Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

7 reviews

saltycoffee's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Death of parent

taylormoore's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcohol

sammy_salmon's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

While I was reading this I was thinking to myself “this is ok”, then I thought “this is pretty good”, but by the end I thought “this is excellent.”

Five stars for an exceptional plot and clever delivery. Loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

amyparsons's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Violence, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Minor: Physical abuse and Toxic friendship

fragrant_stars's review against another edition

dark mysterious relaxing sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Quick read, cozy, with an open ending that made me kinda want more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Blood, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

larareads's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death and Stalking

what_heather_loves's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

"Christmastime is here again. And I am waiting, as I always do, for one or more guests...All I did was throw a pebble into a still pond. The ripples did the rest. I suspect she will know all about it. As she likes to tell me, she knows everything.

What other guests might arrive? I picture a knock on the door, a flashed badge...If it happens, it happens. I suppose I am prepared."

An American student is thrilled to be invited to a fellow student's Cotswolds home for Christmas, but should have been more wary. The antithesis of cosy, festive crime, this is a chilling novella about a victim, a predator and an accomplice. Split into two parts, the first is told through historic diary entries found during a tidy and the second provides a huge twist and context - I can't say more or spoil the plot. Atmospheric engrossing and tense, I read this in two sittings, although it could be read in one, at 124 pages.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Violence and Death of parent