I received this book for free from Netgalley, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Series: The Three #1
Published by Hodder and Stoughton on May 22, 2014
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 492
Format: E-Arc, Paperback
Source: Netgalley, Publisher
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Black Thursday. The day that will never be forgotten. The day that four passenger planes crash, at almost exactly the same moment, at four different points around the globe.
There are only four survivors. Three are children, who emerge from the wreckage seemingly unhurt. But they are not unchanged.
And the fourth is Pamela May Donald, who lives just long enough to record a voice message on her phone.
A message that will change the world.
The message is a warning.
'Really wonderful' Stephen King
'You'll come up gasping' Lauren Beukes
'The finest thriller I've read in years' Sarah Pinborough
The Three is a book where I struggled to engage with the characters, to feel any attachment. This was probably the way the story was told from numerous points of views in numerous extracts. It made everything feel so distant.
I loved that it was told through newspaper articles, Skype interviews, message boards and transcripts. Each person was given a unique voice and it gave it a more ‘real’ feel. But I wanted some connection to the character, or at least some understanding off ‘The Three’ before they ‘changed’.
The structure made this a compelling read and it was a struggle to put down. But I still feel the need to be whiny. There is something lacking here. Or at least there is something that I am completely missing. Is it the book’s fault or is it mine? I’m not sure. But it was frustrating when I had to put the book down.
The Three is billed as a horror. But I feel that it was more suspense, the fear of the unknown that pushed this story on. Who were the three? And were any of those conspiracies correct? Also what happened to all the random people that get mentioned, are their stories significant in telling us what should happen or are they just distractions?
Also lets talk about that ending, thanks for answering my questions without answering them, thank you so much for somehow avoiding everything I need to know. It’s an open ending. Almost as if the author had really struggled to come up with a reason for these events. This would have annoyed even more last year, when the book first came, but now I know that there is a sort of sequel. Maybe more will be explained in that book and I’ll get the answers I want.
This was an intriguing and enjoyable read despite all my whining and issues. And I am definitely going to read the sequel, at least in the hope that I may get the answers. This is definitely worth a read but prepare for some vagueness.
Ooh, I’m definitely curious. BUT TORN. Because open endings I love, but I hate reading books and feeling like that SOMETHING (whatever it is) is missing. It really bugs me. *sigh*
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I prefer everything tied up with a nice pretty ribbon! But I’m definitely intrigued and so this may be the case where the sequel is better!
[…] being termed the sequel to The Three, it is possible to read this book as a standalone. It is a sequel because some of the characters […]