Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for The Hive. My review is written with thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me on the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of the book.

Blurb:

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. The viewers must now 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 is such an interesting concept and it definitely starts with a bang! I wanted to know what had happened and I was intrigued to know more about Charlotte’s story. As we go back in time, Brade explores Charlotte’s story with such emotive writing and I often found it hard not to burst into tears. Charlotte and her friends all have colourful pasts and through this, Brade introduces several themes to the reader. They are all handled sensitively but they may be upsetting for people who have similar experiences. 

Lincoln Jackson is the villain of the piece and I have rarely seen such a convincing villain. His behaviour got right under my skin and made me so angry! I have been in a similar situation so it really struck a chord with me. 

Throughout the novel, there are comments from a celebrity gossip website called The Hive. These are so realistic and really bring home the reality of living at a time when social media is so prominent in our lives. 

As The Hive reaches a crescendo, the tension is brilliant. I was swiping furiously at my Kindle, desperate to find out how everything would end. 

I believe this is a debut novel and Brade certainly shows a lot of promise. I am excited to see what she does next! 

The Hive is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: