Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey

4 reviews

searchandrescueteam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

The storyline of the murder at the centre of this book is nicely crafted.  With sufficient twists and turns to keep me reading.
However, there is something rather disturbing about an Australian book that has almost no cultural diversity.  As someone with extensive experience of an Australian country town of a similar size to the one described, I am flabbergasted that all except one character can be so monotonously AngloAustralian (or English!).
AND that one character, an Aboriginal woman, is a welcome relief at the end of the book, from the endless and largely pointless introspection of the others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Miscarriage

hazeyjane_2's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

4 stars - engaging, atmospheric mystery set in a rural NSW town. I love mysteries where the detective is tangled up in the town and its secrets. Some good moments of humour throughout: always a huge bonus. I would've liked a bit more characterisation of the victim, but the rest was well done. The eerie crime scene, the multiple suspects, the inhabitants' various relationships. The one other criticism I had was of Felix. I liked the breakdown of her marriage, but having an affair with your work partner is just a silly/unnecessary cliche, IMO.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent

kyla45's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

jenniferpalmblad's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury