I'm still reeling from the experience of reading 'Headspin', the latest thriller from Frank Tilley. The author has outdone himself in creating a gripping and intense story that'll keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
After devouring 'The Puzzle', I was hooked on Tilley's writing style, and 'Headspin' did not disappoint. The story follows Jonathan, a former alpinist, who finds himself trapped in an icy cave with two strangers. The darkness, cold, and silence are oppressive, and Jonathan's fear is palpable as he tries to piece together how he got there and how to escape.
The three main characters - Jonathan, Michel, and Farid - drive the story forward, and their relationships with each other are crucial to the plot. The author's style is evident in the dark, oppressive atmosphere, the game of cat and mouse, and the blurring of reality and imagination.
I was a bit skeptical at first, given the 16+ rating, but the violence and tension are not gratuitous. Instead, they're used to create a sense of unease and uncertainty, keeping you guessing until the very end.
The book's easy to read, with short chapters and a poetic introduction to each one. As the story unfolds, the truth behind the characters' situation becomes clearer, and the significance of the three words - 'liar', 'thief', and 'killer' - is revealed.
I wouldn't say the book has a deep meaning, but it's a great choice if you're looking for something intense and suspenseful to read. It's a great way to switch up your reading routine and get your nerves on edge.
One of the things that impressed me about 'Headspin' is how Tilley turned a pretty basic plot into something engaging and never dull. With just three main characters, the whole story hangs on their relationships, and the author does an excellent job of building tension and suspense.
Of course, there are some plot conveniences that feel a bit too good to be True, but I was hooked and fully immersed in the icy cave that Tilley created. Will they find a way out? Who will survive and at what cost?
Overall, 'Dizziness' is a must-read for fans of thrillers and suspenseful stories. It's a gripping and intense ride that'll leave you breathless and eager for more.
AtmosphereThree main characters that drive the whole storyClear timeline of eventsNo plot twists - you know what's comingCons:
I was a bit disappointed by the fast-paced ending, which felt a bit abrupt, but also unexpected. I was invested in the story, and the sudden twist left me feeling a bit annoyed with the author.
My reviews of Frank Tilley's books:
The Puzzle - Not all of them are aliens - most are just ordinary earthlings (with a twist)
The Red Angel's Hell Train - After reading this book, Labrador owners will have one more thing to worry about
Phantom Memory - The Staircase - a symbol of human memory, with memories etched into each step, but they can be broken, new ones created, or completely destroyed
The Atom - It's a mix of monks, crazy scientists, experiments on humans, science, and fantasy. But tying it all together into a well-planned mystery didn't quite work out
■ Book cover and printing
I have the paperback version, but there's also a nice hardcover edition with a double cover.
This is the compact version, the book is thin, light, and fits perfectly in a small bag or backpack.The cover is glossy, the edges don't bend. The spine is glued, so you can't open the book too wide, and the pages will start to fall out and peel off from the base.
The cover design is like a horror movie: gray, a creepy hook, a rope, and blood. You can assume the most tragic ending.The text color adds to the tension, the phrases are written in the author's style, and you can interpret them in different ways.
The pages are gray, newspaper-like, and the print quality is average. There were some pages with faint text, but it was still readable – I didn't expect much from a cheap book.
On the back of the book, there are reader reviews and a few words about the author. The annotation is on the last page of the book.
■ Plot and characters
The main character, Jonathan, finds himself in an icy cave, but he can't remember how he got there. The darkness is absolute, and to make things worse, he's chained to the wall. As he regains consciousness, he decides to explore the cave and discovers his dog and two strangers.
I still can't shake off the feeling of unease as I read through the new thriller 'Headspin' by Frank Tillery. The writer has managed to create a chilling and suffocating atmosphere of a trap that's been sprung shut. The protagonist, alpinist Jonathan Tuvie, has conquered the world's highest peaks, but one night, he finds himself trapped in a strange cave, tied to a rock, with no clear way out. The cold, the darkness, and the silence are oppressive, and he's joined by two other men: a man like him, tied to the rock, and another who's wearing a metal mask with a code lock, which will explode if he tries to escape. The three men are left to wonder how they ended up here, who's behind it all, and what they need to do to survive.
Jonathan, the main character, is a former alpinist who's not in the best shape anymore. He's struggling to keep up with the others.
Michel, the man in the metal mask, is around the same age as Jonathan, but he's more prepared and knows how to survive in extreme conditions. He can move around, but he's still trapped.
Farid, the Arabic man, is the weakest and youngest of the group. He's scared, cold, and ready to give up from the start. He's tied to the rock just like Jonathan.
■ My Thoughts
I found the book a bit slow to start, as everything happens in a confined space with minimal descriptions. The darkness and cold are oppressive, and the main character's fear is palpable.
The story is unclear, and there are no explanations for why Jonathan is trapped in the cave. The location doesn't seem familiar, and he's lost many of his skills, which makes it harder for him to survive. It's not until later that new characters are introduced – a strange Arab man and a man in a mask who's brutal and unpredictable. To escape and survive, they need to work together, and it becomes clear that they're part of a twisted game orchestrated by a psychopath.
He provides them with some provisions, sends photos and letters, and adds to the terror. Each of the men is desperate to survive but doesn't believe in a positive outcome. They try to find ways to escape, but the atmosphere is oppressive, and the game is on.
Although the book has a 16+ rating, it's not overly graphic, but there's enough violence and tension to keep you on edge. The author's style is evident – a dark, oppressive atmosphere, a game of cat and mouse, and a blurring of reality and imagination. However, compared to Frank Scharko's series, this book is more polished, with less graphic content and a focus on the characters' psychological struggles.
The book is easy to read, with short chapters and a poetic introduction to each one. As the story unfolds, the truth behind the characters' situation becomes clearer, and the significance of the three words – 'liar', 'thief', and 'killer' – is revealed.
I wouldn't say the book has a deep meaning, but it's a good choice if you're looking for something intense and suspenseful to read. It's a great way to switch up your reading routine and get your nerves on edge.
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how the author turned a pretty basic plot into something engaging and never dull, even though the location is basically the same for most of the book. With just three main characters, the whole story hangs on their relationships.
If you dig into the plot and try to piece together the facts, everything feels a bit too convenient, almost too good to be True. But I was hooked and fully immersed in the icy cave that Tilley created.
Will they find a way out? Who will survive and at what cost?
■ The Verdict
Frank Tilley's "Dizziness" was a pleasant surprise - it's a bit like "The Puzzle" that I loved, but simpler, with no complex timeline to keep track of.
AtmosphereThree main characters that drive the whole storyClear timeline of eventsNo plot twists - you know what's comingCons:
I was a bit disappointed by the fast-paced ending, which felt a bit abrupt, but also unexpected. I was invested in the story, and the sudden twist left me feeling a bit annoyed with the author.
My reviews of Frank Tilley's books:
The Puzzle - Not all of them are aliens - most are just ordinary earthlings (with a twist)
The Red Angel's Hell Train - After reading this book, Labrador owners will have one more thing to worry about
Phantom Memory - The Staircase - a symbol of human memory, with memories etched into each step, but they can be broken, new ones created, or completely destroyed
The Atom - It's a mix of monks, crazy scientists, experiments on humans, science, and fantasy. But tying it all together into a well-planned mystery didn't quite work out