The Split

by Sharon J. Bolton

The remote Antarctic island of South Georgia is about to send off its last boat of the summer--which signifies safety to resident glaciologist Felicity Lloyd. She took a job on this isolated island to hide from him, but now that he's out of prison, having served a term for murder, she knows he won’t give up until he finds her.

A doctor digging into the background of Felicity and Freddie's relationship back in Cambridge learns that she has been on the edge for a long time. Heading to South Georgia to try to get to her first is the only way he can think of to help her.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

382 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2020

About the author

Sharon's newest book The Split is now available in both hardback and paperback in the UK!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...

Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.

She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.

She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Click! Click! Click! This is the sound of my fingers downloading or ordering this fantastic author’s previous books and this “BANG! BANG! BANG!” sound is coming from my head’s contact with the wall. Yes, I’m literally hitting my heavy head for waiting too long to devour those mind bending thrillers!

Split is my dreamy combination consists of an action-packed dark Nordic thriller-ish start, psychological, brain cell frying ( I plan to donate my brain after finishing this book because I decided it is useless! I was fooled by author’s compelling smart moves and cunning, deceiving twists. They made me numb and question of my brain’s functioning capacity!) a stunning serial killer story who is chasing the homeless people, domestic abuse and heart throbbing, more twisty, surprising, WTF I just read final.

This book is breathtaking, full of surprises, twisty as hell, captivating, addictive, exciting, heart throbbing! BIG OVATION coming for it! (I already created a special tribune and new admirers for the book: read it aloud at the house in front of my besties, husband, mother in law who already drank my two bottles of Chablis and not so lovely neighbors!)

Let’s make a small talk about its plot: Our story starts at Antarctic Island of South Georgina (I already start to hear whooshing sound of the wind and turned myself into human burrito by wrapping up with blanket, depictions at the book are so realistic!) Glaciologist Felicity Lloyd is shaking in terror, planning to escape before the last boat of the summer arrives which carries her ex-husband Freddie, convicted felony follows her like a shadow. But there is a crazy woman with a knife called herself Bamber also follows Felicity to protect her and as soon as Freddie finds Felicity’s hiding place, something happens… ( Nope, I’m not gonna tell it! Read the book to find out!)

Then we go back to Cambridge, England, nine months ago and meet with Joe, who is treating Felicity for her short term amnesia and his unconventional, vivid police officer mother Delilah who is investigating the murders of homeless people. There is a person of interest out there named Shane watching sleeping people outside, intruding Joe and Felicity’s houses at night without being caught. This guy is like a ghost but is he for real? Or who is? Why Felicity finds herself at different places and she never knows how she got there? What is she hiding? What happened to Felicity when she was young? Why does not she remember that she was married with Freddie who had abused her for years?

I know your mind is about to blow with those heavy questions! But don’t worry! All of them will be answered! But shocking revelations will make your mouth wide open in awe, surprise! I personally couldn’t close mine and swallowed several mosquitos (I thought reading this book when I was having picnic at the park might have been a good idea but as you may see it wasn’t!!!) and my mother-in-law slapped me several times to bring me back! (I’m still questioning her intentions because she also pulled my hair!)

Overall: This is one of the best, smartest, most mind spinning, addictive, dazzling, unputdownable page-turner I’ve read lately! Giving my five gazillions stars and I’m telling you: READ. THIS.BOOK.ASAP!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this incredible book’s ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review. I congratulate Sharon J. Bolton for creating something so unique, extraordinary and stunning.

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[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Clever and Brilliant Stars

No matter how far you run, some secrets will always catch up with you...

The remote Antarctic island of South Georgia is about to send off its last boat of the summer – which signifies safety to resident glaciologist Felicity Lloyd.

Felicity lives in fear – fear that her ex-husband Freddie will find her, even out here. She took a job on this isolated island to hide from him, but now that he's out of prison, having served a term for murder, she knows he won’t give up until he finds her.

I always get so excited when I open up a Sharon Bolton book! This book was so clever and brilliant. This book gave me a book hangover. I kept flipping the pages to find out what was going to happen next. It kept me up all night long and gave me a five star high!

This is a complex crime thriller which is exceptionally plotted out and kept me on the edge of my seat. I was holding my breath and at times a bit scared to read on. It was fantastic.

The twists had my jaw drop to the floor. It was so crazy, and I mean CRAZY! JUST MY KIND OF CRAZY!
I also loved the character development.

If you haven't read any books by this author, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? You really don't know what you are missing! She is my all time favorite author. All of her books have been WINNERS for me. This one is a memorable read.
I thought I had this book all figured out but I was so wrong!!! It is an unpredictable read.

I want to thank Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press, Netgalley and the author for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton's latest psychological thriller drops the reader surprisingly in the magnificent Antarctic and the remote island of South Georgia. It might be an awe inspiring landscape but it is also deadly and forbidding, with its glaciers, ice, turbulent and stormy sea waters and dangerous melt-waters. Resident glaciologist, Dr Felicity Lloyd is part of a research team, currently pursuing a theory on plug holes and the draining of lake water. She is feeling the strain as she awaits the last cruise ship, worried that she has not escaped far enough from her husband, Freddy, now released from Durham prison after completing a sentence for murder. She has plans to escape from Grytviken should her abusive husband turn up on the ship. She has informed her team that she will ostensibly be going to Bird Island but will instead make her way to Hurvik with its wreck The Petrel, a beached whaling ship, where a young woman, Bamber, roams with a gun in her possession.

It turns out Freddy is on the cruise ship and determined to find Felicity, irrespective of the obstacles that materialise, and he has one huge advantage, he knows her and the way she thinks. Just as you think you know the nature of what this story about, Bolton sharply swerves from this path and takes us back in time, nine months, to Cambridge to a fragile and skittish Felicity, having to confront large periods of time where she has absolutely no idea what happened and what she did. She is worried someone is entering her home, there are strange journal entries and she is feeling stalked. She has an academic post at the University and is hoping to secure a job that will take her half way round the world to the Antarctic, unfazed by working with a tiny team and isolated from the rest of the world, in fact it is what she feels she needs. She is seeing Dr Joe Grant, a therapist recovering from being stabbed by a young homeless woman, Ezzy Sheeran, skateboarding around the city where one rough sleeper, Bella has been murdered and another, Dora, is missing.

Once again, just when you think you know where Bolton is now taking her story, she returns us back to South Georgia, with many searching for Felicity, where she delivers another almighty twist in a chillingly thrilling climactic ending where numerous lives hang in the balance as nature demonstrates her terrifying powers for creating chaos and devastating destruction. This read was a four stars for me, until I got to the final part at which it became a wonderful five stars. This is a intense, dark and disturbing psychological thriller, tense, full of suspense and with all the trademark writing, plotting and twists for which Bolton is famed. A great read that I recommend highly to fans of Bolton and other crime fiction readers. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

***NOW AVAILABLE, GREAT PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER***

The setting for the first part of the novel, the Antarctic, specifically the island of South Georgia, is a character onto itself. Ms Bolton made me feel so in the moment while I was reading this. It definitely feels as though it transported me into a different place. Sounds corny, I know, but that’s how it felt. Here’s an example of the incredible descriptions of a scene while they were on ice, “The ice mountain leans towards them, gravity winning the battle with momentum and the sea begins to churn. The new iceberg topples, finds its new horizontal gravity and a wall of turquoise water, thirty metres high, surges towards them”. Yikes!!

So many reviews have already been written about the main story so I’ll keep it short and leave the rest to your imagination.

We first meet Felicity, a well known glaciologist who is currently stationed in South Georgia. The story is divided into parts, South Georgia Present Day is Part One. She is worried about the last tourist boat that is arriving. There is someone in her life that she is very afraid of and she worries that he will find her here, even so far from the mainland. If her worst fears are confirmed she has a plan. ..

Cambridge 9 months earlier. We will meet the other players in this thriller of a ride; Joe Grant, Felicity’s psychotherapist, working hard to unravel Felicity’s myriad of symptoms and fears. She feels she is constantly being watched, she thinks someone has been in her home and finds a diary that she doesn’t remember writing. Joe himself has just recovered from a knife wound sustained from an attack by one of the homeless people, Ezzy Sheeran, whom he works with pro bono. Much more occurs in Cambridge but I will leave that for you to discover.

Joe’s mother, Delilah, is a police woman and has been following her son’s cases closely. Their relationship sometimes seems a little too close to be healthy, but for the most part they seem to be able to run through ideas together helping Joe and the police.

In the last part of the novel we are whisked back to South Georgia where an incredibly feverish search is on to find Felicity. She was last known to be headed to Bird Island, a place even more remote than South Georgia. The weather turns extremely harsh and with multiple people searching by land and sea there is never a slow moment. Even in the harbor master’s office, “Joe can see a waterfall like a silver ribbon, slicing a snow-tipped summit in half, and the rusting carcass of a wrecked steam ship stranded in the bay. On the northern horizon, a berg lies like a fallen mountain and the air above it is alive with seabirds . . .there is an eardrum-splitting cacophony of noise . . .the bird screams and the grunting of seals.”

This novel got it all right for me. An intricately woven plot, great characters that are believable, tension and fear that never quits and an atmosphere that is transformative. This book had me from the first few pages and just when I thought I had it all figured out, nope, wrong!!!!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced twisty thriller, well written and exciting. I am still googling South Georgia and the photos that I find are incredible and fascinating. I highly recommend taking a tour of where the story takes place.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breach
The Split is an outstanding psychological thriller that is throbbing with suspense and suspicion. A past that is slowly uncloaked, revealing dark and horrific crimes that are haunting and driving alarming consequences in the present.

“Felicity crawls into the cupboard and wraps the duvet around her as she settles herself into the corner. She balances the pillow against the wall and goes to sleep. And finally, like the last trace of a dream, she remembers what the voice in her ear said to her: He’s coming.”

The story starts on the island of South Georgia close to Antarctica and home to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in the region. Felicity Lloyd is a world expert glaciologist on a two-year project on South Georgia to study the formation and movement of glaciers. Towards the end of her first summer, she gets more and more agitated as she anticipates the last tourist ship to dock before the Island goes into winter shut down. Felicity’s unrest is almost palpable as she waits to see the passenger manifest and if Freddie has finally tracked her down to this remote part of the world. She has an escape plan prepared, and when she finally sees Freddie, she flees on a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) to another small island. Only, Freddie saw her too and he is in pursuit.

I loved the location choices which worked so well in the story and the landscape of such a desolate island adds to the foreboding and chilling atmosphere of the story. The ghosts of thousands of workers from a time when South Georgia hosted a massive whaling operation, now echo in deserted settlements and half-sunken ships. The wind whistles through the rusted frames of buildings long past their usefulness. Remaining for when the whales would return, but they never did. An eerie place that threatens unsafe dangers and now the added menace of a man that has tracked Felicity to the far ends of the Earth.

The next part of the story reverts back to Cambridge, England, nine months before Felicity takes up the position in South Georgia and she needs a clean bill of health and mental assessment from her doctor and her physiatrist. Dr Joe Grant is Felicity’s physiatrist but has just returned to work following the death of a patient who was obsessed with him. Joe genuinely wants to help Felicity as he can see personality disorders but she just wants to get clearance as easy as possible so she can getaway. Does she have a personality disorder, is she being drugged or is someone playing games with her mind. Meanwhile more disappearances occur and strange alarming situations develop, all handled brilliantly by Sharon Bolton. The plotting is superb as the layers of complexity and supposition mount to provide an enthralling and captivating story. The momentum of the novel is perfectly pitched and builds to a climactic conclusion.

It is also worth recognising the wonderful writing from Sharon Bolton, as she crafts such vivid images and psychological turmoil. I would highly recommend this book and I would like to thank Orion Publishing, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in return for an honest review.
Of interest, Grytviken on South Georgia is where you find the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

Lordy, what a great read this is! I am a mega Bolton fan, and Ms. Bolton has hit yet another one out of the ballpark. The Split is a twisty, eerie psychological thriller—vintage Bolton. I burned out on typical psychological thrillers years ago. You know, the ones that feature amnesia, missing children, abusive husbands, and traitorous friends and relatives. But Sharon Bolton never fails to weave an intricate different sort of tale in which she beautifully transports the reader to an unusual setting and creates an atmosphere that is literally dripping in tension.

This one is based in Cambridge, England, and the remote Antarctic island of South Georgia. Our protagonist, Felicity, is an expert in glaciers. Not interested in glaciers? No problem. Neither was I when I started. See my star rating. Amongst other interesting characters, we have Freddie. Freddie is after Felicity for uncertain reasons; Felicity lives in dire fear of Freddie. Then there is Joe. Joe is a psychiatrist who is trying to understand Felicity. But Felicity has secrets that even she herself doesn’t realize. The story ultimately becomes a thrilling chase for survival in a terrifying milieu of ice, water, and misunderstandings. Enough said.

If you have not read Sharon Bolton, you haven’t lived in the sense of reading quality thrillers. She is one of my very top go-to authors, and I give my highest recommendation for her novels to all fans of thrillers and suspense.

Thank you Net Galley, Minotaur Books, and Ms. Sharon Bolton for granting me an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/375 stars rounded up

You can't hide from your secrets...

Felicity Lloyd is about breath a big sigh of relief when the remote Island of South Georgia is about to have its last boat of the summer. She has been anxiously searching the guest lists to make sure a certain name is not upon it. She lives in fear that her ex-husband, Freddie will find her. She is working on the remote island for two reasons 1. She loves what she does (she's a glaciologist) and 2. Freddie was just released from prison and she doesn't want him to find her.

But a therapist from Cambridge has been worried about Felicity. He is on his way to the remote island to try and get to her before Freddie.

This is a psychological thriller that begins on the remote island of South Georgia and then goes back nine months in time to Cambridge where Felicity is no longer the confident woman she is on the island of South Georgia. She has been attacked and has no memory of who hurt her or why. Referred to therapy, she divulges that there are periods of time she cannot account for, things have been moved in her home, there are journal entries she doesn't recall making but really wants her therapist to sign off on her upcoming job in the Antarctic.

I figured out a large portion of this book right away. Not all of it, but a significant portion. Not even the tall glaciers in the Antarctic could get in my way of figuring out most of this book. Sadly, having figured some things out right away took away some of my enjoyment and wanting to throttle her therapist at times didn't help. Sure, he's a likable enough guy but he can benefit from a class on ethics.

But Bolton did a great job of creating interesting characters, especially Delilah, the police investigator with pink hair! I loved the harsh environment in South Georgia. My favorite scenes were in the Antarctic. I thought Bolton really nailed it. I love it when the environment feels like a character in the book as well. She really ended the book well in the frozen environment. She obviously did her homework when preparing to write this book, especially concerning Felicity's job and about glaciers and the landscape in South Georgia! Although I did figure out a HUGE chunk of this book, I did enjoy the pacing and how the plot unfolded. She kept the book moving at a steady pace.

This was a hard book for me to rate. I enjoyed it but was also feeling a little let down as well. I had high hopes for this and when I finished felt conflicted. I read this one fast as it was captivating and thought-provoking. Although I figured out a lot of the book, there were still there were two reveals that I didn't see coming so I appreciated that and found it to be very clever. In the end, she did wow me with her descriptions, vivid landscapes, and interesting characters.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Holly B ( slowly catching up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 / Pretty good!


I really enjoyed the first half and the writing was on point. The Antarctica was setting was very atmospheric and unique. I can see why Bolton has so many fans, her writing really pulled me into the story and the mystery.

There are many questions and lots of guessing that kept me reading until the end. I felt this one was too long though! 400 pages

There are some chilling passages and I was guessing and hoping for that wow ending. I easily predicted what was going though.

I would absolutely read her next and since this was my first Bolton, I plan to read some of her popular titles. Any recs??

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy!! This one was published on April 28th.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest thriller from the talented Sharon Bolton takes us to South Georgia and Cambridge, England and two more diverse locations it’s hard to imagine! South Georgia is a harsh and unforgiving island and is where Felicity Lloyd, a glaciologist is working. She has run as far as she can from Freddie, recently released from HMP Durham and who to her terror, is on board the approaching ship Southern Star and so she prepares to flee once again. On the same ship are two police officers from Cambridge and Dr Joe Grant, a psychologist. Why have they come so far? The story now backtracks nine months to Cambridge. Following an attack Felicity consults Joe for help and he tries to unlock her memory. What unfolds is a scary tale that takes Felicity to the very edge of sanity and at grave risk of arrest following a murder. The story is told from several perspectives including Felicity, Joe and Freddie.

First of all, I love the contrasting locations. You have the unique and extreme cold of South Georgia with its glaciers, icebergs and wildlife. It also has a fascinating history for example, Ernest Shackleton, it’s role in the Falklands War and as a former whaling post. This provides a blue white contrast to the golden glory of the beautiful university city of Cambridge, students, punts and all. It’s a very well written book with the plot unfolding in a very intriguing way. There are some wonderful, colourful descriptions that are so vivid that you can easily imagine yourself as an observer of the events. The tension builds really well and some really weird stuff happens, a lot of which is very scary. You feel Felicity’s despair, her fear and at times her helplessness especially as her traumatic past is revealed. The characters are really good, Felicity is fascinating, Joe is a good man and his mother, Delilah, who is a police officer is fabulous! The end is positively breathtaking and the word exciting doesn’t quite cover it! I’ve no idea is it’s possible but I really don’t care because I love it and all I can say is that it would make the most amazing film!

Overall, it’s a rollercoaster ride, hang onto your hat, prepare to be rocked to your core, have your timbers shivered, your eyes rolling and popping, your teeth chattering and your brain freezing and pray your heart can take it!!! It twists and turns, it flips backwards and forwards, you’ve got it sorted, you’ve not got it sorted, it’s utterly shocking places, a little bit creepy and scary and so obviously I LOVE IT!!!

Huge and very special thanks to NetGalley and Orion for the ARC.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book to take you far away from the norm, this is it. Starting on South Georgia Island in the Antarctic, this book totally gets the atmosphere right. Founded as a whaling colony, abandoned in mid last century, it now exists as a science station and a tourist stop for the intrepid. Felicity is there as a glaciologist but also to escape her ex-husband, recently released from a prison term for murder. Now he’s come looking for her.
The book then flips back 9 months to Cambridge, England and we hear from an assortment of characters, including Felicity and Joe, her therapist. Bolton leaves us guessing how this will all come together. Felicity has fugue states and can’t even remember being married. In fact, the book really kept me off balance. I only sussed out to what the first big reveal was a few chapters before it happened. And then the hits just kept on coming as there are several big twists in this book.
Bolton does horror really well. I felt both Joe and Felicity’s confusion and pain. The characters felt real and fully formed.
This kept me engrossed. It moves at a swift pace and never slows down.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 2/5

SYNOPSIS

Felicity literally ran away to the end of the world to escape the traumatic events of Cambridge. But even Antarctica isn't far enough to truly be safe from the horror of her past.

MY OPINION

So ya'll know I'm a #BoltonBish, but this was lacklustre. I did accidentally read a spoiler review beforehand, so I knew what the big twisty twist was. However, that didn't ruin the story for me, that came later, as it always does with Bolton.

The one thing I LOVE about Bolton is she always takes us somewhere new. In this book, we travel to South Georgia and learn about glaciers. It's a nice change of pace from the traditional thrillers that take place in Suburban Boston/New York/Connecticut lol.

Other than the atmospheric scenery, this book left a lot to be desired. First, it was way too long. Secondly, even if I hadn't read the spoiler, the mystery was easy to solve. Usually Bolton surprises me and pulls off some solid red herrings, but this one was a paint by numbers type of thriller. And again, WHY DID NO ONE GET SECURITY CAMERAS??? PLS!!!

And then we have creepy ass Joe who should have his psychology license revoked immediately. Joe is the kind of guy who asks "without me?" when you tell him you're about to jump in the shower. Joe is mr. where's my hug at. Joe is Nice Guy(TM). And on top of Joe's pathetic behaviour, he's a piss poor therapist. How many glaring red flags do you need? Then we have Delilah. Wasn't a fan of her ass either. Side note: Bolton loves to fat shame at least one character in every book. Anyways. The police proceduring here was weak af. There's no way Delilah would be allowed to be this involved with a case that directly involves her son.

It had it's creepy moments, but it also didn't. The ending was in shambles but also tied up TOO conveniently. So after all these years of struggles, just like that, Felicity got a grip on her mental health? Me thinks TF not. I vote Joe off the island. Immediately.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: Bolton's signature atmospheric writing, there were some suspenseful moments

Cons: repetitive, wasn't vibing with any of the characters, no security cameras again, ending was disappointing, mystery was easy to clock

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a long list of books to read, carefully stacked in proper order. Then I get a book by Sharon Bolton. And all my plans go out the window, along with the list. Every single time.

But here comes the hard part….writing a review. If you’ve read her stuff before, you know you rarely end up where you thought you would & I’ve learned to go in with a healthy dose of paranoia. Her plots are like those puzzles with 1000 tiles…you never know which piece might change the whole picture. In fact, my tip for all her books is to go in knowing as little as possible & just enjoy the ride. So what do I share here without giving the game away? If I follow my own advice it would go something like this.


Part 1: we meet the MC in a unique setting & by 10% in, I’m on high alert.

Part 2: Change of place as we go back 9 months to get some history & meet more characters. Stuff is happening and….wait. What?!

Part 3: Ah, some pieces are starting to click into place. I got this. It’s the guy with the thing, I knew it. Oh no. No, no, no.

Part 4: Ho…lee…crap. Sorry, what I meant to say was more stuff happens, my teeth are chattering and…seriously? Followed by big finale.


Too much detail? Ok, maybe I can expand a bit without spoiling any potential WTF moments.

The story begins in South Georgia, a small island between the Falklands & Antarctica. Felicity Lloyd is a glaciologist & part of a small research team working for the British Antarctic Survey. Their isolation is broken periodically by the arrival of cruise ships during the short tourist season. And Felicity can’t wait for it to be over. Just one more ship & she’ll be safe for another year.

We quickly realize two things about her. This is a woman who’s literally gone to the end of the earth to disappear. And she’s absolutely terrified of who may step off that ship. That would be Freddie Lloyd, her husband. Unfortunately, we already know where he’s been & where he is now. When Felicity sees his name on the ship manifest, her worst fear is realized. But she prepared for this day long ago & it’s time to put her plan into action.

The story is divided into 4 sections & this first one is relatively short. But boy, does it set the tone. The remote setting, frigid weather & Felicity’s fear….all of these are so well described you can feel them in your bones. The tension is palpable & the author has served notice you’re in for an unsettling ride.

Parts 2 & 3 are set in Cambridge, beginning 9 months prior to present day. Here we get some background on Felicity’s life & the people who crossed her path before she fled. As part of the medical requirements for the position in South Georgia, she has to get signed off by a therapist as fit for the job. And so she meets Dr. Joe Grant. Joe is a mild mannered, likeable guy with some interesting history of his own.

More characters & plot lines are added in these sections. A mysterious rollergirl, a troubled homeless man, Joe’s mother Delilah & several others weave their stories into the mix. Connections between them are slowly doled out as we continue to learn more about Felicity’s past.

That’s it, folks. I’m determined to keep this spoiler-free. The stage is set for our return to South Georgia in part 4 & by the time we get there, I guarantee you’ll have more questions than answers. There are tantalizing glimpses of where the story is going. But contradictory & unreliable versions of events make you feel like you’re standing in quicksand. Nothing is predictable & you’re never sure who you can trust or believe. It’s a psychological mind bender of a read that saves some of the best twists for last. Sure, you could argue a few moments stretch credibility & conveniently propel the plot but its strength lies in the author’s ability to create scenes so atmospheric that you feel you’re walking in a character’s shoes.

If you’re in the mood for something comfy, cozy & relaxing, look elsewhere. But if you want to spend a few hours on the edge you’ve found your next read. Your reading tool kit for this book should include: whale music, a Medic-Alert button, thermal underwear & wine.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is broken down into four parts and I will share my reading experience on all of them:

Part One: South Georgia

We find Felicity on the island of South Georgia just off the coast of Antarctica where she is studying glaciers for the next two years. She appears nervous and frightened whenever an incoming ship arrives. We know she is running from something or someone and she fears that something or someone is coming for her.

To be honest, I found Part One a little boring and I struggled to stick with this. The endless talks about ice and glaciers did not compel me to turn the pages. I had read a few reviews and decided I would stick with this and I am so glad I did because Part Two....oh yeah!

Part Two: Cambridge (9 months earlier)

We find Felicity has recently been attacked and has no memory of the incident so she seeks therapy from Dr. Joe Grant. He discovers that this isn't the only memory Felicity has lost. She has been experiencing states of fugue more and more often and she's also paranoid that she has a stalker and she believes that stalker is her husband Freddie whom she has no memory of? (Bananas!) Meanwhile she is also vying for a position with her company to be sent to South Georgia and she desperately needs Dr. Grant to sign off that she is mentally fit to attend.

This part ticked all my boxes. I could not put this down at this point and read most of it with my mouth agape.

Part Three: Cambridge (7 months later)

We find that two homeless women have been murdered and another is missing. All three had connections to Dr. Grant. His mother, Delilah, is the police detective in charge of the investigation and she finds a connection between the homeless women and Felicity. Coincidence?

At this point a reveal is made that I pretty much had guessed but that didn't take away any enjoyment for me because I still had puzzle pieces to put together and I love me a good puzzle.

Part Four: South Georgia

Buckle in for the final showdown because it's a heart-thumper and the final sentence in this book brought a smile to my face before turning that last page! 4 *shivering* stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Zoeytron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton manages to throw me for a loop every single time.  This one is a standalone psychological thriller that means business.  The title is apt, its myriad meanings coming into play as the story progresses.  Memories, are they real or imagined?  What about the feeling of being watched, even stalked?  The sound of someone on roller skates, rough sleepers, sleep watchers, a touch of OCD, a recurring nightmare.    Felicity Lloyd is about to run to the far ends of the earth, to the Antarctic to work as a glaciologist and with only the smallest of work crews.  Brings to mind the old phrase that you can run, but you cannot hide.  Is she safe at last?  Of course not.  Therein lies the story, and it's a doozy. 

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the string where part of this takes place. South Georgia Island off the coast of the Antarctic, another cold weather draw for me. I sometimes wonder if I was an Eskimo in a previous life. Felicity is a glaciologist, a rather unique profession in fiction. These were the parts of the story I liked best.

Another part of the story takes place in Cambridge, and it is here where we see Felicity having blackouts, scared someone is breaking into her house when she is not there. There are also some of the homeless going missing and the psychiatrist Felicity goes to see is also someone who treats those on the streets. Pro Bono, rather unusual, no? By the way this is not a spoiler as it doesn't tell you much about anything.

Although I guessed early on some parts of this, that is not the reason I gave it three stars, when Bolton usually Garner's at least from me, a four star rating. I just had problems believing the rationality of the risks one of the characters takes, his actions not ringing true. Plus, a little of too much included for this at all to make real sense.

So good and not so good, there you have it.

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this riveting, engaging advance digital copy of The Split. Whenever there is a new psychological mystery by Sharon Bolton I neglect housework, activities, and it goes immediately to the list of next books to read. Her stand-alone novels, such as this one, have very different plots and moods. I knew I was in for an enjoyable and unique mystery with plenty of thrills. It provided me with an emotional impact.

I will mention some of the highlights of the story without revealing any of the twists and surprises.

Part 1: Takes place on the remote South Georgia Islands located between the Falklands and Antarctica. This isolated isle has no permanent residents. There are approximately 16 scientists at the research station over the winter months. In summer tourists come by ship as it is known for its rugged beauty, spectacular scenery, mountains, frigid weather and churning seas, glaciers, fjords, and the chance to see thousands of King Penguins and elephant seals. The setting is vividly described. The nearest police are in the Falkland Islands 1,390 kms away.

Glaciologist, Dr. Felicity Lloyd is among the scientists on the island on a two-year assignment. Unknown to her fellow workers, she has come to hide from her ex-husband, Freddie, just released from prison for murder. She is in a heightened state of panic, with the deathly fear that he might be coming to harm her. The last tourist ship of the summer is approaching, and she sees his name on its manifest list. She has no memory of their marriage, but recently found clues that make her aware that she had been wed to a very dangerous man. Felicity seems to be emotionally unstable and paranoid. She hides away from her work station at a place where there is an old deserted whaling station. Also roaming around this area is Bamber, a ferocious protector of Felicity. She has a gun.

Parts 2 and 3: 9 months earlier in Cambridge
Felicity works at the University. She is having periods of fugue, becoming conscious in a new place. Hours of her life are completely forgotten, and with no awareness of what she was doing during the missing time. Strange, inexplicable things are happening. Articles are rearranged in her home, angry entries are found in a journal which she can’t remember writing, someone seems to be stalking her and entering her home. She fears it may be her ex-husband lurking about and that she is in danger. She requires a medical certificate of good health in order to be accepted for the position in South Georgia. She becomes a patient of a therapist, Dr. Joe Grant.

Dr. Grant has troubles of his own. He has been blamed for getting too close to a couple of homeless female patients. He is recovering from a stab wound inflicted by homeless Ezzy, who is always seen on a skateboard. The young woman developed a crush, resented him for ignoring her romantic overtures, and stabbed him out of jealousy. Another young homeless woman was murdered, and an old street woman missing, both known to Joe. Dr. Joe’s mother is a policewoman who warns him about the danger of appearing too friendly with female patients. The main suspect, Sean, is a man who stares at homeless people while they sleep in the street. They fear him and find him creepy. The police cannot locate him.

Felicity, in therapy, seems to be recovering flashes of some early memories, but are they accurate? Dr. Joe Grant appears to be warily developing more than professional feelings for her against his mother’s advice. He feels she needs much more psychotherapy but learns she has left Cambridge much earlier than planned.

Part 4: South Georgia Island
Freddie has arrived on the last tourist ship. Felicity is on the run on an island with little room to hide. Dr. Pat has come to protect and save her and with him his mother who intends to arrest her for suspected involvement in the crimes of the missing and murdered street people. The buildup to the action-packed, thrilling conclusion is intense and compelling. Even if one has guessed some of the major, startling twists when they are revealed they pack an emotional wallop. Recommended!!

[Maureen Carden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton newest book, The Split , is being released at the end of April. The previous sentence could stand alone as the only review needed for another Bolton five star. I mean really, does her fan base need to know any more than Sharon Bolton has a new book being released? New book. Five stars. Fini.
However, I think NetGalley, Goodreads, and new readers might expect a bit more from a reviewer. So go read the Goodread reviewers who have already posted their reviews. They are wonderful reviews. Okay, Okay, that won’t do either. Promises to NetGalley.
First off it’s hard to pick which element of Bolton’s books is most compelling. The setting? Holy cow, just travel with her books; the Falklands ten years after the war, the haunting and haunted Pendle Hill, the secret little canals leading in to the Thames, unknown even to long time Londoners, or the historical and arrogant worlds of Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
In The Split Bolton takes her readers to the inhospitable island of South Georgia between the Falklands and Antarctica, a former whaling colony. I won’t even mention the horror show of whaling Bolton writes about. Bolton has already broken hearts once writing about whales in the not-to-be-missed Little Black Lies
Then there are Bolton’s characters. Dr. Felicity Lloyd is a glaciologist who fought hard for her position doing research with a small team on the island. A glaciologist, just about says it all about the geology and climate of the island; and the stark beauty.
But Felicity hasn’t fought back from an attack desperate to get the two year assignment in one of the most isolated places on earth just to do research. She is hiding out from a killer. One more cruise ship stop-over and she will be free of her fear for several months; her very real fear of a recently released killer finally tracking her down. Just one more cruise ship, and Felicity can be at peace for several months.
Dr Joe Grant enters the story in the two middle sections of The Split , one going back 9 months the other 7 months. Grant is a therapist assigned to Felicity after she was found beaten and unconscious on a street in Cambridge. Dr Grant is asked to evaluate Felicity because she can not remember the attack.
Dr. Grant practices in Cambridge. Besides his private practice he tries to help the homeless, some who have been disappearing. Grant also has some serious mommy issues he is dealing with in his own life. His mom provides a few moments of lightness in a sad and dark story, but she is dead serious in her work.
The story ends in one of the most extraordinary chases I have read. I was going to advise the reader to make sure they have a comfy throw and hot chocolate available when they read The Split . During the chase double up and add some schnapps or have a hot toddy handy. You will need it, even if reading poolside.
I’ve described some of the characters, but there are a lot more, so try to keep up with them in all three time lines. Most are slightly or seriously damaged, just trying to make their way back to some sort of normalcy. Either to get on with the work they love or to achieve forgiveness.
Bolton teaches, but never preaches. Her clear explanation of the affect icebergs have on climate change should be read by everyone. Especially our Cheeto-hea.…well never mind.
Bolton delves into the life of rough sleepers with compassion as she has in some of her other books. She explains so many of their problems; safety issues, weather, and mental health. It’s a wonder they even survive. Eye-opening when one man says they never sleep deeply. They sleep, but with an awareness of what is going on around them. This is the kind of detail that makes Sharon Bolton such a powerful writer.
Bolton does honest twisty turny better than any other author. I reread The Split just before writing this review. I was still caught by surprise several times and the intensity never lessened.
Cambridge is the second English University town that Bolton has put on my bucket list for its beauty and history. I think I will leave South Georgia Island to my extreme bucket list, along with the Falklands. Speaking of which, it was lovely to see Skye again.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Paula K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton is a terrific writer. I read The Craftsman last year and thoroughly enjoyed the book.

