The Pact (Audio Download): Sharon Bolton, Hanako Footman, Trapeze: Amazon.co.uk: Audible Books & Originals

3 reviews for The Pact (Audio Download): Sharon Bolton, Hanako Footman, Trapeze: Amazon.co.uk: Audible Books & Originals

1. 

   Read and Reviewed – 10/04/2025

   The Pact is a masterclass in thriller writing from Sharon Bolton and bristles with tension from the opening scene that never lets up in a meaty story with an abundance of twists, plenty of which surprise. Plotted with precision, tightly woven and populated by a cast of conceivable characters, it’s also a highly readable story with an involving moral dilemma at its core. Narrated in the third person to brilliant effect, Bolton gives her readers the opportunity to judge what unfolds for themselves by explicitly showing what happened rather than fannying around hinting at it.

   On the eve of receiving their A-Level results following a summer of basking in the certainty of the golden futures awaiting them, six pupils from a prestigious public school decide that the remaining member of their set must complete what has become a rite of passage with a dangerous driving stunt. The consequences are fatal and result in the death of a mother and her two children and suddenly the university places, careers and reputations of the largely self-absorbed set hang in the balance. Tal, Xav, Felix, Amber and Daniel make up the core of the group with inscrutable eighteen-year-old Megan, a scholarship girl from a single parent family, on the fringes of the pretty obnoxious clique. Deciding that one person should take the blame as opposed to all six saying goodbye to their futures, it is Megan, arguably the most gifted of the bunch, that steps forward on the signed agreement that each of the remaining five owe her a single favour, redeemable when she comes out of prison. Against initial expectations of getting off with a dangerous driving conviction and a few years inside, Megan is sentenced to life with a minimum tariff of twenty years, but crucially keeps her side of the bargain by never implicating the others.

   Twenty years later and the others are the success stories they were predicted to become and whilst they have all been emotionally affected by their actions that night, with guilt and unresolved trauma, it is a burden that has weighed far heavier on some than others. When Megan comes calling after being left to rot in prison by her so called friends, who were all quick to distance themselves from her, the welcome party is a frosty and reluctant one. Megan’s return disrupts all of her old friends lives as she quickly immerses herself into their worlds and the balance of power steadily shifts in her favour. Friction between the gang is ever present with a far from united front as to how to proceed following Megan’s return with ruthless Tal and outspoken Felix the loudest voices amongst the more empathetic and amenable element of the group. Watching the group handle Megan with kid gloves and attempt to get hold of the proof she secured twenty years ago, before it’s time to deliver on the favour requested of each of them, is all-consuming. I was constantly rethinking the options and second guessing how the story would end and kudos to Sharon Bolton for delivering a dazzlingly unpredictable conclusion in a terrifically plotted thriller full of well-drawn characters.

2. 

   Jacob Collins – 18/04/2025

   The Pact by Sharon Bolton was utterly gripping. She starts the novel with a bang, and the tension and action get going right from the first page. We’re presented with a horrifying scene when a group of students drive the wrong way up a road, and they collide with another vehicle. A woman and her two children are killed in the collision. The group are horrified by what has happened. They are more concerned, though, by what this will mean for their futures and the reputation of their families. They come from wealthy and high profile families. One girl, Megan, a scholarship student, decides to take the blame for the accident and goes to prison. This is on one condition that when she is released, they all have to do her a favour, and it can be anything she chooses.

   Once the group had made this decision, I wanted to know just how much of an impact it would have on the rest of their lives. They came across as really unlikeable, and I couldn’t believe that they would much rather think about themselves rather than the woman and her two children who they had just killed. Even though Megan is willing to go to prison, you can see that she is only doing this for herself. But I wanted to know what favour she would ask of the rest of her friends when she is eventually released. They know they will have to agree to whatever she says as Megan has the cards which will destroy their lives.

   Twenty years on from the crime and the group of friends are all successful and have happy families. But they always have this shadow hanging over their shoulders. I flew through this book as I waited to see what Megan was going to demand of them. The rest of the group are all on tenterhooks as they wait to find out as well.

   Although I didn’t like any member of the group, I thought the favours which Megan asks of them were utterly horrifying. I almost wanted the group not to give in to her demands, and I wanted to see if they would try to do anything to get out of them. You can see them all weighing up the options they had, and it makes for really tense reading as they come to a decision.

   Sharon Bolton explores some very dark areas as she continues to peel back the layers and as we get to know the group of friends more. There are some shocking and disturbing revelations as the book reaches the conclusion, and it made me see the story in a very different light.

   I really enjoyed this book. If you’ve enjoyed Sharon Bolton’s previous books, then you will love this. I highly recommend it for psychological thriller lovers.

3. 

   The Cookster @ Reviewer ranking #31 – 20/05/2025

   Rating: 4.1/5

   This novel grabbed my attention from the off. There is no slow burn here as the author sets the scene with an ill-conceived game of dare. The participants are a group of “A” Level students, who all excel academically and who appear to have the world at their feet. But it is all about to go tragically wrong and the aftermath of their daredevil antics will affect all of their futures, for many years to come.

   Events take place across two timelines: Initially at the point where the students are in their late teens and engage in the dare, and then subsequently 20 years later, when most of them are now pursuing successful careers. The cast of characters is engaging. Each is flawed to varying degrees and there are plenty of reasons for disliking most, if not all of them … but that makes the “Schadenfreude” element all the more appealing during the later time frame. The narrative is both pacy and intriguing, with plenty of twists and turns … some of which you will probably see coming, others that are somewhat more unexpected.

   With “The Pact” Sharon Bolton has succeeded in delivering a quality thriller that is quite filmic in style and not only makes for great reading, but would also lend itself incredibly well to being adapted as a television mini-series. Only time will tell whether that option is taken up, but in the meantime treat yourself to an entertaining piece of thriller writing with this book.