RaveNBWhat’s so innovative about this story is it’s told almost completely in emails and messages. I must admit to being simultaneously intrigued and wary of this format as I don’t always get on with epistolary novels, but I needn’t have worried. Hallett has made this such an addictive read with a feeling akin to peeping through a window and observing the (pretty unlikeable, to be fair) characters’ behaviour both first- and second-hand, and watching their stories unfold ... a more considered, yet still fascinating, read ... I have come to the conclusion I would be a terrible detective and am hopeless at reading between the lines. Janice Hallett, however, is a masterful plotter, pulling all of the different strands together with aplomb. It gives me a headache just thinking about the planning of this novel. This is an accomplished debut novel and a compelling mystery, with a very original style. I loved it.
Sharon Bolton
RaveNudgeI wasn’t disappointed with this intense and eerie novel ... Sharon Bolton writes amazing stories, so well plotted, but I think her main power is in her characterizations ... the whole cast is made up of fascinating and sometimes quite unusual people ... I particularly liked Florence for her gutsy behavior ... There is a very intricate plot, full of twists that I could never have imagined, with a dark, creepy element to it ... The Craftsman is a gripping, thrilling and utterly engrossing read. It hooked me from page one and didn’t let me go until the very last words.