The Split has a different feel to it. It’s a stand-alone psychological thriller about a woman with memory loss on the run. Felicity Lloyd is a glaciologist and joins a team on St. George’s Island in the Antarctic. She has traveled as far away as possible to keep away from her ex-husband, Freddie, recently released from prison. Meanwhile her therapist from back home has decided to follow her to St. George’s Island.

I enjoyed the setting for The Split, but couldn’t connect to this book and it’s characters like I did with The Craftsman. Many Goodreads friends, however, gave this thriller very high marks. I would recommend reading these reviews.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Many thanks goes to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of THE SPLIT in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date - April 28, 2020

Review posted to Goodreads on April 24, 2020

[Melissa (Distracted by New Grandbaby) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book didn't work for me for a number of reasons, but there were two main ones.

The first is that I hate the trope of a character with DID with a passion. I feel it is incredibly overused by mystery writers and much too convenient of an explanation. There seems to have been a plethora of books using this trope over the past year (The Other Mrs. and The Patient) and it seems like a cop out for explaining things away. I give credit for the author at least acknowledging the fact that this disorder is incredibly rare, but that doesn't make it justified to use as a mystery twist (well, it really isn't if you look at the title, but still, some people won't get it)
The second reason is that the psychologist, Joe, is terrible. He is so unethical, he talks about himself and his problems with patients, he doesn't figure out what is wrong with Felicity even when it is staring him in the face, he breaks her confidentiality to the police, to random people who he comes across, etc. He has romantic relationships with patients, not just one, but many of them. His behavior was bad on so many levels.
There are lots of other minor quibbles I have--with the police investigation and other things, but they pale in comparison to my first two issues.
I did like the setting, especially when they were on South Georgia, and so that improved my outlook of the book. I think there are much better choices, I wish I would have skipped this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Margaret M - (having a challenging time and on GR as much as I can) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pulsating and gripping psychological thriller by Sharon Bolton

Felicity has moved quite literally to the edge of the world to flee her past but she knows he is following her, and he won't stop looking. This sets up the chase that will take place in the glacial landscape of South Georgia and the streets of Cambridge.

The first part of the book was a little slow but when we get to the frozen world of South Georgia, an island off the coast of Antarctica, the plot thickens and the book moves at a much faster and exhilarating pace.

This book had so much ingredients for the perfect psychological thriller; the landscape is vividly and evocatively described that helps create the atmosphere and menacing backdrop, the chase is adrenaline-charged and gripping while we enjoy the deadly game of cat and mouse that ensues.

Loved it and would recommend it to all the lovers of a good thriller.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton has entered the building.

'Nuf said.....

Just when you think that Sharon Bolton has approached a story from every angle and from every mindset, she comes up with another remarkable setting and another remarkable storyline. This one grabs you from page one with magnificent descriptors of "the blue of liquid sapphires" located in the wildlife paradise of South Georgia. We'll be sitting tight hunkered down in the Antarctic Circle 900 miles from the Falkland Islands.

Bolton introduces us to Felicity Lloyd, a talented glaciologist, sent to this location for a two year study of the meltwater plug deep beneath the glaciers that slowly drain and empty filling the nearby lakes. Felicity is also a professional diver with a beneath the surface study of the movements of these glaciers. She's highly dedicated to her task at hand along with her work partner, Jack. They are part of BAS (British Antarctic Survey) assigned to the area.

But slowly we come to find that the kickass Felicity is revealing a distraction that is eating away at her. She checks the passenger logs of the ship, Snow Queen, as it heads its way to South Georgia. Someone onboard is a threat to Felicity. This individual has tracked her all the way to the Antarctic Circle with bad intentions. And there are no safety zones here.

Then Bolton flips the story back nine months prior to Cambridge in England. We find Felicity living alone in a small house not far from the university. Something untoward has happened to Felicity. She's filled with cuts, bruises, and a concussion and has no memory of what had occured. After leaving the hospital, Felicity is assigned to a psychiatrist, Dr. Joe Grant, who must meet with her before signing off on her permission to return to work. Her Antarctic assignment is waiting in the wings for the green light from Dr. Joe.

We begin to realize that Felicity is holding back on vital information. Bolton slowly raises the curtain on secrets held by both our girl and Dr. Joe as well. There's a twisty play of cat and mouse here with our main characters keeping a lid on things. Secrets seem to serve the holder as long as they are kept under lock and key. But Bolton gives us opportunities to feel the ooze of them and they are quite slimy to the touch. As readers, we'll also come to realize the meaning of the title as well. The Split is another walk around inside the superb mind of Sharon Bolton. Dedicated or newly found fans will find this one like a fine liqueur satisfyingly poured over Antarctic ice.

I received a copy of The Split through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press (Minotaur) and to the talented Sharon Bolton for the opportunity.

[Mark Porton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrillers are a genre I rarely read; my life is thrilling enough in a troublesome sort of way. This is why I found The Split by Sharon Bolton a pleasant surprise, from the get-go.

Felicity Lloyd is an ‘Ice Scientist’ (wow) and spends her professional time studying glaciers on an isolated island called South Georgia – not far from Las Malvinas, in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Felicity also lives in Cambridge, UK, when not working remotely. And it’s back home where things get a bit testy.

