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erinoco's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Police brutality, Gore, and Sexual harassment
noxa's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Murder, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Sexual content, and Gun violence
Minor: Police brutality
mwana's review against another edition
1.0
This book is just.... Lmao... Just no... It's clunky, gets expositional when it doesn't need to and not forgetting the bigotry.
Candace is a retired hit woman who is approached by a stepford wife to off the daughter's boyfriend. The money is tempting but she decides not to do it because she doesn't like the idea of offing a kid. It doesn't even matter since the boy is found dead later and a cop, the most inept waste of skin since the mayor of townsville, ropes Candace in to try and solve the murder. And why should Candace help solve the murder of who killed Tyler Brent? Because the cop, Malone, has the info on who killed Candace's father years ago.
I kept getting impatient with the book and was really disappointed with how they treated Black people. This book should also have given trigger warnings for racial slurs and mentions of rape. There is also a scene that turned my stomach. Frankly it was as necessary as Ramsay's marriage to Sansa. Just added in to showcase brutality.
The mystery of who killed Candace's father was also unsatisfactory in its solving. Candace's sleuthing didn't give them any results. Making me wonder why I had to endure all those pages if Malone's bungling and a phone call would lead me to all I needed to know anyway. There's a big "plot twist" at the end but you'd have to not be paying attention to not see it coming.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Candace is a retired hit woman who is approached by a stepford wife to off the daughter's boyfriend. The money is tempting but she decides not to do it because she doesn't like the idea of offing a kid. It doesn't even matter since the boy is found dead later and a cop, the most inept waste of skin since the mayor of townsville, ropes Candace in to try and solve the murder. And why should Candace help solve the murder of who killed Tyler Brent? Because the cop, Malone, has the info on who killed Candace's father years ago.
I kept getting impatient with the book and was really disappointed with how they treated Black people. This book should also have given trigger warnings for racial slurs and mentions of rape. There is also a scene that turned my stomach. Frankly it was as necessary as Ramsay's marriage to Sansa. Just added in to showcase brutality.
The mystery of who killed Candace's father was also unsatisfactory in its solving. Candace's sleuthing didn't give them any results. Making me wonder why I had to endure all those pages if Malone's bungling and a phone call would lead me to all I needed to know anyway. There's a big "plot twist" at the end but you'd have to not be paying attention to not see it coming.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
annarella's review
4.0
An engrossing and entertaining hard boiled that kept me hooked till the end.
A solid mystery, an interesting cast of characters and background made me liked this story.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
A solid mystery, an interesting cast of characters and background made me liked this story.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
An engrossing and entertaining hard boiled that kept me hooked till the end.
A solid mystery, an interesting cast of characters and background made me liked this story.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
A solid mystery, an interesting cast of characters and background made me liked this story.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
zaung's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: ARC provided for an honest review.
I went back and forth on a three or four stars. The first third of the book was slow, and our hero, Candice Starr, was very much the opposite of likable. I also wasn't a huge fan of how she viewed other women, but the narrative challenges her on that. And the book's co-star, Malone, through her actions and words, forces Candace to confront how she relates to other women.
Then we get to the last third of the book and damn it got GOOD. The ending is what made me give this book a four star. The whole thing is wrapped up neatly and satisfyingly. All the bad people got what they deserved, and the people doing their best got their rewards. It's not all sunshine and roses, but it's a hopeful end.
This book is an excellent example of taking an unlikeable character, giving them a story arc and a background reveal that changes how the reader sees them.
I went back and forth on a three or four stars. The first third of the book was slow, and our hero, Candice Starr, was very much the opposite of likable. I also wasn't a huge fan of how she viewed other women, but the narrative challenges her on that. And the book's co-star, Malone, through her actions and words, forces Candace to confront how she relates to other women.
Then we get to the last third of the book and damn it got GOOD. The ending is what made me give this book a four star. The whole thing is wrapped up neatly and satisfyingly. All the bad people got what they deserved, and the people doing their best got their rewards. It's not all sunshine and roses, but it's a hopeful end.
This book is an excellent example of taking an unlikeable character, giving them a story arc and a background reveal that changes how the reader sees them.
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