Friday, August 12, 2011

Before I Go to Sleep - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for S J Watson's John Creasey Dagger longlisted Before I Go to Sleep.

So what are your thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with this title?

If you have read it, how well do the covers match the story?

Read the Euro Crime review by Lizzie of Before I Go to Sleep.



13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Karen - My preference is for the US cover this time (although very often that's not the case). I have a personal preference for covers that don't have blurb praise on the front.

Philip Amos said...

They both have blurbs on the front, Margot, though I wholly concur in a preference for them not to be there (or anywhere, actually). As they are there, I must say that a line of promo from Lehane is going to weigh relatively positively with me, and one from Gerritsen absolutely negatively.

But that apart, I must opt for the US cover. The UK one tells me nothing except that I'd like to see the rest of the woman to whom that lovely eye belongs. The US, with what I take to be a woman checking through her steamy bathroom window, reflects the title more and gives some sense of suspense and of the nature of the tale.

Unknown said...

I haven't read the book but I prefer the UK cover. However, I'm sure the first one matches the book better.

Kompani said...

Very tricky this time but I think the UK cover just has it by a whisker.

Maxine Clarke said...

I prefer the US cover though I think they are both quite good.

Mike said...

I'm going to have to go for the UK one again I think. The US one is good but out of the two I would be more likely to pick it up with the UK one.

I seem to prefer UK covers to US ones for some reason!!

Marce said...

I am not really pleased with either cover but the US is specific to the story and I do like black being used in mysteries so overall I would say US.

Dorte H said...

Just for once I prefer the US cover. More sinister than the UK one (that book could be about anything).

Mariandy said...

I prefer the US cover this time.

Kenneth said...

I much prefer the UK cover; somehow it is much sexier than the US cover. Perhaps it also connotes tension in some subtle way. Finally, while author quotes rarely sway me (I think), I find Gerritsen's words about the "best debut" very powerful even though I am not a fan of hers. BTW, I read this book, found it a good read but a bit disappointing, because I don't think it was close to the 'best book of the summer' as it was hyped by many; I feel Lupton's "Sister", as one example, was much better. KEN

Gavin said...

I prefer the US cover, it seems more mysterious.

Little Grey Doll said...

US cover; it's an edgy image. But the UK cover could be an ad for cosmetics. (She says harshly). I now admit that I have not read the book.

mw said...

I like the one with the big eye. But I've never heard of this author before.