March 15th, 2012 
Vicky 
Title: Mice
Author: Gordon Reece
Publication date: February 28, 2011
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
ISBN:9780230751880
Length: 329 pages
Genre: Suspense thriller
Source: Publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon US | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Synopsis
Sixteen year old Shelley and her mother move to Honeysuckle cottage in the middle of the countryside, fleeing their fears and anxieties and hoping to put behind them years of suffering at the hands of others. Shelley has endured terrible bullying from the girls who used to be her best friends, and her mother has been left reeling following a divorce from her selfish, demanding husband. For Shelley and her mother are ‘mice’ timid, nervous and obliging. And for a while, in their cottage-haven, the women flourish. But one night, their fragile peace is shattered when Shelley wakes to hear a creak on the stairs. Someone has broken into the house …
In the shocking, chilling events that follow, Shelley’s world is turned on its head, as the women find themselves tested as never before. And as their lives spiral out of control, the tension reaches fever pitch, and Shelley begins to wonder: if she and her mother are not mice after all, then what are they?
My thoughts
Having received a review copy of this book, I was really excited about picking it up and reading it because it sounded really promising. As those of you who follow my reviews might know, I absolutely love murder mysteries – I have some kind of an obsession with crime fiction, in fact. Even though Mice is actually a thriller – a genre I haven’t actually read before – it was right up my street. It’s one of those books that you’re simply unable to put down, something that makes you stay up at odd hours in order to find out what happens next. It draws you in to such an extent that you literally can’t move until you’ve finished reading it – only when the story reached a conclusion did I feel like I could breathe again.
What really struck me literally two pages in the story was Reece’s writing style. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of authors whose style simply blew me away but Reece is definitely one of them. His story is so clever and is written in such a sophisticated, such an eloquent way that you cannot help being completely drawn into his world and “listen” to every word he says, or in this case every word the narrator (and protagonist), the sixteen-year-old Shelley says. If I had to choose two aspects of the book that I loved the most then the author’s style would be one of them, followed by its unique storyline.
It’s very difficult to talk about the plot without giving anything away so I won’t go into details. The book, among many other things, deals with a situation where a mother and her daughter know they need to stay calm and not to panic but they’ve repressed their emotions for such a long time that something just snaps. They do something they’d never have done before and their momentary outburst causes several difficulties. Even though Mice is a thriller, the first incident that basically starts the ball rolling wasn’t terrifying in itself, at least for me. The way Reece gives us an insight into what goes on in their mind and how he describes the situation and the consequences was more haunting and effective for me.
All in all, I think Mice would fit into the category of psychological thriller perfectly, where the main emphasis is on characters and the consequences of their actions – or in other words, what they do when reality sinks in. I wasn’t familiar with Reece’s work right until now but he quickly became one of my favourite writers and after reading this book, I’ll make sure to keep an eye on his upcoming books. He’s just brilliant. I can’t praise him enough.
* Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book for review *
Posted in 
Great review Vicky! You definitely left me hungering for more. I enjoy a good psychological thriller and this sounds like a great read. Thanks for the recommend. I hope you do read Me and Earl ans the Dying Girl. It is different and entertaining.
So do I! Thank you so much Heidi, it means a lot.
I’ll definitely let you know if/when I manage to read MAEATDG – I’m really looking forward to reading it now.
I’ve got to admit, not my kind of book, BUT your review really made me want to read this! Thanks. I think I’ll give it a shot.
Oh, thanks so much Heather! I don’t know, even though I actually loved the synopsis, I was quite sceptical at first. I’ve never read a thriller before so I thought I’d be terrified while I was reading it and it wouldn’t be as good as I was hoping it would be. But I did enjoy it.
Can’t wait to hear what you think. x
This sounds like a book I would truly enjoy. Suspense is my thing so this is going on my TBR list!
Janiera @This is From my Heart
If you like Suspense then you definitely need to read this one. I’m sure you’ll love it just as much as I did.
Do let me know if you manage to get a copy and read it, I’d love to hear what you think!
Very well written review, Vicky. I myself also do love a good mystery and who done it. Mice sounds like a very intriguing read and a book I would enjoy. I have never heard of the book or the author but we definitely look into his work further.
- Beckie
Thank you so much Beckie! If you love a good mystery then I’m sure you’d love this.
It was the first thriller I’ve ever read and oh my… it was fantastic!
this sounds wonderful and i love an author’s whose writing style captures you. Adding this to my list..thanks Vicky!
Thanks Kimba! Do let me know if you manage to read it – can’t wait to hear what you think.
x
Wow. This sounds really good. I am torn between wanting to read it and being too scared to…the premise of someone breaking into the main characters’ home is fear of mine. I think I have to check this one out!
Hehe, I was the same as you. Don’t read it if you’re home alone, that’s my only advice. I’m terrified of someone breaking into my home as well and I’m scared out of my skull when I’m home alone for a long time but I loved this book. It’s not that terrifying – at least the breaking in part wasn’t THAT scary for me. How he described their emotions and what goes on in their minds (after the break-in) was more haunting, if you ask me.
I agree, Gordon Reece is brilliant. I read his book last year after a friend recommended it to me, and finished reading it within two days of borrowing it from the library. I was hooked the whole time I was reading it and was glad I’d taken my friends advice, even though psychological thrillers isn’t usually the type genre I like to read. Altogether, a great review!
Not something I would usually read but I already oredered it due to this review. I think is something I would enjoy. I love to see people how these women will react to everything that is happening. It seems like a book that speaks to your soul and I can’t wait to read it.
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