Pick Up The Pace! (Losing You - Nicci French)

Member Name: wendybull

Product:	Losing You - Nicci French
Date:	01/08/09 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good conclusion

Disadvantages: First half of book, and no chapters

On her 40th birthday, just as Nina and her family are due to fly to Florida for Christmas, her 16 year old daughter, Charlie, goes missing. Nina knows she has not just turned some teenage rebellion trick and that there is something seriously wrong with the picture, but trying to convince the police of this is proving difficult.

Suspicous of everyone, even her ex-husband, Nina frantically chases her tail round Sandling Island, the small island she lives on, in search for her daughter or clues to help find her. But when the dead body of one of Charlie's friends turns up Nina's pace steps up.

I did enjoy this book although it felt very mundane for the first half with Nina repeating things over and over and to be honest there just wasn't enough action for me. I think it was written to try and build up the suspense of what had happened to Charlie, but it came across as a little boring to start with. I had to make myself continue reading and I was glad I did because the last half of the book was a lot better with lots of revelations and things coming forward to help fill in the pictures.

Another annoying thing was that there were no chapters. It is just one long run of text and while I may have enjoyed this if I had a whole day to lounge around and read, I have to snatch my reading time while in the bath or for half an hour at the end of the day before bed. Not having any chapters meant it was difficult to find a convenient place to stop, but I managed and so I guess it is just a minor niggle.

The overall style of the book was meant to be very suspenseful and the authors pulled that off to a certain extent, but if the first half had been a quicker pace I think it would have worked a lot better overall.

I really do like Nicci French books but this is not as good as the other ones I have read although is still worth a read if you are a fan.

Summary: Still Recommended