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bookph1le's review
2.0
Didn't really do it for me. More complete review to come.
Full review:
Oh, how I hate writing reviews for books I was pretty ambivalent about. *sigh*
On a technical level, I wouldn't say there's anything necessarily wrong with this book. It failed to click with me, but not because of poor writing or poor pacing or poor construction. I simply didn't much care for it. The plot sounds implausible but isn't, for reasons that become more obvious as the book progresses, so that wasn't an issue either. Sometimes I understand what I disliked about a book, and at other times it's hard for me to put a finger on why it failed to launch for me. This is one of those second situations. Some spoilers to follow.
Told in alternating chapters, this book is set in 2003 and told from the perspective of the real Bec, and in 2014 from the perspective of imposter Bec--I'm giving nothing away here, because the book makes it pretty clear from the beginning that the main character is not who she says she is. I thought Bec's voice was just fine and, in fact, may have been the strongest part of the book. In particular, I found it very pointed when Bec realizes that her fantasies are just that--fantasies. I think I would have liked to read more about her and what she ends up doing once she understands that she's been looking for a means of escape and has misapplied her hopes. That may well have been a book I found very engrossing.
Instead, I felt like this book was more about the fake Bec. Sure, the flashbacks explain what drove the real Bec, but it's more like they're there to create the horror when it comes time for the big reveal for the fake Bec. Fake Bec is okay. It's not that I had a problem with her as a character. Yes, what she does is horribly unscrupulous, but she does get that. She makes a lot of justifications for why it's okay for her to do this unscrupulous thing, which I didn't find unrealistic because, hey, we're all good at excusing our own behavior when we really need to. Her transformation is kind of interesting, but there are just too many far-fetched things that happen along the way, particularly when it comes to her relationship with the officer investigating the case. (Why are police officers always so incompetent in books, unless those books are police procedurals, in which case the cops might have actually have a chance?) I don't want to give too much away, but I found it entirely conceivable that the family reacted as they did, given what's uncovered about them later in the book. Bec's friend's reaction was good, as was her brother's, but it still struck me as strange that they didn't act, since they didn't know about the big family secret.
Maybe the problem is that I read a lot of literary suspense. It's a genre I enjoy very much, but it's one that fails spectacularly when the plot feels too contrived. Even so, it's not so much that I found this plot contrived, it's that I didn't get the sense that it was really about Bec at all. Everything feels more like a big, elaborate setup constructed for fake Bec's climax. I didn't think the book was boring, necessarily, but much like a game of Mouse Trap, the interesting part is when the contraption goes off at last. Building the contraption? Not so much.
And therein lies the problem. In order for it to be successful for me, literary suspense has to draw me deep into its world. I have to connect with the characters in some way, either because I sympathize with them or because I'm so disgusted by them I want to know if their actions are going to lead to their downfall. This book did neither. I felt the whole time like a third party observer watching pretty indifferently.
Full review:
Oh, how I hate writing reviews for books I was pretty ambivalent about. *sigh*
On a technical level, I wouldn't say there's anything necessarily wrong with this book. It failed to click with me, but not because of poor writing or poor pacing or poor construction. I simply didn't much care for it. The plot sounds implausible but isn't, for reasons that become more obvious as the book progresses, so that wasn't an issue either. Sometimes I understand what I disliked about a book, and at other times it's hard for me to put a finger on why it failed to launch for me. This is one of those second situations. Some spoilers to follow.
Told in alternating chapters, this book is set in 2003 and told from the perspective of the real Bec, and in 2014 from the perspective of imposter Bec--I'm giving nothing away here, because the book makes it pretty clear from the beginning that the main character is not who she says she is. I thought Bec's voice was just fine and, in fact, may have been the strongest part of the book. In particular, I found it very pointed when Bec realizes that her fantasies are just that--fantasies. I think I would have liked to read more about her and what she ends up doing once she understands that she's been looking for a means of escape and has misapplied her hopes. That may well have been a book I found very engrossing.
Instead, I felt like this book was more about the fake Bec. Sure, the flashbacks explain what drove the real Bec, but it's more like they're there to create the horror when it comes time for the big reveal for the fake Bec. Fake Bec is okay. It's not that I had a problem with her as a character. Yes, what she does is horribly unscrupulous, but she does get that. She makes a lot of justifications for why it's okay for her to do this unscrupulous thing, which I didn't find unrealistic because, hey, we're all good at excusing our own behavior when we really need to. Her transformation is kind of interesting, but there are just too many far-fetched things that happen along the way, particularly when it comes to her relationship with the officer investigating the case. (Why are police officers always so incompetent in books, unless those books are police procedurals, in which case the cops might have actually have a chance?) I don't want to give too much away, but I found it entirely conceivable that the family reacted as they did, given what's uncovered about them later in the book. Bec's friend's reaction was good, as was her brother's, but it still struck me as strange that they didn't act, since they didn't know about the big family secret.
Maybe the problem is that I read a lot of literary suspense. It's a genre I enjoy very much, but it's one that fails spectacularly when the plot feels too contrived. Even so, it's not so much that I found this plot contrived, it's that I didn't get the sense that it was really about Bec at all. Everything feels more like a big, elaborate setup constructed for fake Bec's climax. I didn't think the book was boring, necessarily, but much like a game of Mouse Trap, the interesting part is when the contraption goes off at last. Building the contraption? Not so much.
And therein lies the problem. In order for it to be successful for me, literary suspense has to draw me deep into its world. I have to connect with the characters in some way, either because I sympathize with them or because I'm so disgusted by them I want to know if their actions are going to lead to their downfall. This book did neither. I felt the whole time like a third party observer watching pretty indifferently.
lee_loryn_'s review
4.0
I won this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
And I really really like the ending. Because it really did have more of a twist that I thought it would have had. Overall, I enjoyed the characters - I did think that some of them were a little one dimensional or that things about them were convenient - and the plot. I know Thrillers are quite the 'thing' right now and considering I don't usually read that genre, I'm excited to have read this.
And I really really like the ending. Because it really did have more of a twist that I thought it would have had. Overall, I enjoyed the characters - I did think that some of them were a little one dimensional or that things about them were convenient - and the plot. I know Thrillers are quite the 'thing' right now and considering I don't usually read that genre, I'm excited to have read this.
meeramira's review
3.0
It was a decent read...I didn't entirely guess the plot, but I feel like the ending/conclusion was kind of rushed and there were some unanswered things. To be fair, I was slowly losing interest so I started to skim-read towards the end and that might be why I missed some things.
gabrielle_erin's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this one! Being set in Canberra was such a unique reading experience and the author found ways to incorporate elements of the local environment into the story which I found so endearing! Being a Canberra local, it's so surreal to read about your hometown in a book but it kept me engaged. I also really did not see the ending coming! However, I wish there would have been more allusion to the big reveal throughout the book because it all felt based off one small detail mentioned towards the end and that didn't really satisfy me. Overall, an interesting read!
whineheda's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.25
kendall_reads8's review against another edition
4.0
One word review? WOW
Now that I've picked myself up from the floor I will share more words.
In all honesty when I started this book I did not think I would like it. It starts with a bang right into the story. I kept trying to go back to the cover because I was sure I was missing the first chapter or the prologue. (When reading an advanced copy the formatting is not always perfect) I thought to myself that if I could not even follow the first pages there was no hope for me and this book.
BUT, as quickly as it took off it came together. I only had to be patient and trust the author to tell her story. The story sweeps back and forth between the voice of "Fake Bec" whose name we never learn. Her story of course takes place in the present time, and the real Bec whose story takes place eleven years ago and slowly unfolds telling us what really happened when she disappeared.
I found myself in those last few chapters to be holding my breath and wanting to speed read to find out what was going on. I forced myself not to do that and to savor and enjoy all of the suspense. I have mixed feelings about the ending but that is just because of how I am, nothing that the author did or did not do.
I really enjoyed this book and will look for more from the author.
Spoiler
One thing I did not love was the fact that even when Bec knew her brothers were little, evil, deranged jerks, she did nothing! How can you find them torturing animals the way they did and turn a blind eye? For me this was not very believable and I hope that if any one of us encountered something like this we would do the right thing. I have a hard time with any kind of animal cruelty and reading it is so hard for me. That is the only part of the book that I did not like.I received this book free of charge from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
aliceinbabylon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
pnwshel's review
3.0
I loved the use of alternating stories between the actual Bec and the imposter. It filled out the characters and gave good backstory.
No lie, but the parents and brothers creeped me out from the get go. I am sure it was intentional and it worked. I spent a good chunk of the book in whodunnit mode.
That said, the ending seemed to wrap up way too fast. Nothing I hate more than a big build up and then a quick, too easy ending.
The book never bored me and I was anxious to get back to reading it when I had to put it down.
No lie, but the parents and brothers creeped me out from the get go. I am sure it was intentional and it worked. I spent a good chunk of the book in whodunnit mode.
That said, the ending seemed to wrap up way too fast. Nothing I hate more than a big build up and then a quick, too easy ending.
The book never bored me and I was anxious to get back to reading it when I had to put it down.
allikay14's review
dark
mysterious
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death