jessica.
Here’s a little insight into the way Dominic’s mind works:
“In the end it came down to this. What is worth more, the pain of losing someone I loved, or the pleasure of inflicting pain on the people I hated?”
As part one comes to a close, you're left feeling that the story could almost end there. However, the author has other ideas, and would rather play with your mind in part two. Just when you think you’ve got the story straight, something else happens to throw you completely off course.
This is a very cleverly put together plot, that has so many twists and turns you won’t remember what direction you’re going in. I did predict a couple of the outcomes in advance, but it still had me guessing at other times, and generally not trusting my own predictions.
As for the very last lines of the story, I don't know what to say or think, I think I may have been hallucinating by that stage, and imagined them. Please tell me I imagined them.
On a lighter note, I did love Jessica’s fear of buttons. I sell novelty buttons for a living, so reading “The small ones are scarier” did make me giggle.
I’m very impressed by this novel, and would definitely consider reading more by this author.
I would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It is written in two main parts. The first covers Jessica's traumatic ordeal at the hands of a very creepy and disturbed Dominic. This part feels very claustrophobic, but is also very interesting as you learn about Dominic’s awful past through the daily gifts he gives to Jessica.
Here’s a little insight into the way Dominic’s mind works:
“In the end it came down to this. What is worth more, the pain of losing someone I loved, or the pleasure of inflicting pain on the people I hated?”
As part one comes to a close, you're left feeling that the story could almost end there. However, the author has other ideas, and would rather play with your mind in part two. Just when you think you’ve got the story straight, something else happens to throw you completely off course.
This is a very cleverly put together plot, that has so many twists and turns you won’t remember what direction you’re going in. I did predict a couple of the outcomes in advance, but it still had me guessing at other times, and generally not trusting my own predictions.
As for the very last lines of the story, I don't know what to say or think, I think I may have been hallucinating by that stage, and imagined them. Please tell me I imagined them.
On a lighter note, I did love Jessica’s fear of buttons. I sell novelty buttons for a living, so reading “The small ones are scarier” did make me giggle.
I’m very impressed by this novel, and would definitely consider reading more by this author.
I would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2015
3.5 stars
Goodness, when I started this book I never expected it to have more little twists than a corkscrew! There are some twisted characters as well, but I can't really say much without spoiling the story.
The blurb on the front says "Misery meets Gone Girl." I'm okay with that description.
A creepy, twisted little tale that takes place during the Christmas season.
Goodness, when I started this book I never expected it to have more little twists than a corkscrew! There are some twisted characters as well, but I can't really say much without spoiling the story.
The blurb on the front says "Misery meets Gone Girl." I'm okay with that description.
A creepy, twisted little tale that takes place during the Christmas season.
December 2, 2016
Jessica Gold has been doing some Christmas shopping when she meets a stranger.. the very charming Dominic Lacey. She agrees to go with him to his apartment. Why? you might ask. Jessica's live-in boyfriend and she are not getting along well. He's spending more and more time away and she .. well, she just wants something different.
And different is something she gets in spades! Dominic holds her hostage, forcing her to sleep in a dog crate, wear his missing wife's clothes, and eat lots of disgusting food. He wants to spend the Christmas holiday with her ... all 12 days of Christmas.
Each and every one of those days, he gifts her with a wrapped present. It's always an item from his past ... a box of his baby teeth, his dead sister's favorite toy. Each day the gifts get worse, accompanied by his telling her of his childhood and beyond.
She finally gets the message .. he is never going to let her go.
Part One of this book is all about Jessica's abduction and the time she is held captive. Part Two of the book deals with the aftermath.
Part One just blew me away ..... just when you think Dominic couldn't get any more evil or manipulative, he'd pull a rabbit out of his hat and do something so vile, it would make you want to put the book down ... but like looking at an accident on the side of the road, you have to keep reading.
There are so many twists and turns and surprises ... much like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep coming and coming and coming.
This had so much potential to be an outstanding book... and it was for the most part. There was one glaring fault but I remain silent so I don't give anything away. Reading through many reviews, I do not see this mentioned anywhere. So I will leave it for other readers to see if they can see what I did.
Except for this one area, it was well-written. I can't say I liked any of the characters at all, from the victim, to her boyfriend, to her abductor, to her family, to the cops who were investigating.
