Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

8 reviews

aliwhitley's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Rape and Violence

dblue236's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was definitely not my favorite of this author's books, but it was a solid thriller with some twists I didn't see coming. The reveal regarding one particular character SHOULD have been obvious, but I managed to gloss right over it somehow until shortly before it was unveiled. Overall this was a great story and I enjoyed it, but it definitely isn't the best indicator of how talented Peter Swanson really is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

kathaleyenda's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

smileysam's review against another edition

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

I’m pretty sure that a year or two ago, I listened to a podcast about this book. Despite that, the book was still enjoyable and I didn’t remember all of the twists and turns, which was a plus.

I had completely forgotten that Matthew and Richard were the same person, so it still came as a surprise when unveiled.

All in all, this book is a good, quick read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Murder

gellyreads'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? Yes

4.5

So, I can see why some people may feel like this book was trying to do too much, but I had a lot of fun with it. I didn't exactly go where I wanted it to go, even though I really thought I was right on a plot twist or too. I really enjoy books where you can see

the killer's point of view

, and the fact that this one still had some twists and turns was great for me. I also really enjoyed Hen's point of view, although I'm not sure how accurate of a depiction of bipolar is with it; Swanson also continues to do a decent job of a man writing a woman's view.

I definitely didn't see the fact that he didn't have a brother and it was a split personality at all, and I felt incredibly stupid for not realizing that she almost slept with and then got almost raped by one of his victims.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Sexual harassment

fatoujackson's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I mean, I was entertained. Things really started cooking with gas in the second part.

The twist kind of does and doesn’t add up, but we move.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder

kshertz's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Excellent read until the very very end! It really explored many different views with mental health.

 It explains gaslighting of those with mental illness very well. I think some aspects of Identifying with the enemy as well. I loved the big reveal and shocking twist. But then… it keep going? It kind of loses steam by doing that and it brought it down a star for me because there was no need to then return again to Dustin Miller and things before the big reveal? Anyways, definitely worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

victoria_2002's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail