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Witness
Four bystanders in the wrong place at the wrong time. Witnesses to the shocking shooting of a teenage boy. A moment that changes their lives forever. Fiona, a midwife, is plagued by panic attacks and unable to work. Has she the strength to testify? Mike, a delivery driver and family man, faces an impossible decision when his frightened wife forces him to choose - us or the...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
April 1st 2011
by Constable
(first published 2011)
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Apr 16, 2012
Kathleen Hagen
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Witness, by Cath Staincliffe, a-minus, Narrated by Julia Franklin, Produced by Soundings, (Isis) downloaded from audible.com.
This story follows the lives of four people who witness a murder, and what they must go through before they can come forward and identify the murderers. Fiona is a midwife who has just helped a woman give birth at home when she hears a shot. She looks out the window, sees a teenage boy fall to the ground, and rushes out to see if she can help save his life. The car with th...more
This story follows the lives of four people who witness a murder, and what they must go through before they can come forward and identify the murderers. Fiona is a midwife who has just helped a woman give birth at home when she hears a shot. She looks out the window, sees a teenage boy fall to the ground, and rushes out to see if she can help save his life. The car with th...more
Cath Staincliffe's The Kindest Thing was one of my Top Ten Reads of 2010 and her latest novel, Witness has confirmed her place amongst my favourite authors.
Tackling a sensitive subject once again, she does not shy away from real-life situations, this really is hard-hitting stuff that once again makes the reader ask themself 'what would I do?'
The brutal gangland murder of a 16 year old boy is the focal part of the story, but does not take centre stage. The real story concerns those people who wit...more
Tackling a sensitive subject once again, she does not shy away from real-life situations, this really is hard-hitting stuff that once again makes the reader ask themself 'what would I do?'
The brutal gangland murder of a 16 year old boy is the focal part of the story, but does not take centre stage. The real story concerns those people who wit...more
I was excited to read this book because of its good press and interesting premise. On the premise idea it doesn't disappoint. The four different narratives work well and create impetus however the convenient full-circle ending of these is a little too trite for my taste, even if it is not happily ever after for everyone. I also think this is a book that needs to be read at speed. Naturally, dealing with a murder and subsequent court case there is a long passage of time which could drag if you re...more
A teenager is shot down in cold blood by the local hoods who run the drug trade.
This book focuses on the witnesses and how they cope with the whole process.
One lives in the neighbourhood, but wants to raise her baby son in a safer environment. She will testify but only when she is screened and her voice is distorted. (A brave decision I don't know if I could do)
A community nurse helps him as he falls to the ground. But she soon suffers panic attacks and can no longer do the job that she loves.
A...more
This book focuses on the witnesses and how they cope with the whole process.
One lives in the neighbourhood, but wants to raise her baby son in a safer environment. She will testify but only when she is screened and her voice is distorted. (A brave decision I don't know if I could do)
A community nurse helps him as he falls to the ground. But she soon suffers panic attacks and can no longer do the job that she loves.
A...more
This was a great read about ordinary people put into extraordinary circumstances & really held my interest all the way through. I enjoyed all of the 4 different voices, it was fascinating to see how the murder & trial affected & disrupted all their lives, I probably liked Cheryl the most she was a decent person living in a harsh society but she was intent on doing the right thing. I found the story well paced & it was easy to keep track of what was going on even though the book s...more
‘Witness’ by Cath Staincliffe
Published by Constable, 21st April 2011: ISBN: 978-1-84901-343-7
When Danny Macateer is shot on a Sunday morning in Hulme, it dramatically effect’s the lives of four people. Four people who saw, and were inadvertently involved in something they would must certainly have preferred not to have witnessed.
First on the scene is Fiona a midwife, she heard the shot from inside her home and rushing to Danny’s aid tried her best to save his life. Now she is haunted by the memo...more
Published by Constable, 21st April 2011: ISBN: 978-1-84901-343-7
When Danny Macateer is shot on a Sunday morning in Hulme, it dramatically effect’s the lives of four people. Four people who saw, and were inadvertently involved in something they would must certainly have preferred not to have witnessed.
