From the outset Pressure feels overwhelming claustrophobic with a sense of impending doom lurking in the shadows of the submarine. Betsy Reavley has yet again written a psychological thriller that’s both dark and deceptively twisted. As someone who is terrified of being trapped in a small space the author then compounded my fears by adding in the deep unknown, for someone who is also terrified of drowning I immediately found myself becoming anxious as the author’s descriptive writing made me feel I was very much trapped in the submarine along side the crew, causing me to have a few sleepless nights!

A tense thriller with lots of twists and turns in the story. I liked the added suspense of being trapped underwater with no escape from the murderer in their midst!

Pressure is certainly the right title for this fantasic, suspensful book! What a rollercoaster, it grabbed my attention from the start and didn't let go. Wonderful plot and characters. I kept changing my suspicions as to who the killer was, but in the end I had absolutely no idea. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bloodhound and NetGalley for the ARC of this hugely entertaining, chilling tale.

Well, well, well!! I don't think the author could have picked a better title for her latest novel! One hundred percent apt, 'Pressure' is full to the brim of exactly that; pressure. 

Told from multiple viewpoints, some more clear than others, 'Pressure' tells the story of a group of people who have been led to a submarine on a mission to produce a film. Simple enough? Far from it. Each passenger on board the submarine has their own story to tell, but they all have one thing in common; they know next to nothing about the film they have been asked to work on. All they know is the rumours about the man producing it, with some characters knowing him better than others. 

As the story progresses, we get to find out about each of the characters in turn, whilst also reading a viewpoint from a character who remains nameless with no clues as to who they truly are. Are they on board the submarine? For me it was like a process of elimination, which was helped along by the fact that there was a killer on board. Is the secret character now alive, or dead? Who is the killer, and why are they going around killing everybody?

I had my own opinion about who I thought the killer was. I also tried to work out the identity of the secret character but, just when I thought I had cracked it, another piece of information came to light and threw me a massive curveball. I was half tempted to choose by 'eeny meeny miny mo', but even my indecisive nature would have had a problem with that!

What I loved most about this book was the fact that we were drip fed shocks in between calm moments, making the twists even more powerful when they landed. I knew that they were going to come eventually, but I just didn't know when, why or how. The pressure was certainly building from the reader point of view, that's for sure!

 Despite finding myself frowning during multiple scenes, my eyes were glued to every inch of the storyline yet I still couldn't work out who the culprit was - Betsy Reavley certainly made sure of that and what a cracking job she has done!

This really was one of the most disturbing and chilling thrillers I think I have ever read, yet it was also one of the best. Intense, toe curling, action packed, spine tingling, and absolutely brilliant. The 'Pressure' is about to come down on you like a ton of bricks! Even if you think that you're prepared, you'll never be prepared for what your eyes are about to see - I cannot recommend this book enough. Devious, dark, but DAMN it's fab!

My review is written with thanks to Sarah Hardy at Bloodhound Books for inviting me on the tour and for my copy of the book via Netgalley.
​When Frank Holden decides to produce a movie set on a submarine, everyone jumps at the chance to be involved. But when the submarine sinks, the ten people on board find themselves fighting to survive with limited supplies of oxygen and food. Later, one of the passengers is discovered dead, and they realise one of their colleagues must be killing others. As the body count rises, will they discover who is the murderer among them?
Trapped on a submarine with no means of escape, it is clear from the beginning of Pressure that those involved in the film are finding it difficult to live in such close quarters with their fellow passengers. I loved the way that Reavley describes the surroundings and the situation, as the feelings of discomfort and claustrophobia I had as I was reading mirrored those of the characters and helped me to understand their desperation. The tension was unbearable at times, and this kept me glued to the pages until the killer's identity was revealed.
Pressure is told from several different perspectives, and I enjoyed reading each character's back story which explained how they became involved in the film. None of the characters had a particularly privileged upbringing, and they all have various motives for killing their fellow passengers. This increased the tension for me as it made it difficult to work out who the murderer was. There are also sections of Pressure narrated by an unnamed child. I found these sections especially disturbing, and for some readers they may be triggering, as they explore child abuse. It is not clear until the end whose story these sections tell, and the Reavley's use of the technique created even more intrigue as I tried to work out how these chapters were linked to the present day.

