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litwithleigh's review
4.0
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 4/5
THE PLOT
Jude hasn't seen Liam in years, not since he took the fall for a drunk driving incident that could've ended her career prospects. When he pops back up asking for a favour, Jude has to say yes. But it will be a choice she regrets after Liam is found murdered and Jude becomes a suspect.
MY OPINION
I always seem to have an unpopular opinion, but this time it's because I seemed to enjoy the book more than the other reviewers.
This is my first Nicci French book, and I'm excited to read more. I loved the writing. A perfect example of less is more. The result: spooky af, poignant, rhythmic. The writing was akin to Iain Reid, who evokes emotions with limited, fragmented prose. The storytelling was also giving me major Sharon Bolton vibes, but without the thriller aspect.
I can understand why many people won't like this. The plot was basically non-existent, and the thrills were more like a small side of ketchup to the main dish—which was a character-driven story. You may ask yourself why TF would Jude do such a suspicious favour, but you'll learn that Jude is just a shell of a person. She followed the path lain out for her entire life. She doesn't have a strong identity. Then she enters Liam's adult world, his weird ass house that reminds me of a circus, with unsavoury, sexually aggressive, lost people, and develops her first singular opinion.
The life lesson Jude learned is sad. We've all been there. We wear rose-tinted nostalgia glasses and then realize the prince is actually an ogre.
I don't expect this to be a very popular read because it's marketed as a thriller, when it isn't. Like Good Husbands by Cate Ray, readers may be disappointed by the "false advertisement" of sorts. I enjoy a character-driven story, so having to 'adapt" to the content wasn't a negative for me. An enjoyable yet melancholy, poignant tale.
PROS AND CONS:
PROS: beautifully written with unique, fragmented prose, loved the strange caste of characters, strong exploration of memories vs reality
CONS: advertised as a thriller, but the thrills are very light...
Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 4/5
THE PLOT
Jude hasn't seen Liam in years, not since he took the fall for a drunk driving incident that could've ended her career prospects. When he pops back up asking for a favour, Jude has to say yes. But it will be a choice she regrets after Liam is found murdered and Jude becomes a suspect.
MY OPINION
I always seem to have an unpopular opinion, but this time it's because I seemed to enjoy the book more than the other reviewers.
This is my first Nicci French book, and I'm excited to read more. I loved the writing. A perfect example of less is more. The result: spooky af, poignant, rhythmic. The writing was akin to Iain Reid, who evokes emotions with limited, fragmented prose. The storytelling was also giving me major Sharon Bolton vibes, but without the thriller aspect.
I can understand why many people won't like this. The plot was basically non-existent, and the thrills were more like a small side of ketchup to the main dish—which was a character-driven story. You may ask yourself why TF would Jude do such a suspicious favour, but you'll learn that Jude is just a shell of a person. She followed the path lain out for her entire life. She doesn't have a strong identity. Then she enters Liam's adult world, his weird ass house that reminds me of a circus, with unsavoury, sexually aggressive, lost people, and develops her first singular opinion.
The life lesson Jude learned is sad. We've all been there. We wear rose-tinted nostalgia glasses and then realize the prince is actually an ogre.
I don't expect this to be a very popular read because it's marketed as a thriller, when it isn't. Like Good Husbands by Cate Ray, readers may be disappointed by the "false advertisement" of sorts. I enjoy a character-driven story, so having to 'adapt" to the content wasn't a negative for me. An enjoyable yet melancholy, poignant tale.
PROS AND CONS:
PROS: beautifully written with unique, fragmented prose, loved the strange caste of characters, strong exploration of memories vs reality
CONS: advertised as a thriller, but the thrills are very light...
limonik's review
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
This might be my least favorite Nicci French book ever. The premise is really good, but the protagonist Jude is just plain stupid. She can’t let go, she puts herself in dangerous situations, she acts like she has no brain or no ability ot think. I didn’t really care about the identity of the murderer and after the gorgeous Frieda Klein series, I felt like this book was a disappointment.
reredots's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
peachykeenjb's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
baileymorrison's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-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
2.75
shakirae's review against another edition
2.0
Jude is absolutely clueless throughout the entire book. When anyone tries to explain anything to her she confusedly asks, "What?" I have no idea why I finished the book.
sophie______a's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kate_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really good. I listened to the audiobook in a day, I couldn't put it down. I loved the twisty plot that kept me on my toes. Some parts of the plot are a bit unrealistic - (who does a favour for someone they haven't seen for a decade?). It is a bit ridiculous but I don't mind.
syingg19's review
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up. I have some unanswered questions because some of Liam's actions (particularly when it involved Jude) didn't make sense. Why her?