First on the scene is Fiona a midwife, she heard the shot from inside her home and rushing to Danny’s aid tried her best to save his life. Now she is haunted by the memo...more
I hadn’t heard of Cath Staincliffe until last year when I saw so many excellent reviews of her novel The Kindest Thing which explores the aftermath of a woman’s decision to help her husband die. She has also written an 8 book crime series but with The Kindest Thing and now Witness, her writing has an added dimension – the crime and its investigation no longer take centre stage.
Witness opens with the brutal murder of a teenage boy in Manchester. The story revolves around four bystanders who happ...more
I adored this book and loved Zak and his wonderful Bess. I was left stunned at who received the reward money and finished the book sobbing my heart out at the conclusion (without giving the story away). This would make a cracking TV drama as the story is told from 4 different witnesses. I would highly recommend this fantastic book.
Never heard of this author, but after reading up on it I was quite intrigued as it was based in Mancheaster. I moved from Manchester 17 years ago and whist reading this book I was visualising the roads and everything as though I was still there. But besides that It was a great read which made you think about what people go through to do the right thing.
it's very well written, has great characters - I'm just filled with dread as I read because I keep thinking something awful is going to happen to one of the witnesses. or their kids. or their dogs. I'm skimming through the lovely prose because I just need to know what happens!
Excellent read, utterly gripping and has rebooted my love of reading, after a slow patch!
Staincliffe has created 4 excellent voices to tell the story of the murder of Danny Macateer through the eyes of the witnesses. Highly recommend this one!
Staincliffe has created 4 excellent voices to tell the story of the murder of Danny Macateer through the eyes of the witnesses. Highly recommend this one!
Initially it took me a couple of times picking up and down before I got into the story but after a few chapters I was hooked and couldn't put it down!
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! It was an interesting perspective and not a situation I had thought about before. Plus, it's always fun when you know the places mentioned!
Very different from the usual crime novel. tells the story of four people who witness a brutal murder and how it affects each of them.
Difficult subject very well written. Found this difficult at times because it could happen to any one. Found it compulsive.
Not a whodunnit - more 'will they get away with it'. Creepy sense of foreboding but that could just be my pessimism.
Quite enjoyed the different points of view. Fast paced and good read
Slow pace but lots going on. Enjoyed. Liked the characters
A nice easy read. Not too complex, but a good read.
Interesting & gripping
Good easy read:-)
This is based in Manchester and is very true to life, with a drive by shooting and people being scared to come forward. I wouldn't say I enjoyed this book but it was a good read, the characters really made the book.
Dont even rem downloading this to my kindle but really enjoyed it.
Another good read, loved this as it was based where im living at the moment so really felt as though I was part of the story :)
There's a need for an 'abandoned' category alongside, 'to read' 'reading', 'read', I think. I just couldn't be bothered with this after a few chapters. It read like it's just waiting to be a mid-week ITV drama with Lesley Sharpe as the motherly midwife
Enjoyable story. I liked the way that the story was told from the 4 different perspectives and found the implications on the characters daily lives vividly written.
A fascinating insight into the dilemmas and psychological impacts faced by witnesses to a gangland murder of an innocent boy. It charts the fates of witnesses Zak (a homeless druggie),Mike ( family man)Fiona (a midwife) and Cheryl (a single woman with Jaacian roots). Seti Manchester, this is powerful piece.
The four POVs are in third person, but their different worlds are painted vividly.
Each of them have their own driving forces, own reasons, own fears. The court case was done quite well, and the opinions of each other.
Realistic characters, believable story.
Each of them have their own driving forces, own reasons, own fears. The court case was done quite well, and the opinions of each other.
Realistic characters, believable story.
A fifteen year old is shot on a Manchester housing estate, This novel tells the aftermath from the perspective of four different witnesses to the incident and explores how it affects their lives.
Nice plot, easy to read. liked the different perspectives of the different witnesses. simple but effective concept
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Cath Staincliffe was brought up in Bradford and hoped to become an entomologist (insects) then a trapeze artist before settling on acting at the age of eight. She graduated from Birmingham University with a Drama and Theatre Arts degree and moved to work as a community artist in Manchester where she now lives with her partner and their children.
Cath is the author of the acclaimed Sal Kilkenny myst...more
More about Cath Staincliffe...
Cath is the author of the acclaimed Sal Kilkenny myst...more
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Mar 25, 2011 03:35am