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rolexia's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
1st, I have never read a book about a more annoying group of people in my life! Roe, Dorthory, whatever the heck, her name is just annoying AF!!!! This book was more of a high school drama than a thriller!! I listened to the audiobook, so it was 19 hours of teens basically going back and forth with each other with a sprinkle of a serial killer mixed in!!!!
This series was really long for no darn reason!! The writer really could have taken out sooooo much of that mediocre high school drama!!! And made all the teens more likable or something!! Ben was a smartass, annoying teen! Roe was attention seeking hoe! JB was just a asshole!! The parents idk what planet they was even on during the whole book! And the police department I'm not sure how yall let a child solve a case that yall apparently couldn't Crack! When it was a literal serial killer!!!! The whole story was just too darn much! And I felt like it was just to drawn out!! Like why was this 3 books! When it could have been one 1 book! This was beyond annoying!
This series was really long for no darn reason!! The writer really could have taken out sooooo much of that mediocre high school drama!!! And made all the teens more likable or something!! Ben was a smartass, annoying teen! Roe was attention seeking hoe! JB was just a asshole!! The parents idk what planet they was even on during the whole book! And the police department I'm not sure how yall let a child solve a case that yall apparently couldn't Crack! When it was a literal serial killer!!!! The whole story was just too darn much! And I felt like it was just to drawn out!! Like why was this 3 books! When it could have been one 1 book! This was beyond annoying!
athomewithjoanna's review against another edition
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
A family member gave me this book quite some time ago and I finally got around to reading it. Am I a fan of Faye Kellerman’s work now? Not exactly.
I love mysteries/thrillers but this one felt like so much of it was geared towards high school girls looking to fall in love rather than solve a crime.
Describing characters so you begin to form a connection with them is one thing, but focusing on their attractive physical qualities throughout the entire book got to be a bit… boring and bland. There are several parts that revolve around “steamy” encounters and while I don’t usually mind such things, it felt incredibly overdone in this book. (“We get it- she’s hot and he’s more of a weird/odd yet still attractive ‘nerd’- like that is all we care about… living out that form of fantasy).
It merely felt like there was a lot of unnecessary “filler”. Out of its 695 pages, more than half of them probably revolve around their looks and romantic relationship and a love triangle and you’re left wondering why you’re supposed to care when a serial killer is on the loose. All the while, the characters are in their last year of high school and focusing on prom and graduation… it just made for quite a few “eye-roll” reactions.
There are a few instances when the content picks up and you want to know what happens but I find the entire ending was anticlimactic. Especially, after leading up to it for 600 pages.
It’s not the worst book that I’ve ever read, but I am hoping that her other books have a bit more substance to them.
I love mysteries/thrillers but this one felt like so much of it was geared towards high school girls looking to fall in love rather than solve a crime.
Describing characters so you begin to form a connection with them is one thing, but focusing on their attractive physical qualities throughout the entire book got to be a bit… boring and bland. There are several parts that revolve around “steamy” encounters and while I don’t usually mind such things, it felt incredibly overdone in this book. (“We get it- she’s hot and he’s more of a weird/odd yet still attractive ‘nerd’- like that is all we care about… living out that form of fantasy).
It merely felt like there was a lot of unnecessary “filler”. Out of its 695 pages, more than half of them probably revolve around their looks and romantic relationship and a love triangle and you’re left wondering why you’re supposed to care when a serial killer is on the loose. All the while, the characters are in their last year of high school and focusing on prom and graduation… it just made for quite a few “eye-roll” reactions.
There are a few instances when the content picks up and you want to know what happens but I find the entire ending was anticlimactic. Especially, after leading up to it for 600 pages.
It’s not the worst book that I’ve ever read, but I am hoping that her other books have a bit more substance to them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Rape
Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, and Car accident
melmmoore's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Too much teen drama for me. Pretty good mystery, but bogged down with the teen angst and love triangle details.
bethannie18's review against another edition
4.0
Builds the drama enough that I couldn't put it down, but it was somewhat predictable.
3beansbooks's review against another edition
2.0
2.5⭐️’s
I usually love to read Faye Kellerman’s books. This was a bit of a disappointment. It seemed disjointed and really should be labeled as YA.
I’ll still read whatever she puts out next. :)
I usually love to read Faye Kellerman’s books. This was a bit of a disappointment. It seemed disjointed and really should be labeled as YA.
I’ll still read whatever she puts out next. :)
margieh_readsitall's review against another edition
4.0
Won book from Goodreads. Story line was interesting, but characters didn't seem believable - too much personality, they felt over the top, over written. Was a long read, but kept my interest. Ending didn't seem to fit the rest of the book's style and I felt like it left a few loose strings.
sdreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
felinity's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
The concept reminded me a little of the TV series Broadchurch, which shows the ongoing damage to families and the area after a murder.
Here, a bright teenaged boy can't let go of his sister's murder case until her killer is found, but his insistence may prove to be his downfall. He can't really have a normal life - not that he seems to want one - because he's totally caught up in keeping his final promise.
It's an incredible book. Very unique in outlook, very different characters, and with a realistic dynamic between the police and Ben.
The concept reminded me a little of the TV series Broadchurch, which shows the ongoing damage to families and the area after a murder.
Here, a bright teenaged boy can't let go of his sister's murder case until her killer is found, but his insistence may prove to be his downfall. He can't really have a normal life - not that he seems to want one - because he's totally caught up in keeping his final promise.
It's an incredible book. Very unique in outlook, very different characters, and with a realistic dynamic between the police and Ben.
jbrito's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25