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litwithleigh's review
2.0
Writing: 3.5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: ummm???
SYNOPSIS
Samantha returns to Carney to clean out her uncle's house after he dies and finds her sucked back into the case of her family's murder.
MY OPINION
This was an Amazon First Reads that I never got around to until now. Tbh I think this is the only First Reads I've actually read, despite downloading one every month. This is why I refuse to get book subscriptions. Plus it helps that they never deliver to Quebec LOL.
ANYWAYS, this was... ight. I think 3 stars is a bit generous but you know me... I'm a generous spirit (CLEARLY SARCASM). update: changed it to a 2 because let's be real lol This definitely had potential, but the storytelling was a bit strange. When I finished, I double checked that the author doesn't usually write TV/movie scripts. Why? Because the dramatic scenes were so bitesized and ended so abruptly, it felt like I was watching a movie. Every time Sam drove 80 miles to confront a suspect, she'd literally have a 30-second exchange with them and then storm off. Huh??? Homegirl never asked any pertinent follow up questions. She was like: did you kill my family? Suspect: no. Sam: Ok then I hate u bye. Waste of gas if you ask me.
Also, idk if this was because I read the book over the span of a week, but there were too many damn characters. I usually don't complain about this (shocking — ya'll know I love to lodge a complaint) but there were too many Ealy's and not enough time was spent on flushing them out. It's kinda like when you take your contacts out and everything is blurry but you can still make out the shape of things. It didn't help that the author was using two diff names for one character throughout the book (Mitch and Michelle).
Not only were there too many characters, but too much was going on and too many strings were left untied at the end. I can't get into it without spoilies so you know what time it is...
SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM.
1) The missing persons' cases needed to go. It was so irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Also, fuck ya'll for literally helping your step?half?-brother commit murder without a single qualm but then be mad af at the town's crooked cop for his alleged crimes. What in the world????
2) This citizens gone rogue tale went a lil TOO rogue for my liking. I'm begging Meacham and Sam to communicate. If this was a romcom, the trope would be miscommunication. Also, why did Sam try to bang him on the anniversary of his daughter's death? Bold move.
3) Can you really just exhume bodies without the consent from the next of kin? My quick google search says no. Also... why were the identities of the burned bodies not confirmed originally? I know the town was notorious for shoddy policework but the author never gave us a reason for them NOT wanting to run a lil DNA test to make sure they had the right people.
4) Why did Gil go to New York and pretend he was in Afghanistan? Idk maybe she explained this but it got lost amongst the other 10259025 things going on in this book.
5) The fact she used her coochie to sneak drugs into prison sent me into orbit. You're telling me no one noticed homegirl reaching up her shorts, popping out an entire Diva cup, shaking out and baggy of pills, and passing them over to Boggs in the visitor's lounge at prison? And what did she do with the cup? I don't remember her popping that bad boy back in? Also that's serious talent for pulling it out whilst sitting... IYKYK!!!!!!
6) Why wasn't Sam the least bit torn up about assisting Gil with his su!cide. She had more emotions about CJ Ealy's banging body than this whole event. Twas odd.
7) What in the fresh fuck was that ending? So after spinning your tires having unproductive convos all over Carney, you solve the case with the help of a PI? Why not start with the PI? Or wait... COMMUNICATE WITH MEACHAM???? And then once you FINALLY figure out what happened to your family and that your lil sister is actually alive and well, you just go to the diner where she works and... that's it? Then you're like, oh well, Meacham will eventually find her and break the news. I can't believe it but I was actually disappointed there wasn't an epilogue because unless this is gonna be a series, talk about unsatisfactory.
SPOILERS DONE
PROS AND CONS
Pros: sometimes funny, fast paced, case itself was intriguing
Cons: characterizations were lacklustre, too many subplots, ending was BLEH, many side eye moments
___
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
SYNOPSIS
Samantha returns to Carney to clean out her uncle's house after he dies and finds her sucked back into the case of her family's murder.
MY OPINION
This was an Amazon First Reads that I never got around to until now. Tbh I think this is the only First Reads I've actually read, despite downloading one every month. This is why I refuse to get book subscriptions. Plus it helps that they never deliver to Quebec LOL.
ANYWAYS, this was... ight. I think 3 stars is a bit generous but you know me... I'm a generous spirit (CLEARLY SARCASM). update: changed it to a 2 because let's be real lol This definitely had potential, but the storytelling was a bit strange. When I finished, I double checked that the author doesn't usually write TV/movie scripts. Why? Because the dramatic scenes were so bitesized and ended so abruptly, it felt like I was watching a movie. Every time Sam drove 80 miles to confront a suspect, she'd literally have a 30-second exchange with them and then storm off. Huh??? Homegirl never asked any pertinent follow up questions. She was like: did you kill my family? Suspect: no. Sam: Ok then I hate u bye. Waste of gas if you ask me.
