Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

23 reviews

lifeishardbacks's review against another edition

3.5

This is a great not-so-scary read to start off your spooky season. It's a ghost story with a lot going on. It's based in the 1920s post WWI. Sarah is a girl who gets thrown into the world of paranormal activity when her temporary agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. 

Maddy's story is absolutely heartbreaking. Her vengeful spirit seems mild when compared to things the she endured.

This story has a lot of components most ghost stories do not. There is quite a bit romance, which I personal enjoyed. There is also a strong found family aspect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: War

lyricallit's review

dark slow-paced

3.25

I did enjoy it but it's almost as much romance as it is mystery. I didn't mind the romance (though there are questionable aspects to it) but just had to adjust my expectations once I saw it coming. I did not care for the narrator; the timbre didn't match what I would have had in my head for Sarah. I looked past that to focus on the story, but it was disappointing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, and War

gondorgirl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sonygaystation's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

You know what! Maddy Clare did nothing wrong

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, and Alcohol

theimposter's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-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

Great ghost story and great mystery! Crime, trauma, war flash backs, romance, ghosts! This book has it all

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War

sarah_speaks's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content and War

Minor: Death of parent

unboxedjack's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Suicide

shereadytoread's review against another edition

dark mysterious

3.0

This book is good but you can tell her newer books are more polished. The supernatural and romance elements are a bit heavy handed to the point that the story feels disjointed instead of flowing with the mystery. But overall it is interesting with a couple good plot twists.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

msteinhaus's review

dark 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? No

2.0

Wasn't good for me. I don't like books written from the perspective of women who lack confidence in themselves, which is true of this narrator, Sarah Piper. I also don't like the romance trope of people who are irresistibly physically attracted to each other without any actual knowledge of each other. The backstory of the ghost in question is also horrible. In conclusion, this story had lots of attributes that, had I known, probably would have prevented me from picking this up in the first place. You've been warned!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder

bee87's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Classism