Friday 28 November 2014

The Cephalopod Coffeehouse: November Meeting 2014



Friday 28 November 2014

This month I’ve read three seasonal short stories and nine novels, some seasonal as well and unfortunately one book that I had to give up on having read only a third of it.  I’m usually much better at choosing my books and reading through the blurbs but this one slipped through the net and obviously wasn't for me. 

My actual pick for this month is a psychological thriller by a British born author who now spends most of her time living in Cyprus with her husband.  I have read several of this author’s books and enjoyed all of them.  

This book is the second of of her ‘Dark Minds’ series, both stand-alone novels.



Behind a Twisted Smile
Dark Minds Series
By
Faith Mortimer
Approx. 208 pages

Product Description from Amazon:
Behind a Twisted Smile (A Dark Minds Mystery Suspense Thriller)

What do you do when an ex-lover won’t take “no” for an answer? Moya thinks Martyn will eventually take the hint – but the rejected lover has no such intention.

Three weeks later, Moya meets her older sister Evie at a picnic, and learns that she has recently met the man of her dreams. Only problem is – He’s Moya’s spurned ex.

Almost at once, Moya finds herself in a long and terrifying ordeal; she has to deal with an adversary who loves playing sinister mind games.

As the months slip away, the mental battles with Martyn move insidiously towards physical conflict. A conflict where only one person will step away…. Alive!…

Moya decides she doesn't want to take her relationship with Martyn any further; it’s only been a few dates so she doesn’t think any harm will be done to either of them, it’s just not working for her but Martyn doesn't take rejection lightly.   

Martyn is able to charm Moya’s family and friends to the point where they don't believe her misgivings about him and his manipulative ways.   When Moya tries to warn people against him she is the one who is ostracised from her friends and family.

Moya begins another relationship, one that is totally different and more loving than the previous one but her boyfriend has to work away a lot; she can't talk to him while he is working in the States and she is in the UK so she tries to manage the situation herself.  The police won’t believe her when she goes to them.  

This book will stay in your mind, it is not graphic in detail but there is enough detail to make it even worse in your mind and more realistic as you are subtly and cleverly led by the author through the twists and turns of a sociopath on the loose.

4 comments:

  1. Nice review. Precious few authors realize the power of the reader's imagination. Suggesting the graphic details can be just as effective as literal description.

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  2. Sounds like a gripping portrayal of a psychopath. I haven't read it so I don't know how it ends, but at least a third of all female homicide victims in the US are murdered by their intimate partners, so this plotline sounds scarily plausible.

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  3. Sounds like a really interesting read! Thanks for the recommendation--I'll have to check out this author, too :)

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  4. Armchair makes a good point; sometimes less is more. I bet this book would make a great movie.

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