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moreilly1917's review
tense
slow-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
3.0
autumnnw's review
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
It was fine, it took a long time for anything to really happen and even then I didn't find it to be shocking. Didn't love or really like any of the characters and the ending was unsatisfying
mm_bookclub's review
mysterious
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? Yes
2.0
faerlyrainny's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
badly_behaved_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
zoe813's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
laural27's review
5.0
Wow! I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't that!
This is twisty as hell, full of incredible reveals and a plot that had me going 'Ok, you ARE AWESOME SIOBHAN.'
It just blew me away and I couldn't read it fast enough. It had so many secrets, increasing tension and the most amazing twists that made me gasp and think NO ACTUAL WAY DID THAT JUST HAPPEN.
Siobhan is now on my list of 'MUST READ EVERYTHING THIS AUTHOR EVER WRITES.'
The characters were well drawn and I loved that I never really completely knew how to feel about any of them. I especially loved how it played on the prejudice nature of the reader and how I drew my own conclusions about certain things based on incomplete information.
I just loved it!
Well done Siobhan!
This is twisty as hell, full of incredible reveals and a plot that had me going 'Ok, you ARE AWESOME SIOBHAN.'
It just blew me away and I couldn't read it fast enough. It had so many secrets, increasing tension and the most amazing twists that made me gasp and think NO ACTUAL WAY DID THAT JUST HAPPEN.
Siobhan is now on my list of 'MUST READ EVERYTHING THIS AUTHOR EVER WRITES.'
The characters were well drawn and I loved that I never really completely knew how to feel about any of them. I especially loved how it played on the prejudice nature of the reader and how I drew my own conclusions about certain things based on incomplete information.
I just loved it!
Well done Siobhan!
liloud0626's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Good suspenseful story and clever plot idea. The ending kinda fizzled out though.
desiree930's review
2.0
I marked the SPOILER button on this review but just in case: There are HUGE spoilers for this book in the review below.
You have been warned...
I picked this book up because I was excited to see that it took place partially in Ireland, and I love stories with Ireland as a backdrop.
Unfortunately, this book totally missed the mark for me. I felt like the author was trying so hard to create suspense and intrigue that the development of the characters suffered as a result.
Kate had some redeeming qualities, but was ultimately a boring character. And I didn't understand the reason behind her falling out with Mannix (pre-Joanne...I totally get the following out AFTER Joanne) before the events of the story. Was it solely because he was laid off from his job? I understand that it would create tension in many relationships, but it seemed like a contrivance simply created to introduce his infidelity. Also, they are hard up for money but they decide to take what little she's managed to save and take a trans-continental vacation when their son has special needs that include expensive educational needs? What?! That makes absolutely no sense to me.
Mannix was a pig. A weak, cowardly, selfish pig. I have no sympathy for his character whatsoever.
Hazel and Oscar could have been better characters if the author hadn't tried so hard to be clever and misleading in her portrayal of their relationship. From the beginning, we are supposed to think that they are in a physically abusive relationship. It never really sat right with me, just from the things they would think to themselves, especially Oscar.
Then we find out that -- surprise! -- it was all misdirection and it was actually a piece of garbage boy in one of her classes that had hit her...multiple times. And Oscar really was a good guy just trying to support and protect his wife...despite being a jerk to his overweight sister, obsessive about his revulsion to sugar, and accused of sexually harassing his ex-business partner...which was a thread that was introduced and then never paid off.
And finally, the big mystery that starts out this whole story -- Oscar placing a body into his trunk -- just seems like it was thrown together with little thought. Now, I totally believe a disgusting liar like Mannix would cheat on his wife. But to turn her into a psychopath just didn't track with me. And then Oscar's reaction when Hazel was killed (trying to hide her body in the trunk, not calling the police right away, etc.) get like it was to purposely mislead the reader again, to make him seem guilty. Now, I understand that when someone has been traumatized they can act in any number of strange ways, but this felt forced to me. It didn't feel like an authentic reaction from a man whose wife was just murdered pretty much in front of him.
There were things mentioned once or twice (always very vaguely) and then dropped and never revisited or clarified. One example is the comments made by Kate about her brother-in-law. Also, the whole Bolgers storyline was completely dropped halfway through the story. And after Oscar leaves the O'Brien home, that's the last we see of his POV. I really couldn't have cared less about Mannix and his remorse for being a terrible husband and father. I would've appreciated a little more of the aftermath with Oscar.
To that end, the entire ending felt like it was just thrown together last minute. It was abrupt and not impactful at all.
To wrap this up, I felt like the author wasn't sure what kind of story she wanted to tell. One positive of this book was that it was only about 250 pages so I read it in just a couple hours. I don't think I'll be picking up any of this author's other books again.
You have been warned...
I picked this book up because I was excited to see that it took place partially in Ireland, and I love stories with Ireland as a backdrop.
Unfortunately, this book totally missed the mark for me. I felt like the author was trying so hard to create suspense and intrigue that the development of the characters suffered as a result.
Kate had some redeeming qualities, but was ultimately a boring character. And I didn't understand the reason behind her falling out with Mannix (pre-Joanne...I totally get the following out AFTER Joanne) before the events of the story. Was it solely because he was laid off from his job? I understand that it would create tension in many relationships, but it seemed like a contrivance simply created to introduce his infidelity. Also, they are hard up for money but they decide to take what little she's managed to save and take a trans-continental vacation when their son has special needs that include expensive educational needs? What?! That makes absolutely no sense to me.
Mannix was a pig. A weak, cowardly, selfish pig. I have no sympathy for his character whatsoever.
Hazel and Oscar could have been better characters if the author hadn't tried so hard to be clever and misleading in her portrayal of their relationship. From the beginning, we are supposed to think that they are in a physically abusive relationship. It never really sat right with me, just from the things they would think to themselves, especially Oscar.
Then we find out that -- surprise! -- it was all misdirection and it was actually a piece of garbage boy in one of her classes that had hit her...multiple times. And Oscar really was a good guy just trying to support and protect his wife...despite being a jerk to his overweight sister, obsessive about his revulsion to sugar, and accused of sexually harassing his ex-business partner...which was a thread that was introduced and then never paid off.
And finally, the big mystery that starts out this whole story -- Oscar placing a body into his trunk -- just seems like it was thrown together with little thought. Now, I totally believe a disgusting liar like Mannix would cheat on his wife. But to turn her into a psychopath just didn't track with me. And then Oscar's reaction when Hazel was killed (trying to hide her body in the trunk, not calling the police right away, etc.) get like it was to purposely mislead the reader again, to make him seem guilty. Now, I understand that when someone has been traumatized they can act in any number of strange ways, but this felt forced to me. It didn't feel like an authentic reaction from a man whose wife was just murdered pretty much in front of him.
There were things mentioned once or twice (always very vaguely) and then dropped and never revisited or clarified. One example is the comments made by Kate about her brother-in-law. Also, the whole Bolgers storyline was completely dropped halfway through the story. And after Oscar leaves the O'Brien home, that's the last we see of his POV. I really couldn't have cared less about Mannix and his remorse for being a terrible husband and father. I would've appreciated a little more of the aftermath with Oscar.
To that end, the entire ending felt like it was just thrown together last minute. It was abrupt and not impactful at all.
To wrap this up, I felt like the author wasn't sure what kind of story she wanted to tell. One positive of this book was that it was only about 250 pages so I read it in just a couple hours. I don't think I'll be picking up any of this author's other books again.