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Skin and Bones
by
Tom Bale (Goodreads Author)
On a cold January morning, a nightmare awaits in a small Sussex village. A deranged young man goes on the rampage, shooting everyone in his path before taking his own life. It is a senseless, tragic event, but sadly not an unfamiliar one.
At least, that's what everyone thinks.
Only Julia Trent - believed to be the sole survivor - knows that there was a second man involved. B...more
At least, that's what everyone thinks.
Only Julia Trent - believed to be the sole survivor - knows that there was a second man involved. B...more
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published
January 1st 2009
by Preface Publishing
(first published 2008)
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Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
208)
A massacre in a quiet Sussex village is thought to be the work of a lone gunman, but one of the survivors is sure she saw a second man. Working with the journalist son of one of the murdered victims, she tries to get to the truth about what happened, but puts herself in danger.
I read a lot of crime fiction and found this a good example of the genre. However, I found myself more interested in the characters and how they developed, rather than the plot which I felt was a bit creaky at times.
The op...more
I read a lot of crime fiction and found this a good example of the genre. However, I found myself more interested in the characters and how they developed, rather than the plot which I felt was a bit creaky at times.
The op...more
Apr 04, 2011
Susan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Recommended to Susan by:
Raewyn
Shelves:
fiction,
recommends-to-others
A fast paced crime thriller which starts action packed and unforgiving in it's descriptions of the scenes and ends in much the same way.
I truly think that this book is a great read because Tom Bale is not scared to lay the whole story in full detail on the line. As such this story is not for the faint hearted. I want to say thanks to Bale as well because so often the full description and the full impact of what various tragedies entail is often overlooked or down played in stories for no appare...more
I truly think that this book is a great read because Tom Bale is not scared to lay the whole story in full detail on the line. As such this story is not for the faint hearted. I want to say thanks to Bale as well because so often the full description and the full impact of what various tragedies entail is often overlooked or down played in stories for no appare...more
I really enjoyed this thrilling - and as the title suggests - quite gory mystery novel. Though the book does contain a lot of action, there is a quite methodical set-up to the plot. Many characters are introduced, following the more British small-town murder mystery than the flashier, more American style of thriller. But as more and more of the pieces that Bale set up begin to fit together, the book only becomes more and more riveting. It is worth the patience required in the beginning of the bo...more
Tom Bale, it seems, is a pseudonym for David Harrison who wrote SINS OF THE FATHER in 2006, which goes some way to explaining the deftness of touch in this crime fiction thriller. It may also go some way to explaining how the author has managed to install an almost cinematic feel to the action.
In an opening series of scenes that, frankly, were so chilling that they disturbed this reader, everything starts out very quietly one very cold January morning in the sleepy English village of Chilton. Ju...more
In an opening series of scenes that, frankly, were so chilling that they disturbed this reader, everything starts out very quietly one very cold January morning in the sleepy English village of Chilton. Ju...more
A snappily written page turning crime thriller that has the added bonus of an East Sussex setting. This is a confident debut novel from Brighton author Tom Bale who I'm sure will successfully go on to write more in the same vein. There's lashings of murder and mayhem for the afficionados but what makes the book interesting is the the two central characters thrown in at the deep end and rising to the challenge of surviving while they put all the pieces together. Here it is the midle section that...more
Meh.
Starts really fast paced and drops you right in the action, then has a looong and slooow middle section, then a convoluted ending that is, admittedly, fast paced again and suspenseful.
One of the minor characters is a lesbian, I like when that is treated well in straight novels. But really, that's not enough to recommend this one, especially since it only makes up 5 pages max.
Starts really fast paced and drops you right in the action, then has a looong and slooow middle section, then a convoluted ending that is, admittedly, fast paced again and suspenseful.
One of the minor characters is a lesbian, I like when that is treated well in straight novels. But really, that's not enough to recommend this one, especially since it only makes up 5 pages max.
I had half an hour to spare before a meeting and found myself without a book - disaster - so went into the nearest supermarket and bought this at the checkpoint for a couple of pounds. It was so unexpectedly good, I stayed up till I finished it!
An absolutely terrifying book written by an author whom we will be hearing of quite a lot, I think. Fantastic explosive start that truly jolts you out of your seat and comfort zone. Highly recommended.
This started slowly for me and I wasn't sure it was the sort of book I was going to enjoy. (I'm not big on conspiracy type books - 'big business' trying to hurt the small people... A bit John Grisham-y.
this book is thrilling and spine tingiling this book would makke a great movie but it would be hard to find the perfect actors to play the parts, like the deranged young man
Incredibly fast paced and utterly exciting this story goes on like a speeding train without brakes. The end is a total surprise, would totally recommend to read!
Hit's the ground running from the first page which is a great way to start a book & i don't know why more author's don't do it ... good characters & plot line's but it does rather lose it's thread in the middle & i found myself skimming pages until the good stuff started again ..which it soon does. Also, despite the title, there's not a tremendous amount of gore but i loved the double twist at the end and thought, on the whole, it was a well visualised read with pacey plot line's, st...more
Jul 26, 2011
Ian Young
added it
First novel, fast moving thriller, good for a fairly mindless holiday read.
My first book by Tom Bale. Captivating. Once you start, you can´t put it down.
Twists and turns and a great story allaround!
OK - but not anything too new or surprising here
Apr 30, 2010
Terrie Sharp
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
to anyone that likes thrillers
Shelves:
all-time-favorites
Just finished and what a great book. Layers of deceit,very likable heroine, great action. I hope Tom writes more books because this first one was every thing I like in my thrillers.
A good read.
Review to come
A good first novel and I look forward to the next from Bale. Could have been shorter though.
I read this book very early on in my reading career, and originally thought it was great but many books later I realize it wasn't all that great. I give it 2.5 stars out of 5
If you like crime thrillers, don't pass this one up.
I loved it.
May 06, 2013
Louise Gray
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Ingeborg
is currently reading it
Apr 29, 2013
Lindsey Bitzes
marked it as to-read
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