What do you think?
Rate this book
Blind Side
Can you ever truly know someone? And what if you suspect the unthinkable?
London, five months before 7/7. Georgie, a young woman wary of relationships after previous heartbreak, gives in and agrees to sleep with close friend Julian. She’s shocked when Julian reveals he’s loved her for a long time.
But Georgie can’t resist her attraction to Nikolai, a Russian former soldier she meets in a pub. While Julian struggles to deal with her rejection, Georgie realises how deeply war-time incidents in Chechnya have affected Nikolai. She begins to suspect that the Russian is hiding something terrible from her.
Then London is attacked...
Blind Side explores love and friendship, guilt and betrayal, secrets and obsession. An explosive, debate-provoking thriller that confronts urgent issues of our times and contemplates some of our deepest fears.
***
“Jennie Ensor’s writing is graceful, poetic, intelligent and captivating. She builds suspense brilliantly, and is a master at dialogue that communicates the accents and personalities of the characters. BLIND SIDE is a wonderful debut, an exciting story about three flawed and fascinating people living in dangerous times.”
— Gail Cleare, author of DESTINED and THE TASTE OF AIR
“... a gripping tale. Whilst not the light-read that this genre usually pitches itself at,this complex tale was an immensely satisfying read.”
— Cleopatra Loves Books
“For a debut novel this is a brave topic as [is] the time it is set in, but what Jennie Ensor brings is a thrilling psychological story that I really enjoyed and raced through. If you enjoy a thriller with a number of themes running through the story, then Blind Side is one not to be missed.”
— The Last Word Book Review
“Blind Side is a superb debut novel from the pen of Jennie Ensor. From the opening prologue to the very last page, I was completely immersed in Georgie's story as we are transported back to London, 2005 - set before, during and after the 7/7 bombings.
The book opens with a short prologue that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I simply couldn't read fast enough to find out what had happened. Jennie Ensor cleverly keeps us in suspense as we have a whole lot of story to get through before my curiosity could be satisfied.
...There are so many subjects and issues to discuss in Blind Side, that I think it would be excellent for book groups.
...Blind Side is an absolutely stunning debut from Jennie Ensor; so thought-provoking and profound that every reader will get something different out of reading it. I'm so excited to read the psychological thriller than Jennie is working on next. If it's half as good as Blind Side it will be a cracker!”
— The Book Magnet
“This isn’t a straight-up book by any means as the author builds on many themes such as terrorism, immigration, family and sexual relationships, trauma, secrets, guilt and regret. The pace and the writing in this book was easy to become caught up in and I read this book over the course of the day without putting it down once. It’s a powerful and engaging novel, thought-provoking and difficult to forget once you’ve reached the end.”
...
“Blind Side both surprised and captivated me. It was tense and suspenseful at times, with some thrilling themes, so I can understand the psychological thriller branding but I think it’s probably going to be a fair bit different to what you’re expecting. I suppose it feels more real and believable, not to mention more human, and I could buy into this story much more than many other psychological thrillers.
London, five months before 7/7. Georgie, a young woman wary of relationships after previous heartbreak, gives in and agrees to sleep with close friend Julian. She’s shocked when Julian reveals he’s loved her for a long time.
But Georgie can’t resist her attraction to Nikolai, a Russian former soldier she meets in a pub. While Julian struggles to deal with her rejection, Georgie realises how deeply war-time incidents in Chechnya have affected Nikolai. She begins to suspect that the Russian is hiding something terrible from her.
Then London is attacked...
Blind Side explores love and friendship, guilt and betrayal, secrets and obsession. An explosive, debate-provoking thriller that confronts urgent issues of our times and contemplates some of our deepest fears.
***
“Jennie Ensor’s writing is graceful, poetic, intelligent and captivating. She builds suspense brilliantly, and is a master at dialogue that communicates the accents and personalities of the characters. BLIND SIDE is a wonderful debut, an exciting story about three flawed and fascinating people living in dangerous times.”
— Gail Cleare, author of DESTINED and THE TASTE OF AIR
“... a gripping tale. Whilst not the light-read that this genre usually pitches itself at,this complex tale was an immensely satisfying read.”
— Cleopatra Loves Books
“For a debut novel this is a brave topic as [is] the time it is set in, but what Jennie Ensor brings is a thrilling psychological story that I really enjoyed and raced through. If you enjoy a thriller with a number of themes running through the story, then Blind Side is one not to be missed.”
— The Last Word Book Review
“Blind Side is a superb debut novel from the pen of Jennie Ensor. From the opening prologue to the very last page, I was completely immersed in Georgie's story as we are transported back to London, 2005 - set before, during and after the 7/7 bombings.
The book opens with a short prologue that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I simply couldn't read fast enough to find out what had happened. Jennie Ensor cleverly keeps us in suspense as we have a whole lot of story to get through before my curiosity could be satisfied.
...There are so many subjects and issues to discuss in Blind Side, that I think it would be excellent for book groups.
...Blind Side is an absolutely stunning debut from Jennie Ensor; so thought-provoking and profound that every reader will get something different out of reading it. I'm so excited to read the psychological thriller than Jennie is working on next. If it's half as good as Blind Side it will be a cracker!”
— The Book Magnet
“This isn’t a straight-up book by any means as the author builds on many themes such as terrorism, immigration, family and sexual relationships, trauma, secrets, guilt and regret. The pace and the writing in this book was easy to become caught up in and I read this book over the course of the day without putting it down once. It’s a powerful and engaging novel, thought-provoking and difficult to forget once you’ve reached the end.”
...
“Blind Side both surprised and captivated me. It was tense and suspenseful at times, with some thrilling themes, so I can understand the psychological thriller branding but I think it’s probably going to be a fair bit different to what you’re expecting. I suppose it feels more real and believable, not to mention more human, and I could buy into this story much more than many other psychological thrillers.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2016
About the author
Jennie Ensor
6 books110 followersA Londoner with Irish heritage, Jennie Ensor writes emotionally-charged psychological suspense and thrillers, and darkly comic fiction.
She began her writing career as a journalist and loves to tackle controversial issues in her novels: Islamic terrorism, Russian gangsters and war crimes in Blind Side (a thriller set in the year of London’s 2005 terror attacks), abuse and sexual exploitation in The Girl in His Eyes. Not Having It All is a darkly humourous novel about love and relationships, not having children and the perils of family life.
Jennie’s fourth book Silenced published December 2021 with Hobeck Books – a crime thriller with a strong psychological element that ventures into the shadowy world of teen-exploiting gangs and police corruption.
Ms Ensor lives with her husband and an Airedale terrier. She writes short stories and poetry as well as novels, her poem Lost Connection placed second in its category in the 2020 Fish Lockdown Prize. In her spare time (?) Jennie reads widely, sings choral music, practices yoga and cycles the punishing local hills. Evenings, she’s often collapsed in front of a TV crime drama with a bar of chocolate/glass of strong alcohol.
You can find out more about Jennie and her books on her website https://jennieensor.com or follow her on social media.
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennie-Ensor...
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JennieEnsorA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennie_Ensor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennieensor/
She began her writing career as a journalist and loves to tackle controversial issues in her novels: Islamic terrorism, Russian gangsters and war crimes in Blind Side (a thriller set in the year of London’s 2005 terror attacks), abuse and sexual exploitation in The Girl in His Eyes. Not Having It All is a darkly humourous novel about love and relationships, not having children and the perils of family life.
Jennie’s fourth book Silenced published December 2021 with Hobeck Books – a crime thriller with a strong psychological element that ventures into the shadowy world of teen-exploiting gangs and police corruption.
Ms Ensor lives with her husband and an Airedale terrier. She writes short stories and poetry as well as novels, her poem Lost Connection placed second in its category in the 2020 Fish Lockdown Prize. In her spare time (?) Jennie reads widely, sings choral music, practices yoga and cycles the punishing local hills. Evenings, she’s often collapsed in front of a TV crime drama with a bar of chocolate/glass of strong alcohol.
You can find out more about Jennie and her books on her website https://jennieensor.com or follow her on social media.
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennie-Ensor...
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JennieEnsorA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennie_Ensor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennieensor/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 5, 2018
Firstly let me say how much I love the cover. The paperback version is shiny and enticing.
I found this read a good start and a very good pace to follow, the characters were flawless.
Is it wise to sleep with your best friend? I am sure that is a decision many has faced, because if the relationship goes wrong, you loose not only a lover but your best friend.
Georgia after several drinks decides to sleep with her best friend Julian.
Julian tells her that he has been in love with her for a long time, now, Georgia pulls away.
A Russian ex-soldier comes on the scene in Georgia life but she finds out he is harbouring secrets, can she trust him? Shes fallen for him big time, but not is all what it seems.
But where is Julian in all of this?
He becomes her biggest fear, her stalker. He doesn't want anyone to have her if he can't.
This book was not what I expected at all and I loved it.
The only thing that let its side down was the ending, I was waiting for a huge build up...which I got, but the ending didn't match it.
But all in all, I loved it.
June 1, 2017
Firstly, thank you to Jennie and her publishers for making this book available for my group "A Good Thriller", for a read a long and Q and A's.
A promising debut novel from Jennie Ensor. And not at all what I anticipated, and a reasonably paced thriller. Why only three stars (3.5 my vote) was the rather weak ending.
Can you ever truly know someone? And what if you suspect the unthinkable?
