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paulabrandon's review against another edition
3.0
Jamie Buckby and his partner, Clare, befriend younger couple, Melia and Kit. Jamie and Kit even start catching the same ferry to work in the mornings. But after some Christmas/end of year drinks, Jamie is approached by the police who inform him that Kit has been reported missing, and Jamie is the last person to see him alive. Jamie recounts how the couples' friendship began, how it changed, and what led to a fight between Kit and Jamie on the night of Kit's disappearance. Jamie know he's innocent, but how can he convince the police?
This was a decent enough thriller, rounded up from 2.5 to 3 stars. Its biggest drawback is the slow pacing. We the reader know that everything isn't on the up and up, and it's a long time before we get to the anticipated plot twists. While I understand that the first half is necessary to cleverly set up what ultimately gets delivered, I was often thinking, "I know the rug is going to get pulled out from under us, get on with it!"
As far as the twists go, I felt they were mostly predictable. The first twist was a bit different to what I was expecting, but after that I could comfortably anticipate how the rest of it would all play out, and I wasn't wrong. The plot certainly relies far too much on a main character being incredibly stupid and naïve, and thinking with his dick.
Still, I enjoyed the experience of reading it. I was eager to get back to it whenever I put it down, as I wanted to see what would happen, and the plot was at least a little different to the standard now/then, woman with a secret, angle that 95% of thrillers employ these days.
This was a decent enough thriller, rounded up from 2.5 to 3 stars. Its biggest drawback is the slow pacing. We the reader know that everything isn't on the up and up, and it's a long time before we get to the anticipated plot twists. While I understand that the first half is necessary to cleverly set up what ultimately gets delivered, I was often thinking, "I know the rug is going to get pulled out from under us, get on with it!"
As far as the twists go, I felt they were mostly predictable. The first twist was a bit different to what I was expecting
Spoiler
(I didn't expect Jamie to be in on some of it, which at least made him marginally less eye-rollingly stupid)Still, I enjoyed the experience of reading it. I was eager to get back to it whenever I put it down, as I wanted to see what would happen, and the plot was at least a little different to the standard now/then, woman with a secret, angle that 95% of thrillers employ these days.
sophiebentley's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
panda58's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lisakarma's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kimblefairy1989's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the premise behind this book but the reality didn't live up to it to be honest.
There were a few things that let the novel down:
1) I just didn't believe the relationship between Clare and Jamie - it didn't feel real.
2) I can't get my head round how Jamie could be so stupid and make so many mistakes.
3) I feel like Jamie would have been more suspicious of Melia.
Overall 3 stars from me.
There were a few things that let the novel down:
1) I just didn't believe the relationship between Clare and Jamie - it didn't feel real.
2) I can't get my head round how Jamie could be so stupid and make so many mistakes.
3) I feel like Jamie would have been more suspicious of Melia.
Overall 3 stars from me.
anne_l's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Biggest lesson frlm this book: do not cheat.
sarabookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
this book allegedly talks about how one of the commute passengers went missing ( the main characters' friend), and how they were trying to find out what happened. throughout though, we are getting hints over what is Not to be spoken, and mostly about the characters' relationships with one another.
I will, unfortunately, have to start with the negatives, because there is so much that I have to say that irked me!
CONS:
1- the majority of the book talks about the infidelity between the protagonist and the missing person's "young wife". how old he is, and young she is, and what had she seen in him, and how he was not able to tear himself away from her..etc!!
2- main rotation of the topics in this book, was NO, not the case, but rather, Infidelity, how they feel, the protagonist wealthy girlfriend, and how their friends hate her because "it's not fair", the fact that he is amazed by his girlfriend's house, and cannot fathom what he would do if she kicked him out, then again, wealth, infidelity, fights, blah, and then a little bit over the "mystery"
3- it was BORING! the first half (or a bit more), was torture!
4- far-fetched planning, and crime design, I do not want to spoil, but man, was it weak!!! the conversations, and the plot, weak!!
5-you could see what happened, the minute you discover one plot drive/twist! but the protagonist was dumb! so blinded, got on my nerve
PROS:
1- toward the end, when the actual plot of the book was addressed, it was fast-paced
2- the plot twists and plotting was ok, acceptable for most!
3- short book, because if it was any longer, I would have 100% DNFed !!
I will, unfortunately, have to start with the negatives, because there is so much that I have to say that irked me!
CONS:
1- the majority of the book talks about the infidelity between the protagonist and the missing person's "young wife". how old he is, and young she is, and what had she seen in him, and how he was not able to tear himself away from her..etc!!
2- main rotation of the topics in this book, was NO, not the case, but rather, Infidelity, how they feel, the protagonist wealthy girlfriend, and how their friends hate her because "it's not fair", the fact that he is amazed by his girlfriend's house, and cannot fathom what he would do if she kicked him out, then again, wealth, infidelity, fights, blah, and then a little bit over the "mystery"
3- it was BORING! the first half (or a bit more), was torture!
4- far-fetched planning, and crime design, I do not want to spoil, but man, was it weak!!! the conversations, and the plot, weak!!
5-you could see what happened, the minute you discover one plot drive/twist! but the protagonist was dumb! so blinded, got on my nerve
PROS:
1- toward the end, when the actual plot of the book was addressed, it was fast-paced
2- the plot twists and plotting was ok, acceptable for most!
3- short book, because if it was any longer, I would have 100% DNFed !!