Sacrifice: Amazon.ca: S.J. Bolton: Books

Formats

Amazon Price

New from

Used from

Kindle Edition

CDN $8.99

Hardcover

CDN $25.32

Paperback

CDN $11.96

Mass Market Paperback

CDN $10.79

Book Description

Release Date: Feb 17 2009

You’re born. You live. They die.

Moving to remote Shetland has been unsettling enough for consultant surgeon Tora Hamilton; even before the gruesome discovery she makes one rain-drenched afternoon…Deep in the peat soil of her field she is shocked to find the perfectly preserved body of a young woman, a gaping hole where her heart has been brutally removed and three rune marks etched into her skin.

The marks bear an eerie resemblance to carvings Tora has seen all over the islands, and she quickly uncovers disturbing links to an ancient legend. But as Tora investigates she is warned by the local police, her boss, and even her husband, to leave well alone.

And even though it chills her to the bone to admit it…something tells her their concern isn’t genuine.

From the Hardcover edition.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } You’re born. You live. They die.

Moving to remote Shetland has been unsettling enough for consultant surgeon Tora Hamilton; even before the gruesome discovery she makes one rain-drenched afternoon…Deep in the peat soil of her field she is shocked to find the perfectly preserved body of a young woman, a gaping hole where her heart has been brutally removed and three rune marks etched into her skin.

The marks bear an eerie resemblance to carvings Tora has seen all over the islands, and she quickly uncovers disturbing links to an ancient legend. But as Tora investigates she is warned by the local police, her boss, and even her husband, to leave well alone.

And even though it chills her to the bone to admit it…something tells her their concern isn’t genuine.

From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Corgi (Feb 17 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0552156159
ISBN-13: 978-0552156158
Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 3.2 x 17.8 cm
Shipping Weight: 281 g
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,027,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Review

Splendidly crafted, deeply disturbing first novel...will deservedly be a bestseller The Times A really creepy plot based on one of the Shetland Islands' nastier legends ... The combination of folklore and forensics works well, and the story grabs from the very beginning and holds on tight Literary Review Masterly. gripping Literary Review A dazzling debut in thriller-writing: fast paced, gripping and full of atmosphere Classic FM This eerie tale had me so hooked I was reading it through the night ... brilliantly written and carefully crafted Peterborough Evening Telegraph

About the Author

S. J. Bolton was born in Lancashire. She spent her early career working in marketing and PR, gaining an MBA along the way, and ultimately reaching a senior position in London's financial district. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write. Sacrifice is her first novel and was inspired by her fascination with British traditional folklore. She lives near Oxford with her husband and young son. For more information about the author, visit her website at www.sjbolton.com

Customer Reviews

There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.ca

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

There are no customer reviews yet.

Write a customer review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com ^(beta)

Amazon.com: 3.9 out of 5 stars 48 reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Chilling new voice... July 1 2008

By Jody Allen - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was drawn to the book because of the setting: the Shetland Islands off of Scotland's far north coast. What drew me in was the chilling mystery of who the body in the peat was and why was she buried if she had only just given birth, and why was her heart ripped out?

The main protagonists is an unlikely heroine in Tora Hamilton an obstetrician who is obsessed with finding out who was the young lass who she found buried in her yard in the peat. But quickly the reader is thrown into a mystery that engulfs a mixture of ancient Norse legends that clash with the modern technology of criminology. But as our heroine keeps just one step ahead of death, her own, she quickly learns she can't trust anyone on the island including those closest to her.

There are a lot of twists and turns with just enough clues to help the reader but things may not be as they seem, which helps to make this one of the most chilling reads. The only downside is some of the UK terminology of the characters but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the book. The pace is well done with only a few bumps in the road and the reader finds their self cheering Tora along the way to solve the mystery of the dead woman hoping that all she loses will be worth it. To realize this offering is from a debut author is equally exciting because we have a wonderful new author to look forward to.

This is a most unique find and should be read by those who like a strong mystery along with a sprinkling of Celtic/Nordic legends and aren't afraid to take a chance on a new author.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 Stars - Has all the elements July 2 2008

By L. J. Roberts - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover

SACRIFICE (Suspense-Tora Hamilton-Shetland Island, UK - Cont) - G+
Bolton, S.J. - 1st book
Bantam Press, 2008, UK Hardcover - ISBN: 9780593059111

First Sentence: The corpse I could cope with. It was the context that threw me.

Tora Hamilton is a newcomer, but has moved to the Shetland Islands with her husband, who was born there but left 20 years ago. Digging a grave in which to bury a beloved horse who has died, Tora uncovers the body of a woman who had been tortured, body mutilated and runes curved into her back.

While others are telling Tora, an obstetrician and surgeon, not to become involved, what was done to the victim make it imperative for Tora to investigate. The more she learns, the more frightening it all becomes. When an attempt is made on her life, Tora is no longer certain who she can trust.

Bolton's debut mystery certainly had all the elements; an interesting locale well depicted, a gruesome crime, a smart, gutsy protagonist, good suspense, a local legend that became creepier as the book went on, and a wonderful element of uncertainty as to whom the protagonist could trust.

The beginning is fairly gory but I found myself immediately drawn in. The story then lost a bit of steam, took a while to rebuild but then raced on to a very exciting ending. The setting played into the plot perfectly, but the writing did show aspects of it being a first book.

I shall definitely look for Bolton's next book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Breath of Fresh Air July 20 2008

By annie - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

How do you make murder and mayhem new and exciting? S.J. Bolton's done it with her debut novel. Set in the Shetland Islands , an unusual and interesting locale. The Viking/Scottish lore and legend is fascinating and, yes, a bit disturbing. The characters are believable, not one dimensional cookie cutter people. Bolton's style of writing often feels like the two of you are chatting over a cup of tea. Nice, very nice. I don't know that she'll write a second book, but I'm certainly hoping.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 48 reviews 3.9 out of 5 stars

Listmania!

Sacrifice [Mass Market Paperback]