Also, idk if this was because I read the book over the span of a week, but there were too many damn characters. I usually don't complain about this (shocking — ya'll know I love to lodge a complaint) but there were too many Ealy's and not enough time was spent on flushing them out. It's kinda like when you take your contacts out and everything is blurry but you can still make out the shape of things. It didn't help that the author was using two diff names for one character throughout the book (Mitch and Michelle).
Not only were there too many characters, but too much was going on and too many strings were left untied at the end. I can't get into it without spoilies so you know what time it is...
SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM.
1) The missing persons' cases needed to go. It was so irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Also, fuck ya'll for literally helping your step?half?-brother commit murder without a single qualm but then be mad af at the town's crooked cop for his alleged crimes. What in the world????
2) This citizens gone rogue tale went a lil TOO rogue for my liking. I'm begging Meacham and Sam to communicate. If this was a romcom, the trope would be miscommunication. Also, why did Sam try to bang him on the anniversary of his daughter's death? Bold move.
3) Can you really just exhume bodies without the consent from the next of kin? My quick google search says no. Also... why were the identities of the burned bodies not confirmed originally? I know the town was notorious for shoddy policework but the author never gave us a reason for them NOT wanting to run a lil DNA test to make sure they had the right people.
4) Why did Gil go to New York and pretend he was in Afghanistan? Idk maybe she explained this but it got lost amongst the other 10259025 things going on in this book.
5) The fact she used her coochie to sneak drugs into prison sent me into orbit. You're telling me no one noticed homegirl reaching up her shorts, popping out an entire Diva cup, shaking out and baggy of pills, and passing them over to Boggs in the visitor's lounge at prison? And what did she do with the cup? I don't remember her popping that bad boy back in? Also that's serious talent for pulling it out whilst sitting... IYKYK!!!!!!
6) Why wasn't Sam the least bit torn up about assisting Gil with his su!cide. She had more emotions about CJ Ealy's banging body than this whole event. Twas odd.
7) What in the fresh fuck was that ending? So after spinning your tires having unproductive convos all over Carney, you solve the case with the help of a PI? Why not start with the PI? Or wait... COMMUNICATE WITH MEACHAM???? And then once you FINALLY figure out what happened to your family and that your lil sister is actually alive and well, you just go to the diner where she works and... that's it? Then you're like, oh well, Meacham will eventually find her and break the news. I can't believe it but I was actually disappointed there wasn't an epilogue because unless this is gonna be a series, talk about unsatisfactory.
SPOILERS DONE
PROS AND CONS
Pros: sometimes funny, fast paced, case itself was intriguing
Cons: characterizations were lacklustre, too many subplots, ending was BLEH, many side eye moments
___
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
karlyo83's review
4.0
My Rating System: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ticked nearly all the boxes THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT!!
Samantha Newsom is a nurse in a busy stressful job in New York City, she is trying to keep her life on track, but Sam has a dark past that she doesn’t share with anyone. When Sam was 13 years old her entire family was murdered in their home (including her baby sister) and then the house was burnt to the ground.
Her last words to her mother haunt her, that last hug from her father and uncle and the giggle from her baby sister are never far from her mind. Having a last minute sleep over with her friend Sam was spared the same fate.
Twenty-two years later she is back in her home town after her uncles death and everything is brought back to the fore. The mishandling of evidence by the police, suspects that were never followed up and now a new investigator may have new evidence to assist in solving the murders of the Newsom family.
Can Sam find out the truth once and for all but still leave town alive??
Ok… cards on the table I started this book directly after a stinker - soooo my opinion may be skewed slightly but I still think this is a worthy 4 stars so I am sticking with it!!!
Samantha Newsom is a nurse in a busy stressful job in New York City, she is trying to keep her life on track, but Sam has a dark past that she doesn’t share with anyone. When Sam was 13 years old her entire family was murdered in their home (including her baby sister) and then the house was burnt to the ground.
Her last words to her mother haunt her, that last hug from her father and uncle and the giggle from her baby sister are never far from her mind. Having a last minute sleep over with her friend Sam was spared the same fate.
Twenty-two years later she is back in her home town after her uncles death and everything is brought back to the fore. The mishandling of evidence by the police, suspects that were never followed up and now a new investigator may have new evidence to assist in solving the murders of the Newsom family.
Can Sam find out the truth once and for all but still leave town alive??
Ok… cards on the table I started this book directly after a stinker - soooo my opinion may be skewed slightly but I still think this is a worthy 4 stars so I am sticking with it!!!
knuckledown's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
eladams07's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
3.75
emperorcupcake's review
2.5
Oh man, I wanted to love this. It has one of my favourite kinds of plots, and look at this gorgeous cover!! And it was so close to being good, if only it hadn't tried to throw everything into the crockpot. It's like Fridge Clean Out Soup. This is how you end up with two week old celery in your soup. Random Chinese leftovers. And pickles, cause pickles are a vegetable, right?