For example, she believes there is someone coming into her small flat at random times, fiddling around with her stuff and even sleeping there. For example, she will find cigarette butts out the back garden – as she is a non-smoker, this is slightly disconcerting. I found this aspect of the book a little scary, as there have been times I check under my bed (you know the type?), or run up the stairs to my bedroom quickly, and lock the door before a murderer can chase me down and cut me up into wee pieces. But to be fair, I only do this when I am here alone.

Yes, there were some very chilling parts of this story, the stuff that makes the hairs on your neck stand up.

Felicity is also consulting a psychologist called Joe, as she needs to be medically cleared to return to South Georgia. This seemingly routine exercise gets tricky, as Joe seems to be able to draw out some of her insecurities and apparent history of the worst kind of abuse as a child. Her concerns about the anonymous ‘housemate’ give rise to the possibility of paranoia – Dr Joe was able to draw this out of her too. The scenes between patient and psychologist in the consulting room were fascinating.

Then there’s this bloke called Freddie Lloyd, just released from prison for murder and is trying to hunt Felicity down. She is very aware of this, and he is persistent, and vicious. Homeless people play a significant part in this story, which is good to see – providing a window into how our homeless brothers and sisters live.

Oh yes, Joe’s mum is a copper – and a very interesting character indeed. Snaky, I’d say. She plays a role in trying to hunt down the various incidents that seem to be surrounding our good Ice Scientist.

There are heaps of twists – seriously, I was blown out of the water by some of them, and none were ridiculous. There is tension, suspense, a dash of romance and of course an exciting ending.

I’ll give this one a solid 4 Stars

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another super suspenseful thriller from Sharon Bolton! And this one is set in the icy wilds of South Georgia, an island in the Southern Atlantic. However, first we meet a number of important characters in Cambridge where this tale begins:

Felicity Lloyd is a glaciologist, working for the British Antartic Survey carrying out research on the annual melting of the glaciers. Before she left Cambridge for South Georgia, she was convinced someone was stalking her and coming to kill her. Now she feels safe, hidden in South Georgia where only a few organised tourist boats are allowed to stop for a short time.

Joe Grant is a psychologist called in to see Felicity in hospital after she was found bleeding and distressed outside at night with no memory of what happened to her. She agrees to meet with Joe for a few consultations before she goes to South Georgia. He is a compassionate man who also runs a free clinic for the homeless, even though he was recently attacked by one of his patients.

Delilah Jones is Joe's mother and a Detective Inspector. She's been looking into the death of a young homeless woman, Bella Barnes and the disappearance of another, Ezzy Sheeran. The local homeless sleeping on the streets are uneasy and worried about someone called Shane who likes to watch them while they sleep.

Freddie is a man with a past. He's been in prison and he's looking for Felicity.

Felicity's past will eventually catch up with her when characters all meet up before the end of the novel in an explosive race for survival. The setting of South Georgia is magnificent with its towering and dangerous glaciers. The characters are complex and fully formed and the plot is as full of surprising twists as you would hope, with an unpredictable ending. Clever, intense and suspenseful, Bolton has given us another addictive thriller that begs us to read just one more chapter.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific, tantalising, transforming: we see a wonderful person trapped mentally by her past, outstandingly successful career-wise in the present and afraid of a personal life in the future.
Unputdownable

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton has recently become one of my favorite authors - her books are always atmospheric, eerie, and darkly twisted - all elements that I love in a psychological thriller. I have to say though (and I think I am in the minority here), that I did not love this one.

It still had all of the elements that I love - atmospheric setting (it is set on the South Georgia Island, halfway between the Antarctic mainland and the Falklands), and it is one hundred percent eerie and darkly twisted. The biggest problem I had was that it was way too easy to figure out the plot - I kept waiting for that OMG moment that Sharon Bolton is famous for, and for me, it just wasn't there.

The plot centers around glaciologist Felicity Lloyd and is broken up into four parts. Part One begins on the South Georgia Island, where you immediately learn that Felicity is hiding away from someone on what may be the most remote place on planet earth. She learns that the person she is hiding from is arriving on a cruise ship and she panics and leaves for an even more remote part of the island. Maybe it's just me, but Part One was just not exciting - so dry to the point that I almost gave up on it.

Parts Two and Three go back months earlier to Cambridge. These parts were a little better, but I had several issues with them as well. It was in Part Two that I started figuring out the plot - if you read psychological thrillers on a regular basis, Felicity's "illness" was easy to spot a mile away. It is in this part though, that you learn that Felicity was married to Freddie, who is the man she is trying to escape from in Part One. She can’t remember much about Freddie or the reason for his obsession with her, as her memories are jumbled and distorted. She also has episodes where chunks of time go missing from her consciousness. Enter psychologist Joe Grant, whom she must see prior to taking the job in South Georgia, as she has had several unexplained injuries, and she needs a clean bill of mental health before taking the new position. Therein lies my next issue. Dr. Grant is a likable enough character, but more than a bit unethical. He seems to have "a thing" for every young, pretty client that he has. I realize that it fits with the plot but it's creepy - no matter how likable he appears. We also meet DI Delilah Jones, Joe's mother, who begins to connect the deaths of some of Cambridge’s homeless to Felicity’s blackouts. I liked Delilah's character, but if it were me, I would have slapped my son upside the head after all of his questionable decisions and actions.

Part Four returns to South Georgia Island, where all is finally revealed. There were a couple of twists in this part that I didn't have exactly figured out, but they still didn't wow me enough to make up for my disappointment with the rest of the book. Maybe it was just the super slow start, but this one just never took off for me.

Like I said, most of my GR friends have loved this one, so it may be just me, but it wasn't anywhere close to a 5-star read for me. 3 the-title-gives-too-much-away stars.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SPLIT is a psychological thriller by Sharon J. Bolton. This setting for this novel is based in Cambridge, England, and the remote Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Felicity Lloyd, (Flick) world expert glaciologist and professional diver, twenty-eight years old, is set to sail to the remote island of South Georgia in the Antarctic Circle, where she will spend two years studying the formation and movement of glaciers. Her and her partner, Jack both work for the BAS (British Antarctic Survey).

But Felicity lives in constant fear of Freddie…her ex-husband, who has just got out of prison. She knows he won’t give up until he finds her.

No place to hide or run…

This is why two years ago Felicity Lloyd desperately signed up for an extended research trip working on the remote island of South Georgia.

She had to escape…but now he was out…and coming for her.

Because no matter how far you run, some secrets will always catch up with you...

