Louis Drax is nine years old and has been prone to accidents and illnesses throughout his short life. The latest incident (plunging over a cliff on a family picnic) has left him in a coma with a mystery needing to be solved – how did the accident happen? His father has disappeared, his mother is suffering from shock and isn’t really giving a coherent account of the events, and of course Louis himself can’t tell. Or can he?
Why did I want to read it?
I do like a really good psychological thriller, and I had read and enjoyed one of Liz Jensen’s other books, The Rapture, which I reviewed here. I spotted that it is being made into a film and that’s always a bit of a hook for me (if I already own the book that is).
What did I think of it?
I really enjoyed this. I liked the fact that we saw some of the story from the first person perspective of Louis himself, although it took a few pages to realise that he was already in his coma. I also liked the growing supernatural element, though I’m not sure if that’s the right word (I’ve seen references to sixth sense instead). I did like the other voice in the story, that of the doctor Pascal Dannachet who is treating Louis and gets sucked in to the mystery to his eminent detriment. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot as it’s nice to see it develop in front of you but I will say that I guessed a couple of the plot points (and I never liked his mother).
The Ninth Life of Louis Drax is pacily written and easy to read in the best way. I will be searching out more of her books.
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February 14, 2015 at 9:32 pm
Yvo
Sounds like an interesting read and I like the color palette used in this cover. 🙂
February 14, 2015 at 9:33 pm
brideofthebookgod
It’s very striking isn’t it?
February 14, 2015 at 9:35 pm
Yvo
Way more interesting than the first cover that appears when I looked up the title at Goodreads!
February 14, 2015 at 9:46 pm
brideofthebookgod
Yes, that’s a bit dull (if it’s the one I think it is 😄)
February 15, 2015 at 7:38 am
Sunday Salon – 15 February | Bride of the Book God
[…] a heap on the sofa. But I was enticed into finishing The Ninth Life of Louis Drax and have already published my review so yay for […]
November 23, 2015 at 8:09 am
The Uninvited | Bride of the Book God
[…] read two of Liz Jensen’s previous creepy novels, The Rapture and The Ninth Life of Louis Drax, and enjoyed then a great deal. This sounded like it was very much in that […]