Cover Image: The Girl on the Platform

The Girl on the Platform

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The Girl on the Platform grips you instantly - the story is completely intriguing, starting off as a relatively slow burn, but the undercurrents of intensity really ramp up the suspense and tension fast. There is a great amount of detail without falling into the trap of being 'overkill' like some books tend to do! Narrator Nneka Okoye is absolutely incredible and really contributed to the suspense and excitement of each chapter. If Nneka could narrate everything I'd manage to get through a lot more audiobooks! Semi-spoiler alert: there is a twist, but it's not that expected, as throughout the story, it feels like you're experiencing the whirlwind with the main character and going through each stage with her. Author Bryony Pearce writes very methodically, adding a layer that feels honest and personal - it was only after you hear the authors note at the end that you realise why it felt so incredibly authentic. A fantastic read.

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This novel is very compelling and drew me into the angst of the main character very quickly. I couldn't decide if it was a crime novel or a gripping psychological thriller and ended up feeling it was a clever combination of both. By the end of the novel I was relived it was over because I needed to know what had happened to that little girl. The narration was superb and added to the tension.

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I wish I could give this book many more stars as it was a fantastic listen. At times I got frustrated with the police for being so lame and not taking the main character seriously enough, and, although I had my suspicions as to whom was behind the kidnapping I didn’t really know until the final few chapters. Such a great read

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This story had so many facets and tangents. I found it hard to keep up at points, there was just so much to take in.
I just can’t imagine another person putting anyone through what Bridget endured at the hands of her own “mother” . Amazed her “Aunt” allowed herself to be drawn into the web of lies and deceit.
Tense and jaw dropping.

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The Girl on the Platform By: Bryony Pearce and Narrated by: Nneka Okoye is a great crime and psychological thriller, I loved this book all the way through! I couldn’t stop listening, the story kept me gripped from start to finish! This audiobook was full of great, twists and turns throughout and you won't be too sure who to trust all the way through.

I highly recommend this audiobook and the narrator was excellent.

Big Thank you to Avon Books UK and HarperCollins UK Audio for my advanced audiobook to listen to.

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I was a bit unsure about this book, it took me a little while to start enjoying it.
Bridget as a character started off quite whiney for me but as the story progresses, I found her to become more likeable.
A great twist that I didn’t expect.
Thanks Netgalley for this arc in return for my honest opinion.

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I really enjoyed this fantastic psychological thriller. I was hooked from the start and couldn't wait to find out what had happened. This has a fast paced plot with excellently portrayed characters. I loved the big twist at the end of the book.Intriguing and compelling - this is a great book.
The book is brilliantly read by the narrator.
I highly recommend this book - fabulous.

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Bridget is witness to the kidnap of a child at a train station, the only witness.

This single thing leads us on a dark & twisting path into mental health issues, PND, abuse, mistrust & hidden family secrets.

Although the outcome was fairly obvious after the first few chapters this novel still had me hooked. I listened to the audiobook version & I recommend not starting it at bedtime, or, in fact, at any time when you can't finish it in a single sitting.

This was a truly brilliant listen. One that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller.

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this as a pre release.

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I wasn't able to access this book via netgalley, however listened to it via an Audible trial. Thoroughly absorbing and compelling thriller with unpredictable story. Highly recommend this book..

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This book is very slow. It feels like I have been caught up on the stress and anxiety of this story for some time and I am not even half way through.
I have guessed where I think this story will go and I am not sure I can bring myself to stay with it.

A brief synopsis, Bridget, has recently returned to work after having a baby. It has been decided, that as the breadwinner it makes sense for her to return to work, even though she is still breatfeeding her small daughter. She is therefore struggling with sleepness nights, separation anxiety and postnatal depression during the story and you get a heightened sense of this above all other emotions. During one of her return journeys home she thinks she a young girl being abducted from a train platform. No-one else saw anything and the police have not received reports of a missing child. This is what pulled me into the story but it wasn't enough to sustain me.

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I got an audiobook version of this book and WOW!

Initially, I was a little confused by the narrative style of this audiobook but once I got into it. I could not stop listening.

I loved this story and thought it was really unique. It’s not like anything I’ve ever read before. The ending for me was completely unpredictable which can sometimes be the case.

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The narration added to this story which was a really well developed story. I had no idea what to expect and this was my first book by this author. I really got involved in the story and the ending was brilliant. As someone who, I now realise was suffering from post natal depression, this was really well thought out and explained. I do love how she put the economic consequences of decisions and that was very helpful.

I will investigate more by this author - and please do yourself a favour and read this.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

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I listened to this as an audiobook.

It is very cleverly constructed, and sends us off in different directions , so by the time the final quarter of the story starts to develope we are not sure where it is going to go.

I don't want to spoil this twisty novel for anyone, so I won't discuss the plot other than to say it is extremely well constructed, the characterisation is excellent, and the final plot twist is great. I had managed to work it out and I normally knock off a star for that, but this was so well done that I simply couldn't. I found myself holding my breath during the dramitic conclusion!

The audio book is very well narrated, and I always think that if you don't notice the narrator, and you are engrossed in the story, then the narrator is doing a good job, and that is exactly what happened here.

I would highly recomend this thriller, but not necessarily if you have just had a baby!

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This is the first Bryony Pearce book I've read but am now smitten.
The narration was excellent.

The story begins with a young mother on a train, returning home to her family after a an exhausting day in her office. Her stay at home husband who cares for their young daughter through economic necessity adds to her stress whilst battling post natal depression and her child who she doesn't see enough of.

How can she have seen a little girl on a railway platform being abducted, carried away to a white van. She's tired, looking through the window as her train is travelling through stations so fast she cannot see the place names yet she is convinced she witnessed this horror. No other passenger will admit to seeing anything unusual. Why not?

From this point the story moves from a typical tale of a commuter to a nightmare only she has. Slowly the book becomes a tense psychological thriller full of surprises.

Mental health can cause so many issues but surely something doesn't ring true, it cannot be depression behind this or can it?

Young parents struggle to find a balance, fitting in the demands of the grandmother, their relationship and that of the baby girl they adore. This experience on the train crashes into their lives and takes over.

I hate spoiler reviews and it's difficult not to do it but in this case I won't.

I loved it and want to thank Bryony Pearce, the publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to the audio version of the book in exchange for a review. The narration was just right, more than once the reading or voice so irrelevant or irritating I have given up on an audio book but not this time.

As a weaver and spinner audio books are a huge part of my life, my happy place, craft and a story.

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From the get go you're thrown straight into a very compelling narrative, about 100 pages in I felt like I knew where the book was headed, however I feel this is what the author intended. The story is told with a continuous steady pace and I absolutely flew through it, with nothing about the plot as black and white as I expected.

What I loved about this is the character balance, it's very centered around the main protagonists with just the right amount of input from the others to carry the story.

The narration was brilliant, Nneka Okoye; the narrator, really knew how to build the suspense of the story with her voice.
Not only would I look out to read more by this author I'd seek out audio read by the narrator too.

Brilliant phycological thriller.. with a rather disturbing twist.

Thank you Avon and Harper Collins UK audio for my advanced readers copy through NetGalley.

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I am so sorry, I really wanted to like this one but I just didn't. The book could have been about 25% shorter if the main character had stopped moaning all the time. I found the plot to be exceptionally basic, having worked out the "twist" 30% into the audiobook. Having said that, there were parts I didn't predict as they were ridiculous and unnecessary. The only saving grace was the narrators beautiful voice, I could listen to her all day. I would love to see what she does with decent characters!

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Absolutely loved this audio book!
Was completely shocked as this was not what i expected at all! With the current trend of train thrillers i was excited to discover there was nothing usual at all!

The storyline begins with a dramatic opening with suspence straight from the off!

A poor woman (also a new mum) witnesses a kidnap of a little girl and her determination to solve the mystery becomes an obsession despite her knockbacks and challenges.

Swiftly she becomes embroiled in lies and deceit at the detriment of her new baby, home and family life.

Feeling so isolated she soon spirals out of control and becomes a victim of mental torture and if coping with a new baby, full time work and a doubting husband isnt enough, the story unfolds to reveal a dark mystery which keeps you onn the edge of your seat!

I did have my suspicions in the latter half of the book but so much is packed into this story before the reality is revealed!

This book completely gripped me and @BryonyPearce is such talented writer! Together with a superb narration performance by @NnekaOkoye, this is a must read !
(I will be searching for this narrator again!)

As a visually impaired person I love my audiobooks and when you get one like this its even better! It has been an honor to have the chance to read this.

Thoroughly recommend!👍🏻

Thank you NetGalley and Avon books for this advanced copy of the audiobook.

(I have added a review on Goodreads and when i can work out how to add the link I will do!)

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My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my audio copy of The Girl on the Platform. I feel pretty guilty, especially after listening to the acknowledgements at the end of the book, for not enjoying this book more. It was a good plot but I felt it was just too padded out and therefore went on for longer than necessary. I also found it depressing but maybe that was meant to be. By the time it was at about 70% the pace picked up and I couldn't bear to miss a single word and then when it ended I felt a loss. As a psychological drama it certainly did a number on me.

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Unfortunately I had mistakenly written the archive date down as end of April for this book so I was bummed not to be able to listen to it yesterday as planned.

I am however busy reading the book and loving it so far.

Thanks again for the chance to listen to this book and next time I will make sure to set the archive date correctly in my files.

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This was an incredible listen. The narrator is perfect and I can imagine that Bridget sounds just like her. Bridget suffers from depression after the birth of her daughter. She has a long commute, is tired often and has a past that is difficult to remember. Her life begins to spiral out of control when she witnesses a kidnapping whilst traveling home and soon she uncovers hidden secrets. This book is gripping, addictive and had lots of fantastic twists.

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