Many thanks to the author / Pegasus Books / Netgalley. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
And different is something she gets in spades! Dominic holds her hostage, forcing her to sleep in a dog crate, wear his missing wife's clothes, and eat lots of disgusting food. He wants to spend the Christmas holiday with her ... all 12 days of Christmas.
Each and every one of those days, he gifts her with a wrapped present. It's always an item from his past ... a box of his baby teeth, his dead sister's favorite toy. Each day the gifts get worse, accompanied by his telling her of his childhood and beyond.
She finally gets the message .. he is never going to let her go.
Part One of this book is all about Jessica's abduction and the time she is held captive. Part Two of the book deals with the aftermath.
Part One just blew me away ..... just when you think Dominic couldn't get any more evil or manipulative, he'd pull a rabbit out of his hat and do something so vile, it would make you want to put the book down ... but like looking at an accident on the side of the road, you have to keep reading.
There are so many twists and turns and surprises ... much like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep coming and coming and coming.
This had so much potential to be an outstanding book... and it was for the most part. There was one glaring fault but I remain silent so I don't give anything away. Reading through many reviews, I do not see this mentioned anywhere. So I will leave it for other readers to see if they can see what I did.
Except for this one area, it was well-written. I can't say I liked any of the characters at all, from the victim, to her boyfriend, to her abductor, to her family, to the cops who were investigating.
Many thanks to the author / Pegasus Books / Netgalley. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
December 27, 2014
I’ve read and loved two of Tamar Cohen’s previous books (The War of the Wives and The Broken (both reviewed on my blog)) and was so looking forward to reading this, her first book published under the name of Tammy Cohen. I took it away on holiday with me to read just before Christmas and I was so engrossed I finished it within a day and a half.
We should all be familiar with the concept of ‘stranger danger’ – would you go back to a flat belonging to a stranger who had followed you to a department store café? – well, silly old Jessica Gold did.
Jessica is taking a breather from Christmas shopping in a café when Dominic asks to share her table. She is stressed, her relationship with her boyfriend Travis isn’t going too well and when Dominic, a good looking guy, shows her some attention with some flattering words before asking her back to his place for a drink, well there’s no harm in that is there.
Jessica is the misfit in her family – even her brothers think she is weird but it’s her distinctive personality throughout the story that is the most compelling and interesting. The ‘stranger’ in question, Dominic Lacey, is portrayed as a charming but twisted individual. With each present that Dominic gives to Jessica, a little more is divulged about his background and Jessica’s torment increases, although there were times when I thought we were being led down the Stockholm Syndrome path.
Jessica’s imprisonment is interrupted by chapters voiced by Kim Harper, a police detective investigating her disappearance. Kim is eager for promotion and feels she has to put in the hours to stand out from her colleagues – however her husband is unhappy and her desire to pursue her career threatens to tear her family apart.
The story is told in two parts – Jessica’s narration of her imprisonment in the first half will make your heart race but when you get to the second part of the story, this is when your mind spins and Ms Cohen will have you in twisted knots, trying to make sense of the story, life and the universe.
I didn’t find any of the characters likeable, but then I probably wasn’t meant to. This didn’t spoil anything for me – I love unreliable narrators and flawed personalities and this book has those in abundance.
Just because this book has the word Christmas in the title, don’t think it’s one that you can’t read at any other time – if you waited until next Christmas before reading it, you would be missing out on a heck of a twisty and disturbing read. I loved it and Tammy/Tamar Cohen has firstly established herself as one of my favourite authors.
I originally obtained this through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, but I did buy my own reading copy.
We should all be familiar with the concept of ‘stranger danger’ – would you go back to a flat belonging to a stranger who had followed you to a department store café? – well, silly old Jessica Gold did.
Jessica is taking a breather from Christmas shopping in a café when Dominic asks to share her table. She is stressed, her relationship with her boyfriend Travis isn’t going too well and when Dominic, a good looking guy, shows her some attention with some flattering words before asking her back to his place for a drink, well there’s no harm in that is there.
Jessica is the misfit in her family – even her brothers think she is weird but it’s her distinctive personality throughout the story that is the most compelling and interesting. The ‘stranger’ in question, Dominic Lacey, is portrayed as a charming but twisted individual. With each present that Dominic gives to Jessica, a little more is divulged about his background and Jessica’s torment increases, although there were times when I thought we were being led down the Stockholm Syndrome path.
