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Review: Captive

by A J Grainger

captive

pamsarc

pamsfour

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Published: January 29th 2014

‘Word’s are a powerful weapon. A single word can change a destiny. You wouldn’t waste a bullet – or a nuclear warhead. Don’t waste a word.’ Loc 791

Title: Captive
Author: A J Grainger
Book: Standalone
Published by: Simon & Schuster UK Children’s
Genre: Mystery Thriller, YA
Found: Netgalley
Rating: 4 Voodoos

This is my Thriller choice for the 2015 Reading Challenge.

I open my eyes. The cell is flooded with sunlight; the window is a slice of pale blue. Dust particles dance in the sparkling light, pirouetting in a golden line from the window to the opposite wall of the cell, where they seem to converge into shapes. It is like looking into a kaleidoscope.

Dad isn’t here. No one is, but me.
Robyn Knollys-Green is an A-list celebrity, famous for being the daughter of one of the world’s most powerful men. But not even the paparazzi can find her now.

Robyn begins to realise that she is trapped in a complicated web of global corruption and deceit – and that the strange, melancholy boy who has been tasked with guarding her might not be an enemy after all . . .

Captive is an interesting thriller that encompasses terrorism and celebrity culture within its themes. I’ve always found celebrity life fascinating. I don’t know why I presume, but everyone does I suppose, that because I’ve seen them on screen or read about their life, some how I know them. It’s always shocking when your favourite actor is arrested or caught sneaking around with the ‘wrong type’ of person, because how could they? It’s so out of character. But how can we presume to know them really? Imagine now that you do actually know them, that they are related to you. Do you know them now?

Robyn is the daughter of the most powerful and influential person in the UK. The British Prime Minister. Robyn is kidnapped while out with her mother and sister by a group claiming to be animal rights protesters. They want the Prime Minister to release their leader and to stop a large research facility from testing and circulating a new drug, OR they will kill Robyn. Will her dad do anything to get her back? Does Robyn know her dad as well as she thinks?

I really got caught up in this one. I found it interesting and it kept making me ask myself questions, like… Its a horrible thought to think that the people you love and trust could be completely different people when it comes down to it…Do I know my relatives? and that undertone ran through out this book.

I really liked Robyn as a character. She felt sorry for herself, but at no point did she give up, she kept fighting, and used all the knowledge she had. I really liked Talon too, he was misguided and naive, although that is never an excuse. And the romance that developed was really well done, it was hard to figure out if the feelings were genuine at times but I think this added to the ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ accusations. I would have liked more about Michael the drug developer. I know it wasn’t the real focus of the book but I’m curious as to how he managed to get the drug so far along without more questions being asked. Surely people dying would put a stop to realising it? Also I wanted more background on the kidnappers. This too is probably not necessary but I want to know how they met, as they were all so different. I thought Feather and Scar were complete lunatics so how had Talon become part of their group?

Overall it was a really good Debut, Young Adult Thriller with a political twist. I will be interested to see what A J Grainger has to show us next.

pamsms4tune

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2 comments on “Review: Captive

  1. Carey

    Sounds good! That first paragraph that you posted reads beautifully – so descriptive. I will have to add it to my TBR list.

    1. Ms4Tune

      Thanks Carey, it was a really good debut novel for Grainger. It’s not my usual genre, (i prefer fantasy) but yes, definitely worth a read. And thank you! Review writing hard and its really lovely to hear when someone likes your review :)
      Happy Reading!

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