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bgray98's review
3.0
Reading the blurb of this book got me super excited. You find out who did it in the first minute, in the last minute you find out why.
I was intrigued, but for such an exciting premise, it fell flat. Felt a bit drawn out and had me just wanting to skip to the end. The idea? Awesome. Execution, maybe 6/10.
I was intrigued, but for such an exciting premise, it fell flat. Felt a bit drawn out and had me just wanting to skip to the end. The idea? Awesome. Execution, maybe 6/10.
knit_and_purl's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed this title. You know exactly who's committed the crime at the beginning (I warn you that it's difficult to read), and the rest of the book is spent trying to understand why it happened. It's not a thriller, but more of a mystery, and not even that since you know who did it from the beginning. The characters are well-developed and sympathetic, but even then, there were times that I shook my head at their actions. I thought I had figured out the story partway through, but I was wrong. It isn't a shocking whodunnit, but I still found it compelling all the same. I would recommend this for readers of Clare Macintosh's "I Let You Go."
onnovdw's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
almond_cheese's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hollidayreadswithme's review against another edition
2.0
One Word Review: Disappointment
The Confession is the first stand alone novel by Jo Spain. She is previously known for her Inspector Tom Reynolds Series. The premise was amazing. An unknown man suddenly appears in a couple’s living room and viciously beats the man with a golf club. A few hours later, the unknown man turns himself into the police for the assault covered in the victim’s blood. We know the who and Spain spends the rest of the book explains why.
Firstly, the book is too long. It is 400 pages for something that could have been wrapped up very nicely in 300. There was far too much backstory on the side of the attacker. Too many attempts to make him personable and sympathetic (alcoholism, family history of abuse, mental health issues). It was successful the first time and then the next couple of times felt superfluous. It felt like there was quite a lot that could have been cut out and nothing would have changed.
Second, if I have to read one more book about a weak minded complicit rich white woman, I’m going to scream. Stop it! Seriously, just stop it. Julie is a woman who acts as though the sun rises and sets by her husband’s Bulvagi watch. We are treated to the age-old middle class girl gets plucked out of obscurity (because she’s pretty) by the rich man and loses herself in him. (Apparently 24 is too young to get married) She overlooks his infidelity and shady dealings because she has become used to the lifestyle. Because she is bored and unhappy, she turns to alcohol. And of course the rich man is a hustler and a caricature, possessive, entitled, and *gasp* a sexual predator.
Third, I skipped a couple of chapters. Honestly it felt like filler and minutiae that didn’t do anything to move the story forward.
I think that the main reason that I didn’t like this book was because it is a character driven book.
But she didn’t create characters that were likeable or love to hate. The characters were either stereotypical or basic archetypes. We even have the bumbling cop (made fat for good measure, and her weight is constantly mentioned as is her flirtation with men who she thinks she can’t have - being fat is not a character trait).
Overall, this book was on my TBR for 9 weeks and I just now got to it because it was going to be due back to the library, but this is the second time this week that I have been fooled by a good premise. I’m going back to my blind reading habits.
2 stars.
The Confession is the first stand alone novel by Jo Spain. She is previously known for her Inspector Tom Reynolds Series. The premise was amazing. An unknown man suddenly appears in a couple’s living room and viciously beats the man with a golf club. A few hours later, the unknown man turns himself into the police for the assault covered in the victim’s blood. We know the who and Spain spends the rest of the book explains why.
Firstly, the book is too long. It is 400 pages for something that could have been wrapped up very nicely in 300. There was far too much backstory on the side of the attacker. Too many attempts to make him personable and sympathetic (alcoholism, family history of abuse, mental health issues). It was successful the first time and then the next couple of times felt superfluous. It felt like there was quite a lot that could have been cut out and nothing would have changed.
Second, if I have to read one more book about a weak minded complicit rich white woman, I’m going to scream. Stop it! Seriously, just stop it. Julie is a woman who acts as though the sun rises and sets by her husband’s Bulvagi watch. We are treated to the age-old middle class girl gets plucked out of obscurity (because she’s pretty) by the rich man and loses herself in him. (Apparently 24 is too young to get married) She overlooks his infidelity and shady dealings because she has become used to the lifestyle. Because she is bored and unhappy, she turns to alcohol. And of course the rich man is a hustler and a caricature, possessive, entitled, and *gasp* a sexual predator.
Third, I skipped a couple of chapters. Honestly it felt like filler and minutiae that didn’t do anything to move the story forward.
I think that the main reason that I didn’t like this book was because it is a character driven book.
But she didn’t create characters that were likeable or love to hate. The characters were either stereotypical or basic archetypes. We even have the bumbling cop (made fat for good measure, and her weight is constantly mentioned as is her flirtation with men who she thinks she can’t have - being fat is not a character trait).
Overall, this book was on my TBR for 9 weeks and I just now got to it because it was going to be due back to the library, but this is the second time this week that I have been fooled by a good premise. I’m going back to my blind reading habits.
2 stars.
namitakhanna's review against another edition
5.0
Harry a rich corrupt financier is attacked viciously in front of his wife Julie ,by a stranger in his own home. The attacker, J.P.Carney, gives himself up to the cops confessing to the crime. He insists that the crime was a random act as he was suffering a mental breakdown at that moment.The story is then narrated from Julie , J.P Carney and Inspector Alice Moody’s viewpoint to figure out if it really was a random act of violence or a premeditated murder.
The Confession is a thoroughly entertaining , tense , gripping psychological thriller.Jo Spain does a great job weaving through the stories of some very unlikable but well developed characters to a brilliant conclusion.
I would like to thank the publishers & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Confession is a thoroughly entertaining , tense , gripping psychological thriller.Jo Spain does a great job weaving through the stories of some very unlikable but well developed characters to a brilliant conclusion.
I would like to thank the publishers & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
whatleahsreading's review against another edition
4.0
It was a really good book. The start is very good and even though it concentrates a lot on explaining each character it still had me hooked as I wanted to see if/how it linked together. I liked the style of writing as well, very detailed. I will definitely read more from Jo Spain.
the_empty_bookself's review against another edition
4.0
Yet another stunner by Jo
A couple are sat in their lounge when the next thing they know a man walks into their house and beats the husband to near death. His wife sits there and doesn’t move, just watches. The attacker then walks into the police station and confessed. Why?!
A novel full of mystery, twists and turns to take the reader on a journey to learn the history of our protagonists, Julie and Jean Paul which leads to the attack on Harry McNamara.
Very clever and unusual premise which leaves you wanting to know more.
A couple are sat in their lounge when the next thing they know a man walks into their house and beats the husband to near death. His wife sits there and doesn’t move, just watches. The attacker then walks into the police station and confessed. Why?!
A novel full of mystery, twists and turns to take the reader on a journey to learn the history of our protagonists, Julie and Jean Paul which leads to the attack on Harry McNamara.
Very clever and unusual premise which leaves you wanting to know more.