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Rosa Thorn Thriller #3
Green Eye
Danny Thorn has enrolled at Billings College, Cambridge.
After the tragic events of his unsettling past, including the death of this father, Danny was happy to blend in at university.
But his involvement in a production of Othello opposite the beguiling Stella sees Danny drawn into the hedonistic lifestyle of university.
On the surface it may seem enviable, but right now Danny can see little to be jealous of.
While Stella doesn’t seem to be interested in him, his ex, Julie, won’t leave him alone.
But as the term progresses, getting a date for the May Ball will be the least of his worries.
A rapist, who’s been preying on female students for months, is still at large, and the Othello cast are not beyond his reach.
A potentially deadly case of the green-eyed monster, jealousy, is about to rear its ugly head, and Danny may just find himself unwittingly caught in the middle.
All too soon Danny finds that May Week, the height of the Cambridge social calendar, spirals into terror, chaos and murder…
After the tragic events of his unsettling past, including the death of this father, Danny was happy to blend in at university.
But his involvement in a production of Othello opposite the beguiling Stella sees Danny drawn into the hedonistic lifestyle of university.
On the surface it may seem enviable, but right now Danny can see little to be jealous of.
While Stella doesn’t seem to be interested in him, his ex, Julie, won’t leave him alone.
But as the term progresses, getting a date for the May Ball will be the least of his worries.
A rapist, who’s been preying on female students for months, is still at large, and the Othello cast are not beyond his reach.
A potentially deadly case of the green-eyed monster, jealousy, is about to rear its ugly head, and Danny may just find himself unwittingly caught in the middle.
All too soon Danny finds that May Week, the height of the Cambridge social calendar, spirals into terror, chaos and murder…
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2007
10 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Vena Cork
16 books26 followersVena studied at Homerton College, Cambridge, and was one of the first female members of the Cambridge Footlights. She was an actress, playwright and teacher before becoming a full-time writer and producing the Thorn trilogy.
Thorn, the first in the trilogy, was hailed by the Guardian as ‘a compelling, dark-hued psychological thriller’, by Time Out as ‘an outstanding debut’, and by The Times as ‘one of those rare and energetic books you can’t put down and don’t want to end.’ It was followed by The Art of Dying and Green Eye, both also highly praised. The trilogy is now available from Endeavour Press.
Her new standalone novel, The Lost Ones was published in May 2016 and her fifth novel, Toxic will be published later in 2016, also by Endeavour Press.
Vena lives in London with her husband, the art critic Richard Cork. She has two sons and two daughters.
Thorn, the first in the trilogy, was hailed by the Guardian as ‘a compelling, dark-hued psychological thriller’, by Time Out as ‘an outstanding debut’, and by The Times as ‘one of those rare and energetic books you can’t put down and don’t want to end.’ It was followed by The Art of Dying and Green Eye, both also highly praised. The trilogy is now available from Endeavour Press.
Her new standalone novel, The Lost Ones was published in May 2016 and her fifth novel, Toxic will be published later in 2016, also by Endeavour Press.
Vena lives in London with her husband, the art critic Richard Cork. She has two sons and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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February 10, 2016I have had to abandon this one at the 50% mark. I am finding it incredibly disjointed, the constant switches of POV are not clearly done so you often don't realise a new voice is speaking and I just found it quite boring overall. I could not click or like or get any of the characters either.
I had loved the sound of this book and the version I read is a 2016 re-release of this book, so it's actually been around for a while. This one is just not for me. I won't give it a rating on here but in all honesty I suspect even if I had kept going this was a 2 star book in my opinion.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley.
I had loved the sound of this book and the version I read is a 2016 re-release of this book, so it's actually been around for a while. This one is just not for me. I won't give it a rating on here but in all honesty I suspect even if I had kept going this was a 2 star book in my opinion.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley.
March 2, 2016
Green Eye is the final installment of The Thorn Trilogy. I loved the first book in the series for its sinister atmosphere and suspense and gave it 4 stars. I enjoyed the second book because there was just something about the protagonist, Rosa Thorn, that clicked with me, and then I worked my way through this final offering, and I'm still shaking my head. What ever happened?
The plot takes place in Cambridge this time where Rosa's son, Danny, is now a student. It's the final week of the semester, Danny is appearing in a student theatre production of Othello and Rosa heads up there for a visit. Kind of clever, because Othello reflected the themes of jealousy, love, betrayal, racism, revenge and repentance that were playing out in the 'real' lives of the characters.
Oh, and there's a rapist walking about in Cambridge, but that seemed to be a minor point.
The structure of the book follows exactly the same pattern as the two previous ones. There are frequent changes in perspectives going from third-person to first-person when it's Rosa's perspective. Nothing much happens until 70% into the story. I was used to all that from the first two books, so that was fine.
However, Rosa Thorn has taken on the role of an insignificant subsidiary character in her own trilogy. She may just as well have been omitted completely and it wouldn't have made much difference to the plot.
