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bookish_leslie's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
4.5
- 1 Star: Hated it
- 1.5 Stars: Really didn't like it
- 2 Stars: Didn't like it
- 3 Stars: Meh
- 4 Stars: Liked it
- 4.5 Stars: Really liked it
- 5 Stars: Loved it
Other than that concern, I found this novel to be well-written and incredibly atmospheric. October. Upstate NY. Nor’easter. The rain lashing, the wind howling, the lights flickering. Trapped on an island with a killer. I enjoyed how the stormy weather added tension and fear to an already loaded situation - the drama of the investigation increasing as the storm gained fury - and I’m always a sucker for a locked room mystery. Shana’s PTSD also added a lot of tension. I was right there with her while she grappled with self-trust. Could she trust her instincts? What was real and what was projection? Her anxiety and flashbacks made everything feel more threatening.
The one thing that really bothered me was how Shana kept alluding to a secret having to do with her prior abduction. This secret was never revealed in the book, and while I know this is a series and the secret will likely be revealed down the line at some point, I hate being left with unresolved questions.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement and Kidnapping
Minor: Cancer and Drug use
Also: PTSD; brief mention of date-r**e drugssyellico's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
kaylasbookgram's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This locked door thriller definitely hit all the marks for me when looking for a good book. I especially love crime thrillers as you try to figure out who did the crime along with the detectives. This book had so many suspects and each one had a reason to do the crime and the end result was one I was leaning towards but was also shocking with a twist I didn’t see coming. I can’t wait to pick up the next book in this series I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Detective Shana.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
j_squaredd's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
emallovesreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Murder
soobooksalot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have seen Death In The Family by Tessa Wegert all over Bookstagram. I love locked-room thrillers and knew I needed to read it. I bought this one and the sequel at the same time.
So glad I did! Death In The Family was as good as I expected and more.
Senior Investigator Shana Merchant has had a traumatic year, and has been rebuilding herself after a psychological trauma.
Back to active duty, she and fellow investigator Tom Wellington are called to the remote Tern Island, barren but for a sprawling home belonging to the Sinclair family. Grandson Jasper is missing, and a large amount of blood suggests he is more than on the lam. A storm is keeping everyone in place while the investigation turns to each of those present during Jasper's final known hours.
There are some major Agatha Christie/Clue vibes here, with a dark and modern-day feel and some wonderfully flawed characters.
I read 2/3 of this book in a day. Un-putdownable, to be sure.
I haven't even read the sequel, The Dead Season, and yet can't wait for the third installment.
Recommended!
Moderate: Infidelity, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent