Twisted by Steve Cavanagh @SSCav @orionbooks #review

Today it’s my great pleasure to be able to share my thoughts on Twisted, the latest thriller from author Steve Cavanagh. My thanks go to publisher Orion Books who provided and advance copy for review and to Tracy Fenton for inviting me to join the tour. Here is what the book is all about:

About the Book

BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:

1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you’ve found me. I’m coming for you next.

After you’ve read this book, you’ll know: the truth is far more twisted…

Available From: Amazon | Kobo | Waterstones | Blackwells | Apple | Google

My Thoughts

Genius.

That’s it.

All you are getting.

This is one of those books that the less that is said, the more satisfying it will be in reading it. The blurb gives little away and I don’t want to either. Let’s just say that this book will have you wondering just who is J.T. LeBeau. You’ll think you know, but you’ll probably be wrong. Or will you?

What I love about this book is how Steve Cavanagh has created such a sense of anticipation from the very first pages. The prologue – or is it a dedication – is absolutely perfect and sets the tone for all that is to follow. From here on in it is anyone’s guess as to what we should believe, how much of it is (fictional) fact or (fictional) fiction. He has managed to bring the reader to a point that they question everything they are reading, everything they thought they knew and could quite probably have you questioning whether the sky is actually up and land down or whether this has all been another clever subversion that we’ve simply accepted for all of our lives.

It’s a book in two halves (well – plus a little bit) and for the first half of the book we are faced with what is, in essence, a very complicated, yet strangely far from extraordinary, familial situation. It becomes a story of anger, revenge and fiercely guarded secrets. It also becomes a deadly game of nerve, but whose will give out first and at what cost? You will be absolutely certain of where the story is going …

And then you’ll hit the half way point. A point in the story that will be very familiar. That will turn it all on its head.

I loved the way in which the characters in this book developed. None of them were especially likeable, with the possible exception of Sheriff Dole. There was something about him which I was kind of drawn to but as for the rest … Well there are a good few I’d not play poker with, put it that way. Trust is certainly in limited supply throughout this story. What it is laced with is moments of great tension, some brilliant action and a whole lot of intrigue. I listened to the audio book in the main and really enjoyed it, getting completely suckered into the story, so much so that my three hour journey simply flew by.

Steve Cavanagh has created one heck of a story here which will have you questioning just how far do people go to find their inspiration. I’m hoping this book is all just a product of a rather devious mind and a few dodgy internet searches rather than anything more sinister … Yes there are moments that I know will perhaps divide readers, that may seem like too neat an explanation, but they gave me a little satisfaction as for once I knew (at least I thought I knew) exactly where the story was heading. Didn’t call it all perfectly, but close enough to feel a little smug. A highly entertaining read (listen) from start to finish, I ended up with a huge smile on my face. Bravo Mr C. Bravo.

About the Author

Steve Cavanagh was born and raised in Belfast before leaving for Dublin at the age of eighteen to study Law. He currently practices civil rights law and has been involved in several high profile cases; in 2010 he represented a factory worker who suffered racial abuse in the workplace and won the largest award of damages for race discrimination in Northern Ireland legal history. He holds a certificate in Advanced Advocacy and lectures on various legal subjects (but really he just likes to tell jokes). He is married with two young children.

Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website