Jessica’s imprisonment is interrupted by chapters voiced by Kim Harper, a police detective investigating her disappearance. Kim is eager for promotion and feels she has to put in the hours to stand out from her colleagues – however her husband is unhappy and her desire to pursue her career threatens to tear her family apart.
The story is told in two parts – Jessica’s narration of her imprisonment in the first half will make your heart race but when you get to the second part of the story, this is when your mind spins and Ms Cohen will have you in twisted knots, trying to make sense of the story, life and the universe.
I didn’t find any of the characters likeable, but then I probably wasn’t meant to. This didn’t spoil anything for me – I love unreliable narrators and flawed personalities and this book has those in abundance.
Just because this book has the word Christmas in the title, don’t think it’s one that you can’t read at any other time – if you waited until next Christmas before reading it, you would be missing out on a heck of a twisty and disturbing read. I loved it and Tammy/Tamar Cohen has firstly established herself as one of my favourite authors.
I originally obtained this through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, but I did buy my own reading copy.
August 27, 2017
Eleventh book of my holiday reads.
Even though the story is set around mainly Christmas time, believe me there is nothing festive in this story.
The story is split into 2 parts as well as alternating between Jessica and the detective working the case into Jessica's disappearance.
This is one of those stories that the least you know about it the better. It certainly took some unexpected turns which I really enjoyed. Highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers.
Even though the story is set around mainly Christmas time, believe me there is nothing festive in this story.
The story is split into 2 parts as well as alternating between Jessica and the detective working the case into Jessica's disappearance.
This is one of those stories that the least you know about it the better. It certainly took some unexpected turns which I really enjoyed. Highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers.
February 11, 2015
This deserves more than 5 stars from me. I just kept reading, reading and reading.
In my own words, you get this young girl whose been Christmas shopping, she gets talking to this guy [or should I say, this guy gets talking to her].
The only downside that I couldn't fathom out was why she allowed herself to go back to his apartment as she seemed like a young lady that had her head screwed on right......
that later unravels, so don't be put off by that bit.
This story gets inside your head, the trauma this that Jessica goes through whilst captive in his home is so well written you find yourself taking every step of the way with her, at least, I did.
I don't want to give anything away, so I am trying not to allow myself a long review on this one......
This book really messes with your mind because, after all the discoveries she makes leading up to the 12 days of Christmas is awesome. Horrible awesome at times!
I can't really say anymore without giving the game away, but the book is not how it looks because the BIG HUGE GIGANTIC turnaround at the end of the book leaves your staggering off your seat. I tell you, I didn't see that coming, and if you do, then you are a better person than me because for me, this author Tammy Cohen has done a remarkable job on this one and kept me glued to the pages for hours.
I challenge you not to like something about this book.
I would love to thank the publishers Random House UK, Transworld Publishers who I have free access to for allowing me to read and review this via Net Galley
In my own words, you get this young girl whose been Christmas shopping, she gets talking to this guy [or should I say, this guy gets talking to her].
The only downside that I couldn't fathom out was why she allowed herself to go back to his apartment as she seemed like a young lady that had her head screwed on right......
that later unravels, so don't be put off by that bit.
This story gets inside your head, the trauma this that Jessica goes through whilst captive in his home is so well written you find yourself taking every step of the way with her, at least, I did.
I don't want to give anything away, so I am trying not to allow myself a long review on this one......
This book really messes with your mind because, after all the discoveries she makes leading up to the 12 days of Christmas is awesome. Horrible awesome at times!
I can't really say anymore without giving the game away, but the book is not how it looks because the BIG HUGE GIGANTIC turnaround at the end of the book leaves your staggering off your seat. I tell you, I didn't see that coming, and if you do, then you are a better person than me because for me, this author Tammy Cohen has done a remarkable job on this one and kept me glued to the pages for hours.
I challenge you not to like something about this book.
I would love to thank the publishers Random House UK, Transworld Publishers who I have free access to for allowing me to read and review this via Net Galley
November 26, 2014
There are two things to say at about this book. One: there is very little chance that you will predict how things will turn out, and two, I laughed uproariously at several points with the dark humour contained within its pages. These two factors, along with Cohen’s control of the pace, plotting and characterisation, are reasons enough to immerse you in this criminally entertaining Yuletide read.
