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Friday, June 12, 2015

The Ice Twins by S. K. Tremayne

The Ice Twins by S. K. Tremayne has filled my last few days with the sights and sounds of an island off the coast of Scotland.  With the cold and the wind and smell of the sea, the barking of seals, tidal pools, and the pulsing beam of a lighthouse, every 9 seconds.  This book was not exactly what I was expecting it to be and, yet, it was quite compelling.  The way the author told the story reminded me somewhat of the tales of another author that I like so much, Jennifer McMahon.  Let me share my experience.

Angus and Sarah Moorcraft had two beautiful identical twin girls, Kirstie and Lydia.  They lived a good life in London and loved their little Ice Twins.  A year ago, Lydia was killed in a terrible accident and her death has left the rest of the family bereft.  Angus has lost his job and he and Sarah prepare to move to a small cottage on an island off the coast of Scotland that Angus inherited from his grandmother.  Sarah has been unable to deal with the grief and guilt that she feels after Lydia's accident.  Little Kirstie has lost the other half of herself and become a silent, brooding child.  It's hoped that all of them can start afresh in the lighthouse keeper's cottage on Eilean Torran or, Thunder Island, in Gaelic.

However, life becomes even more complicated when Kirstie tells her parents that she is not Kirstie, she is Lydia.  She says that Kirstie is the one who died.  Sarah and Angus are unsure how to handle their daughter.  Is she so disturbed that she is taking on her sister's identity or are there other forces at work?  Knowing that their daughters were identical in every way, could they have been mistaken as to which child was lost?  With winter approaching, Angus and Sarah's marriage is strained to the breaking point and their worries for their child become increasingly urgent.  Is their lost daughter  haunting them?  A local fisherman tells Sarah that Eilean Torran has been known for years as a 'thin place':

     'The locals, they used to call Torran a thin place.  That means a place where there are spirits'--he chuckles into his glass--'real spirits, where the spirit world comes close.'
     'Ach, load of nonsense,' says Gordon, eyeing me, and then Lydia.  Carefully.  He looks as if he wants to clout his young friend.
     'No,' Alistair says, 'it's true, Gordon.  Sometimes I think they've a point, y'know, Thunder Island and all that, it's like there is something, an atmosphere...Aye, a thin place.  Where you can see the other world.'

As I said, this book reminded me of some other authors' works, namely Jennifer McMahon or even Stephen King a bit.  A mixture of what could be troubled minds and psychological terror or maybe a little of the supernatural thrown in for good measure.  The setting certainly supports the Gothic feel of things and local legends abound in Scotland, of course.  It was hard to decide which way the story would go.  A sad tale of a family so broken by grief and sorrow.  The main characters are flawed and pretty hard to like.  However, I found myself needing to know how things would sort out in the end.

I was mostly pleased with this book.  It held my interest and I did find the setting so fascinating.  What is about books set in the Hebrides?  I've not ever visited, but I have seen pictures.  A wild sort of beauty.  Stark and gorgeous.  I'd give this book mostly 2 thumbs up.  I'll be watching for the next book by this author.  
 

28 comments:

  1. Yes, it does has a feeling of Jennifer McMahon's style due to the psychological terror with the supernatural element, and I like questioning myself reading such a book like this. Definitely going onto my wishlist!

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    1. That was just the first author I thought of while reading it. I've only read 3 of Jennifer McMahon's books, but each of them contained a little supernatural stuff.

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    2. Thank you, both of you!

      Have to look into books by Jennifer McMahon! 'Cause "I-loves-me" some supernatural stuff!!!!!

      Tessa

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  2. I've been eyeing this one Kay --not completely sold yet though.

    I so love your header picture.

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    1. Thanks, Diane! That picture is of the Oregon Coast. It's seemed to fit with The Ice Twins. Or the closest I had anyway.

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  3. I've been curious about this book. Seems very popular right now... the setting and the premise definitely interest me.

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    1. That was what drew me as well, JoAnn. I really like books set in that part of Scotland.

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  4. I have this one on my kindle and need to get to it. I always have such good intentions but it seems like the kindle books get pushed to the backburner as I try to read library books.

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    1. I understand, Tina. I don't really check out many library books anymore because of that very fact. LOL

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  5. -clapping hands- -grin- Silly me! But I am so excited that I actually read this book, before you. You, who are my 'guru' on reading suggestions.

    OK, now that I got that silliness out of the way!

    Twins. The topic fascinates me. So how could I resist the title? I couldn't.

    But, it was not an easy read. One has to work-almost, reading this book. You simply *have* to finish it, to find out how the tale unravels. Have to! But for me, the path was not an easy one, in the least.

    Aside from the story, the setting is supposed to give enjoyment. Yes, the misty wildness did. But, even with my 1/4 Scottish blood, it was not beautiful, to me.

    A must read book! But not, for the faint-of-heart. :-)

    Tessa

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    1. It was a bit wild and wooly there wasn't it? And cold. I think I've mentioned that I like reading cold-setting books in the summertime. :-)

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    1. That's what I thought. That picture is of the coast of Oregon. Took it on a vacation a couple of years ago.

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  7. This one sounds challenging but worth the work. I shall keep an eye out for it. I know what you mean about books set in The Hebrides... or any Scottish group of islands to be honest. They have their own atmosphere and magic.

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    1. They do, Cath. I love reading about the legends and stories and all that. One day, my husband and I shall visit Scotland. He wants to go for the golf. LOL

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  8. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one! I started out really keen to read this then was put off slightly by a couple of negative reviews, so you've pushed it back onto the TBR - thanks!

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    1. Well, I enjoyed it a lot, but I've noticed that most of all don't mind voicing what we really think, right? LOL

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  9. I have looked at this one many times but I'm not always a big fan of the supernatural element so I haven't read it but following your review I could be easily persuaded. Thanks for a great review!

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    1. I do understand about not liking the woo-woo stuff. It's one of those books that keeps you guessing - is it or isn't it? ;-)

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  10. First I love books set in Scotland but even more so a book compared to Jennifer McMahon's style really catches my attention. I've read a few of hers and they are awesome so I'm on my way to check this one out. Thanks for the review!

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    1. I really like Jennifer McMahon's books too. I know not everyone does. She was my first thought as I was reading. That whole it might be or it might not.

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  11. I've seen this book a few times in the last week and guess I'll have to read it sometime since I want to know which one of the twins is really alive.

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    1. Yes, I think several have reviewed it this week. And I'm not telling about the twin. LOL

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  12. I read it and had mixed feelings about it. So dark and depressing, yet the atmosphere was spot-on for someone wanting to read a suspense. Thanks for a good review-- so much more info to share with readers and give them a fair assessment than I did. Glad you liked it--and that it didn't take place in the Mojave Desert :)

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    1. Rita, I think your review was just fine. You did a good job relating what your experience was. I agree that it wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but somehow it worked for me. And, yes, not the Mojave. Have I told you that I like cold books in the summer? LOL LOL LOL

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  13. This sounds interesting, Kay. I am not drawn to twin stories the way some people are, but it's definitely not a deterrent for me either. Just reading your review, I want to know the outcome of the book! LOL

    Cold books are best in the summer, I agree.

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    1. Maybe you have to live in a hot place for the cold books to be so desired. LOL

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  14. I stayed up waaayyyy too late the other night to finish THE ICE TWINS. It's so creepy and twisty -- I LOVED it. Guessing my way through a book, never quite sure what's going to happen, just makes me happy (even though it is a very depressing book) :} And, I had the exact same thought about McMahon -- her books have a similar feel to this one.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!