London, five months before 7/7. Georgie, a young woman wary of relationships after previous heartbreak, gives in and agrees to sleep with close friend Julian. She’s shocked when Julian reveals he’s loved her for a long time.
But Georgie can’t resist her attraction to Nikolai, a Russian former soldier she meets in a pub. While Julian struggles to deal with her rejection, Georgie realises how deeply war-time incidents in Chechnya have affected Nikolai. She begins to suspect that the Russian is hiding something terrible from her.
Then London is attacked...
Blind Side explores love and friendship, guilt and betrayal, secrets and obsession. An thought-provoking thriller that confronts urgent issues of our times and contemplates some of our deepest fears.
When Georgie agrees to have sex one drunken evening the last thing she could possibly have anticipated was the domino effect she’d set in motion.....
A good debut psychological novel from Jennie Ensor, keep at a reasonable pace, does keep you guessing, who is the villain, and cleverly added aspects of the 7/7 bombings and the author builds on many themes such as the eternal triangle – Georgie with Julian and Nikolai, terrorism, immigration, family and sexual relationships, trauma, secrets, guilt and regret into the story.
The weakest part of the book, the last couple of chapters, waiting for the tense ending, that never really fully arrived.
A promising debut novel from Jennie Ensor. And not at all what I anticipated, and a reasonably paced thriller. Why only three stars (3.5 my vote) was the rather weak ending.
Can you ever truly know someone? And what if you suspect the unthinkable?
London, five months before 7/7. Georgie, a young woman wary of relationships after previous heartbreak, gives in and agrees to sleep with close friend Julian. She’s shocked when Julian reveals he’s loved her for a long time.
But Georgie can’t resist her attraction to Nikolai, a Russian former soldier she meets in a pub. While Julian struggles to deal with her rejection, Georgie realises how deeply war-time incidents in Chechnya have affected Nikolai. She begins to suspect that the Russian is hiding something terrible from her.
Then London is attacked...
Blind Side explores love and friendship, guilt and betrayal, secrets and obsession. An thought-provoking thriller that confronts urgent issues of our times and contemplates some of our deepest fears.
When Georgie agrees to have sex one drunken evening the last thing she could possibly have anticipated was the domino effect she’d set in motion.....
A good debut psychological novel from Jennie Ensor, keep at a reasonable pace, does keep you guessing, who is the villain, and cleverly added aspects of the 7/7 bombings and the author builds on many themes such as the eternal triangle – Georgie with Julian and Nikolai, terrorism, immigration, family and sexual relationships, trauma, secrets, guilt and regret into the story.
The weakest part of the book, the last couple of chapters, waiting for the tense ending, that never really fully arrived.
August 13, 2017
This book ended up being a very different read than what I was expecting it to be, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. It was deeper and more profound than your average psychological thriller and if pushed I would say it was more of romantic suspense with political tones than a straightforward psychological thriller.
Georgie, Nikolai and Julian are the three main characters and all of them are well drawn and complex. They were very realistic and their fears and motivations were also easy to identify with. This is set in London in 2005 right before and during the 7/7 bombings and Ensor did a fantastic job of depicting the sense of fear and paranoia that I can only imagine was the general feeling during that time.
There are some heavy themes explored here, but not the same type of themes that you usually find in a psychological thriller. Generally they are dark maybe even graphic in terms of violence but this time the themes are dark in a different way. Ensor explorers racism, terrorism, immigration and obsession all in a smart and profound way. There is the same sense of uneasiness and not knowing exactly who to trust, but Blind Side is a wholly unique read, one I think that leaves an impact on the reader in the end.
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
Georgie, Nikolai and Julian are the three main characters and all of them are well drawn and complex. They were very realistic and their fears and motivations were also easy to identify with. This is set in London in 2005 right before and during the 7/7 bombings and Ensor did a fantastic job of depicting the sense of fear and paranoia that I can only imagine was the general feeling during that time.
There are some heavy themes explored here, but not the same type of themes that you usually find in a psychological thriller. Generally they are dark maybe even graphic in terms of violence but this time the themes are dark in a different way. Ensor explorers racism, terrorism, immigration and obsession all in a smart and profound way. There is the same sense of uneasiness and not knowing exactly who to trust, but Blind Side is a wholly unique read, one I think that leaves an impact on the reader in the end.
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
December 15, 2017
One night Georgie makes a decision that will alter the lives of many. After sharing 3 bottles of wine, she decides to sleep with her friend, Julian. Immediately she knows this was a huge mistake ...especially when Julian confesses that he loves her and has loved her for years. Julian thinks they will go on from here ...but Georgie is already pulling away from him.
She meets Nicolai .. a Russian ex-soldier, hoping to build a new life for himself in London. And while Georgie is slowing falling for him, she also discovers that he has secrets. Terrible secrets. She's always had trust issues to begin with, so what does she do? Can she trust him? And when there are a series of bombings in London, does she risk everything to be with this man who may be a terrorist?
Julian didn't just go away ... he became the most dangerous kind of stalker there is. If he can't have her, then no one can have her.
The reader is privy to Julian's actions ... the emails, the middle of the night phone calls , the sitting in a tree to spy, following wherever she and Nicolai go. As time progresses, he gets more and more unpredictable.
This is a well written debut of a psychological novel. The main characters are skillfully drawn ... bringing them to life as the pages turn. Watching Julian turn from being a normal young man to letting his anger and disappointment take over his life is astounding. Slowly and surely Nicolai's story is told in delicious bites over the course of the book. Georgie grows up. With her mother's abandonment when she was a young child came trust issues. Her father doesn't help which leads to a contentious relationship with his daughter.
This is not what I expected when I started reading, but it turned into so much more. I'm looking forward to what this author will be doing next.
Many thanks to the author and TBC Reviews for the digital copy of this debut. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 8, 2017
Georgie, if you didn't know her very well, would be someone that you thought had a near damn perfect life. Her dad had a very successful building company so she grew up not really wanting for anything, she had a pretty good job with a more than average income and an enviable university education where she had met some life long friends. But lucky in love she wasn't and she seemed pretty stuck into the grove of not wanting to get hurt so much ever again, to a point that she doesn't let her self get that close to anyone anymore. Julian is her best friend, her tell it all to buddy, her get drunk with have a good laugh mate until one night it goes too far and the relationship changes for them both in very different ways.
I do love a good book that seems to crawl under your skin and make you tingle and this one does just that because it makes you doubt what you think is happening and before you know it you are looking at all the characters in the story through different eyes. I definitely developed trust issues. This is a very cleverly thought out novel set in 2005 round the time of 7/7 bombings of the London transport system by terrorists. It raises a lot issues and suspicions and the question of how far is someone willing to go for something they believe in either as part of a group or for personal reasons.
I really loved how the author wove these stories together, each being a good story in itself but much more powerful as one. The characters had a real feel about them, I think even more so because none of them were perfect and not always likeable. I wish to thank the author and Xander Cansell at Unbound for a copy of this book which I have chosen to review
I do love a good book that seems to crawl under your skin and make you tingle and this one does just that because it makes you doubt what you think is happening and before you know it you are looking at all the characters in the story through different eyes. I definitely developed trust issues. This is a very cleverly thought out novel set in 2005 round the time of 7/7 bombings of the London transport system by terrorists. It raises a lot issues and suspicions and the question of how far is someone willing to go for something they believe in either as part of a group or for personal reasons.
I really loved how the author wove these stories together, each being a good story in itself but much more powerful as one. The characters had a real feel about them, I think even more so because none of them were perfect and not always likeable. I wish to thank the author and Xander Cansell at Unbound for a copy of this book which I have chosen to review
March 5, 2017
'Blind Side' by Jennie Ensor is an intriguing read and I have to be honest not at all what I was expecting when I read through the blurb. There are so many elements to this book which take it beyond a simple star crossed lovers kind of romance, or even a case of obsession, and the book touches upon many socio-economic issues which are as prevalent today as they were in the time that the book was set, few months surrounding the 7/7 bombings in London.
Georgie is a complex character. She has been burnt before when it comes to love and has all but given up on the idea of it. Her biggest mistake, and biggest regret, is agreeing to sleep with Julian. This sets the pair on a course which cannot be halted and cannot be reversed. In this respect, she is a little selfish, although that does not excuse what comes to pass. Where she becomes really interesting though is when the author explores her fears; the concerns she has over Nikolai and the secrets he is keeping from her. Hurt as a child, she has had many ideals foisted upon her and this too impacts upon how she views life. Unlike her family and friends, she is able to look beyond the damaged part of Nikolai and see the beauty of the man he used to be, but this is as much obsession on her part as it is absolute trust, a fact which almost tears them apart. I did like Georgie, and she is a very well rounded character. She does however make some very stupid mistakes that left me shaking my head.
Ensor has doen a brilliant job of creating the character of Nikolai. He is wounded, haunted by nightmares of what he lived through during the conflict in Chechnya. There are also many hidden elements of his character, things he doesn't tell Georgie, and as the book is told mostly from her perspective, things we are the reader are also not privy to, which meant that much like Georgie I wasn't sure he could entirely be trusted. It is only little clues, random notes, snippets of telephone conversations which lead the doubt, rather than relying on overt prejudice to suggest that all Russians must be bad people.
The only other real voice in the book is told from a first person perspective where to start you have the strongest notion of which character this is, but it is not absolutely confirmed. This becomes clearer as the narrative goes on and he is a truly creepy and utterly obsessed man. The snippets of voyeurism, following Georgie and Nikolai and the threats to Nikolai are very well written, the balance just right to stop him becoming a bit of a joke. Perhaps the most disturbing parts of the campaign of terror are the emails sent to Georgie. Very unnerving and a clear example of a slowly devolving mind.
The pacing in this book is just right. When needed, along side Georgie, we look into more detail of the conflict in Chechnya, gain a greater understanding of the history of this awful war. Again, the balance here is just right. Too much would have pulled me out of the story. It was just enough to help me understand the pain and torment that Nikolai is going through. Also when the mention was made of the 7/7 bombings in the blurb, I was expecting something much more, I don't know. Conspiratorial maybe? There is an element of conspiracy I suppose, Ensor tapping into and capturing perfectly the suspicion of everyone who was different, especially Muslim communities, in the immediate aftermath of the bombings. However this is not overplayed. It is not a central theme in the book but it does inform what happens in the latter part. The book also explores the growing hatred for immigrants, something which sadly has not changed today.
I don't read many romances because I'm not a hearts and flowers kind of a girl as a rule. They need to be a) pretty blinking funny or b) a little on the dark side. This one definitely falls into the latter category. I was engaged by it, intrigued by Nikolai's story. Wanted to see if the pair could make it against all the odds, all the opposition and words of warning from Georgie's family and friends. How could a relatively well-off young professional and a damaged Russian ex-soldier ever really work. But they did, rather beautifully as it turned out. The writing drew me in, the descriptions neither graphic nor lacking in detail and the story truly compelling, a prime example of the danger of lies and prejudice.
This book has a little of something for everyone. A psychological element as we follow Georgie's stalker and wonder how far he is willing to take things to make her love him and believe me when I say that this element leads to a surprising ending. You have a love story, a kind of against all odds relationship between Georgie and Nikolai which is passionate but in the same sense almost sweet. Finally you have well researched history and essence of social commentary which, sadly, is as relevant and fresh today as it would have been back in 2005. The ending... Well it's less of an ending, more a new beginning leaving Georgie, and the reader, with a whole world of possibility.
Georgie is a complex character. She has been burnt before when it comes to love and has all but given up on the idea of it. Her biggest mistake, and biggest regret, is agreeing to sleep with Julian. This sets the pair on a course which cannot be halted and cannot be reversed. In this respect, she is a little selfish, although that does not excuse what comes to pass. Where she becomes really interesting though is when the author explores her fears; the concerns she has over Nikolai and the secrets he is keeping from her. Hurt as a child, she has had many ideals foisted upon her and this too impacts upon how she views life. Unlike her family and friends, she is able to look beyond the damaged part of Nikolai and see the beauty of the man he used to be, but this is as much obsession on her part as it is absolute trust, a fact which almost tears them apart. I did like Georgie, and she is a very well rounded character. She does however make some very stupid mistakes that left me shaking my head.
Ensor has doen a brilliant job of creating the character of Nikolai. He is wounded, haunted by nightmares of what he lived through during the conflict in Chechnya. There are also many hidden elements of his character, things he doesn't tell Georgie, and as the book is told mostly from her perspective, things we are the reader are also not privy to, which meant that much like Georgie I wasn't sure he could entirely be trusted. It is only little clues, random notes, snippets of telephone conversations which lead the doubt, rather than relying on overt prejudice to suggest that all Russians must be bad people.
The only other real voice in the book is told from a first person perspective where to start you have the strongest notion of which character this is, but it is not absolutely confirmed. This becomes clearer as the narrative goes on and he is a truly creepy and utterly obsessed man. The snippets of voyeurism, following Georgie and Nikolai and the threats to Nikolai are very well written, the balance just right to stop him becoming a bit of a joke. Perhaps the most disturbing parts of the campaign of terror are the emails sent to Georgie. Very unnerving and a clear example of a slowly devolving mind.
The pacing in this book is just right. When needed, along side Georgie, we look into more detail of the conflict in Chechnya, gain a greater understanding of the history of this awful war. Again, the balance here is just right. Too much would have pulled me out of the story. It was just enough to help me understand the pain and torment that Nikolai is going through. Also when the mention was made of the 7/7 bombings in the blurb, I was expecting something much more, I don't know. Conspiratorial maybe? There is an element of conspiracy I suppose, Ensor tapping into and capturing perfectly the suspicion of everyone who was different, especially Muslim communities, in the immediate aftermath of the bombings. However this is not overplayed. It is not a central theme in the book but it does inform what happens in the latter part. The book also explores the growing hatred for immigrants, something which sadly has not changed today.
I don't read many romances because I'm not a hearts and flowers kind of a girl as a rule. They need to be a) pretty blinking funny or b) a little on the dark side. This one definitely falls into the latter category. I was engaged by it, intrigued by Nikolai's story. Wanted to see if the pair could make it against all the odds, all the opposition and words of warning from Georgie's family and friends. How could a relatively well-off young professional and a damaged Russian ex-soldier ever really work. But they did, rather beautifully as it turned out. The writing drew me in, the descriptions neither graphic nor lacking in detail and the story truly compelling, a prime example of the danger of lies and prejudice.
This book has a little of something for everyone. A psychological element as we follow Georgie's stalker and wonder how far he is willing to take things to make her love him and believe me when I say that this element leads to a surprising ending. You have a love story, a kind of against all odds relationship between Georgie and Nikolai which is passionate but in the same sense almost sweet. Finally you have well researched history and essence of social commentary which, sadly, is as relevant and fresh today as it would have been back in 2005. The ending... Well it's less of an ending, more a new beginning leaving Georgie, and the reader, with a whole world of possibility.
December 13, 2016
This book wasn't at all what I had expected from the general description but I do love it when a book surprises me that way. It carried a lot more depth than I had assumed it would as it delved into some of the more current issues facing us in our country at the moment and due to that I found myself far more engrossed than I was expecting to be!
Now we all know that it is possible for men and women to just be friends nowadays. But more often than not one person harbours hopes of that relationship developing into more. And that's what happens when Georgie sleeps with long time friend and confidant Julian. As soon as its over she knows she has made a huge mistake but she doesn't realise how big a mistake until Julian announces that he is actually in love with her. I really felt for Georgie, in that her one night stand caused her more stress than she had been expecting, but then she met Nikolai and the story took off in an intriguing direction far more interesting and topical than I had hoped! Although set around the time of the 7/7 bombings it actually felt very current as it was around that time that the country became more suspicious of foreigners due to a perceived threat of terrorism which leads us to where we are today. The relationship between Georgie and Nikolai isn't one approved of by Julian or by Georgies father and it becomes apparent that someone is determined to stop their intense liaison. But can Georgie trust the Russian ex soldier? Nikolai was a bit of a closed book for me. Although he started to open up to Georgie, I was never sure of his motives. As the book went on, I found myself being more involved and curious about his past life and hoping that he wasn't the person everyone assumed him to be. He also brought an unexpected sensuality to this thriller making their association seem much more dangerous.
I found this a unique and fascinating read from start to finish and was able to connect with Georgie immediately and so hoped for a ending for her. It had a well-crafted and well-researched plotline leading to a quite shocking denouement and I would certainly come back to this author again in the future.
Now we all know that it is possible for men and women to just be friends nowadays. But more often than not one person harbours hopes of that relationship developing into more. And that's what happens when Georgie sleeps with long time friend and confidant Julian. As soon as its over she knows she has made a huge mistake but she doesn't realise how big a mistake until Julian announces that he is actually in love with her. I really felt for Georgie, in that her one night stand caused her more stress than she had been expecting, but then she met Nikolai and the story took off in an intriguing direction far more interesting and topical than I had hoped! Although set around the time of the 7/7 bombings it actually felt very current as it was around that time that the country became more suspicious of foreigners due to a perceived threat of terrorism which leads us to where we are today. The relationship between Georgie and Nikolai isn't one approved of by Julian or by Georgies father and it becomes apparent that someone is determined to stop their intense liaison. But can Georgie trust the Russian ex soldier? Nikolai was a bit of a closed book for me. Although he started to open up to Georgie, I was never sure of his motives. As the book went on, I found myself being more involved and curious about his past life and hoping that he wasn't the person everyone assumed him to be. He also brought an unexpected sensuality to this thriller making their association seem much more dangerous.
I found this a unique and fascinating read from start to finish and was able to connect with Georgie immediately and so hoped for a ending for her. It had a well-crafted and well-researched plotline leading to a quite shocking denouement and I would certainly come back to this author again in the future.
October 31, 2016
In my opinion, this is a really good book. I was contemplating whether I should give it 5 stars, and decided against it only because of the ending. It may seem hopeful for those in UK, but for me - and, probably, for most Russians - it's bleak and sad.
On the other hand, any completely happy ending would be unbelievable.
And one of the major virtues of this book is that you believe the author. It's undoubtedly the best researched and well-grounded fiction I've read in ages.
On the other hand, any completely happy ending would be unbelievable.
And one of the major virtues of this book is that you believe the author. It's undoubtedly the best researched and well-grounded fiction I've read in ages.
December 28, 2017
This book gripped me from the very start, although not at all like my ‘usual’ reads. The characters were compelling and the storyline, although quite a simple base, made compulsive reading. The book is informative about life in the Russian army and Chechnya and it gives the book an interesting side. There is an alternative voice appearing sporadically throughout the book and I found myself quite wary, along with the main character Georgie, trying to predict what might happen. The whole scenario really held my attention as the problems both Georgie and Nikky face in life, relationships and work, are issues, fears and areas that we could all face too. A well-written book - thank you Jennie Ensor!
