Out of Reach by Adam Hamdy - Revision history

Sue at 08:12, 21 September 2020

2020-09-21T08:12:22Z

Sue at 11:00, 29 August 2020

2020-08-29T11:00:57Z

Sue at 15:18, 22 March 2018

2018-03-22T15:18:04Z

Sue at 15:17, 22 March 2018

2018-03-22T15:17:54Z

Sue: Sue moved page Phase by Adam Hamdy to Out of Reach by Adam Hamdy

2015-06-10T16:58:40Z

Sue moved page Phase by Adam Hamdy to Out of Reach by Adam Hamdy

Sue at 16:58, 10 June 2015

2015-06-10T16:58:18Z

Sue at 11:19, 7 January 2015

2015-01-07T11:19:06Z

Sue at 14:14, 3 April 2014

2014-04-03T14:14:07Z

Sue at 14:13, 3 April 2014

2014-04-03T14:13:09Z

Sue: Created page with "{{infobox |title=Phase |author=Adam Hamdy |reviewer=Sue Magee |genre=Thrillers |summary=A dark thriller, which takes child kidnapping to an even more horrifying level, if that..."

2014-04-03T14:10:31Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Phase |author=Adam Hamdy |reviewer=Sue Magee |genre=Thrillers |summary=A dark thriller, which takes child kidnapping to an even more horrifying level, if that..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Phase
|author=Adam Hamdy
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Thrillers
|summary=A dark thriller, which takes child kidnapping to an even more horrifying level, if that's possible. Great characterisation and a brutal twist in the plot which will leave you gasping.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=202
|publisher=Dare Books
|date=January 2014
|isbn=978-0956502049
|website=https://twitter.com/adamhamdy
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956502040</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0956502040</amazonus>
}}

It's ten years since Amber Schaefer was kidnapped and since that day Thomas Schaefer has devoted his life to finding his daughter and the people who abducted her. It's cost him everything - his marriage, his relationship with his son, his job and - in all probability - his sanity. He's reached the stage where - far from moving on - letting go is not an option and many of his actions are irrational. If any part of this can be described as having an upside it's that Schaefer has become an expert in finding missing people, particularly young adults who have become involved with cults. The tipping point is reached when an old friend refers to him a case which bears startling similarities to Amber's abduction.

Right from the start you'll ''understand'' Schaeffer. There is no part of him which can give up on the search for Amber. He doesn't care what risks he takes - or forces on to other people. He's never got over the anger stage of loss - in fact you sense that he's determined to keep a fire burning under his feelings. He ''can't'' - ''won't'' give up. His wife has done her best to move on, for their son's sake, but Oliver doesn't matter to Schaeffer, other than theoretically, and he resents the time he feels obliged to spend with him as it takes him away from the search. It's a superb depiction of a man on the edge. The impact of losing a child in these circumstances is unimaginable, but Adam Hamdy delves deeper than the stories we see in the tabloids and catches the very essence of the horror.

The plot is good too. The pace never slackens for a minute and there's no sense of Schaefer having a safe haven or people whom he can trust. The more you find out about Schaefer, the less you'll like him, but you'll never quite be able to kill your sympathy or stop hoping that he'll find Amber. The issue of cults and the dark arts is handled sensitively and not over-worked, which would have been an easy trap to fall into. The story twists and turns and it always happens before you see it coming - and there's a brutal twist at the end which will leave you gasping. We first experienced Hamdy's skills with [[Battalion by Adam Hamdy|Battalion]] - an espionage thriller - and it's exciting to see him extend his talents beyond that genre. Hamdy can certainly write action

You'll need to get past the cover of the book - the dark grey printing on a black background doesn't work for me - and a more effective proofreading would help the reading experience, but if the dark thriller genre appeals to you then you could enjoy this book.

For another look at child abduction we can recommend [[The Second Life of Amy Archer by R S Pateman]].

You can read more about Adam Hamdy [[:Category:Adam Hamdy|here]].

{{amazontext|amazon=0956502040}}

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 You'll need to get past the cover of the book - the dark grey printing on a black background doesn't work for me - and a more effective proofreading would help the reading experience, but if the dark thriller genre appeals to you then you could enjoy this book.
-For another look at child abduction we can recommend [[The Second Life of Amy Archer by R S Pateman]].
+For another look at child abduction we can recommend [[The Second Life of Amy Archer by R S Pateman]].  For more dark, brutal action, try [[Reaper by Jon Grahame]].
 We also have a review of [[Freefall by Adam Hamdy]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:00, 29 August 2020
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	For another look at child abduction we can recommend [[The Second Life of Amy Archer by R S Pateman]].		For another look at child abduction we can recommend [[The Second Life of Amy Archer by R S Pateman]].
		+
		+	We also have a review of [[Freefall by Adam Hamdy]].

