Sunday Book Review – A House Without Windows by Stevie Turner
Sunday Book Review
Today’s book review is on author Stevie Turner’s book- A House Without Windows. This book captivated me from the get-go. The story drew me in immediately as the protagonist, Beth, took us right into a nightmare of captivity. I don’t wish to give any spoiler alerts but suffice it to say, the psychological damage that she endures had me reading uncomfortably, yet glued and anxiously hoping through each page she’d be rescued . . . being rescued doesn’t usually mean the events a captured victim experienced will ever go away.
Blurb:
Dr Beth Nichols thinks she has been held captive by Edwin Evans for about 8 or 9 years now. Amidst her grief she often looks back and thinks about her fiancée Liam; theirs was the greatest romance of all. She lays awake at night staring at the one light bulb that is never switched off, and prays that he is still out there somewhere searching for her…
My 5 Star Review:
This book has an unusual storyline with each chapter taking us into the minds and real life thoughts of each character, I could liken this story to the book/movie – Room, but the story isn’t only about ‘the room’ Beth is held captive in, but life after she is freed and the perspectives of every day life after being a victim.
A House Without Windows is the story of Beth Nichols whose compassion as a doctor leads to a scary nightmare in real life when Edwin Evans forms a ploy to kidnap her and keep her locked up all for himself. The story begins as a psychological thriller where Beth’s captivity in a tiny room with no windows becomes her life and the only home she will know for almost ten years,
Turner does a great job of giving us readers a ringside seat into what life is like for Beth, leaving us feeling uncomfortable, anxious, taking us in, almost as though we were that hostage, and wondering how on earth she will ever get out of her hell. Beth is a strong-willed and an intelligent woman, which has much to do with how she manages to stay sane while enduring solitude and the daily abuse, all the while remembering her love for her dear fiancee Liam.
I don’t want to reveal spoilers so it’s better I don’t talk about what happens in the second half of the book. Suffice it to say, I will plant some questions here that came to my mind as I read this captivating book:
Beth: How does one continue on back in the real world when it comes to love and sex and trust?
Beth: How does a mother keep love in her heart for a child who was born from rape?
Amy: How does a child born in captivity adapt to the real world after young childhood years in 4 walls?
Liam: Does true love ever die no matter the circumstance even after moving on and accepting the love of your life is dead?
Joss: Does being born of the spawn of a psychotic maniac carry through the genes?
These are just a few questions that came to mind and will no doubt come to any reader’s mind as they read this book, and as you continue to read those answers will be revealed. Turner has done a fantastic job of fleshing out characters, settings and mood. I would highly #recommend this book!
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dgkaye
D.G. Kaye is a nonfiction/memoir writer, who writes from her own life experiences and self-medicates with a daily dose of humor.
47 Comments
jenanita01
I would love to read this book, and it is on my list…
dgkaye
Happy to intrigue you Jaye. 🙂
Stevie Turner
Thank you for a great review, Debby.
dgkaye
My pleasure Stevie. As you know, I quite enjoy your books. 🙂 x
robbiesinspiration
Whew, Debby, this sounds really amazing.
dgkaye
I thought it was Robbie. Glad to intrigue you. 🙂
Annika Perry
Terrific review,Debby! I’m drawn to this book,the questions you raise … it sounds brilliantly written. Uncomfortable is definitely the word and how I felt with Room but again impossible to put down.
dgkaye
Thanks Annika, I’m glad this book got your attention. Room is a great comparison, but what’s different is life after ‘the room’. 🙂
Jacqui Murray
This sounds frightening and compelling. Some events change us–that’s life. How horrid this sort of event would be.
dgkaye
Agreed, but nonetheless captivating! 🙂
Jane Risdon
Fab review and idea for a story. Wishing much success.
dgkaye
Thanks Jane! 🙂 x
Jane Risdon
Pleasure x
balroop2013
Thanks for a riveting review Deb…such a plot would surely be disturbing and heart-wrenching. I hope Beth could escape her tormentor…I like happy endings.
dgkaye
Thanks Balroop. Disturbing and heart-wrenching make for a good read! Sorry, no spoiler alerts. LOL 🙂
D. Wallace Peach
This book sound so intense!! Yikes. Just the premise is chilling. Thanks for the review, Debbie, and congrats to Stevie on a gripping read!
dgkaye
Thanks Diana. Glad I intrigued you. 🙂 x
olganm
It sounds like a fascinating book. Thanks, Debby and congratulations to Stevie.
dgkaye
I think you’d enjoy it Olga. 🙂
Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.
Terrific review Debby… not sure how I would cope… xxx♥
dgkaye
Thanks Sal. I’m with you! 😉 <3
tidalscribe
So chilling just to read the review and and a novel that was very hard to write I imagine.
dgkaye
I’m glad my review could evoke what I felt while reading Stevie’s book – chilling is an apt word. 🙂
Cynthia Reyes
Excellent, thoughtful review, Debby!
dgkaye
Thanks Cynthia 🙂
lisa thomson-The Great Escape...
This does sound eerily like the book ‘Room’. Interesting plot and sounds very edge of your seat! Thanks for the review, Deb! I’m going to check this out and add it to my TBR shelf (which is growing in leaps and bounds haha).
dgkaye
So glad I could aid in toppling your TBR Lis. Believe me. I know the feeling LOL. But worth the read! 🙂 x
Deborah Jay
Scary! My grandfather and great grandfather were both named Edwin Evans…
dgkaye
Oh Wowwwwwwwwwwww! Yikes! 🙂
Deborah Jay
Weird, huh?
dgkaye
Ya! 🙂
writerchristophfischer
I love books with perspective changes. Thanks for the tip <3
dgkaye
Thanks for visiting. So glad I could stuff your TBR some more. LOL <3
Natalie Ducey
Captivating review, Debby. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Bravo to Stevie!
I’m late catching up with everything. The flu kicked my butt. Nasty stuff. Happy to be back!
dgkaye
Thanks Natalie. And you’re never too late – the beauty of blogs, they’re always there. 🙂 And ouchee, sorry to hear you were a victim of that deadly flu going around too. Hope you are on the mend! <3
dgkaye
Thanks Natalie. And you’re never too late – the beauty of blogs, they’re always there. 🙂 And ouchee, sorry to hear you were a victim of that deadly flu going around too. Hope you are on the mend! <3
Liesbet @ Roaming About
What a horrific tale, Debby. And, once again hard to review without giving away too many details. The story also sounds intriguing, but psychological damage rarely ever leads to a happy ending… Beth probably recreated her reality after her release, to see happiness in the smallest things after being held captive and being in hell for such a long time. I’m sure the reader can learn something from that as well, and might remember to be grateful for the life they lead. Interesting book. I’ll put it on “the list”!
dgkaye
Excellent points Liesbet. Yes, sometimes we forget to remember gratitude. A great reminder! 🙂
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dgkaye
Thanks Stevie! 🙂
Norah
Sounds like an interesting story, Debby. It reminds me a little of Anne Goodwin’s novel “Underneath”. Have you read it? Sadly, real stories like Beth’s are not as infrequent as we’d like to believe. I am always horrified at the way some human beings treat each other. It makes me wonder how they were treated in the first place. I like the way you asked questions to hint at the plot rather than giving it all away at once.
dgkaye
Sadly, you are right Norah. And no, I haven’t read Underneath but will check it out. Glad you liked my little twist on suggestion. 🙂
Norah
A clever innovation, Debby. 🙂
Sue Dreamwalker
This sounds an interesting read Debby.. Something that we see is happening more and more in real life as we see people being held prisoner in their own homes.. One can not imagine it. or the effects it has.
Thank you for your amazing review.. I do not know how you do it.. I spent nearly all day painting yesterday.. And time went in a flash.. 🙂
Sending Mega Hugs Debby and thank you for sharing all you do.. 🙂 xxx
dgkaye
Aw thanks Sue. Sending big weekend hugs back to you. <3 :) xxx
Christy B
Oh gosh I can only imagine the horror of the plot – it must have had you biting your nails with the read! Great review of Stevie’s book, which I have yet to read.
dgkaye
Great read Christy! 🙂 x