discodeaky's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lauralovestoread's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars!
Well that was a fun ride! What started as a bit of a slow burn picked up pace a few chapters in as things started to get weird and I was excited to see where things were headed.
I couldn’t tell if I was a fan or not of the characters, but as time moved on and and I saw how things were playing out I just needed answers!
Told in dual timelines with multiple POVs and plenty of twists to keep you guessing. I liked the writing style and now I need to pick up Emma’s backlist.
*many thanks to Berkley for the gifted review copy
Well that was a fun ride! What started as a bit of a slow burn picked up pace a few chapters in as things started to get weird and I was excited to see where things were headed.
I couldn’t tell if I was a fan or not of the characters, but as time moved on and and I saw how things were playing out I just needed answers!
Told in dual timelines with multiple POVs and plenty of twists to keep you guessing. I liked the writing style and now I need to pick up Emma’s backlist.
*many thanks to Berkley for the gifted review copy
read_with_lynne's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a fun murder mystery dinner suspense. Once all of the pieces fell together I thought that the 1988 storyline was clever and original.
dcrice's review against another edition
So slow and boring. The writing is basic and the characters one dimensional. I just can’t get into the plot.
sherylcat's review against another edition
2.0
I'm just not sure if I didn't quite follow this story or if it didn't come across that interesting or if I just picked a bad week to read this, but it didn't quite work for me.
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
This book is told in two different parts and times.
In 2019 we meet Sadie whose a struggling actress, she’s excited when she gets a job offer she can’t turn down, the job is she gets to pretend she’s a guest at a murder mystery party! She will have to travel to the location since it’s being held at an old manor named Raven Hall. Sadie is barely making ends meet and doesn’t even have enough for this months rent. So she heads to the manor.
In 1988 we meet Beth she’s now an orphaned after a horrible accident takes her family from her. Her aunt decides that the best place for her is to stay with the Averells Family. The Averells are looking for someone who can be friends with their daughter Nina. Immediately Nina and Beth become fast friends and they even call each other sisters. At times Beth feels likes she’s part of the family, other times she’s feels like something is odd is going on, her and Nina are told they can’t go into town, and when the Averells ask her to participate in an odd game she doesn’t know what to think. Soon an accident happens that changes everything. we find ourselves wondering how is Beths story connected with Sadie’s? I was immediately drawn into the story filled with twists and turns over two time periods , I was amazed how the author built the story and the characters, and she had me wondering how is this all going to connect. I’m giving this four stars!
In 2019 we meet Sadie whose a struggling actress, she’s excited when she gets a job offer she can’t turn down, the job is she gets to pretend she’s a guest at a murder mystery party! She will have to travel to the location since it’s being held at an old manor named Raven Hall. Sadie is barely making ends meet and doesn’t even have enough for this months rent. So she heads to the manor.
In 1988 we meet Beth she’s now an orphaned after a horrible accident takes her family from her. Her aunt decides that the best place for her is to stay with the Averells Family. The Averells are looking for someone who can be friends with their daughter Nina. Immediately Nina and Beth become fast friends and they even call each other sisters. At times Beth feels likes she’s part of the family, other times she’s feels like something is odd is going on, her and Nina are told they can’t go into town, and when the Averells ask her to participate in an odd game she doesn’t know what to think. Soon an accident happens that changes everything. we find ourselves wondering how is Beths story connected with Sadie’s? I was immediately drawn into the story filled with twists and turns over two time periods , I was amazed how the author built the story and the characters, and she had me wondering how is this all going to connect. I’m giving this four stars!
apagetoturn's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting plot, pretty well executed. I enjoyed the two storylines and trying to figure out the connections!
thelifeoflaura's review against another edition
3.0
After years of abandonment, Raven Hall has been restored to its former glory. For one night only, it is playing host to an evening of murder mystery. The guests have gathered. The roles have been cast. But someone is playing a sinister game, one with devastating consequences. And as the guests are about to discover, the truth is much darker than fiction.
Emma Rous knows how to write a thriller that keeps you guessing. She tells the story from the perspective of Beth, who in 1988 grew up in Raven Hall as a guest invited into the family; and Sadie, in 2019, who has been invited to Raven Hall for the Murder Mystery, in the guise of it being an acting job.
It was a really interesting story that keeps you guessing throughout. I wasn’t quite as wowed and excited by the ending/reveal as I was by The Au Pair. If you’re after a good ‘thriller’ type book that won’t leave you with nightmares, it’s a great option!
Emma Rous knows how to write a thriller that keeps you guessing. She tells the story from the perspective of Beth, who in 1988 grew up in Raven Hall as a guest invited into the family; and Sadie, in 2019, who has been invited to Raven Hall for the Murder Mystery, in the guise of it being an acting job.
It was a really interesting story that keeps you guessing throughout. I wasn’t quite as wowed and excited by the ending/reveal as I was by The Au Pair. If you’re after a good ‘thriller’ type book that won’t leave you with nightmares, it’s a great option!
maeclair's review against another edition
5.0
This is a twisty mystery that involves three different time periods, all of which converge for a spectacular finish. As a huge fan of the board game Clue, the present timeline immediately drew me.
Sadie is a bit actress looking for a break when she’s offered the chance to play “Miss Lamb” at an old mansion known as Raven Hall. Other guests also assume roles—Professor Owl, Colonel Otter, Miss Mouse, Lady Nightingale, and Mrs. Shrew. Each guest has been given individual cards about their characters actions and clothes in a single themed color. As Miss Lamb, Sadie dresses in white. Mrs. Shrew dresses in blue, etc. Sound familiar? I was in “Clue” heaven! The guests have been gathered to solve the murder of Lord Nightingale as a test-run for a new business that hosts murder mystery parties.
In the past, Beth, an orphan, is taken by her aunt to live at Raven Hall as a companion for Nina, the daughter of the owners. Both girls are fourteen. After some initial wariness, they form a close bond, going from friendship to the attachment of sisters.
The scenes in the past are every bit intriguing—if not more so—then those in the present. Beth is a likeable character, who just wants to feel part of a family. She constantly worries if she doesn’t do everything perfectly, she’ll be sent back to the orphanage.
But aside from Markus and Leonora (Nina’s parents) insisting Nina can never leave the property or go into town, Beth’s time at Raven Hall is filled with fun and the closeness she longs for—until she is talked into participating in a strange game. One that will ultimately have far reaching consequences.
There is also a third timeline, not as in depth as the others. Told from the POV of young woman, it isn’t until the middle of the book that the reader discovers who is narrating those sections.
It may sound like there is a lot going on in this novel (and there is) but it isn’t difficult to follow. The chapters are fairly short, and the pacing is excellent. Mysteries build steadily in both the past and the present. I was impressed by the number of subtle clues the author plants that turn into timebombs at the end. The final chapters deliver staggering revelations, not one but several. Then when I thought there were no surprises left, and I could finally catch my breath, the author dropped a final twisty shock in the closing pages.
If you love a good mystery, this is one you don’t want to miss. A spectacular read and another candidate for my Favorites List this year!
Sadie is a bit actress looking for a break when she’s offered the chance to play “Miss Lamb” at an old mansion known as Raven Hall. Other guests also assume roles—Professor Owl, Colonel Otter, Miss Mouse, Lady Nightingale, and Mrs. Shrew. Each guest has been given individual cards about their characters actions and clothes in a single themed color. As Miss Lamb, Sadie dresses in white. Mrs. Shrew dresses in blue, etc. Sound familiar? I was in “Clue” heaven! The guests have been gathered to solve the murder of Lord Nightingale as a test-run for a new business that hosts murder mystery parties.
In the past, Beth, an orphan, is taken by her aunt to live at Raven Hall as a companion for Nina, the daughter of the owners. Both girls are fourteen. After some initial wariness, they form a close bond, going from friendship to the attachment of sisters.
The scenes in the past are every bit intriguing—if not more so—then those in the present. Beth is a likeable character, who just wants to feel part of a family. She constantly worries if she doesn’t do everything perfectly, she’ll be sent back to the orphanage.
But aside from Markus and Leonora (Nina’s parents) insisting Nina can never leave the property or go into town, Beth’s time at Raven Hall is filled with fun and the closeness she longs for—until she is talked into participating in a strange game. One that will ultimately have far reaching consequences.
There is also a third timeline, not as in depth as the others. Told from the POV of young woman, it isn’t until the middle of the book that the reader discovers who is narrating those sections.
It may sound like there is a lot going on in this novel (and there is) but it isn’t difficult to follow. The chapters are fairly short, and the pacing is excellent. Mysteries build steadily in both the past and the present. I was impressed by the number of subtle clues the author plants that turn into timebombs at the end. The final chapters deliver staggering revelations, not one but several. Then when I thought there were no surprises left, and I could finally catch my breath, the author dropped a final twisty shock in the closing pages.
If you love a good mystery, this is one you don’t want to miss. A spectacular read and another candidate for my Favorites List this year!
robinsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The first half of this gothic-toned novel of suspense developed slowly over the first half but the second half barreled along with revelations about every other page. The various relationships got a little convoluted and I had to reread a few sections to figure out the final outcome but it kept me reading until the very last page. The English manor house setting is atmospheric and I appreciated the author's epilogue of the region's history.
This is a good book for those who like English gothic settings and is recommended to those who enjoy books by Clare Fuller, especially [b:Bitter Orange|38589871|Bitter Orange|Claire Fuller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519083306l/38589871._SY75_.jpg|59739980] . Also good for fans of Clare Mackintosh's [b:Let Me Lie|35376281|Let Me Lie|Clare Mackintosh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508947755l/35376281._SY75_.jpg|56734623], or even books by Daphne DuMaurier.
This is a good book for those who like English gothic settings and is recommended to those who enjoy books by Clare Fuller, especially [b:Bitter Orange|38589871|Bitter Orange|Claire Fuller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519083306l/38589871._SY75_.jpg|59739980] . Also good for fans of Clare Mackintosh's [b:Let Me Lie|35376281|Let Me Lie|Clare Mackintosh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508947755l/35376281._SY75_.jpg|56734623], or even books by Daphne DuMaurier.