Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

46 reviews

carbs666's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

This was okay! I saw people talking abt it favorably online so I figured I would give it a try, even though it's not my usual genre. It's definitely not as weird and gothic as I'd been led to believe it would be, and to me it has the quality of a book that is written by someone who churning out a mystery every 18 months (not a criticism, I wish I could do that!) but I definitely wanted to find out what would happen which is a mark of a successful plot. I felt like the twists were a bit obvious (I guess them early and then second-guessed myself because I felt like it couldn't be that easy) and I felt like the "character who keeps murdering people for no reasons" bit didn't make a ton of sense, but my biggest issue was with the MC. I felt like the characterization of Hal wasn't consistent - on one hand we're supposed to believe she's an accomplished cold reader and con artist, but every time she talks to her extended family she consistently fumbles it. Overall I thought this was fine, if you're looking for a pulpy read it will do.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

snoopyfanclub's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Incest and Pregnancy

demiag's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Hard to get into at first. Didn’t start enjoying it until over halfway through the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

mrsmishler's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Incest

charlizzzard_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

A book that had me desperate to work out the mystery within!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

fromtheyellowchair's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia

your_neighbor57's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

I couldn't put his Gothic mystery down! The main character is interesting and evokes empathy. I'd love to see this story made into a movie or limited series. It unfolded like a movie in my mind as I read. As another reviewer pointed out, it has some of the "feel" of Daphne du Maurier' Rebecca. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Death of parent

Minor: Blood, Car accident, and Murder

anissawren's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Incest, Car accident, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infidelity

bessadams's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

This book got so confusing. Almost like Ms. Ware wrote herself into a corner, and then had to get really creative to make everything kind of work out. Also, I feel like the whole plot point about

Hal owing a bunch of money to the creepy guy

was just not really resolved? Truly, it's my own fault for continuing to read books that I'm not really into haha

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail