Scan barcode
chelseakasten's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
This is a novel of paradoxes. There were too many characters to keep track of but somehow none of them were important. Somehow too much happens and yet nothing happens.
kathrinpassig's review
3.0
Schade, ich mochte den sparsamen Stil und die Exposition. Aber sobald auch mal was aufgelöst werden muss, funktioniert es nicht mehr. In der zweiten Hälfte sind ein paar unmotivierte "vielleicht wird es ja verfilmt"-Szenen: die Protagonistin muss mit einer Taschenlampe in ein dunkles Gebäude, die Protagonistin muss durch den Wald laufen. Gegen Ende kommen zwei Auflöse- und Erklärszenen, und beide sind langweilige Zusammenfassungen langweiliger Plot-Ideen ("der Mörder war Mr. Dingenskirchen in der Bibliothek mit einer Heckenschere"). Der eigentliche Schluss ist dann wieder ganz gut. Es wirkt ein bisschen wie das Ergebnis von Unentschlossenheit: Will ich Psychologie und Uneindeutigkeit und Literaturpreise? Oder einen College-Slasher schreiben und die Filmrechte verkaufen?
fiddle_leaf_fig's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kcfromaustcrime's review
5.0
In 2013 Aoife Clifford was awarded an Australian Society of Author's mentorship to help bring this debut novel - ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS - to fruition. To be fair to those who have read it and are finding the idea that this is a debut novel hard to believe, she has form. Shortlisted for the UK Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger, Clifford won the Ned Kelly / S.D. Harvey Short Story Award and a Sisters in Crime Scarlet Stiletto. What she has now produced is an assured, clever and profoundly disconcerting psychological thriller.
In the manner of all slow burner, tightly controlled psychological suspense novels, ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS is beautifully crafted. Told from Pen's viewpoint it combines the tantalising prospect of an unreliable narrator, or a past too dreadful to be revealed. By taking the reader straight into the life and mind of young Pen Sheppard as she is about to leave her small hometown, her difficult mother and a fraught childhood behind, heading for University and life within the walls of a typical residential college, the reader is immediately dragged straight into a relationship with this character. And it's discomforting to know so little about somebody, and yet be so intimately involved.
The narrative itself switches between the present of life in the College as she sets out to build a new life, start again, move on from a secret that nobody needs to know about and the alternative present of her "other life" where she is under the care of a psychiatrist - dealing with something from her University days that possibly has longer term and more deep seated elements behind it. As she tentatively makes friends, and the group settle into life in College, they party and they get to know each other - exactly as you'd expect from people this age. Then things implode with a series of attacks on the campus, and a dead student who may or may not have succumbed to a dreadful accident.
An exploration of truth, and presentation, ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS really does throw harsh lights on the perception of teenage life. The hesitancy with which the truth of Penn's background is revealed matches beautifully with her personality. The shakiness of the quickly formed friendships is as revealing as the way that edifices start to crumble. The good and bad start to reveal themselves (and it's not all bad), all of which exactly as you'd expect of a group of "perfect strangers" thrust into close proximity, the tension heightened by the threat of an unknown attacker. In this instance even the use of "perfect" in the title is exquisitely nuanced. Are they "perfect" people or will they always be "perfect strangers", is what you see really what you get, or are the persona's they have all constructed as deep and difficult as that which Pen hides behind?
It is a slow burner though, and you may start out profoundly confused about what's going on and why, but it is a very short trip from there to not able to put it down territory. As you'd expect from something this complex, layered, and confronting not everything is wrapped up in a neat bow, as it most definitely should never be. There's so much in ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS that is open to interpretation that it's only right that the reader is likely to be left with as many questions as answers.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-all-these-perfect-strangers-aoife-clifford
In the manner of all slow burner, tightly controlled psychological suspense novels, ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS is beautifully crafted. Told from Pen's viewpoint it combines the tantalising prospect of an unreliable narrator, or a past too dreadful to be revealed. By taking the reader straight into the life and mind of young Pen Sheppard as she is about to leave her small hometown, her difficult mother and a fraught childhood behind, heading for University and life within the walls of a typical residential college, the reader is immediately dragged straight into a relationship with this character. And it's discomforting to know so little about somebody, and yet be so intimately involved.
The narrative itself switches between the present of life in the College as she sets out to build a new life, start again, move on from a secret that nobody needs to know about and the alternative present of her "other life" where she is under the care of a psychiatrist - dealing with something from her University days that possibly has longer term and more deep seated elements behind it. As she tentatively makes friends, and the group settle into life in College, they party and they get to know each other - exactly as you'd expect from people this age. Then things implode with a series of attacks on the campus, and a dead student who may or may not have succumbed to a dreadful accident.
An exploration of truth, and presentation, ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS really does throw harsh lights on the perception of teenage life. The hesitancy with which the truth of Penn's background is revealed matches beautifully with her personality. The shakiness of the quickly formed friendships is as revealing as the way that edifices start to crumble. The good and bad start to reveal themselves (and it's not all bad), all of which exactly as you'd expect of a group of "perfect strangers" thrust into close proximity, the tension heightened by the threat of an unknown attacker. In this instance even the use of "perfect" in the title is exquisitely nuanced. Are they "perfect" people or will they always be "perfect strangers", is what you see really what you get, or are the persona's they have all constructed as deep and difficult as that which Pen hides behind?
It is a slow burner though, and you may start out profoundly confused about what's going on and why, but it is a very short trip from there to not able to put it down territory. As you'd expect from something this complex, layered, and confronting not everything is wrapped up in a neat bow, as it most definitely should never be. There's so much in ALL THESE PERFECT STRANGERS that is open to interpretation that it's only right that the reader is likely to be left with as many questions as answers.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-all-these-perfect-strangers-aoife-clifford
twstdtink's review
3.0
There's something sinister feeling about this book from the start. For one, the main character is unreliable. She lies, A LOT. You begin to wonder early on if she's lying to herself and/or us readers as well. This assumption lead me to come up with all kinds of bizarre theories and plot twists - like split personalities (ha!). Sorry if I debunked that one for you. Clifford writes really well. I wasn't overly fond of this particular story. But, she wove it into something readable; where I think others would have botched it horribly. The one thing that bothered me about Pen was that so much of what happened to her could have been avoided by simply telling the truth! I guess that's what made this a story at all, though. I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. I give it 3.5 stars.
jambrea's review
3.0
#RHMysteryPack #Sponsored
This books was... intriguing. I liked the style it was written in. The author has a good voice. I would read something by her again. I will say that I was a bit disappointed in the ending. Not that it was a bad ending, just... I guess I wanted something more.
The main character I liked some of the time and I hated others. I think it was good this story was in first person and I really did enjoy aspects of it. I would recommend others read it. Like I said, it was intriguing. It did pull me in. I wish there would have been more on the Tracey parts. Those were very slow to reveal themselves.
All in all, a good story.
This books was... intriguing. I liked the style it was written in. The author has a good voice. I would read something by her again. I will say that I was a bit disappointed in the ending. Not that it was a bad ending, just... I guess I wanted something more.
The main character I liked some of the time and I hated others. I think it was good this story was in first person and I really did enjoy aspects of it. I would recommend others read it. Like I said, it was intriguing. It did pull me in. I wish there would have been more on the Tracey parts. Those were very slow to reveal themselves.
All in all, a good story.
adierose74's review
3.0
I am actually giving this 3 1/2 stars.
I really, really, REALLY loved this book for the first 95% of it. Like, I thought about it when not reading it, I waited for my kids to go to bed to read it again, and I tried to figure out what the heck was going on the whole time.
Aoife Clifford is a superb writer. I love the first person narrative, so that ay have contributed to my affection, but not by much. She knows how to weave a tale without giving away too much and also leaves you wanting for more. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
The story is fantastic, too. I didn't really like Pen much, but that was the point, I think. I don't think we were supposed to be too involved in her emotionally, but rather make our own judgments about her without being led to them.
I didn't know what was the truth or what were lies for pretty much the whole book. I love psychological drama and suspense! I want to be surprised and horrified and shocked. Well done, Ms. Clifford.
But then. Ugh, I hate to even be THAT person, but I am. Maybe I am dumb, but I didn't "get" the ending. I mean, I understood what I was reading, but I don't know that I was able to interpret it in the correct way. I was very disappointed by the way it ended and almost feel as if it was rushed and just all of a sudden DONE. It took me by surprise and not in a good way.
Perhaps someone smart than I would have "gotten" it better? I am a genius, so not so sure about that.
Joke, guys. relax.
Anyway! I really did love this book and would definitely recommend it to friends and force them to tell me what they thought of the ending and let me know exactly how they interpreted it. In fact, if any of my friends read this, I will cut you if you don't let me know.
I was given an advanced copy of this book by Random House and House Party in exchange for my unbiased opinion. All comments posted here are my true and honest feelings.
#RHMysteryPack #Sponsored
I really, really, REALLY loved this book for the first 95% of it. Like, I thought about it when not reading it, I waited for my kids to go to bed to read it again, and I tried to figure out what the heck was going on the whole time.
Aoife Clifford is a superb writer. I love the first person narrative, so that ay have contributed to my affection, but not by much. She knows how to weave a tale without giving away too much and also leaves you wanting for more. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
The story is fantastic, too. I didn't really like Pen much, but that was the point, I think. I don't think we were supposed to be too involved in her emotionally, but rather make our own judgments about her without being led to them.
I didn't know what was the truth or what were lies for pretty much the whole book. I love psychological drama and suspense! I want to be surprised and horrified and shocked. Well done, Ms. Clifford.
But then. Ugh, I hate to even be THAT person, but I am. Maybe I am dumb, but I didn't "get" the ending. I mean, I understood what I was reading, but I don't know that I was able to interpret it in the correct way. I was very disappointed by the way it ended and almost feel as if it was rushed and just all of a sudden DONE. It took me by surprise and not in a good way.
Perhaps someone smart than I would have "gotten" it better? I am a genius, so not so sure about that.
Joke, guys. relax.
Anyway! I really did love this book and would definitely recommend it to friends and force them to tell me what they thought of the ending and let me know exactly how they interpreted it. In fact, if any of my friends read this, I will cut you if you don't let me know.
I was given an advanced copy of this book by Random House and House Party in exchange for my unbiased opinion. All comments posted here are my true and honest feelings.
#RHMysteryPack #Sponsored
michellejaclyn's review
3.0
To be honest, it’s a 2.5 - the unreliable narrator aspect is all that keeps you here. It’s small and claustrophobic.