Reviews: The Wrong Move (10)

I read this book in two days and for the most part I really enjoyed it, it definitely kept me hooked as I needed to know how the story would unfold.
Jessie moves into a flatshare in Brighton after escaping an abusive relationship. At first it seems like she might have found new friends, but as things start to go wrong for her you realise that not all might be as it seems.
I found refreshing that although the book is written mainly on Jessie’s perspective, every now and then it switches to the other characters, (especially at the end when the explanation unfolds) giving you a different view and an insight into their characters. This is also quite different from all the books I’ve been reading lately.
I did find Jessie’s character a bit annoying and unrelatable, I know she has been through a lot and her confidence is shattered, but she displays a weakness of character and gullibility that I found irritating.
I also felt the ending was rushed and not fully wrapped up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Ebury for letting me review this book.

This is the kind of book where you'll be making guesses about which characters you can trust throughout. I loved (and was freaked out by) the story of a young woman dealing with an ex-boyfriend she'd rather forget, especially set against the backdrop of Brighton. Devoured this every second I could to find out the truth behind the creepy happenings and would definitely recommend.

Unfortunately I can only rate this one as 2/5.

It sounded like a great premise for a strong thriller but unfortunately it just didn't deliver.

I found it to be predictable with a rushed ending that left me feeling unfulfilled. In addition the main character (Jessie) just didn't resonate with me, I found her to be quite self-absorbed which I'm sure is not how I was supposed to receive her. There seemed to be a lot of storylines running alongside each other that could have been really interesting but because they were not explored fully it gave the book a messy feel overall. It wasn't an awful book, I'm sure some will enjoy it but it wasn't for me. Overall I felt it could have been so much better, and so I was ultimately disappointed.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Set in Brighton, Jessie is looking for a new flat share after ending an abusive relationship. After many viewings she finds the perfect place to live. Her flat mates are friendly, some more than others.

Lauren is super friendly and welcoming, helping a Jessie to settle in, Sofie is in a relationship with the ego that is Henry and is rarely at home and Marcus is quiet and a bit of a loner, but friendly and helpful,

For the first couple of months everything is fine and settled but then Jessie’s anxiety ramps up due to odd little incidents…...what happened to the previous occupant of her room, Magda?

Who can she really trust?

I really enjoyed The Wrong Move, it has a creeping, subtle tension which is enhanced by the clever writing, the way the perspective of the narrative changes between the characters, sometimes within the same paragraph really added to the weird sense of unease.

An unsettling, gripping and thoroughly entertaining read.

Thank you to the author. The publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Wrong Move for free. This is my honest, unbiased review.

You’ve left your controlling, abusive boyfriend, you’ve looked at flat after flat after flat, desperate for a place to call your own. And finally, finally you find the right place. A room in a decent sized flat, in an ideal location and sharing with people you have an instant connection with. It should be happily ever after, right?

This was a great psychological thriller that has you questioning everything right from the get go. Jessie is starting a new life for herself and is thrilled when she finds a room at Maver Place, even more thrilled when she instantly hits it off with Lauren. Effortlessly cool and confident, she takes Jessie under her wing and the two become fast friends. Completing the trio is vivacious Sofie, while spending most of her time at her boyfriend’s house, she still manages to form a bond with Jessie. The only blip is Marcus, the fourth house mate. Reclusive, quiet and just a little bit odd.

As the story progresses is becomes clear that all the people in Jessie’s life have things to hide. Just what does Marcus do all night? Why doesn’t anyone want to talk about the previous occupant of Jessie’s room? Why do things in Jessie’s room keep moving and disappearing? For most of the book the story is told from Jessie’s perspective, but now and again there are odd moments where we get snippets from the other characters. Sometimes this quick and unexpected change in the story flow was a little jarring and uncomfortable but I did get used to it. It also gives readers a little more insight into what the characters are hiding.

This was a quick read for me, I found myself tearing through it to see how it all played out. I couldn’t trust anyone, even Jessie! And like all good thrillers, the tension built up to a dramatic conclusion. ‘The Wrong Move’ is gripping, unnerving and fast-paced. I couldn’t put it down and it will delight many a reader.

This is the story of Jessie Campbell who after a break up with an abusive boyfriend, seeks a new life and new flat mates in Brighton where she has been to university. She eventually finds a room and meets a disparate bunch of room mates - Lauren who is very friendly, Marcus who is a loner and quiet and Sofie who is lively but rarely at the flat as she is in a relationship with Henry.

The book starts well and the scene is set with some tension between Henry and Marcus and it shows the difficulties of flat sharing with strangers. The characters are well crafted and easy to picture, some are likeable and some are not. As the book progresses a series of incidents happen to Jessie which grow progressively worse. The storytelling is competent and the quality of the writing whilst it’s good, I didn’t get as much suspense or menace as the series of events warrant. However, I think the end is good as it leaves you guessing to a certain extent.

I think one of the issues with the book that did not work particularly well is the random switching of characters whose perspective is being told. It isn’t until about 40% that this happens and it took me by surprise, especially since the character switch doesn’t last for long before it flips back to Jessie. I think it interrupts the flow.

Overall, this is a promising debut novel and I think the author is one to watch as she shows real potential.

If commanding thrillers give you a buzz, then you must read The Wrong Move, written by Jennifer Savin. Having read the intriguing synopsis I was hoping that I was going to be in for a treat with this one and it was extremely good!

In The Wrong Move, the author explores the darkest corners of psychological torment in a mesmerising and chilling tale of menace, secrets, lies, and deviousness.

Narrated from multiple viewpoints, I was given the opportunity to see things from several angles, making the story altogether more interesting. The author cleverly drip-fed the reader snippets of key information so I was never exactly sure what the next development might be which also fuelled my need to continue reading. The characterisation was excellent, and pretty much made this story the remarkable read it was. The characters were very credible, though none were likeable, however, I think this was the author's intention. Their interactions and relationships added depth and illustrated how their pasts shaped them and affected the perceptions they currently possess. Everyone had different motives and priorities for their actions, thoughts or behaviour. The Wrong Move brought me no disappointments, capturing my attention from the prologue to the final word. Jennifer Savin created an underlying sense of tension that was totally gripping. I appreciated the tautness of the plot, the twists and revelations, and the overall quality of the writing. My interest never wavered as the story spiralled its way towards an interesting denouement.

The Wrong Move is compelling fiction that I can highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley at my request and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Jessie moves to Brighton after her relationship break up. She gets a room in a flat share. She soon makes friends with Lauren and Sofie. It then strange things start to happen. Jessie thinks it was her ex-partner that's responsible. When she learns about other tenants who had lived in her room, she uncovers things that could put her life in danger.

The story is told mainly from Jessis's perspective bit all the characters have a voice. There's also Marcus who hardly ever comes out of his room and the letting officer Ian who keeps popping in. The story is a bit predictable in parts. The ending felt a it flat and abrupt. There's twists, secrets and lies. A decent debut novel.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing and the author Jennifer Savin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheWrongMove #NetGalley

Looking for a flatmate? Need somewhere to live? We have all been wary of the problems of flatsharing with strangers. This story covers a slow descent int madness ad a nightmare scenario. One that will keep you wondering who is the friend, and who is the nightmare flatmate?
Twisty-turny to the end, gaslighting or overactive imaginations? And by the way, did you lock the door?

Thanks to #NetGalley for the free copy ahead publication in exchange for an honest review

Jessie escapes her old life with an abusive boyfriend by moving to a flat in Brighton and starting a new job. She quickly becomes good friends with the girls she is flat-sharing with, especially Lauren who is there for her through everything that goes wrong - and a lot starts to go wrong for Jessie! Has Jessie's ex-boyfriend tracked her down to get revenge? Or could flatmate Sofie, who seems to want to look just like Jessie, be behind it all? Or perhaps the only male flatmate, Marcus, who seems a bit odd, is doing these things? Even the letting agent Ian seems creepy and suspicious. When Jessie begins to find out things about previous tenants who lived in her room, she uncovers some truths and realises she may be in a lot of danger...

A fantastic, suspenseful story that keep you guessing, and teaches you to be very careful who you trust! A good ending though not quite as shocking as it could have been, however overall I really enjoyed the book and can't wait for Jennifer Savin to release more books. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.