The novel is broken down into 4 parts. In part 1 we follow Felicity working as a glaciologist with a small research team on the South Georgia Islands between Falklands and Antarctic. In part 2 and 3 the novel jumps back in time and we learn about Felicity’s past and get introduced to Dr Joe Grant, a therapist assigned to Felicity after she was found beaten on a street in Cambridge. The doctor is asked to evaluate Felicity as she can’t remember the attack. In the final part 4 everything comes to a climax with Freddie out to find Felicity.

This thriller novel is about a woman on the run, with secrets from her past that she tries to keep under lock and key. A battle for survival within the elements.

Many thanks to the author, Trapeze and NetGalley for my digital copy.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glaciologist Felicity Lloyd is a woman living on the edge. She's running from a past that includes an abusive ex-husband and shards of memory lost to her. Nightmares haunt her, voices taunt her, and her ex-husband is coming for her. Felicity has run as far as she can - to the remote Antarctic island of South Georgia. On one hand, she's living her dream as a member of a research team studying glaciers. On the other hand, she lives in fear of her ex and her secrets - especially the ones she herself doesn't understand. When the story begins, we're with Felicity in present time on the beautiful but deadly island of South Georgia. Bolton exploits the dangerous, icy, isolated setting as a unique character, driving the danger and suspense to a volatile level that emits a creepy vibe of impending doom. The last boat of the season is docking. If Felicity's ex isn't on it, she's free . . . and if he is, she's prepared to run. But where? Stakes are raised even more and tensions drawn tauter when the middle chapters of The Split revert back nine months in time serving to begin filling in the missing links of Felicity's past. In doing so, several seemingly unrelated plot lines come into play - a serial killer of homeless people, domestic abuse, mental illness. But in her brilliance, Bolton manipulates these plot lines and characters (and readers) until finally . . . finally, she returns to present time for the explosive epic scene that weaves it all together in the end.

The Split is a smartly written, highly atmospheric story that kept me slightly off-balance throughout as my brain worked overtime trying to solve the mystery. I figured out one important element by midway, but that in no way decreased the intense, compelling need I had to finish this book. The tone is dark, edgy, high in creep value and often driven by the deadly setting that steals your breath in more ways than one. Bolton's ability to create unique, dark, secretive characters toting a load of baggage has never been more evident. I'm purposely not mentioning specifics about these characters because their introduction and purpose in the story need to be discovered by readers who go into this story blind. Twisted, cunning, unsettling, The Split is intense suspense at its best! Fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers are going to love this one! Highly Recommended.
4.5 Stars!
*Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book via Netgalley. #MinotaurInfluencers
**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton never fails to make your imagination run wild ... and this one was no different. The book is broke out in 4 parts. The chapters are short and the pace was for the most part on point.

In Part 1 we get to know Felicity Lloyd and her dedicated work as a glaciologist along with a small reasearch team. The setting is on the South Georgia Islands between Falklands and Antarctia. Can you get any further out? She went as far as she could to try and disappear from ... him. You can feel her tension building as she is always looking over her shoulder for ... him. She feels like it is her ex-husband, Freddie that was just released from prison for murder although she has no memory of their marriage or any history with him. Only that he is a very dangerous man. Hmmmm ...

In Part 2 and 3 we jump back 9 months and get history on her. She reminded me of the TV character Monk ... always going around checking and rechecking every detail in her house and also at work down to the smallest of items. "Wait, is that where I put that? NO!" As part of the requirements for the South Georgia job position that she is wanting she had to be examined by a therapist and meets up with Dr. Joe Grant. He is easy going and genuinely wants to help Felicity work through her demons that he learns from her. We learn of Ezzy, a roller girl that has a crush (in the worst stalker kind of way) on Dr. Joe, homeless people who at times act strange, a creepy guy named Sean who stares at the homeless while they are sleeping, the therapist's pink haired mother Delilah who works for the police, and many others.

The pieces of the puzzle start to form and I had figured it all out. Did I? Nope. The tension keeps building. So I poured myself another "large" glass of Madeira, checked to make sure my doors were locked, and settled in for the final Part 4. That is when all hell breaks loose. Freddie arrives on the last tourist ship coming to South Georgia and sets out to find Felicity at any cost. But for what reason? There was so many characters and plots to follow. At this point, nothing is predictable and the twists keep coming. The last of the book is fast, full of action and many "whaaat?" moments. Did I enjoy the book? Absolutely! Definitely an unputdownable page-turning read! Sharon Bolton has done is again successfully.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stand alone thriller published 2020.

A thrilling 4 stars.

This is yet another fine thriller from the pen of Sharon Bolton.
It’s beyond me how authors can keep delivering one great read after another. Where does the inspiration come from? Where ever it comes from it’s not inside my head.

As for the book, a lot of the story takes place the island of South Georgia in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. It’s a cold inhospitable place at the best of times and Sharon Bolton does an excellent job of creating this cold bleak environment.
The main character is Felicity Lloyd a gifted scientist specialising in Glaciology, hence the South Georgia location.
To say that Felicity’s life is complex would be an understatement.
She lives in fear of a man called Freddie whom she believes she is married to but she has no recollection of the wedding. This is just one of the many problems that face Felicity. In an effort to get to root of her problems Felicity is seeing Dr. Joe Grant, a psychologist. But the more Joe unlocks Felicity’s mind the more troubled she becomes.
Felicity is convinced that she is being stalked and someone is entering her house whilst she is asleep. To make the situation even more bizarre Joe believes the very same things are happening to him.
All the reveals take place on South Georgia in the bitting cold and gale force winds and the weather is just about as jaw dropping as the reveals.

With more twist and turns than a spit roast this book cranks up the tension levels to almost breaking point.

A highly entertaining thriller and comes highly recommended.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a striking cover and enticing premise, Bolton's latest certainly captured my itch for something cold and wintery.

The story opens with glaciologist Felicity Lloyd embarking on a new role on the South Georgia island close to the Antarctic.
Her simple plan was to escape her past. But once she learns that husband Freddie has served his time and she becomes more anxious with each tourist boat that docks.

Bolton brilliantly describes the claustrophobia on residing on a small island and the felling that it's only a matter of time until Felicity is discovered.

The narrative is then propelled back nine months to Cambridge as the reader begin to learn exactly what Felicity's is hiding from.
I was a little disappointed to leave the Southern Hemisphere setting but the pace does move briskly and I was soon hooked again by the events from Felicity's past that desperately led her to flee.

It's pretty hard not to reveal anything during these sections, but the contrast to more familiar ground should keep avid readers of the genre content whilst the conclusion is pretty easy to work out.

I'm glad that the climatic elements of this standalone thriller are revealed back on the island.