amplawrence's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Gun violence, Child death, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
penandpaper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Spoiler
I think the mechanics of the final twist could have been done better. Like, why does she stick around but not her relatives? Does the book set her free? What happens to Trixie? As much as I appreciate the sudden twist and the tie in to the beginning, I wish we had more informationGraphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Child death, Murder, Death, Sexual content, Alcohol, Car accident, Ableism, Blood, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Medical content, and Animal cruelty
jennyoli96's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Medical content, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death and Body shaming
uranaishi's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Child death, Car accident, Chronic illness, Murder, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gore, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Abandonment, and Gun violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Dementia, Drug use, and Pregnancy
toomanytbr's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Body shaming, Bullying, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
emmehooks's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the blending of flashbacks and present, good pacing, and a plot I am very excited to talk about at book club!!!
The ending was quite full circle but I wish there was a little more to answer a few lingering questions. A huge build-up to such a short conclusion despite leaving so much room for more.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Car accident, Terminal illness, Violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Suicide, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Injury/injury detail, and Medical trauma
Minor: Blood, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Animal death, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Physical abuse
mysterymom46's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Addiction, and Gore
Minor: Infidelity
anniesbooknook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Death, and Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Suicide, and Infidelity
sierra_alexis's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Car accident, and Bullying
thatswhatshanread's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
I can’t say too much without giving the whole story away, but this was a fun murder mystery! For sure a more modern take on Agatha Christie mysteries with a little “Knives Out” action. It also reminded me, at times, of “The Prestige” and “Shutter Island”.
I will say that I guessed the final twists fairly early on, but still felt the satisfying shock when they were unveiled, as some pieces I definitely had not put together.
The writing style was great, though I did find the book a little too long, and some of the flashbacks stunted the flow of the story a tad. Also, don’t go into this one expecting to like any of the characters—some I rather loathed, which was part of the point of course.
Overall, a very on-brand read for Halloween season!!
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Suicide, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Alcohol, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Injury/injury detail, Terminal illness, Death, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Vomit, Sexual content, Animal death, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Cursing