I looove a "person returns to their small hometown and long buried secrets come out" story. So I was excited for this. And while I did enjoy the atmosphere and lived in feel of the small, upstate NY town, I could not keep track of all these characters and how they were related. And some of them had storylines that just went... nowhere? While the main mystery is solved, it felt like there were a lot of things left hanging that just didn't even need to be there. There was a whole reveal about the uncle that literally meant nothing and went nowhere. why???
And then there's the absolute chaos demon of a main character. This woman gets inexplicably horny whenever she's in the same room as a man. Which I mean fine, get it girl, but you're in town because your family was murdered and you just found out your sister might be alive. Right after the townie hunk she slept with* gets killed, she's making moves on the detective investigating her family's murder! Focus, here! She was so frustrating, like she seems to do all this random shit without any introspection at all. And yet she wasn't unhinged enough to be interesting. She was just... confusing.
*and by "slept with" I mean "grabbed him in the middle of an apple orchard and got down to business against a tree," bc this woman seriously has no impulse control.
There was some good stuff here, it just didn't come together for me.
I looove a "person returns to their small hometown and long buried secrets come out" story. So I was excited for this. And while I did enjoy the atmosphere and lived in feel of the small, upstate NY town, I could not keep track of all these characters and how they were related. And some of them had storylines that just went... nowhere? While the main mystery is solved, it felt like there were a lot of things left hanging that just didn't even need to be there. There was a whole reveal about the uncle that literally meant nothing and went nowhere. why???
And then there's the absolute chaos demon of a main character. This woman gets inexplicably horny whenever she's in the same room as a man. Which I mean fine, get it girl, but you're in town because your family was murdered and you just found out your sister might be alive. Right after the townie hunk she slept with* gets killed, she's making moves on the detective investigating her family's murder! Focus, here! She was so frustrating, like she seems to do all this random shit without any introspection at all. And yet she wasn't unhinged enough to be interesting. She was just... confusing.
*and by "slept with" I mean "grabbed him in the middle of an apple orchard and got down to business against a tree," bc this woman seriously has no impulse control.
There was some good stuff here, it just didn't come together for me.
bear_reads_books's review
5.0
So I'm browsing NetGalley when I see a title and cover that catches my eye. Then I see the author's name. Kara Thomas...the Kara Thomas? And she's written an adult novel?! To say I was thrilled is an understatement. Plus it was a read now title so I didn't have to request and hope, I could get my greedy paws on it now.. I obviously hyped this up for myself, Kara Thomas is one of my favorite YA authors. And I can honestly say she writes for adults just as well.
Now that I've established that I'm a fan of the author and had high expectations, let me tell you how I felt about Out of the Ashes. I thought it was well written, perfectly paced. Sam was a good protagonist, stopping at nothing to find out who really killed her family when she was a kid.
I will say it feels like there were a lot of characters in her sad hometown that I had to keep reminding myself who they were. Characters either related to her or just connected to her family but related to each other. So my brain struggled just a bit with that. But it did not take me out of the story, I blame my shoddy memory.
There are twists and turns galore, everyone Sam talks to is shady and has something to hide. You never know where it's going and kept on the edge of your seat. I was silently begging Sam to leave and continue having nothing to do with all these people. While also dying to know the truth as well. The reveal is shocking and the ending is quite satisfying.
I've kept my review vague in the hopes you'll go into it spoiler free and enjoy the ride knowing as little as possible. Out of the Ashes met my expectations and is a solid five star mystery novel. I do hope Kara Thomas continues to write for adults (while still writing YA of course!)
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.
Review can also be found at A Good Mystery
Now that I've established that I'm a fan of the author and had high expectations, let me tell you how I felt about Out of the Ashes. I thought it was well written, perfectly paced. Sam was a good protagonist, stopping at nothing to find out who really killed her family when she was a kid.
I will say it feels like there were a lot of characters in her sad hometown that I had to keep reminding myself who they were. Characters either related to her or just connected to her family but related to each other. So my brain struggled just a bit with that. But it did not take me out of the story, I blame my shoddy memory.
There are twists and turns galore, everyone Sam talks to is shady and has something to hide. You never know where it's going and kept on the edge of your seat. I was silently begging Sam to leave and continue having nothing to do with all these people. While also dying to know the truth as well. The reveal is shocking and the ending is quite satisfying.
I've kept my review vague in the hopes you'll go into it spoiler free and enjoy the ride knowing as little as possible. Out of the Ashes met my expectations and is a solid five star mystery novel. I do hope Kara Thomas continues to write for adults (while still writing YA of course!)
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.
Review can also be found at A Good Mystery
andrealage's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0