by Scarlett Brade
SYNOPSIS
SHOULD HE LIVE OR DIE? YOU DECIDE.
Charlotte Goodwin looks directly at the camera and reveals a chilling truth to the thousands watching her Instagram Live broadcast. She has killed her ex-boyfriend's new partner in cold blood. But she is not finished yet. With bloodied hands she takes a calm sip of tea before continuing. Lincoln Jackson will now make his confession, then the viewers must vote to decide whether he should live or die.
The public display sends shockwaves rippling through the online community and the numbers of viewers skyrockets. But as Lincoln's past is revealed, how will he be judged?
Bonded by mutual tragedy, Charlotte's three best friends have supported each other through the soaring highs and devastating lows of their lives. Now, in Charlotte's hour of need, her friends also face a choice, whether to help her get away with murder.
The Hive explores our darkest fears of the relationship between social media and mental health, but, most importantly, the strength of sisterhood against all the odds.
REVIEW
The Hive begins with Charlotte holding a gun, live-streaming on social media from a hotel room. Her ex, Linc (a famous boxer) is with her facing a public vote which could cost him his life - after he cheated on Charlotte and ruined her life in more ways than one, she has asked the public watching online to choose his fate - #VoteLive or #VoteDie. Leaving his future uncertain, Charlotte then goes back to the beginning of their story. recounting how they met and how her life then fell apart. The consequences of both of their actions are explained and how it looked from the perspectives of her three best friends, Poppy, Trix and Zaheen, but also from the perspectives of complete strangers who felt the need to comment on whatever news about their relationship was reported on social media. Ultimately The Hive is a commentary on two things - the power and/or toxicity of female friendships and the negative power of social media. To do this, Charlotte's story which gradually unfolds throughout the book is a very extreme version of a situation which could happen. As I was reading, I was doubting whether the plot was particularly believable, but by the end of the story I realised that it had to be told in such an exaggerated manner for the points being made to have the full impact needed. It did feel wrong as I read through the story to be contemplating which way I would vote, but at the same time I have never hated a character more than Linc, and the crushing impact of what he did to Charlotte certainly came across very strongly in the story! The opening chapter was perfect - knowing where things end up between Charlotte and Linc made me want to race through the flashbacks to find out how and where things went so wrong between the couple. The Hive is a dark revenge thriller with the ultimate 'woman scorned' storyline. Charlotte's obsession with making Linc pay for what he did to her is probably going to divide opinions, but it was a unique idea and overall it was very effective in making me think about the way social media has transformed people's lives and the negative outcomes that could result from these platforms.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scarlett Brade is the daughter of parents who migrated from the Caribbean to England in the early 1970s. She was born and educated in London, though as a child she spent her summers in Canada, where she developed her love affair with reading. When not writing Scarlett spends most of her time cooking, drinking fine wines, and entertaining family and friends.
The Hive is her first psychological thriller novel, and she is currently writing her second.
Thanks to Anne Cater @RandomTTours, Zaffre Books @zaffrebooks and Scarlett Brade @scarlettgbrade for the opportunity to read and review.
Publisher: Zaffre
Fiction: Psychological Thriller
ISBN: 978-1838776770
Pages: 400pp
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