Instead, there are copious characters all connected to the academic or theatrical setting, and each single one of them was exaggerated so much, I started wondering whether I was reading a satirical farce.
In the first two books, I was left wondering who the culprit was right to the end, but here, everything was so blatantly obvious that there was no suspense left. The only thing I failed to work out was the genetic connection between some of the characters.
The only positive thing I have, the title is quite clever, as one of the themes is jealousy and the girl with the "hypnotic" green eyes plays the most significant role in the entire plot.
It's almost painful because I really enjoyed the other two books so much, but I seriously can't rate this any higher than 2.5 stars.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The plot takes place in Cambridge this time where Rosa's son, Danny, is now a student. It's the final week of the semester, Danny is appearing in a student theatre production of Othello and Rosa heads up there for a visit. Kind of clever, because Othello reflected the themes of jealousy, love, betrayal, racism, revenge and repentance that were playing out in the 'real' lives of the characters.
Oh, and there's a rapist walking about in Cambridge, but that seemed to be a minor point.
The structure of the book follows exactly the same pattern as the two previous ones. There are frequent changes in perspectives going from third-person to first-person when it's Rosa's perspective. Nothing much happens until 70% into the story. I was used to all that from the first two books, so that was fine.
However, Rosa Thorn has taken on the role of an insignificant subsidiary character in her own trilogy. She may just as well have been omitted completely and it wouldn't have made much difference to the plot.
Instead, there are copious characters all connected to the academic or theatrical setting, and each single one of them was exaggerated so much, I started wondering whether I was reading a satirical farce.
In the first two books, I was left wondering who the culprit was right to the end, but here, everything was so blatantly obvious that there was no suspense left. The only thing I failed to work out was the genetic connection between some of the characters.
The only positive thing I have, the title is quite clever, as one of the themes is jealousy and the girl with the "hypnotic" green eyes plays the most significant role in the entire plot.
It's almost painful because I really enjoyed the other two books so much, but I seriously can't rate this any higher than 2.5 stars.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 7, 2016
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Endeavor Press!
As a fan of crime novels, I loved the setup of this book: a serial rapist terrorizes a Cambridge campus. Who is it? Why is he doing it? Who's going to stop him? To find out I had to plough through 300-plus pages of what I can only describe as a "telenovela." I was expecting a whodunit: Rosa Thorn, the heroine, investigates and finds the culprit. Instead, she almost takes a back seat to the machinations of teenage kids to see who is going to sleep with whom. The switch in points of view, from mostly third person to first only when the chapter is written from Rosa's point of view, didn't help. Also not helping: how almost all the characters are as unlikeable as humanly possible. Despite all this, the plot kept my interest and I really wanted the crimes solved. I would have enjoyed this novel more if it had been focused on these parts rather than all the melodrama.
As a fan of crime novels, I loved the setup of this book: a serial rapist terrorizes a Cambridge campus. Who is it? Why is he doing it? Who's going to stop him? To find out I had to plough through 300-plus pages of what I can only describe as a "telenovela." I was expecting a whodunit: Rosa Thorn, the heroine, investigates and finds the culprit. Instead, she almost takes a back seat to the machinations of teenage kids to see who is going to sleep with whom. The switch in points of view, from mostly third person to first only when the chapter is written from Rosa's point of view, didn't help. Also not helping: how almost all the characters are as unlikeable as humanly possible. Despite all this, the plot kept my interest and I really wanted the crimes solved. I would have enjoyed this novel more if it had been focused on these parts rather than all the melodrama.
January 26, 2013
I read the first chapter of this book before I bought it, and judging from that, I thought it was going to be a fun and interesting read. How wrong I was. Even though this book is fast paced and easy to read, it just couldn't hold my interest. There's just too many different main characters - and the perspective keeps changing every other page. Not only that, but I just didn't find any of these characters very interesting, perhaps because one doesn't really get the chance to get to know any of them very well. Also the fact that it's all written in first person (instead of third) didn't help. As for the storyline, I think it was building up to something, but halfway through the book we still weren't there and I just didn't care enough to bother to find out how the plot was supposed to develop - if any developing took place at all.
February 8, 2016
This is the 3rd book I have read by Vena Cork about the widow Rosa Thorn. I have to say I am liking this feisty, go by your gut mother who has once again set out to protect those she loves. Her son has just started his 2nd year of college and she gets a chance to visit him. Once she arrives there she finds that his life is not as she thought it was. He has broken up with his girlfriend whose mother had taken him in as a boarder and now Rosa does not where where he is living or why he has broken up with his girlfriend. But all is not as it seems with her son. As she arrives at her childhood friend's home her son arrives with a "green eyed" girl that all the men seem taken by including her childhood friend Perry who is supposed to be her college supervisor. Then Perry' mother arrives and creates all sorts of havoc. Then there are the rapes happening to young women walking home alone at night. A steady paced couldn't put down book. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
February 11, 2016
I was given the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley.
This book could have been so much better. The storyline was so promising, but sadly, by 65% into the book, nothing had happened apart from lots of people having arguments. It was strange to read a book about something as serious as rape with a character clearly meant to be a comedic parody in Frankie. It just didn't gel for me. When finally something did happen, the story finally did become gripping, but I'm afraid it just took too long to get there. I found myself skim reading from about the half way point, in the hope we'd finally get to the point. It's a real shame because it could have been so much more.
This book could have been so much better. The storyline was so promising, but sadly, by 65% into the book, nothing had happened apart from lots of people having arguments. It was strange to read a book about something as serious as rape with a character clearly meant to be a comedic parody in Frankie. It just didn't gel for me. When finally something did happen, the story finally did become gripping, but I'm afraid it just took too long to get there. I found myself skim reading from about the half way point, in the hope we'd finally get to the point. It's a real shame because it could have been so much more.
January 13, 2021
I did not like the book overall. I got very bored with it, but I still finished it. I didn't like the storyline and how it used biblical scripture to justify injustice, on top of that the perpetrators do not even get convicted. I somehow knew from the start that Lucas was actually the rapist.
However, I really enjoyed the changes in the narrations, how the whole story took place over a week. The May Ball was magical, a great climax. Also, I learned a very important lesson, especially the last two chapters is that in anything and everything you do, be kind to other people. You dont know what problems their facing.
However, I really enjoyed the changes in the narrations, how the whole story took place over a week. The May Ball was magical, a great climax. Also, I learned a very important lesson, especially the last two chapters is that in anything and everything you do, be kind to other people. You dont know what problems their facing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2019
I enjoyed this because it was set where I live in Cambridge.
October 22, 2020
I had never heard of her before. I enjoyed this book. I'll have to read her others.
June 22, 2016
I like the premise of this series but the books themselves are a little shaky: the good news is that they improve and this is the best by Cork so far. Set around a Cambridge college, this is excellent on the crises in people's lives: first love and breaking up, wife vs. mother, new academia vs old school. In the foreground is a college production of Othello and the siren Stella with whom many of the other characters are obsessed, and we just know that something horrible is hovering over the scene.
The writing and characters are both deft and engaging, but Cork can't seem to stop herself going over the top so into this already heady mix she introduces a rapist with a religious obsession though she seems to awkwardly forget about him for large stretches. Do also note that someone is killed at 80% into the book so there's a sudden flush if activity at the end.
For all its flaws, though, most of this is gripping and feels authentic in its delineation of character with some nice observational humour, not least around the fabulously awful Frankie. If only Cork could rein herself in a little more her books would be better - still, this is the best of the three I've read.
The writing and characters are both deft and engaging, but Cork can't seem to stop herself going over the top so into this already heady mix she introduces a rapist with a religious obsession though she seems to awkwardly forget about him for large stretches. Do also note that someone is killed at 80% into the book so there's a sudden flush if activity at the end.
For all its flaws, though, most of this is gripping and feels authentic in its delineation of character with some nice observational humour, not least around the fabulously awful Frankie. If only Cork could rein herself in a little more her books would be better - still, this is the best of the three I've read.
August 2, 2016
The last in the Thorn trilogy and a very enjoyable holiday read. It focused primarily on Rosa's son, Danny, now a student at Cambridge, and his love life, and the family of Rosa's childhood friend Perry now a Cambridge don. The perpetrator of the crimes was not hard to guess although all the intricacies of connections were well sustained to the end. I found that some of the motivations for action were less credible, which is the issue I found with the previous books in the series too. But if you can suspend disbelief, then this is a captivating story. I was a little disappointed in Rosa, as her character was not as well defined in this book, and her relationship with Danny did not seem to develop as the previous books had indicated, so that she became rather confusing at times. Nevertheless a well written and intelligent novel.
March 16, 2011
Same characters as Thorne, which I was not expecting as I assumed that Thorne was a one off, don't know why...
Set in the spires of Cambridge, not my sort of place at all but it was a cracking thriller.
Some of the plot "twists" were a bit predictable and some of them were a bit far fetched.
Moves at a good pace and the author has developed the art of changing the "narrators voice" without telling you the narator now is, sounds irritating but in this case it works really well. Must get some more Vena Cork...
Set in the spires of Cambridge, not my sort of place at all but it was a cracking thriller.
Some of the plot "twists" were a bit predictable and some of them were a bit far fetched.
Moves at a good pace and the author has developed the art of changing the "narrators voice" without telling you the narator now is, sounds irritating but in this case it works really well. Must get some more Vena Cork...
January 5, 2008
This is the last one in the series... so far. Please write more, Ms Cork! :) I am waiting... this one focuses on Danny Thorn, Rosa's son, and his trials at university. I think it's almost as good as the first novel.
December 31, 2010
A bookseller recommended this to me as being similar to Ruth Rendell's psychological suspense novels. More like a Lifetime movie. It was suspenseful, but I found it melodramatic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews