Friday, 10 June 2011

Wish Me Dead by Helen Grant

Title: Wish Me Dead
Author: Helen Grant
Publisher: Spine Breakers (Penguin)
Published: 2nd June 2011
ISBN: 9780 141337708


Helen Grant's website






Rating: 3.5/5


The cover on this is dark and boding, just like the book....you have been warned <evil cackle> lol.


Steffi and her friends visit a derelict house, the stuff made of Hansel and Gretal fairy horror stories.  For something to do they each make a wish in a house that is rumoured to have been a witch's.  Out of those that wished....one came true....and the story unfolds as things spiral out of control for Steffi and her friends.


This truly is bone chilling reading in places, especially as Steffi realises the true nature of what has been happening.  In some parts I saw what was coming...in others the carpet was swept out from under my feet and the world was topsy turvy for a while.  When Steffi's friends believe she is the only one who can make their deepest, darkest thoughts reality, it is shocking how they treat her.  She's left feeling isolated, even as the twists and turns of the story continue and she's left to face some really sordid truths by herself.  This had my heart hammering ten to the dozen in places as I could feel the threatening terror that Steffi was going through.


On the flip side - Steffi is very ego centric.  Not once does she question anything....not even when those she wishes dead actually do die.  She is very self centred and doesn't look outside her small world and really see it for what it is - something which I found intensely annoying.  It isn't until things get out of control that secrets buried in the past resurface and Steffi realises she doesn't know everything about her family and friends.


In summary, this is an intensely gripping read in places, although I found Steffi too self centred for my liking.  The ending is good...I'm not going to spoil it, but it's very creepy.


Source - Many thanks to Spine Breakers.  A proof was received for review.

5 comments:

serendipity_viv said...

This does look good. I do like books that are a bit scary. There seems to be an increase in the number of self centred main characters lately.

Jules said...

This sounds interesting!

Liz. R said...

Shame about the main character! I understand why that'd be annoying. The overall story sounds intriguing though - thanks for the review!

Majanka said...

I love the cover of this book. I always enjoyed Hansel and Gretel, and a house like the crancky old witches' house seems very entertaining/scary. I would love to read this book. You're so lucky for getting a review copy ;)


I'm a new follower btw ;)

Kind regards,
Majanka
I Heart Reading

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