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devonforest's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I liked the plot and the concept behind this. It was very unique and held my interest the entire time. My only problem was that it ended on such a large cliffhanger, I would've liked a little bit more of a conclusion to the story instead of leaving it so open-ended
csemanek's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jaydbug's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
mkpcocoa's review against another edition
4.25
My man Martin.
This dude is legit insane.
I began the book wanting to quit after chapter one. I’m sitting there, reading his strange diary confessions. He’s going on and on, describing how he carefully crafted and perfected his profession. The meticulous stalking, thorough client selection process. Every detail of his 15-minute B&E routine. And I thought, I am calling the POLICE.
But then I read on. I discovered that this is a mystery book with a twist, for crime podcasts lovers everywhere. It has quirky undertones, and the nature of the crimes are less serious, somehow making it more digestible.
The first-person perspective really drove home Martin’s severe OCD and gave me Tell-Tale Heart vibes. The way he fixated on and described every minuscule detail of his thieving life makes you slowly begin to realize he is not okay lol. Others said that the book started off slow. But I was hooked from the beginning and unable to put it down. Even though the reader is made to morally question Martin, it was just so interesting being inside this man’s head. I personally loved all the details and am a fan of how the setting was so realistic. I could see the upper-middle-class neighborhoods and houses so clearly that I felt I was there myself. Each of what I’m calling the three major crises in the book is more extreme than the last. The sequence of events felt natural. The final event had me wishing I’d checked trigger warnings beforehand. But again, I was seated!! Also wanted to mention that it seemed every writing choice was intentional. Even the flashbacks to Martin’s childhood were effective and served a greater purpose!
So that’s how I found myself at the end, transformed from a Karen into a Martin FAN. How did we even get here?! It was unexpected and surprising. But I have zero regrets! A book I never would have picked up but am so glad was recommended. Of course deducting points for him not washing his hands after touching his privates LOL. But this criminal has redeemed himself in my book!
This dude is legit insane.
I began the book wanting to quit after chapter one. I’m sitting there, reading his strange diary confessions. He’s going on and on, describing how he carefully crafted and perfected his profession. The meticulous stalking, thorough client selection process. Every detail of his 15-minute B&E routine. And I thought, I am calling the POLICE.
But then I read on. I discovered that this is a mystery book with a twist, for crime podcasts lovers everywhere. It has quirky undertones, and the nature of the crimes are less serious, somehow making it more digestible.
The first-person perspective really drove home Martin’s severe OCD and gave me Tell-Tale Heart vibes. The way he fixated on and described every minuscule detail of his thieving life makes you slowly begin to realize he is not okay lol. Others said that the book started off slow. But I was hooked from the beginning and unable to put it down. Even though the reader is made to morally question Martin, it was just so interesting being inside this man’s head. I personally loved all the details and am a fan of how the setting was so realistic. I could see the upper-middle-class neighborhoods and houses so clearly that I felt I was there myself. Each of what I’m calling the three major crises in the book is more extreme than the last. The sequence of events felt natural. The final event had me wishing I’d checked trigger warnings beforehand. But again, I was seated!! Also wanted to mention that it seemed every writing choice was intentional. Even the flashbacks to Martin’s childhood were effective and served a greater purpose!
So that’s how I found myself at the end, transformed from a Karen into a Martin FAN. How did we even get here?! It was unexpected and surprising. But I have zero regrets! A book I never would have picked up but am so glad was recommended. Of course deducting points for him not washing his hands after touching his privates LOL. But this criminal has redeemed himself in my book!
honkinggoose's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beckimoody29's review against another edition
4.0
Totally original concept had me hooked from the first chapter.
vekacornvi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
shirlee2024's review against another edition
2.0
I almost gave up on this one, and I rarely fail to finish what I start. In fact, I read another book when I was in the middle of this one, also rare for me. It was that slow in the beginning -- most of the first half. I skimmed to get as far as the middle. However, the last half was pretty good. So if you can handle the tedium of in depth description of the life of an OCD cat burglar, you might like this more than I did. It was well written, just boring to me in the beginning. Your mileage may vary.