July 26, 2016
I’m going to start this review by stating that there was far more to this psychological thriller than I anticipated.
When Georgie agrees to have sex one drunken evening the last thing she could possibly have anticipated was the domino effect she’d set in motion. Rule number one which every woman who has left her teenage years behind knows, you don’t have sex with your friends. But Georgie did, she slept with her old university pal and confidante Julian.
Let’s just say that when Julian realises that Georgie doesn’t plan on repeating the exercise again, he doesn’t take it too well especially when he realises that Georgie has become close to a Russian man called Nikolai.
The scene is London in 2005 not long before the 7/7 terrorist bombing and the book accurately captures the mixture of emotions that swirled around at this time. Londoners defiantly showing that the terrorists wouldn’t stop them living their lives but a time where to be a foreigner meant that those around you became wary.
For Georgie and Nikolai the bombings coincide with their burgeoning relationship, but a relationship overshadowed by both the menace in the present of Julian’s hatred, and Georgie’s father’s disappointment at her choice of boyfriend and the past where Nikolai battles the nightmares of his time in the Russian army fighting the Chechens in the war. Georgie is also still recovering from a broken relationship and the disconnected relationship she’s had with her mother ever since she left the family home to live with her boyfriend in Spain. Georgie does have her wealthy and successful father’s support, although her job marketing dietary supplements is not quite as fulfilling as she would like her flat is a world away from the miserable room that Nikolai inhabits.
This is anything but a straightforward relationship, Nikolai tells her something of his past, why he moved from Russia to London but Georgie is sure that he is keeping something back from that time and she fears that this secret will tear them apart.
The author gives us a little of everything in this book. Sometimes that means that many of the elements are unresolved or worse simply the story becomes a mis-mash and is rendered dissatisfying; not Blind Side which proved to be a well-rounded and interesting tale putting some of the recent history of terrorism into a wider perspective. Curiously it complemented the non-fiction book I’m reading about the First World War with men fighting a cause they no longer believe in and see sights they would never forget for good measure.
With the story covering secrets and the inevitable lies that these give rise to, trust and it’s flip-side, betrayal as well as guilt, obsession and love, without skimming any of these subjects but rather, introducing the concepts and letting the reader really consider the messages that are being told through what was a gripping tale.
Whilst not the light-read that this genre usually pitches itself at, this complex tale was an immensely satisfying read.
When Georgie agrees to have sex one drunken evening the last thing she could possibly have anticipated was the domino effect she’d set in motion. Rule number one which every woman who has left her teenage years behind knows, you don’t have sex with your friends. But Georgie did, she slept with her old university pal and confidante Julian.
Let’s just say that when Julian realises that Georgie doesn’t plan on repeating the exercise again, he doesn’t take it too well especially when he realises that Georgie has become close to a Russian man called Nikolai.
The scene is London in 2005 not long before the 7/7 terrorist bombing and the book accurately captures the mixture of emotions that swirled around at this time. Londoners defiantly showing that the terrorists wouldn’t stop them living their lives but a time where to be a foreigner meant that those around you became wary.
For Georgie and Nikolai the bombings coincide with their burgeoning relationship, but a relationship overshadowed by both the menace in the present of Julian’s hatred, and Georgie’s father’s disappointment at her choice of boyfriend and the past where Nikolai battles the nightmares of his time in the Russian army fighting the Chechens in the war. Georgie is also still recovering from a broken relationship and the disconnected relationship she’s had with her mother ever since she left the family home to live with her boyfriend in Spain. Georgie does have her wealthy and successful father’s support, although her job marketing dietary supplements is not quite as fulfilling as she would like her flat is a world away from the miserable room that Nikolai inhabits.
This is anything but a straightforward relationship, Nikolai tells her something of his past, why he moved from Russia to London but Georgie is sure that he is keeping something back from that time and she fears that this secret will tear them apart.
The author gives us a little of everything in this book. Sometimes that means that many of the elements are unresolved or worse simply the story becomes a mis-mash and is rendered dissatisfying; not Blind Side which proved to be a well-rounded and interesting tale putting some of the recent history of terrorism into a wider perspective. Curiously it complemented the non-fiction book I’m reading about the First World War with men fighting a cause they no longer believe in and see sights they would never forget for good measure.
With the story covering secrets and the inevitable lies that these give rise to, trust and it’s flip-side, betrayal as well as guilt, obsession and love, without skimming any of these subjects but rather, introducing the concepts and letting the reader really consider the messages that are being told through what was a gripping tale.
Whilst not the light-read that this genre usually pitches itself at, this complex tale was an immensely satisfying read.
August 16, 2017
You can find all my reviews at www.itsbooktalk.com
I mean this in the best possible way...this book wasn't what I expected. I was even hesitant to read it initially because it's touted as a psychological thriller and this past year psych thrillers haven't been my favorite. I've actually been avoiding books that fall into that sub-genre but there was something about this one that intrigued me. I love that it's set in London, one of my very favorite settings for crime fiction and I love that one of the main characters, Nikolai, was a Russian soldier who somehow ended up in London. With hints of love gone wrong and obsession, I felt I couldn't pass this story up.
We initially meet Georgie and Julian, best friends for many years, who seem to live by the belief that men and women really CAN be just friends....or can they? When too much wine is mixed in with an underlying desire on one of their parts, one thing leads to another and when all is said and done Georgie is left, not only with a hangover, but massive regret. Initially, she believes they can still be friends despite knowing Julian's true feelings but Julian has other plans in mind and little by little he becomes a man unhinged. What I really enjoyed was along with that storyline, Georgie continues to live her single and carefree life and she meets Nikolai at a pub one evening. He's edgy, a musician, and very handsome...what more could she possibly ask for? She is immediately drawn to this Russian, although he very much gives off a vibe of having secrets.
Who Nikolai really is and how he's come to be in London makes for some very engaging storytelling as I was never really sure if he was on the up and up. He's clearly hiding something and I couldn't figure out if it involved his intentions toward Georgie or if he was personally dealing with too many inner demons as a result of fighting in the Russian army. Something was amiss and I was feeling tense about it! Couple this with the escalating troubling behavior by Julian and you've got an obsessive triangle that more than hints of drama, suspense, and danger.
Not only is there a compelling love/hate relationship going on but with the attacks on London as a backdrop, Ensor expertly explores terrorism and immigration, highlighting the inner workings of loyalty and betrayal. For these reasons, I would describe this book as part romantic suspense, part political thriller which is why I was so pleasantly surprised by it. I loved the variety of angles and the way the author brought all these threads together in the end. One criticism I do have, however, is that I don't feel like I really knew Georgie and what made her tick. Being the main character and narrating the story I really wanted to feel more of a connection with her and I felt like she remained below the surface. For me, Nikolai was more fleshed out than her and I would've preferred it to be the other way around. Minor issue. Overall, this was a strong debut and I think if you'd like to try something different that's also very timely, this might be a great choice for you.
I mean this in the best possible way...this book wasn't what I expected. I was even hesitant to read it initially because it's touted as a psychological thriller and this past year psych thrillers haven't been my favorite. I've actually been avoiding books that fall into that sub-genre but there was something about this one that intrigued me. I love that it's set in London, one of my very favorite settings for crime fiction and I love that one of the main characters, Nikolai, was a Russian soldier who somehow ended up in London. With hints of love gone wrong and obsession, I felt I couldn't pass this story up.
We initially meet Georgie and Julian, best friends for many years, who seem to live by the belief that men and women really CAN be just friends....or can they? When too much wine is mixed in with an underlying desire on one of their parts, one thing leads to another and when all is said and done Georgie is left, not only with a hangover, but massive regret. Initially, she believes they can still be friends despite knowing Julian's true feelings but Julian has other plans in mind and little by little he becomes a man unhinged. What I really enjoyed was along with that storyline, Georgie continues to live her single and carefree life and she meets Nikolai at a pub one evening. He's edgy, a musician, and very handsome...what more could she possibly ask for? She is immediately drawn to this Russian, although he very much gives off a vibe of having secrets.
Who Nikolai really is and how he's come to be in London makes for some very engaging storytelling as I was never really sure if he was on the up and up. He's clearly hiding something and I couldn't figure out if it involved his intentions toward Georgie or if he was personally dealing with too many inner demons as a result of fighting in the Russian army. Something was amiss and I was feeling tense about it! Couple this with the escalating troubling behavior by Julian and you've got an obsessive triangle that more than hints of drama, suspense, and danger.
Not only is there a compelling love/hate relationship going on but with the attacks on London as a backdrop, Ensor expertly explores terrorism and immigration, highlighting the inner workings of loyalty and betrayal. For these reasons, I would describe this book as part romantic suspense, part political thriller which is why I was so pleasantly surprised by it. I loved the variety of angles and the way the author brought all these threads together in the end. One criticism I do have, however, is that I don't feel like I really knew Georgie and what made her tick. Being the main character and narrating the story I really wanted to feel more of a connection with her and I felt like she remained below the surface. For me, Nikolai was more fleshed out than her and I would've preferred it to be the other way around. Minor issue. Overall, this was a strong debut and I think if you'd like to try something different that's also very timely, this might be a great choice for you.
December 28, 2017
Blind side by jennifer ensor.
This was a slow starter. But after a while I couldn't put it down. Julian and georgina have been friends for years but after one night of heavy drinking she agrees to sllep with him. She realizes her mistake when he tells her he loves her. But she doesn't feel The same. The she meets Nikolai. What happens next?
I had my suspicion of how it would end. But I was wrong. I'm glad she found Nikolai. Didn't like julian from the start. 4*.
This was a slow starter. But after a while I couldn't put it down. Julian and georgina have been friends for years but after one night of heavy drinking she agrees to sllep with him. She realizes her mistake when he tells her he loves her. But she doesn't feel The same. The she meets Nikolai. What happens next?
I had my suspicion of how it would end. But I was wrong. I'm glad she found Nikolai. Didn't like julian from the start. 4*.
July 27, 2016
London July 2005, a moment in time that all of us will recall and never forget. In her debut thriller Blind Side Jennie Ensor has written a stunning gripping psychological thriller that is set just before the terrorist attacks on 7/7.
For Georgie our leading character things could not be going any worse now after a fling with one of her best friends Julian she has met a Russian man called Nikolai and Julian is not best pleased to say the least as he is being rejected. Now Georgie has to cope with the venomous Julian. But for Nikolai he has a past that he does not like talking of and that is his time in the Russian army and the war in Chechnya and the sheer brutality of that war that is still haunting him. But there is something that Nikolai is holding back from Georgie something that could destroy them both. But what is it?
Set at a time when London and its inhabitants were trying to cope with the 7/7 terrorist atrocity there are a number of themes running through the story and questions of relationships with the leading characters as well as secrets and lies. Trust is something that is earned and can quickly be destroyed. But what price love? Does love really conquer all in the end? Both Georgie and Nikolai’s lives could not be so worlds apart but they have been brought together is this fate that has brought them together?
For a debut novel this is a brave topic as the time it is set in, but what Jennie Ensor brings is a thrilling psychological story that I really enjoyed and raced through. If you enjoy a thriller with a number of themes running through the story, then Blind Side is one not to be missed.
For more on Jennie Ensor talking about her debut novel Blind Side see the recent guest post that appeared on my blog recently Here
My thanks to Jennie Ensor and Unbound for the review copy ahead of publication.
For Georgie our leading character things could not be going any worse now after a fling with one of her best friends Julian she has met a Russian man called Nikolai and Julian is not best pleased to say the least as he is being rejected. Now Georgie has to cope with the venomous Julian. But for Nikolai he has a past that he does not like talking of and that is his time in the Russian army and the war in Chechnya and the sheer brutality of that war that is still haunting him. But there is something that Nikolai is holding back from Georgie something that could destroy them both. But what is it?
Set at a time when London and its inhabitants were trying to cope with the 7/7 terrorist atrocity there are a number of themes running through the story and questions of relationships with the leading characters as well as secrets and lies. Trust is something that is earned and can quickly be destroyed. But what price love? Does love really conquer all in the end? Both Georgie and Nikolai’s lives could not be so worlds apart but they have been brought together is this fate that has brought them together?
For a debut novel this is a brave topic as the time it is set in, but what Jennie Ensor brings is a thrilling psychological story that I really enjoyed and raced through. If you enjoy a thriller with a number of themes running through the story, then Blind Side is one not to be missed.
For more on Jennie Ensor talking about her debut novel Blind Side see the recent guest post that appeared on my blog recently Here
My thanks to Jennie Ensor and Unbound for the review copy ahead of publication.
October 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and I’m so grateful that the author contacted me to read and review it. I spent most of my weekend caught up in this absorbing tale of love, relationships, family secrets, obsessions and identity. I truly felt part of Georgie, Julian and Nikolai's world, created so well by the author.
I don't normally like character driven stories, mainly because they've been filled with people and situations that I haven't been able to identify with. Blind Side was different, as I liked Georgie and her situation was very easy to understand and sympathise with. Julian, I liked at first but as the plot proceeded my loyalties definitely changed. And Nikolai, well, I kept changing my mind about him all the time. Was he who he said he was, what was he hiding, if anything?
As other reviewers have previously mentioned, this is so much more than the usual run of the mill psychological thriller and I thoroughly recommend it.
I don't normally like character driven stories, mainly because they've been filled with people and situations that I haven't been able to identify with. Blind Side was different, as I liked Georgie and her situation was very easy to understand and sympathise with. Julian, I liked at first but as the plot proceeded my loyalties definitely changed. And Nikolai, well, I kept changing my mind about him all the time. Was he who he said he was, what was he hiding, if anything?
As other reviewers have previously mentioned, this is so much more than the usual run of the mill psychological thriller and I thoroughly recommend it.
October 29, 2018
I read this book not really knowing quite what to expect. First of all, it is an enjoyable read, with scenes of domesticity between the two characters that are good-humoured and well drawn, but this book has a darkness at heart, and as the story unfurls it grows darker still, with suspicion of other characters' motives coming to the fore. The book is written with a graceful lightness of touch and great attention to detail and the ending is both thrilling and life affirming. Recommended!
March 16, 2017
Set against London’s summer of terror this novel explores topics as racism, stalking and the love between Georgie and her Russian lover Nikolai.
Introduction
When Georgie realises her best friend Julian is in love with her, she cannot but ease back on the friendship, something Julian does not take lightly. Is it a coincidence that she ends up in a place she has never been before and meets the dark Russian Nikolai, an illegal immigrant, with his charming smile but sad eyes? Theirs is a love affair clouded by his disturbing past fighting as a Russian soldier in Chechenia. Then there is Julian, who has trouble letting go. This all happened in London, in the Summer of 2005 – when two vicious bomb campaigns unnerved the capital’s inhabitants.
Storyline
Julian and Georgie have been friends since forever. When Georgie fell in love at University and was totally obsessed with her first real love, it was Julian who was there for her when they broke up. It was Julian who arranged for her to come home after her accident in Thailand. They truly are best friends. Until that fateful evening when they share a bottle too many and Julian confesses to Georgie that he loves her. He always has. The change is dramatic: from what was a close friendship they drift apart. They have to, according to Georgie, because she will never love Julian the way he loves her. Fate wills it that Georgie finds herself in a bar, listening to an awful band. Suddenly, other sounds reach her ears: beautifully played melancholy piano tunes. Georgie is intrigued and wants to meet the pianist. It turns out to be the Russian Nikolai, an illegal immigrant who came to London six months ago. Part of Georgie urges her to walk away.
Although her mind keeps sending her warning signals, Georgie cannot resist Nikolai’s charming demeanour. Slowly, their infatuation deepens. But Georgie knows that Nikolai has dark secrets and disturbing nightmares because of what he saw and had to do during the Russian-Chechenian war. Does he bear a grudge against the world seeking revenge for the innocent victims of that war? Where Georgie has no idea, her father has suspicions after the first bombings of 7th July: Nikolai is a terrorist and out to kill. Julian hates Nikolai but the reason becomes the more clear as the novel progresses. Is he just keeping an eye out for Georgie or is Julian stalking her? His behaviour seems to get more and more out of control. Meanwhile, Georgie discovers what it is Nikolai keeps hidden from her and when the second series of bombs on July 21st go off the situation between Georgie and the men around her is also on the verge of explosion.
My Thoughts
Jennie Ensor has written a captivating debut novel! Whether you regard it as a psychological thriller or novel, it is a great read. This book covers several topics, from illegal immigrants working in dangerous circumstances to racism and the traumatising effects of the Russian-Chechenian war. Somewhere, in the middle of the book, the focus changed and I felt a bit sorry at first as the events of the time, shocking as they might be, were at the same time fascinating. I feel the Prologue could set you off on the wrong foot as I thought this to be not the main theme of the book. Because most of all it is a story of love and coming to terms with your past, accepting who you are and taking responsibility for your actions and of, crazy as it might sound, coming of age, even if Georgie is in her late twenties. Georgie is the protagonist and we experience everything from her point of view. Her doubts and considerations lead us through the story and we witness what happens through her eyes. A lovely and entertaining novel that I enjoyed. I look forward to the author’s next book!
Read the review on my website:https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/blind-...
Introduction
When Georgie realises her best friend Julian is in love with her, she cannot but ease back on the friendship, something Julian does not take lightly. Is it a coincidence that she ends up in a place she has never been before and meets the dark Russian Nikolai, an illegal immigrant, with his charming smile but sad eyes? Theirs is a love affair clouded by his disturbing past fighting as a Russian soldier in Chechenia. Then there is Julian, who has trouble letting go. This all happened in London, in the Summer of 2005 – when two vicious bomb campaigns unnerved the capital’s inhabitants.
Storyline
Julian and Georgie have been friends since forever. When Georgie fell in love at University and was totally obsessed with her first real love, it was Julian who was there for her when they broke up. It was Julian who arranged for her to come home after her accident in Thailand. They truly are best friends. Until that fateful evening when they share a bottle too many and Julian confesses to Georgie that he loves her. He always has. The change is dramatic: from what was a close friendship they drift apart. They have to, according to Georgie, because she will never love Julian the way he loves her. Fate wills it that Georgie finds herself in a bar, listening to an awful band. Suddenly, other sounds reach her ears: beautifully played melancholy piano tunes. Georgie is intrigued and wants to meet the pianist. It turns out to be the Russian Nikolai, an illegal immigrant who came to London six months ago. Part of Georgie urges her to walk away.
Although her mind keeps sending her warning signals, Georgie cannot resist Nikolai’s charming demeanour. Slowly, their infatuation deepens. But Georgie knows that Nikolai has dark secrets and disturbing nightmares because of what he saw and had to do during the Russian-Chechenian war. Does he bear a grudge against the world seeking revenge for the innocent victims of that war? Where Georgie has no idea, her father has suspicions after the first bombings of 7th July: Nikolai is a terrorist and out to kill. Julian hates Nikolai but the reason becomes the more clear as the novel progresses. Is he just keeping an eye out for Georgie or is Julian stalking her? His behaviour seems to get more and more out of control. Meanwhile, Georgie discovers what it is Nikolai keeps hidden from her and when the second series of bombs on July 21st go off the situation between Georgie and the men around her is also on the verge of explosion.
My Thoughts
Jennie Ensor has written a captivating debut novel! Whether you regard it as a psychological thriller or novel, it is a great read. This book covers several topics, from illegal immigrants working in dangerous circumstances to racism and the traumatising effects of the Russian-Chechenian war. Somewhere, in the middle of the book, the focus changed and I felt a bit sorry at first as the events of the time, shocking as they might be, were at the same time fascinating. I feel the Prologue could set you off on the wrong foot as I thought this to be not the main theme of the book. Because most of all it is a story of love and coming to terms with your past, accepting who you are and taking responsibility for your actions and of, crazy as it might sound, coming of age, even if Georgie is in her late twenties. Georgie is the protagonist and we experience everything from her point of view. Her doubts and considerations lead us through the story and we witness what happens through her eyes. A lovely and entertaining novel that I enjoyed. I look forward to the author’s next book!
Read the review on my website:https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/blind-...
February 6, 2017
Set around the time of the London bombings in 2005, Blind Side is a gripping read full of thought provoking moments.
Georgie, the main character is a hard working woman. She’s been burned by love once before and is happy to not let it happen again and enjoys her time spent with Julian, her confidante and best friend until one evening after too much wine is consumed, things take a turn and the friendship will never be the same again. Enter Nikolai, the former Russian soldier who Georgie immediately has an attraction to and Georgie starts to see the world from a different perspective.
I have to admit I was totally surprised by this book, it is much more than a psychological thriller. Blind Side explores trust, relationships, terrorism, immigration, obsession and love which is cleverly woven together to give you a captivating read. It’s really not your average thriller and I was hooked from page one. As a debut, Jennie Ensor has really captured the fear and un-trust that people were feeling during the bombings, and after and as the story kept unfolding I didn’t know who to trust which made me just want to read even faster.
Blind Side is a story that will keep you up until the early hours, totally gripping and full of suspense. A fantastic debut by Jennie Ensor and one I will highly recommend.
Georgie, the main character is a hard working woman. She’s been burned by love once before and is happy to not let it happen again and enjoys her time spent with Julian, her confidante and best friend until one evening after too much wine is consumed, things take a turn and the friendship will never be the same again. Enter Nikolai, the former Russian soldier who Georgie immediately has an attraction to and Georgie starts to see the world from a different perspective.
I have to admit I was totally surprised by this book, it is much more than a psychological thriller. Blind Side explores trust, relationships, terrorism, immigration, obsession and love which is cleverly woven together to give you a captivating read. It’s really not your average thriller and I was hooked from page one. As a debut, Jennie Ensor has really captured the fear and un-trust that people were feeling during the bombings, and after and as the story kept unfolding I didn’t know who to trust which made me just want to read even faster.
Blind Side is a story that will keep you up until the early hours, totally gripping and full of suspense. A fantastic debut by Jennie Ensor and one I will highly recommend.
December 21, 2017
Set in London. just before 7/7. Blind Side is a psychological thriller at it;s best.
Georgie and Julian have been best friends forever, and everything is going well, until Georgie splits from her boyfriend and sleeps with Julian, Big mistake as now Julian has told her, he has always been in love with her, but Georgie doesn't want a relationship. that us until she meets Nikolai, a former soldier from Russia, and finds herself falling hard,
Then London s attacked , and Nikolai, finds himself being followed, are the two connected? What is the secret that Nikolai is keeping hidden? is it the reason he wakes up screaming in his sleep and why is Julian turning up at social gatherings, and causing a scene,?
Tense, thrilling, tender and nail biting, this is the only time, I have screamed at a character in a book, on the TV? yes. well who hasn't? but a book? nope, this is then first! Loved it and Nikolai, is just sigh,,,
Georgie and Julian have been best friends forever, and everything is going well, until Georgie splits from her boyfriend and sleeps with Julian, Big mistake as now Julian has told her, he has always been in love with her, but Georgie doesn't want a relationship. that us until she meets Nikolai, a former soldier from Russia, and finds herself falling hard,
Then London s attacked , and Nikolai, finds himself being followed, are the two connected? What is the secret that Nikolai is keeping hidden? is it the reason he wakes up screaming in his sleep and why is Julian turning up at social gatherings, and causing a scene,?
Tense, thrilling, tender and nail biting, this is the only time, I have screamed at a character in a book, on the TV? yes. well who hasn't? but a book? nope, this is then first! Loved it and Nikolai, is just sigh,,,
December 24, 2017
This was a great read and very different from what I expected. Georgie has been friends with Julian since university and sleeps with him one evening when they are both drunk. He reveals that he has loved her for years and Georgie - scarred by a past relationship- backs away.
However Julian remains smitten and this does not change when Georgie meet Nikolai, a Russian former soldier. Nikky has secrets and is scarred by things he did and saw in Chechnya. Are his secrets dangerous? Is he involved in terrorism? When the 7/7 bombings take place Georgie begins to have her suspicions...
A thriller but not really a psychological thriller this is an enjoyable exciting read full of secrets and covers what life was like in London post 7/7. I enjoyed it greatly.
However Julian remains smitten and this does not change when Georgie meet Nikolai, a Russian former soldier. Nikky has secrets and is scarred by things he did and saw in Chechnya. Are his secrets dangerous? Is he involved in terrorism? When the 7/7 bombings take place Georgie begins to have her suspicions...
A thriller but not really a psychological thriller this is an enjoyable exciting read full of secrets and covers what life was like in London post 7/7. I enjoyed it greatly.
December 21, 2017
I received a free copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I gave this book about 50 pages, but I was so very bored by that point that I decided not to finish. Just not the book for me; it never sparked any interest.
I gave this book about 50 pages, but I was so very bored by that point that I decided not to finish. Just not the book for me; it never sparked any interest.
October 19, 2016
It’s quite ironic, that when Jennie Ensor first approached me about Blind Side I was facing a backlog of reviews and wary of taking on more; when she pitched it as a ‘psychological thriller set before, during and after the 7/7 London terror attacks‘ I admit I did have reservations about the 7/7 element – presuming how it would be incorporated – but on the whole as I usually love a good thriller and liked the premise (and always keen to support Unbound authors) I agreed to review… and I’m so pleased I did… from both a reader and a writer’s perspective.
At the heart of Blind Side is a love-story – the classic love triangle of one woman and two men – that explores many issues of relationships and human behaviour ‘love and friendship, guilt and betrayal, secrets and obsession‘ but more interestingly, importantly, also ‘confronts urgent issues of our times and contemplates some of our deepest fears.‘ Indeed, in Blind Side Ensor skillfully combines political and thriller elements, but while the aspects of 7/7 undoubtedly colour the story and heighten the gripping nature they add to the story, not detract like I feared.
The love-story begins with the protagonist, Georgie – a single woman on the cusp of 30 – who wants a relationship but not just with anyone. Although the story is told almost entirely from her perspective, as she has a rather raw and honest, self-deprecating demeanour we learn of her insecurities and flaws; a growing dissatisfaction with work, a sense of abandonment from her mother leaving when she was young, struggling to live up to her father’s expectations and hurt from an earlier relationship, Georgie certainly is an unhappy character spiralling into turmoil and ‘can’t risk falling in love again.’ While some may find her cold – or even fulfilling the now popular unlikeable heroine stance – for me that made her all the more interesting, especially as we see do her grow throughout the story.
Julian is her platonic – ‘we’re not fuck buddies‘ – friend from University, who Georgie confesses originally found ‘a bit of a geek’ but did find humour beneath his reserve.The shared issues with their mothers help, although Julian’s died rather than choosing to leave, we do get an early clue to his character when Georgie admits ‘it struck me odd that he decided he “couldn’t be bothered” to go to her funeral.’ Despite being just friends the story kicks off shortly after Valentine’s Day when Julian has already smudged the boundaries by buying Georgie expensive jewellery instead of the usual silly card then orchestrates them getting wasted and coerces her to have sex which she immediately regrets; especially when he confesses to loving her and having done so for a while. That she doesn’t feel the same way fuels a switch in Julian’s behaviour towards her and ignites a bitter jealousy, especially when he discovers Georgie has met Nikolai…
‘Our conversation is stilted; short bursts breaking long silences. The rules between us have changed. I feel as if I’m driving a car for the first time, trying not to stall the engine or rev it too much in case it goes out of control.
“Fancy catching a band later?” His voice is hopeful.
I spoon the froth off the top of my cappuccino. "I’m tired, I don’t want a late night.” It’s true enough.
Neither of us speaks for a while. Julian folds over the used portion of his sugar packet.
“Where were you when I called?”
“What?”
“I called Thursday night, after I got your text. You didn’t answer.”
“Oh, I was in the pub, that’s all. The music was pretty loud.”
“The pub?”
“I popped into one after work.”
“That’s not like you. I thought you said you had loads of stuff to get done for your campaign.”
“I just felt like it, that’s all. I took the wrong turn and saw this lively- looking place…’
"Did you meet anyone interesting?”
“Only some Russian guy…”
“Russians – they’re all over London, these days.” He says this as if they’re cockroaches. He looks at me intently. “You’re going to see him again?”
“I doubt it,” I reply. “He was an interesting guy – but I’m not sure. There was something a bit… edgy about him.”
Julian’s face is blank, as if everything behind it has shut down. The only movement in his body is his chest as it rises and falls. His lips are slightly parted and I can hear his breathing.
“He sounds a total arsehole.”
I pull my hand away, shocked. Julian never uses that kind of language.
“If I were you, ” he adds, “I wouldn’t have anything more to do with him.”'
And there lies Georgie’s dilemma. The shift in Julian’s behaviour towards her and the xenophobic reaction to Nikolai – which sadly echoes the current issues in today’s Britain – makes her question their friendship as it soon becomes clear his jealousy is becoming a nasty obsession.
But falling in love with Nikolai isn’t straightforward. An ex-soldier who fought in Chechnya with extremely troubled memories – his circumstances and reasons for being in London are as he says ‘best she doesn’t know’ and some of his actions and connections make her question him…
‘Do I need to be scared of getting involved with him? Undoubtedly, there are good reasons not to. I have no idea how long he’ll be around. Apart from that he’s troubled, to say the least. His idea that someone was following him… Is he delusional?’
As Georgie gets to know Nikolai and his story unfolds, Julian becomes increasingly jealous and his obsession more intense; the backdrop of London in 2005 – events leading up to during and after 7/7 – are an excellent narrative technique for adding exposition, tone and mood to the thriller aspects of Blind Side which Jennie incorporates deftly and it really highlights and questions current prejudices… this backdrop didn’t overshadow the story as I feared, indeed it feels like an imperative additional character very well executed.
I’m delighted to welcome Jennie to poppypeacockpens to talk about writing and her debut:
https://poppypeacockpens.com/2016/10/...
At the heart of Blind Side is a love-story – the classic love triangle of one woman and two men – that explores many issues of relationships and human behaviour ‘love and friendship, guilt and betrayal, secrets and obsession‘ but more interestingly, importantly, also ‘confronts urgent issues of our times and contemplates some of our deepest fears.‘ Indeed, in Blind Side Ensor skillfully combines political and thriller elements, but while the aspects of 7/7 undoubtedly colour the story and heighten the gripping nature they add to the story, not detract like I feared.
The love-story begins with the protagonist, Georgie – a single woman on the cusp of 30 – who wants a relationship but not just with anyone. Although the story is told almost entirely from her perspective, as she has a rather raw and honest, self-deprecating demeanour we learn of her insecurities and flaws; a growing dissatisfaction with work, a sense of abandonment from her mother leaving when she was young, struggling to live up to her father’s expectations and hurt from an earlier relationship, Georgie certainly is an unhappy character spiralling into turmoil and ‘can’t risk falling in love again.’ While some may find her cold – or even fulfilling the now popular unlikeable heroine stance – for me that made her all the more interesting, especially as we see do her grow throughout the story.
Julian is her platonic – ‘we’re not fuck buddies‘ – friend from University, who Georgie confesses originally found ‘a bit of a geek’ but did find humour beneath his reserve.The shared issues with their mothers help, although Julian’s died rather than choosing to leave, we do get an early clue to his character when Georgie admits ‘it struck me odd that he decided he “couldn’t be bothered” to go to her funeral.’ Despite being just friends the story kicks off shortly after Valentine’s Day when Julian has already smudged the boundaries by buying Georgie expensive jewellery instead of the usual silly card then orchestrates them getting wasted and coerces her to have sex which she immediately regrets; especially when he confesses to loving her and having done so for a while. That she doesn’t feel the same way fuels a switch in Julian’s behaviour towards her and ignites a bitter jealousy, especially when he discovers Georgie has met Nikolai…
‘Our conversation is stilted; short bursts breaking long silences. The rules between us have changed. I feel as if I’m driving a car for the first time, trying not to stall the engine or rev it too much in case it goes out of control.
“Fancy catching a band later?” His voice is hopeful.
I spoon the froth off the top of my cappuccino. "I’m tired, I don’t want a late night.” It’s true enough.
Neither of us speaks for a while. Julian folds over the used portion of his sugar packet.
“Where were you when I called?”
“What?”
“I called Thursday night, after I got your text. You didn’t answer.”
“Oh, I was in the pub, that’s all. The music was pretty loud.”
“The pub?”
“I popped into one after work.”
“That’s not like you. I thought you said you had loads of stuff to get done for your campaign.”
“I just felt like it, that’s all. I took the wrong turn and saw this lively- looking place…’
"Did you meet anyone interesting?”
“Only some Russian guy…”
“Russians – they’re all over London, these days.” He says this as if they’re cockroaches. He looks at me intently. “You’re going to see him again?”
“I doubt it,” I reply. “He was an interesting guy – but I’m not sure. There was something a bit… edgy about him.”
Julian’s face is blank, as if everything behind it has shut down. The only movement in his body is his chest as it rises and falls. His lips are slightly parted and I can hear his breathing.
“He sounds a total arsehole.”
I pull my hand away, shocked. Julian never uses that kind of language.
“If I were you, ” he adds, “I wouldn’t have anything more to do with him.”'
And there lies Georgie’s dilemma. The shift in Julian’s behaviour towards her and the xenophobic reaction to Nikolai – which sadly echoes the current issues in today’s Britain – makes her question their friendship as it soon becomes clear his jealousy is becoming a nasty obsession.
But falling in love with Nikolai isn’t straightforward. An ex-soldier who fought in Chechnya with extremely troubled memories – his circumstances and reasons for being in London are as he says ‘best she doesn’t know’ and some of his actions and connections make her question him…
‘Do I need to be scared of getting involved with him? Undoubtedly, there are good reasons not to. I have no idea how long he’ll be around. Apart from that he’s troubled, to say the least. His idea that someone was following him… Is he delusional?’
As Georgie gets to know Nikolai and his story unfolds, Julian becomes increasingly jealous and his obsession more intense; the backdrop of London in 2005 – events leading up to during and after 7/7 – are an excellent narrative technique for adding exposition, tone and mood to the thriller aspects of Blind Side which Jennie incorporates deftly and it really highlights and questions current prejudices… this backdrop didn’t overshadow the story as I feared, indeed it feels like an imperative additional character very well executed.
I’m delighted to welcome Jennie to poppypeacockpens to talk about writing and her debut:
https://poppypeacockpens.com/2016/10/...
January 4, 2018
Wow, this book totally started my new year with a bang. Not at all what I expected and the blur doesn't give it enough credit.
There are so many great strands to the book.. Georgie's mistake sleeping with her friend, turns both their lives upside down. Julian's jealously when Georgie meets Nikolai, an ex Russian soldier, is frankly creepy and sad.
This book flowed at the right speed and was very clear throughout that the author put so much effort and research into making every page feel real and completing a complex yet engaging read.
If you're looking for something a little different from your normal thrillers then please try this real. It has a little something of everything.
There are so many great strands to the book.. Georgie's mistake sleeping with her friend, turns both their lives upside down. Julian's jealously when Georgie meets Nikolai, an ex Russian soldier, is frankly creepy and sad.
This book flowed at the right speed and was very clear throughout that the author put so much effort and research into making every page feel real and completing a complex yet engaging read.
If you're looking for something a little different from your normal thrillers then please try this real. It has a little something of everything.
June 15, 2017
I enjoyed this psychological mystery by Ensor. Told from the first person, I really got to know and understand the protagonist, Georgie. Nickolai, her love interest, was a complicated and intriguing character. Other characters were not as well developed and less believable for me, and the ending was somewhat a let-down. This was a promising debut novel.
October 16, 2016
When I received my copy of Blind Side, on the face of it I was expecting a fairly standard suspense / thriller – right up my street, don’t get me wrong, but likely similar to a lot of books I have read before and probably will again. I am pleased to say I was pleasantly surprised because the book is much more complex that I expected or than it first seemed.
It opens with Georgie and her best friend Julian sharing one too many glasses of wine that see them ending up in bed together. Waking up and hungover Georgie knows it’s not the best idea she has ever had but the situation is made worse when Julian tells her that he loves her, has always loved her, and wants a relationship. This is the last thing Georgie wants. Julian, though, doesn’t and won’t take no for an answer, becoming increasingly possessive the more Georgie moves away from him.
Then Georgie meets Nikolai, a Russian in London illegally and with a dark past, one he is either hiding because he is up to no good or because he is too ashamed to tell the truth. For a long time, almost to the end, it isn’t clear what his motives are. A career-minded woman, normally Georgie wouldn’t look at someone like Nikki but she finds herself drawn to him despite the secrets he is keeping. As their relationship develops, Julian’s obsession becomes worse and he will – it seems – stop at nothing to stop them falling in love.
What sets this book apart is the setting – the story takes place in London in 2005 in the run up too and aftermath of 7/7. Tensions are high and distrust is in the air. Nikolai has links to Chechnya which are hard for Georgia to ignore. Whilst I wasn’t in London during this time, the descriptions of how people felt, their anxiety and constant looking over their shoulder and suspecting people felt very real to me.
