I'm not an avid reader of contemporary thrillers, I tend to be quite picky with them. This one won me over, though, when I read the blurb. When I was younger, about 13-14 years old, I wanted to become a surgeon and perform transplants. For a number of reasons I decided upon a different career but my interest in the field remains strong. There is a plethora of articles and theories about recipients whose personality was altered after the operation to a significant degree. Some of them were said to acquire traits of their donors. I don't know whether I believe this to be true, but this was a good reason for me to be interested in the novel.

This premise is taken to a whole different degree here and it is very difficult to say anything about the story. However, I think that in order to pay attention to it, we must suspend all disbelief, because there are certain points and issues that are quite problematic, in my opinion. Casey starts being troubled by insomnia and horrific nightmares after her surgery and her personality as a whole has been altered. At least, this is what everyone around her claim throughout the book. In all honesty, this was tiresome. I saw no problem with her at all. To my poor mind, it is obvious that anyone who suffers from problematic sleep or lack of it is bound to be irritable and troubled. You should try to disagree with me after a bad night. I mean, the dragon is awaken. For some strange reason, this seems to elude the doctor's fine judgment. Their answer is that Casey is a psychopath...

Casey is just about the only thing the writer got right in terms of the cast. She is a young woman who is certain and confident in her abilities and her judgment and perfectly aware of her troubles. She is determined to solve everything, despite everyone trying to convince her to "have some rest". And by "rest" they actually mean "let's lock you up in a clinic, feed you with a spoon while you're a breathing vegetable in order for us to appear as if we’re actually good parents. Which we are not." This was my major annoyance with the book. Perhaps I have been raised in a babble, I don't know, but Casey's parents seemed to me highly unrealistic. Either that or the writer's intention was to make them utterly stupid. Those people couldn't see beyond their bloody noses! Especially Eddie. What mother would behave like that? It's a wonder that Casey managed to keep her wits with parents like those people. Lionel, her grandfather, was the second decent character, although for a man who had served so many years in the police, he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer and Scott was merely passable, but sympathetic. The villains were indifferent and clichéd, the psychiatrist was an absolute bore and perhaps a bit untrained? I doubt that a capable scientist would make the mistakes she did. Perhaps, the naive characters was the writer's way to emphasize Casey's isolation but the result was rather implausible for me.

The writing lacked spirit and punch to support the story and I could see the solution of the mystery before I reached the 50% mark of the book. How many times can someone gulp and glare in a chapter? The descriptions were repetitive, the dialogue were Hollywood clichés and the overall situation appeared hysteric. Everyone was shouting or crying or staring coldly at someone. You don't create tension and atmosphere in this way. Not when you deal with a story that had some potential....

I know I'm not the right reader for the book since my experience in thrillers isn't extensive, but I recognize a thing or two about good and bad writing. So, while the story was interesting and the pace was adequate, the execution wasn't satisfying at all. Perhaps I am spoiled by the Nordic writers but The Recipient didn't meet my demands. Give it a try and see whether it meets yours.

Many thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**

I was really intrigued by the premise for this novel. As someone who is studying to become a part of the health-care field, organ transplants have always been an area of curiosity. So I was eager to see how it would add to the larger mystery and dove in.

You might think the plot revolves around Casey coping with the random memories of her donor and that is the "thrilling" part--like a scary movie. But it actually reads more like a mystery once the concept is unraveled a bit. I found the first part (less than 25%) a little dry because it's establishing Casey as her character and her situation--but once the plot starts going, it really keeps going at an accelerated pace.

The mystery was great! I truly wasn't able to figure it out until the big reveal and that always gets bonus points in my eyes. It's high level suspense and danger that really kept me on my toes and engaged as a reader. It's a well crafted story that makes a seemingly unrealistic idea (the idea a person's memories are transferred during an organ donation) but makes it entirely plausible.

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Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-1pT
Actual Rating: 4/5 ( )

A heart stopper in more ways than one! Casey is an adventurous girl but comes home from a trip to discover she's picked up something nasty that has badly damaged her heart. After a transplant she has some dreadful nightmares and literally cannot rest, nor will do so, until she finds out why. She doesn't seem to be terribly nice, especially to members of her own family and comes across as being really self-centred, so it's hard to feel any sympathy for her. The first half of the book is a bit on the slow side and only springs to life as she begins to solve the mystery when there is action aplenty. Good style of writing but maybe some bits of it could've been shortened. Loved the cover and I would definitely pick it up for a closer look if it was on a bookshop shelf. ( )

When you receive a new heart could you also acquire the organ donor’s memories? Casey is having dreams of events and places she’s never been. Are these her dreams or is she merely an observer?

The Recipient is an intense thriller that is akin to a roller coaster ride. The story goes along at a steady pace then suddenly you are plunged into a breath holding, heart pumping nightmare.

I was hooked immediately! The Recipient has a well developed plot of intrigue and computer wizardry with an element of mystery and likeable characters and an unexpected twist.

My only complaint, and very minor, was some overly described scenes at the beginning of the book bogged the story down.

I would happily recommend this book to anyone that enjoys Mystery/ Thrillers.

With my thanks to Dean Mayes for my uncorrected copy to read and review. ( )