Product Description

How did it all begin? I suppose it would be the day I rescued a new-born baby from a poisonous snake, heard the news of my mother's death and encountered my first ghost ...Veterinary surgeon Clara Benning is young and intelligent, but practically a recluse. Disfigured by a childhood accident, she lives alone and shies away from human contact wherever possible. But when a man dies following a supposed snake bite, the victim's post mortem shows a higher concentration of venom than could ever be found in a single snake. Assisted by her softly spoken neighbour and an eccentric reptile expert, Clara unravels sinister links to a barbaric ancient ritual, an abandoned house and a 50-year-old tragedy that left the survivors fiercely secretive. Then the village's inventive attacker strikes again, and Clara's own solitary existence is brutally invaded. For someone the truth must remain buried in the past ...even if they have to kill to keep it there.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34663 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-23
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Review
A tour de force - totally grips from beginning to end
--Jenni Murray

Assured and original. SACRIFICE was good: AWAKENING is even better. --Simon Beckett

Review
Assured and original. SACRIFICE was good: AWAKENING is even better.

Review
S.J. Bolton has elevated herself to the High Priestess of English Rural Gothic. If she carries on like this she will have worshippers in their millions

Customer Reviews

A prickly heroine and some very slippery problems
Clara is a vet. She much prefers working with animals because they don't judge her by her scarred face - the result of a childhood accident. The tiny village where she lives is unexpectedly inundated with snakes and a man dies - ostensibly because of a snake bite. The villagers are worried and the death toll starts to mount. Clara herself is threatened. Amidst the danger, Clara's mother dies and she is faced with a personal tragedy and much soul searching as well as the sinister events taking place all around her.

If you have a phobia about snakes you may find this book impossible to read but if you merely dislike them do not be put off. This is a seriously scary and compelling book and one which is every bit as good as 'Sacrifice'. The tension mounts from the very first page and Clara is at times doubtful whether she can trust anyone around her.

I liked the way the events of 50 years ago are skilfully woven into those of today. The feeling of knowing something happened without knowing what lurks in the background and uderlies the strange events of the present. I found myself seeing everything through Clara's eyes and feeling her distrust and fear. I loved it and am looking forward to this author's next book

ANOTHER GREAT READ BY THIS UP AND COMING AUTHOR
Really enjoyed this. Clara is a vet in a village, she trys to be a recluse as much as possible due to a accident as a child where she is disfigured. An encounter with a snake sets things in motion in this great story. I think the book is well thought out and really does keep your attention, and keeps you guessing.
The attention to detail is really well done, the author really sounds like she knows all about snakes. There is definitely a local village feel to the book, and the way she deals with the disfigurement is very realistic in the sense of how people react and how she feels when out in public.
This is her second book, and I would recommend all crime and thriller fans read this. In fact everyone should give it a go. It is also good that you don't need to have read her first book (Sacrifice) as it is a different character. I am looking forward to her next book already.

An Excellent Scary Read
S.J.Bolton's second novel, following the first-rate
'Sacrifice', is a meticulously researched,
well-paced and throughly scary thriller.
Young veterinary surgeon,Clara Benning works in a
wildlife santuary in Dorset.She is facially scarred
and psychologically damaged and avoids contact with
humans wherever possible-until deadly snakes appear
in her village, killing a man.As the local expert,
Clara becomes involved as the deaths increase,and a
terrifying secret from the village's past is slowly
revealed.
A tremendously good read,and marks S.J.Bolton as one
of the best writers in this genre.