I think the setting also helped develop the characters. Not so much Julian, but Georgia was well-rounded and relatable whilst Nikolai’s discomfort at being a stranger in a strange land came across well. It helped explain a lot of their misunderstandings, which meant plenty of twists and turns in the plot and a constant second-guessing of motives. If I had any criticisms it would be the length – always a personal thing – but for me it was a little too long. However, this is minor and didn’t stop me liking the book a lot.
Emma
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author Jennie Ensor in return for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, feelings and opinions are my own. Many thanks for my copy Jennie.
It opens with Georgie and her best friend Julian sharing one too many glasses of wine that see them ending up in bed together. Waking up and hungover Georgie knows it’s not the best idea she has ever had but the situation is made worse when Julian tells her that he loves her, has always loved her, and wants a relationship. This is the last thing Georgie wants. Julian, though, doesn’t and won’t take no for an answer, becoming increasingly possessive the more Georgie moves away from him.
Then Georgie meets Nikolai, a Russian in London illegally and with a dark past, one he is either hiding because he is up to no good or because he is too ashamed to tell the truth. For a long time, almost to the end, it isn’t clear what his motives are. A career-minded woman, normally Georgie wouldn’t look at someone like Nikki but she finds herself drawn to him despite the secrets he is keeping. As their relationship develops, Julian’s obsession becomes worse and he will – it seems – stop at nothing to stop them falling in love.
What sets this book apart is the setting – the story takes place in London in 2005 in the run up too and aftermath of 7/7. Tensions are high and distrust is in the air. Nikolai has links to Chechnya which are hard for Georgia to ignore. Whilst I wasn’t in London during this time, the descriptions of how people felt, their anxiety and constant looking over their shoulder and suspecting people felt very real to me.
I think the setting also helped develop the characters. Not so much Julian, but Georgia was well-rounded and relatable whilst Nikolai’s discomfort at being a stranger in a strange land came across well. It helped explain a lot of their misunderstandings, which meant plenty of twists and turns in the plot and a constant second-guessing of motives. If I had any criticisms it would be the length – always a personal thing – but for me it was a little too long. However, this is minor and didn’t stop me liking the book a lot.
Emma
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author Jennie Ensor in return for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, feelings and opinions are my own. Many thanks for my copy Jennie.
December 20, 2017
A beautiful love story between Georgie and Nikolai is the main focus of this book. I felt that the thriller aspect was a sideline. It quickly became obvious that Julian was a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic, but he did keep us abreast of his movements. The terrible tumult following 7/7 was experienced by many Londoners. All of a sudden, people, friends, neighbours who we'd known for years, seemed suspicious. It was a terrible time and Ms Ensor captures the feeling perfectly. I look forward to reading more from this most talented author.
October 26, 2016
A prologue that pulls you in and a storyline that doesn’t let you go until the very last page. This is such a thought-provoking read; pitched as ‘a thriller about a love triangle set in London before and after 7/7’ – it is that and so much more. In today’s society, the war on terror is a very real thing and Blind Side tells a compelling story that grips you in a unique way.
Georgie loses her close friend Julian in one night, when she doesn’t share his feeling of love, their friendship becomes impossible. However, Julian refuses to let Georgie go and will be damned if he’s going to see her in the arms of another man. This presents a real problem when Georgie meets and begins dating Nikolai. Julian feels betrayed and the more Georgie tries to distance herself from him, the more possessive he becomes.
Georgie’s relationship with Nikolai is in its early stages, she hasn’t felt this happy in a long time and she's enjoying getting to know him. However, she is convinced he is keeping secrets from her. She knows he was solider in Russia and he fought in the war in Chechnya; she sees his pain when he talks of his experiences of war. Living in London illegally, is Nikolai running away from the trauma of his past or is he here for more sinister reasons?
Right up until the end of the book, we are left guessing what Nikolai’s (and Julian's) true intentions are; I felt this was an accurate reflection of July's 2005 London, tension and anxiety were running high, nobody knew who they could trust, nobody was sure, everyone was a suspect.
The characters of Georgie and Nikolai are extremely well developed and the setting perfect - living not too far from where these attacks took place, I feel Ensor really captured the true atmosphere that stretched across London at that time; the distrust was ripe, the fear was real.
I found it particularly thought-provoking reading about Nikolai's experiences as a solider in the Chechen war, you really begin thinking about the realities of war and terrorism, people’s attitudes and how they treat each other in the aftermath. Ensor has written a beautiful, well thought out and well researched story. A difficult read, in the sense that it touches on some very real issues, and really gets you thinking about society; a book that will stay with you long after reading it.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Georgie loses her close friend Julian in one night, when she doesn’t share his feeling of love, their friendship becomes impossible. However, Julian refuses to let Georgie go and will be damned if he’s going to see her in the arms of another man. This presents a real problem when Georgie meets and begins dating Nikolai. Julian feels betrayed and the more Georgie tries to distance herself from him, the more possessive he becomes.
Georgie’s relationship with Nikolai is in its early stages, she hasn’t felt this happy in a long time and she's enjoying getting to know him. However, she is convinced he is keeping secrets from her. She knows he was solider in Russia and he fought in the war in Chechnya; she sees his pain when he talks of his experiences of war. Living in London illegally, is Nikolai running away from the trauma of his past or is he here for more sinister reasons?
Right up until the end of the book, we are left guessing what Nikolai’s (and Julian's) true intentions are; I felt this was an accurate reflection of July's 2005 London, tension and anxiety were running high, nobody knew who they could trust, nobody was sure, everyone was a suspect.
The characters of Georgie and Nikolai are extremely well developed and the setting perfect - living not too far from where these attacks took place, I feel Ensor really captured the true atmosphere that stretched across London at that time; the distrust was ripe, the fear was real.
I found it particularly thought-provoking reading about Nikolai's experiences as a solider in the Chechen war, you really begin thinking about the realities of war and terrorism, people’s attitudes and how they treat each other in the aftermath. Ensor has written a beautiful, well thought out and well researched story. A difficult read, in the sense that it touches on some very real issues, and really gets you thinking about society; a book that will stay with you long after reading it.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2016
Tense and well written, this is a nicely plotted thriller set in London in 2005, the summer of the July 7th bombings.
Georgie and Julian have been friends for years, but everything changes between them after a drunken evening. When Georgie meets Nikolai, a Russian ex-soldier and musician, she's drawn to him despite (or because of) the things he can't or won't tell her about his past. Julian's jealousy and Georgie's complex relationships with her rather dominant father and the mother who left when she was a child add to her confusion about who (and how) to trust. Julian's increasingly unstable behaviour increases the tension as Georgie and Nikolai become closer. Georgie is a sympathetic protagonist and Nikolai a convincingly complicated character, deeply affected by his experiences in Chechnya.
Exploring the damage done by war, the immigrant experience and the lies people tell to protect themselves, this is a sure footed and intelligent debut.
Georgie and Julian have been friends for years, but everything changes between them after a drunken evening. When Georgie meets Nikolai, a Russian ex-soldier and musician, she's drawn to him despite (or because of) the things he can't or won't tell her about his past. Julian's jealousy and Georgie's complex relationships with her rather dominant father and the mother who left when she was a child add to her confusion about who (and how) to trust. Julian's increasingly unstable behaviour increases the tension as Georgie and Nikolai become closer. Georgie is a sympathetic protagonist and Nikolai a convincingly complicated character, deeply affected by his experiences in Chechnya.
Exploring the damage done by war, the immigrant experience and the lies people tell to protect themselves, this is a sure footed and intelligent debut.
October 5, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyable and gripping thriller set around the time of the 7/7 bombings in London. The author uses the event cleverly but respectfully to ramp up the tension in the second half of the book. This novel is also an exploration of an immigrants experience in a city that welcomes all theoretically but in practice, it is a very different matter. The love story that is threaded deftly and quite beautifully between the plot lays bare the complications that come with loving damaged people with complicated histories and I could only feel enormous sadness for Nikolai, a man trying to change his past but is manacled to the violence that spawned his adulthood. A really super read that I managed in two sittings with a young family in tow. I think that is the highest praise I can give. Highly recommended.
November 20, 2016
I really enjoyed this fast-paced and nuanced book. Georgie’s growing attachment to Nikolai is believable and tender, as is the menacing yet human character of Julian and the very real threat he presents. When Georgie learns about Nikolai’s history, as well as the decisions of her own father, she must consider her future as well as her past. The undercurrent of violence is well drawn. Georgie gains courage in her own choices, and in being autonomous from her father and his judgment. Julian is frightening, yet I never completely lost sympathy for him. An absorbing and fascinating read.
January 4, 2018
In a way, this was as much a love story as a thriller but didn't suffer for being so. Jennie writes very well, and there are many great lines and insights throughout.
I thoroughly bought into the relationship between the two, and there were a few twists and turns along the way.
I struggled with the Julian character, his actions seemed a little caricaturish and unconvincing.
After a slow start, I was keen to read more, and finished the book quickly.
Overall an enjoyable read with promising writing
I thoroughly bought into the relationship between the two, and there were a few twists and turns along the way.
I struggled with the Julian character, his actions seemed a little caricaturish and unconvincing.
After a slow start, I was keen to read more, and finished the book quickly.
Overall an enjoyable read with promising writing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews