check in | chapter 15 - 20

[Lala, owner]

Don't read / post in this topic until you've reached the end of chapter 20 / page 324 AKA the end of part 6.

Thoughts so far?
No spoilers for later in the book please!

[hannah]

i’m super early lol but all of the comments so far have been saying that it’s slow & honestly? i think that’s part of the point? the narrator has said a few times that abuse builds up slowly until all of a sudden you’re in the thick of it & that parallels the slowly building structure of the narrative (tho, i will definitely agree that the earlier bits where we follow the railway workers is drawn out!).
one thing i’m DEFINITELY sure of: FUCK matty

[Desert]

Finally Lisa is angry! it took her long enough to come around to that. I hope she's going straight to Matts for revenge!! Also, I'm eager to find out how she died and what the connection is between her death and the child molester.

[Kristen]

Lisa has every right to start feeling some anger towards what happened to her. The way Matty jokes to PC Lockhart about Thomas Warrens death after his girlfriend “died the same way” is disgusting.

[Elliot]

Meh. I'm sad that it's taken so long to get to where things are starting to link up - maybe I just missed bits at the beginning but it has been a bit of a drag for a thriller. I'm impressed with how this book as handle its abuse storyline, it seems really real and reflective of a lot of people's experiences with abuse within a relationship; I just wish we had that earlier on in the book instead of spending a long time in the station at the beginning.

Was hoping for more of a spooky ghost story rather than what seems like a domestic thriller.

[RennyWest]

Well, the good part (aka Lisa's past prior to her death) ended and we have more roaming around as a ghost, pondering about life, trying to sound deep (and failing imo) and a tiny bit of investigating. I think I should feel happy that I realized that Matty is responsible for her death (still unknown how he exactly) pretty early on, but it wasn't some shocking plot twist. Also I really don't enjoy the parts about Lisa's ghost just looking at various things. Which is why my rating fell from 3/5 to 2/5.
As for the ending: I still think that the most probable outcome for Lisa is to move into the afterlife. For Matty - either getting arrested or (more likely) ending up falling from Platform Seven right under some train (my guess is the latter).

[Anna]

I find myself being super into the story when Lisa talks about her life before her death, but as soon as the book moves to present time I get so bored. I don't really care when Lisa, as a ghost, just goes places and makes observations; these parts could've just been cut and the pace would've been much better.

[Kim]

I’m not a big fan of domestic thrillers like this so I’m a bit disappointed. Not quite done but I’m at a 3/5 up from 2/5. I think she is finally pacing the story well. It just took bloody long to get there! As I say, don’t like the abused girlfriend/wife storylines; however, I think the way it built so slowly was the way those relationships go so I understand the author’s reasoning for going rather slow. I just really want Matty to get his comeuppance, though I doubt that will happen

[Dawn]

I prefer the ghost storyline-floating around, following people, rather than the domestic drama of the alive Lisa. But the pacing and tension are rising now, and I am looking forward to how it all comes together in the end. Matty in the carpark??

[Catherine]

The first part of this section made me so angry. I was angry at Matty for manipulating and gaslighting Lisa so much, angry at Lisa for not realizing how bad things were, and especially angry at everyone around them for being too blinded by Matty's charisma to notice Lisa's pain.

This has been a tough read for me personally, but I feel like I owe it to Lisa to hear the rest of her story.

[Daphne]

This was such a different book than I expected (so far), it was kind of slow. It's picking up a bit now, but I'm not sure if I'm loving it. I'm having a hard time getting through it, but it's also intriguing me enough to keep going.

[Roaa]

at one point i forgot there's a railway station involved in this story lol

[Elizabeth]

I agree with others that the flashback scenes are holding my attention much better than the random musings of "ghost-Lisa."

Also, I might be mistaken since I am listening to the audiobook, but the transit police keep mentioning someone named Leyla when they reference "that girl who committed suicide at Platform Seven 18 months ago. I don't have a physical copy of the book to go back and check but this is really confusing. Are they calling Lisa Leyla or referencing a minor character that I missed at the beginning?

[Amanda]

I'm definitely getting more into the book as it goes. I hope some of the people who dnf'd try again.

Matty made a comment about getting into the mental health profession so I have a feeling it has something to do with that. i think her not sleeping, him knowing she wasn't sleeping, and that make it seem he might have been hypnotizing or messing with her in some way.

Interested to see where it goes. I wouldn't say omg this book is amazing but it's turned into an interesting read.

[Amanda]

Elizabeth wrote: "I agree with others that the flashback scenes are holding my attention much better than the random musings of "ghost-Lisa."

Also, I might be mistaken since I am listening to the audiobook, but th..."

I'm also confused by this!

[Megan]

Leyla is older the neighbour who noticed the abuse, if I recall correctly!

I'm so glad these threads are finally pulling together. I'm still finding it meanders a bit, and I really hope there's a bit more plot going forwards (Lisa's anger is a good sign!), but overall this is picking up. Still quiet and domestic, but not as low-key as the earlier chapters.

I totally agree that the blurb is not an accurate representation of the content of this book, however!

[Line]

Elizabeth wrote: " Also, I might be mistaken since I am listening to the audiobook, but the transit police keep mentioning someone named Leyla when they reference "that girl who committed suicide at Platform Seven 18 months ago. I don't have a physical copy of the book to go back and check but this is really confusing. Are they calling Lisa Leyla or referencing a minor character that I missed at the beginning?"

Okay so Leyla is or was her older neighbor, who often complained about the door being shut instead of closing it properly. She also talked to Lisa one time (calling her 'Leeza') and said that she knows and that her name is Leyla.

[Line]

I'm glad that the pacing went up a little bit and I'm enjoying it more than the first two parts. But like some people already said, the slow pacing could indicate an abusive relationship in a way that it begins rather slow and then it all comes crashing down.

I hope that Matty gets whats he deserves, because he is nothing more than an abusive man, who thinks he can get away with everything. I really hate this character, but who won't?
I'm also very glad about the fact that Lisa now understands that her relationship wasn't a healthy one and that she is (finally) angry.
I think it's also very interesting to read about Andrew and Ruth and what happened to them.

Interested to find out about the connection between Lisa and Warren and what Lockhart will find out about everything but especially the truth about Lisa's death and Matty's part in it.

[Abbey]

I didn’t see the connection between Andrew/Caleb and Warren the jumper coming but that was an interesting connection. I’m really intrigued to see if Lockhart is going to uncover the truth and I hope Matty gets what is coming to him.

[Rina]

I'm so glad the pace has picked up. This is what I expected from a mystery thriller book. We knew Matty was bad, but now we know he's a psycho.

Good surprise re Andrew/Caleb and Ruth and their relationship with Warren, and very surprised to see Lockhart's curiosity was the reason for Lisa's freedom.

And Leyla! Need to know what her role in this is.

Also need to know why the investment on Dalmar and Melissa at the start - what are they going to bring to the story?

[Miss Nikki]

I’m honestly having SUCH a hard time finishing this book. I was super interested in Lisa’s past with Matty, but once we got to the last 3 or so chapters with the present again I was so bored. I’m having a hard time concentrating. I’m constantly having to re-read sections because I forget what they’re about. I’m REALLY hoping the final quarter of this book is interesting, and will have made this slow-paced book worth while :(

[Claudia]

Ok, this was the "best part" of the book so far. The stories starting to be connected, though I'm still not sure what Andrew and the suicide of his dad have to do with the rest of the story. Hopefully this will clear up later in the last part.

It definitely got a bit more interesting and the book is keeping my attention. I am still skipping through at lot of waffling in between, which is not needed and not reading it doesn't hinder me from understanding the story.

I am also not the biggest fan of Lisa. "What are these people doing in this house" she asked herself. Duh he's a real estate agent and trying to sell the house to the couple.

But I definitely got it wrong before, Matty definitely seems to be a doctor. The question is, is he "just" an abusive psychotic character, or actually a real killer. Let's see what other people think.