As the plight of mousey Jess, incarcerated by the totally debonair, but insane Dominic unfolds, you will be visited by equal feelings of perplexity and shock- there are some wonderfully inventive torture methods- and if you’re a vegetarian (like me) prepare yourself for the visitation of one of Scotland’s prized delicacies, and the consequent effects on your stomach! I loved the slightly ‘out-there’ feel of the first half of the book as the claustrophobic and dangerous tension between Jess and Dominic increases over the twelve days of Christmas, and the effects on her disappearance on Jess’ lacklustre boyfriend and her family. As you progress into the second part of the book, well, there are more than a few clever surprises in store that will have you racing to the final page. I hate the use of the word ‘page-turner’, but this totally is a… page-turner! A fun, quick thriller and a source of delight and horror in equal measure…
As the plight of mousey Jess, incarcerated by the totally debonair, but insane Dominic unfolds, you will be visited by equal feelings of perplexity and shock- there are some wonderfully inventive torture methods- and if you’re a vegetarian (like me) prepare yourself for the visitation of one of Scotland’s prized delicacies, and the consequent effects on your stomach! I loved the slightly ‘out-there’ feel of the first half of the book as the claustrophobic and dangerous tension between Jess and Dominic increases over the twelve days of Christmas, and the effects on her disappearance on Jess’ lacklustre boyfriend and her family. As you progress into the second part of the book, well, there are more than a few clever surprises in store that will have you racing to the final page. I hate the use of the word ‘page-turner’, but this totally is a… page-turner! A fun, quick thriller and a source of delight and horror in equal measure…
December 10, 2016
After finishing Dying For Christmas my jaw is still hanging around my chest area, mouth wide open and eyes wide with shock. This book had more twists than a corkscrew...literally. The storyline was completely original brought out the best in this psychological suspense. There were more than a few surprises and thats always a great thing for a bookworm like myself.
Jessica Gold is such an interestingly weird person. While Dominic Lacey is wickedly bipolar. Detective Constable Kim has the weight of the world on her shoulder. Everyone played their part in making this a 5 star rating.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion.
Jessica Gold is such an interestingly weird person. While Dominic Lacey is wickedly bipolar. Detective Constable Kim has the weight of the world on her shoulder. Everyone played their part in making this a 5 star rating.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion.
December 22, 2016
4.0 Stars
I have a strange fascination with kidnappings stories, so I was immediately intrigued when I read the synopsis for this novel.I typically have low expectations for reading holiday-themed books, so I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing, plot and characters. Right from the start, I was hooked into the story and read this enthralling page-turner very quickly. The detailed account of the emotional and physical torture were very disturbing, creating an intense reading experience. I would recommend this chilling story to readers who enjoy dark, twisted psychological thriller.
I have a strange fascination with kidnappings stories, so I was immediately intrigued when I read the synopsis for this novel.I typically have low expectations for reading holiday-themed books, so I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing, plot and characters. Right from the start, I was hooked into the story and read this enthralling page-turner very quickly. The detailed account of the emotional and physical torture were very disturbing, creating an intense reading experience. I would recommend this chilling story to readers who enjoy dark, twisted psychological thriller.
December 17, 2017
This was okay. I can't say much on it without spoiling it. The premise was awesome, and it started our to be so promising, and then it went off the rails. Everything that happened was so unlikely, and this book was way too long for the actual content. The plot twists were not surprising, and there were too many attempts to match another popular crime novel. I kept hoping I would enjoy it more, and then another absurd thing would be tacked onto the plot.
October 21, 2014
This novel started very promisingly, but it didn't manage to keep the suspense the whole way through. It just went on, and on, and on, and I eventually got bored of Jessica and Dominic. It was like a poor man's Gone Girl, with an equally annoying ending.
The premise was interesting, but it just wasn't to my satisfaction. When you start a book that says the heroine is going to end up dead, you're intrigued and I was, but it didn't last. I got bored. Then the plot twist happened and it just went to a place I didn't expect or like.
And the ending! What is it with thriller writers and stupid non endings? I'm sick of them. I wanted to know what consequences there were, what happened to detective Kim and her family. Ugh. I was very disappointed overall.
The premise was interesting, but it just wasn't to my satisfaction. When you start a book that says the heroine is going to end up dead, you're intrigued and I was, but it didn't last. I got bored. Then the plot twist happened and it just went to a place I didn't expect or like.
And the ending! What is it with thriller writers and stupid non endings? I'm sick of them. I wanted to know what consequences there were, what happened to detective Kim and her family. Ugh. I was very disappointed overall.
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