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stubbornbones's review against another edition
The setting and story are right up my alley, but the plot felt predictable and the prose itself was what really killed it for me—so over-written that a third of the repetitious phrases could have been cut with no loss to meaning.
effaly's review
1.0
I regret giving Sager another chance. But after this disappointment of a story, I've accepted the fact that there is only one book by him I enjoyed([b:Home Before Dark|50833559|Home Before Dark|Riley Sager|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571683410l/50833559._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73695354]), and I will probably not enjoy another one.
I did enjoy the beginning of the story. It had a great atmosphere and the premise was very intriguing. But soon, within 25%, the first problem arose - repetition. The same "reminders" were mentioned on almost every page. If you forget everything within 5 minutes, don't worry, you won't forget anything in this book!
The middle portion of the book was just one big slog. Only a few things happened, and the time in between was way too long.
Then came the scene that marked the beginning of the end, and the start of the melodramatic nonsense. The police officer, who was called because Kit BROKE THE LAW, happily answered all her questions. This scene felt more like Kit was talking to an AI than an actual person. And OF COURSE, he just happened to have a piece of evidence from a closed case on his person and gave it to her. Suuuure.
And then there's the ending itself... or the endings? The last 10 - 15% of the book. At this point, there was one glaring plot hole but after Sager built plot twist upon plot twist the story, the story became just one giant mess.
I was never a fan of the trope he used for his "twists", and the more I read the more frustrating I became because he managed to use this trope several times here.
I did enjoy the beginning of the story. It had a great atmosphere and the premise was very intriguing. But soon, within 25%, the first problem arose - repetition. The same "reminders" were mentioned on almost every page. If you forget everything within 5 minutes, don't worry, you won't forget anything in this book!
The middle portion of the book was just one big slog. Only a few things happened, and the time in between was way too long.
Then came the scene that marked the beginning of the end, and the start of the melodramatic nonsense. The police officer, who was called because Kit BROKE THE LAW, happily answered all her questions. This scene felt more like Kit was talking to an AI than an actual person. And OF COURSE, he just happened to have a piece of evidence from a closed case on his person and gave it to her. Suuuure.
And then there's the ending itself... or the endings? The last 10 - 15% of the book. At this point, there was one glaring plot hole but after Sager built plot twist upon plot twist the story, the story became just one giant mess.
I was never a fan of the trope he used for his "twists", and the more I read the more frustrating I became because he managed to use this trope several times here.
Spoiler
Seriously, everyone is a withholding narrator? Sometimes even a couple of times. Wow. How original.jhutson's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bookscoffeebreatherepeat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
brookeworm18's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The ending went just a tad too far to be believable!
emawhin's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I thought the book was so good up until the last two chapters. Some of the things that happened in the end made no sense
cjcharding's review against another edition
2.25
I started to get frustrated with the pacing and unravelling of the mystery at 50% but kept going. It never really improved for me and only got more ridiculous (an unsolved mystery being suddenly solved by a home care nurse and not the pros? Even though she’s asking all the same questions the cops would have asked years ago?!). Even the ending where all the loose ends came together was so hectic and crazy… not my favourite. Libby audio
lizzie_jeans's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
emma40414's review
4.0
Did I totally spoil this for myself by checking out the last page? Absolutely!
Was I still surprised by the twist? Absolutely?
This book had me engaged from the beginning to the end and even if you accidentally spoil the whole entire book you still will be shocked how you get from point A to point B.
Was I still surprised by the twist? Absolutely?
This book had me engaged from the beginning to the end and even if you accidentally spoil the whole entire book you still will be shocked how you get from point A to point B.