Reviews with content warning for Car accident - The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Summary of my review: Great character depth (no flat protagonists), great humour and funny temperament of Bel, most plot twists were shocking, awesome ending, 1 plot twist was obvious, unnecessary romance parts, 1 logic mistake, used all the time real platforms, work titles, etc. not showing creativity

‘“I don’t know.”
Those three little words Bel knew better than most. Both the truth and a blockade, to hide behind when you needed it. But now that she was on the other side of those words, she finally saw why it drove people mad.’

I LOVE the temperament and humour of Bel. Even though the book is supoosed to be sad and more on the emotional side, I couldn't but catch the little jokes and actually chuckle. Especially when she gets annoyed and add some insults out of nowhere that leave the room silent.

Even though I didn't like that her attidue sometimes came across as too bitchy, I think that it was done on purpose as we know that she never wanted to be filmed in the first place and surely got annoyed at some point being asked about her mum while she always said 'I don't know' or 'I was too young to remember anything that happened'. So I totally get her. Would also be pissed off at some point when people would ask me the same questions all the time and I always answer the same but they don't stop asking. Especially as she never really knew her mum.

And from what we get to know later, she didn't even want to be like her. Surely 'cause she never felt any stronge emotions to her except when she was still a baby and she is (I think at least) mad that she left her in the car as she thinks that she left her and didn't tragically passed away or something really bad happened to her. So she is upset about her, the situation and don't want to be like her therefore.

But that's also what I like. Maybe she seems a bit too rude sometimes, but that just shows her true feelings and her way of copying with the loss of her mother and the way everyone kinda pressures her to remember to what exactly happened.
Scene that shows that:
“I wonder, does being here in these exact same conditions, does it spark anything in your memory? Any images, feelings?”
“Yes, now you mention it, I’ve just suddenly remembered everything and solved the entire case, can you believe it? What a plot twist.”

Maybe I misinterpret it, but her way of leaving people first could be a copying mechanism for her, when her mum left her as she doesn't want to be left first ever again so she leaves people first before it ever happens to her again. Which can and also did as we see in the book destroyed any kinds of relationships she had as she only had her dad left every time. But that whole copying and her attitude and stuff give so much depth to that character that I really think she's three-dimensional.

Now we come to the plot twist. As some might know me, I usually get/know them before it's revealed, but I still make a difference between how hard it was to find out and if it was obvious or not. And I can only say; 1 was obvious and the other 2 weren't.

The obvious one: Charlie Price being evil (as he was suspected from the start all the time, you didn't need strong brain power to just say the same)
The one that wasn't obvious: The grandfather being also involved in it (I guessed it, but still was surprising as it wasn't very obvious and needed time to get to)
And that Carter wasn't the cousin, but Bel's sister.

I mean, I knew the plot twists yes (only got 2 of 3 right as the last plot twist was something I never payed close attention) but I know lots of thriller so I know the pattern and the foreshadowing, but honestly if you aren't thinking about it as much as I do and investigate and read between lines as excessively as I did, you would be good to go with a surprise (at least for 2 of the plot twists). I loved the twists, they were interesting to see revealed!

Only thing I didn't get correct was that it was in a truck, as I thought for whatever reason that it was in a basement.
I also never got the idea of thinking about Carter a lot as I got a different idea with the baby sock, so that was actually surprising.
I thought when the message said WE are being kept by Patrick Price that it was someone but Carter. I thought someone we don't know, just adding to the shock effect of knowing it wasn't just one he kept.

The ending was fire!!!
Like what happened?
Was that even a good idea??

I'm a bit disappointed that the book only used real platform names, real film names, etc. and didn't make one up or something. I think it shows more creativity if one makes one up and doesn't use existing ones.

I didn't care AT ALL about that mini love of this book. Unnecessary. Just wanted to read some thriller and not some romance, that also felt rushed as it only started in chapter 30.

One thing I never understood in this book was how Rachael wasn't just allowed to disappear with Bel, as she WOULD be safe from Charlie, so why did the grandfather take such measures instead of just letting her leave for good? I know he didn't know she was trying to disappear, but why did Rachael never mention it to get free?

At the end of the book there is a logic mistake. You turn your phone off to not be traced back, but it only works BEFORE you go to the place you don't want to be traced back. Since they were there already it would in real life logic would be too late.

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All books mentioned in this book:
1. The Memory Thief
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Bring up the Bodies
4. Behind Closed Doors
5. Gone Girl
6. Station Eleven
7. The Vanishing Half
8. The Guest List
9. The Green Mile by Stephen King
10. The Midnight Library
11. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
12. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
13. Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
14. Malibu Rising
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Read: 1.-2. August 2024
Review written: 2. August 2024

Content Warnings

ellelockley's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

"The Reappearance of Rachel Price" by Holly Jackson is a thrilling ride from start to finish, with enough twists and turns to keep any reader on the edge of their seat. From the very first page, the author's skilful storytelling kept me gripped, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

One of the standout elements of this novel is the well-developed characters. Each character feels fully realized, with their own unique backgrounds, motivations, and complexities. Rachel Price herself is an enigma, a mystery that unravels slowly and tantalizingly throughout the book. The other characters like Bel, Carter, Charlie etc are vividly drawn, making their interactions and relationships rich and engaging.

The plot is masterfully constructed, filled with unexpected twists that kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, the author threw in a curveball that sent me reeling. However, despite the many surprises, I did sort of guess what had happened to Rachel before the big reveal. This predictability in the central mystery is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5. It slightly dulled the impact of the climax, though it didn't significantly diminish my overall enjoyment of the book.

Even with this minor flaw, "The Reappearance of Rachel Price" is a compelling read that I would highly recommend to others. Holly Jackson has crafted a tale that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant, with characters that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned. If you're looking for a mystery that will keep you hooked and make you think, this book is definitely worth your time. Holly Jackson you have done it again!

Content Warnings

shawniejo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

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kitkatkatdog's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

I loved it, what a great addition to my Holly Jackson collection. Enjoyed the twists and they just wouldn’t stop. It was a great read, I love a good mystery.

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