Not sure I’ve ever mentioned this before, but little old me and water do not mix. I hate drinking it, I don’t particularly enjoy flying over it, I don’t like being in it or on it and I most certainly wouldn’t want to be under it. So obviously reading about a submarine stuck at the bottom of the ocean is a perfect choice of book for me. 😄

Pressure has all the hallmarks of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Throw a bunch of people together in a closed environment with no means of escape and put a murderer amongst them. Except this isn’t a fancy manor in the countryside or a remote island but a submarine. Quite frankly, for me it’s the stuff of nightmares.

Due to a technical error, the submarine loses power and ends up at the bottom of the ocean. With limited supply in food and oxygen and no means of escape, tempers start to rise and then someone is found dead. The remaining crew members begin to turn on one another and the pressure builds up in more ways than one.

There are ten people on board. Bit by bit, they are introduced to us. They explain where they came from, their secrets and dreams and how they came to be on the submarine in the first place. None of these characters are particularly likeable and being stuck together like this sure brings out the worst in them. There are also flashback chapters from one of the people on board, describing their absolutely horrid, heartbreaking and harrowing childhood.

I quite early on figured out who the killer was but that didn’t ruin my reading experience at all. Pressure is a gripping and compelling story that held my attention throughout. It’s tense with a dark, threatening and claustrophobic feel to it. While I was worried that the outcome would be completely predictable, I was surprised and glad to see it wasn’t at all. I think this would make an excellent movie, to be honest. You know, if you like water and all. 😉

4/5 stars

Wow!

This is only the second book I've read by this author. It was pretty great.

This book is written in numerous perspectives as it explains the past of each character and how they came to end up on the submarine.

I had a few ideas who the killer was and even though I guessed correctly, this book still kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for a review.

I loved this book. It reminded me at first of Ten little Indians but so much better. I read this book in one sitting, it grappled from the first page and never let go. I had no idea who the killer was until the very end. I love a book that keeps you guessing. This is a new author for me and I will definitely be adding her to my favourites list.
I would like to thank the author BetsyReavley, Bloodhound books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this new release.

There’s nowhere to run, and you’re trapped in a submarine with a killer, and then the first body is found… You immediately know this is going to be a murderous read; surely, it’s safer to stay with the group, but anyone could be the killer – how do you survive? That is the dilemma facing those trapped in the submarine. This novel unfolds with the events on the submarine, but also how each of the ten characters came to be onboard.

Most interesting, for me, was the narration of an unknown child, interspersed throughout. Trying to figure out who this child was because you’re 99% sure they’re trapped in the submarine as an adult and killing off people one by one. After the first murder, I thought I had it all figured out, but as you hear from each character, it seems they all have a motive to kill. Despite getting snippets from all ten characters, the plot is easy to follow, mainly because the main narration takes place in one location (the submarine) so this minimises the possibility for confusion.

One of the features this novel has, that I really like, is unlikeable characters – and I’m not talking about just one, there are multiple characters to dislike! And the unlikeability came very early on for one of the characters, it completely blindsided me and let me know that this would be a dark read – I can’t say I shed a tear at this character’s fate.

When I first started reading this novel, it took me a while to get into the plot; it’s very different to Frailty, and not necessarily a case of “if you like one, you’ll like the other.” Pressure reminded me of those “slasher-style” horror films but in book form; a group of people trapped together with no way out and they (and you, the reader) have to guess the killer before every dies. If you’re looking for a quick and fun read, in a claustrophobic setting, Pressure may be the book for you.

Pressure is the latest release from author and entrepreneur, Betsy Reavley.  I absolutely fell in love with the magnificent The Optician's Wife, one of Reavley's earlier releases which, if you haven't read yet then you really should get yourself a copy!  My love for The Optician's Wife always makes Betsy Reavley's books something to look forward to for me.  Pressure is published today so a very happy book birthday to Betsy and the team at Bloodhound Books.

I found Pressure to be lots of fun; lots of blood-soaked, terrifying, 'impending sense of doom' fun.  My absolute favourite type!  Regular visitors to the blog will know that I am a sucker for crime/horror crossover books (I flipping LOVE them!).  And although this isn't really a horror novel I had that feeling while reading, that fear in the pit of my stomach, that uncertainty and that glorious unease a good horror book can give to its reader.  What you may not know about me is that I am a terrible claustrophobic; I can't even play 'pin the tail on the donkey' at my children's birthday parties as having my eyes covered makes me panic.  If like me you tend to suffer from an intense fear of confined spaces then Pressure should probably come with a health warning.  It's about a submarine.  Not only is it about a submarine, it's about a submarine which fails and sinks to the ocean floor with ten people onboard.  And one of them is a murderer, slowly killing the others off, one by one.

I loved the setup of this book.  I'm a huge fan of stories where the characters are trapped, with little to no chance of escape and one sadistic soul is offing them in disturbing and unique ways.  Parts of Pressure reminded me of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None with a cast of devilish characters hiding their dastardly secrets from the rest of the world.  I spent my time reading Pressure and ATTWN not being sure who the murder was.  Reavley has done a masterful job of throwing in some very convincing red herrings along the way and boy, did I fall for them!

Each chapter is either told from a child's perspective, told in real-time as the bodies mount on the submarine or, is one of the characters giving a brief snapshot into their background, a fleeting glimpse into their past and often the wrongs they have committed.  The chapters narrated by the child are hard-hitting and difficult to read at times.  The unknown narrator tells a tale of extreme abuse, of a mother's hatred for their child and of a life lived very much alone.  As the child grows into a young adult the reader gets to see how this horrific abuse has contributed towards and helped cause unending damage to this young mind (nature or nurture, I'm not sure).

Would I recommend this book?  I would.  It was a compelling read and just the sort of book I love to lose myself in.  Being really rather grisly in places just added to the enjoyment for me.  As I progressed towards the end I was starting to feel a sense of disappointment, I believed I had guessed what was going to happen next and it wasn't what I would have chosen.  But I was wrong, and the ending couldn't have been better.

Four stars out of five.

I chose to read an eARC of Pressure.  The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

PRESSURE by Betsy Reavley is a unique and utterly compelling thriller that will suck you in from the very beginning and drag you down into its murky depths along with its characters.

Trapped in a submarine at the bottom of the seabed, ten strangers are panicking about if and how they will survive. What was supposed to be a low-budget and dynamic movie soon turns into a horror show of their own when they have technical difficulties with little hope of rescue. But just when they think that things cannot get any worse, one of the group is murdered and that means only one thing ... there is a killer among them and who will be the next victim?

Suffocating, claustrophobic, and intense from start to finish, PRESSURE by Betsy Reavley is everything I never knew I wanted in a thriller and more. The characters are distinct and in some cases extremely unlikeable, and you cannot help but put yourself into their shoes and feel the terror of being trapped below the water rush through you as you read (and then add in a killer to the mix for good measure!). This novel is energetic and perfectly paced so that it never feels slow or drawn out, and I really enjoyed the setting of the submarine as it was so different from other thriller books in this regard. With plenty of twists and turns, PRESSURE by Betsy Reavley has got it all and is perfect for thriller fans everywhere. Definitely a must-read for 2018!!

WOW. WOW WOW. This is a must buy and must read. Pressure is going straight into my top 20 of 2018. Bloody brilliant! Cannot top that story… A well deserved five stars. Wow. Will not forget that story in a hurry.. I am seriously impressed and want to rave about this book. BUY IT! You will not regret it.

I have not read anything similar to this story before and I loved every minute of it! A real who dunnit with a twist. It had suspense all the way through which kept me hooked and wide eyed. A brilliantly written and clever story line… A unbelievable cliff hanger.. Many twists, turns and dark chapters lie ahead! Parts are a little brutal and made my stomach clench including child abuse scenes.

I would highly recommend this story to you all. Outstanding. I loved how there was a little map of the layout of the submarine in the front of the book and how the story was told through each character and how they ended up in their position… Do you think you can solve who the killer is? I didn’t and the outcome had my jaw dropping and shocked! I would love for this story to be turned into a film, I’d watch it. Well done Betsy!

Soo… Did I love this book?

Yes I did, so I will shut up now. Buy it.

Holy freaking hell Betsy is back with a new psychological thriller and she is on fire! I have read all her book's and loved all of them....yes I am a massive fan. So I couldn't wait get stuck into Pressure. And has always we are taken on a dark and twisted journey telling the story set on a submarine....different or what?!



The story starts off with an OMG prologue then the story alternates between a child telling a story, the pica explorer and different characters on the sub getting us plenty of character build up. I have to say what a bitch the child'd mother is boy did she make me angry. We soon realise that the child is the killer but we have no idea who it is on the sub. LOVE IT!!!!



So ten people on board having no idea it was going to turn into their worst nightmare when they set off to film a movie. They soon become trapped when it starts to sink and they realise there is a murderer among them. With the tension building you will be hooked line and sinker until the every end.



Crikey what a twisted imagination the author has Pressure is jam packed full of OMFG moments which had my heart was racing and had my eyes popping out my head with some rather gruesome descriptions.Not forgetting the moments where I forgot to breath!



The author weaves one well and truly crafted story where you feel the anxiety to the extent that It actually made me feel claustrophobic and tickled stomached. This is totally different to any other story that I have read by the author and I could image this being a film. Pressure is one hell of a fast paced easy read which I highly recommend giving it all the stars.



Massive thank you to Sarah Hardy for inviting me to take part in the epic blitz

This is a gripping book which you just can’t put down.
A group go on the submarine to make a film so there are actors, a cameraman and Frank who organised this whole thing. Alongside them is a small crew.
At the beginning of the book the lights go out and they realise they are stranded at the bottom of the ocean....
Soon a body is discovered and everyone looks at each other wondering who the killer is.
As more people die the tension mounts.
Each chapter is told from a different characters point of view and there are also chapters from a child who is being abused by her mother. It is not clear which of the characters is this child and it keeps you guessing right until the end.
This is a great read and I would like to thank Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Couldn’t finish the book . I thought it was me and I found out it wasn’t .
I will still say the Netgalley give me an arc

The Pica Explorer, a submerged submarine, has lost power and has sunk to the ocean floor. With ten people on the sub, time is of the essence because oxygen will run out – and soon. As if that alone isn’t terrifying enough, murders are being committed, one by one. I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie’s work, and immediately sensed a parallel to her book And Then There Were None.

Here the story is told in two different ways, from several first-person points of view to a mysterious telling from one of their pasts. This allows the reader to get into the minds of those aboard. However, despite all of the individual stories, I was consistently kept guessing. From beginning to end, the story runs at breakneck speed. You just know someone else will be next, but who, and why? Equally thrilling and horrifying, Pressure was an excellent read.

Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review.

I honestly don't know what to say. This book is unlike anything I've ever read before. It's been a long time since I found a thriller that pulled me in as deeply as this one did. Well, considering the fact that this story takes place in a submarine, I'd say it was pretty deep. Okay okay, bad joke!

Pressure was weird, surreal and goosebumps raising. It pulled me into it so completely that I felt like a part of the story myself.
(Translation: I was so into it I freaked out at the sound of my brother slamming the door shut.)

The characters were so real and almost all of them had something in common with the killer. The killer's point of view only adds to the mystery.

The best thing about this novel was that it kept me wondering all the while I was reading it. I was trying to assemble all the clues, examining the suspects. I felt like the detective that wasn't there.

I especially loved the ending because it was realistic and full of uncertainty.

I'll recommend you to grab this one as soon as possible. Pre-order it now, because I'm telling you. You don't want to miss this one.

This really is a fantastic fast paced thriller.

10 people are on a submarine when something goes wrong with the power and they end up sinking to the bottom of the ocean with enough oxygen to last them about 7 days. If that wasn’t bad enough one of the 10 is discovered murdered in their bed. Who is the murderer ? And who can you trust ?

As well as the story unfolding on the submarine there are also snippets of information telling us how each of the people ended up being on board the submarine.

This is a brilliant fast paced thriller, which really takes you on a journey. A tense, claustrophobic thriller which keeps you hooked until the very last page. This is the second book I have read from Betsy Reavley and won’t be the last.

Terrifying... claustrophobic... original

"There is a killer among us."

Imagine you're locked in somewhere with a small number of people you don't know so well. Imagine the place is very cramped and without windows and there's a limited supply of food and oxygen. Imagine that the place you're in is a submarine stranded deep down on the ocean floor, hundreds of metres below the surface because of a fault. I feel breathless just thinking about it. Now imagine that if that weren't unnerving enough, one by one, the people on board start turning up dead... murdered. One of the occupants is a vicious killer, but who can that be? There's no way of knowing. No one has the word 'killer' or 'psycho' etched on their forehead. You just know that your turn will soon come... You can't escape... There's no way out of that hell... The stuff of nightmares!

This is the ingenious, terrifying scenario presented to us by brilliant author Betsy Reavley in her new thriller 'Pressure'. As soon as I read the blurb, I knew that this book was like nothing I've ever read before and that come hell or high water I would read it. The author takes us to a confined place rife with mistrust, suspicion and wariness, where a number of people turn on each other and with their nerves in tatters and in panic mode start losing touch with reality, turning a critical situation even more alarming and frightening.

It shows that the author has done her research on submarines well as I could imagine myself in such a vessel perfectly clear. The people on board are film makers, actors and the vessel's crew and I really liked the way the author introduces each of the characters with a dedicated chapter in turn. This way the reader is clear about who's who and their backgrounds. We also have chapters from the pov of a 'child'. Who is this child? Where does this story fit in the drama unfolding on the submarine?

With ever increasing tension, but thankfully without a decreasing oxygen supply problem, I was as desperate as the people on board to find out who the killer was. I imagined myself running through the long, cramped and dark corridors of the submarine, looking behind my back, expecting the killer to pounce on me at any moment. As I was reading, I ended up gnawing half of my fingernails and I'm sure my already high blood pressure went up a notch or two with the mounting anxiety and stress. I found myself wondering who the next victim would be, if there was any hope for some of them to get out of there, who would survive, who the killer was. It was really like watching a blockbuster movie, and I wouldn't be surprised if at some stage in the future this book is turned out into a film. The author succeeded in keeping me entertained, frightened and interested in the sub's desperate situation till the very end. Well done!

With huge thanks to Bloodhound Books for approving my request to read and review this book through Netgalley. Highly recommended!!

Well this book certainly gave me the fear! If you are at all claustrophobic - and I am - this one will make you feel extremely uncomfortable! Set on a submarine which has ran out of power and is rapidly running out of available oxygen, the 10 occupants also have to content with a psychotic killer, and they start getting bumped off one by one!
We find out the back storied to all the people on board the sub and how they came to be there, and one or two of them are truly horrific and deserve their fate! They begin to think rescue is never coming and have to accept they are going to die a horrific death one way or another at the bottom of the sea. Gives me the fear even thinking about it, the ultimate horror scenario!
Really good book, original and cleverly done, I would certainly recommend it.