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The Donor
She gave you everything. But what does she want in return?
When Lizzie's daughter Meg is given a life-saving heart transplant, Lizzie feels hugely grateful to the nameless donor. Then she receives a letter from the donor's mother, Karen, asking to meet, and it seems like the least she can do.
But as soon as Karen is welcomed into their lives, Lizzie feels something isn't right. And before long, she can't help but worry that by inviting Karen in, she might have put Meg in danger . . .
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2020
182 people are currently reading
6878 people want to read
About the author
Clare Mackintosh
29 books11.6k followersWelcome to my Goodreads profile! Whether you're new to my work, or a hard-core fan, it's lovely to see you here. My latest book is OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES, the third book in my DC Ffion Morgan series. Like THE LAST PARTY and A GAME OF LIES, this is designed to be read as a standalone, but if you've followed Ffion and Leo from the beginning, I think you'll love seeing where OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES takes them.
If this is the first time we're meeting, welcome! In addition to the books above, I'm the author of I LET YOU GO, I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE and HOSTAGE - page-turning thrillers that have sold more than three million copies across 40 countries, and hit bestseller lists including The Sunday Times and The New York Times. I also wrote the emotional rollercoaster, AFTER THE END: a family drama about an impossible choice that threatens to tear a couple apart. It's the most personal novel I've written, and I've loved hearing from readers who have connected with it. In 2024 I released a memoir, I PROMISE IT WON'T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS, based on my experiences of navigating grief following the loss of my son eighteen years ago. It's a book to offer hope when you feel as though there's none to be had; a book to give to a friend when you don't know what to say.
Coming in 2026 is what I'm boldly going to tell you is my best book yet... a standalone thriller with a twist that'll knock your socks off! It's called IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, and I would love you to add it to your shelf right now!
I love connecting with my readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get a sneak peek at what's going on behind the scenes. My Facebook group offers reading recommendations and exclusive extras to members (just search online for 'The Clare Mackintosh Book Club'), or if it's general chit chat you're after, please do follow me on Instagram, where I go to avoid writing, and to share snippets of my life in rural Wales, complete with three spaniels and Pete the goat. I'm also on TikTok, much to the dismay of my three teenagers...
* * *
With over three million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016. She has since written seven more bestselling novels. Together, her books have been translated into 40 languages and spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists.
Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies.
* * *
For more information find Clare on Facebook, Instagram, Threads or TikTok at @ClareMackWrites
#ILetYouGo #ISeeYou #LetMeLie #AftertheEnd #HostageBook #TheLastParty #AGameOfLies #IPromise #OtherPeoplesHouses #ItsNotWhatYouThink
If this is the first time we're meeting, welcome! In addition to the books above, I'm the author of I LET YOU GO, I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE and HOSTAGE - page-turning thrillers that have sold more than three million copies across 40 countries, and hit bestseller lists including The Sunday Times and The New York Times. I also wrote the emotional rollercoaster, AFTER THE END: a family drama about an impossible choice that threatens to tear a couple apart. It's the most personal novel I've written, and I've loved hearing from readers who have connected with it. In 2024 I released a memoir, I PROMISE IT WON'T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS, based on my experiences of navigating grief following the loss of my son eighteen years ago. It's a book to offer hope when you feel as though there's none to be had; a book to give to a friend when you don't know what to say.
Coming in 2026 is what I'm boldly going to tell you is my best book yet... a standalone thriller with a twist that'll knock your socks off! It's called IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, and I would love you to add it to your shelf right now!
I love connecting with my readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get a sneak peek at what's going on behind the scenes. My Facebook group offers reading recommendations and exclusive extras to members (just search online for 'The Clare Mackintosh Book Club'), or if it's general chit chat you're after, please do follow me on Instagram, where I go to avoid writing, and to share snippets of my life in rural Wales, complete with three spaniels and Pete the goat. I'm also on TikTok, much to the dismay of my three teenagers...
* * *
With over three million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016. She has since written seven more bestselling novels. Together, her books have been translated into 40 languages and spent more than sixty-five weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists.
Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies.
* * *
For more information find Clare on Facebook, Instagram, Threads or TikTok at @ClareMackWrites
#ILetYouGo #ISeeYou #LetMeLie #AftertheEnd #HostageBook #TheLastParty #AGameOfLies #IPromise #OtherPeoplesHouses #ItsNotWhatYouThink
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 768 reviews
August 8, 2021
Meg has received a life saving heart transplant, and after giving an interview about it, her Mum, Lizzie, receives a letter from the Donor’s mother, Karen, asking if she could meet Meg, just once.
As a grateful mother, she doesn’t feel like she can refuse.
But, is that all that Karen wants in return?
This was my second QUICK READ purchase from the Reading Agency, although this was one of the 2020 titles. (www.readingagency.org.uk/quickreads -to see the titles and order )
The agency is promoting reading in the UK, where 1 in 6 adults struggles with reading. For every 2021 quick read sold, the agency will donate a copy to someone who finds reading difficult.
These novellas are written by some of your favorite authors, and a generous donation was also made to the program by author JoJo Moyes, who funded it for three years!
I happened to get my copy from The Book Depository! (UK)
www.bookdepository.com -shipping is always free!
It looks exactly like the book cover! A slim 100 page paperback! And, I loved contributing (again) to such a great cause! 📚🥰
As a grateful mother, she doesn’t feel like she can refuse.
But, is that all that Karen wants in return?
This was my second QUICK READ purchase from the Reading Agency, although this was one of the 2020 titles. (www.readingagency.org.uk/quickreads -to see the titles and order )
The agency is promoting reading in the UK, where 1 in 6 adults struggles with reading. For every 2021 quick read sold, the agency will donate a copy to someone who finds reading difficult.
These novellas are written by some of your favorite authors, and a generous donation was also made to the program by author JoJo Moyes, who funded it for three years!
I happened to get my copy from The Book Depository! (UK)
www.bookdepository.com -shipping is always free!
It looks exactly like the book cover! A slim 100 page paperback! And, I loved contributing (again) to such a great cause! 📚🥰
August 16, 2021
Steve and Lizzie have been through SO MUCH with their daughter Meg, aged 14. She had cancer when she was young, which was cured but the treatments left her with a failing heart. She needed a heart transplant which she finally received.
Meg is a real trooper, she made it safely through the heart transplant and has been doing her physiotherapy as prescribed. She is healthy enough to be starting school in a few weeks. She only wishes she knew who she received the heart from, she is so thankful.
Samira is the nurse who took care of Meg in the hospital. Lizzie and Samira have become friends throughout Meg’s long stay in the hospital. She tells Lizzie straight out not to try to find out who the donor is as things often don’t go well when donor and recipient meet. She refuses to disclose any information as per hospital protocol.
But what does Lizzie do when a woman named Karen Edwards contacts her. She wants to meet Meg, she states it was her son’s heart that saved Lizzie.
We all do things that we know, in hindsight, we shouldn’t have. Sometimes it’s because of curiosity, sometimes because we feel empathy for another person.
Lizzie is a kind person and she allows Karen to meet Meg. What transpires afterwards is for you to discover.
At 101 pages this is a short novella by one of my favorite authors. Ms. Mackintosh manages to deliver a story that made me fly through the pages with enough tension that it made my heart race. With a healthy 14 y/o granddaughter this story hit home.
This novella is part of the collection of short books by famous authors that have contributed their work to The Reading Agency which is promoting literacy in the UK. My good friend Jayme told me about the program and I promptly ordered 3 of the books. The information below is for those of you who might be interested in the program as reading is such a wonderful part of all of our lives.
https://www.readingagency.org.uk/adul...
Meg is a real trooper, she made it safely through the heart transplant and has been doing her physiotherapy as prescribed. She is healthy enough to be starting school in a few weeks. She only wishes she knew who she received the heart from, she is so thankful.
Samira is the nurse who took care of Meg in the hospital. Lizzie and Samira have become friends throughout Meg’s long stay in the hospital. She tells Lizzie straight out not to try to find out who the donor is as things often don’t go well when donor and recipient meet. She refuses to disclose any information as per hospital protocol.
But what does Lizzie do when a woman named Karen Edwards contacts her. She wants to meet Meg, she states it was her son’s heart that saved Lizzie.
We all do things that we know, in hindsight, we shouldn’t have. Sometimes it’s because of curiosity, sometimes because we feel empathy for another person.
Lizzie is a kind person and she allows Karen to meet Meg. What transpires afterwards is for you to discover.
At 101 pages this is a short novella by one of my favorite authors. Ms. Mackintosh manages to deliver a story that made me fly through the pages with enough tension that it made my heart race. With a healthy 14 y/o granddaughter this story hit home.
This novella is part of the collection of short books by famous authors that have contributed their work to The Reading Agency which is promoting literacy in the UK. My good friend Jayme told me about the program and I promptly ordered 3 of the books. The information below is for those of you who might be interested in the program as reading is such a wonderful part of all of our lives.
https://www.readingagency.org.uk/adul...
February 17, 2023
The Donor by Clare Mackintosh is a short but very captivating story about a girl who received a heart transplantation. Meg is the name of a girl after chemotherapy beat her cancer, sadly after the treatment, Meg developed heart failure, so that is why she needs transplantation. Meg's family received a letter from a woman who claimed that her child gave a heart to Meg. Who is that mysterious benefit that aroused at the door one day trying to spoil Meg?
In the end, the police are needed, but all stayed safe and sound.
In the end, the police are needed, but all stayed safe and sound.
June 24, 2023
Lizzie's daughter has received a life-saving heart transplant. Lizzie is relieved to know that her daughter gets to live and is grateful for the donor’s heart. So when the grieving mother of the deceased donor asks if she can meet with her daughter, Lizzie says yes. What could possibly go wrong?
A very quick read but quite gripping and impactful. This story shows that it’s never a good idea for a person who received an organ to meet with the family of the donor. And it’s all wrapped up in a very entertaining and rather fast-paced package with some cool twists, as things escalate rather quickly. Plus, that ending is so good.
A very quick read but quite gripping and impactful. This story shows that it’s never a good idea for a person who received an organ to meet with the family of the donor. And it’s all wrapped up in a very entertaining and rather fast-paced package with some cool twists, as things escalate rather quickly. Plus, that ending is so good.
August 28, 2021
Meg receives a life saving heart transplant and following an interview given by her mum Lizzie, they get a letter from the victims mother. What unfolds is immersive reading with unexpected twists and turns proving just how possible it is to write a gripping story of approximately a hundred pages.
Another quick read from The Reading Agency
www.readingagency.org.uk/quickreads
Another quick read from The Reading Agency
www.readingagency.org.uk/quickreads
February 22, 2020
This is a quick read that's worth reading. 112 pages but packed full of suspense, thrills and dilemma's.
Lizzie's daughter Meg is given a life-saving heart transplant and naturally she feels hugely grateful to the nameless donor. So when she receives a letter from the donor's mother, Karen, asking to meet, and it seems like the least she can do. Karen is welcomed into their lives but doubts start to appear in Lizzie's mind whether she is placing her daughter Meg in danger.
This is a thought provoking book as well as an excellent story with so many plus points in so few pages.
Highly recommended.
Lizzie's daughter Meg is given a life-saving heart transplant and naturally she feels hugely grateful to the nameless donor. So when she receives a letter from the donor's mother, Karen, asking to meet, and it seems like the least she can do. Karen is welcomed into their lives but doubts start to appear in Lizzie's mind whether she is placing her daughter Meg in danger.
This is a thought provoking book as well as an excellent story with so many plus points in so few pages.
Highly recommended.
August 29, 2020
The was a very “quick read” - obviously - but it had dumb characters who made stupid decisions and pissed me off the whole way through.
March 6, 2020
As the title hints at, this short story broached on organ donation and whether it's a good idea to meet the family who has lost a loved one. This is a thought provoking story that's fast paced and well written.
Library book.
Library book.
October 13, 2025
Meg, a14 years-old teenager, is giving an interview to the local paper about her heart transplant.
Her parents, Lizzie and Steve, are so proud of her and the thought that they almost lost her once as a toddler when she got cancer and became with a heart problem, and 6 months ago when she was sicker and sicker and at the nick of time they got a match!
They don't know anything about the donor except it was a male one, hospital rules.
Samira, Meg's nurse is now a friend of them, helping and controlling her recovery. And she says she's fine!
A few days later Lizzie receives a letter from a Karen Edwards, who read the article on the newspaper, saying she's the mother of Jake the donor and asking if she could meet Meg.
Lizzie talks to Meg and against Samira's and Steve's advice they meet her in a Café halfway.
The meeting is very emotional, they all cry a lot, Karen talks about her son and Michael, her husband, who died in the same accident.
She asks Lizzie if they could meet again, and a warning voice inside her says NO, but it could be her in Karen 's place, and she says yes.
Karen appears at her house and as Steve changes his mind liking her, Lizzie feels a growing unease.
Karen takes Meg shopping one day when both have to work, and Meg forgot to tell them it was inset day at school.
Lizzie can't stop thinking what she would want in return.
One night she comes home from work and she finds Karen and Steve in the sofa talking as the best of friends.
They have a row when she leaves and Meg goes missing.
They call the police and she's at Karen's house, and Lizzie slaps Karen in the face for not telling them she was there!
She's breaking her family apart, but Steve says he doesn't know her anymore, packs a bag and leaves her.
She eventually tells Samira what's been going on and it seems Karen lied in certain things.
And now both Meg and Karen are missing and the police, Lizzie and Steve, now reconciled, think she might hurt Meg, and they have no idea where they went.
Will they find them in time?
Except the two non-fiction books, I've read and loved everything Clare Mackintosh wrote.
Next year are schedule to be published one standalone novel and the first of a new series.
Until then!
Her parents, Lizzie and Steve, are so proud of her and the thought that they almost lost her once as a toddler when she got cancer and became with a heart problem, and 6 months ago when she was sicker and sicker and at the nick of time they got a match!
They don't know anything about the donor except it was a male one, hospital rules.
Samira, Meg's nurse is now a friend of them, helping and controlling her recovery. And she says she's fine!
A few days later Lizzie receives a letter from a Karen Edwards, who read the article on the newspaper, saying she's the mother of Jake the donor and asking if she could meet Meg.
Lizzie talks to Meg and against Samira's and Steve's advice they meet her in a Café halfway.
The meeting is very emotional, they all cry a lot, Karen talks about her son and Michael, her husband, who died in the same accident.
She asks Lizzie if they could meet again, and a warning voice inside her says NO, but it could be her in Karen 's place, and she says yes.
Karen appears at her house and as Steve changes his mind liking her, Lizzie feels a growing unease.
Karen takes Meg shopping one day when both have to work, and Meg forgot to tell them it was inset day at school.
Lizzie can't stop thinking what she would want in return.
One night she comes home from work and she finds Karen and Steve in the sofa talking as the best of friends.
They have a row when she leaves and Meg goes missing.
They call the police and she's at Karen's house, and Lizzie slaps Karen in the face for not telling them she was there!
She's breaking her family apart, but Steve says he doesn't know her anymore, packs a bag and leaves her.
She eventually tells Samira what's been going on and it seems Karen lied in certain things.
And now both Meg and Karen are missing and the police, Lizzie and Steve, now reconciled, think she might hurt Meg, and they have no idea where they went.
Will they find them in time?
Except the two non-fiction books, I've read and loved everything Clare Mackintosh wrote.
Next year are schedule to be published one standalone novel and the first of a new series.
Until then!
February 21, 2020
Gripping psychological thriller
Good characterisation and plot; well written and absorbing . Hint of a sequel at the end? Would certainly recommend - couldn’t put it down.
Good characterisation and plot; well written and absorbing . Hint of a sequel at the end? Would certainly recommend - couldn’t put it down.
March 22, 2020
An emotive quick read that proves pacy and gripping with an element of real jeopardy.
The Donor is Clare Mackintosh’s impressive contribution to the Quick Reads 2020 series and at 101 print pages it is a pacy and compelling thriller that proves emotive and involving. The story also shines a light on the subject of organ donation and the divisive issue of cell memory whereby a transplanted organ is believed to retain some of the original individuals memories and personality traits.
The story is told from the perspective of Lizzie Thomas, mother of fourteen year old, Meg, who is six months on from a successful heart transplant after cancer as a child left her with a heart defect. Discussing her journey with a newspaper reporter leads bereaved mother of the donor, Karen Edwards (mother of Jake), to contact Lizzie and ask to meet with her and Meg. By crossing the line that suggests it is never a good idea for relatives of the donor and the recipient to meet it creates feelings of guilt and obligation for Meg’s mother. But when Lizzie finds herself forced to question Karen’s motives for getting to know Meg she starts to worry that by allowing Karen into their family she might have unsuspectingly put her daughter in danger.
Although I anticipated the general direction of the story there were still a couple of surprises to come. Short and incisive with a hooky first chapter and plausible reactions demonstrated by the characters, this was a superb short story.
The Donor is Clare Mackintosh’s impressive contribution to the Quick Reads 2020 series and at 101 print pages it is a pacy and compelling thriller that proves emotive and involving. The story also shines a light on the subject of organ donation and the divisive issue of cell memory whereby a transplanted organ is believed to retain some of the original individuals memories and personality traits.
The story is told from the perspective of Lizzie Thomas, mother of fourteen year old, Meg, who is six months on from a successful heart transplant after cancer as a child left her with a heart defect. Discussing her journey with a newspaper reporter leads bereaved mother of the donor, Karen Edwards (mother of Jake), to contact Lizzie and ask to meet with her and Meg. By crossing the line that suggests it is never a good idea for relatives of the donor and the recipient to meet it creates feelings of guilt and obligation for Meg’s mother. But when Lizzie finds herself forced to question Karen’s motives for getting to know Meg she starts to worry that by allowing Karen into their family she might have unsuspectingly put her daughter in danger.
Although I anticipated the general direction of the story there were still a couple of surprises to come. Short and incisive with a hooky first chapter and plausible reactions demonstrated by the characters, this was a superb short story.
August 21, 2022
The Donor is a short novella that I flew through to find out what was going to happen. Meg is Lizzie and Steve's teenage daughter who's been on the heart transplant list for a long time. One day they get the call they've been longing for - there's a match from a nameless donor. Meg has the surgery and it turns out a success. Lizzie is intrigued as to who the heart came from and wants to know more about them since they selflessly saved her aughters life. Samira (a nurse and friend) firmly advises Lizzie that its not a good idea and can cause problems, but when Lizzie gets a letter from the donor's mum wanting to meet her and Meg, how can she say no? Before long they meet and Lizzie starts getting alarm bells as to what this woman really wants from them. Is it all as innocent as it seems or has she placed Meg and her family in terrible danger?
This was such a good read! The tension and suspense was perfect and I devoured it in one sitting!
This was such a good read! The tension and suspense was perfect and I devoured it in one sitting!
March 16, 2020
This is a very short story - 100 pages or so, that was a great little read between novels.
I love the idea of these is to get more people into reading, I personally read it because I have heard of the author before but never read one of her books so I thought this would be a great little taster.
My main issue with this was that it was just so predictable, I understand the book doesn't have the page count to build up robust suspense but I knew already what was going to be around every turn.
I would like to read more books from Clare as I enjoyed her character building so I will keep my eye out for her around the bookshops in future.
I love the idea of these is to get more people into reading, I personally read it because I have heard of the author before but never read one of her books so I thought this would be a great little taster.
My main issue with this was that it was just so predictable, I understand the book doesn't have the page count to build up robust suspense but I knew already what was going to be around every turn.
I would like to read more books from Clare as I enjoyed her character building so I will keep my eye out for her around the bookshops in future.
Read
January 26, 2021Клеър Макинтош - "Донорът", изд. "Сиела" 2020, прев. Коста Сивов
Току-що затворих последната страница на тази книга.
И не знам какво да мисля, как да я приемам, какво всъщност прочетох току-що. Посегнах към нея, след като предишните ми 2-3 четива от началото на тази година ми отнеха повече време от очакваното и по една или друга причина с никое от тях не можа да ме увлече достатъчно. Затова исках нещо, което хем ще прочета бързо, хем ще ме увлече достатъчно. И имах основание да го очаквам - много харесах "Виждам те" от тази авторка и имах добри очаквания и за "Донорът".
И книгата наистина ме увлече. Влязох в историята, потопих се в ивота на героите. Но май съм забравила какво е да четеш наистина мрачен трилър. Защото "Донорът" е от онези книги, в които ужасът започва изведнъж, безобидно, и почти буквално до последната страница няма нищо, което да загатне, че може би - само може би - краят няма да е ужасен.
За мен Клеър Макинтош е истински майстор в писането. Защото на толкова малко страници успява така да завърти нещата, че изобщо не можех да предположа как ще се развие историята. И изобщо не можех да си представя как едно писмо може да доведе до такива почти фатални последици.
От чисто медицинска гледна точка, ми беше много интересно да прочета за клетъчната памет. Това определено е нещо, за което ще потърся повече информация.
Друго, което ме впечатли - и което забелязах и в другата книга на Макинтош, която четох - беше, че нищо дори не обещаваше "истински щастлив край". Не знам как ще прозвучи, но напоследък харесвам именно автори, които "бягат" от щастливия завършек. Някак по-реалистично е.
И третото, което ми се иска да спомена - хареса ми, че Макинтош успява да създаде един добър трилър, без да описва кървави "изпълнения". Въздействието е на чисто психологическо ниво - и трябва да кажа, че при мен определено се получи.
Още след като прочетох "Виждам те", реших, че ще потърся и другите книги на авторката. Сега обаче определено ще го направя. В най-скоро време.
Току-що затворих последната страница на тази книга.
И не знам какво да мисля, как да я приемам, какво всъщност прочетох току-що. Посегнах към нея, след като предишните ми 2-3 четива от началото на тази година ми отнеха повече време от очакваното и по една или друга причина с никое от тях не можа да ме увлече достатъчно. Затова исках нещо, което хем ще прочета бързо, хем ще ме увлече достатъчно. И имах основание да го очаквам - много харесах "Виждам те" от тази авторка и имах добри очаквания и за "Донорът".
И книгата наистина ме увлече. Влязох в историята, потопих се в ивота на героите. Но май съм забравила какво е да четеш наистина мрачен трилър. Защото "Донорът" е от онези книги, в които ужасът започва изведнъж, безобидно, и почти буквално до последната страница няма нищо, което да загатне, че може би - само може би - краят няма да е ужасен.
За мен Клеър Макинтош е истински майстор в писането. Защото на толкова малко страници успява така да завърти нещата, че изобщо не можех да предположа как ще се развие историята. И изобщо не можех да си представя как едно писмо може да доведе до такива почти фатални последици.
От чисто медицинска гледна точка, ми беше много интересно да прочета за клетъчната памет. Това определено е нещо, за което ще потърся повече информация.
Друго, което ме впечатли - и което забелязах и в другата книга на Макинтош, която четох - беше, че нищо дори не обещаваше "истински щастлив край". Не знам как ще прозвучи, но напоследък харесвам именно автори, които "бягат" от щастливия завършек. Някак по-реалистично е.
И третото, което ми се иска да спомена - хареса ми, че Макинтош успява да създаде един добър трилър, без да описва кървави "изпълнения". Въздействието е на чисто психологическо ниво - и трябва да кажа, че при мен определено се получи.
Още след като прочетох "Виждам те", реших, че ще потърся и другите книги на авторката. Сега обаче определено ще го направя. В най-скоро време.
February 21, 2020
3.5*
A pretty good thriller which packed a couple of plot twists into such a short story. The ending was a little cliché though.
A pretty good thriller which packed a couple of plot twists into such a short story. The ending was a little cliché though.
July 27, 2020
Lizzie Thomas, mother of fourteen year old, Meg, who is six months on from a successful heart transplant after cancer as a child left her with a heart defect. Discussing her journey with a newspaper reporter leads bereaved mother of the donor, Karen Edwards (mother of Jake), to contact Lizzie and ask to meet with her and Meg. By crossing the line that suggests it is never a good idea for relatives of the donor and the recipient to meet it creates feelings of guilt and obligation for Meg’s mother. But when Lizzie finds herself forced to question Karen’s motives for getting to know Meg she starts to worry that by allowing Karen into their family she might have unsuspectingly put her daughter in danger.
February 20, 2020
A blooming stonking 101 pages of brilliance! Clare Mackintosh strikes again!
November 11, 2020
Интересна и четивна книга, със сюжет с много по-голям потенциал и само мога да съжалявам, че е една кратичка новела... Историята би могла да се разгърне и развие и да стане доста добър трилър.
March 28, 2020
This book is short but very creepy. Didn't expect that kind of a plot twist!
I read it in one sitting.
Deeply recommend this one.
I read it in one sitting.
Deeply recommend this one.
May 12, 2021
Very short but so extremely well written and meticulously developed. Meg had cancer and because of that needed a heart transplant...
How much do we owe to the donor's family? How much do they think they're owed because of their loved one's organ?
From something like that, you'd expect a drama, I know I was, oh was I surprised! One of the things that surprised me the most was the skill of the writer how such a loaded story can feel dinamic without being rushed in just a few pages and I'm seriously intrigued about how good can one of her stories be with more pages... I've become a fan.
And that sharp ending, she could write a full sequel , and I hope she does. It's been a while since I enjoyed a short book like this, they usually have flaws and holes in the storyline... Let me reassure you this one doesn't, I couldn't find flaws I felt like a read a complete story and I even got to know the characters.
Overall is great if you want to get back into reading rhythm, or if you don't have too much time but you want a good story.
How much do we owe to the donor's family? How much do they think they're owed because of their loved one's organ?
From something like that, you'd expect a drama, I know I was, oh was I surprised! One of the things that surprised me the most was the skill of the writer how such a loaded story can feel dinamic without being rushed in just a few pages and I'm seriously intrigued about how good can one of her stories be with more pages... I've become a fan.
And that sharp ending, she could write a full sequel , and I hope she does. It's been a while since I enjoyed a short book like this, they usually have flaws and holes in the storyline... Let me reassure you this one doesn't, I couldn't find flaws I felt like a read a complete story and I even got to know the characters.
Overall is great if you want to get back into reading rhythm, or if you don't have too much time but you want a good story.
March 4, 2020
It might have only been a short book, but wow what a book it was! Chilling & unnerving that this kind of stuff actually does happen. So hoping Claire does a follow up book from the prison release.
January 8, 2021
Nice quick gem of a read for a winter's evening. Great idea...would make a satisfying TV film. Never quite felt the terror but it was uncomfortable enough to make me want to reach the conclusion!
March 30, 2021
2.5
Еха.
За малко си повярвах, че книгата ще ми хареса.
Всъщност до последните три-четири глави се чувствах, че ше ѝ дам поне 4*, ама не очаквах толкова изумително тъп завършек.
Еха.
За малко си повярвах, че книгата ще ми хареса.
Всъщност до последните три-четири глави се чувствах, че ше ѝ дам поне 4*, ама не очаквах толкова изумително тъп завършек.
September 5, 2020
Wow! This is a super quick short story. Going in I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was
I've read all of Clare mackintosh's full length thrillers but recently she has written more adult contemporary books so I wasn't sure what this was going to be.
However, it's actually a really engaging and super well written thriller based around organ donation.
Even though it was so short I was still fully engrossed in the story and I really cared about the characters.
I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I highly recommend if you need a quick read or something to get you out of a reading slump
I've read all of Clare mackintosh's full length thrillers but recently she has written more adult contemporary books so I wasn't sure what this was going to be.
However, it's actually a really engaging and super well written thriller based around organ donation.
Even though it was so short I was still fully engrossed in the story and I really cared about the characters.
I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I highly recommend if you need a quick read or something to get you out of a reading slump
March 7, 2020
Good story with a good storyline and lots of info despite it being a quick read.
December 23, 2020
Много приятен блиц - трилър. Малко ми дойдоха страниците, а историята има потенциал за една по-обемна книга.
August 1, 2024
Eindelijk mijn eerste 5⭐️ van dit jaar! 😍
December 2, 2020
3*. Dit korte verhaal als luisterboek "gelezen". Het idee was wel leuk en ook luisterde het prettig. Prima voor tussendoor!
January 16, 2021
I have a soft spot for Claire Mackintosh’s novels after reading “I Let You Go’ a few years back, so I was more than willing to give over the couple of hours needed when I came across this short story. The story is about what happens when the family of a recent heart transplant teenager is contacted by the mother of the teenage donor. It’s solid rather than sensational, but has an interesting twist that is worth waiting for
March 3, 2021
Nice quick easy read.
Full of lots of suspense and definitely keeps you wanting to read more
Full of lots of suspense and definitely keeps you wanting to read more
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