Troll by D B Thorne

Troll by DB Thorne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - just under 2 days

Pages - 366

Publisher - Corvus

Blurb from Goodreads

A gripping and explosive psychological thriller about a young woman who disappears in suspicious circumstances having been hounded by a vicious online troll.

Years ago, Fortune gave up on his daughter, Sophie, after a troubled adolescence. ow she's gone missing, vanished without trace. And after weeks of investigation, the police have given up on her, too.

Driven by guilt, and a determination to atone for his failures as a father, he takes on the search himself. He soon finds that his daughter had been living in fear of a vicious online troll who seemed to know far too much about her. Could Sophie's disappearance be linked to this unknown predator? Fortune is about to discovers that monsters which live online don't always stay there...



My Review

Fortune is a man who is career driven and his family life suffered as a result, he has a daughter Sophie, now in her 20's, whom he doesn't really know anymore. Sophie has a great career as a journalist and has overcome a lot from her troubled past but now she is the target of an online troll. When Sophie disappears and the police are reluctant to see the disappearance as her father does, Fortune risks his job and much more to make amends and find his daughter.

The book opens with Fortune at the police, the investigation is being reclassified and stepped down, Fortune is angry and takes matters into his own hands. We flip to Sophie and before she disappeared, her life and the then interactions with the troll who doesn't keep to just harassing online. We follow the two story lines, with the father in the present and flipping between locations, Dubai for Fortune and then he comes to London for Sophie.

Narration also flips about, Fortune is in third person, Sophie's is first person. There is a fair amount of switching going on and I would have personally preferred the chapters to be signposted who if not where. The chapters with Sophie are eerie as the threats, intimidation and targeting become more intense. The reader gets drawn into the dark spiral and decline as Sophie questions everything around her, it also makes you realise how vulnerable you really are. Fortunes is, I felt a bit slower, as he knocks about from pillar to post trying to get some answers and direction to find his daughter. Self exploration plays a part too as he recalls all he missed because of his job and unravel Sophie's background of mental health issues, which raises questions of what actually happened.

It is a busy wee book and I was ensnared from the front cover, my proof copy was a screenshot of an online post Sophie made about a physical attack and interaction with said troll. I couldn't wait to discover what actually transpired and what Sophie's fate actually was. The book is a bit like an onion, you know what is being offered but as you start to read & reveal the layers the story is about much more than a stalker/thriller. Family life, regrets, self exploration, personal growth, mental health issues and the ripples that can follow even when you are a healthy individual, stigma still follows you. I think the under layers really get you thinking and I did enjoy the psychological thriller/mystery elements. 3.5/5 for me this time, this was my first dance with this author, I would read them again. Thanks to Corvus for sending me a copy, all views as always are my own. Available to buy from all good retailers from 1st of June 2017.

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Take A Chance On Me by Carol Wyer

Take A Chance On Me by Carol E. Wyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 325

Publisher - Bookouture

Blurb from Goodreads

It’s time for Charlie to ditch the life that’s been dragging her down in this romantic, funny, feel good read!

Since splitting from her husband, Charlie’s life has been stuck in a rut. Best friendMercedes will do anything to put a smile back on Charlie’s face and so draws up a bucket list of things to help Charlie recover her mojo.

Sure enough, as Charlie works her way through the list, belly dancing and bungee jumping, she makes new friends and even begins to attract some male attention.

Journalist Jake gives Charlie butterflies but he almost seems too perfect – there must be a reason why he’s single. Perhaps Rob would be a better bet – yes he’s short and he drinks too much - but a girl can’t have everything can she?

The final challenge on Charlie’s list looms large. Can Charlie complete it and prove to herself that life is for living, whatever may have happened in the past? And can Jake get through to Charlie and stop her from settling for the single life or, the wrong man?

Join Charlie as she finds her happy-ever-after in this hilarious, heartwarming read that will make you laugh, cry and live your life to the full!
This book was previously published as Three Little Birds



My Review


Charlie's life has been a bit crap, her daughter died, her relationship with her husband has crumbled and her life is in a bit of a rut. Her best friend Mercedes comes up with a great idea, creating a bucket list Charlie needs to do, it will kick up her routine, force her into new and exciting situations and take her mind off life current predicaments. During all this Charlie meets two very different men, Rob who likes a drink, is quite a flirt and certainly offers a bit of excitement and then there is Jake, a journalist who is beautiful, funny and has a knack of just turning up at the most inopportune moments. Whilst Charlie is moving on and finding a new lease for life, one aspect of her old life won't go away and some people just can't let go!

So for me this story came at the right time, I had just finished reading a really dark tale so needed something that was a bit heartwarming. Charlie is such a nice person, she helps out at the radio at the hospital, does good deeds with little expectation in return and generally sweet. Mercedes list brings challenges and helps build some confidence for Charlie whilst opening doors to some new folk in her life. We see her grow as a character, learn to appreciate her abilities and expand her social circle. The book takes a bit of a dark turn that almost seems like a different story, Charlie has someone in her past who can't let go and doesn't want to see her move on. The tale gets dark and almost becomes a thriller in respects to one angle before resuming the feel good focus. I think for some readers they may dislike that whilst others will love it, I didn't mind it really and liked it overall. This is my first time reading this author, I would certainly read her again, 4/5 for me this time.

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