	You can read more about Adam Hamdy [[:Category:Adam Hamdy\|here]].		You can read more about Adam Hamdy [[:Category:Adam Hamdy\|here]].

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 |isbn=978-0956502049
 |website=https://twitter.com/adamhamdy
-|cover=B00Y2ORN3W
+|cover=
 |aznuk=B00Y2ORN3W
 |aznus=B00Y2ORN3W

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-{{infobox
+{{infobox1
 |title=Out of Reach
 |author=Adam Hamdy
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 |isbn=978-0956502049
 |website=https://twitter.com/adamhamdy
-|video=
+|cover=B00Y2ORN3W
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00Y2ORN3W</amazonuk>
+|aznuk=B00Y2ORN3W
-|amazonus=<amazonus>B00Y2ORN3W</amazonus>
+|aznus=B00Y2ORN3W
 }}

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 {{infobox
-|title=Phase
+|title=Out of Reach
 |author=Adam Hamdy
 |reviewer=Sue Magee
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 |website=https://twitter.com/adamhamdy
 |video=
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0956502040</amazonuk>
+|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00Y2ORN3W</amazonuk>
-|amazonus=<amazonus>0956502040</amazonus>
+|amazonus=<amazonus>B00Y2ORN3W</amazonus>
 }}
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 You can read more about Adam Hamdy [[:Category:Adam Hamdy|here]].
-{{amazontext|amazon=0956502040}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=B00Y2ORN3W}}
-{{amazonUStext|amazon=0956502040}}
+{{amazonUStext|amazon=B00Y2ORN3W}}
 {{commenthead}}
 [[Category:Horror]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:58, 10 June 2015
(No difference)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 3 April 2014
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	{{amazontext\|amazon=0956502040}}		{{amazontext\|amazon=0956502040}}
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		+	{{commenthead}}
		+	[[Category:Horror]]

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 Right from the start you'll ''understand'' Schaeffer.  There is no part of him which can give up on the search for Amber.  He doesn't care what risks he takes - or forces on to other people.  He's never got over the anger stage of loss - in fact you sense that he's determined to keep a fire burning under his feelings.  He ''can't'' - ''won't'' give up.  His wife has done her best to move on, for their son's sake, but Oliver doesn't matter to Schaeffer, other than theoretically, and he resents the time he feels obliged to spend with him as it takes him away from the search.  It's a superb depiction of a man on the edge. The impact of losing a child in these circumstances is unimaginable, but Adam Hamdy delves deeper than the stories we see in the tabloids and catches the very essence of the horror.
-The plot is good too. The pace never slackens for a minute and there's no sense of Schaefer having a safe haven or people whom he can trust.  The more you find out about Schaefer, the less you'll like him, but you'll never quite be able to kill your sympathy or stop hoping that he'll find Amber.  The issue of cults and the dark arts is handled sensitively and not over-worked, which would have been an easy trap to fall into.  The story twists and turns and it always happens before you see it coming - and there's a brutal twist at the end which will leave you gasping.  We first experienced Hamdy's skills with [[Battalion by Adam Hamdy|Battalion]] - an espionage thriller - and it's exciting to see him extend his talents beyond that genre.  Hamdy can certainly write action
+The plot is good too. The pace never slackens for a minute and there's no sense of Schaefer having a safe haven or people whom he can trust.  The more you find out about Schaefer, the less you'll like him, but you'll never quite be able to kill your sympathy or stop hoping that he'll find Amber.  The issue of cults and the dark arts is handled sensitively and not over-worked, which would have been an easy trap to fall into.  The story twists and turns and it always happens before you see it coming - and there's a brutal twist at the end which will leave you gasping.  We first experienced Hamdy's skills in [[Battalion by Adam Hamdy|Battalion]] - an espionage thriller - and it's exciting to see him extend his talents beyond that genre.  He can certainly write action
 You'll need to get past the cover of the book - the dark grey printing on a black background doesn't work for me - and a more effective proofreading would help the reading experience, but if the dark thriller genre appeals to you then you could enjoy this book.