I love this book. The characters were interesting and the premise was good. I was invested in the characters. this book is full of tension and I didn’t see the end coming. A great thriller

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Not one of Bolton's best (well, of the ones I've read). The premise itself was super engaging and the beginning plot set up had me very intrigued. The middle ended up being quite meandering and didn't have much direction after the pizzazz of the initial chapters. The ending did bring it back a little, but it felt like everything had been left too late and was then rushed to wrap everything up. Felt a little like paint by numbers when it comes to thriller writing, which isn't what I've come to expect from this author.

Dark, twisted and disturbing, The Pact is the latest terrifying thriller by Sharon Bolton.

The future is bright for six talented friends who are enjoying a long and satisfying summer. With their whole lives ahead of them, this group of friends have got the world at their feet. Nothing and nobody is going to come between them and their quest to reach the very top and live a life of wealth and privilege. Everything has always gone swimmingly for these six friends – until a game goes horribly wrong. A woman and two children are killed because of the gang’s recklessness and irresponsibility putting their whole future in jeopardy – until eighteen year old Megan takes the blame for the entire thing.

Megan’s decision has enabled the others to continue living their lives. No longer burdened by the events of that terrible night, the gang had been allowed to forge ahead with their own plans in exchange for a favour which will be payable to Megan on her release from jail. Megan has been in prison for twenty years and at long last freedom is within her reach. She has not forgotten the gang’s promises and now that she is finally a free woman she wants what is owned to her – and she will not take no for an answer.

Secrets from the past are brought out into the light and this time there is nobody to hide behind…

Thriller fans will not want to miss Sharon Bolton’s compulsive, chilling and creepy new novel, The Pact. A brilliant exploration of toxic friendships, privilege and the desperate lengths people go to to keep a dangerous secret under wraps, The Pact is an addictive and absorbing thriller full of twists and turns that will leave readers completely and utterly floored.

A top-notch chiller that is a struggle to put down, Sharon Bolton has got a winner on her hands with The Pact.

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

Wow, another killer read by a very talented author! I have read most of Ms Bolton's other books, and once again wasn't disappointed with this one. From the start the reader is engaged in Megan's "fate" and how it turns out 20 years later.... Recommended for anyone who loves a good novel.

Six friends at the end of their school term; A levels sat, university places awaiting them, all they need is a bit of excitement to get them through the summer.

When one of their coming of age pranks goes wrong, one of them takes the rap for the rest in exchange for a favour when it’s all over.

The Pact is made…

Twenty years later all hell breaks loose!

This was twisty, suspenseful, tense and so good!

The build up to the pact being made was immense and the consequences for all of them were horrific.

The characters were all well developed; their personalities, their charisma (or lack there of) such a great read for the summer!

Can not beat a book that grabs you within the first few lines, which is exactly what this did!
I loved it, fast paced, with twists and turns,
Brilliant, thank you!

My thanks to Orion Publishing Group Trapeze for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Pact’ by Sharon Bolton in exchange for an honest review. It was published in May 2021. My apologies for the late feedback.

A group of six friends are enjoying a golden summer while waiting for their A-level results. They are all gifted students with bright futures ahead of them until a daredevil game goes horribly wrong.

I don’t want to head into spoiler territory as I feel thrillers such as this are best read with minimal advance information. Yet I will say that the pact of the title is made between the friends that one of them will take the blame and face the subsequent consequences leaving the others free to continue on with their lives. Yet each of them will owe a favour to that person. No matter what it is. Years pass and the time to fulfil the terms of the pact finally arrives.

This was a total page turner and I was impressed with how well Sharon Bolton developed her characters and their varying responses to the developing situation. Along with exploring the bonds of friendship, she examines issues of class and privilege.

Overall, a gripping, twisty and atmospheric thriller that proved a very satisfying read,

An interesting and fast paced thriller that keeps you guessing to the end. A thoroughly good read in my opinion and the first I've read by Sharon Bolton, clearly I need to read more by her.

Not my favourite Sharon Bolton but a fast paced, high impacting story with well developed and diverse characters. There are frustrating moments when I wanted to shake some sense into them but this did make me wonder how I really would have reacted at that age and in their situation.
I can’t say I loved this book, and not really a
thrilling read for me. I found I was getting angry and irritated with the actions and decisions of the characters and the whole book felt immature for Sharon Bolton. For me it’s not a patch on The Split. but it is cleverly crafted which I’m sure many will enjoy.
With thanks to Netgalley and Orion for the arc

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Trapeze for approving me for an ARC of this book.

We start the story on the fatal night of the crash that changed the lives of Megan and her friends. All six of this group were completely different and it was very interesting to see the roles each of them played that night and twenty years later. I liked that the author didn’t spend a lot of time focusing on the crash and the trial. She had set the groundwork and then we moved on to see what would happen when Megan was released.

I actually really liked Megan and knew there was more to her story than we were originally led to believe. From the moment she offered to take the blame I knew that the other friends would live to regret their decision. Each member of the group had been deeply affected by that night and as adults some of them were more haunted than others.

As Megan started to embed herself in their lives more I actually enjoyed watching the likes of Felix and Talitha struggle to find a solution. These two characters were the harshest of all of them and clearly made the rules even as adults. Don’t get me wrong what Megan was asking of them as their favours was horrifying and I didn’t want the group to give in but a part of me couldn’t blame Megan for how she was acting after what she had done for them.

This was a cat and mouse game like no other and as more twists and revelations appeared I wasn’t entirely sure where the book was heading. The dramatic ending certainly had the shock factor and whilst this was my first book by Sharon Bolton it won’t be my last!

I’m a massive fan of Sharon Bolton so was excited to read this. I’ll be honest, I struggled the first time I picked it up and ended up sitting it down again. However while on holiday lounging by the pool I decided to pick it up again and after the first 30 pages I was hooked. The whole dynamic was gripping and intriguing. The ending however was disappointing, it seemed to lack structure and turned into something completely different to what I’d expected. Therefore leaving me with a slight hint of disappointment and perplexity.

“All they knew was that one moment they were sitting around the pool at Talitha’s house and the next thing they were speeding, at 80 miles an hour, the wrong way down the M40.“

A group of school friends are celebrating the end of the school year and preparing for moving on to university. They play a silly game, daring each other to drive the wrong way down the motorway. It’s all fun and games until another car crashes trying to avoid them, and a young woman and her children are horrifically killed as their car bursts into flames.
One of the group, Megan, offers to take the blame for the accident, as long as everyone owes her a favour when she’s released.
Twenty years later and Megan is back to get what she’s owed.

Despite not relating to or warming to any of the characters, I quite enjoyed this story.
Apart from Megan, all of the group are from privileged backgrounds. Megan seems to be underestimated by the others and seems like she wants to fit in with the group.

The book deals with various issues such as abuse, mental health issues and alcoholism.

The characters are well developed and it’s not hard to follow who’s who and what’s going on. I don’t think the characters are meant to be likeable, but this doesn’t spoil the story.

I found this quite easy and quick to read and I enjoyed it.

The idea for the plot is a bit different and it makes you think about how silly decisions can have a huge impact.

The cover is quite nice, but I didn’t feel it fitted very well with the story.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this story and would recommend it. It would be a good holiday read.

Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy to review.

This is a take of how social media can impact on our lives. It’s modern and it’s pacey. I like the way it gets right to the centre of the story straight away. I’m also going to buy more by this writer. Excellent . 5/5.

A fast-paced, well-plotted, and entertaining psychological thriller - Sharon Bolton has delivered once again - she never fails!

What a thought provoking book this is. The idea of six privileged teens on the verge of adulthood with the entire world at their feet when BAM a tragic event triggers a catalyst that sends their hopes and dream spiralling inot disarray.
Then think what life will hold for them twenty years down the line.
Written from the point of view of each character in turn, this really makes you consider how reckless decisions made through immaturity, selfishness and self-preservation can lead to complete and utter catastrophe.

What I found most fascinating about The Pact was the different characters' motivations. It's one of those books that has you conastntly asking yourself what you would do and how much you would peer pressure would affect your individual decisions.
Bolton manages to give each of the 6 characters different personalites which , bearing in mind their similar ages and privilege is quite a difficult thing to do. and that serves her well when developing the teen character from the beginning of the book inot their adult characters in the second half.
Thsi book was filled with many surprises and kept me gripped to the end. .

Well this was a pleasant surprise of twists and turns that made feel a bit dizzy if I’m honest.

It’s a great novel and I found many of the threads through the book good in terms of adding their own dimension to the story.

There are twists, as you’d expect from a thriller. As they were what I’d already guessed but one with a slight variation I was a little disappointed there wasn’t more that I hadn’t thought of as I love when a book throws a curveball that makes you gasp and it becomes one of the rememberable books you can’t stop thinking about. Even though that didn’t happens, as I was reading the last quarter it really hit me what a fabulous writer Sharon Bolton is.

What I loved was the consistent pace, which kept up through the book and there wasn’t a point where I wasn’t thinking about it and couldn’t wait until I could read again. The end was fabulous and full of suspense with what is another great thriller.

This was one of those books that was up and down for me. I love books that utilise the past and have that influence on the present plot. The characters, for me, weren’t relatable. And felt a little bit ordinary with nothing special about them.
The writing was brilliant though and the plot was interesting and exciting, so although I didn’t get on with the characters that well, the rest of the elements made up for it.