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reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am always a little apprehensive going into a new thriller/mystery by a male author as historically male authors of the genre haven't always had the most well developed depictions of roles for women. I don't mind the reduction to victim or love interest from time to time, but I have to be in a particular mood and have to go in prepared that I might be encountering that when it comes to this genre. Imagine my relief when I'm given an absolutely dynamic and engaging set of character that completely defies this assumption.
More than being a decent thriller, "The Escape Artist" takes a really deep and absolutely difficult at times look at abuse, trauma, coping mechanisms, grief, of how pain can take a person to the path of anger or resignation, and yearning for connection not only with others but with your own self. It's also a story of relating to others along and across professional, casual, and generational lines. Leaning a few interesting facts about bees was just a nice little cherry on top. An engaging and emotional read that was a ride from beginning to end.
More than being a decent thriller, "The Escape Artist" takes a really deep and absolutely difficult at times look at abuse, trauma, coping mechanisms, grief, of how pain can take a person to the path of anger or resignation, and yearning for connection not only with others but with your own self. It's also a story of relating to others along and across professional, casual, and generational lines. Leaning a few interesting facts about bees was just a nice little cherry on top. An engaging and emotional read that was a ride from beginning to end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Abandonment and Medical content
cjeanne99's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Meltzer introduces us to an unusual crime fighting duo - an artist and a mortician. Nola Brown, a 20 something military artist and ZIg Zigarowsky, a 50 something mortician who works as a civilian at Dover Air Force base. Interesting premise - magician’s in service to the President of the United States. A plane crashes after leaving a military base in Alaska, killing all on board. Zigarowsky is assigned to work on the body of Nola Brown - a girl who was in the same Girl Scout troop as his daughter - someone he knows - and he knows her ear lobe was damaged long ago - and this corpse has two intact ear lobes.
Where is Nola?
Where is Nola?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Domestic abuse
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