Reviews

Find Me by Carol O'Connell

eleanora_just's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Murder

caseyfalkenstein's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ejordan24's review against another edition

3.0

I truly appreciate receiving this complimentary copy from Goodreads First Reads of Find Me by Carol O'Connell. This was the first book I've read in this series. Because I had not read books earlier in the series, I found myself somewhat confused at times as I tried to keep up with the many different characters. I often had to reread to better follow the story. What twists and turns the reader takes as one joins Mallory on her journey along old Route 66, which is the route that her father took many, many years before. Skeletons of children, a huge caravan of parents looking for lost children, FBI participants - These are just a few of the twists and turns one encounters on Route 66 while looking for a killer. This book is quite intense, and I found myself having to put it down after every 1 or 2 chapters to try to digest what was happening. Find Me was definitely an interesting read, quite different than other mysteries I have read.

kiramke's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this character and a few really delightful lines. I wish I'd discovered the series sooner. This particular volume seems to reveal a lot of backstory and answer questions about the main character, which makes me reluctant to go back and read previous entries in the series.

bougainvillea's review against another edition

4.0

I guess I shouldn't read mysteries late at night when I'm exhausted. There's a whole conversation about who the killer is that I somehow forgot. So, yeah, ok. Mystery solved!

jeremyhornik's review against another edition

4.0

This is the first book I've read by Carol O'Connell, and I'll read more. It wasn't really... I dunno, the mystery and even the crime is not so important. Instead, it has this intense dreamlike quality where things just happen in terrible ways. In one part, a woman strikes out alone to find a child, and is rescued from a serial killer. Then she does it again, and again, and again... Then there's the wolf, brought along as a weapon of revenge. An aging punchdrunk boxer around for some reason. All these crazy archetypes circling around in patterns... it's more like poetry than a mystery, or a capital M Mystery.

Strange and wondrous, gory and unlikely.

dsteinman55's review against another edition

5.0

This series must be read in sequence. This is the ninth book in the series and it is the best. You must understand from where all the characters are coming from or you miss the whole underlying theme and understanding of the book. Don't judge this book until you can feel all of what is happening as it is happening. This is a series, with very highly developed characters. Not one of them is perfect, but love is the driving force for all of them. Great book, great series, great author!

amarj33t_5ingh's review against another edition

2.0

Shark Music promises much in the first few pages-but which serial killer novel doesn't?-and delivers an exceptionally high dose of virtually nothing. At times the distinctions between antagonist and protagonist are so rapidly blurred that Kathleen Mallory might as well be the elusive serial killer she's hunting for (given her background she might as well be in the habit of chasing her own tail). After the middle point, it becomes a strange amalgamation of hybrid Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Michael Myers vs. Jason Voorhees with a few churches thrown into the midst and kind-hearted priests leaving us with the impression that maybe O' Connell too likes to run around in circles.

At the end, an updated jousting match is concluded when Mallory literally impales the serial killer with a metal pole-points for innovation? Anyone?-and we find out that the serial killer was disguised as a parent traveling with a caravan of parents whose children were killed by him.

Two stars because while the genre and the first part of the book promises much; it delivers nothing other than a migraine.

kliz83's review against another edition

3.0

I came across Carol O'Connell because I saw this book reviewed and I thought it looked interesting. Although I liked this book, I'm not sure I would read another because I found the main character, a female detective, too closed off (which is completely intentional). For people who like quirky, closed off characters, this one's for you.

kbruneau's review against another edition

2.0

Meh. There are glimmers here and there of interesting character traits and intriguing plot points, but not enough to make me invested much. There are a couple of mysteries within this book, one criminal and one personal, and though both were dramatic, intense scenarios, the way they played out skipped around and dragged, and ultimately a lot of the information was just stated. I prefer mysteries in which the facts are gradually revealed, rather than one in which the author gives clues but then just has a character tell what really happened. I also find the central character too much of a caricature and not very appealing.