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spicypenguin's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
snowreo's review
I'm so glad I was accepted for this title! The dynamic between our two main characters was super interesting and so was their character development, the plot was amazing, and the pacing was just right. I found myself not wanting to put this down and reading it in 3 days.
I was only a little confused by the timeline and POV character switches at first but it didn't stop me from being able to enjoy it. It's pretty easy to catch on quickly.
This is my first novel by Lutz, and as I am a sucker for murder mystery and thriller, I can safely say I will be picking up another one. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking to ease into the genre and likes high-energy books that can be finished in one sitting.
I was only a little confused by the timeline and POV character switches at first but it didn't stop me from being able to enjoy it. It's pretty easy to catch on quickly.
This is my first novel by Lutz, and as I am a sucker for murder mystery and thriller, I can safely say I will be picking up another one. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking to ease into the genre and likes high-energy books that can be finished in one sitting.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
I admit, I did not like this book when I first started reading it. Luna's and Owen's relationship was too weird for me, and the opening scenes sounded like something that would happen in a movie, not in real life, which made suspension of disbelief a challenge.
Once I got into it, though, and Owen and Luna both became more human, I found myself drawn in. There are a lot of intricacies to this book, and I think Lutz does a good job of slowly disentangling them in a way that keeps the reader hooked. I also appreciate that there's psychology to back up everything that happens in the book, such that even when I was initially skeptical about something, I'd find myself thinking, "Well, okay. That makes a twisted sort of sense."
All in all, I found this one satisfying right up until the very last page.
Once I got into it, though, and Owen and Luna both became more human, I found myself drawn in. There are a lot of intricacies to this book, and I think Lutz does a good job of slowly disentangling them in a way that keeps the reader hooked. I also appreciate that there's psychology to back up everything that happens in the book, such that even when I was initially skeptical about something, I'd find myself thinking, "Well, okay. That makes a twisted sort of sense."
All in all, I found this one satisfying right up until the very last page.
litwithleigh's review
3.0
THE PLOT
Owen and Luna are BFFs—even murder can't break up their friendship. But how about a second murder? Owen's wife is found shot to death and the ensuing police investigation unearths decade-old secrets that could threaten their inseparable bond.
MY OPINION
............That's it? Literally my reaction when I finished this book. Before I get into it, I'm giving this 3 stars because writing style was on point but when I really stepped back and thought about the execution of the storyline I was like nah... that's a generous 2/5.
When I picked this up, I expected the bond between Owen and Luna to be like a dark ass version of the friendship in the French movie "Love Me If You Dare" (2 friends who are lowkey in love dare each other to do stupid shit). But nah, they were just regular, degular friends following each other via tracking app (NOT normal btw!!!!!)
At the crux of it, Owen is just a hoe and Luna is weighed down by insurmountable guilty over giving her serial killer half bro an alibi that lead to more deaths (not a spoiler).
The ending was unsatisfactory. Too coincidental. I desperately wanted one of the close friends to be a psycho just to add some spice to the whole ordeal. But nah. Everyone was pretty standard. 368 pages to basically say: "tough luck." BYE!!!
For anyone who's read the book, I want to hear your opinion on this. If you haven't read the book, this is your cue to scroll quickly to the bottom.
How did Gregory Wells NOT know what Luna looked like? Bro knew her whole address (multiple of them since he was a dedicated hate mailer) but never ran a lil Google image search or stalked her IRL? This didn't make sense to me so I couldn't really buy into the fact he mistook Irene for Luna. ALSO... what was the age difference between Luna and Griff? She was still a teenager when they went to Niagara Falls right (it is really not that spectacular btw) but he was a practicing lawyer, so 25 minimum? Dating teens? Super nah.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Loved the writing style. Straightforward, no floofy floof
Cons: When you really think about it... Nothing happened. Ya ok, two people died, but the cause of deaths were whatever. Just a lot of whoring about.
Owen and Luna are BFFs—even murder can't break up their friendship. But how about a second murder? Owen's wife is found shot to death and the ensuing police investigation unearths decade-old secrets that could threaten their inseparable bond.
MY OPINION
............That's it? Literally my reaction when I finished this book. Before I get into it, I'm giving this 3 stars because writing style was on point but when I really stepped back and thought about the execution of the storyline I was like nah... that's a generous 2/5.
When I picked this up, I expected the bond between Owen and Luna to be like a dark ass version of the friendship in the French movie "Love Me If You Dare" (2 friends who are lowkey in love dare each other to do stupid shit). But nah, they were just regular, degular friends following each other via tracking app (NOT normal btw!!!!!)
At the crux of it, Owen is just a hoe and Luna is weighed down by insurmountable guilty over giving her serial killer half bro an alibi that lead to more deaths (not a spoiler).
The ending was unsatisfactory. Too coincidental. I desperately wanted one of the close friends to be a psycho just to add some spice to the whole ordeal. But nah. Everyone was pretty standard. 368 pages to basically say: "tough luck." BYE!!!
For anyone who's read the book, I want to hear your opinion on this. If you haven't read the book, this is your cue to scroll quickly to the bottom.
How did Gregory Wells NOT know what Luna looked like? Bro knew her whole address (multiple of them since he was a dedicated hate mailer) but never ran a lil Google image search or stalked her IRL? This didn't make sense to me so I couldn't really buy into the fact he mistook Irene for Luna. ALSO... what was the age difference between Luna and Griff? She was still a teenager when they went to Niagara Falls right (it is really not that spectacular btw) but he was a practicing lawyer, so 25 minimum? Dating teens? Super nah.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Loved the writing style. Straightforward, no floofy floof
Cons: When you really think about it... Nothing happened. Ya ok, two people died, but the cause of deaths were whatever. Just a lot of whoring about.
okevamae's review
3.0
Owen and Luna have been inseparable best friends since college. They never dated – they've always just been friends, and close ones. When Owen’s wife turns up dead, police quickly discover that she is not the first murder victim that Owen and Luna have been close to. Luna is sure that Owen had nothing to do with either of these murders – but then she finds out that he’s been keeping secrets from her.
I didn’t really like any of these characters, or connect to them emotionally at all. On a scale of Indifferent to Despise, I’m kind of just vaguely annoyed by them, when I feel anything at all. I kept going because I wanted to know the answers to the various mysteries that the book has intertwined – and the plot was interesting enough. I just didn’t really feel invested in the story because I didn’t connect to the characters, and therefore the emotional stakes of the story didn’t really connect either. I also didn’t really care for the loosey-goosey POV, which was kind of third-person omniscient but also kind of not? In most scenes the POV stuck mostly to one character, but then it would randomly include the thought processes of other people. I’ve never cared for that kind of POV.
That being said, it’s a perfectly fine mystery novel, and people who can connect to it emotionally might enjoy it better than I did.
CW: infidelity, murder, depression, abortion
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t really like any of these characters, or connect to them emotionally at all. On a scale of Indifferent to Despise, I’m kind of just vaguely annoyed by them, when I feel anything at all. I kept going because I wanted to know the answers to the various mysteries that the book has intertwined – and the plot was interesting enough. I just didn’t really feel invested in the story because I didn’t connect to the characters, and therefore the emotional stakes of the story didn’t really connect either. I also didn’t really care for the loosey-goosey POV, which was kind of third-person omniscient but also kind of not? In most scenes the POV stuck mostly to one character, but then it would randomly include the thought processes of other people. I’ve never cared for that kind of POV.
That being said, it’s a perfectly fine mystery novel, and people who can connect to it emotionally might enjoy it better than I did.
CW: infidelity, murder, depression, abortion
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
syreetam's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5