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bookph1le's review against another edition
2.0
This one just didn't really do it for me. It meandered a lot, and I was annoyed by the author's habit of starting off new chapters just using pronouns instead of character names. Since the book is told from multiple points of view, this made following the story confusing. I ended up skimming ahead until I saw a name and could figure out who was narrating. I found the jumping around between timelines confusing as well.
The resolution also just didn't feel like a satisfying pay out either, probably because I was never really drawn into the narrative.
All of this is a shame, because the story concept was interesting and the writing eas sometimes very good. Had the book been more focused and better paced, I would have liked it a lot more.
The resolution also just didn't feel like a satisfying pay out either, probably because I was never really drawn into the narrative.
All of this is a shame, because the story concept was interesting and the writing eas sometimes very good. Had the book been more focused and better paced, I would have liked it a lot more.
kimmeyer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Character-driven, slow burn, small town gritty mystery. I don't think I like the ending and some of the author's choices, but I absolutely think they work and that working is actually WHY I feel the way I do. This is atmospheric and literary and nearly perfect.
jdelloso's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
ModernMrsDarcy.com Summer 2019 Reading List
This book is about two college girls who take a road trip to Minnesota during the winter – think ice and snow. As fate would have it, their car skids of the road in an ice storm and ends up in a frozen lake. The car sinks and only one of the girls survives. It’s a roller coaster of a thriller. Although, I do have to admit, I was a little confused by the ending.
This book is about two college girls who take a road trip to Minnesota during the winter – think ice and snow. As fate would have it, their car skids of the road in an ice storm and ends up in a frozen lake. The car sinks and only one of the girls survives. It’s a roller coaster of a thriller. Although, I do have to admit, I was a little confused by the ending.
vanhooked_on_reading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
This is a crime novel at its core, but it's also much more than that. The characters are the core of this novel, and while there is a mystery to be solved there is so much more focus on the way that the characters react to the crimes, how they impact the lives of survivors and relatives going forward, that really is where this book shines. Johnston asks his readers to really pay attention, to take note of the point of view, the timing, and the things that are happening behind the action on the page, which really adds to this book. It was also perfectly atmospheric and a great January read.
nschwaben's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
emeraldjulep's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
*Audio
I enjoyed Tim Johnston’s writing style so much. He gave his characters such personality and depth, which was unexpected as I was just looking for a pulpy thriller. Instead I would compare Johnston to Tana French in that both give a literary flair to their mysteries. I became completely invested in the plot as well, in which the reader is pulled along with a steady pace, rather like a river, to the big reveal. I thought it could have been edited better as it seemed just a bit long, but I am not sure what I would cut. Impressed and looking forward to reading The Descent.
*Narration was spot on and helped deepen the characters IMO.
I enjoyed Tim Johnston’s writing style so much. He gave his characters such personality and depth, which was unexpected as I was just looking for a pulpy thriller. Instead I would compare Johnston to Tana French in that both give a literary flair to their mysteries. I became completely invested in the plot as well, in which the reader is pulled along with a steady pace, rather like a river, to the big reveal. I thought it could have been edited better as it seemed just a bit long, but I am not sure what I would cut. Impressed and looking forward to reading The Descent.
*Narration was spot on and helped deepen the characters IMO.
alisonlaw's review against another edition
Listen to Episode 56 of the Literary Atlanta podcast for my interview with Algonquin authors [a:B.A. Shapiro|7276618|B.A. Shapiro|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402425223p2/7276618.jpg] and [a:Tim Johnston|476225|Tim Johnston|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1551016341p2/476225.jpg], recorded February 27, 2019, in front of a live audience at Atlanta's Margaret Mitchell House.
billymac1962's review against another edition
4.0
After loving Descent, and having such anticipation for The Current (I held off until my vacation started), it pains me to rate his work less than five stars.
Firstly, because he is a very good writer, and secondly, having exchanged a couple of tweets with him, he was very gracious of my gushing over Descent, and seems to be a really nice guy.
I enjoyed The Current overall, but I did find the first two hundred pages a lot to get through at times. The writing seemed more 'literary' in style than Descent was, and a lot of time was spent reading things that were trodden over a bit much. Thankfully, things picked up in a big way for the second half of the book.
What I loved about Descent was his attention to his characters. It's done here as well, but there were considerably more characters this time around, and I think that attention to detail suffered a bit. I really think this guy's strength lies with a smaller cast.
Having said that, though, there were some characters that were really well developed.
I was okay with how the story ended. I know this irked a lot of readers, but my joy in a novel is in the journey, not necessarily the destination.
I only finished this a little while ago, and this is a rushed review because my wife is waiting for me to start up the BBQ and there's a really cold Mill St. Organic Lager waiting for me, so I am ending the review here with the intent of 4.5 stars.
Don't be surprised if later on, you see I've changed my mind to 5 stars despite not liking it as much as Descent.
As is often the case, I find if a book continues to stay under my skin over time, I'll bump it up.
Regardless if this stays four stars or not, I really like this guy and I'll be excited to read what he puts out next.
Firstly, because he is a very good writer, and secondly, having exchanged a couple of tweets with him, he was very gracious of my gushing over Descent, and seems to be a really nice guy.
I enjoyed The Current overall, but I did find the first two hundred pages a lot to get through at times. The writing seemed more 'literary' in style than Descent was, and a lot of time was spent reading things that were trodden over a bit much. Thankfully, things picked up in a big way for the second half of the book.
What I loved about Descent was his attention to his characters. It's done here as well, but there were considerably more characters this time around, and I think that attention to detail suffered a bit. I really think this guy's strength lies with a smaller cast.
Having said that, though, there were some characters that were really well developed.
I was okay with how the story ended. I know this irked a lot of readers, but my joy in a novel is in the journey, not necessarily the destination.
I only finished this a little while ago, and this is a rushed review because my wife is waiting for me to start up the BBQ and there's a really cold Mill St. Organic Lager waiting for me, so I am ending the review here with the intent of 4.5 stars.
Don't be surprised if later on, you see I've changed my mind to 5 stars despite not liking it as much as Descent.
As is often the case, I find if a book continues to stay under my skin over time, I'll bump it up.
Regardless if this stays four stars or not, I really like this guy and I'll be excited to read what he puts out next.