November book club - The Girl in the Red Coat

Can I just add one final thought! I hadn't a clue whether Carmel had any real powers and if she did, how did Gramps find out? I thought this was not brought out very well and Carmel herself seemed pretty confused I thought.

Well, obviously I was very lucky - I received and acknowledged the same day and immediately started reading. Certainly, to begin, it was indeed a page turner! It was quite long and so I started to lose my enthusiasm. I expected a slightly different style between the two characters which there wasn't and found myself wondering whose chapter I was reading. The story wasn't creepy enough really to be a psychological thriller and because so long, it became, three quarters of the way through, quite dull - the main characters weren't sympathetic in any way and it did 'go on a bit'. I wouldn't recommend it really - sorry!

I found this an enthralling and engrossing read with the device of the two main characters taking turns in telling their stories working very well. The way they never lost the belief and hopes in each other was very well described. Having once lost my son aged about 10 in a small shopping centre for about an hour 25 years ago I can relate to the initial terror Beth feels. All in all a great read well described with true to life characters throughout capturing the recalcitrant teen in Carmel as she grows especially well. I would certainly look out for future work by Ms Hamer. Thanks to her, the publisher and Gransnet for my copy.
Question may be a spoiler for those who have not reached certain points in the book. Could you clear up for me please whether you are asking the reader to believe that Mercy/Carmel does have healing powers or is she being used by others in a religious con trick? How much research did you do into religious groups in the US? The story seems ripe for a sequel, any thoughts?

I'd given up on this, so it was a lovely surprise to have my copy drop through the letterbox today. Thanks very much, Gransnet! I'll make sure I read at least enough to give a short review and ask a question by the end of the month.

Mine arrived just as I'd finished a library book....so no excuse not to start reading! As it says on the back cover: " beautifully written and impossible to put down"! I'm taking it with me to a hospital appointment this afternoon and will get stuck into it again.
Thanks for the copy GN!

Got mine yesterday. What a lovely surprise! Have to do some serious reading to finish it in time. No hardship there

I received mine yesterday. I was a bit surprised because I'd forgotten I'd put my name down I've only read the first couple of chapters but it's looking rather good.

I finished the The Girl In The Red Coat during the night, after reading it at every available moment. (Look away now if you haven't finished it yet!) It was a real page turner for me, I was desperate to know what happened next just about all the way through the book. I thought the characters were very well drawn and would like to ask the same questions as Grannijacq1. What happened to the original Mercy? Gramps did a truly horrible thing in luring Carmel away but there was a lot about his character which did not seem so bad - I wonder if this was intentional? The emotions of Carmel's mother were particularly well described, did Kate Hammer have any experience of this awful thing happening to anyone? I would quite liked to have read Carmel's reactions to meeting her mother again and her new half-sister, I didn't expect the sudden ending - but a book has to end somewhere and all in all it was a great read and I look forward to Kate Hammer's next book. Thank you Gransnet for my first book club book.

Does anyone know when we can expect the next book to be announced? (Have asked this before but no-one answered!!)

I was lucky this month after missing out on last few. Up to chapter 20 and enjoying it. There is a distinct other worldliness to the way the book is constructed as well as the character of Carmel. Am passing mine on to a Gransnet friend, as soon as I finish it,who wasn't lucky enough to receive one. Thanks for the copy.

My copy arrived yesterday morning (Tuesday) It looks like it has been on a trip around the world and is slightly the worse for wear (but perfectly readable). Looking forward to starting it soon. Thank you GN.

Thank you so much for the book, which unfortunately arrived only this morning so a little late to make a constructive comment, but shall definitely starte reading it immediately.

Just received my copy today. Thank you. I am looking forward to reading it hope to start tonight.

Have just received my copy and look forward to reading it. Many thanks.

I bought this book expecting a psychological thriller and had to give up halfway through (I can't remember the last book I did this!) because of the magic realism which I really disliked.

I received my copy yesterday and have already started it. It does seem a really good read. Many thanks Gransnet for introducing me to so many interesting and thought provoking books.

I got mine today, thank you! Will read as quick as I can.

Got mine today

only just received my copy - I'll read it as quickly as possible!

The Girl in the Red Coat, dropped through my letter box today. Many thanks. Am keen to start reading.

My copy arrived this morning, will read and comment asap. There is nothing nicer than a book shaped package on the mat, thank you.

My copy arrived this morning. Thank you. Its not a book that I would have chosen myself, however reading some of the reviews above I think it sounds a good read. I will give it my full attention.

And mine came this morning also - thank you GN - feel lucky to have got one again!

My copy arrived this morning too, thank you very much Gransnet, my first month of joining the book club, so it was very exciting to receive it! As previously posted I thought I hadn't been lucky and downloaded it onto my kindle (99p!) so I'm a good way through it. I'm not going to read any reviews until I've finished it. Thank you.

Are the new books announced on the first of each month by the way?

Just received this book this morning. Thank you. It looks really good.

My copy arrived this morning.
Thank you Gransnet!