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sarsandra's review against another edition
2.0
Not very good. Suspense is poorly constructed, doesn't thrill, I figured everything out pretty early.
aprilbooksandwine's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
tracib's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.
My actual rating is 3.5 stars. It started out very strong, with short chapters that compelled me to keep reading. The main problems I had were I didn't really like the main character, Nick. I also feel that the killer was contrived, and some of the reveals were fairly easy to guess. But overall, it was an entertaining easy read.
My actual rating is 3.5 stars. It started out very strong, with short chapters that compelled me to keep reading. The main problems I had were I didn't really like the main character, Nick. I also feel that the killer was contrived, and some of the reveals were fairly easy to guess. But overall, it was an entertaining easy read.
happycrafter207's review against another edition
2.0
Our main character, Nick, doesn't aspire to greatness: he has an average job, typical divorced family, stuck in the same town where he went to college, and enjoys hanging out with his dog while drinking a beer. And it's been this way for the last twenty years. Ever since his girlfriend died in a house fire on campus at college.
What's he to think when he sees a girl in a grocery store who looks just like that girlfriend? He wants to know more. But the girl turns up dead with Nick's phone number in her pocket and he's automatically on the police's radar. And like all the crazy kids do these days, Nick does his own investigating to find out who the girl is and why the heck she had his number in her pocket in order to clear his own name. (How he doesn't get into trouble for this, I have no idea.)
I liked the plot idea, BUT the story read a little slow for me. I felt like I was mentally three steps ahead of Nick the whole time. And then some of the extra twists and side stories just seemed illogical or forced? It felt alittle disjointed to me.
What's he to think when he sees a girl in a grocery store who looks just like that girlfriend? He wants to know more. But the girl turns up dead with Nick's phone number in her pocket and he's automatically on the police's radar. And like all the crazy kids do these days, Nick does his own investigating to find out who the girl is and why the heck she had his number in her pocket in order to clear his own name. (How he doesn't get into trouble for this, I have no idea.)
I liked the plot idea, BUT the story read a little slow for me. I felt like I was mentally three steps ahead of Nick the whole time. And then some of the extra twists and side stories just seemed illogical or forced? It felt alittle disjointed to me.
jgtruesdell's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great, light read. Fair warning though, you will picture this as a Hallmark Channel or Lifetime movie the whole time you are reading.
momma2sleuth's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cutenanya's review against another edition
4.0
This book is surprisingly interesting though I am not entirely satisfied with the characterization. I feel I hardly sympathize with any character and frankly, I do not think I agree with the actions of certain people in the book though I can understand there is no "clear-cut solutions" in life. Still, this is overall a pretty good read and the plot is well structured.
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
3.0
Overall I really enjoyed this book, more than the first book I read by David Bell, actually. The story was compelling, I don't think the blurb set it up to be quite what it was actually about.
Really it is a book about how we color the past to look the way we want it to. Nick sees a woman in a store who looks exactly like his college girlfriend. The only problem is that is college girlfriend is deceased. Or is she? Nick has never really gotten over Marissa. He lives as a bachelor. He dates women, but frankly doesn't treat them as well as he should. He compares everyone to Marissa. He is heartbroken but in love, a terrible way to be. And Marissa's untimely death makes it even harder for him to move on.
The girl in the store looks so much like Marissa.. but then she turns up dead as well. How is this possible? And why does she have Nick's address and name in her pocket on a piece of paper? Given his torch for Marissa, Nick cannot let this connection go. He begins to look back into Marissa's death and the events leading up to it. Why did Marissa break up with him? How does this girl look so much like her?
From there the back story between the main character and his deceased girlfriend from college unfolds, and you learn more about it and their relationship. I enjoyed it! It was a fun read, but not ground breaking in any way. I didn't really think about it much after finishing it.
There are several parts where it is impossible to like the main character, as happened in the other book I read by this author. I don't particularly care much about him, but the story was intriguing. The concept of a lost love--a break up and a death--is easy to relate to. Overall, a fun and quick read!
Really it is a book about how we color the past to look the way we want it to. Nick sees a woman in a store who looks exactly like his college girlfriend. The only problem is that is college girlfriend is deceased. Or is she? Nick has never really gotten over Marissa. He lives as a bachelor. He dates women, but frankly doesn't treat them as well as he should. He compares everyone to Marissa. He is heartbroken but in love, a terrible way to be. And Marissa's untimely death makes it even harder for him to move on.
The girl in the store looks so much like Marissa.. but then she turns up dead as well. How is this possible? And why does she have Nick's address and name in her pocket on a piece of paper? Given his torch for Marissa, Nick cannot let this connection go. He begins to look back into Marissa's death and the events leading up to it. Why did Marissa break up with him? How does this girl look so much like her?
From there the back story between the main character and his deceased girlfriend from college unfolds, and you learn more about it and their relationship. I enjoyed it! It was a fun read, but not ground breaking in any way. I didn't really think about it much after finishing it.
There are several parts where it is impossible to like the main character, as happened in the other book I read by this author. I don't particularly care much about him, but the story was intriguing. The concept of a lost love--a break up and a death--is easy to relate to. Overall, a fun and quick read!
carolyn0613's review against another edition
4.0
A page turning mystery. I did like this book - it started very strongly and I was completely enthralled and impatient to unravel the mystery behind the girl in the supermarket who looks like Nick's dead girlfriend and of course, how and why the girlfriend died. The story races along nicely - part detective, part human interest. Nick is an interesting character but the detective involved a little forgettable (I have in fact forgotten her name). The grand reveal is....a little disappointing as is the ending, which seems a bit cliched. But this should not put you off - it is a good book.