Sacrifice

About the Author ~ Sharon Bolton
Born in Lancashire, Sharon Bolton trained as an actress and a dancer, has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has a degree in drama and an MBA. She pursued a successful career in PR and marketing, but her career break to start a family enabled her to write her first novel, Sacrifice, which has been inspired by her fascination with British traditional folklore.

Sharon lives near Oxford with her husband and young son.

Exclusive Amazon.co.uk Interview with Sharon Bolton

What is Sacrifice about?

Set on the remote Shetland Islands, Sacrifice begins with the discovery of a woman's mutilated body. A gaping hole appears where her heart has been cut out; runic symbols have been carved into her flesh and her uterus has barely recovered from childbirth.

Tora Hamilton, consultant obstetrician on Shetland, uses her position at the local hospital to access information denied to the police and, in doing so, uncovers a terrifying pattern of missing women and disturbing links to ancient legends. There are dark secrets being guarded on Shetland but, one by one, Tora sees those she loves and trusts turn away from her, until she is entirely alone.

What inspired you to write it?

I had an idea for a story based on a woman, who desperately wanted to be pregnant, conceiving a child that would bring about her death. In my local library I came across the Shetland legend of the Kunal Trows: a race of supernatural males who prey upon their human neighbours. It had enough similarity to my own idea to catch my attention and I started to think how it might work as a modern-day thriller.

Who are your literary influences?

If I ever write my masterpiece, it will have an opening line like those of Dick Francis and a first chapter on a par with John Grisham's. The prose will be so perfect readers might suspect it has been written by Thomas Harris and the twists and turns of the plot will make Dan Brown weep. The characters will as finely drawn as Jane Austen's and it will be more atmospheric than a work by Dickens in his darkest mood. Oh, and when he gets to th! e end, Stephen King will say to himself, "How on earth did she think of that?"

If you could recommend just one "must-read book" to anyone, what would it be and why?

This is a close-to-impossible one, so no apologies for choosing the obvious. JRR Tolkein's Lord of the Rings - thriller, adventure story, romance, fantasy, epic - has pace, suspense, excitement, characters you can love, the age-old battle of good v evil and an earthy love of food, beer and all things humble. Peter Jackson's wonderful films brought the story to millions but, as is always the case, there's so much more to be found in the books.

What top tips do you have for anyone looking to write their first book?

Trust your instincts when choosing your story; and then polish that text until it gleams. There really is no substitute for hard work.

Reviews for Sacrifice

'S. J. Bolton will not have endeared herself to the natives with this splendidly crafted, deeply disturbing first novel, unless it is by doing wonders for the tourist industry. Sacrifice is almost a 21st-century Stepford Wives having Rosemary's Baby for The Wicker Man . . . This debut novel will deservedly be a bestseller . . . just a whiff of testosterone short of a masterpiece'. The Times

A really creepy plot based on one of the Shetland Islands' nastier legends . . . The combination of folklore and forensics works well, and the story grabs from the very beginning and holds on tight. Literary Review

Masterly… gripping. Literary Review

'A dazzling debut in thriller-writing: fast paced, gripping and full of atmosphere. Classic Fm

This eerie tale had me so hooked I was reading it through the night . . . brilliantly written and carefully crafted. Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Sacrifice belongs firmly in that specialist category "spooky crime" and could best be described as CSI-meets-The Wicker Man. The setting is the wild and lonely Shetland Islands, an ancient Norse legend is involved and there is enough forensic pathology, both animal and human, to keep fans of Patricia Cornwell happy . . . Sharon Bolton grabs the reigns and steers it home by cranking up the suspense with a skill which is remarkable for a first novel. Birmingham Post

Sacrifice is a real find. The Shetland setting is beautifully evoked, the complex plot is adroitly handled, and - best of all - S.J. Bolton has created an entirely believable and different heroine. At the heart of the book is Tora Hamilton, a contemporary woman absorbing the pressures of career and relationships, strong-minded - indeed bloody-minded a lot of the time. Her honesty and awareness of her own failings make her a mesmerising character to follow through the dark corridors of the sometimes gruesome story. I very much look forward to S.J. Bolton's next book. Simon Brett, crime writer

Fairy legends associated with island races are fascinating - and none more so than the Kunal Trows of the Shetlands . . . Sharon Bolton has hit the ground running in this debut novel'. Nottingham Evening Post

'Sacrifice is an intense, fast paced thriller with numerous wonderful twists and turns that confound the reader throughout. Crimesquad.com

Some authors start their careers on a slow note: Sharon Bolton hits the ground running. How long does it take to realise this is one of the good ones? On page two, I had an idea that S. J. Bolton could plot. And she can, like the best . . . Sacrifice makes a great start to 2008. Shotsmag

`...scary late night reading and riveting stuff. The plot twists and turns like a snake trying to wriggle free, only at the very end does the author enlighten us as to the exact details of the gruesome truth . . . This is an unmissable, un-put-downable debut novel from S J Bolton . . . I haven't seen this level of talent in a new writer for some years - it's bloody brilliant.' The Truth About Books

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Fabulous - Rated
Both gripping and gruesome, `Sacrifice' is a definite page-turner, that is certain to keep you on your toes. When I first started reading it I wasn't sure that I'd get far with it, the writing was different to those I had read recently. However within a few chapters I was hooked and racing along with the narrative. Tora Hamilton took me a little while to warm to, perhaps this is why I was unsure at the start but I soon became caught up with her life.

The chapters are just the right length to allow you to read a few but feel like you've had a good read, on the other hand if you are like me you'll read this in a few chunks because you've become caught up with the cliff hangers and need to know more! The plot revolves around a discovery Tora makes in the fields on her property. She's found (as can be read on the DJ so no spoilers) the body of young woman that has been perfectly preserved but with a hole in her chest where her heart has been removed, rather brutally as you'll discover.

Within a real time frame of only a few days, a week at the most, Tora makes many more gruesome discoveries along the way including who to trust. All her revelations are connected to Shetland legends and ancient runes with Tora needing to be out of the picture once and for all. Some will know who's involved and who isn't; I couldn't be sure and became sucked into the web of deceit surrounding Tora.

From an uncertain start to a chilling end, this debut is tremendous. An author I will certainly look out for in the future.

Crawshawbooth reading group - Rated
At last a book we all agreed on, gripping,fast moving, more twists and turns than a bucket of snakes in a maze! The description and atmosphere of Shetland was truly breathtaking, the characters believably chilling, a fantastic read that you can't put down, myths,legends,cults and crime you'll trust no-one.Not to be read alone!!

Sleep Depriving! - Rated
Like others I read alot of crime/thrillers, often the gorier the better! I can't decide whether it's the setting, characters, plot or plausibility of Sacrifice, but for the first time in a long while I struggled to sleep after reading it!!! I'm not normally a worrier and always read before bed but after Sacrifice I even had a scary dreams about the people in my life that I think I know and trust...!
Brilliant!

Outstanding - Rated
This is truly an outstanding read. Very fresh with lots of twists and turns! Sometimes with a book you know whats going to happen next, not with this book thats what made it stand out and so special. I just hope Tora has plenty more adventures in her!!

Good entertaining thriller - Rated
I live in Shetland so I was dubious about what sounded like a very lurid thriller written by someone who'd not even been here. But the book - although it contains a lot of little inaccuracies - is good fun and well written, and also quite witty in parts. I'm not too bothered about the writer getting e.g. the habits of puffins right since I appreciate an author who uses their imagination.