BLOG TOUR: The Double - Ann Gosslin

 

Following a violent outburst at an awards ceremony, Vidor Kiraly, a prize-winning neuroscientist and Cambridge don, is sent to an isolated psychiatric clinic in the Swiss Alps.

When the clinic’s director, Anton Gessen, tries in vain to unearth the missing pieces of Vidor’s life, he suspects his reluctant patient is not who he appears to be. After one of the patients at the clinic goes missing, Gessen has reason to doubt Vidor’s self-proclaimed innocence. But what is he hiding, and who might be next?

What did I think?

The Double is a very unusual psychological thriller, focussing more on the psychological aspect of the workings of the brain rather than fast-paced thrills.  Although the pacing is rather slow it was nice to just to relax in the stunning virtual environment of the Swiss Alps and immerse myself in the soothing and mesmeric writing of Ann Gosslin.  

Vidor Kiraly is a very interesting main character and I suspected from the very first chapter that there was more to him than meets the eye.  He may seem confident but underneath he is clearly insecure and seeking validation; and that's not all that is lurking beneath the surface.  After having some kind of psychotic break, Vidor is sent to a psychiatric clinic in the Swiss Alps to be assessed by Dr Anton Gessen.

I really enjoyed Dr Gessen's sessions with Vidor.  Dr Gessen is like a detective wearing kid gloves, gently probing Vidor's mind to try to ascertain whether diminished responsibility is a valid claim for Vidor's violence.  I found the use of aroma to evoke memories really interesting; it's so true that a smell from your past can transport you through time and space to a forgotten place.

Dr Gessen and Vidor prove worthy adversaries as one tries to uncover the truth and the other tries to remain one step ahead.  Tension and suspense mounts like snow falling flake by flake on the Alps and an ominous feeling descended over me in the latter half of the book as the pacing picked up speed.  

Atmospheric and mesmerising, The Double is a literary study of the mind and all its foibles.  It may be a slow burner but it constantly simmers and boils with the underlying threat of explosion.  I enjoyed it but it's perhaps a book that will appeal more to the discerning reader who likes to explore the intricate workings of the human mind.  

Many thanks to Legend Press for sending me an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Never Again - Nicky Clifford

Mountains, Mystery, Romance: Can you run from your past?

Harriet Anderson’s life is spiralling out of control. Unused to such mayhem, she ditches her high-powered job to take refuge in the Swiss Alps where she meets Philippe Smith, a crime writer with a dark and shadowy past. Thrown together by chance, is their fate intertwined?

Will the karma and romance of the mountains and the quaintness of the Alps soothe their troubled souls?

Or will their rocky paths create avalanches that cannot be avoided...

What did I think?

I wasn't sure what to expect from Nicky Clifford's debut, Never Again, but whatever expectations I did have were greatly exceeded. Harriet is so troubled that you can't help but like her immediately and from that moment on, the book is impossible to put down.

Harriet left her job and her past behind to travel to the Swiss Alps to work as a waitress at a hotel.  What or who is she running from? Harriet arrives with brash American, Becky, who is so materialistic that you can almost hear the boo/hiss every time she appears.  Also waitressing at the hotel is Jo and she and Harriet hit it off straight away.  Guests at the hotel include author, Philippe Smith and elderly ice-cream addict Elspeth.  Both play a massive part in the story, Philippe as the love interest and Elspeth as the confidante.

When Harriet first meets Philippe they don't have the best of starts.  She almost destroys his laptop by spilling his coffee but his anger disappears the minute he looks into her lovely green eyes.  Love at first sight, perhaps?  As they spend more time together they develop a friendship that could be more...but then their exes turn up to throw a spanner in the works.

This book is so addictive!  Harriet has been portrayed brilliantly, just like any normal person with her insecurities and life ups and downs.  There are so many misunderstandings between Harriet and Philippe but they are drawn to each other like magnets.  I could feel Harriet's turmoil when her ex, Greg, turned up.  She had the new buds of a relationship with Philippe but Greg has something she can't resist.

The stunning Swiss location is described brilliantly and I felt like I was there; dining in the hotel restaurant and sipping hot chocolate in the cafe.  There are so many well-rounded characters to complete the story, from Becky the Bitch to Jo and her Welsh farmer brothers - I loved every single one of them.  Harriet, who has two men to choose from but only one really loves her for who she is not what she can do for him.  Will she make the right decision?  Maybe...with a little help from her new friends.

Never Again is an amazing debut; it is real life romance without the fluff.  If this is her debut, I can't wait to read what comes next from Nicky Clifford.  It's an outstanding story which allows the reader to step into the shoes of the main character and experience her turmoil and conflicting emotions - will you be on Team Greg or Team Philippe?

Many thanks to Nicky for sending me an e-book copy for review and I am delighted to release my review as part of the Never Again blog tour.

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