Cover Image: Without a Word

Without a Word

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Member Reviews

My 4* review for Without a Word by Kate McQuaile.

"I was there when it happened. I watched her disappear.

Lillian had phoned telling her to get Skype up and running. 'I have so much to tell you'. Lillian was wearing a white bathrobe and she was in for the evening. Then, suddenly, the knock on the door. 'Sorry Orla, I'd better see who it is' she said, getting up from the sofa. Orla waited. But the seconds became minutes. She didn't know how long she waited before she realised that something terrible had happened."

I loved this book right from the first page and raced through it. I really liked the way all the characters were intertwined and there were actually several stories hiding in the one book. I loved Inspector Ned Moynihan who headed up the investigation, and he reminded me of an old-fashioned Inspector Morse type character who was not prepared to let a case go until he had solved it, and I warmed to him and was cheering him on.

I will look out for more books by this Author now.

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This was just an ok read and I found myself skimming through parts of it . Unfortunately it was not as exciting as I had hoped and felt it was quite drawn out at times.

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This book had me gripping to my sit. With my head trying to work out who done. Never in a million years would I have guessed
Fabulous read would def recommend the book

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Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review..... I rather enjoyed this one. The author sets up a very intriguing storyline that kept me constantly guessing the whole way through. I really enjoyed that the book was told from two points of view - from Orla's and the detective's. And although the ending didn't completely satisfy me, I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

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Oh I enjoyed this book a lot! So basically Lillian is talking to her friend Orla on Skype and showing her around her new home, all excited about plans for the future etc. then the doorbell rings, Lillian goes to answer the door whilst Orla waits on skype; but Lillian doesn’t own back and something awful happens, she really shouldn’t have answered the door!!! Then the book goes forward 10years and the backstory comes into play along with a little sub plot :o)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book it had all you want, twists, turns, highs and lows and I can’t wait to read more from the author!

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This was a book that had me gripped from page one, I was incredibly intrigued as to what was happening. However, despite enjoying it for the most part, it just dragged a little for me. Things were mentioned that I didn't really see the relevance of. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

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More than 10 years ago, Lillian called Orla, saying, "I have so much to tell you." There was a knock on Lillian's door, and she told Orla she was going to the door to see who was there. Orla waited...and waited...and waited... But Lillian never returned. Now 10 years later, Lillian's disappearance remains a mystery. Anonymous notes begin appearing insinuating that Ned Moynihan, the lead detective, did not investigate the case appropriately. From that point, Ned begins looking into Lillian's disappearance again. The book becomes a big tedious in the middle as the investigation proceeds somewhat sluggishly. The end fell kind of flat because there was really no big twist or reveal. It was not a bad book but was not really suspenseful either.

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I really enjoyed this book there are two mysterys going on both women disappearing and the affects on the friends and family. Nothing is quite what it seems kept me guessing to the end

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Lillian was skyping her friend Orla when they're was a knock at the door and she went to answer it. She was gone so long that Orla started to get worried..... and that was the last time she saw her! Ned was the policeman in charge of the investigation but he never got anywhere it remained a total mystery!

Fast forward 10 years and Orla is living back in her hometown where Lillian disappeared and notes appear about the case ... can the case be reopened and the mystery ofLillian be solved a last?

A great book that drew me in right from the beginning and the various twists kept my interest till the end.

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This book deserves 5 stars. I was gripped straight away and read this book in one sitting. Orla was talking to her friend Lillian on Skype, when Lillian gets up to answer her door. Lillian disappears. Ten years later Lillian's disappearance is still a mystery and Orla is back living in their home town, which is where Lillian was when she vanished. There is so much packed into this book. There are lots of other happenings in characters lives. It is really well written. The suspense builds up in it brilliantly and the way everything comes together at the end is perfect. I definitely want to read more books by this author.

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After absolutely loving this author's previous book, I had high expectations for this one. Sadly despite a strong start and an intriguing storyline, this as a very disappointing read, which struggle to hold my attention after just a few chapters. The plot was way too 'messy' and the ending came as absolutely no surprise so left me fairly flat and emotionless about the whole experience.

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This book was about two friends Lilian and Orla who were Skyping each other. Lillian goes to answer the door and is never seen again. Ten years later Orla moves back to the village she grew up and where Orla went missing. The case comes back to the surface after she receives some anonymous letters. There is also a sub-plot involving the inspector.

I really enjoyed this story and I never once got bored and read it very quickly. My only criticisms would be that at times I struggled to understand how the inspector reached his conclusions and knew exactly what he should do next. I don’t want to say any more as it would spoil part of the story. I would definitely read other books by this author as I loved her writing style and she kept me hooked.

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I enjoyed this book. Several stories woven together with a good twist at the end. Definitely worth reading !

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Alas, this book was archived before I got chance to read it.

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Without a Word started of really well but I started to lose interest half way through the story.

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Enjoyed reading this novel, love police mysteries and this one is well written and keeps the reader engaged.
Characters are interesting, and show the human foibles. Keeps one up at night reading. Would like to see a second novel.

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Wow did I enjoy this book !! The prologue made interesting reading and all made sense towards the end of the story. The story line is well written as I kept changing my mind about who was responsible for the disappearance of Lillian. Aiden was a character that made you feel for his grief, whilst James was someone to be wary of but I couldn't tell you why. A sure sign of good writing. The two stories running alongside each other was cleverly done, Inspector Ned's mothers unresolved disappearance many years previously as well as for completely different reasons Lillian's disappearance made good reading. With a surprising twist at the end !!

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Definitely a "keep reading even though I am tired" type of book. Good sense of mystery throughout and lots of red herrings as to what might have happened/who was involved. Perhaps a bit disappointed with the obvious ending as I always like a good twist but perhaps a realistic explanation which is OK too. Would definitely read more by this author. Thanks for the opportunity.

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I thought this was a solid read and think it was probably 3.5 stars. The hook was brilliant - friends skyping and then one is called away to the door and never comes back - that really caught my attention. The writing in the first part was pacey and kept my interest. Then part two came along, ten years after Lillian had disappeared, and we got a whole load of backstory about everyone and the focus on finding out what happened to Lillian was lost. I felt the book lost its way a little in the middle, but then the end came in a whoosh of action. Ned, the policeman seemed to make discoveries in an instant, that he had overlooked in the first investigation ten years previously and I couldn't work out how he'd made the leap in thinking. For me, there were a few too many cliches and I never felt I got to know the main characters very well. Ned's life was a bit tiresome, at times and I felt it got in the way of the story. And there were too many instances when things were just bumbling along and then something significant suddenly happened, in a sentence or two. I would have liked more of a build up to these events, so I could feel them more. But throughout the book, I didn't feel emotionally involved at all. Still, a good tale with an exciting ending.

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