Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

21 reviews

coco78337's review

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

nika_nix's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.5

I'm very disappointed by this. First of all, the audiobook pretty much spoiled what i expect was supposed to be a plot twist. And those page turning sound effects every other second were annoying and pointless.

I also hated the way this was written. I actually think the plot idea is great and I quite enjoyed all of the reveals but this just does not work as a novella. Part one feels like overly rushed first draft of a basic thriller and the second part feels like a really long last chapter of a really good thriller. But they don't work well together at all.

There was so much potential, but I feel like this would've worked way better had it been a regular novel and not this half-assed short summary of a book. Nothing was thrilling because there was no time to actually develop anything, we were just told the story, nothing was shown or explored in depth. What a shame.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

lianne_rooney's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

larareads's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death and Stalking

seloesch's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

what_heather_loves's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

"Christmastime is here again. And I am waiting, as I always do, for one or more guests...All I did was throw a pebble into a still pond. The ripples did the rest. I suspect she will know all about it. As she likes to tell me, she knows everything.

What other guests might arrive? I picture a knock on the door, a flashed badge...If it happens, it happens. I suppose I am prepared."

An American student is thrilled to be invited to a fellow student's Cotswolds home for Christmas, but should have been more wary. The antithesis of cosy, festive crime, this is a chilling novella about a victim, a predator and an accomplice. Split into two parts, the first is told through historic diary entries found during a tidy and the second provides a huge twist and context - I can't say more or spoil the plot. Atmospheric engrossing and tense, I read this in two sittings, although it could be read in one, at 124 pages.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Violence and Death of parent

meowlo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

wytherwytch's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Interesting concept but slow

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Alcohol

mysterymom40's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit

j_squaredd's review against another edition

dark 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? No

3.0

Where is the mystery? This is maybe a thriller or horror, but there’s absolutely nothing mysterious about it. The only mystery to be found is why did I give Peter Swanson another chance against my better judgment?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment