Scan barcode
grayshuff's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, War, Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Racism, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Stalking
enzopudge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Addiction, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Cancer
paronomaniac's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Gun violence
shawniejo's review
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Addiction, Gore, Death of parent, Mental illness, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Car accident, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
jocelyn62013's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Blood
Minor: War, Death of parent, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
dblue236's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Cancer
sydnec's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Racism, and Domestic abuse
clarke's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
As for the writing: it could do with another proofread, and there were some annoying inconsistencies (like which car was where for example). The book shifted tense annoyingly - ie it varied between the past tense from April's POV, like she was telling this story/writing it (with fourth wall breaks included), right alongside the present mystery/her present moment thoughts and questions. Information about April was hidden from us as though April didn't have all of it herself, but she did and was hiding it from other characters (not that it was surprising, although I'm sure it was meant to be). This got really annoying, especially the shift between 'what's going on, who killed her??' to 'haha I know what happens' and back again, with some flashbacks added in for good measure. If I had to read her rehashing the mystery again or that Eddie had 'gone too deep and she couldn't follow' one more time?! And did you know it was their honeymoon?? It's hard to miss bc they never say it /s. The timeline/time period also seemed wonky, it could've easily been modern day without iPhones for the majority?
I can't say much about the reveal of the killer without spoiling it but the main mystery was SO OBVIOUS and then there's just a nice random person who's never been mentioned before the end to tie everything up in a bow. Except there's still questions. I also desperately need Trish to have an MRI - why did no one get her an MRI?? Tell her to go to the doctors?? Anything? (Leaving her alone bc she seems fine is not the happy ending you think it is). Otherwise, a lot of the mystery was easy - everyone they spoke to told them something, clues were found easily, and there's a lot of people willing to help these two strangers accused of murder - sleuth sisters, a woman with a not great bnb business, ghosts, you name it. It all just went a little too smoothly (although I doubt their bowel movements did, their diet did not seem great - I think there was 1 salad and 1 banana (covered in ice cream)). And WHO just leaves a house open for anyone to use and never checks on it?
I think if this was sold to me as a murder mystery, maybe I'd enjoy it more, but it's not what I was expecting. The inconsistencies in writing were annoying but not a complete deal breaker. Overall, I just wanted more. Other than the character who popped up at the end, it was all really obvious and I guessed the crux from the off. If you like murder mysteries with a supernatural element, that's 90% focused on past murders, then you will probably like this. I wanted blood and terror. I wanted desperate survival. A trend of merciless killings, with maybe a gorey opener. Not 'oh hitchhikers have been killed on this dark tree-lined road for decades and sometimes there's a light in the trees that is a ghost'. I just wanted more.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gun violence, Mental illness, Abandonment, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse, War, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Cancer